US News

Is there anyone who expected the Dow Jones Industrial Average to ever surpass its record intraday high of 14,198.40, after taking a 54% hit and bottoming at 6547.05 in March 2009? The Dow jumped more than 100 points this morning, reaching 1535.31.  All eyes will now be on how the index makes it through the […]

It only goes to show you shouldn’t listen to the doom and gloom merchants in the media. After unending bad news since the crash of 2008 here we are at an all-time high on the Dow. More to come no doubt. Find out how this affects our portfolio by reading my Premium Newsletter: Value Investing […]

With an aim to bring fiscal discipline, President Obama formed National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform back in 2010. Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson were chosen to co-chair this commission. The Commission, informally dubbed as Bowles-Simpson, suggested hosts of measures in that December—which, if implemented, would have helped the federal government shrink its deficit […]

As my father used to say, opinions are like belly buttons:  Everybody has one.  Since my friend and co-writer, Tom Frew, reported about the US sequestration yesterday, I thought it appropriate to offer the opinion of one American on the matter.  After all, I have a belly button. First of all, I agree to some […]

Growth concerns grow following $85bn of “dumb, arbitrary” cuts implemented after political stalemate President Obama has signed into law federal spending cuts worth $85bn, after the Democratic and Republican parties failed to reach agreement on how to balance the nation’s finances. Known as the sequester the spending cuts, described  by the President as being “dumb” […]

Company’s shares rise after founder publishes goodbye memo The founder and Chief Executive of discount provider Groupon has been sacked following a larger than expected fall in sales and reduced profits margins. Andrew Mason, who led the company through its floatation in November 2011, announced his departure on Thursday morning after the markets had reacted […]

Even as President Obama in his opening State of the Union remarks last month said that sequester is a “bad idea” for the U.S. economy ,reiterating his demand for combination of taxes  and spending cuts in order  to avert $85 billion annual across-the-board budgets cuts, Republicans are almost certain that sequester will come into effect […]

My twitter feed today is full of tweets from shareholders in US Oil & Gas (USOP) who seem to think they have firm evidence that they are on to a winner. In the immortal words of Don and Phil:”Dream, dream, dream… only trouble is, gee whizz, I’m dreaming my life away.” OK there is a […]

A few weeks ago President Obama urged the Congress to formulate measures that would help in trimming down nation’s fiscal deficit in a more gradual way rather than sudden kneejerk cuts.

“Good morning, Holmes.  Anything interesting in the news today?” “Yes, in fact, Dr. Watson there is.” “What is it, Holmes?  Are you not going to tell me?  Must I guess?” At this point, Holmes handed the disheveled paper to Dr. Watson and said with a sigh, “It’s Elementis, my dear Watson.  It’s Elementis.” Holmes had […]