ThinkstockWhile the talking heads in the financial media argue back and forth about economic strategy on interest rates, there are two inescapable facts. First, interest rates had been at all-time lows for almost five…
ThinkstockWith the increasing likelihood of a U.S.-led military intervention in Syria, the oil markets have become volatile. Brent prices rose to as high as $117 a barrel last week. The price strength also might be…
ThinkstockThe second-quarter earnings parade has all but come to a end. One conclusion that is painfully obvious to the equity strategy team at Credit Suisse is that many companies beat earnings only by using…
ThinkstockThe hedge fund industry sure seems and looks different now when compared to a decade or two ago. We recently wrote about how the 2% and 20% pricing strategy long imposed on hedge fund…
ThinkstockWith over a month left in the third quarter of 2013, there is still plenty of time for anything to happen. However, the software analysts at Lazard are starting to feel pretty good that…
ThinkstockWith oil prices consistently over the $100 level, the big exploration and production (E&P) companies are ramping up spending to take advantage of the high pricing. Wall Street estimates that between the E&P companies…
ThinkstockLast week Enercom consulting held its yearly conference in Denver that showcased some of the top oil and gas companies. The energy team at Raymond James got complete updates at the conference from many…
courtesy of Cisco SystemsDespite the fact that Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) actually reported revenues in line with street expectations last week, the network giant guided fiscal first quarter 2014 below the consensus of…
ThinkstockHighlighted in a Fortune magazine article in 1966, an obscure investment vehicle called the hedge fund was outperforming every existing mutual fund by double-digit figures. By 1968, there were some 140 hedge funds in…
ThinkstockA decade ago, if someone said the word “fracking” in front of their mother, they might have gotten their mouth washed out with soap. Today, we know the term as a new way to…
ThinkstockIn 2012 there were 1,139 onshore and 60 offshore wells drilled in Mexico, for about $8 billion of drilling and completion (D&C) spending. This includes about $1.7 billion in offshore D&C spending. The oil…
The stock market is beginning to show some fatigue as the dog days of summer roll along. Traditionally August and September can be treacherous months for the markets, and this year may be no…
ThinkstockWhile the U.S. economic data was decidedly mixed through the second quarter of 2013, the one major surprise from the gross domestic product (GDP) release was the increase in fixed investment spending, which rose…
Jon OggThe dog days of August have hit the stock market and volume will soon come to a virtual standstill. With a very productive year for the markets almost two-thirds in the record books,…
Most Wall St. firms are divided by the unit that calls on the retail or high net worth client, and the unit that calls on institutional clients. They both generally benefit from the research…
ThinkstockThe great debate over the budget and reducing the gigantic U.S. deficit continues to dominate the network, cable, print and Internet news outlets. The Democrat-controlled Senate passed a budget for the first time in…