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By Adam Hoffman, CFA : Recently, Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, commonly referred to as TIPS, have been in the headlines as a recommendation by several large asset managers. The fixed income market provides a real-time estimate of expected future inflation via the difference in yield between plain-vanilla Treasuries and TIPS. In this paper, we will explore how TIPS work, the current inflation environment, and how to evaluate the decision to purchase a TIPS versus a regular Treasury bond.

Hard Assets Investor submits: By Brad Zigler Real-time Monetary Inflation (last 12-months): 2.1% This week's market activity provided little reason for the Fed to withdraw its accommodation. Nearby NYMEX crude oil rose 1.1 percent to an average price of $79.40; the gold/oil multiple ended slightly higher at 14.2x. The greenback gained more ground against the euro, rising 1.1 percent in interbank dealings; cross rates averaged $1.3588 this week.

The answer to the question of General Electric (NYSE: GE) versus Verizon Communications probably lies as much in your personal investment preferences as it does in the absolute merits of these companies. Simply put, Verizon and AT&T are businesses struggling to grow revenue and earnings in excess of inflation, let alone GDP, so don't expect significant growth in dividends in the next decade or so. Will global gas turbines equipment and service demand grow again, or is a structural decline in place due to the inexorable rise in the utilization of renewable energy for electricity production?

Wall Street Catapults to New Records, Dovish Federal Reserve Anticipated Lackluster inflation results via the Consumer Price Index in the U.S, catapulted Wall Street to new records as investors anticipate a more dovish Federal Reserve. Japan will issue its Producer Price Index reading early on Tuesday, but Asian traders may be gearing towards growth numbers which will come from China later this week. Important inflation data will come from Germany and the U.K tomorrow, and forex conditions will likely prove insightful on Tuesday.

The coveted metal hit $1,350 an ounce in October in the futures market- that’s a record high, although adjusted for inflation it is still about 50% below the early 1980s peak. Often times, the funds offer a more easily tradable instrument that mirrors the price commodities fetch in the futures pits or in the physical markets. Even though commodity ETFs do shield you from some of the volatility of futures (primarily that margin call potentiality) they will still fluctuate with their underlying index or asset.

A group of officials argued that a hike in interest rates would only be necessary if inflation levels turned out to be higher than the initial baseline forecast. However, the minutes indicated that Fed's balance sheet unwinding might end by the end of this year. Gains for the Dow were buoyed by a surge in the shares of Boeing BA and Caterpillar CAT , which gained 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively.

Paychex Inc. ( PAYX ) is scheduled to announce its third quarter fiscal 2012 results on March 28 after the closing bell, and we notice no movement in analyst estimates at this point. AUTOMATIC DATA ( ADP ): Free Stock Analysis Report PAYCHEX INC ( PAYX ): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. The quarter's results indicate slow recovery in the small and medium business ( SMB ) sector due to deceleration in high unemployment and inflation rates.

Western Asset/Claymore U.S Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd 2 ( WIW ) will begin trading ex-dividend on May 11, 2016. Shareholders who purchased WIW prior to the ex-dividend date are eligible for the cash dividend payment. For more information on the declaration, record and payment dates, visit the WIW Dividend History page.

Costco Wholesale CorporationCOST reported flat comparable-store sales (comps) for the month of June (the five weeks ended Jul 3, 2016). However, excluding the adverse impact of foreign currency fluctuations and deflation in gasoline prices, Costco's comps for the month under review rose 3%. Costco reported flat comps for the 44-week period ended Jul 3, 2016, incorporating a 2% increase across its U.S. locations, offset by a 4% decline at both its Canadian and Other International locations.

Western Asset/Claymore U.S. Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd ( WIA ) will begin trading ex-dividend on September 11, 2014. Shareholders who purchased WIA stock prior to the ex-dividend date are eligible for the cash dividend payment. For more information on the declaration, record and payment dates, visit the WIA Dividend History page.

Stocks are clinging to slim gains this afternoon, with tame inflation data working to offset mostly disappointing earnings results for the banking sector this morning along with upbeat data on initial unemployment claims. But despite Bank of America ( BAC ) and Wells Fargo ( WFC ) both reporting lower profits in Q1 compared with last year, the financial sector was outperforming most of its peers, with Dow component stocks Goldman Sachs ( GS ) and JP Morgan ( JPM ) leading the blue chip index higher. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

In July, the world waited in anticipation for the Federal Reserve Committee to announce another US base interest rate hike of about 0.25%, following last DecemberAAAs increment. This is why the US Federal Reserve and market analysts have maintained caution over further increments in the near future , citing stagnant inflation rates as a cause for concern. These people are cautious when it comes to investing in risky assets like stocks and are more focused on putting their money into safer outlets, like real estate and gold.

Each month we sell covered calls on ETFs that track a few different asset classes: stocks (NYSEARCA:DIA), gold (NYSEARCA:GLD), and US real estate investment trusts (NYSEARCA:VNQ). A New York Times article titled " Why Many Retirees Could Outlive a $1 Million Nest Egg " said: "For people close to retirement, the problem is acute. But under current conditions, if they spend that $40,000 a year, adjusted for inflation, there is a 72 percent probability that they will run through their bond portfolio before they die."

Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP) recently reported excellent second-quarter results. He continued: Our FFO also grew organically by 10% relative to the prior year, marking the second consecutive period of growth that exceeded our annual long-term target of 6%-9%. Contributing to this outsized growth was our volume increases that averaged 2% across our business, inflation indexation of approximately 3%, and earnings generated from the commissioning of almost $650 million of capital expansion projects that were completed during the last 12 months.

Other major ETFs in the area include Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF ( VIG ), Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF ( VYM ) and WisdomTree Total Dividend ETF (NYSEArca:DTD). In 2010 they all rebounded nicely from a summer scare and did as good or better than large caps generally (SPY): More US companies cut their dividends in 2009 and fewer raised them than any other year on record, according to Standard & Poor's. Unlike fixed income where the only danger is inflation and rising interest rates, dividend stocks also have fundamental economic risk.

Best Buy Co., Inc. BBY has an Earnings ESP of +1.81% and a Zacks Rank #3. Click to get this free report General Mills, Inc. (GIS): Free Stock Analysis Report Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY): Free Stock Analysis Report Pinnacle Foods, Inc. (PF): Free Stock Analysis Report Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. These productivity savings, along with higher pricing have been mitigating the impact of input cost inflation to drive gross margins.

Consider two global brand titans with big pricing power in The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO) and Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) , as well as a diversified giant with exposure to multiple industries, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-B) (NYSE: BRK-A) . Not only does it often increase their expenses as suppliers raise prices, but it can hurt sales, as consumers feel the pinch and cut back on their spending. If you're worried that your portfolio doesn't hold enough companies built to battle the effects of inflation, it may be time to add a few new investments to the mix.

Dollar Tree ( DLTR ), Sears Holdings ( SHLD ), A bercrombie & Fitch ( ANF ), Gamestop ( GME ), Gap (GPS), Aeropostale (ARO), and Pandora (P) are scheduled to report. The Brazilian real, Turkish lira, Indian rupee, and Mexican peso all reached new multiyear lows against the US dollar. The takeaway: The reduction of asset purchases, a plan that Chairman Bernanke had put forth at the June meeting, was generally agreed upon, although a few people urged patience due to slowing inflation and growth.

The following ETF(s) have CASH as a top-10 holding: IQ ARB Global Resources ETF ( GRES ) Fidelity Corporate Bond ETF ( FCOR ) IQ Merger Arbitrage ETF ( MNA ) IQ Real Return ETF ( CPI ). Meta Financial Group, Inc. ( CASH ) will begin trading ex-dividend on March 05, 2015. Zacks Investment Research reports CASH's forecasted earnings growth in 2015 as 23.89%, compared to an industry average of 1.5%.

DTE Energy DTE reported third-quarter 2017 earnings of $1.48 per share, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.53 by 3.3%. Click to get this free report Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL): Free Stock Analysis Report NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (BIP): Free Stock Analysis Report DTE Energy Company (DTE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. This increase was primarily due to sizable contribution from the newly acquired Brazilian regulated gas transmission operations, additions to rate base and upward inflation adjustments.

Western Asset/Claymore U.S Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd 2 ( WIW ) will begin trading ex-dividend on November 12, 2014. Shareholders who purchased WIW stock prior to the ex-dividend date are eligible for the cash dividend payment. For more information on the declaration, record and payment dates, visit the WIW Dividend History page.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) advanced 0.5%, the second-highest among the S&P 500 sectors. Benchmarks finished its choppy session on a mixed note yesterday after Fed minutes showed officials debated about the timing of rate hike. At the end of the meeting, "most" of the policy makers agreed that timing of a hike "would depend on further information on the trajectories of economic activity, the labor market and inflation."

Groupon (GRPN) Shares of Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN ) are continuing to rise alongside their 50-day moving average, continuing a three-month uptrend. Chairman Jerome Powell delivered a dovish message, which the Street had expected given the fresh memory of Q4 market volatility, a lack of inflation pressure, and recent softness in the economic data (aside from job gains). Weighing on sentiment slightly was a disappointing earnings report and outlook from FedEx (NYSE: FDX ), which called attention to weaker global trade growth trends.

Deere & Co. ( DE ) missed its consensus EPS estimate on weaker international agriculture business, particularly in South America. Cisco Systems ( CSCO ) reports after the bell, which should provide another piece to the puzzle of technology trends. On a data-heavy morning, we have results for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Empire State Index, as well as a couple earnings reports from companies on the S&P 500.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks: Bull of the Day : Expedia, Inc. ( EXPE ) is perfectly positioned to capture the surge in travel from an expanding global middle class and cheaper gasoline prices. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) is expected to produce double digit earnings growth in 2016 Expedia is one of the most recognizable online travel companies in the world. However, significant rise in expenses and stiff competition from the likes of Twitter, Inc. ( TWTR ) and Alphabet Inc. ( GOOGL ) for ad dollars remain causes for concern.

EnPro Industries NPO has an Earnings ESP of +7.80% and a Zacks Rank #3. Click to get this free report Actuant Corporation (ATU): Free Stock Analysis Report Parker-Hannifin Corporation (PH): Free Stock Analysis Report EnPro Industries (NPO): Free Stock Analysis Report Welbilt, Inc. (WBT): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Factors at Play Over the past few quarters, Parker-Hannifin has been affected by an inflation in prices for core materials like steel, aluminum, castings and nickel, among others.

Leading technology, territorial scope, market concentration and political influence all combine to provide outstanding results from competitors.This is even clearer after the last earnings season. In case the international agencies downgrade Brazilian credit rating, providing the loss of investment grade, it could impact private banks' results. Foolish bottom line Shareholders of Itau and Bradesco do not need to be worried about political uncertainty, inflation, increase in interest rates or financial innovation.

Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL ) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $1.06 on revenue of $7.30 billion, compared to last year's EPS of $1.46 on revenue of $7.06 billion. All rights reserved. Many believe that the years of deflation Japan has suffered will keep the inflation rate at 1 percent and that the bank will need to make more policy changes in order to combat it.

Here are some notable ETFs worth taking a look at for Thursday, October 10, 2013. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSE: EWU ) The Bank of England announced it will keep its key lending rate at 0.5 percent, the same level it has been since March 2009. However, EWU is interesting in that it is underperforming the S&P 500 as well as its European peers. Many economists thought Brazil would begin to slow the interest rate hikes designed to fight inflation, but the central bank did not give that indication.

Leading and Lagging Sectors Non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares rose by 0.91 percent in the US market on Friday. Equities Trading DOWN Cyberark Software Ltd (NASDAQ: CYBR ) shares dropped 16 percent to $42.74 after the company lowered its guidance for the second quarter. Economics The Consumer Price Index was unchanged for June, versus economists' expectations for a 0.1 percent gain.

This month, we're reaching out to millions of investors to help guide them in their quest toward financial knowledge and independence . Series I bonds, on the other hand, pay an interest rate that changes every six months based on moves in the price-tracking Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation. The current rate of 0.6% is less than you can get even from some bank savings accounts, with Discover Financial ( DFS ) and Sallie Mae (Nasdaq: SLM) offering 0.8% and 1% respectively.

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) is down to a forward P/E of just 6 after slightly missing Wall Street's Q3 profit forecast. Regardless of whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump heads into the Oval Office, both candidates agree that prescription drug inflation is currently too high. A quick scan of some of the market's largest biotech companies shows that many are trading at single-digit forward P/Es , or below a PEG of 1 (a level considered to be fundamentally cheap).

Headquartered in Boston, GE will be establishing two ultra-supercritical steam turbines along with two turbo generators at the Taihang Power Plant. GE's recent acquisition of French power generating company Alstom has helped it expand its markets to a great extent. General Electric CompanyGE recently announced that it has signed deals with Huaneng Power International (HPI) and China Power International Development Limited (CPI International), for two steam turbine power generating units in China.

However, strong backlog, along with continued strength in key markets, as well as the company's focus on restructuring actions remain catalysts for growth. The segment is anticipated to mainly grow on restructuring efforts. However, restructuring charges and cost inflation remain concerns.

Despite a challenging environment, Costco Wholesale Corporation 's ( COST ) comparable-store sales results for October betters analysts' expectations. Excluding the effect of gasoline prices and foreign currency fluctuations, Costco's comparable-store sales for October rose 6%, reflecting comparable sales growth of 5% at its U.S. locations and 7% at international outlets. Coming to Costco, comparable-store sales for the 9-week period increased 3%, buoyed by 4% growth at the U.S. and 1% increase at international locations.

PLAY , Famous Dave's of America Inc. DAVE and Restaurant Brands International Inc. QSR , all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 ( Strong Buy ). Click to get this free report MCDONALDS CORP (MCD): Free Stock Analysis Report FAMOUS DAVES (DAVE): Free Stock Analysis Report RESTAURANT BRND (QSR): Free Stock Analysis Report DAVE&BUSTRS ENT (PLAY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. From May 24, the Big Mac, the Filet-O-Fish sandwich and the 10-piece Chicken Nuggets will be fixed items on the McPick 2 for $5 menu.

In addition, the focus will be on the earnings reports from Alcoa (AA) and J.P. Morgan (JPM) to name two important ones. By James Hyerczyk Commodities Trading Advisor After Friday’s dismal jobs data ignited a sell-off on Wall Street, investors will have no time to dwell on the aftermath. This week they face the Federal Open Market Committee’s release of minutes from last month’s meeting, as well as consumer and inflation data.

Wisdom Tree's Japan Small Cap Dividend Fund ( DFJ ) yields nearly 3% and trades at roughly 80% of book value. A 20-year economic landscape branded by zombie banks, frightened management, bridges to nowhere, repeated bouts of deflation and broad-based despair has wreaked havoc on investor confidence. Experience has taught us that calling major secular turning points in any market is difficult at best, so we prefer to leg into investments over time as long as we have an appropriate margin of safety.

US Financial Sector (NYSEArca:IYF), Vanguard Financials ( VFH ), and SPDR Financial (NYSEArca:XLF) are the most popular broad-based, low-cost funds for this sector. Once balance sheets have been restored the Federal Reserve will likely raise its prime lending rate, and its hand may be tipped sooner if inflation kicks up. But the more fundamental economic point is that foreclosures, in aggregate, drag down housing prices and give underwater homeowners more reason to default strategically.

Source: Shutterstock And though cautious/bearish analysts have pointed to slowing growth - including misses in both Q1 and Q2 - COST stock has continued to rise in 2017, gaining 12% YTD. Headline numbers aside, it does look like sales were above expectations … at least the part that Costco could control, as gasoline prices and currency impacts obviously are well beyond the company's reach. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips In a market where retail stocks of all stripes have been hammered, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST ) stock has been a notable outlier.

W.W. Grainger, Inc.GWW is likely to gain from upbeat outlook, growth in e-commerce sales and digital capabilities despite the input cost inflation and foreign exchange headwinds. Click to get this free report Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. (ALRM): Get Free Report W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW): Free Stock Analysis Report Axon Enterprise, Inc (AAXN): Get Free Report Ennis, Inc. (EBF): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Growth Drivers in Place Rising Business Investment: Grainger generates revenues from the distribution of MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operating) supplies and products and related services.

If you prefer ETFs instead of individual securities, consider the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) or the iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY), both of which yield around 2.3% at current prices. "Stocks are expensive by virtually any metric you want to use," says John del Vecchio, noted short seller and co-manager of the AdvisorShares Ranger Equity Bear ETF (HDGE). Already, political winds seem to be shifting, with politicians harping on the fact that median American wages have barely kept up with inflation in recent decades.

ConocoPhillipsCOP is a major global oil exploration and production (E&P) company with operations worldwide. Click to get this free report NetApp, Inc. (NTAP): Free Stock Analysis Report HollyFrontier Corporation (HFC): Free Stock Analysis Report Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC): Free Stock Analysis Report ConocoPhillips (COP): Free Stock Analysis Report Micron Technology, Inc. (MU): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. The U.S. stock markets have been reeling from severe volatility since February primarily owing to inflationary concerns and global trade war fears.

You could buy $1,000 worth of UGA to offset the risk and effectively freezing the net price you will pay for gas over the next 12 months. The United State Gasoline Fund ( UGA ) ETF is one tool that can be used to offset risk of rising gasoline prices. UGA replicates the movements of gasoline futures available in the commodity futures market.

The upside was backed by the benefits accrued from product launches, and robust distribution, air and water products business in China. Industry specific headwinds such as input price inflation, tepid demand for mobile scanners and business jets, as well as volatility in crude oil prices are currently hurting the company's top- and bottom-line performances. Stocks to Consider Some better-ranked stocks in the same space are listed below: Crane Co. CR has a positive average earnings surprise of 8.89% for the trailing four quarters and currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Hackers using malware which affects point-of-sale systems like cash registers and credit card machines could be on the rise as the software is relatively affordable and has the potential for huge profits. Icahn may have bought nearly a two percent stake in the tech company as he attempts to pressure it into spinning off its payment unit, PayPal. Economics Friday'seconomic calendarwill be relatively quiet with releases including Canadian CPI, British mortgage approvals, Italian retail sales and Spanish PPI.

For example, the cyclically adjusted P/E ratio ( CAPE ), which tracks the average 10 pe adjusted for inflation, indicates that the market is 61% overvalued. The current CAPE is 25.69, compared to its historical median value of 15.93. With the stock market recently peaking at a CAPE of 26.12, some investors are warning that a bear market may be imminent given that this high of market valuation is often associated with sharp stock crashes.

What Makes Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) Stock a Hot Pick for Investors? InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips At the Kansas City Federal Reserve's annual monetary policy symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo, Chairman Jerome Powell clearly said that a gradual path of interest rate hikes seem appropriate owing to lack of clear signs of inflation crossing the required mark or an overheated economy. This calls for investing in banks, insurance and brokerage houses as such institutions will see a ramp up in profits on continuous interest rate hikes and stable economic conditions.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS ) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $1.19 on revenue of $2.07 billion, compared to last year's EPS of $1.21. However, if the flood of delayed US data paints a favorable picture, investors could start to hedge their bets on a sooner than expected taper. He said that the Japanese financial system is running smoothly and that the bank is planning to continue easing until the country's inflation rate is stable at 2 percent.

On Wednesday, the annual rate of inflation held steady at 2% in June, which was in line with forecast, while consumer prices failed to move, month-on-month. In spite of the impressive retail sales figures, the Pound saw red in the week as Brexit and the UK Leadership race weighed. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast – Rate Cut Optimism?

Deckers Outdoor Corporation DECK delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 71.9% in the trailing four quarters. Click to get this free report Whirlpool Corporation (WHR): Free Stock Analysis Report Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK): Free Stock Analysis Report Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM): Free Stock Analysis Report G-III Apparel Group, LTD. (GIII): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. While management expects to gain from a favorable product price/mix through the rest of the year, it might be partly offset by lower global-revenue growth and increased raw material inflation.

Limited Brands ( LB ), Office Depot ( ODP ) and Tractor Supply ( TSCO ) are the top three elements in the basket. Click to get this free report SPDR-SP RET ETF (XRT): ETF Research Reports L BRANDS INC (LB): Free Stock Analysis Report OFFICE DEPOT (ODP): Free Stock Analysis Report TRACTOR SUPPLY (TSCO): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Additionally, strengthening U.S. economic activities, higher-than-expected GDP numbers, a healthy job market, a gradual recovery in housing and of course, the unbelievable drop in gasoline prices are providing huge benefits to retailers.

Accordingly, if NSA CPI is much different from the 217.05 implied by the current price of the Apr-10 TIPS (and ironically, that level matches the economists' forecasts as well), you can expect that bond to move rather sharply. This January number has special implications for the TIPS market. The April 2010 TIPS bond, which matures April 15th with a notional amount tied to an interpolation between the January and February CPI figures, will see half of the uncertainty go away when the Jan print is under our belts.

The iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (SHYG) owns a basket of over 600 junk bonds from below-investment grade corporate issuers. The ultimate result of which has been tame inflationary metrics, steady jobs growth, corporate earnings expansion, and firm declines in Treasury yields. Namely, those who are holding higher duration securities with greater sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations are being paid little in additional yield premium for taking on this risk.

Average U.S. demand for retail gasoline over the past four weeks fell by just 2% compared to the same period of 2010.. Thus, if we see continued higher gasoline prices in the future, the gross dollar value of credit card transaction will increase for MasterCard. This will increase the average authorization, settlement and switch fees per transaction charged by MasterCard.

Some prominent names that arise here are AMC Entertainment Holdings AMC , Apollo Global Management APO and Aircastle Limited AYR , companies with curren t dividend yield s of 5.7%, 7% and 6.1%, respectively. With people living longer and concerns such as inflation, rising interest rates and high taxes, the elderly are faced with a unique financial situation. One of the most revered investors of all time, Warren Buffett, suggests investing in low-cost S&P 500 index funds as part of retirement planning.

On Frankfurt's DAX, thyssenkrupp, an industrial steelmaker was 1.2% lower, while Commerzbank was down by 1.1% and HeidelbergCement, a building materials company, was down by 0.7%. The pan-European Stoxx 600 Index was 0.23% lower, London's FTSE 100 Index was down by 0.34%, Frankfurt's DAX was down by 0.06% and Paris' CAC-40 was 0.26% lower at the time of writing. European equity benchmarks were lower on Friday morning as declining oil prices hammered commodity stocks while stagnating retail sales in some of Europe's largest economies dampened sentiment against a backdrop of easing inflation.

Elsewhere, Wall Street analyst upgrades helped push up shares of Peabody Energy ( BTU ), Kohl's ( KSS ), and Union Pacific ( UNP ). The U.S. markets are doing their best to follow the lead in Europe, even as we see several economic data points coming in worse than expected today (CPI, Philly Fed, Empire Manufacturing Survey, Jobless Claims). And despite all the band-aids world regulators have applied, the true determining factor for a sustained market recovery will be healthy economic activity without constant governmental intervention.

Indeed, investors in the iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund (NYSEArca:EWW) saw a 16.29 percent return in the first quarter, much of it on the back of the Mexican peso. Should the U.S. economy begin to slow down, a correction in the peso will undoubtedly draw back returns for investors in EWW. The peso's strength is largely due to the steady hand of Mexico's central bank, which has kept inflationary pressures at bay, as IndexUniverse's Currency Impact Report shows.

But Illumina's pending acquisition of Pacific Biosciences of California (NASDAQ: PACB) should shore up its weakness in this area. Wall Street's more conservative take on the drug has it generating around $545 million at peak, but more optimistic estimates put HTX-011's commercial opportunity into megablockbuster territory at roughly $2 billion a year in sales. Same-store sales rose by a better-than-expected 3.8%, with brand-name drug inflation, especially with regard to Medicare Part D, boosting results, and the company reaping the rewards of its first full quarter of the Aetna integration.

We note that shares of Costco have climbed roughly 4.3% year to date, and has comfortably outperformed the Zacks categorized Retail-Discount & Variety industry's decline of 3.3%. Excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and gasoline prices, Costco's comps for the month under review rose 5%. Costco Wholesale CorporationCOST has continued to post positive comparable-store sales (comps) so far this year.

You can buy ProShares DB US Dollar Bullish ETF (NYSE Arca: UUP), which closely tracks the exposures in the DXY. This was another step in what is known as Abenomics, an economic stimulus program adopted by the government of Prime Minister Shinzu Abe to try to end Japan's decades-long period of deflation and slow growth. Our experts - who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV - deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions.

The latter is a key point because much of the narrative around Amazon.com 's (NASDAQ: AMZN) expanding its delivery network centers on the potential for it to eat the lunch of UPS and FedEx. The evidence is that UPS and FedEx have struggled to deal with managing profitability in the face of strong e-commerce delivery growth. Around the time of the company's first-quarter 2017 results in late September, FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) followed rival United Parcel Service, Inc (NYSE: UPS) in hiking selected shipping rates by 4.9% -- a rate far in excess of inflation.

More than 99 percent of the $1.174 trillion in assets under management are in passive funds and a good portion of the active $5.2 billion ETF money actually is in one fund, the $1.56 billion Pimco Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund (NYSEArca:MINT). This fund seeks both capital appreciation and current income through investment in exchange-traded products that include securities focused on inflation protection; real estate; commodities; and companies in the natural resources space. SSgA uses its Market Regime Indicator model that takes into account VIX, credit spreads and currency volatility to help determine asset allocation.

Since it went public as a spin-out from Newmont Mining Corp. ( NEM ), Franco-Nevada is up about 300%, while Newmont is up about 6%. Add to that unease the European contagion potential where many German and French banks have been selling their gold for the past five years to buy sovereign debt. We have noticed in our financial models that any time a government pays less on their Treasury bills than inflation, gold starts rising in that country's currency.

With TIPS, you receive interest every six months while your principal increases at the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. A safer bet may be had in TIPS exchange traded funds (ETFs). [ TIPS and ETFs: Your Questions Answered. ]

Other stocks to watch out for in the industry are Black Hills Corp. ( BKH ), Alliant Energy Corp. ( LNT ) and Edison International ( EIX ), each with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). BLACK HILLS COR (BKH): Free Stock Analysis Report CPFL ENERGI-ADR (CPL): Free Stock Analysis Report EDISON INTL (EIX): Free Stock Analysis Report ALLIANT ENGY CP (LNT): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Moreover, it faced a decline in domestic activities, driven by inflation, more stringent credit conditions and lowering of business and consumer confidence.

The Japanese Yen was in focus, with December inflation, industrial production, and retail sales figures providing direction. For the Loonie It’s a quiet day on the economic calendar, with no material stats due out of Canada to provide direction. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: EOS, Ethereum and Ripple’s XRP – Daily Tech Analysis – 08/01/20 Crude Oil Price Update – API Report Expected to Show 4.1M Barrel Draw Down Risk Aversion Hits as Iran Retaliates.

NZ electronic card retail sales, Australian consumer sentiment figures, and China inflation numbers provided direction. At the time of writing, the Pound was down by 0.07% to $1.2716, Across the Pond, It’s another relatively quiet day ahead on the economic data front, though we can expect Dollar sensitivity to the stats. The lack of stats will leave market risk sentiment and today’s EIA crude oil inventory numbers in focus.

Annual average gold price was the highest in 2012, due to buying from major central banks to diversify their asset base, high jewelry demand, quantitative easing, and rising inflation. Overall, the locus of the world gold mine production seems to be shifting from the big three (i.e. South Africa, United States, and Australia) to the emerging market nations. The primary drivers for a bullish view include higher retail and institutional investment, increased gold buying by major central banks over the world due to a possibility of a global economic slowdown, and prospects of a truce in US-China trade tensions.

Notable 2012 IPOs that had strong earnings results last week include Five Below ( FIVE ), Splunk ( SPLK ) and Infoblox (BLOX). Withdrawals highlight week of slow filing activity Five companies withdrew their IPO filings last week, including oil and gas E&P Ute Energy (UTE), Texas-based bank PlainsCapital (PCB) hydraulic fracturing company FTS International (FTSI), Chinese light bulb maker TCP International (TCPI.RC) and biofuel producer Fulcrum Energy (FLCM). While eight companies were able to update their filings this past week, data suggest that half of the US pipeline consists of stale or postponed deals.

One of Sonic's prime competitors, BJ's Restaurants Inc. ( BJRI ) reported third-quarter 2011 adjusted earnings of 24 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and higher than the prior-year earnings of 20 cents. BJ'S RESTAURANT ( BJRI ): Free Stock Analysis Report SONIC CORP ( SONC ): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Restaurant-level margins are expected to be slightly adverse attributed to cost inflation, particularly in the first half of the fiscal year and investment in improving the quality of product, partially offset by labor efficiencies.

The selling spread to other well-known tech plays in the semiconductor/wireless space, including Texas Instruments ( TXN ), Analog Devices ( ADI ), and Qualcomm ( QCOM ). I have always been skeptical of how the traditional CPI (Consumer Price Index) is calculated. Traditionally, CPI was calculated by taking the average cost of red meat one year and measuring it against the cost one year later.

Mauldin and many others make the assumption that hyperinflation can't occur without some kind of economic demand. It is the mainstream theory that money has to make its way into the economy (via bank lending and then business investment or consumption) for price inflation to occur. click to enlarge As we close, it is important to note that Precious Metals and the shares outperform during times of credit stress.

Pre-Market Movers: AAPL, GM, THS Pre-Market Movers No. 3, TREE: Shares of TreeHouse Foods Inc. ( THS ) were up about 1.3% on news that company may purchase the Ralcorp snack-making unit of food manufacturer ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG ) for roughly $2.7 billion. In addition, Mario Draghi, the head of the European Central Bank, hinted his monetary policy team may slash interest rates and/or extend their bond-purchasing program in order to boost inflation and the world's largest economic bloc.

Oracle ( ORCL ) reports earnings after the bell today, and FedEx ( FDX ), Tiffany ( TIF ) and Adobe ( ADBE ) also report this week. Click to get this free report ORACLE CORP (ORCL): Free Stock Analysis Report FEDEX CORP (FDX): Free Stock Analysis Report ADOBE SYSTEMS (ADBE): Free Stock Analysis Report TIFFANY & CO (TIF): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. With Q4 earnings season all but over, we see some economic data released this morning which look to influence forward estimates on things like inflation and GDP expectations.

Active broad-market exchange-traded funds in Tuesday's regular session: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ( EEM ): -2.61% In corporate news, Mylan (MYL) was down more than 2% after the company said Tuesday that it and its partner Famy Care Ltd. have signed a settlement and license agreement with Warner Chilcott Company, LLC over their generic contraceptive pill. U.S. stocks reversed and were in negative territory in the session's half, as weak housing data overshadowed earlier upbeat news on better-than-expected CPI numbers.

Moreover, fast-fashion brands such as Gap Inc ( GPS ), Urban Outfitters' ( URBN ), Forever 21, H&M and Zara were able to attract U.S. buyers with their popular merchandise. Consumer confidence was low due to increased taxes, slow job growth, higher healthcare costs and gasoline price inflation. This fashion-conscious buying impacted the sales of a number of retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters ( AEO ), Aeropostale ( ARO ), Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), and also Guess.

It’s a busier day on Friday with the FED’s preferred May inflation figures, personal spending and Chicago PMI numbers due out. Through the 2nd half of the week, prelim June inflation numbers for Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and the Eurozone will also provide direction. The economy held up well in the 1st quarter, suggesting that the RBNZ may hold steady until there is greater clarity on the timing of a FED rate cut.

MCHI will also compete with the SPDR S&P China ETF (NYSEArca:GXC), a $717 million fund with a 0.59 percent expense ratio. MCHI comes with an annual expense ratio of 0.61 percent-more than GXC's but less than FXI's 0.72 percent. While food- and energy-related inflation in the world's most populous nations has recently caused some investors to reallocate assets to developed economies like the U.S., few are arguing that China's longer-term prospects are blighted by its current battle to bring inflationary pressures under control.

Pool Corp. 's ( POOL) first-quarter 2013 earnings per share of 7 cents beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.7% but were 12.5% lower than the year-ago level. Pool projects modest inflationary expense for the rest of the year. Our Take Despite tough weather comparisons, Pool delivered a better-than-expected quarter.

In Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank led the DAX higher, rising 8.4%, followed by airline operator Lufthansa, and adhesives manufacturer Covestro, which climbed 3.6% and 2.5% respectively. The FTSE fell 0.47%, the DAX gained 0.36%, and the CAC-40 rose 0.51%. These were partially offset by small rises in hotel prices and mobile phone charges," said ONS' head of inflation said Mike Hardie.

But this rally defied predictions thus far, so I wouldn't be overly surprised if stocks start heading higher later this afternoon ahead of the President's Day weekend. Today's CPI reading not only confirms the Central Bank's assessment, but also leaves open the door for further quantitative easing should conditions warrant. According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Zynga is expected to launch a new publishing program in March this year that will allow third party developers to showcase their games as well as advertise on the company's platform.

Three stocks that have a dividend yield greater than today's paltry interest rates on savings accounts or government bonds and can protect your nest egg from the erosion of inflation are Prologis (NYSE: PLD), STORE Capital (NYSE: STOR), and AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV). Abbvie Investors frequently turn to the stocks of major drug manufacturers to get a reliable yield and some protection against a downturn in the economy. One quality company that's a bargain now and a good fit for retirement portfolios is AbbVie.

If six-month contracts become the standard in the potash space, we might expect similar performance for MOS, POT and AGU) — whether or not it also translates into higher food prices downstream. Mosaic (MOS) has confessed that last quarter its average potash sale was at $318 a ton, so the last few months have definitely been good to these companies. It would take a really good number — on par with MOS and its fivefold profit expansion last year — to push POT much higher from here.

Lastly, Coeur Mining (NYSE: CDE) could be an intriguing investment opportunity considering its recent aggressive expansion. With return rates this low, investors could actually be losing purchasing power relative to inflation, even if they're logging nominal gains from an interest-based investment like a CD or bond. As long as the Federal Reserve continues to walk on eggshells with regard to interest rates, silver should remain a popular investment option among investors.

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI ) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $0.44 on revenue of $1.27 billion, compared to last year's EPS of $0.56 on revenue of $1.31 billion. However, if the flood of delayed US data paints a favorable picture, investors could start to hedge their bets on a sooner than expected taper. He said that the Japanese financial system is running smoothly and that the bank is planning to continue easing until the country's inflation rate is stable at 2 percent.

Management remains satisfied with this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company's quarterly performance, after battling the extreme weather, which reflects Tractor Supply's potential. Other Stocks to Consider Other players in the retail industry, which look attractive at current levels, include Barnes & Noble Inc. ( BKS ), American Apparel Inc. ( APP ) and Foot Locker Inc. ( FL ). However, sales were adversely affected by deflationary trends and soft sales from the spring merchandise.

Solid Business Structure: Kennametal, through its three reporting segments, caters to the demand of its customers in end markets, including farm machinery, highway construction, machine tools, coal mining, aerospace, oil and gas exploration, automotive, and quarrying. On the other hand, earnings in fiscal 2018 were adversely impacted to the tune of 38 cents per share by higher sales incentive and management expenses, salary inflation, and overtime and temporary help costs. This industrial tool maker currently has market capitalization of approximately $3.4 billion.

Market Statistics Equity option activity on the Chicago Board Options Exchange ( CBOE ) saw 897,458 call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 591,109 put contracts. Fresh concerns about the Greek fiscal crisis are inspiring a Street-wide case of jitters, as euro zone finance ministers failed to reach an agreement on how to handle an additional aid package for the debt-crippled country. Retailer Tuesday Morning (TUES - 4.65) also trimmed its full-year financial guidance, with CEO Kathleen Mason explaining, "Food and fuel inflation, combined with the challenging housing market, has affected our customers' disposable income."

iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped ETF EWL This fund is by far the most popular and liquid ETF tracking the Switzerland economy with AUM of $985.2 million. Click to get this free report CRYSHS-SWISS FR (FXF): ETF Research Reports ISHARS-SWITZERL (EWL): ETF Research Reports FT-SWITZERLAND (FSZ): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Europe has been dominating global headlines since the beginning of this year on deflation fears, the tumbling Euro and political drama in Greece.

WestRock CompanyWRK , a provider of paper and packaging solutions, is set to report first-quarter fiscal 2017 results on Jan 26. Click to get this free report Methanex Corp. (MEOH): Free Stock Analysis Report Albemarle Corp. (ALB): Free Stock Analysis Report AVINO SILVER&GD (ASM): Free Stock Analysis Report WestRock Co. (WRK): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Inflation of input prices and Hurricane Matthew are also likely to have a negative impact of approximately $15-$20 million.

Today, the United States wakes up at 2, smokes a joint, goes shopping for designer clothes (made in Italy), and yells at the cashier when he or she finds out the card's limit has been exceeded. In the 1940s -- even adjusted for inflation, GDP, and population growth, the U.S. wasn't printing money anywhere near current levels. Listen, if we go to 1.6% (or lower) on the 10-year Treasury, it will be because Jesus is back, and he's buying the long end of the yield curve.

Image source: Getty Images. My two favorite precious metal stocks The two companies I'm most excited about happen to be my two largest portfolio holdings (yes, there's some obvious bias here): SSR Mining (NASDAQ: SSRM) and First Majestic Silver (NYSE: AG). Inclusive of dividend reinvestment, and when adjusted for inflation, it's returned an average of about 7% per year, working out to a historic doubling of wealth about once per decade.

Shares of Nokia ( NOK ) are down after the company said it planned to cut about 800 jobs in its home market in Finland. Also this morning, Nokia has delayed the rollout of its next flagship model, the E7, into early next year, missing the key holiday sales season on developed markets, Reuters reports. Stocks are moderately higher at mid-session as investors focus on retail sales figures that have risen for nearly two quarters while prices paid at the wholesale level showed inflation remains in check.

Fresh off the heels of a third round of quantitative easing, TIPS ETFs are in the spotlight, as investors wonder how best to protect their portfolio against the risk of inflation. Ultimately, TIPS ETFs are a great product under the right circumstances, and they ought to be evaluated under the same criteria as any other government bond; that is, they should be compared to other offerings. So, how do TIPS work, and are ETFs efficient wrappers to access the TIPS market?

Columbia Sportswear Company COLM pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 79.3% in the trailing four quarters. Click to get this free report Whirlpool Corporation (WHR): Free Stock Analysis Report Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK): Free Stock Analysis Report Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM): Free Stock Analysis Report G-III Apparel Group, LTD. (GIII): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. While management expects to gain from a favorable product price/mix through the rest of the year, it might be partly offset by lower global-revenue growth and increased raw material inflation.

The company recently announced its latest creative transaction by partnering with TransAlta (NYSE: TAC) to advance the Canadian power generator's transition to clean energy. The company currently estimates that a combination of inflation escalators embedded in its long-term power contracts, margin expansion opportunities, and new renewable facilities it has in development can support 6% to 11% annual growth in cash flow per share. That's because Brookfield Renewable will initially benefit from the interest payments on the exchangeable securities (and then the direct cash flows from the hydro assets upon conversation) as well as additional dividends from TransAlta.

Some better-ranked companies in the basic materials space include The Sherwin-Williams Company SHW , Ternium S.A. TX and Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd. HCHMY . Click to get this free report Celanese Corporation (CE): Free Stock Analysis Report Sherwin-Williams Company (The) (SHW): Free Stock Analysis Report Ternium S.A. (TX): Free Stock Analysis Report HITACHI CHEMICL (HCHMY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Celanese witnessed raw material price inflation in its Acetyl Chain business in the last reported quarter.

And just like conventional Treasury bonds (NYSEARCA:TLT), TIPS are impacted by movements in the interest rate marketplace. TIPS first hit the market in the late 1990s and are government-issued fixed-income securities that are backed by the full faith and credit of the US government for timely payment of interest and principal. In the case of US TIPS, the bond or note's face value is adjusted monthly according to the rate of inflation as measured by the US consumer price index ( CPI ).