WEDNESDAY READS

A Pimco View
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052748704551504578482793093148444.html?mod=BOL_hps_oe#articleTabs_article%3D0

Sync Or No Sync
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100736820

Follow The Indifference
http://blogs.wsj.com/totalreturn/2013/05/14/markets-and-memory-banks/

Offshore No More? http://www.testosteronepit.com/home/2013/5/14/the-hollowing-out-of-chinese-manufacturing.html

US Stocks And Aussie Dollar http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/05/14/is-tumbling-australian-dollar-canary-in-coal-mine-for-u-s-stocks/

Stronger Dollar Good Or Bad?
http://investorplace.com/2013/05/stronger-dollar-spells-bad-news-for-stocks-oil-gold/

Breakout Or Flop?
http://news.investors.com/investing-international-leaders/051413-656014-michael-kors-forming-stock-base.htm?ref=HPLNews

US Oil And Future Demand
http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/14/news/world/oil-iea-demand/index.html

BRIEFS

It's not the air. And it's not about slow growth or deflation despite what MSM may tell you. And it's not about inflation. There's plenty of that around. It's just not the kind these people want.

It's about currency debasing. The latest to join the crowd since Japan kicked off the party in April is Israel whose economy is "heavily dependent on exports, and a strong shekel weakens the competitiveness Israeli products abroad."   

In the last few weeks several countries have lowed their interest rates. Competitive advantage is what economists call it. And that's the current worry-wart facing most of these countries. 

The fear is the age-old one: Don't let the other guy get one up on you.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324216004578481283977918230.html?KEYWORDS=banks+rush

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rle

Don't worry is a popular saying. Not too long ago it was a catch line of a popular song. Now Moody's the bond rating agency recently advised us all to stop the economic hand ringing: there's no bond bubble.

So we can all breathe a sigh of relief, here's a quote from the same agency that gave all those subprime mortgage beauties a triple A rating before the curtain got pulled.

"Recent concerns about a 'bubble' in corporate bond markets look overstated… Overall, drivers of demand and supply offer no strong evidence that recent issuance levels presage a damaging correction......"
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TUESDAY READS

Second Leg Up?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2013/05/13/is-stock-market-breakout-sign-of-new-upleg/2142561/

Import Prices Down
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/14/us-usa-economy-prices-idUSBRE94D0GU20130514

Rate Cut
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324216004578481283977918230.html?mod=ITP_pageone_

Some Of  EU Shine Gone http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324031404578481272902309736.html?mod=ITP_pageone_2

Spying The New Fashion Way
http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/technology/articles/Bloomberg-data-privacy-internet-privacy-consumer/5/14/2013/id/49800


The Japanese Situation
lhttp://www.creditwritedowns.com/2013/05/the-real-experiment-that-is-being-carried-out-in-japan.html


More Spying
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ap-says-doj-secretly-obtained-phone-records-2013-05-13?dist=beforebell

ENERGY

We've mentioned energy before. 

We think there's value there, despite the hydrocarbon haters. Energy demands will only grow. In the short run it's doubtful alternative energy will make much of an impact. 

Opposing forces will see to that. Like the Washington bureaucrats, agreement is hardly a given. And leaving it up to those same bureaucrats will devolve into one of mankind's greatest errors.

So own some energy and that includes water.

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/05/13/blackrock-avoid-utilities-buy-tech-and-energy/

A RELATED PIECE

Chinese solar panel imports are everywhere.

Yet the world's largest solar panel producer by volume resides in Merkel Land, Germany. Slapping tariffs on imports is a form of currency debasing dressed up in patriotic garb. 

And it can be dangerous. But the next to last paragraph in this story is the most important to us because it relates to our Dirty Word piece.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324059704578475300172707498.html?KEYWORDS=The+cloudy+logic
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rle

A DIRTY WORD

It's a four letter word and it's dirty.

Unlike some other four letter words you won't hear it used much these days. And when you do hear it most likely the context centers on its demise.  Right about now, however, it's probably a good time to consider a: "Not do fast!"

And here are some links about why.


1. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-faces-tough-decisions-as-it-dismantles-nuclear-plants-a-899063-2.html

2.http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-renewable-energy-policy-takes-toll-on-nature-conservation-a-888094.html

3. http://oilprice.com/Energy/Coal/Global-Markets-Hot-for-U.S.-Coal.html

4. http://oilprice.com/Energy/Coal/Coal-Is-the-Fuel-of-the-Past-and-the-Future.html
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rle

MONDAY READS

Make You Want To Trust MSM?
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Network-News-Ties-Obama/2013/05/12/id/504036

Make You Want To Trust Government More?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324715704578478851998004528.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0

The Wall Street Octopus
http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2013/05/12/denver-public-schools-pay-216-million-to-wall-street-banks-to-unwind-swaps/#more-5652

Japanese Stocks Up
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/13/us-markets-japan-stocks-idUSBRE94C02020130513

Aussie Dollar
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100683015

Bears Versus Bulls
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-12/gold-bears-pull-20-8-billion-as-blackrock-says-buy-commodities.html

Change From Libor
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/12/libor-replacement-idUSL3N0DT09J20130512

New Study About Testicular Cancer in Young
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130512141208.htm

Confidence Booster
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324744104578471512931848632.html?KEYWORDS=foreclosure+erro

BRIEFS

Usually we post a few short items here, but this time we think you'll find the following linked-article worth the time.

We've argued for years the MSM leaves much to be desired. In LA at this moment there is an apparent struggle between unions and other populist forces and two free-market-oriented, conservative billionaire brothers over who should get ownership of the powerful newspaper, the LA Times.

Does it matter?  Somebody thinks so. Though this post isn't about that struggle, indirectly it is. Too big to fail isn't just limited to big banks.

The tracks of too big are everywhere: too big to be owned by people with opposing opinions; too big to accurately report the real news; too big to tell the little guy the actual truth.

http://www.testosteronepit.com/home/2013/5/10/every-president-his-bubble-and-its-aftermath.html

WHAT'S YOUR VIEW?

To say that stocks have been on a tear so far is to put it mildly. 

Up 15% for the year so far, should the trend continue on annualized basis the market would end 2013 whoppingly higher. Now this isn't intended to be one of those it-is-it-isn't-going-to-happen articles. Not at all. It's more reflection time.

You've got heavy-hitting hedge fund managers touting everything from further weakness in the Aussie dollar to recommending housing stocks that have already rallied based on further improving fundamentals to suggesting though stocks are not cheap they have a ways to go in this dramtic upswing.

In other words, there is no shortage of opinions here.  Last week there were two prominent meetings, one in New York, the other in what-happens-here-stays-here LasVegas. 

One writer even referred to the Las Vegas gathering as Davos in the desert. Given our view of the annual Davos confab, we're not sure whether that's a compliment or an insult.

What is certain is this information won't stay there. So here's another view from another heavy-hitter.

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/05/10/sam-zell-says-sell/

WEEKEND READ

WANT MORE $:  SHORTEN NAME
http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2013/05/10/study-people-with-shorter-names-earn-more/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=email-2013-05-11&utm_medium=email

MARITAL MONEY BLISS
http://news.investors.com/investing-personal-finance/051013-655670-how-to-avoid-marital-money-stress.htm?ref=HPLNews

MONEY BLISS
http://news.investors.com/investing-personal-finance/051013-655670-how-to-avoid-marital-money-stress.htm?ref=HPLNews

US AND UK HOUSING: A LOOK http://www.bondvigilantes.com/blog/2013/05/10/a-look-at-housing-affordability-in-the-us-and-uk/

WHAT SAY YOU?
http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/jpmorgan-chase-co-jpm-be-careful-what-you-wish-for-139836/

STRONG DOLLAR
http://www.marctomarket.com/2013/05/currency-positioning-and-technical_11.htm

WHERE WERE THEY?
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-05-10/did-they-ever-tell-you-buy-gold-or-sell-stocks

FED MAP
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324744104578475273101471896.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0