GROWTH OUTLOOK

China set to take the higher path to growth by focusing on the cleaner and leaner.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/05/us-china-parliament-idUSBREA2320S20140305

Australia's GDP quarter over quarter bumped up 0.8%, the fastest rate in a year, surprising many. Consensus sentiment called 0.7% quarter over quarter growth. Much of the drag in the economy down under stems from decreased mining which has weighed heavily on the economy.
http://www.fxstreet.com/analysis/indices-insider/2014/03/05/02/

LOSERS AND LAGGARDS

A lot of money mangers balance up their portfolios each year by selling some winners and loading up on the year's losers or laggards. With tons of eyes focused on China and the problems there, one of those laggards has been steel. And there others like mining.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB20001424052702304585004579419413143143546?mod=ITP_moneyandinvesting_8&mg=reno64-wsj

AROUND THE WEB

                                                                        LESSONS

Some things withstand the test of time. Here's a read on investing rules that reside in that area.

Take what it has to offer and move forward.

http://contrarianedge.com/2011/10/26/a-few-simple-rules-for-money-managers/

FOTRY-NINTH TIME

The S&P 500 closed today at a new high for the 49th time in the last 12 months as the situation in the Ukraine cooled a bit. It might be only one day, but it was enough to cool off at least for the nonce rising oil and gold prices.
.ttp://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-rally-sp-500-hits-intraday-record-2014-03-04?
pagenumber=1

Global equities rebounded strongly on the news that the conflict in Ukraine was simmering. The Russian MICEX index bounced back 5.28% in today's session after losing 10.68% yesterday and is now down 6.11% from last Friday's close. US and European stocks also reacted positively. The US S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) gained 1.52%, and the German DAX (INDEXDB:DAX) gained 2.46%. The US small-cap Russell 2000 (INDEXRUSSELL:RUT) rose to a new record high today, up 2.92% for the day.

All 10 basic S&P sectors were in the green today, led by the health-care, financials, and industrial sectors. President Obama released his 2015 budget proposal, which included a record $3.9 trillion in spending. Additionally, the inherent growth forecasts within the proposal reveal expectations that the US will experience the strongest growth in the next fiscal year since 2005.

http://www.minyanville.com/business-news/markets/articles/ukraine-russia-vladimir-putin-crimea-armed/3/4/2014/id/54018

WHAT SHOULD AN INVESTOR DO?

What to do if the unthinkable becomes what it is, thinkable. How to play the markets if war does breakout in the Ukraine? Here's one investor's take.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/where-to-put-your-money-if-war-breaks-out-2014-03-03?dist=tcountdown

ANOTHER MARKET VIEW OF UKRAINE DRAMA

Recently, we posted a quote from El-Erian the now lame duck former CEO and CIO at Pimco about volatility and human reactions in our Behavior page. 

Well, here's his apparent view on the Ukraine situation and markets.

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/03/03/how-the-markets-should-read-ukraines-crisis/

MARKET RAMIFICATIONS

Will it or won't it? 

That's the big question on the minds of many investors, the true impact of the tension in the Ukraine. While the Ukraine steals most of the attention right now there are certainly other hotspots hovering around. 

So is it just the Ukraine or what could develop into some kind of cumulative effect that spooks this market, Venezuela, Libya, Uganda, to name but a few? Protestors and protesting appear the flavor de jour these days. 

A wall of worry is one thing, reality another.

 http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/03/investing/ukraine-bull-market/index.html?iid=lead2

MARKETS RATTLED OVER UKRAINE

Monday morning came somewhat gloomy for investors as the fallout from the Ukraine pushed oil and gold prices higher and so-called safe have bond yields lower.

 Stocks took a hit too as the scene turned more bellicose when Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his right to invade his neighbor.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/03/us-markets-global-idUSBRE96S00E20140303

SURPRISE, SURPRISE

Some people are not surprised by what's going on in the Ukraine.

One of those not caught off guard is Brett Arends, a columnist for the website Market Watch. Given a closer look, about the only ones caught off guard is the gaggle Western politicians who now appear to be scrambling around trying to figure it all out as in what to do next.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-red-flags-the-west-ignored-about-putins-russia-2014-03-02?link=MW_story_popular

MORE ON THE UKRAINE

It may not be paradise, but there's trouble afoot in the Ukraine. And that could turn an already unsteady global economy sour. 

Given the Federal Reserve's recent inclination to further ease it's foot off the QE accelerator, emerging market economies and their once plentiful foreign investors are beginning to look a little peaked.  And it may be a bit too early for the congrarian crowd to have much if any impact.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/02/news/economy/ukraine-economy/index.html?iid=HP_MPM