John Curran

Articles from Contributor

Money Managers Grow More Bullish

As we round the last lap before 2011, it’s a good time to take stock of what the year ahead might hold for investors. There are several cross currents and big regional divergences to consider, and there certainly is no unanimity of opinion on how things might play out. But there are changes in what professional investors are thinking, …

The November Jobs Report Disappoints Broadly

Los Angeles job fair has applicants (Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS)

The monthly report on employment, given out by the Labor Department, is the most important statistic of the month for the White House, the American household and the financial industry. The report released on Friday morning at 8:30 am didn’t disappoint–it is already a big …

An Iffy Outlook For Holiday Sales

Most consumers are of two minds–they want to see the economy improve and they also want to see rock bottom prices (50% OFF) on the things they will be buying for the holidays. The contradiction is one most of us live with, and it’s one reason why retailers can’t seem to get traction.

Finally, a Good Jobs Report

It was hard to believe Thursday stock market rally because there was not much good news to support it. Yes, another shot of steroids from the Federal Reserve but that’s not the kind of thing that typically gets investors’ animal spirits stirring. But Friday’s Jobs report, that’s another matter. This report has hopeful signs aplenty. …

More Fed Easing: A Help or Hurt To Markets?

World markets are practically giddy in their expectation for a new round of easing by the US Federal Reserve. As the Financial Times noted Thursday morning, “the FTSE All-World index is up 0.8 percent to its best level since September 2008. The benchmark has climbed 14% in six weeks–a period in which traders’ risk appetite has risen …

Does Economy Justify This Stock Rally?

When the stock market gives you a gift like a 7.7% monthly return it’s almost impolite to question the justification for such a rise. Well, let’s be impolite then. The stock market, in this case the Dow, has risen sharply over the past month most likely because the economy is muddling along, improving bit by bit, and the Federal Reserve …

Can Mergers Lift The Markets?

The air is rife with merger news. Southwest Airlines is bidding for Air Tran, Walmart is planning to buy Massmart Holdings of South Africa and Unilever just sealed a deal to acquire Alberto Culver at a 19% premium to Friday’s closing price. It almost feels like the Go-Go Eighties, with the Wall Street Journal struggling to squeeze all …

Small Biz Is Still Sucking Wind

President Obama had a shinning moment on Thursday when the Senate pulled together (in barley bipartisan fashion) and passed the assistance package for small business. Now there will be a quickie conference with the House, which passed its own version in June. The bill basically puts billions of dollars into the hands of community banks …

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