FCX hold: Mixed signals still add up to plus

FCX hold: Mixed signals still add up to plus

Back on January 26 copper miner Freeport McMoRan (FCX) dropped sharply–down 6.5%–when the company lowered guidance for production in 2021. For 2021 Freeport McMoRan expects sales of 3.8 billion pounds of copper and 1.3 million ounces of gold. In October the company guided analysts to production of 3.85 billion pounds of copper and 1.4 million ounces of gold. (Freeport-McMoRan did raised its 2022 target for copper sales to 4.3 billion pounds from 4.2 billion.) But the company did report fourth quarter earnings of 39 cents a share, matching Wall Street projections. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the company earned 2 cents a share. But…

Market sees fourth quarter GDP slowdown as good news

Market sees fourth quarter GDP slowdown as good news

U.S. GDP growth slowed in the fourth quarter, gaining just 1% from the third quarter. For the full year the U.S. economy contracted by 3.5%. That makes 2020 the first time that the economy has contracted for a full year since 2009 and the Great Recession. At the bottom of that recession that economy contracted by 2.5%. 2020 is also the worst year for economic growth since 1946 when the economy shrank by 11.6% as the country demobilized after World War II. Consumer spending slowed in all 15 categories tracked by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The sectors that had powered the recovery in the third quarter–restaurants and hotels, for instance–reversed. The growth in spending on cars and health car also slowed from the acceleration in the third quarter. So why is this good news as far as the stock market is concerned?

Adding copper miner Freeport to Jubak Picks Portfolio tomorrow

Adding copper miner Freeport to Jubak Picks Portfolio tomorrow

Commodities have soared on prospects for a post-coronavirus vaccine economic recovery. And copper is one of the best commodities to own in order to invest in the recovery of the global economy–and especially the growth in the Chinese economy–as the coronavirus pandemic recedes in 2021. I already own Southern Copper (SCCO) in my Dividend Portfolio and First Quantum Minerals (FQVLF) in my Volatility Portfolio. Those stocks were up 56.83% and 77.64%, respectively, in 2020. Tomorrow, January 6, I will add shares of Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold to my Jubak Picks Portfolio.

Finding 5 clues for tomorrow in today’s stock market action

Finding 5 clues for tomorrow in today’s stock market action

Yes, the big indexes were down today, January 4, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 off 1.48% at the close; the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.25%; and the NASDAQ Composite lower by 1.47%. But I think we can find some clues about tomorrow’s action–and the moves over the next month or more–from taking a look at individual stocks and sectors.

China’s economy grows faster than expected in November

China’s economy grows faster than expected in November

China’s official Purchasing Managers Index for Manufacturing rose to 52.1 in November. The was up from 51.4 in October. And beat the 51.5 median estimate from economists surveyed by Bloomberg. The index for the non-manufacturing sector climbed to 56.4 in November from 56.2 in October. That exceeded the median forecast of 56. The picture that emerges is of a Chinese economy that has stabilized in November and that has momentum generated by end of the year consumer spending and government measures to stimulate domestic consumer.

Selling AAPL, FCX, NKTR, PXD, VIX options out of Volatility Portfolio on likelihood of continued downward trend in the market and looming expirations

Selling AAPL, FCX, NKTR, PXD, VIX options out of Volatility Portfolio on likelihood of continued downward trend in the market and looming expirations

In November and December I selectively added risk to my Volatility Portfolio in the expectation of a strong seasonal January Effect Rally and the odds of an end of the year bounce that would, temporarily, disrupt the developing bear market. I thought that was a...
It looks we might get a China trade deal before one on NAFTA

It looks we might get a China trade deal before one on NAFTA

Today, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced a May 17 deadline for the Trump administration to submit a proposal NAFTA revision to Congress–if President Trump wants this Congress to vote on a revised agreement. The odds of an agreement emerging from current talks and moving on to Congress on that schedule are just about nil. At the same time news of significant horse trading is coming out of U.S.-China trade talks.