Lind-Waldock: Your vision. Our expertise.

Explore Your Options in the Dollar

pstreible@lind-waldock.com — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:28:10 GMT

The U.S. dollar has been gaining a bit of ground this past month after a prolonged bear market trend. But is this really a trend change? You can use options to trade your view, and I think there are some strategies with good risk-reward right now you can pursue in the U.S. Dollar Index.

Market Watch: Energies, Grains and Indexes

mhinman@lind-waldock.com — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:58:26 GMT

Volatility is having a huge impact on many markets. No one has ever seen anything like this. I don’t want to get into details of why this extreme volatility exists except to point out that it does exist, it has been here for a while and probably won’t go away anytime in the near future.

What's in Store for the Markets in May?

jfriedman@lind-waldock.com — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:49:14 GMT

The stage was set for stocks to rally in early May after the Federal Reserve suggested at its April 29-30 policy meeting that the easing cycle that began after last summer’s subprime loan crisis may come to end, or at least, take a pause. The major stock market averages have been gaining lost ground on ideas the economy should start to recover. The Fed may have to turn to fighting inflation, which is putting a damper on consumer pocketbooks and the economic outlook. We’ve all seen the headlines about soaring food and fuel prices. I’ll take a look at a number of markets including stocks, bonds, the U.S. dollar, and crude oil. I’ll share where I think the markets may be headed this month, and offer some key technical levels I’m watching.

Crude Oil Hits Record High – Are Energies Too High?

mkrupski@lind-waldock.com — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:32:40 GMT

Crude oil for June delivery jumped to a new record high, above $122 on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. The spike in price was spurred by supply disruptions in Nigeria and growing demand from India and China. It also didn’t help that a new prediction was made by Goldman Sachs forecasting prices to rise to $150 to $200 within two years. Are these prices justified in crude and other energy markets?

Selling Covered Calls in Corn

msabo@lind-waldock.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:13:35 GMT

Using options, you can develop a risk management strategy. I am going to look a specific strategy that involves selling a covered call that can be used in the July corn futures market with a medium/long-term timeframe.

Gold Dip May Offer Good Buying Opportunity

pstreible@lind-waldock.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:08:50 GMT

After reaching record highs above $1,000 an ounce in March, gold has stalled, and has now broken below $900 in the June futures contract. I think this correction offers an opportunity to consider a bullish trade.

Be Prepared for Crude Oil Correction with Options

pstreible@lind-waldock.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:37:29 GMT

Crude oil continues to rise to new all-time highs, but it’s prudent to be prepared for a correction when a market has moved this far, this fast. It could even come mid-week once the market absorbs the latest supply data as well the result of the two-day Fed policy meeting. I am currently recommending a bearish crude oil options strategy.

A Pivotal Market Week

jfriedman@lind-waldock.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:08:52 GMT

Last week was the calm before the storm for the financial markets, as we have a torrent of economic data in the coming days, including the Federal Open Market Committee Meeting Tuesday and Wednesday and the March employment report Friday. Look for potentially volatile action in stocks, bonds, the U.S. dollar and commodities, and possible short-term trend changes.

Gold Corrects, but Picking Tops in Crude Futile

rilczyszyn@lind-waldock.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:45:16 GMT

The euro has fallen against the dollar, and if the trend continues, watch for some commodities to correct, as we’ve already seen happening in gold. Crude oil has been a runaway course, and while a correction could come at any time, it’s futile to try and pick a top even if fundamentals don’t seem to support current prices.

Crude Oil Hits New High - How to Trade a Bull Market

tmikulski@lind-waldock.com — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:48:49 GMT

It's pretty clear when you look at the daily chart of June crude oil futures that this is a runaway market, hitting new all-time highs Tuesday, April 22 above $119 a barrel. Here's how you approach this market...

U.S. Futures Exchange Launches USD SENSEX India Equity Index Futures

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:15:01 GMT

On April 4, 2008, the U.S. Futures Exchange (USFE) launched the first Indian equity index futures contract tradable on a U.S. regulated exchange – the USD SENSEX future. USD SENSEX is based on the first-ever created Indian equity index, but is converted into U.S. dollars.

The Fed's Next Move:Reading the Signs and Developing a Pre-FOMC Strategy

gperlin@lind-waldock.com, mmarshall@lind-waldock.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:16:02 GMT

The Federal Open Market Committee meeting is coming up on April 29-30, 2008, and Fed policymakers must decide where interest rates are headed next. The Fed has lowered its key short-term lending rate, known as the Fed funds rate, six times since September 2007. It is now at 2.25 percent.

Predictive Indicators

Darrell@tradingeducation.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:17:03 GMT

Technical analysis begins with a price chart, and you have to read the tracks left by the prices on the chart. The problem with charts is that they are subjective. Different people see different things, and you can't program subjective analysis into a computer. Most technical indicators aren't perfect, as they consider only one thing—price action that happened in the past.

The Fed and the Yield Curve

churley@lind-waldock.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:17:37 GMT

You may be wondering why mortgage rates haven’t gone down and have even fluctuated higher even though the Fed has been aggressively cutting interest rates over the last several months. When interest rates are flat, the interest rates on different maturities in Treasuries are relatively close, and when they become steep, it results in a more normal interest rate curve.

Ethanol is NOT the Answer

jcomiskey@lind-waldock.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:18:27 GMT

I think it's now beyond a doubt that current congressional mandates dictating ethanol use are having a tremendous impact on soaring food prices. The current futures price on corn is essentially at an all-time record high. December corn futures closed at around $6.10 per bushel on April 25, just shy of its all-time high April 17 at $6.23. The price of soybeans, wheat and rice are similarly at all-time highs.

Ask a Broker

tevans@lind-waldock.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:20:02 GMT

I'm looking to enter the corn market. How do I capitalize on what I think should be a bullish market? I want to minimize the damage if the expected record crop gets into the ground with no problems.

This month, Lind Plus Senior Market Strategist Tim Evans answers.

Book of the Month - The Market Masters

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:23:58 GMT

Twenty leading money minds reveal how to prosper in today's volatile markets. What strategies have made Wall Street's top investors so successful? What are their biggest mistakes and proudest accomplishments? How do they invest their own money?

Man Global Research

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:22:57 GMT

Man Global Research analysts offer their analysis of the impact and influence of investment funds on commodity prices, and whether commodities are a viable long-term passive investment asset class for these new market participants.

Using Options to Understand Fed Behavior

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:24:32 GMT

Speculation about where interest rates are going accelerates heading into each Federal Reserve policy meeting, and you can trade your own view using CME Fed funds futures, options, and binary contracts.

Did You Know?

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:25:18 GMT

It's spring, and tulips are in bloom. In 17th Century Netherlands, tulips were highly sought-after and were exchange-traded. Since the flowers had yet to bloom, tulip bulbs were essentially futures contracts. "Tulip mania" pushed the price of a single bulb as high as 10 times an average individual's yearly income. Like most bubbles, tulip mania ended with a crash.