May 14 - S&P Equity Analyst Kenneth Leon notes that Mexico's Homex Development Corporation is one of the leading homebuilders in Mexico's top four markets, and continues to have a leading position in the other 29 cities. He currently has a "5-Star" Strong Buy recommendation for Homex Development Corporation (HXM).
May 13 - Crude oil prices continue to march higher, and have exceeded S&P's target price of $122 - $125 per barrel. However, we are reaching some key pieces of technical resistance, and with the market being very overbought there is the possibility that we could finally see a decent sized correction in prices for crude oil.
May 8 - S&P's Chief Economist David Wyss notes the economic data this week continued to come in not so much good as less bad than what was expected. The data tend to confirm S&P's view that although the recession may be long, it is likely to be shallow.
May 5 - There are 52 world markets, with 26 being classified as Emerging, such as the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China. These issues posted a 7 ½% gain in April.
May 2 - At this week's Investment Policy Committee meeting, we discussed how the S&P 500 performed after the Fed's last rate cut. The S&P 500 advanced an average 19% during the 12 times since World War II after the Federal Reserve started a rate-cutting program.
May 1 - The FOMC decided to lower its target rate by 25 bp, to 2% at the Apr. 30 policy meeting. Overall, the data on the economy continues to point down.
Apr. 28 - With 60% of the market value in, the big positive news for quarter one earnings is that there was no major negative news. Over the past few months, companies, with help from some equity analysts, have prepared us for the worst and therefore lowered our expectations.
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