Bank of America & the Big Bad Fed Fairytale

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) sold off Tuesday, likely due to the media and market interpretation of Fed Chair Yellen’s speech. It has been portrayed as extremely dovish, which portends a poor interest rate outlook for the bank and its net interest margin. It’s a factor that could weigh against the stock long-term if it were to persist. Luckily, I believe the Fed perspective and the tone of its Fed Chair will turn in BAC’s favor over the next two months as her cause of concern is cleared up. So, I’m suggesting investors buy BAC on any weakness caused by a seemingly softer Fed perspective. It is a fairytale. See more of this report on Bank of America shares here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

Buy AT&T on Any Fed Fairytale

AT&T (NYSE: T) is underperforming the market today, as are utilities more broadly. It’s on a macro issue or beta-driver that I believe will be undone before long. The nascent risk-on race for stocks is being fueled by a favorable media and market interpretation of Fed Chair Yellen’s speech Tuesday. If it continues, it could start to pull capital from safe haven sectors like utilities (and telecom) in order to put it to work in riskier areas. However, this leg of the rally is based on a fairytale, in my opinion, fueled by faulty Fed expectations and economic softness, driven not by substance but by a negative feedback loop (read this). As March data reaches the wire next month, I expect its strength will paint a different picture that will change the Fed Chair’s tune once again, serving AT&T again. So, any weakness we see in AT&T and its telecommunications and utility brethren near-term should be bought in my view, as any lost capital will come back quickly. That should be limited for AT&T anyway, given the stock’s dividend payout and near-term dividend record date, which holders will at least wait for. See more of this report about AT&T shares here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor’s Note: This article should interest investors in Alaska Communications Systems Group (Nasdaq: ALSK), AT&T (NYSE: T), Atlantic Tele-Network (Nasdaq: ATNI), BCE Inc. (NYSE: BCE), CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL), Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE: CHT), Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB), Consolidated Communications (Nasdaq: CNSL), eOn Communications (Nasdaq: EONC), Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX), FairPoint Communications (Nasdaq: FRP), Frontier Communications (Nasdaq: FTR), Hickory Tech (Nasdaq: HTCO), IA Global (OTC: IAGI.PK), magicJack VocalTec (Nasdaq: CALL), Shenandoah Telecommunications (Nasdaq: SHEN), SureWest Communications (Nasdaq: SURW), tw telecom (Nasdaq: TWTC), UniTek Global Services (Nasdaq: UNTK), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Vonage (NYSE: VG), Warwick Valley Telephone (Nasdaq: WWVY) and Windstream Corp. (Nasdaq: WIN).

Fed Gangs Up on Gold

After the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Monetary Policy Meeting this March, the Fed members were once again freed to speak their minds. They set off on their speaking engagements starting last week, and many of them spoke of a need for interest rate hikes sooner rather than later. It all sort of felt like the Fed gang was ganging up on gold, because faster Fed rate hikes likely support dollar strength and gold weakness. See more on this report about how the Fed Gang Gangs Up on Gold.

Precious Metal Securities	March 16 to March 28
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	+0.5%
SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)	-3.3%
iShares Gold Trust (NYSE: IAU)	-3.1%
iShares Silver Trust (NYSE: SLV)	-2.8%
Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 3X (NYSE: NUGT)	-21%
Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bearish 3X (NYSE: DUST)	+19%
Market Vectors Gold Miners (NYSE: GDX)	-6.9%
Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners (NYSE: GDXJ)	-5.9%
Goldcorp (NYSE: GG)	-7.4%
Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM)	-6.7%
Randgold Resources (Nasdaq: GOLD)	-2.2%*
Barrick Resources (NYSE: ABX)	-10.3%
Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY)	-9.1%
Gold Fields Ltd. (NYSE: GFI)	-14.3%
Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW)	-3.2%
Coeur Mining (NYSE: CDE)	+2.6%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article should interest investors in precious metals stocks: Goldcorp (NYSE: GG), Agnico-Eagle Mines (NYSE: AEM), Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX: ANV), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE: AU), AuRico Gold (NYSE: AUQ), Aurizon Mines (AMEX: AZK), Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX), Brigus Gold (AMEX: BRD), Charles & Covard (Nasdaq: CTHR), Claude Resources (AMEX: CGR), Commerce Group (OTC: CGCO.PK), Compania Mina Buenaventura S.A. (NYSE: BVN), DRDGOLD (Nasdaq: DROOY), Eldorado Gold (NYSE: EGO), Entrée Gold (AMEX: EGI), Exeter Resource (AMEX: XRA), Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI), Gold Reserve (AMEX: GRZ), Gold Resource (Nasdaq: GORO), Golden Eagle Int’l (OTC: MYNG.PK), Golden Star Resources (AMEX: GSS), Great Basin Gold (AMEX: GBG), Harmony Gold (NYSE: HMY), IAMGOLD (NYSE: IAG), International Tower Hill Mines (AMEX: THM), Jaguar Mining (NYSE: JAG), Keegan Resources (AMEX: KGN), Kimber Resources (AMEX: KBX), Kingold Jewelry (Nasdaq: KGJI), Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC), Midway Gold (AMEX: MDW), Minco Gold (AMEX: MGH), Nevsun Resources (AMEX: NSU), New Jersey Mining (OTC: NJMC.PK), Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), North Bay Resources (OTC: NBRI.OB), Northgate Minerals (AMEX: NXG), NovaGold Resources (AMEX: NG), Richmont Mines (AMEX: RIC), Royal Gold (Nasdaq: RGLD), Rubicon Minerals (AMEX: RBY), Seabridge Gold (AMEX: SA), Solitario Exploration and Royalty (AMEX: XPL), Tanzanian Royalty Exploration (AMEX: TRE), Thunder Mountain Gold (OTC: THMG.OB), U.S. Gold (NYSE: UXG), Vista Gold (AMEX: VGZ), Wits Basin Precious Metals (OTC: WITM.PK), Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY), Coeur d’Alene Mines (NYSE: CDE), Endeavour Silver (NYSE: EXK), Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL), Mag Silver (AMEX: MVG), Mines Management (AMEX: MGN), Silver Standard Resources (Nasdaq: SSRI), Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW), SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEArca: GLD), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSEArca: GDX), iShares Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SLV), ProShares Ultra Silver (NYSEArca: AGQ), ProShares Ultra Short Silver (NYSEArca: ZSL), Great Panther Silver (AMEX: GPL), Silvercorp Metals (NYSE: SVM), Paramount Gold and Silver (AMEX: PZG), Pan American Silver (Nasdaq: PAAS) and First Majestic Silver (NYSE: AG).

Negative Feedback Loop - Stock Market Hurt Economy in Early 2016

This is a groundbreaking report presenting an original idea not yet being discussed across media about why early year economic data being reported now has soured.

On Monday when consumer spending data was reported, it showed a disappointing result for February and a downward revision to January. The news disappointed investors and raised speculation about the well-being of the economy, even after the upward GDP revision for Q4 reported last week. I believe the decrease in economic activity at the start of this year was directly due to the disruption to the stock market in January and February, which concerned Americans enough to limit their spending habits. There are signs of it in other data as well, but it is apparently reversing in March, not coincidentally as stocks have recovered. February’s poor data is the result of a negative feedback loop, which hopefully does not develop into a downward spiral. If investors can understand this argument, it should go a long way to preventing that end for stocks. See more about the Negative Feedback Loop here.

Security Sector	03-29-16 11:30 AM
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	-0.1%
SPDR Dow Jones (NYSE: DIA)	-0.2%
PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ)	+0.4%
iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM)	+0.4%
Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE: VTI)	-0.1%
Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF)	-0.8%
Technology Select Sector SPDR (Nasdaq: XLK)	+0.5%
Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE)	-1.1%
Health Care Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLV)	-0.0%
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSE:  XLY)	+0.2%
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLP)	-0.1%
Utilities Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLU)	+0.1%
Materials Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLB)	-0.9%
Industrial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLI)	-0.3%
iPath S&P 500 VIX ST Futures (NYSE: VXX)	-0.1%
SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)	+0.6%
United States Oil (NYSE: USO)	-3.5%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article should interest investors in SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA), SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY), PowerShares QQQ Trust (Nasdaq: QQQ), ProShares Short Dow 30 (NYSE: DOG), ProShares Ultra Short S&P 500 (NYSE: SDS), ProShares Ultra QQQ (NYSE: QLD), NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX), The NASDAQ OMX Group (Nasdaq: NDAQ), Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), E*Trade Financial (Nasdaq: ETFC), Charles Schwab (Nasdaq: SCHW), Asset Acceptance Capital (Nasdaq: AACC), Affiliated Managers (NYSE: AMG), Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP), TD Ameritrade (Nasdaq: AMTD), BGC Partners (Nasdaq: BGCP), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), BlackRock (NYSE: BLK), CIT Group (NYSE: CIT), Calamos Asset Management (Nasdaq: CLMS), CME Group (NYSE: CME), Cohn & Steers (NYSE: CNS), Cowen Group (Nasdaq: COWN), Diamond Hill Investment (Nasdaq: DHIL), Dollar Financial (Nasdaq: DLLR), Duff & Phelps (Nasdaq: DUF), Encore Capital (Nasdaq: ECPG), Edelman Financial (Nasdaq: EF), Equifax (NYSE: EFX), Epoch (Nasdaq: EPHC), Evercore Partners (NYSE: EVR), EXCorp. (Nasdaq: EZPW), FBR Capital Markets (Nasdaq: FBCM), First Cash Financial (Nasdaq: FCFS), Federated Investors (NYSE: FII), First Marblehead (NYSE: FMD), Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF), Financial Engines (Nasdaq: FNGN), FXCM (Nasdaq: FXCM), Gamco Investors (NYSE: GBL), GAIN Capital (Nasdaq: GCAP), Green Dot (Nasdaq: GDOT), GFI Group (Nasdaq: GFIG), Greenhill (NYSE: GHL), Gleacher (Nasdaq: GLCH), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), INTL FCStone (Nasdaq: INTL), Intersections (Nasdaq: INTX), Investment Technology (NYSE: ITG), Invesco (NYSE: IVZ), Jefferies (NYSE: JEF), JMP Group (NYSE: JMP), Janus Capital (NYSE: JNS), KBW (NYSE: KBW), Knight Capital (NYSE: KCG), Lazard (NYSE: LAZ), Legg Mason (NYSE: LM), LPL Investment (Nasdaq: LPLA), Ladenburg Thalmann (AMEX: LTS), Mastercard (NYSE: MA), Moody’s (NYSE: MCO), MF Global (NYSE: MF), Moneygram (NYSE: MGI), MarketAxess (Nasdaq: MKTX), Marlin Business Services (Nasdaq: MRLN), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), MSCI (Nasdaq: MSCI), MGIC Investment (NYSE: MTG), NewStar Financial (Nasdaq: NEWS), National Financial Partners (NYSE: NFP), Nelnet (NYSE: NNI), Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS), NetSpend (Nasdaq: NTSP), Ocwen Financial (NYSE: OCN), Oppenheimer (NYSE: OPY), optionsXpress (Nasdaq: OXPS), PICO (Nasdaq: PICO), Piper Jaffray (NYSE: PJC), PMI Group (NYSE: PMI), Penson Worldwide (Nasdaq: PNSN), Portfolio Recovery (Nasdaq: PRAA), Raymond James (NYSE: RJF), SEI Investments (Nasdaq: SEIC), Stifel Financial (NYSE: SF), Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE: SFE), State Street (NYSE: STT), SWS (NYSE: SWS), T. Rowe Price (Nasdaq: TROW), Visa (NYSE: V) and Virtus Investment Partners (Nasdaq: VRTS).

Existing Home Sales Collapsed - The Reason Not to Worry

Last week provided some eye-catching real estate data, namely a severe dip in existing home sales for February. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports the data and speculated that the meaningful decline might be due to the tight inventory situation. However, I see a temporary issue at play in February that has since corrected. I expect that signals that the pace of home sales will be restored in short time. Real estate investors can rest easy, as I see this year’s expansion for housing intact. See more on why you can rest easy about the decline in existing home sales.

Housing Relative Shares	Year-to-Date
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	+0.2%
SPDR S&P Homebuilders (NYSE: XHB)	-3.2%
iShares US Real Estate (NYSE: IYR)	+1.2%
Pultegroup (NYSE: PHM)	+2.2%
Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL)	-13.9%
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC)	-18.8%
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC)	-9.7%
MGIC Investment (NYSE: MTG)	-17.2%
Radian Group (NYSE: RDN)	-12.0%
Investors Title (Nasdaq: ITIC)	-8.6%
iShares Mortgage Real Estate (NYSE: REM)	-1.4%
Invesco Mortgage Capital (NYSE: IVR)	-2.1%
New Residential Investment (NYSE: NRZ)	-3.7%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Investors Title (Nasdaq: ITIC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), UltraShort Real Estate ProShares (NYSE: SRS), Ultra Real Estate ProShares (NYSE: URE), ING Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (NYSE: IGR), Xinyuan Real Estate Co. (NYSE: XIN), Rydex Real Estate Fund H (Nasdaq: RYHRX), T. Rowe Price Real Estate Fund (Nasdaq: TRREX), Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL), Hovnanian (NYSE: HOV), D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI), Beazer Homes (NYSE: BZH), Lennar (NYSE: LEN), K.B. Homes (NYSE: KBH), Pulte Homes (NYSE: PHM), NVR Inc. (NYSE: NVR), Gafisa SA (NYSE: GFA), MDC Holdings (NYSE: MDC), Ryland Group (NYSE: RYL), Meritage Homes (NYSE: MTH), Brookfield Homes (NYSE: BHS), Standard Pacific (NYSE: SPF), M/I Homes (NYSE: MHO), Orleans Homebuilders (AMEX: OHB), Vanguard REIT Index ETF (NYSE: VNQ), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Hooker Furniture (Nasdaq: HOFT), Ethan Allen (NYSE: ETH), Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR), Williams Sonoma (NYSE: WSM), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Lowes (NYSE: LOW), Nasdaq: XNFZX, Nasdaq: FSAZX, Avatar Holdings (Nasdaq: AVTR), Apartment Investment & Management (NYSE: AIV), Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR), Avalonbay Communities (NYSE: AVB), UDR Inc. (NYSE: UDR), Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS), Camden Property Trust (NYSE: CPT), Senior Housing Properties (NYSE: SNH), BRE Properties (NYSE: BRE), Home Properties (NYSE: HME), Mid-America Apartment (NYSE: MAA), Equity Lifestyle Properties (NYSE: ELS), American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC), Colonial Properties (NYSE: CLP), American Capital Agency (Nasdaq: AGNC), Sun Communities (NYSE: SUI), Associated Estates (NYSE: AEC), PennyMac Mortgage (NYSE: PMT), Two Harbors (AMEX: TWO), Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG).

Sell Oil & Gas Exploration & Production - Take Risk off the Fringe of Energy

In my recent report, Why Energy is in Serious Danger Again, I suggested investors in the energy sector prepare for another significant downturn near-term. That is especially true for investors at the fringe of risk, in energy exploration and production firms. So, I suggest investors with recent paper gains in the SPDR Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (NYSE: XOP) take profits here. I believe the security could retest February lows near-term on the same fundamental catalysts that I see pressuring oil. See more on why I say sell the Oil & Gas E&Ps here.

Top 10 Holdings of XOP ETF	Gain Since February 24 Close
Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE: COG)	11.5%
Antero Resources (NYSE: AR)	2.7%
Gulfport Energy (Nasdaq: GPOR)	4.7%
EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT)	12.9%
Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM)	3.0%
Range Resources (NYSE: RRC)	31.6%
Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY)	-0.3%
Parsley Energy (NYSE: PE)	31.8%
Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN)	8.1%
Chevron (NYSE: CVX)	11.2%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article interests energy investors including Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), BP (NYSE: BP), PetroChina (NYSE: PTR), Petrobras (NYSE: PZE), Royal Dutch Shell (OTC: RYDAF.PK), Total (NYSE: TOT), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Repsol (OTC: REPYY.PK), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Eni SpA (NYSE: E), Sasol (NYSE: SSL), Encana (NYSE: ECA), Suncor (NYSE: SU), Imperial Oil (AMEX: IMO), Statoil (NYSE: STO), Cenovus (NYSE: CVE), Transocean (NYSE: RIG), Penn West Petroleum (NYSE: PWE), Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR), Noble (NYSE: NE), Concho (NYSE: CXO), Diamond Offshore (NYSE: DO), Ensco (NYSE: ESV), Whiting Petroleum (NYSE: WLL), Nabors (NYSE: NBR), Pride International (NYSE: PDE), Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP), QEP Resources (NYSE: QEP), Enerplus (NYSE: ERF), Rowan (NYSE: RDC), Cobalt (NYSE: CIE), Patterson UTI (Nasdaq: PTEN), SandRidge (NYSE: SD), Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB), Halliburton (NYSE: HAL), National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV), Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI), Weatherford International (NYSE: WFT), Cameron (NYSE: CAM), FMC Tech (NYSE: FTI), Oil States International (NYSE: OIS), Superior Energy (NYSE: SPN), Carbo Ceramics (NYSE: CRR), Helix Energy (NYSE: HLX), Pioneer (NYSE: PXD), CNOOC (NYSE: CEO), China Petroleum and Chemical (NYSE: SNP), Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC), Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE: CNQ), Apache (NYSE: APA), Anadarko (NYSE: APC), Devon (NYSE: DVN), EOG (NYSE: EOG), Chesapeake (NYSE: CHK).

Volatility Hedges are Timely & Cheap Again – Consider the VXX

When I first suggested investors consider volatility hedges last August before the stock market correction, the comment section of the article was full of criticism. I suppose that was understandable, given that the critics didn’t foresee the correction I anticipated. Since last summer’s event, the iPath S&P 500 VIX ST Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX) has mostly traded above where I first recommended it, though I told holders to sell it at a profit since. Volatility hedges like the VXX are indeed ironically risky instruments that are not to be held for the long-term. But today, I once again view them timely and appropriate tools for sophisticated investors to use for portfolio protection. Fortunately, they are also much more affordable than they were just a few weeks ago. See the full report on why you should consider volatility hedges again here.

Volatility Securities

iPath S&P 500 VIX ST Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX)

VelocityShares VIX ST ETN (NYSE: VIIX)

ProShares VIX ST Futures (NYSE: VIXY)

iPath S&P 500 VIX Mid-Term Futures ETN (NYSE: VXZ)

Extra Leverage, Higher Risk

ProShares Ultra VIX ST Futures (NYSE: UVXY)

VelocityShares Daily 2X VIX (NYSE: TVIX)

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Citigroup (NYSE: C), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), TD Bank (NYSE: TD), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), State Street (NYSE: STT), Janus (NYSE: JNS), T. Rowe Price (Nasdaq: TROW), General Electric (NYSE: GE), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), Alcoa (NYSE: AA), American Express (NYSE: AXP), Boeing (NYSE: BA), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), DuPont (NYSE: DD), Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), IBM (NYSE: IBM), Intel (Nasdaq: INTC), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Kraft (NYSE: KFT), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), 3M (NYSE: MMM), Merck (NYSE: MRK), Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), AT&T (NYSE: T), Travelers (NYSE: TRV), United Technologies (NYSE: UTX), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Paychex (Nasdaq: PAYX), Manpower (NYSE: MAN), Robert Half International (NYSE: RHI), 51Job Inc. (Nasdaq: JOBS), Monster World Wide (NYSE: MWW), Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY), Administaff (NYSE: ASF), Kforce (Nasdaq: KFRC), TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI), Dice Holdings (NYSE: DHX), Kelly Services (Nasdaq: KELYA), SFN Group (NYSE: SFN), CDI Corp. (NYSE: CDI), Cross Country Healthcare (Nasdaq: CCRN), On Assignment (Nasdaq: ASGN), AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE: AHS), Barrett Business Services (Nasdaq: BBSI), Hudson Highland Group (Nasdaq: HHGP), StarTek (NYSE: SRT), RCM Technologies (Nasdaq: RCMT), VirtualScopics (Nasdaq: VSCP), General Employment Enterprises (NYSE: JOB) and TeamStaff (Nasdaq: TSTF).

Sell Stocks Right Now

The shocking terrorist attacks in Brussels are raising concern about Europe, firing up relative dollar strength, and turning back oil prices – that is enough to stop the nascent stock market rally. I’m suggesting investors raise cash, buy volatility hedges and seek safety in utilities. On the day of the events in Brussels, equities in the U.S. seemed to brush it off. However, it has become apparent to me that the courage of U.S. equity holders could be lost if oil declines near-term as I suspect it will. Here’s what I see happening. See the full warning to sell stocks now right here.

Security Sector	03-23-16 Late PM
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	-0.7%
SPDR Dow Jones (NYSE: DIA)	-0.5%
PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ)	-0.9%
iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM)	-1.5%
Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE: VTI)	-0.8%
Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF)	-0.6%
Technology Select Sector SPDR (Nasdaq: XLK)	-0.6%
Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE)	-2.3%
Health Care Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLV)	-0.7%
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSE:  XLY)	-0.7%
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLP)	-0.0%
Utilities Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLU)	+0.7%
Materials Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLB)	-1.4%
Industrial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLI)	-0.7%
iPath S&P 500 VIX ST Futures (NYSE: VXX)	+4.2%
SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)	-2.1%
United States Oil (NYSE: USO)	-4.2%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article should interest investors in SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA), SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY), PowerShares QQQ Trust (Nasdaq: QQQ), ProShares Short Dow 30 (NYSE: DOG), ProShares Ultra Short S&P 500 (NYSE: SDS), ProShares Ultra QQQ (NYSE: QLD), NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX), The NASDAQ OMX Group (Nasdaq: NDAQ), Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), E*Trade Financial (Nasdaq: ETFC), Charles Schwab (Nasdaq: SCHW), Asset Acceptance Capital (Nasdaq: AACC), Affiliated Managers (NYSE: AMG), Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP), TD Ameritrade (Nasdaq: AMTD), BGC Partners (Nasdaq: BGCP), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), BlackRock (NYSE: BLK), CIT Group (NYSE: CIT), Calamos Asset Management (Nasdaq: CLMS), CME Group (NYSE: CME), Cohn & Steers (NYSE: CNS), Cowen Group (Nasdaq: COWN), Diamond Hill Investment (Nasdaq: DHIL), Dollar Financial (Nasdaq: DLLR), Duff & Phelps (Nasdaq: DUF), Encore Capital (Nasdaq: ECPG), Edelman Financial (Nasdaq: EF), Equifax (NYSE: EFX), Epoch (Nasdaq: EPHC), Evercore Partners (NYSE: EVR), EXCorp. (Nasdaq: EZPW), FBR Capital Markets (Nasdaq: FBCM), First Cash Financial (Nasdaq: FCFS), Federated Investors (NYSE: FII), First Marblehead (NYSE: FMD), Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF), Financial Engines (Nasdaq: FNGN), FXCM (Nasdaq: FXCM), Gamco Investors (NYSE: GBL), GAIN Capital (Nasdaq: GCAP), Green Dot (Nasdaq: GDOT), GFI Group (Nasdaq: GFIG), Greenhill (NYSE: GHL), Gleacher (Nasdaq: GLCH), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), INTL FCStone (Nasdaq: INTL), Intersections (Nasdaq: INTX), Investment Technology (NYSE: ITG), Invesco (NYSE: IVZ), Jefferies (NYSE: JEF), JMP Group (NYSE: JMP), Janus Capital (NYSE: JNS), KBW (NYSE: KBW), Knight Capital (NYSE: KCG), Lazard (NYSE: LAZ), Legg Mason (NYSE: LM), LPL Investment (Nasdaq: LPLA), Ladenburg Thalmann (AMEX: LTS), Mastercard (NYSE: MA), Moody’s (NYSE: MCO), MF Global (NYSE: MF), Moneygram (NYSE: MGI), MarketAxess (Nasdaq: MKTX), Marlin Business Services (Nasdaq: MRLN), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), MSCI (Nasdaq: MSCI), MGIC Investment (NYSE: MTG), NewStar Financial (Nasdaq: NEWS), National Financial Partners (NYSE: NFP), Nelnet (NYSE: NNI), Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS), NetSpend (Nasdaq: NTSP), Ocwen Financial (NYSE: OCN), Oppenheimer (NYSE: OPY), optionsXpress (Nasdaq: OXPS), PICO (Nasdaq: PICO), Piper Jaffray (NYSE: PJC), PMI Group (NYSE: PMI), Penson Worldwide (Nasdaq: PNSN), Portfolio Recovery (Nasdaq: PRAA), Raymond James (NYSE: RJF), SEI Investments (Nasdaq: SEIC), Stifel Financial (NYSE: SF), Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE: SFE), State Street (NYSE: STT), SWS (NYSE: SWS), T. Rowe Price (Nasdaq: TROW), Visa (NYSE: V) and Virtus Investment Partners (Nasdaq: VRTS).

Energy is in Serious Danger

Oil fell immediately after the events in Brussels Tuesday, but recovered much of its lost ground by the end of the day. However, oil prices remain threatened by terrorism concerns for two important reasons, and oil prices should decline from here. First, terrorism and the threat of terrorism are a weight on economic growth in Europe and thus energy demand. Second, as media and markets heighten concern over coming days, capital should increasingly seek safety in U.S. assets and the U.S. dollar. Oil, priced in dollar terms, is thereby threatened. Given the OPEC put has been pulled, a bottomless pit awaits. See the full report about why energy is in danger now here.

Energy Relative Shares	03-23-16  AM
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	-0.4%
United States Oil (NYSE: USO)	-2.4%
iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil (NYSE: OIL)	-2.8%
United States Natural Gas (NYSE: UNG)	+0.6%
Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE)	-1.2%
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas E&P (NYSE: XOP)	-2.5%
Market Vectors Oil Services (NYSE: OIH)	-1.2%
Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM)	-0.2%
Chevron (NYSE: CVX)	-1.7%
B.P. (NYSE: BP)	-1.2%
TOTAL S.A. (NYSE: TOT)	-0.7%
ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP)	-2.3%
Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX)	-1.1%
Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY)	-1.5%
Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB)	-0.8%
Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI)	-1.3%
Halliburton (NYSE: HAL)	-1.7%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article interests energy investors including Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), BP (NYSE: BP), PetroChina (NYSE: PTR), Petrobras (NYSE: PZE), Royal Dutch Shell (OTC: RYDAF.PK), Total (NYSE: TOT), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Repsol (OTC: REPYY.PK), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Eni SpA (NYSE: E), Sasol (NYSE: SSL), Encana (NYSE: ECA), Suncor (NYSE: SU), Imperial Oil (AMEX: IMO), Statoil (NYSE: STO), Cenovus (NYSE: CVE), Transocean (NYSE: RIG), Penn West Petroleum (NYSE: PWE), Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR), Noble (NYSE: NE), Concho (NYSE: CXO), Diamond Offshore (NYSE: DO), Ensco (NYSE: ESV), Whiting Petroleum (NYSE: WLL), Nabors (NYSE: NBR), Pride International (NYSE: PDE), Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP), QEP Resources (NYSE: QEP), Enerplus (NYSE: ERF), Rowan (NYSE: RDC), Cobalt (NYSE: CIE), Patterson UTI (Nasdaq: PTEN), SandRidge (NYSE: SD), Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB), Halliburton (NYSE: HAL), National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV), Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI), Weatherford International (NYSE: WFT), Cameron (NYSE: CAM), FMC Tech (NYSE: FTI), Oil States International (NYSE: OIS), Superior Energy (NYSE: SPN), Carbo Ceramics (NYSE: CRR), Helix Energy (NYSE: HLX), Pioneer (NYSE: PXD), CNOOC (NYSE: CEO), China Petroleum and Chemical (NYSE: SNP), Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC), Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE: CNQ), Apache (NYSE: APA), Anadarko (NYSE: APC), Devon (NYSE: DVN), EOG (NYSE: EOG), Chesapeake (NYSE: CHK).