Box Wine Bias: A Case Study
by Elliott Morss, Morss Global Finance
Introduction Many people look down their noses at box wines. No reason. Many box wines are quite good. For an example of box wine bias, I recently suggested to a restaurateur that he include box wines as inexpensive house wines on his list. My proposal: As you know, the Lenox Wine Club has now held 6 tastings. The results of our most recent one can be found here. The Bota Box got the best score against wines costing $50+. For Lenox Wine Club members, the results were not surprising. Box wines have either won or come in second in the 6 tastings we have had to date. And in all of those tastings, we included even more expensive wines with the highest Wine Spectator ratings we could get.
What We Read Today 10 September 2013
Econintersect: Click Read more >> below graphic to see today's list.
The top of today's reading list reports on how Brazil's richest man has lost 97% of his fortune in just two years ........ and the last article suggests that employment data is not signaling an imminent recession.
Showdown At The O.K. Market Casino Looming
Midday Market Commentary For 09-10-2013
Markets have drifted sideways with a positive slant moving within striking range of the next resistance which is more than just a minor bump in the road. Also represents where the markets gaped down on August 14, leaving a lot of today's investors selling before it actually gets there. The BTFDers on the other hand can't see where their favorite game is going to fail and are buying at every dip.
By noon volume has fallen off somewhat and the melting upwards has leveled off in a consolidation mode awaiting the shootout at the O.K. 'Market Casino'.
July 2013 JOLTS Is Conflicted
Written by Steven Hansen
The BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) has been a good predictor of future jobs growth but gives a conflicting picture for July.
Read more >>
Fly The Friendly Skies Of Afghanistan
Flying across Afghanistan isn't like taking a trip to Disney World. Listen and Learn as the "Flight Attendant" welcomes soldiers and military contractors on the flight between Bagram Airfield and FOB Sharana.
Averages Gap Up On Opening, Volume Heavy
Opening Market Commentary For 09-10-2013
Premarkets were up this morning some +0.50% having rallied somewhat late in yesterday's session.
The markets opened up as expected and the SP500 shot up 9 points and the DOW, also gaping, popped up to 15146. The NASDAQ having set a new historical high yesterday bested that mark by scooting upwards to 3724 before melting off the morning highs. The familiar pattern of sea-sawing sideways may not be the norm today with so many uncertainties and technical issues affecting the market place. The volume was relatively heavy with the bulls wining the battle.
The question is what today's session going to be like, trading wise.
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Week Ending 09 September 2013: 2.0 Cent Gasoline Price Fall
Econintersect: Gasoline prices fell an average of 2.0 cent nationwide this past week from last weeks rise of 5.5 cent from the week before. Since August 5th, gas prices have declined 4.3 cents.
Average prices by region and a breakdown by grade follow after the "Read more>>".
August 2013 Small Business Optimism Index Shows Turmoil
Econintersect: The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)'s August 2013 monthly optimism index declined marginally from 94.1 to 94.0.
NFIB reports usually contain blasts directed at Washington by NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg.
August in Washington was typical - nothing got done, and therefore nothing changed the outlook of small-business owners who have the same list of concerns today that they had in January, April and July. But we saw some interesting things happening with the Index this month.
Stratfor: Syria, America and Putin's Bluff
By George Friedman, Founder and Chairman, Stratfor
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In recent weeks I've written about U.S. President Barack Obama'sbluff on Syria and thetightrope he is now walking on military intervention. There is another bluff going on that has to be understood, this one from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin is bluffing that Russiahas emerged as a major world power. In reality, Russia is merely a regional power, but mainly because its periphery is in shambles. He has tried to project a strength that that he doesn't have, and he has done it well. For him, Syria poses a problem because the United States is about to call his bluff, and he is not holding strong cards. To understand his game we need to start with the recent G-20 meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Read more >>
The All-American "Short Squeeze" No One Else Sees
Money Morning Article of the Weekby Shah Gilani, Money Morning
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Everyone knows the U.S. housing "recovery" has been resurrected on slippery ground. But now that we're finally about to slip - big time - no one sees it coming...
Then again, how could they?
The numbers are incredibly misleading...
According to the Commerce Department, new residential home sales in July fell a whopping 13.4% from their June sales pace. And sales in April, May, and June were all revised significantly lower.
Economic Bloggers: Growth, Risk Both Moderate
ECONOMIC BLOGGERS SEE MODEST GROWTH, MODEST RISK
by Jeff Miller, A Dash of Insight
![survey-work-ahead-160x156]()
We welcome the return of the Survey of Leading Economic Bloggers. Tim Kane spearheaded the survey during his Kauffman Foundation tenure. Tim has moved to the Hudson Institute, where he has busily been writing books [with important policy implications according to this NYT review - the OldProf has this on the reading list, but is still catching up], and has now brought back the survey.
Gold & Silver Mining - "To Hedge or Not?"
Bullion Vault Article of the WeekWritten by Miguel Perez-Santalla, Bullion Vault
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Why does hedging remain such a highly contentious issue for gold and silver miners...?There is always a lot of talk about gold and silver miners and their hedging policies.
Selling some future production at current prices raises money today. It can also help the gold or silver miner smooth out changes in the market. That should be to the benefit of the shareholders. Yet the main concern in hedging isn't how to manage this trade. It is the shareholders' view of hedging which counts.
Priceline: Near a Top?
Written by William Kurtz
Priceline shares have enjoyed an extraordinary run from their Low of $45.15 during the 2008 Recession to a Close of $959.15 last Friday, September 6, 2013. The question now becomes: Can prices keep on going, or is there an indication that the run is coming to an end?
I don't see any evidence of an imminent top and price reversal; but concurrent extreme readings in Price and in our Indicators warn of a probable peak and trend reversal not far distant in point of time.
Infographic of the Day:Top 10 Certificate Degrees in America
There are various certificate degrees in America.The top position in the list is grabbed by the degree of Medical Assistant and as per 2012, total of 58,478 degrees were awarded.
July 2013 Consumer Credit Growth Is Relatively Flat
Written by Steven Hansen
Econintersect analysis is that total consumer credit growth has accelerated 0.2% month-over-month, and the year-over-year growth is 6.0% - relatively unchanged from last month. The seasonally adjusted consumer credit headlines are showing a growth of only 4.5%.
Read more >>
Corporations Shifting Health Care Costs to Retirees, Taxpayers
Econintersect: Corporate benefits for retiree health care have been shrinking for years but the latest changes appear to be accelerating the process. Late last month GEI Newscovered the shifting pattern of employers moving from sponsored group plans to use of private insurance exchanges where employees shop for individually tailored coverage with corporate support of part of premium costs through donations to HCAs (Health Care Accounts). The changes are especially common for retirees.
Central Banks Still Cutting Rates
Monetary Policy Week in Review (Sep 2-6, 2013): Mexico Surprises as 3 Central Banks Cut, 1 Raises, 10 Hold Ratesby Peter Nielsen, Central Bank News
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Last week in global monetary policy three central banks cut rates with Mexico once again taking markets by surprise while Sierra Leone and the West African Central Bank also cut rates. Meanwhile, Uganda raised its rate and 10 other central banks maintained their rates.
The Bank of Mexico's second rate cut of the year comes against a backdrop of pressure on the currencies of most emerging markets from capital outflows ahead of an expected turning point in U.S. monetary policy, either later this month or in a few months.
The Rising Flow of Syrian Refugees
by Felix Richter, Statista.com
In the first half of 2012, a small but steady trickle of refugees left Syria, seeking haven in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey. By July 2012, 65,253 Syrians had registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Syria Squirm
Econintersect: Russia may be offering the U.S. a way out of the chemical weapons issue with Syria. RT reported today (09 September 2013) that Moscow has urged Syria to put its chemical weapons under international control for ultimate destruction. The Russian move caame within hours of a similar statement by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. And was followed by supportive remarks by Hillary Clinton. All of this is happening as American public opinion is moving more substantially in opposition to military strikes against Syria.
![syria-victims-380x14]()
Click on picture for more victim pictures at the New York Daily News.
In recent weeks I've written about U.S. President Barack Obama'sbluff on Syria and thetightrope he is now walking on military intervention. There is another bluff going on that has to be understood, this one from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin is bluffing that Russiahas emerged as a major world power. In reality, Russia is merely a regional power, but mainly because its periphery is in shambles. He has tried to project a strength that that he doesn't have, and he has done it well. For him, Syria poses a problem because the United States is about to call his bluff, and he is not holding strong cards. To understand his game we need to start with the recent G-20 meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia. 
Everyone knows the U.S. housing "recovery" has been resurrected on slippery ground. But now that we're finally about to slip - big time - no one sees it coming...
We welcome the return of the Survey of Leading Economic Bloggers. Tim Kane spearheaded the survey during his Kauffman Foundation tenure. Tim has moved to the Hudson Institute, where he has busily been writing books [with important policy implications according to this NYT review - the OldProf has this on the reading list, but is still catching up], and has now brought back the survey.
Why does hedging remain such a highly contentious issue for gold and silver miners...?
Last week in global monetary policy three central banks cut rates with Mexico once again taking markets by surprise while Sierra Leone and the West African Central Bank also cut rates. Meanwhile, Uganda raised its rate and 10 other central banks maintained their rates.
