#Investor Outlook

[colitcomedia]

Calima Energy Limited, an Australian oil and gas exploration and production company, is committed to responsible development and the maximization of shareholder value. Under the astute leadership of Chairman Glen Whiddon, the company is strategically focused on optimizing asset valuation and achieving operational efficiencies. This article delves into the insights of Calima Energy Limited, sheds light on Glen Whiddon's extensive experience, and explores the company's plans to enhance its position in the energy sector.

Glen Whiddon: A Seasoned Professional in Investment Management

As the Principal and Founder of Lagral, a family company specializing in investment management activities, Glen Whiddon brings a wealth of experience to his role as Chairman of Calima Energy Limited. With his diverse background in executive leadership roles and expertise in the mining, energy, and property sectors, Whiddon is at the forefront of driving Calima Energy towards maximizing shareholder value.

Maximizing Shareholder Value: Distributions and Share Buy-Back

Calima Energy Limited is committed to delivering value to its shareholders. The company plans to execute its second distribution of AUD 3 million to shareholders, with the aim of increasing the frequency of distributions in the future, subject to market conditions and commodity prices. Furthermore, Calima Energy may restart a share buy-back program, prioritizing continuous delivery of distributions to supportive shareholders.

Optimizing Drilling and Operational Expenses

In the face of increased capital and operating costs, Calima Energy Limited has devised plans to optimize drilling and operational expenses. By strategically reducing activity during the Canadian winter and standardizing operations, the company aims to improve efficiencies and achieve greater returns on investment in future drilling programs. These measures are part of the broader strategy to enhance asset valuation and drive sustainable growth.

Investor Outlook and Financial Performance

Based on the positive response received, Calima Energy anticipates potential inquiries and proposals from external parties regarding the acquisition or utilization of its assets. The company's forecasted Q2 production remains on track, with an average of around 4,125 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/D). Furthermore, Calima Energy expects to generate approximately AUD 7.5 million in free cash flow for the quarter. With a current share price of AUD 0.094 per share, a 52-week range of AUD 0.093 – AUD 0.175, and a market capitalization of AUD 57.6 million, Calima Energy is poised for success.

Calima Energy: Positioned for Success in Western Canada

Calima Energy Limited is a prominent player in Western Canada's energy sector. The company generates stable production from its Thorsby and Brooks assets, primarily focusing on conventional oil and gas. With a low decline rate of approximately 65%, Calima Energy ensures consistent performance. Moreover, the company holds over 34,000 acres of Montney rights in the "liquids-rich" fairway, positioning itself to capitalize on the potential of the Montney formation and leverage the growing demand for liquid-rich natural gas in both domestic and global markets.

Conclusion

Led by Chairman Glen Whiddon, Calima Energy Limited is dedicated to maximizing shareholder value through responsible oil and gas exploration and production activities. With a strong emphasis on optimizing asset valuation, managing operational expenses, and exploring potential asset sales, the company aims to achieve sustained growth and create value for its stakeholders. As investors consider their options, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and seek advice from financial advisors before making investment decisions.

[ennovance]

US Stocks Go High When Strategists (Wall Street Analysts) Go Low

Some of the best returns have come when strategists least expected them

Forecasters don’t see much upside for the S&P 500 in 2024, but some of its best returns have come in years when soothsayers least expected them.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-12-22/2024-forecasts-us-stocks-go-high-when-strategists-go-low #equity #stock #bond #investor #sellsideanalyst #Forecast #ennovance

[financebyjayberry]

Analyzing #NVIDIA Stock: A Tale of Innovation and Investment

In the dynamic world of technology, few companies have captured the imagination of investors like NVIDIA. As we delve into an in-depth analysis of NVIDIA stock, we uncover a narrative of innovation, resilience, and the potential for substantial returns. Earnings Triumph:NVIDIA’s most recent earnings release is nothing short of remarkable. The company’s consistent ability to exceed quarterly…

[kc22invesmentsblog]

Understanding Bitcoin Halving: What it Means for Investors

Written by Delvin Bitcoin, the world’s first decentralized cryptocurrency, has gained significant attention over the years. One crucial aspect that sets Bitcoin apart from traditional currencies is its unique monetary policy, which includes an event called “Bitcoin halving.” In this blog post, we will delve into the concept of Bitcoin halving, its significance, and what it means for…

[investoropia]

Federal Reserve Stress Test Sends Shock waves through Stock Market! JP MORGAN JUMPED 3.49%

Federal Reserve stress test results on U.S. bank stocks and their influence on the overall market. Gain insights into investor sentiment, regulatory concerns, and the future outlook.

U.S. bank stocks surged in response to the results of the Federal Reserve’s annual stress tests, instilling renewed confidence among investors and traders. The comprehensive health checks provided insights into the resilience of major lenders, addressing concerns stemming from recent failures, including Silicon Valley Bank and other institutions. The impressive performance of bank stocks highlights their ability to weather an economic slump and underscores the importance of stress testing in ensuring a stable financial system.

While the stress test results boosted market sentiment, skeptics remain cautious regarding dividends and share buybacks. Heightened regulatory oversight and uncertainties surrounding the economic outlook contribute to concerns about the feasibility of larger payouts. Analysts at RBC Capital Markets caution that the recent banking crisis has driven banks to adopt a more conservative approach, potentially limiting share buyback activities for the remainder of 2023.

Continue Reading the Complete Article : Click Here

OTHER TOPIC:

Market Corrections: 5 Factors Every Investor and Trader Must Understand

Mastering the Stochastic Oscillator

THE POWER OF BOLLINGER BANDS

GDP Data: Economic Growth and Stable Inflation

Strong Economy: Understanding and Impact

How to Safeguard your Investments During a Market Decline?

[ljgrealestate]

Interest rates Australia: Reserve Bank has a trick up its sleeve that could avoid much higher rates

Martin Place might be tempted by this option if it feels it has to tighten monetary policy and not just rely on its overnight cash rate to do the heavy lifting. — Read on www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/rba-has-trick-up-its-sleeve-that-could-avoid-much-higher-rates-20230517-p5d93i

[tdsci]

Be agile and don't get hit unnecessarily from global events: Rajesh Khothari

“I think the world has become agile because there are two important factors, social media and of course the sentiments. And both need to be addressed in the right way, otherwise you can create chaos,” says Rajesh Khothari, CIO, AlfAccurate Advisors.I just want to get a sense as to what your outlook is, as to how one should really read into the situation amid this acute volatility. Clearly now…

[colitcollp]

Roquefort Therapeutics PLC (LSE: ROQ) And Randox Laboratories Strike Exclusive License Agreement For Medical Diagnostics

Roquefort Therapeutics PLC (LSE: ROQ, OTCQB: ROQAF), a biotech company specializing in cancer, recently made an important announcement. The company has entered into an EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT AND LICENSE AGREEMENT with Randox Laboratories Ltd., a world leader in medical diagnostics. The agreement ("Randox License Agreement") relates to Roquefort's midkine antibody portfolio and is limited to medical diagnostics.

[zvaigzdelasas]

Real estate tycoon Truong My Lan faces the death penalty in a trial that began Tuesday over alleged fraud amounting to $12.5 billion — nearly 3% of the country’s 2022 GDP and Vietnam’s largest financial fraud case on record.

The 66-year-old chair of the real estate company Van Thinh Phat allegedly used “thousands of ghost companies,” paid bribes to government officials and violated banking regulations, according to a government document. She is accused of illegally controlling the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank between 2012 to 2022 and using it to embezzle $12.5 billion, the document adds.

Another 85 people are being prosecuted in connection, including a former State Bank of Vietnam official accused of accepting $5.2 million in bribes. Lan was arrested in October 2022 and could get a death sentence if found guilty.[...]

Lan’s arrest is among the most high-profile in an ongoing anti-corruption drive in Vietnam that gained momentum since 2022. The so-called Blazing Furnace campaign has seen thousands of officials and business executives come under investigation. It reached the highest echelons of the Vietnamese government in January 2023 with the resignation of former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and two deputy prime ministers for the “political responsibility” of corruption scandals during the pandemic.

But analysts added the anti-corruption drive has also dampened Vietnam’s economic outlook and made foreign investors jittery at a time when the southeast Asian nation has been positioning itself as the ideal home for businesses looking to shift their supply chains away from China.

5 Mar 24

[colitcomedia]

Calima Energy Limited: Glenn Whiddon Leading the Path to Optimizing Asset Valuation

Calima Energy Limited (ASX: CE1 / OTCQB: CLMEF) is an Australian oil and gas exploration and production company that focuses on responsible development of high-quality assets, primarily in Western Canada. Under the leadership of Chairman Glenn Whiddon, Calima Energy is committed to maximising shareholder value through successful exploration, development, and production activities in the energy sector. This article provides insights into Calima Energy Limited and highlights Glenn Whiddon's extensive experience and the company's plans to optimise asset valuation.

About Glenn Whiddon

Glenn Whiddon, the Chairman of Calima Energy Limited, is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in investment management and executive leadership roles. He is the Principal and Founder of Lagral, a family company focused on investment management activities in the mining, energy, and property sectors. With his extensive experience and leadership, Whiddon drives Calima Energy towards maximising value for shareholders.

Distributions to Shareholders and Potential Share Buy-Back

Calima Energy Limited intends to execute its second distribution of AUD 3 million to shareholders, as announced in the third quarter of FY2023, with the record date to be announced. The company aims to increase the frequency of shareholder distributions, subject to prevailing market conditions and commodity prices. Additionally, Calima Energy may restart a share buy-back program, prioritising continuous delivery of distributions to supportive shareholders.

Plans to Optimize Drilling and Operational Expenses

Calima Energy Limited has faced an increase in capital and operating costs over the past 18 months. However, recent stabilisation and slowing of inflation have led to more settled prices. The company plans to improve efficiencies by reducing activity during the Canadian winter and standardising operations. These measures aim to maximise value and achieve greater returns on investment in future drilling programs.

Investor Outlook and Financials

Based on the interests received, Calima Energy anticipates additional inquiries or proposals from external parties regarding the acquisition or potential utilisation of its assets. The forecasted Q2 production is on track, with an average of around 4,125 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/D). The company expects to generate approximately AUD 7.5 million in free cash flow for the quarter. Calima Energy's share price is AUD 0.094 per share as of June 28th, 2023, with a 52-week range of AUD 0.093 – AUD 0.175. The company's market capitalization stood at AUD 57.6 million as of June 28th, 2023, with 612.7 million shares issued.

About Calima Energy Limited

Calima Energy Limited is a Canadian oil and gas-producing energy company focusing on responsible development of high-quality assets in Western Canada. The company generates stable production from its Thorsby and Brooks assets, primarily conventional oil and gas, with a low decline rate of around 65%. In addition, Calima Energy holds over 34,000 acres of Montney rights in the "liquids-rich" fairway, known for its abundant liquids, providing an upside opportunity in domestic gas and global LNG markets. With its substantial acreage position, Calima Energy is well-positioned to capitalise on the potential of the Montney formation and leverage the growing demand for liquid-rich natural gas.

Conclusion

Under the guidance of Chairman Glenn Whiddon, Calima Energy Limited aims to maximise shareholder value through its oil and gas exploration and production activities. The company plans to optimise asset valuation by improving operational efficiencies, managing costs, and exploring potential asset sales. With a strong focus on responsible development and a strategic position in Western Canada's energy sector, Calima Energy continues to drive growth and create value for its stakeholders.

[free-and-to-none-accountable]

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Colin M

The IWW is a union for all workers. It only makes sense that a union that advocates for the abolition of the wage system would blaze a path different from other unions. Over the decades, that path has sometimes been rough, but it’s made us what we are today.

Here are 8 things you probably didn’t know about that separate the IWW from other unions in the US.

1) IWW membership is not just a part of holding a certain job.

For lots of folks these days, the experience of joining a union comes from accepting a unionized job. Some of these unions have built strong communities among coworkers, some not as much. When people leave those jobs, they leave the union too. 

For IWW members, though, union membership is part of a commitment to our social vision. In this vision for a better future, labor is organized for the common good rather than for profit.

Being an IWW member also means connecting with a community that is united by our common struggle, outlook and tactics. We help one another learn how to organize for power on the job. We couch-surf for free with other members when we travel. We donate when one of our own is gravely sick or injured. We pay our respects to those who came before us, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our union.

2) The IWW helped set the trend of organizing in fast food.

During the early 2000s, the IWW had campaigns to organize Starbucks and Jimmy Johns.  Although these campaigns were not successful in terms of unionizing, the IWW gained very valuable lessons and experience.

Using some of those lessons, the workers at the Burgerville chain of restaurants, local to Oregon, organized with the IWW starting in 2015. Workers at Burgerville used tried-and-true direct action and solidarity union approaches to improve conditions drastically over the course of 7+ years and form the Burgerville Workers Union. The Portland-based BVWU is winning gains and looking forward to helping empower workers at Burgerville locations outside their area to get organized and united too.

Although workers at many other fast food chains have recently organized and won National Labor Relations Board ratification votes, notably Starbucks workers, none has forced their company to the NLRB bargaining table quite yet as of this writing. Many IWW members are eagerly looking forward to welcoming more fast food workers into organized labor.

3) The IWW regards the police as traitors to our class.

The institution of policing has a long history discussed in Our Enemies in Blue by Kristin Williams. Are they workers just like the rest of us? The IWW does not see it this way.  Even if there are some alright people out there working as police officers, the massive historical inertia of policing as an institution that enforces class and race divisions pushes it into alignment with the interests of the exploiting class.

As police and their proponents sometimes remind us, they don’t make the laws, they just enforce them. Those making the laws are, of course, our bosses, their investors, and others beholden to them.

With laws like these, the work of “law enforcement” means violently enforcing dispossession. Rather than being a “thin blue line between civilization and chaos,” as some imagine, the police are better thought of as the thin blue line between workers and the wealth we produce.

Our corporate media engages in constant propaganda efforts, often under the pretense of entertainment, to get workers to sympathize with the police and portray them as competent guardians of public safety. However, police do not really solve as much crime in real life as they do on TV shows.

Policing and prison both masquerade as instruments of the common good, but their oppressive nature is well-known to those of us who’ve experienced their violence personally.  With all this in mind, the IWW formally and concretely supports the abolition of police and prison.  To this end…

4) The IWW supports strikes by people in prison, and has an active membership inside US prisons.

Amid an increasing trend of prison strikes, IWW members founded the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC) in 2014. It still exists today, and has provided outside support for two national prisoner strikes as well as countless regional and single-facility strikes.

US prison slave-labor is increasingly being used to undermine wages globally for non-imprisoned workers. Jobs that were once outsourced to sweatshops in other countries are now being insourced to prisons where wages can be even closer to nothing. In prison, workers can also be controlled by throwing “insubordinate” ones in solitary confinement, rather than merely firing them.

As the corporate state invests more deeply in prison slave-labor, even while mass incarceration faces increasing public scrutiny, IWOC is positioned to play an essential role in helping the most exploited organize for justice.

5) The IWW is also one of the only unions that organizes workers in the sex industry, including the “underground” sex-trade.

A core IWW principle is that all workers can and should benefit from collective organizing. This includes those who work in the commercial sex industry, either above or below ground. Just as nobody is better positioned to enact positive change in (say) the restaurant industry than restaurant workers, the same is true for the sex industry.

Many sex workers already self-organize for mutual safety.  It’s important for us to help people organize even when their line of work is illegal.  Keeping industries illegal is just one more way that bosses and their state seek to keep workers divided.  We won’t fall for it.  We hope that someday, a revolutionary union of sex workers will help abolish capitalism and de-commodify sex along with everything else.

6) The IWW has no professional or paid organizers. Our members are our organizers.

For all of living memory, it has been common practice for unions to employ workers as professional organizers to unionize other workers. The IWW does things differently, and some might say more traditionally. 

Before the legal institutionalization of unions in the US, the common practice was for every union member to take part in organizing. Nowadays that’s not as much the case. Why organize when they’re paying someone else to do that, right? One overall effect of this change has been for unions to be viewed as more like other social service organizations than working-class fighting formations.

In the view of IWW members, having “organizer” be a paid job alienates average workers from the role we must play in organizing. The Organizing Department handles logistics over wide geography. Our External Organizers program helps motivate and advise those who come to us seeking organizing assistance. Our organizer training program is superb and open to all workers. All this is accomplished with no more than determination, commitment and some very modest stipends for trainers.

7) Tom Morello and Noam Chomsky publicly support the IWW.

Tom Morello released a music video entitled “Hold the Line: Union Strong Edit” in 2021. Tom Morello has played many times at strikes and other members of Rage Against the Machine such as Zack de la Rocha are vocal about their support for international working-class solidarity.  

Nevertheless, it seems there are always people who associate Rage Against the Machine with being “cool,” but have no idea about their not-at-all-hidden politics.  Famously, when austerity hawk Paul Ryan became a candidate for Vice President in 2012 and cited Rage Against the Machine as his favorite band, Tom publicly replied in a now-famous Rolling Stone piece,“Paul Ryan is the embodiment of the machine our music rages against.”

10 years later, and it seems the number of people who know about Rage Against the Machine but not their explicit anti-capitalist politics is as high as ever.

Tom Morello and some friends also wrote the new Netflix original movie Metal Lords.

Noam Chomsky, for his part, is pretty much the predominant public intellectual in the US.  Along with becoming one of the most respected professors in linguistics, Noam Chomsky also penned the hit non-fiction book Manufacturing Consent, which was also made into a documentary film, analyzing the US corporate media as propaganda.

Besides revolutionizing the field of linguistics and being one of the most prominent public critics of US imperialism from inside the US, Noam Chomsky has also won enough awards to sink a small boat and authored well over 100 books and articles from the 1950s to today.

Noam Chomsky is also probably the best left-wing star of YouTube despite not being a YouTuber.  People have taken it upon themselves to make Chomsky channels for him, and videos featuring him regularly rack up views into the seven figures.  Here’s Rage Against the Machine’s lead singer, Zack de la Rocha, interviewing professor Chomsky about NAFTA.

8) The IWW does not participate in electoral politics.

IWW members do not see being part of a political party machine as a proper role for a union. Political parties can and do sell workers out, but they also pursue policies that workers are divided on. Some IWW members still vote and even volunteer or work on political campaigns, but it is understood that it is not the role of the IWW to take sides in a political system that is rigged in favor of our exploiters.

Throughout history, change happens first economically, then politically.  Supposedly favorable labor laws do not organize workers. Only fellow workers can do that.  In reality, nearly all labor policies are meant to achieve what is termed “Labor Peace.”  Labor Peace means work no longer being interrupted by upset workers.  In other words, Labor Peace does not mean peace for workers, it means peace for bosses.  The fact that policies aimed at securing Labor Peace involve concessions to workers is a result of organizing.  Not only does government policy aim at Labor Peace, so do many union contracts.  This is the purpose of “no-strike” and other “management’s rights” clauses in such contracts.

It’s natural for us, as workers, to want a better deal.  However, we can pursue gains today without giving up the goal of a fully democratic, worker-run economy tomorrow.  We won’t achieve that lofty goal by making political deals or passing new laws.  We can only achieve it by organizing where we are exploited and acting directly to take power back from our exploiters.

The governments we have are designed to grant us “political freedoms” while restricting access to the wealth that our labor produces.  As workers unite and reorganize the economy to abolish scarcity, more fair, free and equal political systems will also arise to settle disputes and look after the public interest.

If you are interested in organizing at work and working toward the abolition of the wage system, contact the IWW today. 

Featured image is from the IWW Materials Preservation Project. 1992 Queer workers at the July 1992 picket of End-Up Bar in San Francisco.

[jeffhirsch]

Seasonality Works! Trade the Cycles & Profit from History

Source: Super Boom (April 2011) by Jeffrey A. Hirsch, Fig. 1.3 p12, 500+ Percent Moves Follow Inflation

Earlier this month when we signed off on the final page proofs and sent the 2025 Stock Trader’s Almanac to press, I took pause to reflect upon the historic seasonal research my late father and founder of the Almanac, Yale Hirsch, accomplished and that we now continue. When Yale published the 1st edition of the iconic Stock Trader’s Almanac in 1968 who would have thought that many of the patterns and trends would still be working today? There have been changes and updates. Some trends have gone to the indicator graveyard while new patterns have emerged.

Perhaps the most quintessential Almanac pattern ever just completed for the second time in Almanac history. Remember my Super Boom forecast for Dow 38820 published in 2011

Look at this chart of the 4-Year Presidential Election Cycle! We first sent this chart to members in July 2021. It guided us through the covid bull market, called the midterm bear, pre-election year bull and current election year strength.

The market continues to follow the trends of our seasonal and 4-year cycle patterns we track and monitor. In our July Outlook, we maintained our bullish outlook for 2024, but cautioned that the market was possibly due for some mean reversion (a pullback) once NASDAQ’s 12-Day Midyear Rally ended in mid-July. NASDAQ did top out on July 10 while DJIA and S&P 500 topped about one week later.

The market has recovered in line with historical election year strength in August, but the correction is not likely over. With President Biden stepping aside our Open Field election year is back in play. This does not mean we are heading into the red for the year, but it does suggest the market may continue to struggle over the next few months during the seasonal weak period and leading up to this now more uncertain election. But remember since 1952 there have been “Only Two Losses Last 7 Months of Election Years” (page 80 STA 2024). Any potential September/October market weakness could set up a solid Q4, end-of-year rally, most likely beginning after Election Day.

For over five decades, top traders, investors and money managers have relied upon the Stock Trader’s Almanac. The 2025, 58th Annual Edition shows you the cycles, trends, and patterns you need to know in order to trade and invest with reduced risk and for maximum profit.

Limited time offer available now! Get the 2024 & 2025 Stock Trader's Almanacs for Free, while 2024 supplies last! Subscribe to my digital service, Almanac Investor, now and get the 2024 and 2025 Stock Trader’s Almanacs as free bonuses. Receive the 2024 STA now and be first to get the 2025 edition this fall hot off the press!

[newspatron]

Indian Stock Market Trends November 23: Securities Sector

Thank you for reading this article. We hope you found it informative and useful. Please share your feedback, questions, or comments with us. We would love to hear from you and learn from your perspectives. Please join the conversation below.

Welcome to this series on the Indian stock market trends in November 2023. In this series, we will explore the performance and the outlook of some of the key sectors of the Indian economy, and analyze the prospects of some of the leading companies in each sector. We will also provide some recommendations and suggestions for the investors who are interested in these sectors and companies. In this…

[darkmaga-retard]

John Ellis

Aug 05, 2024

1. Stock markets tumbled on Monday, with Japanese shares at one point exceeding their 1987 "Black Monday" loss, as fears of a U.S. recession sent investors fleeing from risk while wagering that rate cuts would be needed to rescue growth. The safe haven yen and Swiss franc surged, as crowded carry trades unravelled, sparking speculation that some investors were unloading profitable trades to get money to cover losses elsewhere. Such was the torrent of selling that circuit breakers were triggered on stock exchanges across Asia. (Source: reuters.com)

2. Taiwan stocks ended down 8.4% on Monday, a record slump, with tech stocks including TSMC plunging as investors sold off one of Asia's top performing markets this year, spooked by a poor outlook for global tech stocks and the U.S. economy. The main index shed 1,807.21 points, its worst one-day percentage fall, to close at 19,830.88, the lowest level since April 23. The decline was fuelled by a sell-off in tech, and then spread more broadly as the index dipped below the key 20,000 level. (Source: reuters.com)

3. Earlier today, South Korea's stock market marked its worst session since the global financial crisis of 2008, with trading curbs activated for the first time in four years, as tech stocks slumped amid U.S. recession fears. The benchmark KOSPI stock index ended the session down 8.8% at 2,441.55, its biggest percentage fall since Oct. 24, 2008. During the session, the KOSPI fell as much as 10.8%, triggering circuit breakers for the first time since March 2020, which are trading curbs activated when the index falls or rises more than 8% and halts trading of stocks and derivatives for 20 minutes. (Source: reuters.com)

4. A closely watched measure of expected US stock market turbulence surged to its highest level in almost four years today as a global stock sell-off gathered pace. The Vix index of expected volatility in the S&P 500 — commonly known as Wall Street’s “fear gauge” — rose to as much as 41.8 points by morning in London to its highest level since November 2020, breaking above an intraday peak in March 2023 following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. The Vix measures the price of options that enable investors to profit from swings in the S&P 500. (Source: ft.com)

5. U.S. pension funds are beginning to explore investments around bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, a move that could expose millions of former teachers, police officers, firefighters and other retirees to the wild ups and downs of a largely unregulated financial product. In at least five states, industry lobbyists have aggressively hawked the idea, aiming to woo local lawmakers with the promise that digital assets can deliver sky-high profits — often without fully acknowledging the possible risks. The emerging sales campaign contrasts with the broad warnings in Washington that investing in cryptocurrency could leave retirees’ life savings vulnerable to “fraud, theft and loss.” (Source: washingtonpost.com)

6. After more than a decade as a recurring tea-time conversation topic, the delay in retirement is nearing reality in China, set to impact over 500 million workers as the country grapples with a rapidly aging population. The five-year reform blueprint, released last month following a key Communist Party gathering, includes a commitment to raise the retirement age. According to the resolution adopted at the Third Plenum of the party’s 20th Central Committee, China will gradually increase the statutory retirement age based on the principle of “voluntary participation with appropriate flexibility.” For the first time, a key policy document outlines the principles of the reform, fueling expectations that the decade-long initiative will soon be implemented. (Source: caixinglobal.com)

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil's real slips to near 1-week low in thin Latam holiday trade

Brazil's real slipped to a near one-week low against a muted dollar in thin trading volume, dragging the Latin American currencies index, while investors awaited a key U.S. inflation test for more clues on the Federal Reserve's policy outlook.

The MSCI index tracking Latam currencies .MILA00000CUS fell 0.2%, on track for only slight gains this quarter, losing steam following the previous quarter's near 6% jump, with the dollar index =USD set for a strong quarterly advance, owing to doubts over U.S. rate cuts this year.

"Some Fed members believe that rate cuts can be delayed and that perhaps only two are needed. This puts renewed downward pressure on all Latam and EM which now face a bit of central bank policy divergence after committing to slashing borrowing costs," said Juan Perez, director of trading at Monex USA.

All eyes will be on the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, the so-called core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index data, due on Friday. Any negative surprises could further blur the U.S. rate cuts picture.

Continue reading.

[ljgrealestate]

So there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that national house prices are falling at a record 14% annual rate based on the last three months of data from CoreLogic, with a total draw-down of 7.4% since the 5 capital city index’s May 2022 high watermark. And this is before a veritable tsunami of $500 billion worth of fixed-rate home loans see their interest rates more than double from…