U.S. News: Forecasting Recessions Can Boost Your Returns

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Does it make sense to change your investments if you see a recession coming? Possibly so, but you'll need some economics know-how.

The bottom line is fairly simple. If you can get your prediction of the beginning or end of an economic cycle correct, then it could boost your portfolio returns substantially, according to some recently published research. Read more here.

Forbes: Undead Again -- How ObamaCare Became The Law That Wouldn't Die

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A decade ago the world economy was threatened in what became known as "Attack of the Killer Zombie Banks."

Now there's a new horror movie playing only in the U.S.:

"Undead Again: The Law That Wouldn't Die."

It's the terrifying tale of how the Congressional Republicans repeatedly try to kill ObamaCare, but by some occult science, the beast just keeps living. It has some comic aspects too. Read more here.

Forbes: The Only Three Market Sectors To Watch This Year

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Investors should do themselves a favor this year and focus on just three sectors. Why? Because that's where the earnings action is most likely to be, according to KKR which published its Insights report earlier this month. The paper had some other important findings as well. Read more here.

Barron's: Hot Weather Could Light a Fire Under Corn Prices

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Red hot dry heat in the western part of the upper Midwest is threatening the corn crop and could spark a big rally.

“The extreme drought in North and South Dakota (and currently spreading into Canada) may begin to hit the western corn belt,” says a report from Best Weather, a meteorological forecaster and advisor in Sarasota Fla. Adds Matthew Davey, a commodity analyst and meteorologist for the firm: “All the models are showing warm dry air sticking around.” Read more here.

Photo by Alejandro Martin on Unsplash

Middle East Eye: Egypt's economy on path to recovery

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Things are looking up for Egypt’s beleaguered economy. At least investors think so, which is why they are pouring money into the country. Analysts are optimistic also. The news must come as welcome relief for the country's residents who have suffered brutal inflation and soaring unemployment.

In what must be one of the bitterest ironies of this decade, the optimism of the Arab Spring in 2011 quickly turned sour as Egypt became mired in economic malaise. Read more here.

U.S. News: Sometimes, the Best Advice Is 'Do Nothing'

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Think back to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, when markets tanked overnight as Donald Trump's victory shocked investors. The next day in the gray and the rain, anxious traders at the New York Stock Exchange rushed to the exchange floor for what they expected to be a foreboding day. Read more here.

Forbes: China's Market Regulators Appear To Be At War With Themselves

By SIMON CONSTABLE

China's latest financial markets move is puzzling.

The country wants to open up its bond market to foreign investors. The reason for this would seem to be part of its apparent long-term goal of having the Chinese yuan become a major world currency just like the euro or the yen or the greenback. Some people even say the yuan could supplant the dollar as the number one reserve currency. Even if that happens it's a long way off in large part because of what the Chinese government is doing to itself.

The issue is that different parts of China's bureaucracy would appear to be working against each other, at least in their actions if not their intent. Read more here.