Korn Ferry: The Economic Slowdown Is Already Here

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The International Monetary Fund delivered a message this week few business leaders ever want to hear.

The IMF cut its forecast for world economic growth for 2019 to 3.5% from 3.7%. While only a small change on a percentage basis, it could still mean nearly $1.8 trillion less economic output, if the IMF’s forecast is accurate. Christine Lagarde, the IMF’s chairwoman, attributed the revision to the slowing Chinese economy, the China-U.S. trade war, and Brexit. Read more here.

Barron's: Battered British Defense Stock Will Mount New Charge

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The United Kingdom-based defense company BAE Systems has been taking flak of late. The stock has dropped because of the company’s Saudi Arabian ties and now presents an opportunity for investors to buy cheap shares with good prospects for capital gains and dividend growth.

“BAE has an attractive valuation relative to the sector and market,” according to a recent report from European bank Berenberg. “Underlying cash generation is set to steadily improve from 2019 estimates, driven by growth in profits,” the firm noted. Read more here.

Korn Ferry: Brexit -- Dealing With Dramatic Defeat

By SIMON CONSTABLE

There’s defeat, and then there’s crushing defeat. 

UK Prime Minister Theresa May suffered the latter Tuesday evening after losing a parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal 432 to 202. The United Kingdom’s national broadcasting organization BBC calls it “the largest defeat for a sitting government in history.” May now must face a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons prompted by the leader of Britain’s opposition party, Jeremy Corbyn. Read more here.

Forbes: Could A Cryptocurrency Service Help Save Venezuela?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Venezuela's government can't seem to do anything right these days, so some enterprising folks have stepped forward to help the inflation-ravaged country.

Steve Hanke, hyperinflation expert, and professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University has teamed up with AirTM, a Mexico City-based blockchain-powered currency platform. Their goal is to get financial aid to beleaguered Venezuelans and they've named the  project "AirdropVenezuela." Read more here.

Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

Barron's: A Top UK Income Investment Play

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Brexit-related clouds have produced another opportunity for investors: Legal & General.

L&G (tickers: LGEN.UK and LGGNF), which specializes in general (nonlife) insurance, asset management, and mortgages, offers a fat dividend yield at a compelling valuation. “It’s a buy for us,” says Ian Forrest, an analyst at United Kingdom stockbroker The Share Centre. “The yield is the most attractive thing. When you look at the forecasts for the company, it suggests dividends are likely to rise.” Read more here.

WSJ: What Is Gross Output and Intermediate Inputs?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Big changes are happening at the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

It means you’ll be hearing more about two economic metrics: gross output and intermediate inputs. The two are related, but for economists, the latter has a meaningful use as an indicator of future economic activity. The BEA has been stepping up the speed at which it releases data on the metrics. Read more here.

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Barron's: Why Beef Prices Are Primed to Sizzle

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A little beef could put some muscle in your portfolio.

African swine flu, possibly brutal winter weather, and falling beef production could propel prices for cattle futures more than 15% higher over the next two quarters or so.

“It’s a perfect situation for a pretty wild price move higher,” Shawn Hackett, CEO of Hackett Financial Advisors told Barron's. Read more here.