WSJ: Emerging-Markets ETFs Draw Cash

By SIMON CONSTABLE 

Investors in exchange-traded funds are more excited about emerging markets than ever.

Globally, ETFs specializing in emerging-markets stocks took in a record amount of net new cash in 2018: $63.1 billion, up from $57.7 billion in 2017, according to figures from financial-data company EPFR. That brought net inflows for the past three calendar years to $142 billion. Through March of this year, investors stuffed a further $15 billion into emerging-markets ETFs. Read more here.

Barron's: April Showers Could Boost Wheat’s Pricing Powers

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A new deluge of rain in the Midwest looks set to hit already waterlogged soil, possibly sending wheat prices soaring.

“A $5 target for now is a very realistic target,” says Shawn Hackett, president of Boca Raton–based advisory firm Hackett Financial Advisors. That’s based on the current saturated soil levels and rain forecasts for April, he says. Read more here.

TheStreet: After Crude Oil's Roaring Rip, It May Pay to Be Cautious For Now

By SIMON CONSTABLE

If you haven't already placed a bullish bet on oil prices, now may not be the best time to start.

The risks would likely far outweigh the potential rewards, according to a little-watched indicator that rarely gets mentioned outside the trading rooms of Wall Street. Read more here.

Korn Ferry: Take The Day Off

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The United Arab Emirates believes that a few extra days off from work may make a world of difference.

The UAE government has standardized the number of public holidays that workers receive, regardless of whether their employer is in the public or private sector. The move is part of the country’s efforts to get its citizens to consider taking jobs in the private sector over traditionally preferred government work. Read more here.

Forbes: What Your Professor Didn't Tell You About Reaching Your Goals

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Harvard University's Todd Rose is back with another must-read book: Dark Horse: Achieving Success Through the Pursuit of Fulfillment. The title, 'Dark Horse,' alludes to the idea that those folks who don't take a standardized career path can achieve just as much success as those who do.

This should matter to anyone pursuing a career in finance or when managing their own money. In simple terms, this book will tell you an important truth. You'll get more success by doing what is right for you as a unique individual than you would by trying to shoehorn yourself into an ill-fitting but predetermined role. Read more here.

Forbes: How Much Did Trump's Trade War Cost You? You'll Never Guess

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The results are in on how much Donald Trump's trade war cost the U.S. in 2018.

Most people who guess would be wildly wrong about the total.

It cost the average American the price of one fancy cappuccino plus a cookie per month during 2018, or $4.28, according to a new report. Read more here.

Forbes: The Other College Finance Scandal

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Is there a simple, workable solution to soaring student loan balances and the spotty quality of college education?

Yes, according to a recently published research paper from The James G, Martin Center for Academic Renewal, titled "Universities Should Invest In Their Students, Not Securities." Read more here.

Photo by Charles DeLoye on Unsplash