Barron's: An Italian Tire Maker With a High-Performance Stock

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Pirelli could provide investors with a smooth ride higher. 

The stock (ticker: PIRC.Italy) looks set to rise in the next 12 months, propelled by rising earnings as the company shifts to higher margin products and benefits from the increased demand for performance tires. In addition to a roughly 20% gain, a rising dividend should add 4.5% next year for a total return of about 25%. Read more here.

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WSJ: Two Trendy Cash Phrases

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A shift in the markets means investors may hear the following phrases used more often this year: The first is “Cash as a Reasonable Alternative,” and the second is the acronym CITA, which stands for “Cash Is the Alternative.” Read more here.

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Barron's: Taylor Wimpey -- A U.K. Housing Stock With a Big Dividend

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Shares of British home builder Taylor Wimpey could provide a pretty solid foundation for a portfolio. The shares offer a double-digit dividend yield, the chance of capital appreciation, and will be helped by the government’s favorable homeownership policy. “The market is pricing in an overly bearish outcome for the new housing market,” says Sam Cullen, a senior analyst at European broker Berenberg. “The market for newly constructed housing is significantly outperforming that of the existing home market.” Read more here.

Forbes: A Replay Of 1972 Could Boost U.S. Grain Prices

By SIMON CONSTABLE

U.S. agricultural markets could be about to get a boost.

The matter hinges in part with the on-going, and acrimonious, trade negotiations between the Trump administration and China.

However, there's a good chance that the whole thing ends well and that presents an opportunity for traders to benefit from a possible rally in grain prices. Read more here.

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Forbes: The Unintended Consequences Of Central Bank Policies -- Part 2 of 2

By SIMON CONSTABLE

While many pundits seem to heap praise on the policies that central bank policies introduced after the 2008-2009 financial crisis, their actions came with unintended consequences. Sometimes they were the exact opposite of the outcomes desired. Read more here.

Forbes: The Unintended Consequences Of Central Bank Policies -- Part 1 of 2

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Central bank efforts to save the world economy after the 2007-2009 financial crisis were much lauded by pundits these past few years. But now researchers are digging up evidence that some of their actions resulted in significant unintended consequences. Sometimes the results were the opposite of those desired by the policymakers. Read more here.

Forbes: How Brexit Made British Stocks A Steal

By SIMON CONSTABLE

British stocks are now a steal, and you can thank Brexit for that.

That's why it might make sense for investors to consider investing in the island nation's market. Read more here.

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Forbes: What You Need To Know About Oil Prices And Venezuela's Drama

By SIMON CONSTABLE

What happens next in Venezuela's political drama could have a profound impact on oil prices. Read more here.

Middle East Eye: Bleak Economic Outlook for Mid East in 2019

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Falling oil output together with restrained government spending looks set to blight some key economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) over the coming year, with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman expected to be particularly hard hit.

However, analysts say whether the economic slowdown results in more political instability across the region will depend on how governments choose to react. Read more here.

Forbes: Reasons To Start Betting On Gold Miners

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Changes in the gold mining industry should be good for investors in the sector. It's about time too. Read more here.

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Barron's: Never Mind Brexit. This U.K. Retailer Is a Buy.

By SIMON CONSTABLE

While many retailers are getting shredded on Main Street, Britain’s WH Smith is bucking the trend by pursuing growth globally, catering to travelers in airports and railway stations. “Profits are organically moving away from the High Street to the travel side,” Laith Khalaf, a senior analyst at United Kingdom financial-services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, told Barron’s. “In an airport, you’re a captive audience for retailers.” Read more here.

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.

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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.

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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.

Korn Ferry: The Brexit Clock Keeps Ticking

By SIMON CONSTABLE

With fewer than 100 days before the March 29 Brexit deadline, it is still as clear as mud how the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, or if it will even leave at all.

Between proposed deals quickly scuttled, votes of no confidence against UK Prime Minister Theresa May, and talks of another Brexit referendum, it’s hard for anyone to figure out what will happen. Whatever the outcome, experts say UK businesses need to review how their company interacts with the EU (and vice versa) and what the various Brexit outcomes would mean to them. Read more here.

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Forbes: Why Migrants Risk Death To Reach The UK -- It’s The Economy

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Britain is experiencing the best of times and the worst of times.

What you conclude will likely depend on which narrative you believe. There’s the story from financiers who bet with other peoples money, and then there’s the one from migrants who are willing to gamble with their lives.

Given the stakes involved, I’d say the latter is probably a better indicator that Britain’s economy is not lacking any mojo. The former probably says more about bankers than anything. Read more here.