The U.S. stock market has proven to be an historic juggernaut, and its stellar performance this year, as this table shows, only solidifies its reputation as top dog:
Or does it?
Investors would be forgiven for feeling jittery heading into an earnings season where sky-high valuations tangle with results that are expected to show slowing growth. So maybe some peace of mind will come with moving investment cash overseas.
In that case, Accuvest Global Advisors is here to help.
The investment manager, in our call of the day, just released its latest country ranking and the U.S. comes in fourth, behind China, Russia and Norway.
“China shows positive and improving momentum,” writes Accuvest portfolio manager James Calhoun. “This blends nicely with persistently strong fundamentals and undemanding valuations.”
There are plenty of ways to gain exposure to China, including popular vehicles like the iShares China Large Cap ETF
FXI, +1.23%
the biggest of all Chinese ETFs, and the iShares MSCI China ETF
MCHI, +1.45%
For a more internet-focused approach, check out the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF
KWEB, +1.93%
KWEB, +1.93%
For Russia and Norway, these funds may be worth a look: The VanEck Vectors Russia
RSX, +0.47%
RSX, +0.47%
the iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF
ERUS, +0.20%
the iShares MSCI Norway ETF
ENOR, +0.15%
and the Global X Norway ETF
NORW, +0.54%
Back here in the States, stocks are looking steady premarket.
The market
Futures on the S&P 500
ESM9, +0.02%
Nasdaq Composite
NQM9, -0.06%
and Dow Jones Industrial Average
YMM9, +0.10%
are in hover mode to kick off the week. Crude oil
US:CLU8
is in the red, as are both gold
US:GCU8
and the dollar
DXY, -0.10%
DXY, -0.10%
Europe stocks
SXXP, +0.12%
are a touch higher. Asian equities gained, bolstered by the Shanghai Composite
SHCOMP, -0.34%
rallying on signs the U.S. and China are closing in on a trade deal after months of negotiations.
The buzz
Reuters
Tiger Woods made a lot of people happy Sunday when he won his fifth Masters title. Perhaps nobody was happier than the folks at Nike
NKE, +1.46%
The sponsor that stuck with Tiger through the dark times capitalized on his epic victory by releasing an ad within minutes of the final putt dropping in the cup. Oh, and somebody else is really happy about his win (see “The stat” below.)
Some Merger Monday action with Waste Management
WM, +1.21%
announced a $4.9 billion deal, to buy its smaller rival Advanced Disposal Services
ADSW, +1.16%
, whose shares are taking off like a rocket.
Huawei Technologies says it’s “open” to selling 5G smartphone chips to Apple
AAPL, -0.04%
In a CNBC interview that aired late Sunday, the Chinese tech giant’s founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said the company would consider selling its next-generation mobile chips to other smartphone makers, in a potentially big shift in strategy. “We’re open to Apple in this regard,” he said.
Pete Buttigieg didn’t let freezing rain get in the way of his formally announcing his bid for the presidency Sunday. “One day they will write histories, not just about one campaign or one presidency but about the era that began here today, in this building, where past, present, and future meet,” he told the crowd. “It’s cold out, but we’ve had it with winter. You and I have the chance to usher in a new American spring.”
Powerful storms swept across the South over the weekend after unleashing suspected tornadoes and flooding that killed at least eight people, including three children, and also injured dozens and flattened much of a Texas town.
The stat
$1.19 million — That’s how much one lucky better took home by betting $85,000 that Tiger would win the Masters, according to ESPN. “It’s great to see Tiger back,” Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading at sportsbook William Hill, said in a release. “It’s a painful day for William Hill — our biggest loss ever — but a great day for golf.”
The quote
Getty Images
“If the Fed had done its job properly, which it has not, the Stock Market would have been up 5000 to 10,000 additional points, and GDP would have been well over 4% instead of 3%” — Donald Trump, continuing his slam of the central bank.
The chart
“The tale from some of the most cyclical and predictive economic indicators are telling investors two very different things at the moment,” says Bryce Coward, portfolio manager at Knowledge Leaders Capital. He’s referring to lumber and copper prices, and how their divergence, as shown in this chart, is giving investors mixed signals:
Copper
HGK9, -0.42%
is giving the green light, but lumber
LBK9, +2.26%
is flashing yellow. “Both indicators can’t be right, so which is actually the most useful in telegraphing economic activity?” Coward asked.
“From my perspective, it’s lumber,” because of its role as a leading indicator of economic activity rather than copper’s coincident relationship. “A break below levels of last fall would be undoubtedly bearish for the economy and stocks too,” he said, “while a reversal right here could paint a more benign picture.” Read the full blog here.
The tweet
The economy
The New York Fed Empire State Manufacturing survey for April hits at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, but that’s the only notable bit economic data we’ll see today. On Thursday, the initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released along with retail sales. Housing starts data arrives on Friday morning.
Read: Spring’s here — that probably means a reinvigorated U.S. economy
Random reads
Phone addicts are the new drunk drivers.
ISIS kidnapped her five years ago… she might still be alive.
A Fordham University student died early Sunday morning after falling about 30 feet from inside a clock tower on the school’s Bronx campus.
Here’s how social media is changing the world of comedy.
The Golden State Warriors get the “60 Minutes” treatment.
Man not too pleased parents throw out his porn stash, so he sues them.
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Source : MTV
