For The Love Of Money

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silver $39.56

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Well, it's not as obvious as it was before... it could go either way now. Really depends on what the fed does, but if rates start going up and the economy starts to slow down, it will start going down again, possibly rapidly.

People don't talk about deflation much, but it is still a realistic possiblity.

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what are your thoughts on gold and silver here?

they gonna kill the dollar?

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Not much further to go

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silver $39.34

and i was thinking 50/oz this year was a little far fetched. it may just to it.

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Amazing

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silver $39.28 wow

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silver $39.04

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silver $38.80

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silver $38.58

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silver $37.86

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silver $37.49

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silver $37.13

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10 Things You Need To Know Before The Opening Bell

Good morning. Here's what you need to know.

* Asian indices were mixed in overnight trading with the Nikkei down 0.21%. Major European indices are down and US futures indicate a positive open.

* TEPCO is expected to declare itself insolvent or be nationalized. Its shares have plummeted in overnight trading and its President Masataka Shimizu who was recently under pressure to resign hasn't been seen in weeks. He is rumored to have fled Japan. Don't Miss: The 12 Japanese Companies Slammed Hardest By The Disaster >

* The S&P Case Shiller home price index will be released at 9 AM ET. The report is expected to show a drop in home prices from the previous month. Follow the release at Money Game >

* German consumer sentiment is expected to decline in April spurred by rising inflation and unrest in the Mideast. The index is expected to decrease by 0.1 point. Check out the debt situation in the eurozone >

* S&P has threatened to downgrade Portuguese sovereign debt for the third time in a week. They also downgraded 5 Portuguese banks. Meanwhile yields on Portuguese bonds are soaring. Don't miss: Niall Ferguson's complete explanation of sovereign debt crises >

* The Syrian Cabinet is expected to resign and a new cabinet is expected to take power today. Thousands of supporters however gathered in Damascus today to pledge their support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

* American diplomat Chris Stevens is expected to meet with Libyan rebels today in order to form closer ties. The international community has begun to recognize the Libyan National Council and oil prices have declined further on the news. Here are the 11 countries at risk of becoming the next libya >

* Homebuilder Lennar Corp announced a 1Q profit of $27.4 million despite lower home sales which affected overall revenue.

* Consumer confidence data will be released at 10 AM ET. The consensus is for a drop in confidence to 65. Follow the release at Money Game >

* Spain's third largest savings bank Banco Base will request a $4 billion bailout from the government-backed bank restructuring fund. Don't Miss: The 14 Countries More Likely To Default Than Spain >


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-Things-You-Need-To-Know-siliconalley-1912785384.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=8&asset=&ccode=

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More people signed contracts to buy homes in Feb.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More Americans signed contracts to buy homes in February, but sales were uneven across the country and not enough to signal a rebound in the housing market.

Sales agreements for homes rose 2.1 percent last month to a reading of 90.8, according to the National Association of Realtors' pending home sales index released Monday. Sales rose in every region but the Northeast.

Signings were 19.6 percent above June's index reading, the low point since the housing bust. Still, the index is below 100, which is considered a healthy level. The last time it reached that point was in April, the final month people could qualify for a home-buying tax credit.

Contract signings are usually a good indicator of where the housing market is heading. That's because there's usually a one- to two-month lag between a sales contract and a completed deal.

But the Realtors group also noted "a measurable level of contract cancellations" that also occurred in February. Many buyers canceled after appraisals showed the properties were valued much lower than their initial bids.

A sale is not final until a mortgage is closed.

"Therefore, the latest pickup in pending home sales and mortgage applications might not necessarily end up in a measurable pickup in mortgage closings and translate into an increase in existing home sales," said Yelena Shulyatyeva, an analyst at BNP Paribas.

The pace of sales varied from region to region. Signings fell 10.9 percent in the Northeast. They rose 2.7 percent in the South, 4 percent in Midwest and 7 percent in the West.

High unemployment, strict lending standards, and a record number of foreclosures are deterring would-be buyers, who fear home prices haven't reached the bottom.

Sales of previously owned homes fell last year to the lowest level in 13 years. Economists say it will be years before the housing market fully recovers. The rise in foreclosures has pushed the median price of previously occupied homes to its lowest point in nearly 9 years.

New-home sales have fared even worse. Americans are on track to buy fewer new homes than in any year since the government began keeping data almost a half-century ago. Sales are now just half the pace of 1963 -- even though there are 120 million more people in the United States now.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/More-people-signed-contracts-apf-1373085761.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=3&asset=&ccode=

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ALU (5.72) Chart

Goldman upgrades Alcatel

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Philips warns of loss on television business

Philips warns of $169 million loss on television business in first quarter

AMSTERDAM (AP) -- Dutch lighting and technology conglomerate Royal Philips Electronics NV has warned it expects a pretax loss of up to euro120 million ($169 million) on its television business in the first quarter.

Philips says it has been cutting inventory amid fierce price competition.

It said in a warning Monday that "resolving this is an absolute priority." Philips reports first quarter earnings April 18.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Philips-warns-of-loss-on-apf-784412439.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=9&asset=&ccode=

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silver $37.59

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Walgreen to spend about $429M for drugstore.com

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Walgreen-to-spend-about-429M-apf-1062433316.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=5&asset=&ccode=

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10 Things You Need To Know Before The Opening Bell

Good morning. Here's what you need to know.

* Asian indices were mixed in overnight trading with the Nikkei down 0.15%. Major European indices are up and US futures indicate a positive open. Now, here are the 10 unusual stocks attracting huge attention this morning >

* Moody's downgraded 30 Spanish banks and shares are expected to plummet on the news. Increased pressure on the real estate sector and the restructuring of the banking sector which left smaller banks weak were cited as the primary reasons for the downgrade. Don't miss: The 14 countries more likely to default than Spain >

* The Egyptian market is down over 6% for a second straight day. Trade was suspended for 30 minutes during the day as the market continued to plummet. Now here are the 11 countries that could become the next Egypt >

* Portuguese 2-year bond yields soared to 6.8% their highest since 1999 after Prime Minister Jose Socrates' resignation renewed fears of a European bailout.

* Tepco shares plummeted 14% in overnight trading on rising concerns about safety levels at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The repair process is also expected to last many more weeks. Japanese banks may lend the company $25 billion. Don't Miss: The First Pictures Of The Heroic Fukushima Workers >

* UK retail sales dropped 0.8% month-over-month, from January to February and the drop was worse than expected. Year-over-year sales increased 1.3%.

* Initial jobless claims came in better than expected. Read about it here >

* Durable Goods Orders came in way worse than expected. Read about it here >

* Chaos continues in the Middle-East. Libya's military is said to be destroyed though attacks on rebels are ongoing. Residents of Daraa, Syria organized a sit-in to protest the massacre of 25 protestors outside the al-Omari mosque on Wednesday.

* The US auto industry is likely to be hit by a supply shortage of microchips, sensors, rubber and other parts due to the disaster in Japan. Companies expect plant shutdowns from time to time. Don't miss: Our guide to the economic impact of the Japanese disaster >


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-Things-You-Need-To-Know-siliconalley-1992032258.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=8&asset=&ccode=

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10 Stocks to Watch

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy was rising almost 5% to above $33 in premarket trading Thursday after reporting fourth-quarter earnings of $1.98 a share, surpassing expectations of $1.85 a share.

>> Stock Market, March 24: What's on Tap

Shares of software company Red Hat were surging 12.6% to $44.99 after reporting a 43% increase in fourth-quarter profit.

>> Red Hat, Micron: After-Hours Trading

Chipmaker Micron was popping 6.2% to $11.27 in premarket trading Thursday after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter profit.

>> Red Hat, Micron: After-Hours Trading

Rio Tinto was gaining 1.1% to $68.29 and BHP Billiton was advancing 0.8% to $90.71 after the mining giants scored a victory in a tax dispute in Australia.

Software developer Oracle was up 1% to $31.71 ahead of its third-quarter earnings report after the closing bell Thursday. Analysts expect Oracle to earn 50 cents a share.

>> Stock Market, March 24: What's on Tap

Banco Santander was rising 0.8% to $12.06 and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria was up 0.8% to $12.69 after Moody's cut the ratings of 30 Spanish banks amid the collapse of the Portuguese minority government, but left its view of the Santander, BBVA and La Caixa unchanged.

Foodmaker ConAgra Foods was up 0.4% to $ 23.01 after posting third-quarter earnings of 50 cents a share, topping the consensus estimate of 47 cents.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $1.76 after the markets close Thursday.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-Stocks-to-Watch-Micron-tsmf-3509464982.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=5&asset=&ccode=

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Oil rises above $106

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Silver $37.74 oz

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silver $37.27 oz

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Silver $36.45/oz

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took a good 2 years to fall from $100 ..maybe another 2 years it can go from $10 to $100 lol

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Wow, check that out

Thought it would be higher by now

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CWIR pos getting pumped by 1 tick flippers..this is ugly.

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UNG weekly.

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Silver $36.21

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AT&T to buy T-Mobile USA for $39 billion

NEW YORK (AP) -- AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $39 billion that would make it the largest cellphone company in the U.S.

The deal would reduce the number of wireless carriers with national coverage from four to three, and is sure to face close regulatory scrutiny. It also removes a potential partner for Sprint Nextel Corp., the struggling No. 3 carrier, which had been in talks to combine with T-Mobile USA, according to Wall Street Journal reports.

AT&T is now the country's second-largest wireless carrier and T-Mobile USA is the fourth largest. The acquisition would give AT&T 129 million subscribers, vaulting it past Verizon Wireless' 102 million. The combined company would serve about 43 percent of U.S. cellphones.

For T-Mobile USA's 33.7 million subscribers, the news doesn't immediately change anything. Because of the long regulatory process, AT&T expects the acquisition to take a year to close. But when and if it closes, T-Mobile USA customers would get access to AT&T's phone line-up, including the iPhone.

The effect of reduced competition in the cellphone industry is harder to fathom. Public interest group Public Knowledge said that eliminating one of the four national phone carriers would be "unthinkable."

"We know the results of arrangements like this -- higher prices, fewer choices, less innovation," said Public Knowledge president Gigi Sohn, in a statement.

T-Mobile has relatively cheap service plans compared with AT&T, particularly when comparing the kind that don't come with a two-year contract. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said one of the goals of the acquisition would be to move T-Mobile customers to smart phones, which have higher monthly fees. AT&T "will look hard" at keeping T-Mobile's no-contract plans, he said.

AT&T's general counsel, Wayne Watts, said the cellphone business is "an incredibly competitive market," with five or more carriers in most major cities. He pointed out that prices have declined in the past decade, even as the industry has consolidated. In the most recent mega-deal, Verizon Wireless bought No. 5 carrier Alltel for $5.9 billion in 2009.

Stifel Nicolaus analyst Rebecca Arbogast said the deal will face a tough review by the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department. She expects them to look market-by-market at whether the deal will harm competition. Even if regulators approve the acquisition, she added, they are likely to require AT&T to sell off parts of its business or T-Mobile's business. Verizon had to sell off substantial service areas to get clearance for the Alltel acquisition.

To mollify regulators, AT&T said in a statement Sunday that it would spend an additional $8 billion to expand ultrafast wireless broadband into rural areas. Instead of covering about 80 percent of the U.S. population with its so-called Long Term Evolution, or LTE network, AT&T's new goal would be 95 percent, it said. That means blanketing an additional area 4.5 times the size of Texas. The network is scheduled to go live in a few areas this summer, but the full build-out will take years.

The offer would help the FCC and the Obama administration meet their stated goals of bringing high-speed Internet access to all Americans. They see wireless networks as critical to meeting that goal -- particularly in rural areas where it does not make economic sense to build landline networks.

AT&T said its customers would benefit from the cell towers and wireless spectrum the deal would bring. In some areas, it would add 30 percent more capacity, AT&T said.

"It obviously will have a significant impact in terms of dropped calls and network performance," Stephenson said.

AT&T would pay about $25 billion in cash to Deutsche Telekom, Germany's largest phone company, and stock that is equivalent to an 8 percent stake in AT&T. Deutsche Telekom would get one seat on AT&T's board.

Like Sprint, T-Mobile has been struggling to compete with much larger rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless, and its revenue has been largely flat for three years. Bellevue, Wash.-based T-Mobile USA's subscriber count has stalled at just under 34 million, though it posts consistent profits.

Deutsche Telekom has been looking at radical moves to let it get more value out of its U.S. holding, including a possible combination with a U.S. partner.

There was a big hurdle to a T-Mobile USA-Sprint deal: The two companies use incompatible network technologies. The same hurdle would apply in a Verizon Wireless-T-Mobile USA deal. But the networks of AT&T and T-Mobile use the same underlying technology, so to some large extent, AT&T phones can already use T-Mobile's network, and vice versa.

The deal has been approved by the boards of both companies. Dallas-based AT&T can increase its cash portion by up to $4.2 billion, with a reduction in the stock component, as long as Deutsche Telekom receives at least a 5 percent equity ownership interest in the buyer.

The agreement doesn't leave room for other buyers to jump in with a higher bid, AT&T said.

AT&T would finance the cash part of the deal with new debt and cash on its balance sheet and will assume no debt from T-Mobile.

AP Technology Writer Joelle Tessler contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ATampT-to-buy-TMobile-USA-for-apf-3840669463.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

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President Trump? Billionaire considering 2012 run

NEW YORK (AP) -- Donald Trump boots contestants off his TV show with a famous two-word catch phrase: "You're fired." He may want the chance to say the same to President Barack Obama.

The real estate tycoon with the comb-over hairdo and in-your-face attitude plans to decide by June whether to join the field of GOP contenders competing in 2012 to make the Democratic incumbent a one-term president.

Trump insists he's serious. He rejects skeptics' claims that he's using the publicity to draw viewers to "Celebrity Apprentice," the NBC reality program he co-produces and hosts.

"The ratings on the show are through the roof. I don't need to boost the ratings," Trump told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "But the country is doing so badly. I wish there was someone in the Republican field I thought would be incredible because that's what we need right now."

If he runs, Trump would follow a well-worn path of wealthy businessmen who have sought the White House before. Recent examples include Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson in 1988, tech mogul Ross Perot in 1992 and publishing executive Steve Forbes in 1996.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire New York City mayor, also has hinted at national political ambitions even as he says he won't enter the race.

Trump is prepared to spend as much as $600 million of his personal fortune on the race. "Part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich," he told ABC's "Good Morning America."

He flirted with presidential campaigns in 1988 and 2000, but never did run.

So what makes the 2012 race any different?

Several political operatives in Washington and elsewhere say privately that Trump has reached out to them repeatedly in recent weeks to learn about the mechanics of running a campaign, asking questions about how much money he would need, what type of an organization he would have to build -- and whether he could win.

Publically, Trump has taken several steps to suggest he's not joking.

He delivered a well-received speech to the Conservative Political Action Committee conference last month in Washington. He's done interviews with reporters in Iowa, the first-in-the-nation caucus state, and is planning a trip in June to leadoff primary state New Hampshire for a presidential candidate's rite of passage -- appearing at a political breakfast series called Politics and Eggs. Last week, Michael Cohen, one of his top business advisers who is running a draft-Trump website, met with GOP activists in Iowa.

Some people close to Trump also say they think he just might take the plunge this time.

"I think he's looking at it fairly seriously, and he has the money and liquidity to do it. He'd make a very strong candidate," said Dick Morris, a Democrat-turned-Republican strategist whose father was Trump's lawyer for many years. "He's kind of sui generis, in his own category. He's someone who's accomplished things and won't take any crap."

Republican pollster John McLaughlin said the themes Trump is stressing would find a receptive audience among GOP primary voters.

"He has a message that's resonating: American decline, China rising, and that America needs to turn things around," McLaughlin said. "It's not a politically correct message and it will appeal to Republicans ... and could put him in major contention."

Famously brash, Trump minces few words when talking about his beliefs:

--China "has taken all of our jobs." The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the Mideast oil cartel, "is ripping us right and left. ... You're going to see $5 a gallon gas pretty soon."

--Japan, recovering from an earthquake and tsunami and trying to avert a nuclear disaster, has "ripped us off for years" as a trading partner.

--Obama should be pressed to disclose the original birth certificate. "When you look at what happens today, you look at the misconduct, the fraud and forgeries, you really want to see proof," Trump told the AP. Obama was born and grew up in Hawaii, and his 2008 campaign issued a certification of live birth -- an official document from the state.

--The "birther" movement has legitimate concerns, Trump told ABC. "The reason I have a little doubt, just a little, is because he grew up and nobody knew him."

Trump certainly has the strong opinions of a candidate.

But would the thrice-married billionaire known for his extravagant hotels and golf courses brave the mundane rituals of retail campaigning and the intense examination his business empire and personal wealth would draw?

"People thinking of running have to file a personal financial disclosure within 30 days of registering with the FEC. Does anyone really think that Donald Trump, under penalty of perjury, would file such a document?" campaign finance lawyer Jan Baran asked.

A candidacy also could present legal troubles given Trump's web of business interests.

While Trump is not formally connected to Cohen's draft effort, he allowed Cohen to use a Trump corporate jet for the trip. Trump booster and billionaire pharmaceutical executive Stewart Rahr paid for the trip, which led to a Federal Election Commission complaint from a supporter of Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul.

Trump, 64, insists he's prepared for the scrutiny.

"I always heard if you're very, very successful, you can't run for high political office -- too many victories, fights and enemies," Trump told the AP. "And yet that's what this country needs. We can't have any more of what we're having."

Trump's past could dog him.

His divorce from first wife, Ivana, over his affair and subsequent marriage with actress Marla Maples made him a New York tabloid staple in the 1990s. He's been married since 2005 to Melania Knauss, a former model from Slovenia who is 24 years his junior. His three marriages produced five children, and he has two grandchildren.

He is known for finding ways to inject himself into news of the day. Last summer, for example, he offered to buy the building set to be turned into an Islamic center near ground zero in New York City.

His politics are all over the map.

He mulled an independent White House bid in 2000. He's made political contributions to many Democrats over the years, including New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Last year, Trump gave $50,000 to American Crossroads, a GOP-aligned group that spent millions to defeat Democrats nationwide.

The biggest question facing Trump may be not whether Republican voters will overlook all that. It may be whether he even wants to ask them to.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/President-Trump-Billionaire-apf-1317767568.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=2&asset=&ccode=

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10 Things You Need To Know Before The Opening Bell

Good morning. Here's what you need to know:

•The Nikkei surged in overnight trading, rising 2.55%, with the rest of Asia in positive territory as well. European shares are trading higher this morning, and U.S. futures suggest a positive open.

•The G7 have staged a coordinated intervention in currency markets in an effort to devalue the yen. The yen is now at around 81 to the dollar, and global markets have rallied on the news. Check out our complete guide to the $200 billion economic disaster in Japan.

•Last night, the UN Security Council voted to establish a no-fly zone in Libya, and now forces are preparing for an attack. France claims that air strikes are "imminent," though other parties are suggesting an attack will happen Sunday at the earliest. Here's a guide to Libya's military might.

•In Fukushima, reactors 1, 2, and 3 have been upgraded to level 5 accidents, the same as the Three Mile Island event in the U.S. Japan is now considering dumping sand and cement on the reactors. Click here for the latest on Fukushima.

•China has raised the reserve requirement ratios for its banks by another 50 bps. The move is part of China's tightening cycle, in which it is trying to tackle inflation and rising property prices.

•GE is assisting the the work to solve the crisis at Fukushima, and has set up an "emergency response center" in North Carolina to do so. The company designed the reactors at Fukushima, and its shares have dropped in the wake of the crisis.

•General Mills will buy half of the French food firm Yoplait in a deal valued at $2.2 billion. The other half of the firm will remain owned by the French farmers' co-operative.

•Quest Diagnostics has agreed to purchase Celera for $344 million. Celera is a genetic testing company.

•Nasdaq and ICE have been unable to come to terms on a rival offer for NYSE Euronext. There is now no time line on when an offer to compete with Deutsche Borse's $9 billion bid will be announced.

•Sony has announced that 6 of its plants remain closed in Japan. These plants make a variety of products, including lithium-ion batteries. Check out the 12 Japanese companies slammed the hardest since the disaster.

•Bonus: Sandra Bullock has donated $1 million to relief efforts in Japan.

http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/10-things-you-need-to-know-before-the-opening-bell-536045.html?tickers=CRA,DGX,GE,GIS,ICE&sec=topStories&pos=8&asset=&ccode=

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lol good thing..looks like they need the support.

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How to play a volatile market

http://custom.yahoo.com/talking-numbers/?vid=24562939&sec=topStories&pos=7&asset=&ccode=

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Good morning, I'm actually wearing a Nike sweatshirt this morning :)

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Good Morning breakout. Nike is taking a but wohoopin this AM.

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Good support between $4 and $3.50

Would've been nice picking up on that dip yesterday!

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check this one out.

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Yen Hits Record High Against Dollar on Wednesday

Chaos theory holds that isolated events can ripple throughout the world in unexpected ways – i.e. a butterfly flapping its wings in China can cause an environmental disturbance in Brazil. This week, we’ve seen the theory borne out in the currency markets. The devastating earthquake in Japan is likely to have a series of economic effects that will come as a surprise to observers. We’re already seeing one such manifestation of chaos theory in the currency markets.

In the past week, Japan’s currency has strengthened significantly against the U.S. dollar. Here is a three-month chart of the dollar against the yen.

As Aaron Task and I discuss in the accompanying video, that’s a counterintuitive performance. Why? Many factors help determine the relationship between currencies, including relative interest rates and growth rates. But at first blush, it would have been a no-brainer that the yen would weaken against the dollar after the earthquake. Why? The huge damage of the tsunami and the continuing nuclear crisis is likely to take a big bite out of Japan’s growth rate. As Reuters reported, Credit Agricole economist Susumo Kato said the events could knock Japan’s fragile economy into recession, sapping growth by 1.2 percent in the second quarter of 2011. “Kato, like many analysts, suggested the damage could amount to 15 trillion yen ($188 billion), or around 3 percent of GDP.” Lower growth tends to weaken currencies.

In addition, the Bank of Japan has responded with measures that, taken on their own, would contribute to a weaker currency. As central banks generally do in times of crisis, the Bank of Japan has flooded the nation’s banking system with cash. “The Bank of Japan has pumped roughly 45 trillion yen (nearly half a trillion U.S. dollars) into its financial system and expanded its purchases of securities to support asset values,” as Thomas Lauricella wrote in the Wall Street Journal. That includes a program under which it will print money to buy government bonds, corporate bonds, and stocks (through exchange traded funds). In ordinary times, such volumes of money creation would tend to weaken a currency and raise interest rates.

But these aren’t normal times. As we’ve seen time and again since 2008, normal rules about the relationship between monetary policy and inflation and currency performance can get tossed out the window under extraordinary conditions.

Meanwhile, there are countervailing forces that might help push the yen higher. The reaction in the aftermath of natural disasters that disrupts supply chains and the normal course of events is frequently a sort of panic. We go from a just-in-time world to a world of storage. Run out and stock up, make sure they have enough food, water, fuel, resources to get through the next period and deal with the altered reality. The same happens with money. When bad things happen, whether it’s in the Middle East or in Asia, people tend to repatriate money. Investments held overseas – be it in Swiss bank accounts or in the form of U.S. bonds or shares of IBM – tend to come home. People want to get liquid. And so Japanese investors who want to raise cash have probably been selling holdings denominated in foreign currencies, and using the proceeds to buy yen. That provides a sudden source of demand.

A similar mentality provides a few other sources of deman for yen. Think about insurance companies. The damage has been massive. Japan is an advanced, highly developed economy, in which property, businesses, and lives are very likely to be insured. Insurance companies invest premiums in assets, frequently in bonds. And since Japan has been a low-yielding economy for decades, Japanese insurance companies (or foreign insurance companies doing businss in Japan) have plenty of investments overseas. Now they have a sudden need to raise cash. They will have to make good on thousands of life insurance policies, and pay out on an amount of damages yet to be determined. Damages have been estimated at close to $200 billion, and, depending on what happens at the nuclear power plants, could be higher. That means they are bringing lots of cash into Japan, selling assets abroad and buying yen.

Here's a long-term chart showing just how low it is.

Of course, speculation always plays a role in the movement of currencies. In theory, you would expect that speculators would be looking to dump yen and buy other currencies, given the hit the economy just took and the actions taken by the Bank of Japan. But a lot of professional speculators are engaged in what’s known as the “carry trade.” Investors around the world borrow yen in Japan, where interest rates are very low, and invest the proceeds in other countries and currencies where interest rates and yields are a bit higher – in U.S. bonds, Brazilian stocks, derivatives, you name it.

It’s a risky strategy that can easily be undone by sudden, unexpected market moves. And in the wake of a disaster, investors tend to flee from risk. So it’s possible that the tsunami and its aftereffects may have caused many investors to rush to unwind those trades – i.e. selling non-Japanese assets and paying back the yen-denominated loans. This activity, too, would also have the effect of pushing the yen higher.

After recovering a bit after a wild trading day Wednesday, the dollar Thursday again lost ground against the yen. In a complex, highly interconnected world, it’s unclear which factors are dominant in moving a currency on any given day. Much of the discussion about the effects of speculation in the currency markets is just that: speculation.

Daniel Gross is economics editor at Yahoo! Finance

Email him at [e-mail]; follow him on Twitter @grossdm

http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/yen-hits-record-high-against-dollar-on-wednesday-536044.html?tickers=UUP,UDN,EWJ,EEP,FXY,YCS,^DJI&sec=topStories&pos=5&asset=&ccode=

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Breakout Exclusive: Jim Rogers May Buy U.S. Dollar as It Nears "Tipping Point"

Here's another sneak peek ahead of the launch of Yahoo! Finance's new daily trading and investing show, "Breakout," which launches next week.

Internationally renowned investor Jim Rogers told "Breakout" hosts Matt Nesto and Jeff Macke that he's considering buying the U.S. dollar now, but with a catch.

"We're at a moment of truth for the dollar," he says.

Rogers, who is currently long the yen, notes that the dollar has been declining despite events that would normally trigger a global flight to safety.

He says that if the dollar holds here it could rally as much as 20%, but "if it goes down 3% or 4% from here, I would have to sell and get out and hope I'm still solvent."

Rogers sees a decline in the dollar to historic "multi-multi decade new lows" as a long-term inevitability, but says the time frame for a collapse in the greenback may be sooner than previously thought.

"Somewhere along the line we're going to have a tipping point for the dollar, then it's all over," he offered. "I thought it would happen in a few years; maybe it's going to happen in a few weeks."

http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/breakout-exclusive-jim-rogers-may-buy-u.s.-dollar-as-it-nears-%22tipping-point%22-536042.html?tickers=^ixic,^gspc,^dji&sec=topStories&pos=9&asset=&ccode=

[SIIX]

Oil prices top $100 per barrel again

NEW YORK (AP) -- Oil prices climbed back above $100 per barrel Thursday after a crackdown on protesters in Bahrain increased concerns that unrest there threatens to spread to OPEC heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Prices are also rising as Japan is expected to boost fuel imports as it recovers from its earthquake and tsunami disaster. And the world's largest oil consumer, the U.S., reported Thursday that unemployment claims dropped to the lowest level since July 2008, raising hopes that oil and gasoline demand will soon increase.

Benchmark crude added $2.51 at $100.50 per barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude rose $3.23 to $113.67 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Oil prices have been pushed and pulled in recent weeks by various international crises that could have major impacts on world oil supplies and demand.

A rebellion in Libya has forced the country to halt oil shipments of about 1.5 million barrels per day. Libya produced about 2 percent of the world's oil. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations have said they will increase production to cover shortfalls of Libyan oil, which goes mostly to Europe.

Protests in Bahrain led by Shi'ite Muslims have raised concerns further about the stability of the Middle East. The tiny country doesn't have much oil of its own, but Bahrain is just 15 miles from the Saudi Arabia border and the violence could deepen sectarian divisions between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in the region.

Saudi Arabia, ruled by Sunnis, is the world's largest oil exporter and produces about 8.4 million barrels per day, enough to satisfy about 8 percent of world demand.

The Saudis have sent troops to Bahrain as part of a multinational force defending the monarchy there. That move was sharply criticized by Iran's Shi'ite leadership, which recalled its ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

Helima Croft, an analyst with Barclays Capital, said Bahrain could become the new "central front" in an ongoing power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The violence also could hurt the Saudi's diplomatic relationship with the U.S. That would send shockwaves through oil markets, Croft said.

Saudi Arabia is the only country with enough spare oil production to meet increased world demand "and thus the last word on any attempt to drive down prices through production increases," she said. Analysts say the Saudis can boost their daily production by more than four million barrels.

Meanwhile, there was positive economic news in the U.S. The Labor Department said Thursday that applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, signaling modest job growth. And FedEx Corp. reported higher quarterly revenue, although profits were hurt by higher fuel prices and severe winter weather. Stock markets bounced back after taking a beating on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 168 points in midday trading. The Nasdaq and the Standard & Poor's 500 were higher as well.

Gasoline pump prices dipped for a third day, to $3.546 per gallon, though the national average is still up about 42 cents per gallon since the middle of February. A gallon of regular unleaded is 75.7 cents more expensive than last year.

In other Nymex trading for April contracts, heating oil gained 5 cents at $3.0500 per gallon and gasoline futures added 8 cents at $2.9286 per gallon. Natural gas rose 16 cents to $4.096 per 1,000 cubic feet. In its weekly report, the Energy Department said the nation's natural gas supplies shrank by 56 billion cubic feet. Supplies are about 1.4 percent above the five-year average.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Oil-prices-top-100-per-barrel-apf-2580584891.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=3&asset=&ccode=

[SIIX]

Thanks for the TA.. keeping a close eye on it. volume really stinks otherwise i would have prolly bought already

[BreakoutÎnvestments]

There's definitely a channel going on. If it breaks the channel, I wouldn't buy. It's a little weak already if you notice the stock didn't hold the 50SMA like it did on the last dip.

STO and Williams are definitely ready for a bounce though

Money flows are mixed, but mostly negative.

If you buy, keep a tight stop

[SIIX]

Good morning Breakout, IF you get a chance..could you post an ECPG chart and tell me your thoughts.

Encore Capital Group Inc. 'the largest publicly traded debt-buying firm by revenue'

[SIIX]

Groupon discusses IPO of up to $25 billion

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Daily deals website Groupon could be valued at as much as $25 billion in an initial public offering, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing two people with knowledge of the company's discussions with banks.

The offering may happen this year and would likely value Groupon at a minimum of $15 billion, the sources told Bloomberg.

Groupon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report.

Groupon founder and Chief Executive Andrew Mason told Reuters in January that the company was considering a public offering and was in talks with bankers, but had had yet made a decision about whether to proceed.

A source told Reuters in January that a Groupon offering would be "meaningfully sized."

The two-year-old start-up rebuffed a $6 billion advance from Google Inc (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News) late last year, according to media reports. Over the course of 2010 it grew to 50 million users, from 3 million, in 500 cities in 40 countries.

(Reporting by Maria Aspan; editing by John Wallace)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Groupon-discusses-IPO-of-up-rb-665490664.html;_ylt=ArATu_da9mlBd7Se.fHBIMy7YWsA;_ylu=X3oDMTE1Z3VsajBiBHBvcwM4BHNlYwN0b3BTdG9yaWVzBHNsawNncm91cG9uZGlzY3U-?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=5&asset=&ccode=

[SIIX]

Panic buying triggered by nuke crisis sweeps China

BEIJING (AP) -- Worried shoppers stripped stores of salt in Beijing, Shanghai and other parts of China on Thursday in the false belief it can guard against radiation exposure, even though any fallout from a crippled Japanese nuclear power plant is unlikely to reach the country.

The panic shopping was triggered by rumors that iodized salt can help ward off radiation poisoning -- part of the swirl of misinformation crisscrossing the region in the wake of Japan's nuclear emergency.

The rumors have flown widely. Text messages on mobile phones have circulated about nuclear plumes spreading from Japan throughout Asia. Rumors also spread that salt was adequate protection for radiation sickness.

Supermarkets in the capital of Beijing and many cities across the country have run out of salt in the last several days as a wave of panic buying spread across provinces from eastern Zhejiang to southern Guangdong to western Sichuan.

Prices of salt jumped five or 10-fold in southern Guangdong, the Internet portal sina.com reported.

In Shanghai, Dong Linhua, a 57-year-old factory worker, said he wanted to buy just 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of salt but could not even find that.

"Salt is not available in any of the shops," he said. Though Dong said he didn't believe the rumors, he wanted to have the salt for his family.

On Thursday, the country's largest salt maker, China National Salt Industry Corp., issued a statement saying ample reserves were in place and that "panic-buying and hoarding is unnecessary," according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

The Ministry of Health posted information on its website telling people that taking regular table salt cannot prevent radiation. An adult would need to ingest 6.61 pounds (3 kilograms) of salt at one time to help prevent radiation, the ministry said.

Potassium iodide pills are used to help mitigate the effects of radiation poisoning, but regular table salt doesn't contain enough iodine to block the poisoning, according to health experts.

The Chinese government also weighed in Thursday, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu saying, "I do not see any necessity to panic."

The National Development and Reform Commission issued an urgent notice ordering local authorities to take "immediate action to monitor the market prices and resolutely crack down on illegal acts including spreading rumors to deceive the public."

The Guangdong and Hainan provincial governments warned of fines of up to 2 million yuan ($304,000) for companies that hiked up salt prices to gouge customers.

Michael O'Leary, head of the World Health Organization in China, called on governments and individuals to "take steps to halt these rumors, which are harmful to public morale."

O'Leary said the WHO "would like to assure governments and members of the public that there is no evidence at this time of any significant international spread from the nuclear site."

The U.S. Embassy said that there is no evidence that events in Japan "will have any health impact on individuals residing in China."

Rumors also impacted other countries. In Vietnam this week, schools kept students indoors while some companies allowed employees to leave early to avoid rains after word spread that the deluge would burn skin and cause cancer.

A similar scare in the Philippine capital led a university to cancel classes Monday.

Associated Press researchers Yu Bing and Fu Ting contributed to this report.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Panic-buying-triggered-by-apf-1569521274.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=6&asset=&ccode=

[SIIX]

SSPT (.0007) might be a bouncer Chart-->

[SIIX]

HCKI 0002/0003 RADAR

[SIIX]

Jobless claims fall, 4-week average at 2-1/2 year low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell as expected last week, with the four-week moving average dropping to its lowest level in more than 2-1/2 years, pointing to a strengthening labor market.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 385,000, the Labor Department said.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims falling to 387,000. The prior week's figure was revised up to 401,000 from the previously reported 397,000.

The four-week moving average of unemployment claims -- a better measure of underlying trends - dropped 7,000 to 386,250, the lowest since mid-July 2008 and staying below the 400,000 level for a third straight week.

The claims data covered the survey period for the government's closely watched employment report for March and offered more signs the labor market recovery was gaining traction. Employers added 192,000 jobs in February, the most in nine months.

The Federal Reserve on Tuesday said the economy was on "firmer footing" with the labor market improving gradually. It also dropped a reference it had used in a statement in January to employers remaining reluctant to add to payrolls.

A Labor Department official said there were no unusual factors affecting the report.

The number of people still receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid dropped 80,000 to 3.71 million in the week ended March 5, the lowest level since September 2008.

Economists had expected so-called continuing claims to fall to 3.75 million from a previously reported 3.77 million.

The number of people on emergency unemployment benefits declined 58,580 to 3.54 million in the week ended February 26, the latest week for which data is available. A total of 8.95 million people were claiming unemployment benefits during that period under all programs.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Jobless-claims-fall-4week-rb-3236713234.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=