Market Sentiment

[tc]

No doubt it depends on whether you think the glass is half full or half empty, but I do wonder if this sort of activity doesn't stifle creativity, new ideas and thinking and progress generally.

I believe that those individuals/groups who come up with the ideas tend to also have the passion and desire to drive it through to the end. I'm sure the decision makers of the big company who get paid to be profitable won't let some great ideas slip through the net.

What I do find positive however, is the premiums being paid for these intangibles suggests there is still plenty of cash for "discretionary spending" in the tech sector. Things can't be that tight then

www.marketwatch.com/story/push-for-big-patent-holdings-brews-in-tech-sector-2011-08-16

[cyclops]

Fastoy's barometer says it's all good.

Caterpillar Inc. is raising its outlook for the full year as it reports a 44 percent jump in third-quarter profit, driven by surging exports of its machinery.

The world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment also says it is continuing to add jobs -- nearly 5,000 between June and September alone.

The Peoria, Ill. company says it earned $1.14 billion, or $1.71 per share, compared with $792 million, or $1.22 per share, in 2010.

Revenue surged 41 percent to $15.72 billion.

Analysts were expecting a profit of $1.63 per share on $14.84 billion in sales.

Caterpillar predicts it will earn $6.75 per share on sales of $58 billion for the full year. It previously forecast profit of between $6.25 and $6.75 per share on revenue of $56 billion to $58 billion.

[fintain]

Good one but do they say how many jobs in the states versus China

[fastoy]

The Caterpillar distributor in China is Westrac, controlled by Kerry Stokes. I have no idea about the jobs data, but Westrac is also expanding in to Japan. Their order books are full and have been for some time. So much so that a lot of Australian orders are now being filled with very slightly-used equipment coming here from Europe.

2nd hand equipment is commanding high prices.

[worm]

OMG, what an amazing rally. People will be making alot of money! I have never seen anything like it. I really cant wait to see what will happen after all the dust has settled.
Make the most of it while you can perhaps?
I have my trigger finger on the short button haha

[tc]

Been a while since worm's post.

I like headlines like the following:

www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-14/china-said-to-ease-lending-capacity-constraints-for-banks.html

finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-falls-near-106-us-081212606.html;_ylt=AhrhaOtWO4NElVTUnRnR5_L2uYdG;_ylu=X3oDMTQ3Mm9vb2M0BG1pdANUb3AgU3RvcnkgTGlzdCAgTm8gQ29sbGVjdGlvbgRwa2cDY2I4ZWQ2NjAtZDJkNi0zNzgzLTgzMTItOTVlNDI3YjJhZjBiBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkE

Aren't China's growth being possibly negative and a declining oil price supposed to be indicators of economic contraction? Given recent years, and current sharemarket activity, I'm looking at them as a natural pullback for balance and hence a potential buying opportunity

[tc]

I have a slightly different recollection of 2007 but I guess if you look at the XAO start and finish there's some truth in the headline.... (I wouldn't use what happened between Jan 2 and Dec 31 as an example of low volatility)

Volatility Lowest Since ’07 in Stocks, Bonds, Currencies

www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-02/volatility-lowest-since-07-in-stocks-bonds-currencies.html