Submitted by Lance Roberts via RealInvestmentAdvice.com,

Since the end of the financial crisis, economists, analysts, and the Federal Reserve have continued to predict a return to higher levels of economic growth. As I showed in my discussion of the Fed’s forecasts, these predictions have continued to fall short of reality.

Some companies rely on non-GAAP EPS gimmicks to make their earnings looks pretty; others rely on stock buybacks to reduce the number of shares outstanding; a third group of companies merely adds back everything it believes is not part of SG&A to boost its bottom line... and then there is IBM which does all three at unprecedented levels.

Recall that last quarter, just as IBM's revenue was plunging, the company "beat" courtesy of a collapsing tax rate. This is what we reproted last quarter:

Former Governor of Massachusetts and 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has warned his party that Donald Trump would secure this year’s presidential nomination if both Senator Ted Cruz and Governor John Kasich stay in the race after tomorrow’s New York primary. Business Insider Reports: In a preview of his interview with David Gregory for his podcast, “The David Gregory Show,” Romney insisted that stopping Trump depends on whether both Cruz and Kasich continue campaigning. “I think that Mr. Cruz and Mr. Kasich divide the vote, and that makes it easier for Mr.

While today's drift lower in NFLX shares was widely attributed to AMZN's more aggressive expansion into the streaming video space, some wondered if there was more to it. Moments ago, the answer was revealed and it was a resounding yes.

It's crazy pills time - no doubt... Doha was a dud and Morgan Stanley's 52% crash in earnings was better-than-expected...

Did you really expect anything else...?