The U.S. auto market is at an interesting crossroads with used car prices crashing to new lows every month while new car prices continue to defy gravity courtesy of a somewhat 'frothy', if not suicidal, lending market that has seemingly decided that anyone with a pulse is financially qualified for a $0 down, 0% interest, 80 month loan on a brand new $40,000 luxury vehicle of their choice.
Shortly after we reported that the "restaurant industry hasn't reported a positive month since February 2016", we can add one more month to the running total: according to the latest update from Black Box Intelligence's TDn2K research, in July both same-store sales and foot traffic declined once again, and this time the slide was more pronounced, tumbling by -2.8% and -4.7% compared to declines of "only" -1% and -3% in June, respectively, in the process extending the stretch of year-over-year declines for the US restaurant industry to 17 consecutive months - the longest str
Authored by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk.com,
Ian Narev, the CEO of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), the nation’s largest bank is set to step down amid money laundering charges.
Money laundering is big business in Australia because regulations do not cover lawyers, real estate agents, accountants, and CEOs ignoring warnings from police.
Despite the obvious problem, it’s cash itself that gets the blame.
Remember when several months ago the news that David Tepper disclosed that his Appaloosa bought a (tiny 100,000 share) take in Snapchat in Q1, sending the stock briefly higher, especially after he said that he would add more if the price fell below its IPO price of $17? Well, according to his just released 13F, he didn't, and in fact has since dissolved his entire stake in the company that has since pivoted to dancing hotdogs.
Standpoint researcher Ronnie Moas raised his price target for bitcoin from $5,000 to $7,500, according to CNBC. Moas raised his price target after bitcoin reached the new all-time high this weekend.
Moas his belief that hedge funds and more traditional investors are just starting to invest in bitcoin. Many expect that the CFTC’s decision to authorize the creation of the first clearinghouse for bitcoin options and swaps will hasten adoption by hedge funds and other more sophisticated traders.