MONSANTO PROFITS DROP 25% AGAIN AS FARMERS, INDIVIDUALS GO ORGANIC

For Monsanto’s 2nd quarter, total sales for Monsanto dropped 13%; with one of Monsanto’s top-sellers, corn seeds, falling 11%. The biotech giant cites an “unfavorable agricultural market” for its losses, pointing out that:

• Pressures in overseas markets is increasing

• Farmers are reporting less income due to less-than-ideal harvests

• The strength of the U.S. dollar made products more expensive

But the company makes little or no mention of the other key factors affecting its bottom line.

• Organic food demand is exploding like crazy – and the figures show no sign of it slowing any time soon.

• The world is seeing how toxic pesticides and herbicides really are.

• Record farmers are switching to non-GMO crops.

• Monsanto is one of the most hated companies in the world.
• http://www.infowars.com/monsanto-profits-drop-25-again-as-farmers-individuals-go-organic/

Oil Market Storm Clears as Prices Stabilize on Output Deal

Oil is pulling away from the market’s biggest storm in seven years.

A measure of price volatility has tumbled from the highest level since January 2009 as the market frenzy eases amid a potential pact between the world’s largest producers to freeze output.

Investors in February fixated on how and when Saudi Arabia would engage other producers clamoring for a way to boost prices. Crude in New York crashed by about half since the biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries led the group’s 2014 decision to not to cut output in the face of a global glut, opting instead to keep taps open to force out higher-cost rivals.

From the “successful” talks between Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi and his Venezuelan counterpart early last month, to the Feb. 16 Saudi-Russia output freezeannouncement, to Iran’s rejection of the plan as “ridiculous,” the CBOE Crude Oil Volatility Index averaged the highest level since 2009. Since the pact was announced, the measure of expectations of price swings has tumbled to the lowest in almost two months while oil has gained about 18 percent to trade near $35.

“Since the Saudis and Russia reached an agreement to freeze output, volatility in the market has eased and oil prices have stabilized with the focus shifting back to fundamentals,” said Hong Sung Ki, a senior analyst at Samsung Futures Inc. “More stable oil prices are expected in the coming months, possibly up to the $40 level, at least until the next OPEC meeting in June.”

U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude has climbed more than 30 percent since dropping to the lowest level in 12 years last month, and was at $34.45 a barrel at 9:20 a.m. London time. Aggregate trading volumes have declined from a record high reached Feb. 11 while aggregate open interest has decreased from a February peak.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-04/oil-market-storm-clears-as-output-deal-seen-stabilizing-prices

TRUMP ROLLS OUT FREE MARKET HEALTHCARE PLAN

Since March of 2010, the American people have had to suffer under the incredible economic burden of the Affordable Care Act—Obamacare. This legislation, passed by totally partisan votes in the House and Senate and signed into law by the most divisive and partisan President in American history, has tragically but predictably resulted in runaway costs, websites that don’t work, greater rationing of care, higher premiums, less competition and fewer choices,” the Trump website explains.

On the first day in office Trump promises “to immediately deliver a full repeal of Obamacare.”

In addition to repealing “this terrible legislation,” the Trump administration will work with Congress to implement free market principles “that will broaden healthcare access, make healthcare more affordable and improve the quality of the care available to all Americans.”

http://www.infowars.com/trump-rolls-out-free-market-healthcare-plan/

China escalates emergency stock market intervention

Chinese authorities have escalated their market intervention in a bid to prop up stocks after $590bn was wiped off shares on Monday.

 

Beijing’s state-owned financial institutions hoovered up shares, and regulators extended a selling ban on major companies, to quell investor fears after a tumultuous start to 2016 trading.

 

The main Shanghai Composite index of shares fell just 0.3pc on Tuesday, while the smaller Shenzhen Composite declined less than 2pc, after bleeding 8.2pc at the start of new year trading.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/12083355/China-ramps-up-emergency-stock-market-intervention.html

MARKET COLLAPSE: CHINA’S 7-MINUTE SELLING FRENZY

China’s CSI 300 Index had just tumbled 5 percent, triggering a 15-minute trading halt, and stock investors were scrambling to exit before getting locked in by a full-day suspension set to take effect at 7 percent. When the first halt was lifted, the market reaction was swift: it took just seven minutes for losses to reach the limit as volumes surged to their highs of the day.

“Investors rushed to the door during the level-one stage of the circuit breaker as they fretted the market would go down further,” said William Wong, the head of sales trading at Shenwan Hongyuan in Hong Kong.

 

Wall St. Lower On Fears Of Retail Slowdown; Cisco Drags

 Data showed U.S. retail sales rose less than expected in October, suggesting a slowdown in consumer spending that could temper expectations of a strong pickup in fourth-quarter economic growth.

The weak data follows disappointing reports from department store chains in the past two days. Macy’s (M.N) and Nordstrom (JWN.N) in particular have both reported disappointing results and lowered their full-year forecasts.

“People’s confidence that the consumer can somehow offset this industrial recession that we’ve had is really being shaken to the core with the disappointing numbers from some of these major retailers,” said James Abate, CIO of Centre Funds.

U.S. companies, already faced with a potential rate hike in December and a strong dollar, have been reporting signs of slowing demand.

At 9:34 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 28.66 points, or 0.16 percent, at 17,419.41.

http://www.ibtimes.com/wall-st-lower-fears-retail-slowdown-cisco-drags-2183502

Dow Jones Industrial Average Drops Ahead Of Monthly US Jobs Report

 U.S. stocks dropped Thursday despite modest gains in Europe and Asia as investors look cautiously to Friday’s U.S. monthly jobs report, the last one before the U.S. Federal Reserve decides on whether to begin increasing interest rates before the end of the year. The U.S. Labor Department said Thursday the number of people applying for unemployment benefits climbed at the end of October by 16,000 to 276,000, higher than economists had expected.

http://www.ibtimes.com/dow-jones-industrial-average-drops-ahead-monthly-us-jobs-report-2171180

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE DROPS AHEAD OF MONTHLY US JOBS REPORT

 “It’s going to be a quiet day,” Matthew Tuttle, chief executive of Tuttle Tactical Management in Stamford, Connecticut, told Reuters. “I think tomorrow’s going to be where the real action is.”

Friday’s jobs report will come two days after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen hinted strongly that U.S. rates could begin rising next month, suggesting the U.S. economy is strong enough for borrowing rates to begin rising for the first time in nearly a decade. The comments sent the U.S. dollar to a three-month high against a basket of global currencies. Higher rates increase the cost of borrowing for business activity while a stronger dollar adversely impacts companies’ overseas profits. Both factors encourage investors to seek shelter in government bonds.

http://www.infowars.com/dow-jones-industrial-average-drops-ahead-of-monthly-us-jobs-report/

The Rigging Of The American Market

We also pay more for Internet service than do the inhabitants of any other developed nation.

The average cable bill in the United States rose 5 percent in 2012 (the latest year available), nearly triple the rate of inflation.

Why? Because 80 percent of us have no choice of Internet service provider, which allows them to charge us more.

Internet service here costs 3 and-a-half times more than it does in France, for example, where the typical customer can choose between 7 providers.

And U.S. cable companies are intent on keeping their monopoly.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-11-02/rigging-american-market

Stocks drop on slower GDP, rate hike worries

 But a follow through to the rally didn’t materialize. Shares were mixed in Asia, with stocks in Japan rising but shares falling in Hong Kong and mainland China. All the major stock exchanges in Europe are in the red today.

Wall Street, which had all but eliminated the chance of the Fed moving this year, are again forced to price in the prospect of higher borrowing costs later this year. In its closely scrutinized policy statement Wednesday the Fed gave a more positive assessment of the U.S. economy and downgraded its fears that global market tumult and international developments would have an appreciable negative impact on growth at home.

The odds of Fed rate increase in December has risen to 46%, or nearly a 50-50 chance, according to futures markets. Before the Fed’s statement yesterday the odds of a hike were closer to a 1 in 3 chance.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2015/10/29/stocks-pause-investors-digest-possibility-december-rate-hike/74789272/