“Profits are higher – in no small part because the Fed’s ZIRP has made it possible to borrow cheaply. Companies used the cheap credit to do two important things: 1) Refinance expensive debt, lowering interest expenses and thereby pushing up net profit margins; 2) Buy back their own shares, raising their share prices. It’s not likely they’ll be able to repeat the trick in 2014. Because interest rates are moving up. If you can earn 3% on “risk free” Treasurys… does it make sense to buy overvalued stocks? Real estate? Andy Warhol doodles? Will any investment do better than 3%? Is the extra risk worth the extra reward?”
http://www.bonnerandpartners.com/this-unexpected-event-will-cut-the-sp-500-in-half/
Related posts:
The Treasury Payoff
Biden’s and Carney’s Vacuous Justifications for Bombing Syria
U.S. Now Bombing Assad Forces Openly In Syria
'Ag-Gag' Bills, Property Rights, and Common Sense
Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda link allegations - 2008 Pentagon report
Brazil's Central Bank Staff Goes On Strike Over Inflation
Reckless Frenemy Saudi Arabia Makes World More Dangerous for America
Ron Paul: Why Are We At War In Yemen?
Errant Code? It’s Not Just a Bug
Rebalance To Buffer Crises?
US Attorney files dismissal of Swartz’s case, refuses to comment on his death
Paul Craig Roberts: Will Obama Doom Himself As A War Criminal
"Rapid Progress": Controlling the Imperial Military With Drugs
John Hussman: Reversing the Speculative Effect of QE Overnight
Our Rulers’ $1.5 Billion "Backup Hard Drive"