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Metals Thoughts: Cold November pain
Brad Yates Natural ResourcesGold technically eked out an "up" day Monday, closing about $2 above where it opened (depending on how you measure a close), which ended a streak of eight straight losing days. March was the last time that had happened, and 10 times in a row never happens. Ever.
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Enhance your customer service with these 4 social media tricks
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingOnce you've created your social media marketing plan, there's another way you can boost your customer retention. Upgrade your customer service with a few, simple social tricks. eConsultancy discovered that 83 percent of consumers require some degree of customer support while making an online purchase. If your customers don't get their questions or concerns addressed quickly, 45 percent of shoppers will abandon their purchase, according to CRM Magazine. However, 71 percent of consumers who experience a quick, effective brand response on social media are likely to recommend your brand to others, NM Incite found.
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The TPP text has been released — Where does Canada go from here?
Katherine Radin Civil & GovernmentThis fall, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was signed by 12 Pacific Rim countries, creating a global trading block that represented about 40 per cent of the world's domestic product. At the time the TPP was announced, Canada's then-prime minster, Stephen Harper, stated that the document would be made available following the Canadian federal election.
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Blue Bell returns to stores, but can it make a full comeback?
Bambi Majumdar RetailKroger's warm message for Blue Bell ice cream said it all: "Welcome back Blue Bell, you are not just an ice cream, you are family!" Fans and stores across North Texas waited with bated breath for the Blue Bell comeback on Monday, Nov. 2. A trip to the grocery store early that morning showed buyers already lining up and getting multiple tubs of their favorite ice cream, which had been taken off the shelves for months following a listeria scare.
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Metals Thoughts: Fool me a dozen times
Brad Yates Natural ResourcesI said it last week, and it still holds true that we have traded almost straight down in gold, and somewhat in silver, since the Oct. 14 highs. Macro data seems OK, equity markets are higher and rates are modestly higher — all with a lower VIX (volatility index), stronger U.S. dollar and higher probability of a rate hike in December.
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Walgreens: Happy, healthy — and huge
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalWalgreens has been on something of a growth spurt lately, and the latest proposed acquisition of the nearly 4,600 Rite Aid stores suggests their appetite for enlargement isn't slowing down. If the deal goes through, the result will be a more than 50 percent increase in the number of Walgreens stores (to about 12,700). This will put them well ahead of CVS (roughly 9,500 after the Target deal), their next closest competitor.
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Burgers and booze: Fast food joints are adding alcohol to their menus
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageTimes are changing, and so are the choices on popular fast food menus. We all love a good beer-and-burger combo, but until recently that could only happen if you had it at home or in an upscale eatery. Well, not anymore. An increasing number of fast food as well as fast-casual brands are opting for alcoholic additions to their menus.
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Metals Thoughts: Fall classic edition
Brad Yates Natural ResourcesMetals have traded largely lower in the last 10 days, but has a bit of sideways feel to it ahead of the FOMC nondecision. Our breakout from this year's lower-highs, lower-lows trend is still alive, but a move below 1156 and 1104 would have the world looking at the $1K price target yet again. We will feel it is confirmed if we breach $1,200 to the upside, but that will certainly require some external stimulus from headlines or the dollar.
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Instacart vs. Amazon: Delivering groceries to your home
Bambi Majumdar RetailTarget's partnership announcement with Instacart has taken the grocery wars to the next level. The market has already been abuzz with the changes Amazon is bringing in its own grocery delivery service, which is poised for major expansion. Now Target customers can have groceries delivered to their doorstep for as little as $3.99 per order.
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Metals Thoughts: Austrian economics edition
Brad Yates Natural ResourcesIt has been almost nonstop bid since the non-farm payrolls disappointed for the September number. For the first time since January, we positively breached the 50-, 100- and 200-day moving averages. While momentum has run out in the last 48 hours, it is not uncommon during a rally to take a breather, especially considering it's LME Week in London and the LBMA industry conference begins tomorrow in Vienna.
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