Quote of the day

Baruch, “A time of derisking, by the way, is a terrible time for those who are not derisking to make money.”  (Ultimi Barbarorum)

Chart of the day

Let’s keep a close on TIPs in 2012.  (chessNwine)

Markets

Where markets stand relative to trend going into the new year.  (Global Macro Monitor, ibid)

Putting last year’s volatility into perspective.  (Big Picture)

Some simple tests of intra-year seasonality.  (CXO Advisory Group)

Gold lease rates turn positive.  (Sober Look)

When will investor preferences for fixed income over equities reverse?  (Sober Look)

Strategy

The current environment warrants cautious optimism.  (A Dash of Insight)

Do not underestimate the power of routine.  (Howard Lindzon)

What is R?  (bclund)

2012:  a return to fundamentals.  (Humble Student of the Markets)

Don’t let the Fed force your hand into trades.  (The Reformed Broker)

Companies

Some companies likely to increase dividends in January.  (Dynamic Dividend)

Is Facebook seriously worth $100 billion?  (The Reformed Broker)

The pros and amateurs are still far apart on Apple ($AAPL) estimates.  (Apple 2.0)

Finance

Will big tech companies part with their cash in 2012?  (YCharts Blog)

Amidst falling interest rates US pension plans are deep in the hole.  (FT)

Economy

Asian PMIs are pointing towards weakness.  (beyondbrics, FT)

Some housing forecasts.  (Calculated Risk)

The ethanol tax credit is history.  (NYTimes)

The economic schedule for the coming week.  (Calculated Risk)

Mixed media

How small changes in expectations can lead to meaningful real world effects.  (Rajiv Sethi)

Pico Iyer, “The only way to do justice to our onscreen lives is by summoning exactly the emotional and moral clarity that can’t be found on any screen.”  (NYTimes)

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