Quote of the day

Tim Duy, “Japan might very well be heading toward the end-game of permanent zero interest rate policy: Explicit monetizing of deficit spending. That is the real story here – it goes far beyond just inflation targeting.”  (Economist’s View)

Chart of the day

AOL Total Return Price data by YCharts

Count AOL ($AOL) amongst the big winners in 2012.  (AllThingsD)

Markets

The last few days of the trading year are “garbage time” for traders.  (The Reformed Broker)

The S&P 500 is becoming increasingly globalized.  (Pragmatic Capitalism)

Jeff Gundlach wants to be short the Yen.  (Advisor Perspectives)

Strategy

Just because some one else has a different strategy doesn’t mean it doesn’t work for them.  (Joe Fahmy)

On building a watch list.  (Aleph Blog)

The only investment goals that matter are yours.  (Bucks Blog)

Companies

The lines between hardware and software are blurring:  Apple vs. Google vs. Facebook vs. Amazon.  (WSJ)

Does Microsoft ($MSFT) still matter?  (ReadWrite, Pando Daily, NYTimes)

Why need a closer look at Herbalife ($HLF).  (Janet Tavikoli also WSJ)

Trends

On the Series A crunch: real or imagined?  (Pando Daily, ibid)

The big retailers are having a rough time of it.  (Quartz)

Check out the growth in solar in 2012.  (GigaOM)

Finance

Many people, including those in Washington, think the stock market is a rigged game?  (Michael Santoli earlier Abnormal Returns)

The bottom line is that merger arbs need more deals.  (Breakingviews)

How TIAA-CREF invests in farmland.  (Institutional Investor)

ETFs

When in doubt add ‘risk‘ to your new ETF’s name.  (FT)

2012 was the year of the bond ETF.  (ETF Trends)

Meet Tim Buckley the new CIO of Vanguard.  (IndexUniverse)

A look at some funds that died in 2012.  (Marketwatch)

Economy

The key downside risk to the economy in 2013.  (Calculated Risk)

How the US economy should do in 2013.  (Wonkblog)

A last look at 2012 recession indicators.  (Bonddad Blog)

Ten economic questions for 2013.  (Calculated Risk)

Mixed media

Three ways to quiet your mind.  (HBR)

Jerry Seinfeld and the importance of refining your craft.  (Digging In)

Why NFL fans are staying home.  (The Daily Beast)

Why vinyl could once again be the dominant physical form for music.  (Babbage)

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