US Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) can help combat the drag of inflation -- but can they offer the best means to preserve purchasing power? As an asset class, how have TIPS performed vis-à-vis other assets, and does the current environment favor TIPS allocations? This study examines these issues, shedding light on TIPS as an asset class, their near-term outlook, and their attractiveness as portfolio diversifiers in the long term.

This study compares performance of companies that largely pursue one line of business against performance of companies in multiple lines of business. We examine differences in fundamentals before and during the financial crisis, and attempt to identify which group garnered greater asset allocation from investors.

There appear to be diverging views on the direction of the housing market. While the market at a national level has shown erratic trends, how have regional markets fared? What do the demand/supply and price trends in these markets point to, and which regions look promising from an investment perspective? This study examines US housing market trends at a regional level to reveal demand/supply and price gaps, for those looking at investing in US residential property.

The money-for-sovereignty case — or how a mix of German-style fiscal policies and US-style monetary policies might save the European Union.

Using satellite imagery, we can closely measure mall traffic trends and correlate them with SSS estimates. Mall traffic for November 2010 has recently shown a steep rise. Remote Sensing Metrics parking lot traffic data correlates well with SSS, and, based on this relationship, we may be seeing an early sign that stronger November 2010 mall traffic is pointing to stronger same store sales.

Do the recent increases in nonfarm payrolls point to an improving employment outlook in the US? Can the pickup in nonfarm payroll growth be sustained, and will it ease concerns over consumer spending? In this study, we analyze the Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI)™ to determine what insights it can offer into the forward employment outlook.

The US Commercial paper market did not remain unscathed by the financial/credit crisis. The underlying causes leading to the slump in issuances are not often discussed. In this report, we examine the factors that may have led to the shrinking volumes, and we also look at recent trends to gauge the health of the market and its near-term outlook.

What is propelling the yellow metal to such record highs? Has the rally translated into higher gains for gold mining stocks? What do major economic and market indicators point to? In this study, we examine these issues, with a larger objective of comparing gold bullion performance to broader commodities and to gold mining stocks.

The next decade may see an increased number of threats to freedom of trade. Interpretations of acute movements in price (as in the rare earths commodities case) will have to examine the possibility of trade “guerrillas” hiding in the equation.

As it is widely believed that Europe usually follows the US (which is seeing signs of slowing), the sustainability of Eurozone growth in H2 2010 remains a big question — and the German economy may hold the answer. This study analyzes quarterly readings in the Ifo Business Climate Index, a widely watched indicator of the Germany economy, to gauge the H2 2010 outlook. Herein, we show which index component measures correspond well with the real economy, and we also examine recent readings on some major real economic indicators to determine factors driving the outlook.