Retail sales actually went up last month.  How is that even possible?

Professional system trader Art Collins shares his daily biases in the index, bonds and currency futures markets for June 13.

If emerging market economies can continue growing at their current pace, perhaps they will spare the United States a serious correction.  American consumers will finally be able to relax.  The whole world economy will no longer rest on their backs.

This weekend’s G8 Summit in Japan is set to focus on the matter as energy costs have crimped consumption, distorted trade figures, and fed global inflation.

Professional system trader Art Collins shares his daily biases in the index, bonds and currency futures markets for June 12.

American consumers are buying less from the rest of the world.  This leaves less U.S. money in the hands of foreign central banks, and less reason for them to inflate their own currencies.

The Federal Reserve and Treasury Secretary Paulson are doing everything possible to try to lead the US dollar to strengthen. Indeed, FOMC members such as Chairman Bernanke and Vice Chairman Kohn have harped upon inflation pressures, suggesting that the central bank my raise interest rates.

US Advance Retail Sales are expected to jump 0.5 percent in May after slipping 0.2 percent during the month prior, and excluding autos, the figure should be even stronger at a robust 0.7 percent pace. Since this index is not adjusted for inflation, rocketing food and oil prices are likely to be the primary driver for the increase.

Professional system trader Art Collins shares his daily biases in the index, bonds and currency futures markets for June 11.

Fortune magazine reports that Warren Buffett has bet a hedge fund management business that it will not outperform the S&P 500 over the next 10 years.