$STZ, $MO, $BUD FLASH: Legalize marijuana, but do not pretend it’s therapeutic. The District of Columbia and 10 states have legalized recreational marijuana use, and another 8 look likely to do so in Y 2019. “I favor the move but am troubled by the gateway to it: All these jurisdictions first passed laws permitting the […]
$PM We have told our managed money clients that a recent dip in Philip Morris (NYSE:PM) stock is a Golden buying opportunity. Shares of Philip Morris (NYSE:PM) have rebounded after a difficult year in US 2018. “Part of that is the result of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Philip Morris’s application to sell […]
FLASH: A new study challenges the idea that a drink or 2 a day could actually be good for you. In a study conducted in China, the researchers found that moderate drinking slightly raised the risk of stroke and high blood pressure. They were not able to figure out whether small amounts of alcohol might […]
$RACE, $MO Ferrari (NYSE:RACE) sponsor Philip Morris (NYSE:MO) is adamant its Mission Winnow initiative fully complies with tobacco advertising laws, despite an investigation being launched in Australia over the issue. Mission Winnow’s sponsorship of Ferrari was launched at last year’s Japanese GP, and represents a new scientific and technological push from Philip Morris in a […]
America’s Pregnant Women are Smoking More Marijuana As alcohol and tobacco use continue to decline among pregnant women in the US, a new study offers fresh evidence that more American mothers are using cannabis during pregnancy. Other recent studies have also documented a rise in cannabis use among pregnant women of all ages, with some […]
Ferrari (NYSE:RACE), PMI (NYSE:PM) Launch ‘Mission Winnow’ $RACE, $PM Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE:PM) and Scuderia Ferrari today advanced their 45-year partnership with the unveiling of Mission Winnow, a new global initiative to create engagement around the role of science, technology and innovation as a powerful force for good in any industry. This global […]
Tropical Storm Florence’s Effect on the Commodities Markets $CORN, $WEAT, $SOY The impact of Florence chases Hogs to higher marks Soybean steady post-WASDE. Corn falls to the bottom of its trading range. Wheat declines sharply. Cotton remains firm on Florence. Meats move higher, though it is off-season for demand. As Florence bore down on the Carolinas, […]
US Farmers Hurry to Harvest Crops as Hurricane Florence Looms $WEAT, $CORN, $SOY As powerful Hurricane Florence moves closer to the southeastern United States Tuesday, farmers in North Carolina rushed to harvest Corn and Tobacco and stock up on pig rations, while the danger of deadly flooding threatened a state where millions of farm animals […]
US Sanctions 3 Shipping Firms Over NKorea Strategic Trade Wednesday, The Trump Administration imposed additional sanctions on 3 foreign companies the US Treasury Department sayd are helping NKorea with illicit shipments of goods to fund its nuclear program. The US Treasury Department said it was taking action against the companies, which are based in China, […]
Cancer Risk and Coffee? No Real Evidence of Any! Health experts say the controversial warning overstates the risks and that the health benefits of drinking coffee far outweigh any potential downsides. More California “Nut Country” action. Recently, a California judge ruled that coffee sellers must post scary warnings about cancer risks. The Big Q: How […]
President Trump Fights On for American Workers President Donald Trump “will continue fighting for the American worker” despite the European Union’s 10-page list of American products facing potential retaliation if he proceeds with tariffs on steel and aluminum exports, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday. “He is also working with a number of individual […]
Big Tobacco Enters the Legal Cannabis Business in Canada $AOI, $SZT While not a household name, a big US tobacco firm, Alliance One International Inc. (NYSE:AOI) has 1-upped its better known and much larger tobacco sellers by acquiring stakes in 2 Canadian firms involved in that country’s medical marijuana market. The acquisitions of the marijuana-related […]
It Is No Secret, Sugar Can Kill People Major industries have and continue to devoted huge financial resources to shaping scientific debates that may threaten profits. Prime example: Big Tobacco pushing back on how smoking kills people. This corporate strategy of subsidizing scientists, lobbyists and researchers to present results putting the products in the good light […]
Altria, the largest tobacco company in the US, reported a 20 per cent increase in net earnings on Wednesday as growth in its smokeless products continued to take off while higher Marlboro cigarette prices also padded profits. Net income rose to $1.99bn, or $1.03 per share, compared to $1.65bn, or 84 cents per share in […]
Over 50 Countries Will Attend Cuba’s Habanos Cigar Festival Representatives from over 50 countries will participate in the 19th Habanos Cigar Festival, the event organizer said Tuesday. This year’s festival, to be held in Havana from Feb. 27 to March 3, will see a number of star presentations, with the H. Upmann house which received […]
US Removes Restriction Limits on Cuban Cigars Friday, the Obama Administration announced that it is eliminating a $100 limit on the value of Cuban Cigars and Rum that American travelers can bring back from the island. The administration is also lifting limits on cargo ship travel between the US and Cuba and easing US and […]
Wall Street, “High Time” to Monetize Marijuana At the Investor Pitch Forum this week in Brooklyn, NY, hosted by the cannabis industry investment and research firm The Arcview Group, 200 investors described as HNW (high net worth) met with dozens of companies looking to come into the new market of legal recreational marijuana. Cultivating Spirits, […]
Fed Welcomes Uptick in Inflation US consumer prices rose more than expected in August as healthcare costs recorded their biggest gain in 32.5 years, pointing to a steady build-up of inflation that could allow the US Fed to raise interest rates this year. The cost of living last month was also pushed up by continuing […]
Legal Cannabis Industry in the US Poised for Huge Growth $MO, $RAI, $COWN The legal cannabis industry in the US may grow to $50-B in the next 10 yrs, expanding to more than 8X its current size, as lawful marijuana sellers gain new customers and win over users from the illicit market, that according to […]
13% of American Adults are Regular Users of Marijuana Marijuana use is on the rise, active use almost 2X’ing in 3 years, and 43% of Americans have at least tried the drug, representing a steady increase from 4% in Y 1969, according to Gallup’s Consumption Habits poll in mid-July. Gallup noted that at least 13% […]
South Korea’s Household Consumption Falling Private (household) consumption in South Korea fell in Q-1 on lower household income, a government report revealed Friday. Monthly private consumption averaged 2,669,000 Won (US$2,262) per household during the January-March period, up 0.6% from the same frame last year, according to Statistics Korea. Real private consumption, adjusted for inflation, declined […]