There ain’t no doubt I love this land
Gold bless the USA
- Lee Greenwood
From life and liberty to the pursuit of happiness, there are many great things about the USA, but according to Goldman Sachs high up on that list should be opportunity.
CEO Lloyd Blankfein is quite bullish on the USA; he says there’s no better place to put money to work than right here.
On the website Politico, Blankfein highlights 4 reasons why. They follow:
1. The U.S. has favorable demographics — thanks to its relatively high birth rates and immigration. While the BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India and China — have generated extraordinary economic growth, the U.S. remains a magnet for many of the smartest, most ambitious people in the world.
2. The ability to better tap into domestic sources of energy — natural resource-based and, to a lesser but promising extent, the growing array of clean technologies — will spur more job-creating investments, improving our balance of payments.
3. U.S. policymakers were aggressive in responding to the financial crisis, and the financial sector has been quick to increase capital and reduce leverage.
4. U.S. companies have restructured more quickly and more extensively than others since 2008 — boosting U.S. productivity growth.
Should you put money to work in the US?
Trader Josh Brown, CEO at Baker Avenue Asset Management, says, 'yes'. “My fund is pretty US focused. And I think it’s interesting to hear this level of optimism from someone who regularly talks with the most influential people in the industry and in the nation.”
Although he wasn't on Wednesday's broadcast, that's a theme that trader Steve Cortes, founder Veracruz, a research and consulting firm, has highlighted many times on Fast Money. He thinks the best plays are companies that largely do business doesmtically.
Trader Guy Adami, managing director of stockMONSTER.com, thinks the US has many good companies but most of their stocks move in tandem with the S&P and frankly, he's bearish. Although he agrees that the US is the best house on the proverbial bad Street – he does think it’s a bad street and there’s more trouble to come. “I still think the underperformance in Caterpillar is trying to tell you something.”
Posted by CNBC's Lee Brodie
Read More from Fast Money:
> Simple Strategies Behind Supersized Successes
> 10 Top Stocks for the Long-Term Investor
> Top Apple Related Stocks for 2012
______________________________________________________
Got something to to say? Send us an e-mail at fastmoney-web@cnbc.com and your comment might be posted on the Rapid Recap. If you'd prefer to make a comment, but not have it published on our Web site, send those e-mails to fastmoney@cnbc.com.
Trader disclosure: On July 18, 2012, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s "Fast Money" were owned by the "Fast Money" traders; Karen Finerman is long AAPL; Karen Finerman is long BAC; Karen Finerman is long JPM; Karen Finerman is long WMT; Karen Finerman is long TGT; Karen Finerman is long GOOG; Karen Finerman is long GB; Karen Finerman is short SPY; Karen Finerman is short MDY; Karen Finerman is short IWM; Guy Adami is long C; Guy Adami is long GS; Guy Adami is long INTC; Guy Adami is long AGU; Guy Adami is long MSFT; Guy Adami is long NUE; Guy Adami is long BTU; Dan Nathan is long BAC JULY 6 + 7 PUTS; Dan Nathan is long C AUG 26/23 PUT SPREAD; Dan Nathan is long MS OCT 10/5 1X2 PUT SPREAD; Dan Nathan is long INTC JULY/AUG 24 PUT SPREAD; Dan Nathan is long WMT JULY 6750 PUT SPREAD; Dan Nathan is long SBUXAUG 50/45 PUT SPREAD; Dan Nathan is long SDS; Dan Nathan is long VIX AUG 20/25 PUT SPREAD; Josh Brown is long AAPL; Josh Brown is long JPM; Josh Brown is long GDX; Josh Brown is long GLD; Josh Brown is long XLU; Josh Brown is long XLF; Josh Brown is long WMT; Josh Brown is long TGT; Josh Brown is long MCD; Josh Brown is long QCOM
For Brian Marshall
Neither ISI nor its affiliates beneficially own 1% or more of any class of common equity securities of the subject companies referenced in this Report. No person(s) responsible for preparing this report or a member of his/her household serve as an officer, director or advisory board member of any of the subject companies. Neither ISI nor its affiliates have any investment banking or market making operations. At various times these reports mention clients of ISI from whom ISI has received non-investment banking securities related compensation in the past 12 months.
CNBC.com with wires.
