Gold is hitting new highs, oil is rising and the US dollar is falling – all amid a growing US government deficit. These movements have many investors fearing inflation and buying commodities and US Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). However, there is no need to worry (yet). Here’s why… »
Archive for October, 2009
Quick Note: The Health Care Pot Finally Boils
Seldom is there much helpful investment information from watching the congressional process heat up. Facts keeps changing as supposedly key positions get altered. The health care debate is a perfect example. Now, however, a major milestone has been reached. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported yesterday that the bill in the Senate Finance... »
Ben Bernanke Discusses Fed Balance Sheet Tomorrow
Tomorrow evening, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will discuss the Fed’s balance sheet. It is a timely topic because, for over a year, the Fed has actively funded the financial services industry using many different programs. Here is a preview that can help put the Fed’s activities into perspective, along with questions that will... »
Stock Investors Focusing More on 2010 Earnings
Earnings projections for 2010 are rising in importance among stock investors. This return to fundamental-based investing is a good sign of normality coming back. Stock prices remain controlled because outlooks vary widely and analysis vacillates between company performance and economic forces, good and bad. In the latest Barron’s (October 5, 2009), there are three... »
Market Timers Who Correctly Zig Often Don’t Zag
In spite of the well-supported advice to invest for the long-run, market timing looks smart when the market drops. As a result, in bear markets, investors’ interest rises concerning those who saw it coming. The natural reaction is to follow them closely to learn what to do next. Doing so can be highly misleading... »
Indicator Worry + Market Drop = Positive Outlook
The stock market’s fall yesterday resulted from “shaky,” “disturbing” and “weak” economic indicators and the worry they created. Interestingly, the indicators didn’t produce bad readings, just less good than many analysts hoped for. The Wall Street Journal said it right: “More Signs Point to Economic Recovery” (page A-2). Such market moves are an indicator... »
No, You Haven’t Missed Out
The quarter is over and now we will read all about the market’s dazzling 50% climb in only six months. The write-ups will imply that loads of investors happily saw it coming and got in early – but not too early. A second message will be that if you didn’t get in, too bad... »