Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
The Wall Street Journal, in “Strong Earnings Season Appears Baked In” (Ahead of the Tape, by Kelly Evans, March 30, page C-1), describes an unusual pattern leading up to this quarter’s earnings reports: Both analysts and corporations are trimming expectations less than usual. (Each group typically trims its forecasts near quarter end to avoid... »
Tags: Earnings, Earnings growth, Earnings reports, Equities, Forecast, Outlook, Stocks
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
The New York Times is notoriously late in recognizing a stock market trend change. On Monday, they published a bearish article that is a valuable read. It shows how empty the bears’ quiver has become. The article, “Stocks Soar, but Many Analysts Ask Why” (The New York Times, by Javier C. Hernandez, March 29,... »
Tags: DJIA, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Earnings, Earnings growth, Earnings yield, Equities, Forecast, Outlook, P/E ratio, Price/earnings ratio, Stocks
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Monday, March 29th, 2010
Following the passage of the new health care plan, many companies are announcing earnings charges. The end points appear ominous: New health plan –> Higher company expenses. Actually, the charges are one-time adjustments of a balance sheet asset that contains an unusual income tax benefit previously booked as earnings. Here is how that benefit... »
Tags: Earnings, Equities, Health care charge, Health charge, Health plan charge, Stocks
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Friday, March 26th, 2010
Housing is a hot button for many investors. They do not see how the housing market could improve this year, and a number believe prices could fall further. Today’s write-up expands on yesterday’s article (“Housing Problems Are Dissipating and Fragmenting – Think About Buying“) by taking a look at housing’s indicators. »
Tags: Economy, Forecast, Homebuilders, Housing, Outlook
Posted in Housing & Homebuilding, Investment Insights | No Comments »
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
I just saw an article saying the stock market’s run-up is ignoring housing’s problems. That supposition is wrong on many counts. »
Tags: Contrarian, Contrarian invest, Homebuilders, Housing, Housing market
Posted in Housing & Homebuilding, Investment Insights | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
Do a search for news reports containing the phrase, “52-week high,” and you will get about 5,000 hits. Check the latest Barron’s for new highs and lows (March 22, “Market Laboratory – Stocks,” page M-46), and you will find sixteen columns of companies in small type font. The count: »
Tags: Contrarian, Contrarian invest, Equities, New high, Stocks
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Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Last Friday I described the potential bull market that could come from investors showing an interest in US stocks. And I mentioned an article that indicated such a move could be starting. Two more articles just came out, providing further support. »
Tags: Dividend yield, Earnings growth, Equities, Forecast, Outlook, Stocks
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Monday, March 22nd, 2010
Investors, analysts and pundits can look at the same economic measures and come away with opposing views as to the economy’s health and future. The economy’s “trees” can range from vibrant to blighted, allowing differing economic “forest” diagnoses. As a result, we see predictions of economic normalcy and growth side-by-side with reversal and collapse.... »
Tags: Coincident indicator, Economy, Equities, Forecast, Housing, indicator, Lagging indicator, Leading indicator, Outlook, Statistical analysis, Stocks
Posted in Housing & Homebuilding, Investment Insights | No Comments »
Friday, March 19th, 2010
So, when is the announcement going to take place that we are officially in a bull market? Doesn’t twelve months of significantly rising prices qualify? Judging by an internet search for “bull market,” the phrase is rarely used – at least in a positive way. An example of an alternative use is a CNBC... »
Tags: Asset allocation, Bull market, Equities, Forecast, Outlook, Stocks
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Thursday, March 18th, 2010
It’s called “fighting the tape.” In this market, that means bearish advisers and short-sellers who refuse to admit that they missed the boat. Good news and positive trends are dismissed or ignored, and new negatives are touted as the drivers of the next smashup, just around the corner. Here is one example… »
Tags: Equities, Forecast, Investment Media, Media reports, Outlook, Stocks
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
An investment manager was once asked how he liked being judged by performance numbers. He replied that he was fine with it – so long as he got to pick the beginning and ending points. We’re seeing articles written that do just that, particularly since we are now one year from the stock market’s... »
Tags: Equities, Statistical analysis, Stocks
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Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
What do the health care plan, Chinese currency exchange and Wall Street regulation have in common? They are all popular “pre-news” stories. Negotiating stances, trial balloons and political posturing are reported as news, but they are preliminary pronouncements that precede the real news – i.e., the final conclusion. Congress’ health care plan activity is... »
Tags: Investment Media, Media reports
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Monday, March 15th, 2010
The saying “You can’t go home again” doesn’t apply to US corporations. Caterpillar’s latest announcement is that it is bringing some major equipment production back to the US. What on earth is going on here? And what does it mean to the US economy – and to investors? Well, this is upbeat news and... »
Tags: Economy, Equities, Forecast, Inflation, New economy, Onshoring, Outlook, Reshoring, Stocks
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Friday, March 12th, 2010
Yesterday, I listed four closed-end funds that invest in China. Such funds are well suited to specialized investing, like developing/emerging markets. In addition, there are market environments when closed-end funds in general offer price advantages. I believe now is one of those times. »
Tags: Closed-end fund, Closed-end Fund Association
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Thursday, March 11th, 2010
The last two days we have reviewed the Chinese yuan exchange rate, it’s anticipated rise and how that presents an opportunity for owning Chinese stocks. Funds seem to be the best route, and here are criteria for selecting a promising one. »
Tags: China, Chinese yuan, Closed-end fund, Emerging markets, Equities, Exchange rate, Forecast, Outlook
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