Archive for May, 2010

Pitfalls in Today’s US Stock Market – Part 3

Friday, May 28th, 2010
Pitfalls in Today’s US Stock Market – Part 3

Given Wall Street’s disruptive game playing described in Parts 1 and 2, what’s an investor to do? Today, I address “III. How we can invest and protect ourselves.” »

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Pitfalls in Today’s US Stock Market – Part 2

Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Pitfalls in Today’s US Stock Market – Part 2

This write-up continues yesterday’s discussion of an investment approach that seeks to frighten investors into selling at abnormally low prices. Under “II. Why is it allowed to exist,” we covered the removal of short-selling controls (uptick and “naked”) and weak enforcement of false rumors. Today, we will review two other important, negative forces in... »

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Pitfalls in Today’s US Stock Market – Part 1

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Pitfalls in Today’s US Stock Market – Part 1

Yesterday, I described two professional investment management approaches. When opportunities arise in emotional times, buy Sell short (and incite); then buy The first is not only sound investing, it provides the means for generating liquidity in tough times, a key element to the long-term health of our public ownership system. The second is the... »

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Currency Moves Signal Panic Selling – Use It to Our Advantage

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Currency Moves Signal Panic Selling – Use It to Our Advantage

Yesterday I discussed how to use currency exchange rates for understanding global economic and financial conditions. Today, let’s look at how the rates can provide a window into emotional investment moves, particularly panic selling, and how we can use the information to our advantage. »

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Evaluating Global Economic and Financial Concerns – Choose Viewpoints Carefully

Monday, May 24th, 2010
Evaluating Global Economic and Financial Concerns – Choose Viewpoints Carefully

Last year, when rising cocoa prices were hot news, I described the problem with using only US dollar values to make an evaluation of a global product (see “Cocoa Prices and Currency Measurement” – October 23, 2009). Today, with Europe, the Euro and “contagion” in the news, it’s time to revisit the need to... »

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Five Keys for Deciding What to Do in This Stock Market – Buy, Sell or Wait?

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Five Keys for Deciding What to Do in This Stock Market – Buy, Sell or Wait?

In Thursday morning’s write-up, I said I would next discuss stock valuations. However, with Thursday’s sizable market drop, I decided to spend the time analyzing portfolios and holdings. As a result, I did a bit of client buying on Friday. So, instead of valuations, I thought this article should be about dealing with periods... »

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Building on Current Earnings Foundation, Analysts Project Future Growth

Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Building on Current Earnings Foundation, Analysts Project Future Growth

Over the past year, corporate earnings for larger companies have benefited primarily from three factors: Strategic company moves to cut costs and increase productivity An economic turnaround from negative to positive conditions Financial improvements, including shored up markets, support for troubled companies (especially financials) and access to low-cost funds for untroubled firms These items... »

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DJIA Earnings Reports Are In – No Sign of Over-Optimism

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
DJIA Earnings Reports Are In – No Sign of Over-Optimism

In late March, just before the first quarter earnings reports came in, there was worry that companies and analysts had become overly optimistic. The symptom cited was less trimming of estimated earnings before the actual reports. »

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Risk Forecasts Have Increased – So, Too, Have Opportunities

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Risk Forecasts Have Increased – So, Too, Have Opportunities

Risk one-upmanship is upon us. The possible dire consequences from the European Union’s (EU’s) Greek troubles now have moved from widespread contagion, itself a stretch, to forecasts of the EU’s dissolution and the Euro’s abandonment. Goldman Sachs calls this outlook, “ridiculous,” saying the Euro’s decline actually may be at or near the bottom (“O’Neill... »

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Beware False Prophets Bearing Profits

Monday, May 17th, 2010
Beware False Prophets Bearing Profits

Investment adviser write-ups can give us valuable insights, particularly in times like these. Remembering that honesty and humility are key characteristics of top advisers, we can use their newsletters, articles and blogs to judge those qualities. »

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EU Uses Greece to Expand Powers – Countries Are “Sovereign-Lite”

Friday, May 14th, 2010
EU Uses Greece to Expand Powers – Countries Are “Sovereign-Lite”

Ever been in a situation where one misbehaving peer (at home, in school or at work) ends up causing pain for everyone else? Rather than sending the naughty person to the corner, the principal or the HR department, the parent/teacher/boss uses the behavior as an excuse to add new rules that apply to everyone.... »

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Trading Strategies for Today’s Markets

Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Trading Strategies for Today’s Markets

Last Thursday’s 1,000-point air pocket provided an excellent testing environment for various trading strategies. Here are the ones to avoid and the ones to use. »

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Wall Street and SEC to Investors: “It Wasn’t Us, but We Will Fix It”

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Wall Street and SEC to Investors: “It Wasn’t Us, but We Will Fix It”

Wall Street and the SEC have identified two culprits: High-speed, computerized trading – done by someone, somewhere. They’re not sure who or when or why, but they know it was the main cause New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) – “What? But weren’t they the only ones trying to bring order to the markets?” The... »

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Wall Street Hits Air Pocket – Two Trading Lessons (Part 3)

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Wall Street Hits Air Pocket – Two Trading Lessons (Part 3)

Actually, the title should read, “Two 1967 Trading Lessons Confirmed.” Thursday’s stock market gyrations reminded me of those still-valuable lessons learned 43 years ago as a result of one trade… »

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Wall Street Hits Air Pocket – Two Must-See Videos (Part 2)

Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Wall Street Hits Air Pocket – Two Must-See Videos (Part 2)

No news is bad news. The lack of a clear, informed, logical report on Thursday’s air pocket shows that trading ran amok. Like those science fiction films where the machines take over, the stock exchanges became simply arenas in which the automatons could wreak havoc. This is not to say that we should sell... »

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