Important read: “You Should Have Timed the Market” (By Brett Arends September 29) Key items: »
Archive for September, 2010
/Quick Point/ – Savvy Investment Manager: Time to Use Contrarian Approach and Buy US Stocks
How to Profit from Trend Changes
Yesterday I discussed a likely trend change coming (see “WSJ Accidentally Identifies Macro Investing’s Probable End of the Line“). Investing for such a change can be highly profitable. Trend changes are actually numerous, relating to virtually all investment types, groupings or management approaches. The goal isn’t to spot all of them. Here’s what’s needed… »
/Quick Point/ – Ireland Fails to Resurrect European Fears
Another sign that “macro-investing” is becoming obsolete: On Friday (September 24) The Wall Street Journal led its front-page “Business & Finance” news brief column with supposedly dire news from Europe: Ireland was in trouble, meaning Europe was teetering again. This overwrought piece even resorted to “double dose” as a reminder of the now diminished... »
WSJ Accidentally Identifies Macro Investing’s Probable End of the Line
Last Friday, The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy, front-page article that unwittingly described why the powerful macro investing trend might be close to ending. “Unwittingly” because the article attempts to explain why the trend should be with us forever. »
Time to Pack Away the 200-day Moving Average?
The 200-day moving average, one of the screens I recently used, could be starting to reach the end of its usefulness. It may seem odd, but this longer-term measure often has only short-term value. Here’s why… »
Value Screening in an Improving Stock Market
Since I wrote “Value Screening US Stocks – Example with 7 ‘Picks’” (September 1), the stock market has risen over 5%. What’s happened to the screening results, and what should we do now? »
Forget ‘Slow Growth’ – Think ‘Growth’
In investing, the key challenge is to get the direction right. But what about timing? Guessing at when a move will happen isn’t worth it. Hidden dynamics (and they’re usually invisible when they would be most useful) are famous at creating “surprisingly” fast moves. Here are two excellent examples from The Wall Street Journal: »
Why the Coming Earnings Reports Are So Important
Yesterday I wrote about the US stock market’s third hurdle approaching: The next quarterly earnings reports. (See “US Stocks’ Third Hurdle Just Around the Corner.“) What might we expect, and why do they matter? »
US Stocks’ Third Hurdle Just Around the Corner
The US stock market has cleared its first two hurdles nicely. On the horizon is the third. As June ended, with the US stock market down from its April highs, I thought it faced three hurdles to rebuild its base and regain investor interest (see “This Stock Market Decline Is Painful” – July 2).... »
Attention Wall Street – Here’s How to Attract Investors Back to US Stocks
Even Wall Street’s best are having trouble getting investors to show interest in owning US stocks. Maybe the answer is dropping the logical argument based on experience. Instead, adopt a strategy proven successful with consumers: Change the name and, thereby, the perception. »
2 Must-read Articles Examine Stock Market’s Flaws – Picture Is Not Good
The flaws in the US stock market that caused the May 6 “flash crash” remain. These two articles bring troubling news. »
Is the Bond Market Changing Direction?
Whether you call it a bubble or not, investors’ love affair with bonds may be ending. Longer-term bond losses in the last three weeks have been about one-half year’s interest income. It may not seem possible. After all, corporate bond yields rose only 0.22% from their 3.74% historic low on August 24 to 3.96%... »
Vanguard’s New ETFs Defy Anti-US Stock Trend – Do They See Something Coming?
Customary Wall Street practice is to follow the trend. Investment product creation and marketing tends to take the easy road. By focusing on what investors want now, firms figure they will simply change tactics when people want something different. In the end, however, the investor-client base that bought near the top feels taken advantage... »
Why Wall Street Might Spur a Bull Market in 2011
In Wall Street, it’s New Year’s Day. Wall Streeters are back, refreshed from their summer vacations, wearing starched white shirts and ready to focus on what 2011 has in store. As they assemble their teams, the question is what their conclusions will be. This is the second hurdle I described in “This Stock Market... »
Indicators Show Conditions are Returning to Normal
There are now signs that we can look forward to normality returning in 2011. Perfect timing, with Wall Street coming back from its summer vacation and ready to examine the new year. What are these indicators? They’re an eclectic group… »