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John Donovan's  Instablog

John Donovan has been observing and trading the stock markets for 25 years. None of the writings on this blog is intended to be investment advice. Instead, consult your own financial advisor.
  • Magazine Covers as Contrary Indicators
    I think it was Marty Zweig, and maybe others, who specifically counted bullish/ bearish magazine covers as one of many market leading indicators.  Today's selection of Ben Bernanke as TIME Person of the Year has to stand out in that regard if you like to play the markets as a contrarian.  It's bearish.  Scary bearish!

    Disclosure: no positions mentioned
    Tags: Fed, Bernanke
    Dec 16 08:14 am | Link | Comment!
  • Alpha Tool, IBD 100
    Let’s look inside the December 14th edition of one of the alpha seeking worlds’ best tools, Investors Business Daily.
     
    In the edition dated December 14, the IBD 100 listed zero stocks with a bold outline, an indication of a stock with strong fundamental and technical attributes that is also in or near buy range. There are no bold outlines this week because IBD grades the current market condition as “uptrend under pressure”.  Without being bolded, the list does comment on Lumber liquidators (LL) as being “in possible buy range”.
     
    Featured story stocks include Netflix and Hi-Tech Pharmacal (HITK). The INSIDE THE 100 column is titled “Many Leaders Breakouts Going Nowhere, Some Fail”.
     
    7 of the top 20 stocks are China based companies and several more are also from outside the USA, continuing a long streak of foreign dominance of the IBD 100.
     
    As this is Heisman Trophy weekend, be sure to read the biography of Ernie Davis on page 4 of IBD.
     


    Disclosure: Disclosure: no positions
    Tags: LL, NFLX, HMIN, HEAT, IBD 100, Investors Business Daily
    Dec 12 09:36 am | Link | Comment!
  • Meredith Whitney
    This gal's playbook isn't the same old playbook many CNBC talking heads bring to the table.  Says banks will have to have "rockin" capital markets (trading profits) going forward to offset lack of loan production.   She says bank earnings estimates will come down.

    Says consumers are still hurting.  26% of Americans do not have bank accounts. Says Wal-mart prepaid card business is exploding.  (people are 'banking" at Wal-mart).

     

    Disclosure: no position in WMT
    Tags: WMT, consumers, banks
    Dec 08 08:48 am | Link | Comment!
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