Friday November 13, 2009

November 12, 2009



WALL STREET’S DIRTY SECRETS

November 11, 2009



There wasn’t much news other than more bullish thinking that low interest rates are with us as far as the eye can see. Markets are getting a little overbought now as dip buyers have pounced on stocks once again. News was sparse other than most companies continue to post losses but are beating estimates. Applied Materials (AMAT) shares rose nearly 2% after they announced another 1,500 or so job cuts. Yeah, it’s a brutal business this.

November 9, 2009



BENNY AND TIMMY WANT TO PUMP YOU UP!

November 6, 2009




ASK ALICE, I THINK SHE KNOWS

November 5, 2009



WALL STREET ROULETTE

Wow! You can’t make up this much two-way action except with a roulette wheel. For the tourists, Da Boyz got the DJIA back to 10,000 but volume was again relatively light which is mystifying. Once again shorts are squeezed and this two-way action is difficult for most investors to either trade or comprehend. The action today was based on “better than expected” lousy numbers from CSCO and lower Jobless Claims (which, by the way, are still high).

November 4, 2009



President: “Mr. Gardener, do you agree with Ben, or do you think we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?”
Chance the Gardener: “As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.”
President: “In the garden.”
Chance the Gardener: “Yes, in the garden, growth has its seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.”
President: “Spring and summer.”
Chance the Gardener: Yes.
President: “Then fall and winter.”
Chance the Gardener: “Yes”.
Benjamin Rand (nee Bernanke): I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we’re upset by the seasons of our economy.”
Chance the Gardener: Yes! There will be growth in the spring!”
Benjamin Rand (nee Bernanke): “Hmm!”
Chance the Gardener: “Hmm!”
President: “Hmm. Well, Mr. Gardener, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I’ve heard in a very, very long time. I admire your good, solid sense. That’s precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill.”

November 2, 2009



STOCK MARKET THRILL RIDE

October 30, 2009





HEAVIER VOLUME SELL-OFF AGAIN

October 29, 2009



THE OVERSOLD RALLY, AS ADVERTISED

October 28, 2009



BEARS STRIKE BACK

October 27, 2009



LIKE WALKING THROUGH A MINEFIELD

The S&P 500 is one of the most widely-followed benchmarks in the world, a bellweather of the American economy that is included in the Index of Leading Indicators. Composed of 500 of the largest stocks listed in the U.S. (as well as a handful of non-U.S. companies), the S&P 500 has a weighted average market capitalization of approximately $80 billion, and includes companies across all sectors of the economy.

With the rise of indexing as an investment strategy, it’s not surprising that S&P 500 ETFs are among the largest and most heavily traded. With a market capitalization of more than $57 billion, the SPDR S&P 500 (SPY) is by far the largest ETF, nearly $20 billion larger than its closest competitor. The iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (IVV) comes in at number four on the list with almost $21 billion in assets, meaning that U.S. investors have nearly $80 billion invested in S&P 500 ETFs.

Advisors and individuals who favor a tactical asset allocation to investing have historically analyzed broad macroeconomic trends and statistics to identify asset classes and sectors poised deliver strong returns. In the early days of the ETF industry, this meant homing in on a certain sector or style and picking the fund that tracked that segment.

But as the landscape has continued to evolve, asset class and investment style aren’t the only decisions investors face. Market capitalization weightings were once the only game in town, but in recent years alternative weighting methodologies have become more popular among investors who find flaws in a strategy that gives the most weight to the biggest companies.

October 26, 2009



NO STICK SAVE TODAY

October 23, 2009




HIGH VOLATILITY = GREED & FEAR

October 22, 2009



DRIVE-THRU SOUP KITCHEN 2009

October 21, 2009



SUDDEN AIR POCKET SPOILS THE DAY

October 20, 2009



TAKING A BREAK

THE LIGHT VOLUME RALLY HAS LEGS