Seeking Advice

Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Global Markets

Dave,
Happy for you that Francie's surgery seems a success. I'm sure that brings relief. Have seen a fox eat a squirrel in the morning here in the suburbs of Boston.

I'm sitting with less than 50% equities, though as the market powers upward and not making any moves, the % keeps rising. I fear getting swept up in the euphoria and finally adding to equity positions just as the market turns downward again. Timing tends to work that way. As you note, this appears to be a market for professionals, which I am not.

Friday Outlook: Commodities, Global Markets

Keep those charts and analysis coming, Dave. So, we appear to be in agreement that the markets are manipulated by... some combination of gov't and GS and maybe other large traders/funds? We also seem to agree that the "green shoots" being touted by some are mostly intended to cheer up the market. And some data shows a slowing down of the deterioration, but that's a far cry from anything resembling an upturn. Granted, you need to slow down prior to stopping and reversing direction but there are no real elements of the economy to actually draw strength from:
Unemployment numbers still rising (few finding work)
Unemployment new claims (fairly steady at a very elevated number)
Corporate earnings poor (unless you count beating horrendous expectations as "good").
Real Estate still slumping and prices still dropping y-o-y
Other world economies experiencing their own crises

Yet the market has been climbing. How is one to intelligently invest when there seems to be such divergence between economic fundamentals and the markets actions? Just thinking out loud, I guess.