The Blue-Chip Triad
The Dow Utilities are down 5.0% YTD. The Dow Industrials are down 5.4%. And the cherry on the cake of the 2009 bear market in blue chip stocks is the 11.7% decline in the Dow Transports.
A Saucer-Like Bottom in Housing
As an inference reading based futurist, my goal is to target unfolding trends and the catalysts to effect change. Areas of interest include terrorism, politics, currencies, government, world financial markets, and economies. Most immediately, I think the 17% jump in May housing construction in concert with May’s increase in building permits augers well for a saucer-like bottom in housing.
One of the Best Leading Economic Indicators
The stock market is one of the best leading economic indicators. And investment grade U.S. stocks continue in a Bear market. (1) Dow Jones Industrials, down 0.1% (2) Dow Jones Transportations, down 5.6% (3) Dow Jones Utilities, down 7.6%. By contrast many International Indices are soaring (1) Brazil up 42% (2) Canada up 17% (3) Hong Kong up 26% (4) Japan up 11% and (5) Singapore up 32%.
Fundamentals vs. Sentiment
Stocks are assets. The true value of any asset is simply the discounted value of all future cash flows. This holds true for stocks,...
Default Risk Among the Many Concerns with Annuities
The recent turmoil in the equity and credit markets has created angst and panic among investors. Emotionally charged investment decisions are being made without...
Crumbling Pillars
The pillars of support preventing the overvalued euro from depreciating versus the U.S. dollar are quickly crumbling. On a purchasing power parity basis, our...
The Energy Equivalent Value of Wood
People who live in cold northern climates are likely to face stiff home heating oil bills this winter. If heating oil prices average $5...
International Investing & Taxes
Are you aware of the tax implications of international investing? When you invest in foreign securities, even those listed on U.S. exchanges, your investment...
There Will Be Water
Roberts County is a neat square in a remote corner of the Texas Panhandle, a land of rolling hills, tall grass, oak trees, mesquite,...
WARNING! Avoid the Catastrophic Thinking of Retirement Investing
Ah, retirement. Congratulations. You made it. Whether you got here by selling your business or working your way through corporate America, you’ve made it...