State of the Markets
A Real Yen for Stocks?
Let's see a show of hands. How many of you out there struggle from time to time to ascertain why Ms. Market is doing whatever the heck she is doing on a given day?
Monday was a perfect example of why the word logic is rarely used in connection with the action in the stock market. …
Stocks In 2014: How'd We Get Here and What Does It Mean?
Thirty-five trading days into the new year, the S&P stands just about where it started. But to say that nothing has happened in the market so far this year would certainly be misleading. In case you haven't been paying close attention, it is important to remember that the S&P expe…
Next Move: Blow-Off or Blow Up?
Spending copious amounts of time in cars, airports, and airplanes generally provides the opportunity to take a step (or three) back from the blinking screens (although to be honest it is pretty easy to check in on the market via an iPhone these days) and regain a feel for the big picture.…
Eight Bullish Factors To Consider
At the end of January and into the first week of February, we penned a handful of articles which focused on the question of whether or not the stock market was facing a new crisis or merely a garden variety pullback.
Since the market has been dealt more than its fair share of cris…
Five Ways to Deal With the Changing Environment
While the world waits to hear what Janet Yellen has to say about Fed policy this morning, it is probably a good time to expand on the idea that the character of the stock market has changed and look at what investors can do about it.
Last week, it was suggested that moves in the m…
Sometimes Reading is Required
The talk in the markets on Friday was all about the jobs report. For the second month in a row, the headline nonfarm payrolls number was a big surprise - and not in a good way. For the second month in a row, the number of new jobs created in the U.S. came in well below expectations. And y…
The Times, They Are A Changin'
Given the title of today's market missive, we could really go a couple of directions.
We could certainly talk about the fact that the tone of the stock market appears to have turned on a dime with the change in the calendar. The end of 2013 has meant the disappearance of the ho-hu…
What Do the Cycles Say About February 2014?
In yesterday's missive, we looked at what the decline in January might mean for the rest of the year. While it might seem incredible that the result from a single month of price action could have predictive powers, history shows this to be true. The bottom line is that when the S&P 50…
A Sell Signal Worth Noting
According to Wall Street lore, as the first five days of January go, so goes the month. And in case you've forgotten, the first five trading days of 2014 were down. So, in keeping with tradition, the S&P 500 also finished lower for the first month of the year. Check.
Next up i…
Has The Next Worry Arrived?
You've got to love the stock market game. Just about the time you think you've got it figured out, boom - it changes. Or maybe it doesn't, who knows. Frankly, there are times when it is very hard to tell why Ms. Market is doing what she is doing. But since that's the stated objective or o…