Who is the real “Doctor Doom?” Why, it is none other than Henry Kaufman, former chief economist at Salomon Brothers, after a long repose out of the limelight. Not only is he back, but he is loaded for bear … he ” … Sees Danger in the Markets and Economy.” (you need WSJ or Barron’s…
Are You Smarter Than A Computer?
The answer is … It depends on who is programing the computer … GIGO (Garbage in/ Garbage out) for Pete’s sake! This is important when considering the daily/weekly gyrations of the stock market.“In the U.S. stock market and many other developed financial markets, about 70-80 percent of overall trading volume is generated through algorithmic trading.”…
Interest rates and stocks: Heads you lose … Tails you lose!
The Great Conundrum In January of 2020 the 10-year US Treasury opened the new year trading with a yield of 1.8%. The S&P 500 was on its way to a 4.6% gain and a new record high by February. Then Covid-19 hit and in the flight to safety that followed the 10-year yield went below one half…
The Death TINA (There Is No Alternative)
Wait a minute! The reports of TINA’s demise may be greatly exaggerated. If the acronym TINA is not part of your daily vocabulary, I can understand. The concept of “there is no alternative” is a term some market savants have used to explain the market’s strength over the past few years. There is no alternative to…
Record Highs–Yet So Much Fear
The Fear of Being Bitten Again “Besides the last eleven months, there have only been five other streaks where the VIX remained elevated above 20 for at least six months.” …
We and the markets are in for a dark period … NOT!
—”Double Dip–High Covid-19 infection rates and fresh restrictions imposed by governments have taken their toll oneconomic activity over recent months” (WSJ -1/22/21) —“.CNBC: Fauci: New data shows Covid vaccines may be less effective against some new strains” “It’s deja vu all over again” — Yogi Berra What’s old is new again Last week the market…
The Mob and The Market
–Unthinkable events … the market sails right through –Balancing changing politics, insurrection and asset allocation –Potential flies in the ointment—Interest Rates, Taxes and Inflation –The VIX provides a clue on market sentiment and direction Protest, insurrection and the market What is depicted in my opening image is civil disobedience, rightful protest to redress grievances. What…
The Market Floats In a Sea of Mines
“Damn the torpedo’s… Full speed” … ahead! I used this somewhat doctored quote from Union Rear Admiral David Farragut to title my final post of 2019. Back in the day (1864) the torpedoes Farragut was damning happened to be contact mines that were easily able to blow a ship out of the water. There were…
” … The Good News Is Already Baked Into Stocks.”
–Is it? Don’t buy this argument. –– A more elevated view and longer-term perspective yields an entirely different picture. –Stimulus and low interest rates world-wide seem under-appreciated as long-term drivers for the economy. –Using the analogy of baking a cake, we’ve just made the batter. The World According to Forsyth This was the take of…
Don’t let ’em scare you out of your stocks!
— No question … The market is overextended — Well known investor sentiment surveys are flashing red — Calls for caution become routine — How should you react? — Best advice … maintain the long view … the secular bull continues The market is over extended There is no question about this. During the month…