S&P's downgrade of the United State's debt rating from AAA to AA+ (the smallest move possible) is not being taken well by the market this morning. Futures at around 6:30 CST showed the markets down by around 2%. Click here to access our current view of the markets - our five-year ETF charts with both their [...]
The rapid and sizable market correction underway has triggered several portfolio adjustments, with the high probability that more may be required if the market cannot find its footing very soon. Yesterday's five-percent declines spared no growth sector of the markets - dividend-paying stocks declined as much as growth stocks; large, mid and small cap stocks [...]
I'd like to talk to you for a moment about my lawn. Back in 2003, my family purchased one of the great "old ladies" of Appleton, an 1893 Queen Anne Victorian complete with a wrap-around porch, a turret, and even the ghost of a former teacher (Mae Webster). Yes, the house was in need of [...]
Over the past month, the global market advance that began back in September of last year has showed increased evidence of fatigue. The upward momentum in equities, real estate, commodities and even in fixed income, while still present, is clearly deteriorating. Click here to access our current view of the markets - our five-year ETF [...]
Over the course of the past six weeks or so, several major market segments have not only stopped rising but have begun to clearly demonstrate declining price trends. Click here to access our current view of the markets - our five-year ETF charts with both their respective short- and long-term trend-lines. These segments include international emerging [...]
As has been the case for the last seven months, the market continues to be in the midst of a sustained, rising price-trend environment. This has been ideal, as it reflects the reality that the markets as a whole continue to be normal, they are experiencing more positive days and weeks than negative ones, and the risks of owning equities right now [...]
Are high gas prices really bad for the economy? created with WhosRight poll builder.
Earnings season is upon us once again, with a few companies schedule to release quarterly profit reports, revenues and their own forecasts in the coming week. By perhaps the best measure, the market has already priced in much of the current economic recovery: the current modified price to earnings ratio (PE/10) for the S&P 500 index [...]
Another good couple of weeks for the markets and for all of our managed portfolios. With the current market environment being quite cooperative, we continue to be nearly fully invested in all major market segments, including U.S. dividend-paying equities, U.S. growth equities, foreign emerging markets, U.S. real estate, commodity-based equities, and high-yield fixed income. Positions [...]
Over the past two weeks the market advance has weakened a bit, but not enough to warrant further defensive action at the present time. As of the close of business yesterday, each of our managed portfolios was holding an approximate 55% allocation to equities (mainly domestic equities with a small exposure to international), a 15% [...]
