Too Big To Fail

Tonight at 9:00PM Andrew Ross Sorkin’s account of the 2008 financial meltdown comes to life in an HBO Movie.(Trailer) Rave reviews, All Star cast, and what looks to be a chilling account of the arrogance of Wall Street and how close we came to a meltdown.

An economics lesson from hell as entertainment.

It’s a shame that more will see the movie adaptation than read the book, but that’s our culture. You know where I’ll be at 9:00 PM.

Europe on The Brink

Each day Europe inches closer to the brink of a fiscal meltdown. There are those in Europe and the USA (Republicans) who insist on “claiming that defaulting on U.S. [or European] debt would be no big deal “— This is truly frightening.

Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman When Austerity Fails (NYT today) goes over that and other myths that obviously haven’t worked to solve Europe’s current problems

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KISS & Stocks

(Keep It Simple Stupid)

If you don’t understand a term look in up at Investopedia.com dictionary

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

DOUBLE CHECK ALL DATA, I MAKE MORE THAN GRAMMAR MISTAKES

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Index	Percentage	Volume
Dow	-0.74%	Down
NASDQ	-0.71%	Up
S&P 500	-077%	Up
Russell 2000	-0.73%	-

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Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

Investors411 record - 6 years of beating benchmark S&P 500

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Dividend Stocks

If stocks get toasted or flatten, stocks with a second stream of income – a dividend – usually suffer too. It’s the dividend that makes them outperform most other categories. Earlier we covered the ultra high dividend stocks (NYL & AGNC). Today two sectors of relatively high dividend plays.

Notes –

• DailyFinance.com has a history of payouts for dividend stocks for the past 5 years. (Click on Dividends near top of column on left)
• DUK – A Utility I forgot to mention Friday, has a 5.16% dividend.
• * Indicates or someone in my family owns this stock
• Buy the dip

Tobacco

• *MO – 5.48% dividend, Simply put – people across the world are addicted to tobacco. This stock is almost always on a top 10 list of dividend stocks. Marlboro etc.. For 5 years the dividend has been flat of higher.
• RAI – 5.40% Winston etc.. Another stock that has raised dividends for 5 straight years. Lawsuits – The double standard – Tobacco companies fill government coffers with tax dollars so litigation is often curtailed.
• PM - 3.65% Not as high a dividend, but the story is this international company was spun off from MO in anticipation of US litigation against tobacco companies. Again always flat or raising dividends over last 5 years

Telecom

• *T – 5.50% This whole group benefits from all the new tech toys and apps that use their services. 5 years of steady dividend growth. AT&T
• *VZ -5.23 Another stock with a 5 year dividend growth record. Verizon
• *WIN 7.22% Smaller than the two above giants. 4 3/4 years of the same dividend. Windstream

Do your own homework on these stocks. The above is an outline. Consider protection(see above) and be conscious of overall market conditions when investing.

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Shorter Term Forecasting Indexes

There are hundreds of forecasting tools, – These two tools have worked

When they stop working Investors411 will use other Indexes

• The Dollar (USD) [Any daily price move over +/- 0.50 is significant. Dollar usually moves inversely to stocks] Dollar rose SIGNIFICANTLY Friday  +0.74% yesterday. The Dollar bulls  are back, and momentum could carry the dollar higher and stocks lower = Bearish
• McClellan Index - (MO) [The very rough guideline is over +60 = overbought market = sell positions or short stocks, & -60 = oversold market = buy stocks .] MO fell to -20.22. Just a tad move oversold, but lots of room to run on both sides. = Neutral

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Positions

• In light of the Long Term Outlook call Friday, I sold 1/2 of REMX (Rare earth metals ETF) at basically what it was bought for.  Still have a lot of confidence in this area.  But it will take a hit if the summer is down.
• Investors411 favorite long term  favorite IMAX probably had a good weekend.  The Pirates movie opened lower than others, but close to 1/2 the revenue was 3D and IMAX charges a premium. Still have faith in this stock because of its solid fundamental story – Lots more potential 3D hits on the way this summer. Shrek opens in 3D this weekend
• As stated on Friday YOUR Stock List will be negatively impacted by the change in long term outlook.

Disclosure - I have positions in IMAX & REMX and manage a fund that has a 5+ year position in GLD

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Check out the advice, recommendations, analysis by bloggers on stocks,politics and trends in the comments section of the blog Many of the best concepts regarding YOUR Financial Future are discussed their. Watch for Paul’s Corner every Tuesday and Thursday

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Longer Term Outlook

NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

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The Winter Democracy Bloomed

The desire for self government, jobs and bread has exploded across the Arab world. In over a dozen countries people are demonstrating for basic human rights. Perhaps the biggest looser in all of this is Islamic fundamentalism and al Qaeda, because the cries of the people are not for religious fundamentalism, but for the common human dignity that we all share. Demonstrators are putting their lives on the line for democracy.

Libya and Iraq are the latest to have demonstrations. Today the NYT focuses on American reaction to Egypt, Bahrain and Iran’s demonstrations

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Shadow Banks Rule

The Chamber of Commerce and Shadow Banks were caught with their hands in the cookie jar,  just as a congressional committee was to convene to amend rules on “casino capitalism.”  How ironic it is that over a 1000 bankers were issued jail terms in the Savings and Loans crisis decades ago and NONE have over the 2008 meltdown.  That’s how powerful the shadows and their lobbyists have become.

Andrew Ross Sorkin from NYT story and MIT prof Simon Johnson. – Derivatives Industry Report Collapses.

But that’s just for openers – The Chamber of Commerce & their shadow allies are not beyond investigating the families of critics and printing false accusations. If you support Wikileaks or speak out against The Chamber, BAC or those who want to run capitalism in the shadows this could happen to you. Glenn Greenwald reports.

KISS & Stocks (Keep It Simple Stupid)

If you don’t understand a term look in up at Investopedia.com dictionary

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

DOUBLE CHECK ALL DATA, I MAKE MORE THAN GRAMMAR MISTAKES

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Index	Percentage	Volume
Dow	-0.34%	down
NASDQ	-0.46%	up
S&P 500	-0.32%	up
Russell 2000	-0.71%	-

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Technicals Analysis

Investors411 record - 6 years of beating benchmark S&P 500

Nothing’s change much in overall outlook since Monday. Short term because yesterday’s moderate loss the McClellan Index is at a  more buyable level of  +6.97. But not yet near levels bulls would like. The bubble-icious stock market continues.

So today were going to focus on technical analysis. I call technical analysis looking at the pretty pictures/charts of  a stock’s price and volume and being able to make a forecast of future directions from those charts.

Stockcharts.com, the best free site on technical analysis on the web has a school/tutorial that will help you learn more about it.

Technical analysis works best when the markets, the sector and then the individual stock are in alignment or moving in the same direction.  The sum is greater than the parts, but in most cases it the individual stocks that matters most.

So here’s a list compiled by Paul R who has oodles of experience in technical analysis and uses a powerful HSGI program to augment his technical analysis skills.

Below is Your Stock List #3 and Paul’s recommendations. Most importantly use this a a learning  tool it technical analysis. He published it in the comments section of the blog a day ago, so its a bit dated and I’m sure he wants you to read his mea culpa. You can look up each chart pattern by inserting appropriate ticker symbol at Stockcharts.com. (link above) - His comments in Green and technical analysis below.

“In no way am I recommending a buy or sell of any of these stocks. These comments are for education only. (Understand?)

BIDU – getting extended, a hold and not a buy at the moment.

NFLX – getting extended, a hold and not a buy at the moment.

BEXP – went through a buy the dip correction in late January. Broken out, buy if it dips.

JNPR – leader in it’s group, broken out from a strong base, extended now, buy if it dips.

SKWS - Good chart, extended, buy the future dip.

KSU - Good chart, extended, buy the future dip.

DECK – Gone through a correction as has it’s group, buy the future dip.

PCLN - good chart, buy any dip

COH – Gone through a correction as has it’s group, buy the future dip

IMAX – basing, buy any dip if you want as long as if it’s above the 50.

SOHU – broken out, way too extended for my stomach. Not a good chart, it needs to tighten up.

IVN – basing, buy at any time at current chart position

ALV – basing along with it’s group at the moment. NOT buyable at the moment.

SAM – basing, sitting on the 50, buyable at any time

SPRD – Good chart, wee bit extended, wait until it touches the 17 dma again.

FFIV – NOT buyable at the moment, chart needs some serious work.

These observations are just that, observations. My observations are usually worthless. If you buy any of these dogs…blah blah blah. Did I mention these comments are for education only? Pay attention for crying out loud!”

An additional comment from Paul on how to Buy the Dip

Always watch the comments section for different ideas and comments on stocks, economics, trends and politics.

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Positions

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Look for Paul R‘s always enlightening remarks on stocks and sectors in the comments section of the blog. See ”POSITION“ section of blog (at top of page) for lists of potential stocks & ETF’s including “YOUR Stock List.” (YSL#4 is under construction.)

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Al Frankin’s Rape Legislation

30 old white Republican men voted NO on Senator Al Frankin’s legislation “that would have required defense contractors to allow their employees access to US courts in cases of rape or sexual assault” The case of Jamie Lee Jones who was gang raped by fellow Halliburton/KBR employees in Iraq and then held prisoner in a trailer sparked this legislation.

To protect Hallibuton these senators had to side against American rape victims. The 30 old white Republicans (including McCain) “might want to rethink your allegiances.” (Jon Stewart ) LINK to his devastating video and story on this

Trickle Down Economics/Health Care

Trickle Down economics started with Ronald Reagan and it has sure worked in making America’s rich richer and disintegrating the middle class. Two editorials by Robert Reich and Frank Herbert t deal with this. (Herbert fails to lay at least some of the blame on Obama.)

• Safety Nets for the Rich LINK
• Why Obama Has to do What Letterman Did: Refuse to Pay Hush Money LINK

To Big To Fail

NYT award winning financial columnist Andrew Sorkin’s book Too Big to Fail has an interesting excerpt in Vanity Fair LINK entitled Wall Street’s Near Death Experience. Yes these same guys brought us to the brink, but the excerpt is enlightening. Also in NYT is The Race to Save Lehmann LINK

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

Index	Percentage %	Volume
Dow	-0.67%	up
NASDQ	-0,76%	up
S&P500	-0.81%	down
Russell2000	-1.15%	-

Investors411 record – 4 1/2 years of beating benchmark S&P 500

(see results for last 1/2 year – click  6/25 & scroll down)

• Brown = repeat statements
• Green = usually bullish statements
• Red = Usually bearish statements

Technicals and Fundamentals

US Markets broke out to new yearly+ highs in weak volume.  All that money on the sidelines is staying there. Technicals – Volume in no way confirming the price move higher – However, volume, as a #1 confirmation factor, is getting trumped by the ever sinking dollar.

From yesterday – The FED and the US government is not going to stop shoveling cash at the market as long as unemployment is so high. US companies are not hiring and will first hire abroad where labor is cheaper and growth faster.  So the cash shoveling will continue and Wall Street, once over bought situation is corrected, will continue to rise and the dollar fall. Two major points

• The rally is based on the dollar falling
• As long as unemployment grows there is no reason to stop the Fed from stimulating the economy

Therefore high unemployment numbers inversely benefit Wall Street stock prices.  The more we stimulate the economy (0% interest rate loans from to bailouts) the lower the dollar falls. The more we simply print money the  lower the dollar falls and the more profit American base companies make because their goods cost less abroad. (see below for more)

Apple has grand slam earnings report. Flood of earnings this AM. CA T (big equipment maker) also a grand slam.

Both the BD I and the Dollar are bullish for stocks

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Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

(Besides #1 Volume & #2 Reaction to News)

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods by price (world trade) .

The BDI is @ 37% off its high (early June) Before that it gained almost over + 630% from its all time low of 663 in Dec. of 2008 (April 2009 high of 4291 )

The BDI rose +38 points Friday and closed at 2766. A higher high price on its chart pattern has been confirmed =  Bullish for stocks & world trade right now

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$USD - Check out the 6 month chart (to the left) or a multi year chart of the US dollar of the US dollar.

Mantra – Dollar up = US stocks down & Dollar down = US stocks up

US dollar fell -0.37 % The dollar closed at $75.37 . We have developed a support now resistance (it’s called support on the way down and resistance on the way up) level just below $76 . The dollar closed below its support level. = Bullish for stocks

NB -

• Earnings will probably trump the dollar as the #1 influencing factor for the nest two weeks. But the falling dollar is the main driver of stocks right now and we have a long way to go till we hit last year’s $71 low.
• A slow decline in the dollar = good a rapid decline = bad .
  

Last year’s low was around $71,(March 08 ) so there is a long way to go before the major and very crucial support level.

Therefore, The dollar can drop much lower and stocks rise much higher till support levels are reached

Positions

The  Positions Section (top of blog) to see all the latest buys and sells

Review of Positions (Part 2) (more on stocks tomorrow)

SPX or SSO – This is where you park money instead of cash. Only downside here is it takes 3 days to get to use this $ to make a trade. More aggressive traders can use SSO Longer term investors use SPX (This ETF does 2x what the S&P 500 does) Recommendation Buy the Dips till the dollar drops to near $72 .

NVS, AAPL, CSCO, MVIS, GS , & JPM are all stocks that have been recommended for traders to buy on dips. Would add CAT to that list

EWZ – Up way too far too fast.  Trader s should lighten up on this ETF

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!