Obama’s Brain Freeze

Obama is seeking to Freeze many Domestic programs headlines the NYT today. Also check out Bob S’s & Mama Jama’s recent comment on right side of blog.  We have the answer as to what Obama would cut - domestic programs.

Here we are with a 10% jobless rate and well over 16% jobless rate if you count those no longer on the rolls. US Corporations from IBM to Apple  are growing because they are growing their investments (now well over 50%) overseas. Housing numbers still hurting, banking mess not fixed and the vast majority of US workers and unemployed believe we are in a recession and Obama freezes domestic spending.

It’s a huge flip flop – Stimulate the economy to create jobs – now a year later he cut domestic spending and guess what’s going to happen to jobs & the economy.  Job loss has decreased from -700,000 to about -50,000 per month. Not bad . However, we are still NOT anywhere close to creating the kinds or number of jobs (+250,000 a month) it takes to stimulate a jobs recovery. Take $300 billion of the stimulus away in domestic cuts and hopes of a recovery will evaporate.

When the jobs picture flattens or worsens and Obama asks for more $ to stimulate it you will have a flip flop flip

So maybe this will buy Obama a few points of popularity this week, but it is just what Herbert Hoover did and FDR did. They took away the stimulus too soon and in both cases the depression got a whole lot worse. Bob S first mentioned the FireDogLake site but it has an excellent compilation of criticism on Obama’s move

We the Corporation

Common Cause and Talking Point Memo are both reporting that the recent Supreme Court decision (see past few investors411) opens the way for Foreign Investors/governments who own chunks of US corporations or whose companies are registered in the USA to contribute to US campaigns.

Example  A Saudi Prince or wealthy Chinese investor (really their government) who owns say @ 5% of a US shadow bank will have a lot more power to intimidate or influence any candidate than.  Foreign investors have over the last decade bought huge hunks of American companies and are very influential in corporate board rooms. You the far less wealthy  taxpayer and voter will soon have even less power in YOUR democracy than rich Communists or Arab dictators

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!

Investors411 record – 5 years of beating benchmark S&P 500 and almost all major US indexes

Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

See Positions , Strategy , and Overview for changes made over weekend.

Stocks rallied a bit in decreased volume. Volume,our #1 confirmation factor of price move, is still very Bearish. We’ve had at least 3 significant falls in BIG increased volume. This is enough distribution (major players moving to sidelines) to turn a market.

AAPL reported after markets close d. This is one of the stocks whose results can move markets. Last evening there was no change in price after its report. Lots of news surrounding a new Apple product Wednesday

Fed meets over next two days – expect little/NO change.

Bernanke reconfirmation vote – Looks like he will get reconfirmed and that should help stocks. But two problems –

1. he/the Fed will be weakened because the Fed chair usually almost unanimous
2. The Fed is like everything else from the Supreme Court on down an almost totally political organization. Any appearance of his independence was shattered by him lobbying senators for his appointment.

State of the Union – Markets are worried about what Obama will do about shadow banks. See Sunday’s and Monday’s Investors411 for more on this. We need to fix the too big to fail systemic problem – this will hurt stocks, especially financials in the short term – but stocks, our democracy and our country will be better off in the long term .

Significant indexes

• McClellan Index at -64.84 =  still significantly oversold.  (see Sunday’s Investors411 for more)

Positions

The  Positions Section (also at top of blog) has the latest buys and sells (Usually updated over weekends)

These are positions I actually own

SELLING & BUYING

Did not pull trigger on any longer term ETF investments. Waiting for state of the Union address to see what Obama does about Shadow banks.

YOUR Stock watch list

NB – I feel much more confident with ETF’s because they reflect global trends than individual stock. Too many things can go wrong with individual stocks.

• SEED – In a buy the dip position directly above 50 day moving average
  
• AAPL – obviously a market mover who again is sitting on its 50 day.
  
• AMZN – Lower highs lower lows on chart – removed from list
• HMIN - Failed breakout . China play. Will recover when  China does.  Will drop from list soon
  
• CAAS – CAAS hanging in there 50 day moving average.
  
• PCLN – Fell below 50 day moving average, but no big volume on downside move. A potential buy in any market reversal.
  
• F – Now less over extended.
• DRWI – New – Big exporter to China -  Was too overextended to buy, and now only a bit overextended. No big volume as stock dropped= good sign. Potential buy the dip.
  
• ENOC – New – Reduces costs for utilities – No big volume behind its recent fall. Potential but the dip when it hits 50 day.
• ATHN – New - Software reduces costs for health care - Broke its longer term bullish trend in big  volume – Will drop from list soon.
  
• IMAX – Great long term chart – falling back to its 50 day moving average. Still a buy the dip opportunity

All these are better buys in an oversold market. That condition exists NOW.

The problem is not knowing how aggressive Obama is going to be about shadow banks/too big to fail institutions.  We should have a good idea by state of the Union – Wednesday night.  You could gamble either way.

Caution – I have continually overestimated Obama when it comes to almost everything. He may be all talk about business accountability and the Paul Volker/Elizabeth Warren faction within his government will loose.

See POSITIONS (scroll down) for details on this and what’s under consideration for 2010. Sorry have not had a chance to work on this last weekend.

Long Term Outlook = NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Poster from 1880

Your Comments

The Day Democracy Died – or the Corporate takeover of America – has received more of YOUR comments (7 public and 4 personal) than any other editorial. We the People , in the USA,  has become We the Corporation. Check out all the insightful public comments (scroll down). Most are listed on the right side of blog.

Fundamentally Democracy has changed in the USA. Investments are taxed at 15% and working class Americans are taxed at

• $8350 to 33,950 = 15%
• $33,950 to 82,250 = 25%
• $82,250 to 171,550 = 28%
• 171,550 to 372,950 = 33%
• above 372,950 = 35%

Bottom line here is that our tax structure encourages investment/gambling on corporations for a living rather than working for a living. People like me are spending more and more time investing/gambling , in part because of the lower tax rates rather than working.

Bottom Line – This adds to the destruction of the work ethic in America . It also make the wealthy who own most stocks, (trust fund children, hedge fund managers, those in the ultra upper class) wealthier. Again the corporations win and working Americans loose.

Even Investors411 is kind of a Dr. Jekyll & Mr Hyde by offering investment/gambling advice while at the same time recognizing that we are all (as one of you put it) on the Titanic (perhaps a better name would be the Good Ship Democracy) rushing from one side to the other.

There is a quantum shift in that investment advice below

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!

Investors411 record – 5 years of beating benchmark S&P 500 and almost all major US indexes

Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

See Positions , Strategy , and Overview for changes made over weekend.

US stocks got toasted in HUGE volume – AGAIN – Technically – It’s starting to look like a market that is going elliptical to the downside  or a climax sell off. Four reasons were given for stocks big drop this week.

1. China – China was going to tighten credit and therefore growth would slow.  The BDI which measures the flow of goods, specially China imports shows no signs of collapsing  (see below)
2. Obama will go after shadow banks . If successful this would mean to big to fail firms like Goldman Sachs will be broken up into several pieces.  All the shadow banks can now (Supreme Court decision) spend whatever they want (including your tax dollars and the trillions that the Fed is loaning them at 0%) to prevent this.  It’s an election year and within the Obama administration Bernanke, Geithner & Larry Summers are solidly behind the too big to fail banks. Summers even helped to write the legislation that created shadow banks.
3. Bernanke will not get reappointed – Bernanke was one of the arsonist who brought the world to edge of an economic meltdown and one of the firemen to bail it out. If Bernake’s appointment goes down so will stocks. The uncertainty created by a new Fed chair would hurt stocks. But according to most reports Bernanke has won needed support over weekend .
4. There is no V shaped recovery – My best read of the tea leaves is they are right as far as the economy/jobs are concerned. But earnings reports are showing a lot more  big companies with international exposure are beating earnings on the top and bottom lines.

Relevant indexes

• McClellan Index ($NYMO) at -79.33 = significantly oversold .  Well beyond the  @-60 or oversold level.
• BDI -  The BDI/China has come down from highs in mid November. The Baltic Dry Sea Index has leveled off over the last month and started up the last two days.

Two events, outside of earnings which have been rather  good, significantly impact stocks - The Bernanke appointment (Tuesday) and Obama’s State of the Union (Wednesday)

Long term Outlook has changed to NEUTRAL because some key technical levels were broken in big volume.

Positions

The  Positions Section (also at top of blog) has the latest buys and sells (Usually updated over weekends)

These are positions I actually own

I’ve set up two charts. Put them on a split screen and compare. Both are 18 month charts McClellan Oscillator & the S&P 500 Notice that only 4 times in the last 18 month has the McClellan dropped below 80.  Each time it rebounded. It did reach @120 – 3 times  The Oct. 2008 meltdown, The March lows after the Obama election and a 6+% November correction .  3 times the McClellan has reached 80 and rebounded. Once it reached 100.

Bottom Line – chances are good we are going to see some sort of rebound this week. US markets are oversold and could go lower, but this looks like a good place to add 10 to 20% .  If McClellan goes lower (past 100) I’d add more. Fundamentally -  the situation is no where near as bad as it as at the beginning of 2009.  Working class American’s are going to suffer – but stocks with International exposure to emerging markets are going to flourish.

Everybody else is selling, now we start to buy.

SELLING & BUYING

More on exact buys and Sells on Monday.

See POSITIONS (scroll down) for details on this and what’s under consideration for 2010.

Long Term Outlook = NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Ben Bernanke

The NYT reports this AM that the Obama administration will keep Bernanke as Fed chair LINK Investors411 praised the choice of Bernanke as Fed chair & think its not a good idea to change horses in mid stream.

Bernanke shares some of the blame for allowing the financial meltdown, but not nearly as much as much as Greenspan . Greenspan in front of congress admitted his error.  He thought that the free markets could regulate themselves. Boy was he wrong .

As stated before a combination of the Fed chair and the Obama administration’s stimulus and loans have pulled the back from the edge of the economic cliff.

Official announcement at 9:00AM EST this AM.

Medicare, Social Security,& Health Care

These programs on the whole have been decently run by the federal government.  The problem is that post World War Two we had a population explosion called “the post war baby boom” That population explosion in the late 40’s and early 50’s is reaching maturity and will be using the assets in those programs. Thank God Lehman Brothers or the Free Market is not running these programs

The best proven  justification for a public health care option is all the other industrialized democracies (dozens) have voted to have public systems and none have voted to remove them. However American’s are so egocentric, that what generally works in other countries has less meaning here.

Economics 101 & the Recession

What the Fed and the administration have done is stimulate growth.  What they are trying to do is keep the growth alive and hope shadow banks can wind down debt. At this point, using stock prices as a measurement, this is working.  This argument is a gross oversimplification, but rally right now confirms this outlook.

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

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

This is a market that is overbought and ready to reverse itself.  The Bernanke news should be good news for stocks.  However markets that need a temporary reversal (overbought) and after the rally we should see some immediate selling.

Again, check out these financials – especially the huge volume. The one fundamental that is the driving force behind the stocks surging is financials – Lets take a look at the price charts worst of the worst.

• AIG
• C
• FNM

These are the companies (AIG, CitiGroup & Fannie Mae) that were among the leaders on the downside and the trend is clearly higher.  (See above editorial) The trend is your friend and let’s ride it.

——–

Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods by price (world trade) It looks like we could be forming another lower high and that would reinforce the mid term bearish pattern .  The BDI fell - 31 on Friday . We’ve again broken a support level and formed another lower low. The rat of decline is slowing, which means a reversal is coming. Unfortunately, we have created a lower low that confirms both the mid term trend. The mid term trend since early July is clearly bearish, with a series of lower lows and lower highs. @ 2298 is a major area of support and the BDI has fallen since early June from 4291 to 2468.  This is just 129 points away from a major support level.

In a nut shell the BDI is

• short term - Bearish pattern
  
• mid term -  Bearish pattern
• long term - Bullish pattern

Bottom Line – Mid term trend is not good for world markets, especially countries that rely on exports. exports

While this index does not have as immediate impact on stocks, as the Dollar does, it is very significant to long term worldwide economics.

——-

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

The dollar rose +0.25 % yesterday and, you guessed it, the stock rally stalled . The Dollar is in a range between $79.5 and $77.5 . A breakout to either side will seriously impact stocks. Dollar closed at $78.24. Its  major support level is @$77.5

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

A gradual reduction in the price of the dollar is part of the solution to global worldwide recession

This is the index to watch because its impact is immediate.

Positions

The whole Positions Section has been revised (Click on “Positions” at top of blog). Check it out

Investors411 will become more involved in the financial sector. – ETF’s – XLF. UGY (2x financials) & FAS (3X financials) Investors411 will also be taking profits in some.  – Even though its not a dip lets start small and reopen the  position in financials…. Up to 20% of portfolio

The Hedge – At one point we had almost a 5% gain in this position that hedge the NASDQ 100 against the S&P.  The growing trend in financials has wiped that all out.  Investors411 is closing this position because it looks like financials will continue to drive the S&P higher. Yesterday there were massive trades (again) in those financials (shadow banks) that needed the biggest bailouts.

Closing position for zero gain.

One very important rule in investing is don’t lose money.  Fundamentally this trade is turning sour.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

Investors411 on Hiatus for the Week

Will Return Aug 3rd.

Overwhelmed with business deadlines and grandkids so just a short overview today.

Health Care

The single best argument I’ve heard for Public Heath Care is virtually all other industrialized democracies have a public heath care plan of some sort. If these plans are so inferior why have the voters NOT changed back to a private  plans? These plans may not be great but they provided statistically verifiable better results at a cheaper price.

Many folks in every country can tell you some horror stories about their heath care plan. Like the 58 year old nurse in front of the US Congress last week. She was denied coverage for a double mastectomy because she had a skin rash some months previously. Even though her dermatologist (MD) pleaded that it had nothing to do with her breast cancer she was denied coverage.

We enjoy Harvard Community Health Plan. A plan that is constantly rated "best" or one of the best in the nation. The problem is it keeps going up in price 5 to 10% a year. Thank God I’ll be able to qualify for Medicare (public health care) in a few years, because the premiums are going through the roof.

If Republican’s and those who oppose change cared why did they do nothing over the entire course of the Bush administration?

NYT outlined some of the benefits that changing health care offers here

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

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

The NASDQ is the only major index significant multi day volume confirmation of its price move.

Earnings season begins to wind down. While many companies are increasing profits by cost cutting, there are some major companies that are actually increasing revenue and profits.  Intel started this ball rolling.

Off had, I do not remember US markets being this over bought.

Besides earnings here is one Business site on various positive indicators.

Bernanke has a Town Hall meeting (First time ever for Fed Chair) Defended stimulus package and unemployment peaks at @10% early next year.  If government had not interviened there would have been another great depression.

Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods (world trade) It looks like we could be forming another lower high and that would reinforce the mid term bearish pattern . The rate of decline flattened toward the end of the week. Bullish sign We have had a series of lower lows and lower highs since early June. We have a way to do before we establish a new low (see yesterday’s update).

In a nut shell the BDI is

• short term – Bullish pattern could be starting
  
• mid term -  Bearish pattern
• long term - Bullish pattern

.

$USD - The Dollar went down and tested its major support level all last week . The last remaining support level is the June lows at @78.4. The dollar index closed at 78.75 . Breaking this support would be very bearish for the dollar and bullish for stocks.

Fearless Forecast

The FF struck out last week. As Investors411 saw the rally taking a breather in the second half of the week. We rallied into the weekend. Technically conditions are still way overbought . So some kind of stabilization is predicted again this week. We are in a rally and this rally is now in danger of going elliptical. Up too far too fast. This would mean a big crash and burn.

The dollar slipping (closing) below $78.4 would certainly move stocks higher. Dollar at 78.46 this AM in pre market trading.

Buy the dips of trending sectors.

Positions

The whole Positions Section has been revised (Click on "Positions" at top of blog). Check it out

Buy the dips of recommended ETF’s (see Positions)

Hopefully you were "stopped out" of the suggested FAS short position. (see Wednesday’s Update) If not tighten stops. Consider EWY (South Korea) on dip.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

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

Debt/Globalization

Debt is  bad. Globalization, and economic planing has led some countries to grow and others to suffer. Take a look at China and South Korea . Their managed economies (as opposed to our free market economy) have prospered over the last decade and continue to have stock markets that that are outperforming ours again this year.  In both these countries you see 10’s of millions of people who tended rice paddies a generation ago becoming the computer programmers and manufacturers of today.

These economies severely restricted their imports and benefited from other countries going into debt buying their exports. – part of globalization and managed capitalism. The USA went trillions of dollars into debt buying their products ( add some other countries especially those that sold oil) over the 8 year Bush administration.

Some companies and wealthy individuals grew rich in the USA as we personally and as a government fell further into debt running our unregulated free market system. This all collapsed when adding to this debt we discovered that shadow financial institutions were running a giant ponzi scheme of fake profits called credit default swaps on home mortgages, and other forms of credit.

Baddaboom, we almost had a world wide economic meltdown when just one shadow bank, Lehman Brothers,  collapsed. The cumulative debt hole is enormous.

Historically, in good times and wars (Iraq) you are supposed to pay down debt. We didn’t.

Historically in bad times you stimulate the economy and this does add to debt. We are.  The problem is that we re already up to our necks in debt. This debt was is not as bad as the debt that flatlined the world’s #2 economy for over a decade, but its very bad. To this you add a shrinking work base caused by globalization.

The real problem is we are sending more of our citizens to the rice paddies (unemployment) and our companies to maximize their profits send jobs overseas. This is one major part of the globalization mega trend.

We have fortunately seen a decrease in job loss since January from about 700,000+ in January to 500,000+ now. A good trend, but still a big loss. When many small companies reaches a certain size, (let’s guess 50 people)  they realize that everything from bookkeeping to information technology can be done for a cheaper price abroad. Where are the new jobs going to come from?

So simply as an Investment adviser – You’re far better off with economically growing managed capitalism rather than debt ridden free market of the USA – This is why Investors411 has a record of beating the S&P 500 . Why FXI, EWZ, EWS , and other managed economies are better investment choices.

The catch 22 – Of course, the more a US company outsources the better it will do (cheaper labor cuts cost), but the greater unemployment here will grow here

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

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

The leading NASDQ again moved higher in increased volume. Even though it was not above average volume, the increase coupled with the break down of the dollar (-o.84% )(see below) is bullish for stocks.

Other major indexes have reached new closing highs, but have NOT had as much volume behind their moves higher.

Obviously US markets are now overbought and need a breather

Bernanke reports to the House today and the Senate tomorrow.

Whole bunch of companies reporting this AM. These fundamentals will drive stocks. Merck , DuPont, Coke , UTX. & Caterpillar all seem to have better than expected earnings. So many major S&P companies are hitting doubles triples and home runs. Rally is on again

Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods (world trade) It looks like we could be forming another lower high and that would reinforce the mid term bearish pattern. The BDI turned lower yesterday and the short term bullish pattern is getting wiped out. Longer term this is not good for the global recession recovery. BDI at 3511 and 2975 is the line in the sand support level that must hold . So no reason to throw in the towel yet but Bears are gaining momentum

In a nut shell the BDI is

• short term - Bullish
  
• mid term -  Bearish pattern
• long term - Bullish pattern
  

$USD - The Dollar broke down through support levels yesterday . Down a significant-0.84% . The last remaining support level is the June lows at @78.4. The dollar index closed at 78.87 . The dollar goes down usually = stocks gold and oil prices rise. This contributed to yesterday’s rally. Obviously this is bearish for the dollar, but Bullish for US stocks. (not small but important one word change – this is bullish for US stocks in the short/mid term)

That 78.4 support level is very important.  A weak dollar does have its downside, but it certainly fueled the last rally stocks had this spring.

Positions

The whole Positions Section has been revised (Click on "Positions" at top of blog). Check it out

QLD – (2X what the NASDQ 100 does) which was bought at 38.2 was sold at 41.1 for a 7+% gain yesterday.  Why be greedy? We added a lot of positions last week. (QLD, IFN, EWZ, EWS ) Time to take profits on one.  Will buy back in on another dip. Taking profits now looks like a mistake . If the dollar keeps breaking down OLD will keep going up.

IFN - (India) The technicals behind this trade are just not as good at all the other trades. India has not broken out to a higher high and developed a series of lower highs and lower lows. Going to take profits. – Will put in what’s called a stop sell order (send me an email if you do not understand this)  Looking at S Korea (EWY ) as a better foreign investment.

Another reason to sell India is the BDI seems to be establishing a bearish pattern. (see above)

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

140+ Dead in Demonstrations in China

You’ll here a lot more about Iran, but the Muslim minority has demonstrated or rioted (depends on which side your on as to which term is correct) in a far western Chinese Provence. The BBC headline story here

China owns a huge part of our debt and we need her cheaper goods. Will condemnation here be as great as Iran or hypocritically silent?

Biden – We “Misread”  Problems

Photos – Huffington post

Since last fall Investors411 has continuously repeated “The problem in the financial sector is far far far far far bigger than fist imagined. Impact of this mess is going to take years to resolve.” See positions section of blog.

Investors411 continually cited a significant group of economic thinkers who clearly demonstrated just how bad the economic problem was. Investors411 also criticized Larry Summers and the economic crew of the Obama administration.

The only good news is they finally woke up and smelled the coffee . Tax cuts good, Stimulus plan good but way too back ended (only 10% spent so far) The same problems that led to the financial meltdown are still out there. Yes, we’ve moved back from the edge of the cliff and everyone starting with Paulson, Bernanke and Geithner do deserve some credit by throwing the car they were driving into reverse as we approached the cliff.

However Greenspan, expanding deficits, wars, housing and unregulated capitalism have created a massive economic black hole. Short term stimulus usually worked as a solution in the past. The problem here, besides the holes massive depth, is the accumulated debt was already humongous. Biden’s admonition of misreading economic crisis here

For in depth previous prediction and solutions see Overview section of blog.

Iran (Week 4)

Huffington Post’s Nico Pitney’s daily blogging on events here

There has been one group of cleric’s come out in support of demonstrators and he wonders what’s happened to the head religious leader in Iraq – Sistani. He supported democracy for Iraq, but has remained silent on Iran

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Investors411 record – 4 1/2 years of beating benchmark S&P 500 (see results at 6/25-scrolldown)

Technicals and Fundamentals

A huge price decline, but again in weak declining volume Friday. How markets react to news is just behind Volume as a prediction tool. In this case it was the Unemployment figures that sparked the fall are lagging indicators.  Therefore, the huge downside reaction is way more than expected = Bearish.

The lack of volume still troubling factor. – One things for sure-money on the sidelines is staying here. Its hard to make a long term forecast with volume as a confirming factor. Weakly forecast below.

Earnings season begins next week. Historically, this week companies that are not going to do well warn – this is bearish

Oil futures are way down this AM trading at $63.88 at 7:15 EST. = Bearish

Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

Note - Repeated statements in brown.

These are important forecasting tolls, but secondary to volume .

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods (world trade) . BDI fell sharply Friday.  This index is winding up like a spring, within a consolidation pattern and is close to a downside breakout (3452 is breakdown point and index closed at 3529)  See chart  Watch out! Long term Bullish rise from bottom, but coiling right now for next move . Potential bearish breakdown possible this week

$USD - The Dollar rose 0.74 % . The strong inverse correlation between the dollar and stocks has existed for many moons. Market. Dollar up = markets down. That’s just what happened Friday Long term Bearish pattern for Dollar that is consolidating pattern now (neutral) = Bullish for stocks

Fearless Weekly Forecast – Last week Broke Investors411 winning streak of forecasts for the week  as US markets fell on some bad consumers confidence and unemployment data. Momentum is with the Bears as we enter earning season. Check out all the red bearish signs above.

The S&P resistance level (@875 & SPX now at 896 )  should at least get challenged, especially in the beginning of the week. Watch BDI. Forecast – Bears Rule

Back to CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH outlook. This is in anticipation of a further breakdown of the BDI and S&P 500.

NB – Volume has confirmed nothing. So confidence in above predictions is a bit shaky.

Our Positions . -  China, Brazil, & India (FXI, IFN & EWZ )(Partial list)

Unlike the USA that has seen two economic bubbles burst housing and financials these growing countries have been relatively less impacted. The decline in trade with US is going to impact all 3.  China and India have positive GDP’s predicted for the year and resource rich Brazil’s GDP is predicted to be close to zero. The World Bank predictes a -2.9% loss of GDP for the rest of the world..predicts a-2.9% loss of GDP for the rest of the world.. For more see Positions section of Investors 411.

Recommendations – Investors has a very big position FXI a very small position in IFN , and a closed position in EWZ .  Again see Positions section of blog. Short term traders might want to take some profits in FIX and both traders and investors  should look at possible “buy the dips” opportunities that should emerge this week or next in IFN & EWZ .

More tomorrow

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Iran Day 11

Iranian protestors – Photo from Andrw Sullivan blog

Neda Agha-Soltan has become the hero of the Iranian revolution from American media (LA Times here ) to Arab media here In fact al Jazeera has a whole section devoted to "Iran in Crisis" here Al Jazeera is an outlet for mostly Arab Sunni’s and Iran is Persian Shia’s. No love lost between these two groups. You heard and saw Neda’s story at Investors 411 3 days ago.

More of the same in Iran. Less on street demonstrators and more violence. Previously listed best  sources are still telling the story to the world. Some predictions from BBC – What’s next for Iran here

One issue that many on the far left are not going to like to hear. Israe l has certainly made mistakes in its two recent wars with Iran and her proxies (Hamas & Hezbollah). But seeing how the Iran’s "Supreme Leader" treats his own people you can see how hard it is to make some peace with him or his clients. Of course, the first the recognize and lavishly praise Ahmadinejad’s & "Supreme Leader’s" victory was Hamas (here) and Hezbollah (here )

Barack "Hoover" Obama?

Yesterday Abby posted an article by Kevin Baker on Obama from Harper’s magazine. Unfortunately you have to be a subscriber to reference the article. You can view some excerpts here The focus is that Obama has not and may not be able to change the strong intrenched interest that created the economic mess we are now in. President Hoover (his picture above) did nothing and the Great Depression grew.

Context We tore down the regulations on "free" markets and developed a massive credit debt over the last decade that has exploded. Yes, Paulson, Bernanke (more the previous Fed chair Greenspan) and Bush were leaders in creating this mess, but late last year when we stood on the edge of economic catastrophe they (PB & B) instituted a plan and prevented world economies from falling off a cliff. Bernanke, Geithner & Obama have followed through and added to that plan

Remember Lehman Brothers cause over $400+ billion dollars of debt to spread throughout the world when it went bankrupt. People were lined up in panic at insurance companies and banks. What if AIG, CitiBank, Merrill Lynch Fannie, Freddie. AIG and so many others had followed Lehman. The end result would have rippled through out the system and economic catastrophe would have been the result.

How Obama handles the economy is priority #1. Because it is the world’s economy and he is easily the most important/influencial figure. Unlike Hoover whose inaction significantly added to the Great Depression Obama has acted. But its those entrench interests that have dug in. Time will tell.

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

-

Technicals & Fundamentals

US markets took a major hit on a bad economic forecast from the World Bank.

The volume was again below average. It hard to be sure about making a forecast when our #1 forecasting tool – volume – gives no indication of which way prices will flow.

Major event – Fed Meets today and issues statement on Wednesday

Yesterday’s major event was The World’s Bank lowered its outlook for the world’s economy this year from -1.7% to -2.9% .  This is some truly bad new s for long term investors.

Since volume is out as a forecasting tool right now, today’s price move will act as a confirmation of yesterday’s move. Do we fall further (bearish) or rebound (bullish)?

Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

Note - Repeated statements in brown

Right now, there are two indexes that are significantly influencing stocks in the USA & world. The US dollar in the short term and the BDI in the longer term

$USD -  The dollar is the index to watch. Dollar went up +0.57% yesterday. Any move over 0.50 is significant.  It looks like the dollar may be establishing a short term bullish pattern (see chart)  of higher highs and higher lows. Still to early to tell.

All together now -  our mantra – when the dollar goes up stocks go down . This strong inverse correlation has existed for many moons.

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods (world trade). 24 up days in a row, 6 down day in a row,  a 6 day rally and the BDI fell minimally on Friday and significantly yesterday. This is a very important chart that has just rolled over. It usually moves in one direction for an extended period of time.  If it moves past and creates a lower low than it had eight days ago it would be a serious sign of trouble Right now, the momentum is with the bears.

If trade is diminishing through out the world then a worldwide recovery is in big trouble.

You can play with the chart and create different settings to get a better idea of what’s happening, (the same with all other links to different charts)

Reading the Tea Leaves

Still think this market has moved too high to fast and is a technical rebound. As stated two weeks ago we may see a 5 to 10% technical fall or consolidation. This week fearless forecast – Another down to flat week. The benchmark S%P 500 has already broken through support and fallen 6 to 7% from its high to  893. Next significant support level is 875 to 880. As stated above volume is NOT confirming (or has yet to confirm) the downside move. So far this still is a technical correction of a market that went too high too fast.

Both the dollar and the BDI have started to trend in the wrong direction (If you’re a bull on stocks) Add the World’s Bank prediction and you have lots of reason to hear the bear’s growl.

Got burned with this the last time I did this, but buying a little protection on any minor rally. Adding small position in SDS (ETF that does 2X the opposite of the S&P 500)

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Pakistan the epicenter of terrorism – Wins one for Democracy.  Are stocks on a bull run or a dead cat bounce?; AIG – Follow the money.  Are We All Socialists Now? The financial channel ducks and covers. An uplifting  comment/story by Stewart E. – about hanging together in tough economic times.

Pakistan Wins One for Democracy

The lawyers and opposition leaders “Long March” to have the Supreme Court Chief who was ousted under the former dictator seems to have won a major victory. It was bloody, but the  government caved in as police/army refused to keep beating the demonstrators and Mr Chaundhry (former chief justice) was reinstated. For more see NYT or Times of India

__________

AIG – Follow The Money

We’ve shoveled $180 billion into AIG to keep he worlds entire financial system from going under. Yet we still can’t find out exactly where the money has gone. No one talked – For five months everyone’s lips have been wired shut. – the company, the Bush administration, the Obama administration  & the Fed. See NYT Saturday editorial

The icing on this toxic cake is the crooks at AIG are being given $165 million dollar bonuses (a “contractual obligation”) including the small division that traded credit default swaps and sunk the company. More from Financial Post

AIG caved yesterday to all the pressure and listed most of the companies who it owed $ to. Hint – the trading of toxic, over leveraged debt with these other mega crooks. Opps, my mistake they are called financial companies. Check out the list or crooks here 

They haven’t caved on the bonuses yet.

__________

CNBC Ducks and Covers 

After heavily promoting the Jon Stewart/Jim Cramer smackdown. Not a word could be found about it  on CNBC financial channels or blog. Further indication of just how badly Cramer did and how mad  common folks are at the”Fast Money” financial news network. Here’s the LINK to the original Stewart shot across the bow. 

_________

Are we All Socialist’s Now?

Over the last 4 decades the far right has hammered Americans with how poor our government does thing vs. the wonders unregulated capitalism.

The answer to them is take a look at the socialist systems of public eduction, police departments, fire departments post offices, and libraries. Do you really think AIG, GM Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers would have done a better job?

What would have happened if Social Security had been tied to the stock market?

We’re not socialists, but Americans are waking up to the fact that unregulated capitalism is a huge rip off, and government is the only institution strong enough to regulate it.

__________

Solutions

In the comments section (on right side of blog) you’ll find a comment and a story  submitted by Stewart E. who notes “we are all in this together” The story about Beth Israel hospital and how they are handling the recession. It’s author or a “A Head with a Heart.” is Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullin

________

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

-

-

Another Shoe Drops

Remember the wealthy wife of Philippines Dictator Ferdinand Marcos – Imelda?  Well she truly loved shoes.   The above is a photo of a very minor potion of Imelda’s collection.

Imelda is no longer with us, but her shoes are raining down on Wall Street in increasing numbers every day. It’s not just the other shoe that’s falling but  but a symphony of shoes that are hitting their marks each day and destroying what’s left of the non transparent American Financial system.

__________

Bernanke and the Shoes

Smoke was coming out of the Fed chairs ears as he angrily denounced AIG in front of a congressional committee. AIG is an Insurance company that was running an (unregulated) “hedge” fund according to Bernake . We gave these crooks another $30 billion because the collapse of the company (shares now worth $0.42) would devastate the world’s financial system. Yahoo news on Bernanke: Bail Out Bad Borrowers Too

__________

Imelda’s revenge

The shoes are not only clobbering their targets – other companies that ran similar “hedge” funds full of over leveraged toxic assets – but are also hurting the entire world. AIG has tanked. Citigroup is 27 cents away from becoming a stock counted in pennies. GE down over 95% from highs. Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and the other “usual suspects” stock and bond prices are disintegrating. XLF (the Financial market basket of good and bad financial companies) has fallen from 30 to under 7 within a year and many stock markets all over the world hit new lows yesterday.

_________

Senator Bernie Sanders and the Shoes

Vermonters love their independent (socialist) Senator. Here’s why – Sanders to Bernanke – Tell us what banks have sought bailout money. Bernanke – We have a new web site… Sanders again – tell us what banks. Bernanke NO. Sanders dropped a shoe on more than Bernake

__________

Why are Bernanke Obama and Geithner’s lips sealed?

First any bank that has taken bailout money is likely (like AIG and CitiGroup) to keep asking for more. Who knows how vast the “hedge” fund trading or toxic debt is?  It’s all hidden.  Therefore, the shoes keep falling and the markets keep melting down.  If the government & companies exposed the facts investors would realize the dreaded N word – Nationalization – would get used. These stocks would fall off a cliff and the markets would take a big hit. So we keep dying a death of a thousand cuts from falling shoes and the market slowly melts down. Which is worse?

Stop hiding the facts. Take the hit. Stop the shoes. Let’s start fixing the financial problem.

__________

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

Stocks

-

-

Technicals & Fundamentals

We did NOT get the predicted oversold bounce yesterday. Instead markets consolidated in declining volume. Perhaps we’ll get some sort of over sold bounce today, but more and more its looking like the short term momentum is totally owned by the bears. 

The benchmark S&P 500 closed below 700 yesterday. These round numbers are support levels. So another support barrier fell. 

Reading the tea leaves – Until there is clarity in the financial sector (see above) stocks have little chance of sustaining a rally.

Major fundamental for the week is the monthly jobs report on Friday.

How will you know when there’s a chance for a sustainable rally? When there’s bad news and the market’s ignore it or even better – move higher on negative news.

Long Term Outlook = BEARS RULE

See STRATEGY, POSITIONS, OVERVIEW  & ARCHIVES sections of blog for more

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!