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The China Trend

Pew Dec 9th 2009 poll showed American’s believe China is more powerful economically than the USA. 44% of Americans believe China is “larger economically.” It’s NOT, by a wide margin, but its growing a whole lot faster.

Perception is often far more influential than reality. Threat’s why our culture spins & manufactures the news instead of reporting it. Bottom line here is China sneezes and the rest of the world will catch a cold. They used to say this about the USA, but times are changing.

There is one major problem in China’s future and that is when will China’s housing bubble burst? When this happens everything from politics to economics across the world will take a hit.

The good news is there has not been shadow bank massive over leveraging of China’s housing problem.

The bad news is 65 million new vacant apartments and the above housing graph. For more see this LINK

Bottom Line – When this bubble bursts everything from stocks, politics, employment, to even your houses value will feel the impact.  This is the #1 DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER DANGER that hangs over the world’s economy today. You could argue that  a phony opaque financial system is a bigger bubble, but that’s hidden from the perception of most Americans.

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!

Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

Investors411 record – 5 years of beating benchmark S&P 500

Same Mantra for the month -The Black Box/High Frequency Traders BB/HFT control the majority of trades. Paul R in the comments section has found a great source describing the BB/HFT traders and consequences of what they do.

“Stock futures retreated Tuesday (today) as investors grew a little more cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s meeting and after China’s economy showed some signs of slowing down.” – from AP

If your an Investors411 reader, you know the BDI dropped 60% over the last 3 months – Of course China’s imports dropped. However we have seen a recovery over the last two weeks in the BDI.

Significant Indexes

• The Dollar rose a heathy +0.38% on Friday. Now sitting again directly on its support level = Neutral
• The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) is accelerated its move  higher = Bullish
• McClellan Index – (MO) Check out the link to the new chart. Lots more data. [Basically longer term  - the rough guideline is over +60 = overbought market = sell or short stocks & -60 = oversold market = buy stocks.] MO rose to +40.12 = Neutral

Reading Tea Leaves

From Yesterday – “There is a 5 week bullish trend. Benchmark S&P 500 at 1121 and every stock analyst watching the resistance levels around 1130.”  Yesterday the S&P closed at 1127.79.

Yesterday was “Magic Monday” where the breakout was supposed to happen. It didn’t and that’s probably going to make the BB/HFT traders anxious.  We tested the 1130 SPX number and the Bearish algorithms of the BB/HFT’s kicked in.

May be wrong, but yesterday sure looked like a day that the bulls legs got weary.

I’ve mentioned “wiggle room” for the MO in the past week or so of up dates. This exists still on the upside, but it comes more into play if the bulls are in charge. The distance to the downside (-60 is a lot further away than +6o) for the MO at +40.12 is far greater

Short term traders who are experienced could trade the wiggle room, but long term investors simply wait for an MO below -60. Be patient it will come.

Positions

The  Positions Section link to latest & former buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own

Current positions .

• EWZ (Brazil – 10% of portfolio position) Bought at 69.80. Currently at 71.12. – 3 times its been up close to 4% in the last few trading days, but has failed to make the 5% profit figure originally projected to take profits. Sold 1/2 for 71.22 yesterday for a measly +2% profit. There is still some hope of building the remaining EWZ into a long term position, but its fading.
• TYH (3x technology – 2% of portfolio position) Bought at 31.76 Currently at 32.26 Considering selling this position ASAP

In trading, one major key is to cut any potential loss and let your winners ride.

Long Term Outlook - NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

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Bulls & Bears

The case for a rising or falling stock (not economics) market

The Bears

• At best unemployment in the USA has stabilized around 9.5%. The stimulus that has caused the reversal will soon run out and employment will grow.
• Housing prices have at best stabilized. 90+% of mortgages are now in some way backed by the US government  (Fannie & Freddie)
• Not only is the middle class in the USA shrinking, most people are saving more than they used to. Money flows are therefore diminishing.
• The European bank stress test was at a best a PR exercise. US banks are not loaning like they used to. They’d rather make more profit in other areas and are still in after shock from the original crisis.
• European Union with the world’s largest GDP, has many shattered economies (PIIGS &  Eastern Europe) and the others are no better off than the USA.
• The US has an exploding military budget $1,003,000,000,000 ($1.03 trillion) last year. If you count all our military expenditures it is over 60% of the world’s military budget.
• Iraq ’s March elections created a stalemate with no government. The two leading candidates lavishing praising Hezbollah’s founding ayatollah and meeting/praising  Sadr (anti American ayatollah in self imposed exile in Iran) to beg he joins their side in new government.
• Afghanistan – WikiLeaks has just released 90,000 documents showing “devastating portrait of the failing war.”
• China, the leading emerging market has a housing bubble.
• Stocks are overbought according to the MO (see below)

The Bulls

• The dollar is falling and close to breaking out of chart pattern to downside. Lower dollar = higher US stocks because US goods will cost less overseas.
• Oil prices near breakout to new 3 month highs. Higher oil shows greater consumption = bullish, but not if you’re a consumer.
• Shipping prices have rebounded and are moving higher. See BDI below.
• According to International Energy Agency China surpassed the USA in energy consumption in 2009.
• Most US companies that reported better than expected profits cited emerging markets (China specifically) as where they were growing the fastest and creating jobs.
• China will spend $738 billion over the next decade on clean energy. = growth. The USA can’t get a weak climate or energy bill passed congress.
• Unless you want to invest in some European bonds (example Greece) there is almost nowhere to go besides stocks to get more than a couple % growth for your $.
• Black Box/High Frequency Traders dominate the market and they are ONLY concerned about short term results. They can go long or short.
• Weak banking reform means shadow banks can again get over leveraged.= more profits=higher stock prices till another crash.

I’m sure I missed some. To see the positions Investor’s411 is taking see Positions below and also click on POSITIONS at top of blog.

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!

Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

Investors411 record – 5 years of beating benchmark S&P 500

Mantra -The Black Box/High Frequency Traders control the vast majority of trades.

The NASDQ volume was slightly above average, but the other major indexes had a typical light volume rally that has become the norm for the Black Box traders that control the markets.

News on the earnings week ahead

Significant Indexes-

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) rose dramatically to +79.48 [+60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy]. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO) LINK. –  & Investopedia on –  How the MO works. 79.25 = BEARISH
• US Dollar –  The dollar  fell  -0.16% yesterday [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] The dollar/stocks relationship is strong – Dollar up = stocks down and visa versa. The Black Box traders, have used the inverse relationship of the dollar as a key part of their trading system. At bottom of trading range. = Neutral/Bullish
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped = Bullish. Also, good proxy of China.) BDI was in free fall from a high of @4200 to 1700 . This was a huge -60% drop in 8 weeks is very bearish Often a leading indicator for stocks. Here’s a 3 year chart of BDI for context. The BDI has staged a 6 day +7% rally and is at 1826 = bullish

Reading Tea Leaves-

The McClellan Oscillator at +79.46 shows stocks as being overbought. I’d be just a little more cautious about using short ETF’s too early because of the strong bullsh sentiment right now among Black Box traders. But, its clearly time to think about using those ETF’s that short major indexes. Click on POSITION at top of blog for more info.

The MO has not been above 80 since the big spring rally in April of 2009 – then it reached @ 105. In early Jan. of 2009 it did reach 120.

Positions

The  Positions Section link to latest & former buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own

Updated over weekends Investors411 holds ONE position in SDS at this time

Strategy – From Thursday - The same as before - If/as US major indexes become more overbought the more ETF’s that sort the market will be purchased. Starting out with SH. Then the higher above 60 the MO goes, the more SDS (200% short the S&P 500) and other even 300% short ETF’s will be used the higher the MO goes.  See POSITIONS section at top of blog for more. Therefore what is happening is a series of trades (Short ETF’s) the more overbought the market becomes.

The same entry/exit strategy applies. Considering dropping exit/entry point to 4 instead of 5%. See Friday’s Investors411 for more. The following trades were made Friday.

• SH (ETF that shorts the S&P 500) was sold for 51.26 – a -2% loss. The other 1/2 of SH was sold earlier for a 3% gain
• SDS (ETF the shorts the S&P 500 at 200%) was bought at 32.50 Nibbled with just a 2% of portfolio position.

Reasoning - The majority of technical analysts seem to be bullish, the BDI has reversed its 8 week fall & the dollar is right at its major support level.Therefore they may be room for 3 week bull rally may continue. We could reach a high above 100 on the MO. However the MO chart has not gone over +80 (where it is now) since April of 2009. Translation – There is some greater risk in this trade than if we had long term bearish outlook. However the more overbought thing get the safer the trade.

Longer term investors may want to wait to see of the MO goes up another 20 points before nibbling. Please recognize that right now this looks like it may only be  a trade  and NOT a long term investment

EWZ (Brazil) an ETF Investors411 owned for years is again outperforming and is a buy the dip opportunity.

GLD – (Gold) has come down off its high and any further dip Investors411 will buy.

The Long Term Outlook has been changed to NEUTRAL from Cautiously Bearish As explained/predicted Friday, the benchmark S&P 500 broke through the first of 4 different resistance levels. Another 3% move higher and the remaining 3 levels will fall.

Long Term Outlook – NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

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Apple

Once again AAPL has hit a grand slam for is earning report. Apple is the 800 lbs. gorilla in the room and probably now beats out Exxon as the world’s #1 company. It is also the company most responsible for keeping the worlds economy afloat.

Their major new growth is, of course, in emerging markets. So Apple to meet the demand has to hire new workers? Guess where 100,000 new jobs were recently added? CHINA

Intel co founder Andy Grove has correctly identified the problem and calls it “scaling.”  Apple is simply opening outlets where the new growth is fastest and the labor by far is cheapest. Any US start up when it comes time for major production is going to do the same. It the mega trend of globalization at work.

John S writes in the comments section – “Perhaps as a country we’ve missed the boat.” He may be right. It is almost impossible to reverse this mega trend of globalization. But we can at least try to make a difference and lives better for our fellow Americans.

The progression goes like this.

• Globalization makes moneyed class in America rich.
• Jobs go abroad.
• USA – middle class suffers.
• Corporations gain power in USA and average Americans loose power (democracy)
• Chinese, one party state (oligarchy/dictatorship) gains power over both American companies (think Google) and its people the more it grows economically.
• US becomes more dependent on China economically.

Flying above the 800 lbs gorilla is the 1,400,000,000 people Chinese Dragon. We should be teaching Chinese in all our schools to get ready for the future.

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!

Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

The High Frequency/Black Box traders turned an almost -1.5% loss into a gain  of +0.75% yesterday. Volume was again , below average.

Fundamentals were bad – GS, IBM & TXN had disappointing earning, & economic news was not good. Yet the markets rallied on the bad news all day & into the close = Bullish

AAPL hit another  earnings grand slam after the market closed yesterday. Up +2.57% yesterday and was up over 4% in post market trading last night. = Bullish

Bottom Line –  High Frequency/Black Box trades that make up the majority of trades on US stock markets have shattered many former rules of traditional technical analysis. What used to happen is a week now takes place in a few hours in significantly lighter volume. Some conclusions

• The MO has basically worked as a predictive tool. +/-60 is not the exact overbought/oversold level market turn, but a useful rough guideline for when to be long or short.
• The Black Boxes, because of their size, stick to trading ETF’s and major liquid stocks. AAPL is their darling.
• At different time the algorithms Black Boxes use change.  Example – The religiously followed the dollar for weeks then switched away.

Significant Indexes-

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) rose to +49.90 [+60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy]. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO) LINK. –  & Investopedia on –  How the MO works. = NEUTRAL
• US Dollar –  The dollar  rose +0.28% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] The dollar is important  to stocks – Dollar up = stocks down and visa versa. The Black Box traders, have used the inverse relationship of the dollar as a key part of their trading system. Earning have trumped this indicator for now & we have consolidated for last two days. = NEUTRAL
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped = Bullish. Also good proxy of China.) BDI is in free fall from a high of @4200 to 1761 . This is a huge -59% drop in 8weeks.  Often a leading indicator for stocks. Here’s a 3 year chart of BDI for context. The BDI rose for the first time in 8 weeks the BDI rose Friday.  Last two days also saw small rallies. At long last the BDI seems to be finding a bottom - a bullish sign, but still too early to tell. Fundamentally the -59% drop is very BEARISH

Reading Tea Leaves-

The MO is again approaching oversold territory. It is the currently the most significant of the indicators considered.

Positions

The  Positions Section link to latest & former buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own

Updated over weekends Investors411 holds ONE position at this time

From Monday – “SH – The ETF that shorts the S&P 500 was bought at 51.45… 1/2 of SH was sold for 53.02 for +3% profit.  Letting the rest ride and will sell when conditions on MO near oversold.” The stop/loss on SH was removed and replaced at @3% below what it was bought for 49.95.

As the MO approaches oversold territory will again consider ETF’s that short the market.

Strategy - The same as before – as US major indexes become more overbought the more ETF’s that sort the market will be purchased. Starting out with SH. Then the higher above 60 the MO goes, the more SDS (200% short the S&P 500) and other even 300% short ETF’s will be used the higher the MO goes.  See POSITIONS section at top of blog for more.

You’re happy to be in cash if you’re an Investor411 reader and waiting to deploy that cash when the opportunity arises. We’re starting to get close, but how bad will the bears bite?

Fat Cat Shadow Banks Kick Ass

You’d think congress would be all for a tax on the biggest shadow banks, but Republican’s (perhaps led by my Senator Scott Brown) objected. The $19 billion dollar tax on shadows and hedge funds got taken out of Fin/Reg bill. Now who pays if one of these giants goes down? YOU

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

Mantra for week - ” Any analysis of stocks has become an analysis of what the ”Black Boxes” of  huge institutions with their high frequency trades & computer algorithms are doing.” They make up 80% of trading and right now the huge currency markets are dictating their moves.

The last major support level gave way on the benchmark S&P 500 around 3:00 PM EST Only the Russell 2000 (small cap stocks) remains above this years low. = Bearish

Analysis – Double Dip Recession Fear Grows

• EU & GB (Obama was NOT on board with this) want to raise taxes and cut spending – This is exactly what Herbert Hover did to cut the deficit and led to the Great Depression. Combined EU alone has bigger GDP than USA so this is significant.
• BDI falling off a cliff. Now a -42% decline in world trade prices also indicates the worlds engine of growth emerging markets (China & India lead the pack) in decline. This translates into falling GDP’s for emerging markets. Jim Cramer dismissed this index on his TV show last nigh – He’s wrong.
• USA fixation on cutting deficits (tea party patriots) and not fixing transparency and over leveraging problems. We are not out of the recession woods our focus should still be jobs, jobs, jobs.

Paul R in comments section has a list of  some support levels of the benchmark S&P 500.

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) fell to -50.77 [+60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy]. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO) LINK. –  & Investopedia on –  How the MO works. In May the MO reached two lows – one at -120 and the other close to -130. Therefore, potential for more downside risk. = Still NEUTRAL, but approaching oversold
• US Dollar –  The dollar fell a marginal yesterday -0.12% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important Dollar up = stocks down and visa versa. Both stocks and dollar going down together = Bearish
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped = Bullish. Also good proxy of China) BDI is in free fall from a high@4200 to  24o6 yesterday.(2447 to 2406 yesterday) This is a huge -42% drop in 6 weeks.  Often a leading indicator for stocks. Here’s a week+ old chart of BDI showing broken support levels =Bearish

Positions

The  Positions Section = latest buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own – Updated over weekends

Have not yet had a chance to Update over last 2 weekend but there are NO positions held at this time.

Hold your “I wanna invest” horses. The MO is not even at - 60 yet. Just because we are all in cash (some of you still have SDS (Double short the S&P 500) lets not jump in head first when we cross the -60 oversold threshold. Reasons

• Technically – the MO reached over -120 in May
• Never make all or nothing investments enter them gradually.
• The BDI did hesitate a bit but is still in free fall -42%
• S&P is now down @-15% from high and when that happens -20% becomes more likely than not.

These red flags exist. But below -60 is a place to start nibbling on those ETF’s/Stocks that have held up better than their peers. The lower the MO goes the better. Today some ETF’s that are doing better that US markets.

• EWZ (Brazil) still about 10% from this years low.
• EWC (Canada) Like Brazil energy rich and above this years low.
• EWA (Australia) Common theme with above – higher beta, energy rich, above this year’s low.
• EWS (Singapore) Trade hub, China play – rallied yesterday despite US decline.
• FXI (China) Old favorite like EWZ has made us $$$ in the past.
• There are sectors within the USA that are holding up better than major indexes like Health Care Products, Paper, Drugs, Airlines etc. But their outperformance level is not as great as some foreign countries right now.
• GLD &  DGP (2X gold) continues to be the #1 buy the dip play – Irrelevant of MO.

Another 100 point drop in the Dow should bring us close to -6o on the MO and the least risk averse could nibble a wee bit. I’ll wait for a bit bigger fall.

Caution – Major US and most world indexes have formed bearish patterns of lower highs and lower lows. Therefore, chances are that when Investors ’s411 buys we will only hold for a week or two. You can hope for more.

Long Term Outlook =CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

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The Big Picture

See OVERVIEW section of blog. There are three major economic mega trends (globalization, peak oil, spread the wealth) being impacted by “casino capitalism” where huge over leveraged, unregulated, opaque, worldwide, financial institutions are allowed to exist that privatize gains and socialize risk.

What you’re watching unfold broadly is an economic restructuring and downturn, & specifically a stock meltdown. The STRATEGY section of the blog opens with the statement – The problem in the financial sector is far far far far far bigger than first imagined. Impact of this mess is going to take years to resolve. All of this was written 1 to 3 years ago.

Globally, the economic growth rate (GDP) is declining, and it’s beginning to look like even emerging markets (China) that have benifited from globalization have begun to falter. Stocks are a bit different, they can be held up by smoke & mirrors (fear & greed)

The bottom line – The more you have a working and growing middle class and upward mobility  the better off the country, countries or planet. The more you have hidden wealth, opaque institutions and a rising oligarch the worse off the planet.

Remember -Oligarchies can take many forms – Monopolies, Politburos, religiouous fundamentalist, corporate, military dictatorships, supposed democracies, etc. – but  the more you confine wealth/power to a few the plant suffers.

* The above photo was from an organization that promotes big picture books. The kind that my grand daughter loves. It has nothing to do with subject matter, except  the title.

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

Mantra for week - ” Any analysis of stocks has become an analysis of what the ”Black Boxes” of  huge institutions with their high frequency trades & computer algorithms are doing.” They make up 80% of trading and right now the huge currency markets are dictating their moves.

The Dollar War

The red army (short stocks & long the dollar) had a secret group of reinforcements in hiding that emerged yesterday.

Markets got toasted in above average, increased volume as trading went beyond the Black Boxes & currency traders and investors headed for the exits. (big volume shows some long term investors jumped ship) The red army’s reinforcements

• Dollar two day technically rally breaks out to upside of consolidation pattern (see chart)
• Oops a math error first states China’s growth as 1.7% then revised to 0.3%. Without China you can fundamentally forget worldwide growth.
• Delayed reaction to G20 nations saying they are going to raise taxes and cut spending a la Herbert Hover.
• Worries about Obama stimulus running out of gas and its impact on state governments.
• Ireland/Europe worries as FXE (ETF that tracks EURO) also breaks support level and falls a significant -0.63%.
• Consumer confidence numbers come in worse than expected.
• Tech leader AAPL closes below 50 DMA. Never a good side when you see the top US market general get hit.
• Worries over monthly employment data published on Friday
• Weak Financial Regulation reform was thown into limbo. There may not be enough votes to pass even this.

Seems like the green army (long stocks & short dollar) suffered death of a thousand cuts. The biggest cut in the short  term is China. The 41% drop in the BDI certainly predicted China and more broadly world trade was in trouble.

Market analysts will tell you that both the Dow & the benchmark S&P 500 rallied at the end of the day to finish above major support levels. (see charts at side of blog) This would be the 4th test of the 1040 low for the benchmark S&P 500. I’ve read about a double bottom & a triple bottoms, but never a quadruple bottom. Any things’s possible, but its unlikely we will stop falling here, because NASDQ is already the anchor (at new yearly low) dragging the rest of the US markets lower. = Bearish

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) fell big time to -44.39 [+60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy]. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO) LINK. –  & Investopedia on –  How the MO works. In May the MO reached two lows – one at -120 and the other close to -130. Therefore, potential for more downside risk. = NEUTRAL, but approaching oversold
• US Dollar –  The dollar rose another yesterday +0.49% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important. Dollar up = stocks down and visa versa. The dollar has risen a significant +1.03% in two days and broken out to the upside of its consolidation pattern.= Bearish
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped = Bullish. Also good proxy of China) BDI is in free fall from a high@4200 to  2447 yesterday.(2482 to 2447 yesterday) This is a huge -41% drop in 6 weeks.  Often a leading indicator for stocks. Now just above a major support level (@ 150 points lower) Long term. =Bearish

Positions

The  Positions Section = latest buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own – Updated over weekends

Have not yet had a chance to Update over last 2 weekend but there are NO positions held at this time.

Still watching DGP (ETF that’s double long gold) for a dip close to its 50 DMA – Will buy.

Don’t plan any buying or shorting (ETF that short the market) until MO reaches overbought or oversold

Time to dust off YOUR Stock List and potential ETF candidates that are holding up better than most other stocks/sectors. When the MO gets below -60 its time to start nibbling. The lower the better. Will try to go over potential candidates tomorrow. Paul or others in the comment section might have some new suggestions/stocks that are holding up well

When panic reigns we buy. We may only get a modest rally to a lower high, (hopefully sell 1/2 into 5+% gain) but we may get a longer term rally too.

Long Term Outlook = CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

The list of photos above on financial reform was from Dylan Ratigan’s MSNBC show. Obviously you can add to list.

Financial Reform DOA

Simon Johnson and the folks at the Baseline Senerio have thrown in the towel on financial reform. Virtually every Republican caved into the shadow banks lobbyist, but the real disappointment - so did Obama, Geithner and Summers and many Democrats. It’s disheartening to read that the Obama administration helped kill Kaufmann/Brown legislation and other substantive reforms.

There may be a few crumbs that the shadow financials have lost, but opaque casino capitalism where your FDIC dollar in banks insures their trading of highly leveraged derivatives will thrive – Privatizing gains and  socalizing losses continues. Shadow financials, obviously would rather trade derivatives than make less lucrative transparent loans to homeowners and buisnesses.

The shadows of over leveraged, opaque, Casino capitalism will thrive in the coutry that is/was the leader of the free world. For the future, let’s borrow a line from Shakespeare’s Macbeth- Something wicked this way comes

Tea Party Patriots and Deficits

Deficits are bad. No question. Building a future on growing debt if you own 50% of the worlds weapons leads to one of 2 things – You bankrupt the future, or you kill your debtors. I suppose you could find a third way where you hold a gun to the head of a debtor, but after a while somebody’s going to kill somebody. – Again – Something wicked this way comes

However,  Before you worry about your debt you have to worry about the soundness of your financial system and keep it from collapsing.

• Fixing financial problems and giving us a fundamental transparent capitalism would enable real transparent, democratic, economic, growth.(see above)
• Increasing debt to keep our financial system (even though it was/is a shadow system) from collapsing and creating a second great worldwide depression was more critical

This is what TPP’s can’t understand. We’ve prevented a worldwide economic meltdown, but we haven’t fixed the system. These two priorities are the foundation of economic growth and therefore supersede deficits.

You want to cut military spending, put a means test on social security/medicare, raise taxes to what they were under Reagan – great. It will cut deficits.

However cutting the National Endowment for the Arts, cutting funding for some pork project, screaming drill baby drill is NOT going to decrease the $13 trillion deficit in any substantive way.

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

The news that China was devaluing its currency announced over the weekend got sharply tempered. As uncertainty over the China move grew, so did the dollar and the algorithms used by the “black boxes” that control 80% of stock trading kicked in and sold stocks. A triple digit Dow gain faded into a loss = Bearish

This is hardly the first time the Chinese and economists have sharply tempered a government statement about devaluing currency. Let’s take that feather (for now) from Obama’s/Geithners cap and wait to see what happens as the G 20 nations meet.  This also toasts the Fearless Forecast for this weeks trading.

The reversal in the dollar (See below) could mean an overall change in market outlook, especially if the dollar moves higher again today. Today would be confirmation day of the dollars move higher yesterday.. Right now the major institutions  that run the markets have set their stock market algorithms to currency fluctuations.

FXE – The ETF that tracks the Euro sure looks like its starting to turn and head lower.

Bottom Line – The one way to put the odds in YOUR favor that has a reasonable chance at success in stocstoks/ETF’s is to use the MO. The higher it goes the more you sell, the lower it goes the more you buy. Obviously NOT a hard an fast rule, but a good general guide. Currently, as explained above, currency fluctuations are dominating trading.

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator (MO)fell to +35.08 [+60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy]. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO) LINK. –  & Investopedia on –  How the MO works. Clearly more overbought than oversold, but has pulled back from overbought levels.
• US Dollar –  The dollar rose yesterday +0.43% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important. Dollar up = stocks down and visa versa. Yesterday – “The dollar seems destine to fall to its 50 day moving average which is $1.06 lower and rising.” The dollar fell to within 0.39 of its 50DMA to $85.01 then rallied a significant +0.94%..  This was the largest gain in the dollar in 11 trading session. For stocks = Bearish
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped is in free fall from @4200 to @ 2600 yesterday. This is a huge -38% drop in  Often a leading indicator for stocks. Now at/ just above a support level. Clearly long term  = Bearish

Positions

The  Positions Section = latest buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own – Updated over weekend

Have not yet had a chance to Update over last weekend.

ETF to watch today is the China ETF - FXI – up +3.48% yesterday. The stock from Your Sock List is China’s BIDU

Long Term Outlook = NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Apologies to some of you who are trying to post comments as “guests” – It’s NOT working and  only “registered users” are able to make comments. Trying to work this out.

Tea Party Patriots

Reality is that Tea Party Patriots and like groups are a major force in the USA and many of YOU have commented on their right wing radicalism, racism, and rage. NYT’s Frank Rich & Talking Points Memo . The TPP hero’s have taking some truly radical views defending BP.

• Rand Paul defending BP wanting Obama to leave them alone.
• Joe Barton (Republican chair of energy committee in congress) calling the $20 billion Obama got from BP a “shakedown.” He later apologized.
• IBD (Investors Business Daily - “Rallied to  his(Barton’s) support.”), Rush Limbaugh (“the $20 billion would go to ACORN”) Republican Study Committee = “A Chicago style Shakedown.”

To the TPP’s everything is the fault of a big monster government. So much so that they would rather see YOU pay for BP disaster.

Just what is does our government do – Primarily writes checks to seniors (social security & medicare) and fight wars. (65% of federal budget and growing) Just who elected our democratic government  (20 of the last 30 years Republican Presidents)we did. Yet the TTP’s rage against government they elected as the source of their problems  - You self indulgent, arrogant  IDIOTS – the problems we have are our own making -our own fault. Take responsibility.

TPP’s are all wrapped up in sensationalism from Palin’s “drill baby drill,” to their “don’t tread in me” banner. When the TPP’s heros take a position on BP you find out just how dangerous they would be. Do NOT ignore these people.

China Revaluation

Stocks all over the world are up on news that China is loosing currency restrictions. This avoids or lessens the tensions a potential trade war with the USA. It’s a long sought goal of US foreign relations and a feather in Geithner/Obama’s cap.

If you combine this with Obama getting $20 billion from BP you could say he’s having a good week. (more on tis below)

However, no matter on how tough Obama got with China & BP his lack of support for substantive regulatory reform on the too big to fail shadow banks is a major disappointment

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

Friday was one of the most boring options expiration days ever. Usually a Quadruple witching day/options expiring means a HUGE amount of trades and a volatile market.

BIG story over weekend is China Yuan/currency has moved to a 21 month high. Bush & Obama have been pushing the Chinese to deleverage their currency from the dollar.  Looks like Obama, time & a win win situation finally moved the Chinese. Since the “Black Boxes”(see Thursday’s update) that make up 80% of the trading are fixated on a falling dollar this is going to give bulls a shot of adrenaline today = BULLISH

BDI in freefall. At some point the Black Boxes (Huge computers of Huge institutions that make up 80% of all trades) are going to notice the BDI whichis a proxy for world trade. World trade is Slowing and the  first impacted are highest exporters like China, Germany, etc.= Bearish

Fearless Forecast Last Week = “Rally Ho” We held onto gains made early in week.

Fearless Forecast This Week = Rally Ho Again – China news is extremely bullish and this surprise should boost markets above +80 on the MO scale. Conditions should be getting very oversold by the later 1/2 of week. So expect the rally to dip or flatten then.

The China news is a significant positive surprise. After years of just talking the Obama administration has got China to move. Unfortunately the news has caught us with just a small stake in equities, so we’ll miss out on what should be a big jump this AM in equities.

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator fell to +50.47 [+60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy]. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO) LINK. –  & Investopedia on –  How the MO works. Just below overbought territory = moderately overbought = moderately bearish
• US Dollar –  The dollar continued its fall Friday -0.10% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important. The dollar seems destine to fall to its 50 day moving average which is $1.06 lower and rising. = Bullish
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped is in free fall from @ 4200 to @ 2700 Friday. The China news could impact this index today Often a lagging indicator, but clearly long term  = Bearish

Positions

The  Positions Section = latest buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own – Updated over weekend

Have not yet had a chance to Update over weekend.

High beta stocks (See YOUR watch list) and high beta ETF’s (see past Investors411) going to do well early this week on China news. Could be a good short term buy the dip play here. Be careful that your choice is NOT too overextended from/above its 50 Day moving average.

Long Term Outlook = NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

-

China

For well over a decade the big government, tightly managed, Chinese capitalist system has kicked ass.

Their GDP in past quarter was above 10% and its projected to stay near that lofty range.  It has obviously outperformed the casino/free market capitalism of the USA which has brought us a tech bubble and a financial/housing bubble. Both led to two major worldwide meltdowns. It has also outperformed the more socialist models in Europe, that adopted US shadow banking for their own.

China’s growing because money is flowing into a growing middle class while that same middle class is shrinking in  the USA.  In fact every democratic and capitalist economy from India to Brazil that is outperforming ours is growing their middle class. Perhaps China can manage to slowly cool down. Perhaps not. If the Chinese bubble bursts, so will economies around the world.

The problem here is this one party state that does not foster Democracy.

Elections

Primary Day in a dozen states across USA. Some results

• Most under reported is Prop 14 passed in California – “will give every voter the same ballot in primary elections for most state and federal races, except the presidential contest. The two candidates with the most votes would advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.” - Interesting.
• Blanche Lincoln won in AK. There was a progressive challenge that fell short. I love Lincoln’s derivative bill and hope it passes congress.
• Harry Reid got who he wanted to win in NV – The Tea Party candidate that wants to store nuclear waste in Nevada. He had little chance against her opponent in polls.
• For more see Huffington Post

Robert Kuttner

Scorecard on Financial Reform

This week/today we get to see what financial reform will look like when it is voted on. Many of what was necessary will be stripped. The Banking Showdown by Robert Kuttner is an excellent source on this.

Your Comments

Some Great threads going in comments section. See comments on right side of blog

• Paul R educational insight and others on stocks. – continues
• Jim J., John S. & Popeye on Israel – Looks like they settled on an International group should look into incident. Perhaps so, but Israel will never agree.
• Yankee Bob and others on BP – Got caught in a BP on line nightmare

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

US markets looked over the cliff, decided not to jump and backed away in increased, above average volume = Bullish

US Markets rallied into the close = Bullish

From Yesterday – “There is two interday lows that were lower this year – the lowest at 1040.78 (see chart) This is the line in the sand major support level for most technicians. Breaking this could open the DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER DANGER Floodgates. For right now it’s holding = Bullish”

We went down to the line in the sand for the second time since it was established as the yearly low in February. It held. Technicians call this a triple bottom and get excited. Fundamentally this held because the dollar fell. That’s what to focus on. But the fact that it held = Bullish

Financials was one sector that led this rally (+2.09) Weak financial reform likely outcome in congress. Materials was the other sector (+2.27) = Bullish

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator rose yesterday to -28.47 [+60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy]. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO) LINK. –  & Investopedia on –  How the MO works. We are a bit overbought, but basically = NEUTRAL
• US Dollar –  The dollar fell -0.34% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important. Massive breakout to new high is bullish for dollar and for bearish for US stocks. That big breakout Friday was confirmed by Monday’s +0.25% gain. The dollar fell yesterday so stocks rallied.

Reading the Tea Leaves . From yesterday-”Expect central banks to intervene and BUY the Euro to stop the growing panic….Would expect some sort of relief rally today after two days of significant price declines and strong support level in front of us. But watch out later in week.”

Strong volume behind yesterday’s rally  and a -28.47 on the MO (we are a bit oversold) indicates a rally is getting started and has some room to run.

Bottom Line – The Dollar Rules. This rally will hold as long as whichever (probably a combination of Swiss, German US, French, Chinese? etc.) keeps buying/propping up the Euro.  Short term trend = Bullish

However the long term trend is still dollar up and Euro down – For stocks = Bearish

Positions

The  Positions Section = latest buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own – Updated over weekend.

Traders – Conventional wisdom says that stocks that held up best while others got toasted are the ones to invest in if markets rally – be it for a day, two a week. But sometimes those high beta stocks from YOUR Stock List that are down the most take a big initial first step. Those from YOUR Stock List still above their 50 day moving average and turned with the markets yesterday may be worth a trade today.

• VCI
• SNDK
• SAM
• BIDU

I’m perhaps too emotionally involved, but IMAX looks good and their seems to be a good lineup or 3D movies this summer.

Financials – No real reform = Bullish

• XLF – Investors could nibble here.
• UYG – (2X Financials)
• FAS -(3X Financials)

Still holding VIC, ESRX & SDS (may take profits in SDS) – Today considering positions in FAS (short term) & UUP (longer term) The later mirrors the dollar and also may be good for Investors to nibble

Long Term Outlook = CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

-

Global Economic Monsters

• Over Leveraged Shadow Banks – Financial reform has fizzled in congress. (see a zillion past Investors411 for more) Short term – a shot in the arm for shadow institutions and their stocks. Long term - FDIC guarantees deposits of YOUR $ and they can still take any risk they want.  Bubble building casino capitalism, where gains are privatized and YOU socialize the risk.
• Debt Crisis – Europe Debt on the hot seat right now. Aussie’s Clarke and Dawe do a great job explaining this and their drop dead funny. Now add to this all the derivatives (over leveraging) placed on debt. First a bailout. Now central banks around the world are pouring $ into the Euro to stabilize it and keep dollar low.
• China Slowing Growth – A country can’t keep its GDP growing at 10% forever. Google [China, Slowing, Growth] and you’ll find story after story worried about a Chinese housing bubble or manufacturing decline. China’s #1 ETF – FXI This ETF used to outperform the S&P 500 by a wide margin. Now it underperforms. Investors $ are speaking and there is some cause for concern.
• BP/RIG/HAL Oil Spill – Major damage to these stocks and more importantly the environment. We all know its only just begun and yesterday was the start of hurricane season. 27% of America’s oil & 15% of our natural gas comes from the Gulf.
• “Supreme Leader,” “Great Leader,” ” Dear Leader” AKA Kim Jong-il –  You’ll never see a flotilla of Palestinian or any other peace activist off the shore of North Korea. (A double standard) Most repressive country on the planet, always confrontational and has nukes. Just committed an act of war by sinking South Korean naval ship.
• Mid East - Where to start? Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. Current Crisis between Israel/Turkey does far more than put the $3 billion in “free” trade between these two democracies at risk. Terrorist through out the region are now in a stronger position and embolden because of this confrontation. Everything in the MidEast is oil/energy related.

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

Significant Melt UP in light volume = Moderately Bullish

Obama and his administration seem to be dropping hints that Friday’s job numbers are going to be good. This was fundamental behind melt up. Buy the rumor & sell the news.

Volume did NOT confirm the price move. So what else is new. Volume, which is historically the #1 confirmation factor of a price move has NOT worked for many many moons. = Neutral

Massive amount of bad news – N. Korea, BP failed to plug oil, Israel/Turkey/Gaza, Euro debt crisis – yet we have a melt up. How markets react to news is our #2 (now #1) confirmation factor. Yesterday was a good price reaction despite bad news. The potential bad news is built into price right now = Bullish

MO has some positive momentum but in Neutral territory = NEUTRAL (NEUTRAL is all in CAPS because this right now is most important indicator.)

AAPL is the unofficial leader in this rally and the chart formed a T (see chart) yesterday in weak volume. Could be a top. Moderately Bearish

Expect Fed and other central banks to keep  propping up Euro.European markets at 6 week high.  = Bullish

Reading the tea Leaves – Historically, it difficult to see a follow through day after yesterday’s melt up in light volume. Baring an unforeseen incident – like Israeli’s killing more peace activists on ship heading to same area – it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a rally into the jobs number.

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator took a huge jump higher to -5.78 [+60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy]. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO)LINK. - This is NEUTRAL territory.  How the MO works.
• US Dollar –  The dollar fell -0.02% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important. Currency markets are now being directly manipulated by out Fed and other central banks. This manipulation to keep the Euro from falling. Chart shows at least 6 attempted breakouts above @87.5 have failed in last 2  1/2 weeks. = Bullish.

Positions

The  Positions Section = latest buys and sells  - These are positions I actually own

Have NOT had a chance to update this/last weeks trade.

EVVV was eliminated from YOUR stock list because company was bought – (Thanks to Paul R for info)

IMAX remaining shares sold near open at 17.02

Windows of opportunity to BUY and Sell -

The McClellen Oscillator (MO) is working well right now and +60 or above = Overbought = sell. -60 or below = Oversold = buy

This works best with the broad based ETF’s that mirror the major indexes or for those who can handle more risk ETF’s that do 2x or 3x what major indexes do like TYH that does 3X major tech stocks. Approaching or below -60 buy. The further the better.

Above +60 sell or go short with ETF’s that short major US indexes. Example SDS (2X short S&P 500)

One major reason I stated that there was a “decent trading” opportunity yesterday was the MO was at -50 or almost oversold. We had a low volume melt up.  One major reason the MO was not an investing opportunity was we were not below -60.

Mea Culpa = Hindsight is great = should have invested MORE when MO was between -60 & -130. If I had, I’d start to take a little profit right now

(Will continue analysis of MO later)

Long Term Outlook = CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Democratic congressman Jim Clyburn

“Baby Killer”

YOU, in the comment section of the blog, have had a rational debate over the tax implication of the health care bill starting started by John Sovjani and now ending with a NYT article from Ewanapat that shows, in part, who benefits and who pays. The rest of the nation has not.

One Texas Republican congressman screamed “Baby Killer” while a Democrat spoke on the heath care bill. Later he apologized, but this calculated move will bring huge amounts of cash into his campaign for congress. Across the country Death Threats, vandalism, break ins, gas lines cut, and even photos of hang man nooses have been sent to at least 10 Democrat congressmen and women who voted for the health care bill.

Here’s a report from yesterday. From today, where families of Democratic congressmen who supported health care are moving out of their districts because of the death threats. Sarah Palin’s website is painting bulls eye’s on targeted democratic congressmen CBS reports

When Black Democrats like congressmen Jim Clyburn (D – Majority Whip) gets a noose & death threats faxed to him it is exactly what happened to those who dared stand up for civil rights in the 60’s.

No matter what side of the health care debate you are on – if you do nothing you condone the behavior. At least tell a co worker or friend that this kind of tactic is unacceptable.

Chimerica

(part 2)

The USA has lost 2.4 million jobs because of the trade gap with China -Study reported in WSJ. Yesterday, our House Ways and Means Committee, announced it was holding hearings China artificially keeping her currency pegged to the USA’s. Niall Ferguson is a most outstanding source of info on this.

Bottom Line – We need many of those 2.4 million jobs back in the USA, but a trade or economic war with China would be devastating to the world’s economy.

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.

The US dollar exploded higher breaking out of its trading pattern. The strong inverse correlation between US stocks and the dollar once again took hold pushing US equities lower. Stocks fell in basically higher volume.

What’s happening is that Greece and some other European countries involved in the Common Market have weak currencies and the relative to them the dollar is stronger. These problems have two root causes -

• The same financial meltdown that hit us is hitting them. Remember, the reckless lending of super banks/shadow banks was a global phenomena. In this case the Greek government aided by Goldman Sachs covered up their debt.
• Greece and some other European countries have swung too far into socialism – example may can retire at 50 in Greece with almost full benefits. This is the exact opposite of the USA which has swung too far into greed based capitalism.

Expect a rebound as momentum is still clearly with the bulls and the McClellan oscillator turned red (below zero)

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator fell to -1.66 yesterday. +60 or above = Overbought -60 or below = oversold. StockCharts has a better version of the McClellan chart ($NYMO) LINK. – Investors411 manta is its much better/safer to buy when stocks are over sold and sell when they are over bought. When the $NYMO is around zero those who can accept more risk can nibble on stocks & ETF’s.
• US Dollar - Exploded higher +1.34%. Anything over 1.00% is considered a huge move and this move was also a breakout to a new high.

Positions

The  Positions Section = latest buys and sells – (Revised positions last weekend) - These are positions I actually own

Our remaining China position FXI (Also EWZ & MOO)

Over the course of the last few months Investors has decreased FXI holdings from a high of almost 25% to the current 5%. China has been an investment mainstay of Investors411 for many years. Unfortunately many imbalances (see yesterday’s Chimerica piece) especially with the US and a over supply of public and retail housing is clouding the future.

This is also true for emerging markets that have been under performing US stock markets.  Technically after years of out performance this was bound to happen regardless of the fundamental problems in China. Our other major foreign investment. Brazil, EWZ is also under performing. Again over many months we have reduced holdings from a high of almost 25% to 5%. Brazil has a presidential election and the economically successful “socialist” president of the last 8 years is not running. Markets hate change.

The overall problem is does China have a soft landing or a hard one?  Yesterday, our House Ways and Means Committee, announced it was holding hearings on  China artificially keeping her currency pegged to the USA’s. Niall Ferguson is a most outstanding source of info on this.

MOO is an agriculture ETF whose growth relies on emerging markets buying US agricultural products and equipment.  Investors has cut this from 10% to 5% position.

Strategy – Bottom Line – Will drop remaining 5% in FXI into a rally.  Investors is building it own market basket of 3D stocks and health care stocks. (see past blog posts) Investing in ETF’s  (example TYH) that do 2 & 3 times what US indexes do when they are oversold.  Also considering YOUR stock list for investments.

Apologies for everyone who just wants to buy and hold forever.  It’s just NOT your parents market. Blame technology.

Long Term Outlook = CAUTIOUSLY BULLISH

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING