Investors 411 Blog

Obama’s Speech

Yesterday, the administration announced a major address on Health Care  for next Wednesday – Will he take a Stand or whimp out again? From all accounts the White House is still split on what to do. From Politco “High Risk High Reward” LINK & “Obama to Address Congress” LINK

Simple reality is that like in the last 7 to 10 years health care is going to double again. Medicare as well as Americans not on Medicare are in danger of going under unless something dramatic is done.

Will you, your employer, Medicare be able to keep up with another 100% increase? Why do we pay almost twice the cost of other industrialized countries who cover all their people and they get better results?

Jobs & GDP & Deficits

What happens in a recession is jobs get cut and when they get added back American companies choose cheaper foreign labor. This is one major reason employment has been a lagging indicator in recessions.

The back ended stimulus is going to mitigate the job loss – keeps jobs in education, law enforcement, construction etc. But this has its cost in increasing the deficit. The problem here is we already had a huge deficit when Obama took over and it is obviously growing. Not good news.

The other major problem is  growth is the USA over the last decade had a lot to do with phony financial transactions made by shadow banks. (phony accounting)  Therefore, real growth in the USA was a lot less than 3 or 4% over the last decade. Under Obama we longer use mark to market accounting.  Obviously, I’m no expert, but willing to bet this reduces our GDP by at least a few points under Obama & Bush.

One major fact – the huge increase in deficits under Reagan/Bush upset almost no Republicans.

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

Yesterday’s stock action confirmed the big downside move of the day before. Prices did not recover any of the losses and dropped further despite the fact that the dollar also fell. The dollar falling almost always translates into stocks rising.

A week ago I mentioned that Jim Cramer was wrong and we were due for a more significant correction. Yesterday failure to move higher on good news and marginal losses act as confirmation of a further decline.  The only technical point that is starting to swing in the bulls favor is that the Dow and S&P (SPX) have been down 4 days in a row and are a bit oversold. Would expect a rally today because of oversold positions

Support levels to watch on benchmark S&P 500. SPX currently at 995. The first is 980 . If that falls we could see a lot deeper correction .  Lots depends on the jobs data on Friday.

Lots of analyst look at this as a technical correction.  We came too far too fast. But there is a major underlying fundamental factor. The BDI shows worldwide trade falling. Much of this is due to China pulling back on buying commodities. China also has a technically overheated market. (see yesterday’s blog)

The big news for the month is the jobs report on Friday Right now we reacted so poorly to the good ISM (manufacturing) news, and yesterday’s dollar falling(which should have juiced stock prices), you have to worry about the employment news.

Therefore , FEARLESS FORECAST – is for a down week .

A major correction is underway many in some major exporting countries (China – see past Investors411), and importing countries (USA) seem to be following the downtrend.

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Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

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

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods by price (world trade) It looks like we could be forming another lower high and that would reinforce the mid term bearish pattern . The BDI has leveled off over the last 5 days, -10 yesterday

Unfortunately, since early summer we have created  lower lows and lower high that confirms both the mid term bearish trend .@ 2298 is a major area of support and the BDI has fallen since early June from 4291 to 2413. This is just 115 points away from a major support level.

“Remember almost every country has based their recovery on exporting their way out of this mess” (Source – seeking Alpha)The infotainment financial channels and analysts used the BDI when things were going well and are now ignoring it. The #1 factor behind the BDI’s retreat is China seems to have stopped or seriously slowed down buying of commodities.

The BDI is 41% off its high (early June)

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

The dollar was fell -0.44 % yesterday. Dollar closed at $78.74. Its  major support level is @$77.5 & it has 2 major resistance levels – a falling 50 day moving ave. at @$79.20 and the August highs of @ $79.5 .  If it breaks down through support stocks should rise, if it breaks up through resistance stocks should fall.

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

The fact that the dollar fell a relatively significant -0.44% and stocks did NOT rise is another Bearish sign

The dollar is also reversed direction 9 days in a row. So today its probably going to go up and stocks down.

European Central Banks left interest rates unchanged this AM – Bearish for dollar & Bullish for stocks

Positions

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

Sold 1/3 (or 6% total stock) position in FXI (China) yesterday This position was bought on 3/12 (listed incorrectly in Positions as 3/20) Gain @+55% This will probably be the biggest gain of any position this year. The remaining 12% – 2% was purchased 3/12, 8% was purchased in April and is up almost +20% and the recently  2% is down perhaps -5% (Did not have time to accurately check these last 2 figures)

Right now, this is NOT some huge reversal, but a correction of an overheated market. If the BDI continues to fall from current levels, we are much deeper trouble. Plan to get back into FXI ASAP, hopefully at a lower price

Refuting all this is the credible Organization for Co-operation and Development OEDC that headlines “the worldwide recession may already be over.” LINK Sorry think the 41% fall in the BDI is cause for concern.

Those traders with guts may look at a fall to SPX the 980 support level as a buying opportunity or a chance for some quick money.  Right now, the best read of the tea leaves is for a 5 to 10% correction . If world trade prices collapse further through support then things could get worse.

My bias – I will be away at an art show this weekend & I tend to get conservative when I’m not near my computer. – Too scared of bad jobless figures on Friday.

Your Comments

Both privately and in the comment section of the blog you are asking for individual stock recommendations. OK I have a few. Stay tuned. Yes I’ve chosen them – NVS (Novartis)-  a swine flu play and Apple computer. (details when I have more time)

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

Investors411 Has Returned from Summer Hiatus

Economic Outlook /Stocks

Late last week the US GDP figures came in better than expected, a -1.0 %. The expected number was -1.5% . This number while not positive should be compared to the previous quarters -6.4 % and the loss in the quarter before that of about -5.7% .

Clearly back  in September it looked like the US and the world’s economy was headed over a cliff. That no longer is the case. “In short, the recovery act turned this quarter’s economic performance from disastrous to merely bad.” See data/story here

The economic stimulus that the Fed and the Obama administration delivered has turned the tide. The economics have improved dramatically. Since our government’s stimulus plan is back end loaded and only @ 25% has been allocated, the economic picture should stabilize or improve in the coming quarters.

Consensus outlook is for moderate growth next quarter/year that should turn positive.

China’s GDP has also rebounded. Their economic low was a +6.1% in the first 1/4 of 2009 and is now at a better than expected +7.9% in the latest quarter.  Remember their stimulus package was far greater than ours when measured against GDP ( from memory something like $585 billion on a GDP of 4 trillion vs. UA 780 billion on GDP of $13 trillion.) Businessweek story here

So the world’s two most important economies are rebounding.

Apologies to the European Union whose combined countries have a slightly larger GDP than the USA. On the whole they are on par with the US. There expected to have a loss in 2009 of -1.8 % and a relatively minor rebound in 2010 of +0.5% These figures/projections are obviously far more consistent with the USA than China.

Bottom Line – China is once again going to outperform the other major economies of the world. Those countries like South Korea, Singapore, India and Brazil (see Positions section of blog) will continue to outperform the USA. All these countries benefit from the mega trend of globalization . (Will fill in details in upcoming updates.)

Jobs/Jobs/Jobs

In the up coming year or two the employment picture should like the economy brighten because of the stimulus .We are now losing jobs at the rate of about @ 400,000 a month (compilation of May & June) vs. @ 700,000 (Jan & Feb.) The overall figure will grow. However, as more of the stimulus kicks in this figure should fall.  Most estimates have unemployment going up to 10% this year, however the rate of unemployment is dramatically declining. The figures for July come out  Aug. 7th.

Like the small recession in the beginning of the Bush administration it will take a long time for the jobs picture to improve . What happens is that companies lay off US workers and tighten their belts in a major recession.  When it comes time to hiring back workers they do it where they find the cheapest labor – abroad. This is one result of the mega trend globalization (See Overview section of blog)

The “Giant Sucking Sound” (Ross Perot’s term) is middle class and working jobs going abroad. However, for a year or two the stimulus will help. It’s NOT all roses and sunshine but –  American companies will do far better than American workers. Foreign countries will continue to outpreform the USA.

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 S&P 500 joined the NASDQ in significant multi day volume confirmation of its price move last week

Off had, I do not remember US markets being this over bought. Just from a pure technical point of view it looks like rally has run out of steam. But there are an army of investors still waiting to buy the dip.

Big news is jobless figures for July come out on Friday.

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 . 2975 is the major support level and the BDI closed at 3320 – down last two days. As long as we hang in above 2975 stocks should do well.

In a nut shell the BDI is

• short term – Neutral (perhaps bearish trend starting)
  
• mid term -  Bearish pattern
• long term - Bullish pattern

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$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. . Breaking this support would be very bearish for the dollar and bullish for stocks. We broke that support on Friday and dollar now at 78.29. Bullish for stocks

Fearless Forecast

The FF did not get its “stabilization week” as stocks moved moderately higher. Technically conditions are still way overbought .

The dollar slipping (closing) below major support on Friday is bullish for stocks. Even though markets are overbought and oil prices rising to yearly highs (in large part because of dropping dollar) it looks like another rally week.

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)

Adding to QLD , FXI and EWY (Korea) on dips.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

WHAT’S UP – A Republican defection: Republican’s embrace the far right and shrink – Specter & Sebelius; First US death from "Swine" flu – Your comments- "The Critic" and Abby Gold. GDP comes in worse than expected for 1st 1/4 = -6.1% ; Shadow Baks stocks slipping: Trade (BDI) between countries start to slip again – swine flu?

Senator Arlen Specter -Alex Wong/Getty Images

Republican Defections

Republican Senator Arlen Specter (PA) is switching from Rep. to Dem. Here is some Links – WaPo , & Politico

BottomLine – It’s not just Specter and the fact that he brings the Democratic Party closer to a veto proof 60 vote majority. (It is now 59 votes and Franken (Dem) looks like he will win in MN.)

What’s happening is as the Republican’s become more extreme (embracing the far right – example Limbaugh) they are loosing supporters.  Most polls show Democrats gaining slightly or remaining flat. Independents are the group that’s growing the fastest . Yahoo story

Kathlene Sebelius

When it Rains it Pours – Republicans

Republicans voted against putting in $900 million for flu pandemic protection into the stimulus package. Big mistake. Obama now is proposing a $1.5 billion supplemental to handle the growing crisis.

Republicans have also blocked the nomination of KA Dem. governor Kathlene Sebelius to the top health position and a whole lot of other positions in heath care remain unfilled. So we have a potential major crisis and the party is caught with its pants down. Tides go in and out. But, the tide is certainly going out for Republicans now. Sebelius finally gets the job CNN story link

First US Death from Swine Flu

A 23 month old child in Texas has died from the flu – The first US casualty. NYC has the most cases and the disease is being transmitted by humans. Link to CNBC story on Flu

Both "The Critic" (Who is traveling from a foreign country to the USA) and Abby Gold have very relevant  comments.  They stress the over hype of the media and plummeting pork prices. See comments section on right side of blog. (photo credit – AP)

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Technicals & Fundamentals

USA GDP Numbers for 1st 1/4 = -6.1% (breaking news 8:30 EST) Worse than expected number. But this is not a forward looking statistic. There was better than expected consumer spending numbers in this report.

No real movement yesterday in US equities. The fact that US indexes were flat despite the possible flu pandemic news is bullish for stocks .

Possible Flu Pandemic (See yesterday’s Updates)

From yesterday – As always – don’t make huge massive moves (all in all out) – But  both FXI and EWZ have had a great run over the last six weeks and some protection seems prudent .

If the outbreak continues to grow - Link to what happens to Oil prices and Commodities

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XLF - The ETF that tracks financials (mostly shadow banks ) rose -3.09 % Friday in decreased volume .  Financials have lead this rally and if they  collapse so will almost all other sectors (see Positions section of blog on XLF)

The XFL is consolidating between @ 9.4 & 11.3. XFL closed at 10.43 .   9.4 and 11.3 is the support  & resistance levels all Wall Street is watching.

BDI – The Baltic Dry Index (measures trade) has started back down again after establishing a technically bearish lower high. BDI down - 2.67 % (see chart at side of blog) Too early to call a trend, but troubling.

Fed meets today . Release of interest statement at 2:15 EST today – No dramatic changes expected.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTIN G !

China 中國 -  The Trend.  It almost seems inevitable that our children are going to have to learn to speak  Chinese unless there is a dramatic shift in the major economic trend  - China - The Good , the Bad, and the Ugly.   Its Exchange Traded Fund- Ticker Symbol FXI has been the #1 Investment recommendation of Investors411.

China from Google maps

The People’s Republic of China 中國

For some basic information see

• Positions section at top of blog (scroll down to FXI) – contains  reasons to invest.
• Wikipedia will give you a more comprehensive overview

GDP –  China’s GDP numbers have just been published for the last quarter – +6.1% See BBC story. China (@$7 trillion per year GDP) is getting hurt by the worldwide recession. However compare it to the USA 4th quarter GDP -6.3% (@ $14 trillion per year GDP)  

China’s figures are the lowest since they started keeping figures in 1992. They are down 0.7% from the previous quarter, obviously because of the worldwide recession.  The economic trend is also obvious. China’s economy is growing far faster than the USA’s. It may only be a matter of years rather than decades before they become the #1 economy in the world.

Recent Headlines

• China moves into Latin America – Today’s NYT
• China moves to become #1 in the electric car – NYT
• China’s Shopping spree – Time magazine

China has over a $2 trillion dollar surplus compared to USA’s $11 trillion dollar deficit  

Note – all these figures are suspect. China’s even more so than the USA’s.

The Bottom Line – The economic trend is clear. China is economically rising and the USA is sinking. Right now, the economic gap between these two counties is closing at an accelerating rate.. You may not like this trend – but if you have kids or grandkids teach them to speak Chinese.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

STOCKS

Technicals & Fundamentals

Major US stock markets (and most foreign markets) rose yesterday in decreased below average volume. 

XLF - The ETF that tracks financials (mostly shadow banks) rose +4.83% in decreased, below average volume.  Financials have lead this rally and if they  collapse so will almost all other sectors. The loss in volume (the #1 confirmation factor of a price move) is troubling for the bulls.  This could be the first sign of a correction.

Short Term Outlook - Similar forecast to yesterday – First technical chink in the bulls armor appeared Tuesday.’s big volume sell off. A small gain yesterday in decreased volume is not bullish.  

Too early to make a call, but short term traders should pay attention. The Danger signs to watch for - another big price/volume decline probably led by financials and/or stocks moving lower on no news or good news.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!