The Tip of the Iceberg

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There are two types of Capitalists

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Those who make a great product or service that befits the economy and the country. This is the American dream and we admire the wealth they create

Then there’s the vampire capitalists or “Greedy Bastards” (Dylan Ratigan term) who rig the game so that they can steal from all Americans.

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Rewards go NOT to those who compete the Best

But to The Vampire Capitalists who Cheat The Best

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Last Weeks GE story was the

Tiny Tip of the Iceberg.

Imagine this – For years your done your due diligence and shopped around. Now you buy from one hypothetical GE store. You have just found out that that one store has been for years overcharging  YOU. That store has no integrity.

The Vampire capitalists know it , but the American Sheep just chew grass

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GE before its Army of lobbyists and layers used to pay, say 20% taxes, on the items you bought. Now they get a $3,200,000,000 tax credit for 2010, so they charge less of a price.

How does this impact you?

• The tax revenue GE used to give to the government – to reduce the deficit, protect our troops, fund social security, etc no longer exists. You, the sheep/taxpayer, have to make up the difference

• GE, of course, (a systemic problem in the USA) fires American tax paying American workers and hires more foreign workers . This again adds to the deficit, and strips funding from everything from education to protecting our troops.

• It gives the vampires a massive advantage over small companies who don’t own both parties.

GE is far from the most vicious capitalist vampires or greedy bastards out there. It’s certainly not the lead vampire.

(Future Editorials)

The difference between the vampire capitalists who “legally” cheat and you is the army of lobbyists and lawyers who have bought both parties.  They make the laws that give  an oligarchy all the loopholes.

They privatize the Gains and socialize the losses to YOU

The difference between the vampire capitalists and you is you have almost no power to change the tax code, trade agreements, or other methods the vampires or greedy bastards are using to strip what used to be the American Dream.

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STOCKS

• The POSITIONS page does not yet reflect the 2012 Outlook. The good part of the 2012 forecast was outlined 1/21, the Bad 1.23 and the Ugly is American politics.

• From Friday – The MO can be read like any chart (see  above link) This is the 6th time in 6 weeks the MO has approached +60. It failed the other 5 times. That’s one very very strong resistance level.

• The leading NASDQ (If you are trading an index this is the one I’d hold) Is way over extended from its 50 Day Moving Average. It would be healthy for some sort of pullback at this point.

• Combination Option Trades - IR is under consideration this week. Reports 7:00 AM EST on 2/8 . Long term COT considerations WLT (Takeover rumors) MCP (can move a lot based on rumors and news) and USO (based on potential Iran problems and other factors)

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We Bring BAD

Things to Life

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General Electric

World’s 17th Largest Company

All we want is a level playing field

Trillions of dollars are flowing into an oligarchy of  giant corporate  and wealthy individuals. One group that is  being decimated by this oligarchy is American small businesses.

Mom and Pop want to start a small business in America. They hang up a sign that says OPEN for business.

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Small business are American job creators. In a large part because they have not yet reached the size where it is profitable to outsource major components of their business.

Example: Apple Computer has 43,000 US employees and creates 700,000 jobs in Asia.

The problem is they can’t compete against the giant corporations and their Army of Lobbyists and Lawyers

The corporate oligarchy has one huge advantage

TAXES

Most American businesses are taxed at 35%. That is unless your special like Romney’s Bain Capital and other venture capital firms and hedge funds. Their taxed at 15%

The real problem is giant corporations own the politicians in Washington

What does GE pay in Taxes?

• GE Had $14.2 Billion in profits ($5.1 billion in the USA) in 2010

• GE got $10 billion+ in Bailout money because GE Financial was way over leveraged.

• GE is pays more money to lobbyists than any other firm.

• GE has a huge tax division that is run by & employs ex Treasury and IRS officials.

• GE was just fined $63 million for IRS violations.

Tax rate – Do they pay

35% – WRONG

15% -WRONG

5%- WRONG

0% –  WRONG

GE in 2010 had a tax benefit of $3.200,000,000

63% Tax Credit RIGHT ANSWER

of what they profited from in the USA

Not only is this an unfair competitive advantage, buy you the tax payer are missing out on billions in potential tax revenue.

In fact YOU (the government) owe GE $3,200,000,000

as write offs on future Taxes

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STOCKS

Jeff Immelt/CEO of GE

Prius of Power

The giant American conglomerate GE plans to open a hybrid -solar, wind, and natural gas - energy plant that can supply energy for 600,000 homes by 2115. “Imagination at work!”

Jobs, cleaner energy, no nukes – Bravo GE -Just where is this American company putting this energy plant?

Wait for it. Wait for it. Wait for it - ……………………………………………………… Turkey. Remember the head of GE, Jeff Immelt,  is also the head of Obama’s commission on fixing unemployment in the USA. Thanks Jeff. Great choice Barack

YOUR Comments

Yesterday, in the comments section of the blog you (JS, EW Paul & Popeye) had a lively debate (scroll down) on Germany and Unions. Also lots more on stocks.

Media Matters

The HUGE preponderance of scientific evidence supports human causation as a major factor in climate change.

Yet in the period from Dec. 201o to April 2011 76% of the appearances of guest were against human’s as a cause for climate change. This of course was led by the FOX news outlets.  In a contest of Scientific vs. Media saturation who wins?

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KISS & Stocks

(Keep It Simple Stupid)

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

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

DOUBLE CHECK ALL DATA, I MAKE MORE THAN GRAMMAR MISTAKES

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Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

• The McClellan Oscillator (MO) chart fell to -63.83.  US Stocks are oversold. A “snapback” oversold rally is possible.

• MO did reach -90 in March and - 130 last May after the end of QE #1.

• Reading The Tea Leaves -There is a high probability that we will reach -90 to -130 on the MO this summer. Still holding to May 20th forecast for this summer.

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Paul’s Corner

Oh The Pain and Agony!

This market keeps ticking off, and it’s extremely over sold, we should have a decent bounce any day now. Yup any day now! Any day now fer sure! Although volume was up yesterday we still haven’t had a high volume blow off of a day. OPEC didn’t help at all today and Bernanke’s comments Tuesday seem to have put a few nails in the coffin.

Market internals aren’t getting any better, the only  groups up bedside the VIX were the oils.  60% of the S&P 1500 stocks  are below their 200 DMA, that isn’t good. The MO summation index has turned decidedly down and the MO has more room to fall. SOXS the 3X bear Semi ETF was up 6.1% Wednesday.

The Finance Equity Reits were top  in the high demand search.

Fin-Equity Reit (12.00%, 12 securities)

• American Campus Communities (ACC)
• American Capital Agency Corp (AGNC
• Annaly Capital Management  I (NLY)
• AvalonBay Communities  Inc. (AVB)
• Camden Property Trust (CPT)
• Digital Realty Trust  Inc. (DLR)
• Dupont Fabros Technology  In (DFT)
• Equity Lifestyle Properties (ELS)
• Equity Residential (EQR)
• Public Storage (PSA)
• Simon Property Group  Inc. (SPG)
• Tanger Factory Outlet Center (SKT)

A lousy day and why not, a search for the best stocks under $10 as selected by HGSI:

• BDE
• BNA
• CERP
• IMOS
• CDTI
• CLFD
• FTLK
• GENE
• KKD
• MHLD
• MDF
• NR
• QPSA
• SQNM
• HCKT
• TWER
• WSTL

I have no idea if any of these woofers are worth buying, some have decent charts. You are on your own looking at these stocks.

So what’s the market going to do today, futures are up this morning, is this a new morning in America? Let’s load up Quote Tracker and find out………here we go folks another day of fun!

Remember, you are responsible for your investment decisions, and I am not.  Please do your diligence, and please take ownership for your actions.

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Positions

Below – Investors411  hypothetical portfolio that should outperform the S&P 500.

SLV/AGQ (very roughly 2x silver) Sold 1/2 for +3% profit. Have a sell order in on balance for 3% loss. Considering selling into rally.

REMX - (Rare Earth metals) Investors has a 1/2 position in this ETF. Sold at/near open for 25.31 = -2% loss. Total for REMX trade = -1%

NLY - Annaly Capital Mgt. Ultra high dividend stock. Caution - NLY and similar stocks are going elliptical  in heavy volume – usually a sign of a climax run – simply put – so many buyers jump in that the stock runs out of buyers in the short term and takes a hit. We saw the same in silver a month or two ago. Another day of heavy buying would be a bearish short term sign. For NLY the 1.04% gain yesterday is HUGE.

IMAX – Imax Corp. (3D)  Sold at/near open for 35.65. -2% loss

TZA – (3 tomes short small cap stocks)

Bought 1/2 position in TZA (3x short small cap stocks) at 38.65 on Tuesday   Added another 1/2 position to TZA at 39.75 at/near open yesterday

Will consider adding another full TZA positions on a moderate market rally. Otherwise will add a 1/2 position in TZA on minor rally.

The US stock markets have stapled a message in the head of Fed Chair Ben Bernanke. - We are not going to buy until you give us more liquidity/stimulus.

The question becomes how low can you go?

Repeat - Therefore Strategy is clear -

• Short any rally - Investors411 will use TZA (3X short small cap stocks) and SDS (2x short S&P 500 more conservative) .
• Sell long positions into any rally -

Disclosure - I own SLV, NLY, & TZA -

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The Fed has moved from an expanding money supply to a neutral – No QE #3. Congress is threatening to contract the money supply. “We [the USA]need to grow at this point more than anything else.” Investors411 outlook will remain negative on the USA unless the Fed and/or congress return to more pro growth policies.

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Longer Term Outlook

Neutral/CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

ALL TRADING INVOLVES RISK AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF PRINCIPLE

Rolling Stone Photo – Wall Street Wives

If you haven’t taken your blood pressure medication this AM – Please take an extra dose before reading below.

Wall Street Wives – Matt Taibbi from the Rolling Stone has come up with another jaw dropper. Remember Geithner and Bernanke’s Wall Street Bailout. Seems that the “wives of   JPMorgan bigwigs walked away with $220 million dollars.” Opening line of editorial – “Most Americans know about that budget. What they don’t know is that there is another budget of roughly equal heft, traditionally maintained in complete secrecy“

The Closing Government Soap Opera. – Remember all the media attention of the $38 billion the Republicans were supposedly cutting from the budget. Two days ago the press went bananas when they found out it was only $14 billion. Yesterday the non partisan CBO put the actual figure at $353 million. Yes, that’s million with an M.

Crony Capitalism - It’s simply not fair to put the blame on the real housewives of of Wall Street or JPM. Now that the Fed was forced to open its books we find out the real husbands at Goldman Sachs got (See Matt Taibbi’s piece) $800 billion from the Fed. Yes, that’s billion with a B.

Get out of Jail Free - The US Treasury Department actually used hash language toward shadow bankers in a sternly worded proclamation Remember the phony foreclosures, robocalls etc. reveled months ago. Billions evaporated thousands lost their homes. Bankers got a tender tap in their wrists. The NYT has finally caught on and its headline story is on No one from Wall Street goes to Jail

GE is to return $3.2 billion tax rebates!? The whole AP story turned out to be a hoax. YOU pay taxes, GE doesn’t. – Bummer

The Prestigious Pinocchio Award. The Japanese government has been less than than honest about the nuclear reactor situation. FYI – TEPCO has just confirmed reactor 4 is open air fussion. YANKEE BOB is back in the comments section (scroll down) with an editorial. Here’s a sample – “the gamble with public safety to use Nuclear energy to boil water has failed.”

Maybe we’re more than just a morsal for Wall Street sharks. EW in the comments sections saw Obama’s deficit speech as hopeful – Obama quotes “There’s nothing serious about a plan that claims to reduce the deficit by spending a trillion dollars on tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires,” …. “There’s nothing courageous about asking for sacrifice from those who can least afford it and don’t have any clout on Capitol Hill. And this is not a vision of the America I know.”

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KISS & Stocks

(Keep It Simple Stupid)

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

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

DOUBLE CHECK ALL DATA, I MAKE MORE THAN GRAMMAR MISTAKES

Today a format change to focus more time on three investments for the 2nd quarter. But first here’s market news

• Fed’s ZIRP (Zero Interest Rate Policy) & QE 2 is sustaining stock rally and forces anyone who wants a high yield is forces into higher risk stocks,  or junk bonds.
• Yesterday’s action was no more than a pause (slight uptick) and we’re close, but haven’t reached oversold levels or a buy the dip level yet
• Paul often makes closing remarks in the comments section of the blog. From yesterday – “If any of you folks like to study the charts, you’ll see on many of the major indicies a clear “double top’ and that often signals coming hell fire and brimstone’s”

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Three Top Investment Areas

Rare Earth Metals - REMX (link to chart)

REMX is the ETF that tracks the major rare earth metal companies. Most data below is from Van Eck Global owner of REMX ETF.

This is a simple supply/demand story. The demand outstrips the supply. China currently provides 97% of rare earth metal production. InDec. of 2010 China announced it would cut exports of rare earth metals 35% because to keep some for their own use. REMX has only 17% exposure to china. It takes a long time to mine these metals so many of the companies REMX invest in have yet to become major producers. Obviously the companies/mines outside China are ramping up production as fast as possible.

Some applications for Rare earth metals include hybrid cars,steel alloys, wind turbines, flat screen TV’s, jet engines & cell phones. So you can understand the demand.

Downside risk – If we fall into a second recession or depression REMX will suffer. However it should outperform because of the supply/demand issue.

Gold - GLD & DGP (2x or ultra long gold)(both ticker symbols are links to charts)

GLD & DGP (2X) are the ETF’s that track gold prices. Obviously DGP carries twice the risk/reward.

Arguably the #1 source for gold information is GFMS Reuters last week featured their supply/demand analysis on both gold and silver. The fundamentals are relevant, but we all know, gold prices move higher on fear of the future.

I follow Jesse’s Cafe Americain on both gold and silver. The technical analysis and inside information is superb. In the future Investors411 will give updates from this site.

Silver – SLV & AGQ (2x silver) (both ticker symbols are links to charts)

SLV & AGQ are the ETF’s that track silver prices. Obviously AGQ carries twice the risk/reward.

Silver has more industrial uses. Links to important information on silver above.

If you are considering investing in this area or just want a good laugh you have to watch one of the two bears videos on silver. “You want me to buy more silver? Holy s–t man I’m going to s–t my pants.”

Paul would be a great source on individual gold, silver and rare earth companies if you are interested ask. MCP is the one company that I like in rare earth field. We almost put this on YOUR Stock List #4, but decided REMX would cover the sector.

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Positions

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

Japan – TEPCO in Japan has finally called for outside help. Even Greenpeace is on the ground saying their readings differ from TEPCO’s (science over politics) Common Dreams web site has a fascinating  real time tweeter updates TEPCO admits protracted and uncertain operation to contain crisis. Here the short version of the best video yet on the tsunami

Taxes –  GE made $14.2 billion in profits last year and over $5 billion in the USA. Guess how much they paid in taxes last year year Wait for it, Wait for it,  Wait for it – ZERO.  Now remember your taxes are due by April 15. Only in America

Financial Reform – Seems that virtually all Republicans and some Democrats are doing everything possible to make sure that those too big to fail shadow banks that destroy the meager measures the Dodd/Frank Bill put in place. The NYT’s lead editorial yesterday

Libya – This call may be premature, but it looks like after the allied/UN air strike many who supported Ka Daffy are changing sides. At least his army in the eastern 1/2 of the country has melted away. Al Jazeera reports no resistance to rebels in his home town. Huffington Post live blog

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KISS & Stocks

(Keep It Simple Stupid)

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

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

DOUBLE CHECK ALL DATA, I MAKE MORE THAN GRAMMAR MISTAKES

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Here’s the chart that demonstrates what Investors411 has been saying  since last year and why the Bulls Rule in our liquidity driven Fed manipulated stock market. (I realize most of you are sick of me saying the above again and again, but NOW is the opportunity to profit from this)

• This chart was done by Kevin McCElroy from Seeking Alpha.
• Want to know more? – Impact of POMO on Dollar by LFB from SA

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Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

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

BUBBLE-ICIOUS - Investors411 term for the stock market – We are all riding on the outside of an ever expanding &  Central Bank manipulated liquidity stock bubble. See Investors411 STRATEGY section for more

• Another weak volume liquidity driven manipulated rally on Friday.
• On the surface it looks like the rag tag exuberant bunch called rebels in Libya are winning, because oncee air strikes clobbered exposed military units resistance became almost non existent – For stock = bullish. For oil = Bearish For Ka Daffy = Bearish
• Black Swans (Big event bad news) everywhere. From John Nyaradi on this week’s outlook in stocks. Remember bad news is more often than not an elixir for stocks because it means a stronger possibility of more quantitative easing.

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Shorter Term Forecasting Indexes

• The Dollar (USD) [Any daily price move over +/- 0.50 is significant. Dollar usually moves inversely to stocks]   The dollar rose significantly +0.74% Bearish longer term pattern still in place, but we have started a three day bull run For stocks = Bullish/Neutral
• McClellan Index - (MO) [The very rough guideline is over +60 = overbought market = sell positions or short stocks, & -60 = oversold market = buy stocks .] MO rose to +24.38 Getting oversold. Over past three months The MO has had problems getting over +30 = Bearish /Neutral

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Reading The Tea Leaves

The Bulls have had a stellar 7 day run in weak volume. (weak volume rally= calling card of a liquidity driven manipulated market)  They are starting to come up against some technical resistance that may slow them down – A rising dollar and the MO nearing overbought levels. “Merger” Monday  has historically been the best day of the week. If Ka Daffy supporters don’t have the stomach for a fight you could see rally continue. The however  perversely good news (lower oil prices if Ka Daffy looses) may turn out negative because it would mean less of a chance of QE ##

Short term rising dollar and oversold levels should hold bulls back this week.

War room

Every major group of traders is sitting in their war rooms discussing the end of QE #2 (quantitative easing) and how it will impact markets before/on/after June 30th (ending date)

Will the Fed do a QE #3? Since we have over 3 months till this happens bulls should rule unless too many traders front run what they perceive is the end of quantitative easing. Frankly, there are whole mess of investors out there who believe there will be a QE #3.

So best read of tea leaves is still bullish till June 30th. More low volume rallies. (see chart above)

What to watch today

• USO - ETF for oil - Oil up = stocks down - Now back above $100. - Headlines from Libya.
• UUP - (Tracking ETF for dollar) Remember - The dollar is a contrarian indicator. Bad dollar = good stocks
• AAPL – Trading below 50 day MA is bearish.
• Japan Rector Developments

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Positions

UWM – - Sell order  for original UWM position is a 5% trailing stop

ETF’s currently Under Consideration.

EWV for those who love risk is the ETF that is ultra short (2x) Japan. Problems there are under estimated and/0r covered up.

UCO -(2x oil prices) Why not, its also a hedge against higher gas prices. - approaching highs of last month & 2010 – I do own this ETF in other accounts and have sold covered calls on some of it.

REMX (Rare Earth ETF) - Really believe this a good long term holding. Dipped in front of a strong resistance level.

DGP – (ETF is 2X gold)also SLV (silver). Breakout on worries of future inflation – Gold is moving inversly to the dollar

DBC - (Commodities ETF) For a more complete list of commodity ETF’s see POSITIONS listed at top of blog  DBC is tilted to energy.  A good alternative would be DJP that is more agriculture and metals -

RJA (Agriculture commodities Index)An ETN, not an ETF.

UWM (2x small cap stocks) TNA (3X small cap stocks)

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

Your Stock List seems to be turning the corner and has 5 breakout stocks

3 of the 4 major indexes are above their 50 DMA’s and the NASDQ is sitting on its 50 DMA.

The Bulls retake the mother of all support/resistance levels. Are the Bailout Banks lying? Why Pakistan’s lawyers matter to you. Obama’s gets earmarked. Why you should date and not marry stocks and who got clobbered last night in the Jim Cramer (CNBC/financial channel) vs. Jon Stewart (comedy central) Showdown.

Opening a Can of Whup Ass

Are Bailout Banks Lying? 

(See comment section comments by Robert H)

Pakistan’s Lawyers March

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Obama get Earmarked

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Barack blew it when he approved a budget that contained almost 2% earmarks.  OK some of these earmarks are relevant, but the focus was suppose to be on creating jobs jobs, jobs then energy, health care and education, not congressional members pet projects. Story from MN Star Tribune.

CAUTION: All the old problems still exist.  Technically ,retesting the bottom (an ominous 666 on the SPX) is more likely than not.

But right now ride the wave. Two days ago Investors411 suggested it was time to “nibble” again (for investors with large cash positions)  

Best Guess – flat day and rally continues next week. But, if volume continues to fall duck and cover.

Ben Bernanke will be on TV show 60 Minutes this weekend

A Stiff Upper Lip 

You’ve got to admire the Brit’s for their stiff upper lip. Across the pond they’re in a lot more trouble than we are from England to the Ukraine. Most of the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe bought into what they thought was the American dream. It turned into an over leveraged toxic asset bubble with banks/countries wobbling on the cliff of insolvency nightmare.  

But at least the Brits  have some degree of transparency. Here almost everything  except the amount of bailout and stimulus funds is a deep dark secret. Take the deeply troubled Bank of Scotland now all but completely nationalized by the Bank of England.

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Transparency

The Royal Bank of Scotland has put admitted to  $722 billion of “troubled assets” of over leveraged toxic debt and are trying to wind down those liabilities. This loss is staggering England with about 1/5th the gross GDP of the USA.  But, they are dealing with the problem in the open.  We don’t even know the staggering amount of over leveraged debt of AIG, GE, GM or any of our major/minor banks.  The only thing we do know is the near meltdown of the financial system when Lehman Brothers went belly up and its toxic debt brought the entire worldwide banking system to its knees.

Unfortunately we also know this problem is going to get worse. Because more defaults are on the way,  unemployment is growing, home prices declining, and esoteric mortgages will soon start charging higher rates of reurn.

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Obama Pass/Fail

Let’s give the guy credit for a transparent budget. He’s getting some excellent reviews because he stopped hiding many items like the Iraq war as part of the overall budget. 

But on the other hand he’s getting clobbered with his rosy economic assessment of the future. Whose he kidding? The US GDP will be -1.2% this year and +3.2% next year. A consensus of Economists believes otherwise as Peter Goodman in NYT point out. (Many thanks to one of you who emailed me this article)

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“Geithner’s Folly”

Our new Sec. of Treasury has come up with something called a “stress test” for big banks.  Let’s get real. The vast majority of these toxic institutions invented the stuff that the Bank of Scotland has already admitted to. Big banks are broken. Wake up and smell the coffee – Geithner “is asking the wrong question. The question he is posing is: how can the government save Citigroup? The right question is: how can the government rebuild the banking system?”  Bob Kuttner, columnist for BusinessWeek, Boston Globe and co founder of the American Prospect on no matter how good the rescue plan is it doesn’t matter a lick if you don’t fix the banks.

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AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

Stocks

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Technicals & Fundamentals

Just about every front page is covering the biggest ever quarterly loss - $62 billion by AIG. 

From Friday – “The Ugly news” would be - “The SPX ends closing  a bit below 741.  This would just establish a lower low (see chart on right side of blog) and further entrench the bears rule chart pattern.”  

The SPX ended up at 735 (A bit below its mother of all support barriers) and technically this along with no climax selloff  shows there’s more down side to come. Perhaps today we may see a climax selling panic today and a chance to nibble. To have a “climax” sell off you need both a big fall and big volume.

Big news of the week is the employment numbers for February come out Friday. 

Reading the Tea Leaves – How many Danger Will Robinson Danger Danger signals can there be?   – Hope you protected any long investments.

Long Term Outlook = BEARS RULE

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

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

Market Updates – The Fork in the Road

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News

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The Stories/News not Covered in Depth Today

• Long Term Structural Analysis (part 2) The How and Why the imbalance of wealth between the rich and poor in the USA caused the “Great Recession,” and why we need to address this problem.
• AIG – The mother of all Insurance companies is again near collapse. If the collapse of the much smaller Lehman Brothers sparked the financial crisis and sent 400+ billion dollars of over leveraged debt throughout the world, imagine the collapse of AIG.
• GE – The mother of all conglomerates is now trading below $10 because of its financial units over leveraged positions. Sure looks like a death spiral similar to auto industry.
• Banks – “How Stressed is Your Bank” from Time magazine. The real problem s not now, but what happens when the bad/toxic debt grows in 2010 and beyond
• The latest wisdom from Nobel Prize winning Princeton economist Paul Krugman  ”Banking on the Brink” or multi time Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Friedman “Start Up the Risk Takers.”
• Obama speaks to nation tonight

Today’s editorial is on the technical fork in the road.  Just at the mention of the word technical your eyes may glaze over, but - 

We are at one of those turning points in the history of the US Stock market and perhaps the world.  

See stock section below.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

Stocks

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The Fork in the Road

Who knows why looking at chart patterns usually works as a forecast of future events. Perhaps its because we are creatures of habit or perhaps its because so many analysts simply believe technical analysis works. One item of technical analysis that works better than others is the more time that occurs the more accurate the predictability and significance the pattern becomes.

The benchmark S&P 500 is at one of those critical forks in the road and so are world economies.

1970 to 2009 Chart of the S&P 500 below

(sorry for the overlap)

Here’s the Fork on the benchmark S&P 500 – Notice just like the price peaks in 2000 & 2008 at about 1500+, there are two vallies around 750 in 2002/2003 and today.20002/ 2003 was the result of the tech bubble bursting and the uncertainty behind 911. Today, two economic bubbles have recently burst – housing and credit. The critical support level for the S&P 500 is around 750. Since November the rapid fall of the S&P 500 (as well as the other major US indexes) has leveled off at @750 like in 2003.

The good news – The fact that we’ve held onto 750 since November shows strong support. (note – this chart is a bit distorted but it gives a rough approximation)

The bad news – The rate of decline falling to from 1500 is faster than 2000 to 2003, and yesterday the S&P 500 closed just below 750 at 743. If support at 750 fails we could really see some additional significant stock meltdown.

The Dow has already broken down though its 2002/2003 lows but the NASDQ and Russell 2000 are doing a bit better than our benchmark.

This is the mother of all technical trading pattern battles  

Long Term Outlook = BEARS RULE

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

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

Big week in local politics and an art show = very few Market Updates this week

Duck and Cover

Taking Your Job, Your Home, & Your Money

Aside – Note well the correlation between falling stock and home prices. As stock prices fall investors have less money to buy homes and fewer homes get sold. Also the more unemployment rises the greater the foreclosure rate and stocks get toasted too. All three are tied together.

July & October 2007 Dow goes over 14,000 – Then -

1. Investors slowly began to realize that the goose that had laid the golden eggs has died and the housing bubble has burst.
2. Slowly again investors realized there were "Financial WMD’s" (Warren Buffett’s words for Credit Default Swaps – CDS) out there deeply over leveraging the subprime mortgages.
3. Next we learned the unregulated $50 to $70 trillion CDS market involved not only on mortgages, but everything from car loans to credit cards.

The FIX is in as Dow falls to @11,000

The Fed Prints money, Sovereign Wealth Funds buy, Mergers, Your bailout tax dollars, Lower interest rates and a whole lot more occurs globally to fix the housing and unregulated CDS problems

One Big hole in the Dike.

Opps, Nobody comes to the rescue of Lehman Brothers and the 4th largest investment bank goes into bankruptcy. They are so loaded with WMD’s or CDS’s that Lehman Brother’s bond is only worth 8.675 cents on the dollar. LINK $365 billion of over leveraged debt (CDS) is released throughout the world. Immediately London goes limit down (8.9) before stocks open in mid October. Two days after the dust clears the Dow looses about @ 900 points. Investors still believe that the $750 taxpayer bailout will take toxic debt out of system.

Bait and Switch Taxpayer Bailout

Secretary of Treasury Paulson instead of using money as intended to take toxic debt out of the system gives it to mostly big banks. There is no oversight, little transparency in this move which oversteps Paulson’s authority. The banks hoard the $ instead of making new loans. Even Barney Frank who should be and busting blood vessels screaming about this, is just saying "this is not what we intended this money to go for." Brain dead american public/media is busy watch pretty pictures of Obama family and following Brittany Spears Sarah Palin adventures.

Why is there so little objection to Paulson’s probobly criminal move? Probably because without the infusion of your tax dollars (bailout money) these financial stocks would crash and burn because they are loaded with CDS’s. This would send stocks into a massive fall and the 8,000 Dow technical support level would now be a cinder.

Last two weeks – Dow fall @ 12+% from its high

Three HUGE companies that lead three major sectors of the economy are slammed. They all have one thing in common. They are loaded with financial WMD’s of CDS’s.

1. GE – chart falls @25% twice what the Dow fell in last two weeks. GE Financial is loaded with CDS’s or WMD’s
2. Citigoup – chart falls @35% The mega bank loaded with CDS’s announces 40,000 jobs cuts today
3. GM – chart falls over 50%. GMAC – their financial division is loaded with CDS’a or WMD’s. Will the entire auto sector go bankrupt like Lehman Brothers?

Jim Cramer (CNBC Mad Money Friday night) computes that Lehman’s Brothers bankruptcy cost the Dow about 15% and a GM bankruptcy would cost the Dow down another 30%.

Would you lend money to any of these companies? Warren Buffett loaned billions to GE, but since then their stock is down @35%

Fear Returns to Credit Market

See LIBOR and 3 Month Treasury Bill commentary below.

Standing on the Edge of a Cliff

Bottom Line – We’re standing on the edge of a cliff. Technically we are @500 points away from the last line in the sand support level for the Dow at 8,000. There s one ledge on the cliff that says nasty long recession. The abyss is a depression.

This is not the time to be Long Stocks, unless you have short positions that protect these long positions. There are just too many things that have to go right for us to fundamentally hold the 8,000 support level. Who were the institution(s) that bought the last time at 8,000. one totally wild proposition is the Treasury or the Fed somehow stepped in and bought or encouraged (twisted arms) institutions to buy at Dow 8,000.

Please somebody talk me down from the edge. Till then BEARS RULE and at some point in time the 8,000 support level will collapse. Housing will continue to decline. Even if Obama can walk on water (he can’t) his administration is two months away. The worst is yet to come.

I know I’m sounding like Dr Doom, (Nouriel Roubini) so let me put the icing on this dark cake. Scroll down a little and look at this chart of consumer spending since 1993 to present.

When we fall which ledge will we hit?

Stocks

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Index % Change Volume

Dow -3.82% down
NASDQ -5.00% down
S&P500 -4.17% down
Russell2000 -7.07% –

Headline

US Market & Foreign Markets

Technicals

[From Friday -"Yesterday's rally was all about the technical aspects of the market and had little to do with fundamentals."]

About 2/3 of Thursday’s gains were wiped out (in lower volume) = Bad news for Bulls – Benchmark Dow down 5% for week.

Asia closes slightly higher overnight. China leads up + 2.22%

Futures on the Dow down about -2% at 9:00 AM EST.
Chart of the benchmark S&P 500

Chart of the Russell 2000

Chart of the NASDQ

Chart of the Dow

Fundamentals

See above editorial.

Three Month Treasury Bill & LIBOR

Credit markets are the dog and the Stock Markets are the tail. Without credit the tail won’t wag.

Real progress WAS being made. The credit spreads are tightening and LIBOR has fallen from 4.8% a three weeks ago to 2 .24. However, The last four days the LIBOR has started to rise again. This rise is accelerated. NOT good news for Bulls

LIBOR at ___? this AM. # comes out at 9:00AM EST.

The 3MTB fell -31.58% yesterday and closed at 0.130% The Fed rate is 1.00% The rally is good news, but it is well below the 0.20% support level. A normal 3MTB would be just under the Fed rate.

Sure looks like PANIC is starting to envelop the credit markets again

3 MTB chart

LIBOR chart (3 month)

Bottom Line – LIBOR falling helps Main Street’s – Credit cards to adjustable mortgage rates are tied to LIBOR. But by no means is credit back to normal.

OIL

Chart of oil (WTIC)

The Dollar

Dollar and Yen are rising. (More on this later)

Chart of Dollar

The VIX

The VIX (measures amount of fear/volatility in S&P) .

Chart of VIX
Short Term Outlook
= NASDQ broke support and closed at a new low. Other major indexes within 2% of closing lows

[Repeat] The overall problem that America has is consumers and government are over leveraged. American’s have borrowed and spent their way into massive debt.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Long Term Outlook – BEARS RULE

Changes to Bottom Line section bolded .

Technicals
- Double bottom has formed, advance in strong increased volume. Technically all this = at least a short term rally and maybe a long term bottom.
Reading tea leaves
- Look for range between 8000 and 10,000 for rest of year. Very concerned 8000 Support level will not hold.
Fundamentals
- Financial mortgage transparency problem (credit default swaps $50 to $70 trillion) is far far far far far far far far far bigger than anyone thought. New worldwide rescue plan offers hope, but this rally is going to be a bumpy ride because retail investors trust has been shaken. Global growth is obviously slowing.

We are in a recession. How bad/long the worldwide recession will be is be is the major question. It’s beginning to look like the recession might last through 2009 – perhaps longer

Asset Allocation/Recommended Sectors (long term)

50% to 90% Cash – This depends on your risk tolerance – Long Term Investors (up to 10+% stocks – only buy big dips) Wait for the next big dip to add 5 to 10% PROTECT ANY LONG POSITIONS .

*5%+% US Index Funds
UWM (ETF that does 2x what Russell 2000 does) & QLD (ETF that does 2X the NASDQ ) DDM (ETF that does 2X the Dow ) SSO (ETF does 2X the S&P 500)

*10%+ Emerging Markets
EWZ (Brazil) should out perform other emerging markets in a rally and under perform in a fall – highest risk
FXI (China ETF)

*5%+ Alternative Energy
GEX(Alternative energy ETF) (If Obama wins you will see this sector flourish)

Chief Strategy – Buy the DIPS of trending sector – This is not your fathers market- over the 8 Bush years the Dow has gone from 11,000 to 9,000 and uncertainty clouds the future. The major trend now is volatility.

Traders who have a strong tolerance for risk jump in on dips and invest more. Sell or go short into major rallies. Long term Investors who can tolerate risk and are 100% in cash nibble just a little on big dips. (5% on each big dip) Do not buy into rallies.

Shorting – Three ETF that short 2x what the the major indexes do – Long term traders should use these ETF’s when markets get close to major resistance levels.

TWM – ultra short Russell 2000
QID – ultra short NASDQ
SDS – ultra short S&P 500

As Always Do Your Own Research Before Investing