Iraq Fireworks

US troops are leaving Iraq cities today. Last night there was a different kind of fireworks in the skies in Iraq. (Huffington Post photo)

Here’s one big problem – The fascist government in Iran is a major backer of their fellow Shia in Iraq. This includes Sadr who fought US occupation and immediately recognized Ahmadinejad as President. Reasonable to predict the "Supreme Leader" in Iran will try to have the same fascist and militant influence in Iraq as they do over terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah .

Iran (week 3 )

Nico Pitney’s blog at the Huffington Post has broke and provided more info than any other US news outlet . here

Elections were certified by Supreme Leader’s government. More, but smaller (in thousands not 10′s of thousands+) demonstrations and increasing arrests. Iranian protesters are shouting Allah Acbar on their rooftops every night in defiance.

Climate Change/Environmental Legislation

Willing to bet that 75% of America’s population has no idea that this legislation is working its way through Congress. Yesterday Investors411 went over one reason why this legislation is important – to combat global warming . Let’s go over one more.

#2 Pollution

Close the garage door, turn on the car engine, open the car windows, go to sleep and you don’t wake up. Pollution kills

We are a carbon based economy and this has had a huge positive economic impact. But the cumulative effect of growing population and increasing pollutants has turned many Chinese cities days into nights where cars have to drive around with headlights on and use windshield wipers to view the road (massive pollution mostly from coal). Simply put, pollution kills by everything from cancer to emphysema.  Trillions in health care costs could be saved and life expectancy would grow with less pollution.

Realism is needed here . Carbon based energy is very efficient and transitioning to alternatives is going to take many decades.

Chevron has "human energy" ads that proclaims we are going to need to work on ways of creating new sources of energy – wind, solar, geothermal, natural gas and oil. They’re right. You simply can’t just shut down oil exploration without devastating the world’s economic structure. But we can take some concrete steps to more environmentally friendly solutions.

(to be continued)

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

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Your Market Questions (part 1)

Thanks for all the public and private comments on how well Investors411 did in the first 1/2 of the year .

See Positions section & last Thursday’s update . (click on calendar) The major question is will we do as well in the first 1/2 of the year in the 2nd 1/2. Also, a general worry over the long term viability of stocks and the economy .

These questions are  outlined and addressed  in the Strategy and Overview sections of blog. Most of those sections were first introduced at the beginning of the year, then added to a few months ago. Little has changed.

The long term economic problem is the huge hole that was dug by removing the regulations on capitalism and letting greed run wild.  When it takes decades (especially the last one) to dig an economic hole, you don’t climb out of it overnight.

What’s happened is most savvy investors realizes that we almost had a complete world wide financial collapse last September and it now looks like we will survive. The major problems is getting banks to make loans, keeping loans affordable, and fixing growing unemployment.  Fixing these now could have long term negative impact.

China, India, Brazil simply have better balance sheets than the USA and in the case of Brazil more natural resources. They also did not did deep holes.

If we don’t develop alternative energy we will be stuck in a downward energy spiral forever. Cheap oil (the kind that bubbles out of the ground) is a finite commodity. Any recovery is going to be accompanied by rising oil prices.

Will the second half be as good as the first? I doubt it. Our core holdings should outperform, and if stocks do go higher in the USA our ETF’s should do even better . Investors411 biggest mistake is not being disciplined enough in buying dips.

(More later)

Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

Note - Repeated statements in brown. Added the VIX back as a prediction tool .

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods (world trade) . If trade is diminishing through out the world then a worldwide recovery is in big trouble. BDI started back up yesterday Long term Bullish although consolidating right now.

$USD - The Dollar fell-0.72% Friday and -0 0.04% yesterday. Any move over 0.50 is significant. The strong inverse correlation between the dollar and stocks has existed for many moons. Neutral – we are in a consolidating pattern.

Long term momentum for dollar is bearish. Short term  mo is neutral, but we are closer to a bottom side breakdown than an upside breakout. Any breakout or breakdown would be significant.

VIX – Measures Volatility in S&P 500. Notice this chart is in almost a straight line down.  The less volatility means the better investors are feeling. Yesterday the VIX fell to the same level it was when Lehman Brothers collapsed and markets exploded to the downside.  Stocks still have not reached the level they were when Lehman collapsed. Long term Bullish for stocks

NB – The above are secondary indicators. Our mantra has always been Volume is the #1 forecasting tool – Right now volume is not giving any clear long term signal.

Reading the Tea Leaves .

This weeks fearless forecast – A rally, but one that does not get to new highs. Yesterday we had a mild to moderate rally in 3 of the 4 major indexes. Small caps(Russell2000) lost ground, but this is probably due to the annual rebalancing where some stocks are added and others kicked out of the index.

Short term – Volume dropped and markets rallied – you like stocks to go up, but when volume drops in a rally a reversal is usually around the corner.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

WHAT’S UP? – Iran Day 6 – Health Care, Despite 76% of American’s wanting a public component, its in trouble, why – The regulatory rewrite – Reading the Stock Tea Leaves – India – Stock predictions and more

Iran Day 6

Best sources for what happening remain The Huffington Post , Andrew Sullivan’s blog, and the BBC . (See yesterday’s post)

• Day of mourning for fallen proclaimed by opposition leader Moussavi
• Demonstrations continue and Ahmadinejad government continues to censor press (foreign and Local) and beat/arrest demonstrators

Scott (see posts on the right) reminds us Ahmadinejad is not a dictator and more like a "Secretary of State." He’s right. The "Supreme Leader" Ayatollah Khamenei is the religious dictator . He is backed up by a group of other religious leaders whose head is a Moussavi supporter.  The question is will this oligarchy of conservative religious leaders win or will "Supreme Leader."

Remember there were over 300 candidates for President and only 4 approved candidates allowed to run.

Health Care

76% of Americans want a public heath care plan to go along with a private plan NBC/WSJ Poll Link Unfortunately this legislation is in trouble. Here’s why.

• Opposition by HMO’s who fear competition
• Opposition by Drug companies who fear decline in prices
• Opposition from AMA. Doctors who fear loss in revenue.
• Decline in Obama popularity because of the depth of the economic problems.

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

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Technicals & Fundamentals

So far Volume has simply not confirmed any price move. Yesterday volume, although higher was not yet even close to average.

The exceptions is the NASDQ – Yesterday’s modest rally was accompanied by above average volume.  This is not yet significant because the rally was so modest +0.66%

Jobless rate for week =

Long Awaited Government’s Regulatory Fix

The administration released its prescription for regulatory fixes for what went wrong in the financial meltdown (102 pages) The reaction from Wall Street – Stocks went nowhere .

You’d think at least financial companies (shadow banks and related institutions) who got us into this whole mess would be in panic over regulatory changes. The XLF (financials/shadow banks) did loose -2.93% yesterday and is down this week in anticipation of this report. But this drop is not nearly as big as many over the past few months.

Conclusion – Too early to draw a conclusion about how effective some of these changes may be. They have to get through congress. Simply judging from the reaction of the Shadow Banks prices.  Their concerned – prices have fallen – but not panicked.

Just judging from how investors are reacting to proposed regulations – The suggested regulations are not tough enough. If they were we would have seen a bigger meltdown.

This is, hopefully, going to be the biggest regulatory rewrite since the Great Depression .

Significant forecasting tools/Indexes for stock markets

Note - Repeated statements in brown

$USD – The dollar is the index to watch. The bottom line right now is – When the dollar goes down-stocks and oil prices go up and visa versa. After two significant days where the dollar was up a total of over 2% it fell -0.58% Tuesday & -0.59% Wednesday. Investors 411 mantra is Dollar rallies = Oil & Stock prices fall.

XLF - The ETF that tracks financials (mostly shadow banks ) have been stuck in consolidation for over 3 weeks. -2.93% in noticeably higher volume .

WTIC – Oil prices closed up -0.67% yesterday. 

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index measures the flow of goods (world trade). 24 up days in a row, 6 down day in a row, & now a 5 day rally. But yesterday the move higher was minimal and we have not reached the highs of 6 days ago.

Reading the Tea Leaves

Monday’s lead statement - " Expect a tired low volume market to retreat this week ".

The rising dollar is technically the most important influence on stocks. The correlation between the dollar rising and stocks doing the opposite is perhaps greater than 80% over the last few months.

NB – Volume is confirming Nothing. So it looks like the support levels will hold. This prediction yesterday looks premature . The XFL (could fall off a cliff if they think financial regulations are too stringent) and this would bring stocks down. Of course we need good regulatory laws and enforcement to prevent the same thing from happening again.

Positions

IFN (India) - Bought a small amount of IFN yesterday (India) yesterday at 27.6) This will probably fall more in sympathy when US markets fall.  So I may be premature in buying. Will buy more on larger dip.

The dollar is still key to market & oil prices.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

WHAT’S UP? – Three influential  personalities are shaping future trends - Jesse “the body” Ventura; Jim “mad money” Cramer ; Arianna “she’s everywhere” Huffington.  Their views on the future of capitalism and American morality will impact your money and your lives; Investors411 just took +23%, +16% and +26% profits in 3 different areas – Was it a mistake?

Jesse Ventura

Jesse’s been a Navy Seal, a World Wrestling Federation Champ and the Governor of Minnisota. Last week he came up with the following quote on why we should prosecute Dick Cheney for torture-

“You give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I’ll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.”

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

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Technicals & Fundamentals

From yesterday – Let’s stick with the same prediction, for this week as last. More consolidation with a downside bias. After 9 up weeks in a row a consolidation is good for bulls. Going too far too fast creates bubbles. 

Major US and world markets couldn’t wait for a consolidation and instead on the India news (See yesterday’s Investors411) IFN India  ETF was up +21.5%) exploded higher. A relatively positive earnings forecast from Lowe’s (home building/remodeling supplies) helped. Competitor Home Depot had basically the same report this AM.

There is one ingredient missing - VOLUME - The #1 confirmation factor of any rally did not show up yesterday. Below average declining volume indicates that the huge amount of money on the sidelines stayed there. 

XLF - The ETF that tracks financials (mostly shadow banks ) exploded higher yesterday  +6.59% in below average declining volume. Volume is NOT confirming the price move. Of course, they again outperformed.

Market’s Major Mantra - Again – “If Shadow Banks go up – so will stocks. If Shadow banks go down so will stocks” 

WTIC - Oil prices fell from the $60+ high last week and have established a range between $54 and $60. Up Monday +4.54% to $59.59. This is directly below the the major $60 resistance level.  Hard to tell if stocks are pulling oil prices or visa versa. Both seems to be signaling a rebound in the economy. 

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index that measures world trade  broke through resistance last week and is at a new 6 month high. The BDI broke through a major resistance early last week and rose another +2.4% yesterday.  World trade is critical, because if protectionism/nationalism between countries grows over trade the recovery is doomed. Very Bullish indicator for world economics and stocks

Reading this weeks tea leaves - From yesterday - Lets hope and predict a consolidation with a downside bias this week in weak volume. BDI and India are both long term  positives. If 877 support holds on (Mon, Tues. & Wed.) the S&P 500, we could see  the nine week stampede of bulls continue later this week. 877 is the number to watch.

Looks like I was wrong – or I let hope of a consolidation cloud my judgement. The stampeding bulls did NOT wait till the end of the week to get the stampede started.  When bulls stampede they just blindly move. Today they’ll look around and wonder why their fellow bulls did not show up.

We’ve had 3 days in a row of declining volume as markets went south. Then a major reversal in still less volume.

Certainly looks like only short term traders are putting their money down. Benchmark S&P 500 closed at @ 910 and last week its high was @930. We could reach or even surpass that 930 resistance level. But without volume after another short term push higher expect a fall.

Reasons to rally-

• Markets are moving higher on good news
• BDI has broken out and moving higher
• Rising Oil prices reflect an economic rebound
• Financial analysts keep mentioning “green shoots” sprouting up all over.
• Obama is one good salesman.
• Shadow banks have government support

Why are the giant institutions and massive amounts of cash staying on the sidelines? Not having VOLUME confirm the rally is maddening and therefore definitive longer term calls are suspect. However, the mojo is back with the bulls.

Was it a mistake to get out of certain positions too early? +23%, +16% & +26% (See Positions section of blog) Perhaps, and will buy back into EWZ (Brazil) on dip.  Would buy back into XLF (financials) as longer term investment on dip -A smaller position than before. Also looking for a dip to buy some more GLD

However still short term trading FAS and UYG (ultra financials)on dips.

NO major long term  moves now – Be patient - But a tradable market.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING !

WHAT’S UP? - A Standing O at Notre Dame; India/Democracy’s big win; Jim Cramer on who brought our nation to its knees. Soaring stock market – after9 weeks in a row takes a breather; Of course more on Shadow banks; Reading the Tea Leaves.

Photo – Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Obama’s Sanding Ovation at Notre Dame

The contrast between Obama and the previous administration is like night and day.  Where Cheney Bush projected fear and confrontation, Obama, who inherited two wars and and the greatest economic meltdown since the great depression, worked on ways finding common ground. You can listen to his compelling 30 minute address at this link

Those who tuned in to see Barack the pro choice “baby killer” were soarley  disappointed.

photo BBC

Big Victory in the World’s Largest Democracy

The Congress Party in India surprised the pundents and came close to winning a majority in parliament. The party that saw the biggest drop was (Hindu Nationalist Party) who, as the name implies, fosters nationalism and fear of those who are different.  Also shrinking in size were the many independent parties including the Communist. (Congress will be less dependent on the Communists who were their allies in last government)

Its hard to say how big or small a role Obama’s election in the USA played in the victory of the more moderate Congress party. But the bottom line – a more moderate, less confrontational, and pro business victory in India benefits the world. Congress did reach out and gained more votes from the lower classes in India. Stocks in India have surge 17% – BBC

photo – Time mag.

Cramer’s Interview 

Money quote from CNBC’s most popular stock analyst Jim Cramer, in Time magazine  on the financial innovations of last several decades -

They almost brought our country down. The only guy who really called this right was Carl Marx. Marx understood what would happen if you let the markets run amok. Of course, it was done by right-wing Republicans. They brought our nation to its knees, and we’re not going to end up being a great power because of what happened.

Cramer did take it on the chin in a Jon Stewart interview. Stewart’s  attack was directed rightly at the financial channels concept of cheerleading unregulated markets. Cramer obviously took the attack personally.(See past Investors411 for more)