Was getting Saddam worth it?

Blood, Sand & Dollars

Obama last night gave a major address on Iraq as we have decreased the number of US troops (private mercenaries?) to 50,000 supposedly “non combat” troops. One can give Obama some point because he brought the troops out faster than McCain would have.  But lets look at the fractured mess of blood, sand & dollars left in Iraq and its impact on the US & the world.

• The fractured coalition of former US support and condemnation by UN for this war has seriously undermined our worldwide credibility
• How many lies, distortions and fabrications told by the US government to its citizens and the world?
• The strengthened positions of Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, & the Taliban as US occupation acted as a recruiting tool for every terrorist group in the world and kept troops tied to Iraq.
• 75,000 US troops killed or wounded in both combat & non combat rolls. Many more coming home with deep psychological problems.
• Costs on the ground will go over $1 trillion and according to nobel prize winner Joe Stiglets and additional $2 to $4 trillion caring for those returning etc.
• Up to 4 million displaced Iraqi’s. 1.7 million still living abroad. Who really knows over the  projected 100,000 dead Iraqi’s there really are?
• Stalemate in Iraq elections for over six months and majority of officials friendly to Syria or Iran.
• A country in shambles, corruption rampant, and police stations still getting blown up. (level of violence has decreased from two years ago, but still higher than when we first invaded.
• The damage to our constitutional laws and international laws were deeply wounded in this disaster.

The list could go on & on. Nailing a brutal dictator that was an insignificant threat (the Germans’, French, Russians, UN and others realized this) to us was simply not worth the cost.

Israel & Peace

It’s fashionable for some to lay the blame on Israel in the upcoming peace negotiations. They have made mistakes. But how do you make peace with Hamas when on the verge of peace talks they ambush 4 civilians (one pregnant women) and hold a 3000 person joyous rally in celebration of and taking credit for the “heroic “massacre of civilians?

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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!

Technicals, Fundamentals & Analysis

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

Mantra for the month - The Black Box/High Frequency Traders BB/HFT control the majority of trades. Jim Cramer -”BB/HFT make up 80% of trades.”

Sure was a whole lot of volume going on for a flat trading day. In Wall Street technical language they call this “Churning.” More often than not a big battle like yesterday between bulls & bears means a reversal in direction. In this case that would be a rally.

YOUR stock list is now contained in the POSITIONS section of the blog. It’s at the bottom.

Another strategy that some of YOU are using is more conservative and it involves buying stocks with high dividends. Here another list of the top 10 dividend stocks of the Dow. The obvious benefit of these stocks is the second revenue stream from dividends for long term investors. Example CVX offers 3.4% or VZ 6.3%.

The same, but longer term buy/ sell strategy can be used. But when conditions are oversold and the Dow is lower and at a certain date in the future sell when conditions are overbought. Use the MO as a guide.

Significant Indexes

• The Dollar (USD) [Anything daily price move over +/- 0.50 is significant. Dollar moves inversely to stocks] The dollar rose +0.03%. and closed just above its falling 50DMA. For Stocks = Neutral
• The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) [measures cost of world trade. Also proxy for China & emerging markets] Again rose a marginal +o.04%. After a 5 week rally the BDI has flattened out. Now consolidating. = Neutral
• McClellan Index – (MO) [The rough guideline is over +60 = overbought market = sell positions or short stocks, & -60 = oversold market = buy stocks.] MO rose  to -32.52.  We’re on the minus side of Zero, but not yet near -60. Therefore = NEUTRAL

Reading Tea Leaves

Sure looks like the calm before the storm – flat markets & neutral forecasting indexes. One anomaly was a massive -3.33% drop in the price of oil yesterday.

Overall think the BB/HFT’s are setting up for a rally. Flat dollar & MO on the negative side of zero. The “churning”  has also been a fairly reliable indicator.

Nation Building in Iran, Afghanistan etc. is a trend that’s is is doing serious economic harm to the UA.

Positions

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

Current positions - Small position in EWS (Singapore)

USO (commodity-Oil) hit the stop I had placed on it. This position is now closed with no gain or loss. Still plan to buy USO & UCO (ETF that is 2X USO) on dips lower.

Long Term Outlook – NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING!

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Hottest 6 Months Ever

The last 6 months have been the hottest ever on the planet. The record breaking heat waves of the East Coast are part of this

“The record temperatures we’re seeing now are especially impressive because we’ve been in “the deepest solar minimum in nearly a century.” It now appears to be over.”

This NASA news should have been the headline of every major paper. Instead the top link I found was the following minor site. If you want some science data on greenhouse gasses, global warming & how it works see National Reasearch Council of National Acadamy of Sciences

Alternative you can laugh with the Drudge Report or Fox News when they headline a goup of climatologists meet and it snows. Or read when they healine a couple climatologist who have seemingly fudged data, but are later exonerted. They, of course ignore or bury the NASA data.

“We’re getting a dramatic taste of the kind of weather we are on course to bequeath to our grandchildren,” says Tom Peterson, Chief Scientist for NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.”

Reboot America

16 of America’s Leading Economists/Historians have come together to fight the Tea Party/Fox/CNBC/ Libmbaugh/Bachmann/Palin (Thanks to Popeye for his Bachmann comment) message of cut the deficit NOW. They realize that Jobs is the #1 priority NOW.  Their conclusion-

The urgent need is for government to replace the lost purchasing power of the unemployed and their families and to employ other tax-cut and spending programs to boost demand. Making deficit reduction the first target, without addressing the chronic underlying deficiency of demand, is exactly the error of the 1930s. It will prolong the great recession, harm the social cohesion of the country, and continue inflicting unnecessary hardship on millions of Americans

Obama’s Address

Republican’s have been blocking aid to small business and unemployment compensation for weeks. Here’s Obama’s weekly address.

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

Economic fundamentals, some bad earnings report, and an options expiration Friday seemed to have made the Black Box/High Frequency Traders dive for cover.

Volume was a bit above average for the older DOW & S&P 500. Still it was NOT the kind of volume you’d associate with a major stock meltdown, but more the kind of volume you’d expect when options expire (The 3rd Friday of the month) Translation – Black Box traders clearly in charge of markets.

Almost 3% decline – Bearish

Earning come out big time week.

You can check pre market trading here – Just type in ticker symbol

Significant Indexes-

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) fell to +7.53 [+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 Friday was basically flat -0.09% [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. This inverse relationship is part of their algorithmic system. There was a delayed reaction the last time the dollar fell over 1.00% – The next day we had an almost 3% rise in stocks.  For stocks =BULLISH
• 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 1700 yesterday. This is a huge -60% drop 8 weeks.  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 Friday +1.18% yesterday. At long last the BDI finding a bottom – a bullish sign, but too early to tell. Fundamentally the -60% drop is very BEARISH

Reading Tea Leaves - I haven’t figured out the algorithms associated with High Frequency Trading. So its near impossible to make an accurate predictions of what they will do. However the majority do seem generally to follow the basic +/- 60 indicator on the MO.

Answering The Critic - (see comments section of blog)

• The Good – Yea with a little luck did call the top and the last bottom. This came about by using both the meltdown in the BDI and MO reaching oversold.
• The Bad – Why not invest more? I did set up a probable group of trades (short ETF’s) if the major indexes became more oversold Wednesday and/or Thursday.  Bottom Line – Its not the old time stock market any more. – Phony capitalism rules along with High Frequency Trades. Those ETF’s you mentioned are impacted by phony capitalism and HFT’s so you have to be more cautious. My trades tend to be more conservative (example SH last week instead of SDS) YOU can be more aggressive.
• The Ugly – Fixing High Frequency trades (or phony capitalism) Most of the trades in the 1000 point meltdown were cancelled. However HFT and phony capitalism (example-shadow banks) banks are a reality. In the USA (the leading GDP capitalist country), if the moneyed class keeps getting richer and the middle class poorer market fundamentals will continue to deteriorate.

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

SH – The ETF that shorts the S&P 500 was bought at 51.45. It’s up over 3% now. 1/2 will be sold at 3% profit and a stop/loss has been put in place at what it was bought for.

I’m not so sure Friday’s meltdown was as bad as it looks. It may have been something exaggerate by HFT and Options experation.

No other positions long or short are contimplated in immediate future because MO is neutral.

Obama’s Victories

It may be over the top  to call the events of yesterday Obama victories (credit/blame should be spread), so lets call them birthday presents.

Bottom line -  We should have done better, but it could have been a whole lot worse.

• The BP oil gusher in the Gulf looks to be completely capped. Also, victory for oil industry who now proves they can stop leak at 5,000+ feet.
• SEC gets record settlement against shadow bank GS, legislation to prevent what GS did is included in financial reform legislation, but GS wins by preventing a whole lot of bad PR by going to trial.
• The biggest birthday present is the Financial reform bill passes congress. (Senate, 60 -39)
• Another big victory is Republican leadership, like in health care, promising to repeal it all instead of saying well keep this part because its good and eliminate that.

Here’s the lead NYT editorial on Financial Regulation. Some relevant points.

• “Since January 2009, the financial sector has spent nearly $600 million to weaken reform” – they scored many victories.
• “the margin of victory was really about partisan politics and not the bill’s content.” Majority of blame here is on Republicans, but NYT does not mention Democrats are not without partisan transgressions.

Investors 411 has beat the drum for a tougher bill and it to be more inclusive of transparency in government agencies. However, we got more out of this than we did out of health care legislation. Both are steps in the right direction that need amending.

The next big battle is who heads and is on the board of resolution authority and consumer protection. Geithner is opposing Elizabeth Warren as the new head of Consumer Protection Agency. Warren is perhaps the #1 hero in the accountability, transparency and reform of Wall Street.

YOUR Comments

Sorry I’ve run out of time. However Ewanapat has a fabulous link to a controversial article on Ron Paul/David Stockman . This continues the debate over Barney Frank & Ron Paul stated by SE

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 “Earnings Season begins this week. - How markets react to news has usually been the key. If a stock shrugs and goes nowhere on good earnings news you know there’s trouble ahead. Remember Black Box algorithms  dominate even more as volume declines.”

• 2nd Weak volume flat day in a row = Mildly bearish
• Stocks rallied into close = Bullish
• BP seems to have fully cap oil spill = Bullish
• GS settles with SEC, pays record $550 million fine, but avoids prolonged bad PR = Bullish
• GE reports lowers forecast. Down @2% in pre market trading - Bearish
• GOOG reported earnings and was down @4.5% in pre market trading (7:45 EST) = Bearish
• BAC reports and is down @4.5% this AM = Bearish
• Fin/Reg is over. No ore questions what will legislators do. = Bullish

You can check pre market trading here – Just type in ticker symbol

Significant Indexes-

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) fell to +43.48 [+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. The Black Boxes have not allowed the MO to rise above 80 since 3/09.  Now close to overbought position = mildly bearish
• US Dollar –  The dollar fell a massive -1.04% yesterday [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. This inverse relationship is part of their algorithmic system. There was a delayed reaction the last time the dollar fell over 1.00% – The next day we had an almost 3% rise in stocks.  For stocks =BULLISH
• 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 1700 yesterday. This is a huge -60% drop in almost 8 weeks.  Often a leading indicator for stocks. Here’s a 3 year chart of BDI for context. The BDI fell a much decreased -0.53% yesterday. The decrease could be the start of the BDI finding a bottom – a bullish sign, but too early to tell. Fundamentally the 60% drop is very BEARISH

Reading Tea Leaves

From yesterday “is Black Boxes push markets slightly higher. Reasons – dollar probably continues to fall  & momentum higher at close yesterday.”

Today – Yesterday’s huge drop in the dollar gives bulls something to rally on. See analysis of events above. Is the BDI turning? – another sign of hope. The MO is at 43 and there is some wiggle room till 60 and a lot of distance to major resistance at @80. Bad earnings news from giants GE, BAC & GOOG will hurt budding rally.

Wow  - an enormous amount of cross currents impact US stocks differently. Looks like a roller coaster rally. Watch UUP the ETF for the dollar – if it keeps falling stocks go higher.

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

Same strategy still holds. Our one small short position SH seems to be in some danger today. Short term  traders may  get in trouble with short positions today.

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“A Very Angry President”

One thing American’s seemed to have made clear – they want an angry man in the White House. Standing up to BP and General McCrystal is the mojo American’s want.

Josh Green from the Atlantic and the Boston Globe, goes into depth on the Obama Presidency. It’s substantive, different and an interesting editorial.

Financial Regulations Finished

Breaking News this AM is congress has finished its work on the FinReg Bill. Here’s the WSJ on the major provisions within the bill. There are lots of knowledgeable people skeptical of this statement but FDIC chair Sheila Bair says, “This will end Too Big to Fail.”

Perhaps the best judgment of how effective this is what happens to the shadow banks stocks – GS, BAC, C, JPM etc. How to judge if Wall Street or Main Street won Will you continue to socialize risk while the shadows privatize the gains? -A major decline in these shadow bank stocks means too big to fail worked.

Afghanistan and Beyond

Both Mama Jama and Jim J came up with some very interesting points on Afghanistan/Iraq//Middle East yesterday.

• The Israeli’s have tried all sorts of different means over the last 5 decades to change the Mid East. They failed – why should the US succeed?
• If some sort of democracy establishes itself in Iraq, to will be confrontational to the USA like Turkey’s democracy now is to Israel
• If Egypt were to change to a democracy tomorrow, that democracy would be far more hostile to both Israel & the USA.
• Would add that the only “seemingly” pro western Muslim governments like Dubai & Kuwait are dictatorships.

Why keep pouring $ down a sink hole that grows our deficit and divides our nation.

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

Repeat - ” 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 comprise 80% of trading and right now the huge currency markets are dictating their moves.

The upcoming battle - Check out the chart of the dollar below. The dollar has stated to move sideways after a three week fall. The major support level/50 day moving average is rising @$0.15 each day and now within $0.80 of the dollar.  The fact that the dollar has stopped falling in front of strong (rising) support level has spooked currency traders. The 6 day consolidation of the $USD means its lost some downward momentum that was lifting stocks.

The falling dollar rising stock army (green) has charged the enemy (the 3 week drop which rallied stocks) Technically, the rising dollar falling stock army (red) has built its technical defense on the 50 Day Moving Average. The green army, having seen the strength of red army forces is now moving sideways hoping to find some hole in the red army lines.

Perhaps some kind of fundamental news (like the European economy is better than thought)to shift the balance and the green army will then find a hole and break through the red army’s barricade/50DMA support level. However right now the sideways movement (consolidation) shows a weakness in the green army

The red army’s 50 DMA is steadily advancing. Yesterday whole bunch of the green army cut and ran and stocks declined in moderate volume. The bottom line for stocks – BEARISH

One hope for the green army is that the conditions become so oversold in stocks that they can mount another charge. We’ve gone from +80 on the MO to @-30. (see below)

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) fell significantly to -28.91 [+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 fell slightly yesterday -0.04% [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 fallen for the last 3 weeks, but has consolidated (traded sideways) over the last 6 days as the 50 day moving average/support level moves higher. This is where the Black Boxes have focused their attention. Bearish
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped. BDI is in free fall from @4200 to  2502 yesterday. This is a huge -40% drop in 5+ weeks.  Often a leading indicator for stocks. Now at/just above a major support level. Rate of fall declined again yesterday. This index often makes slow changes, so diminished decline  could be the start of a reversal. However, clearly 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 weekend but there are NO positions held at this time.

Dust off  YOUR stock List and ETF’s. Check out Paul R and others worthy suggestions in the comments section throughout the day. Which stocks/sectors have been holding up the best?

The MO has gone from @+80 to -30 and sure looks like momentum will carry us to to -60 and beyond. When US equities get oversold (-60 on the MO) the odds of at least a short term rally, especially in sectors or stocks that are outperforming, are in your favor.

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

We are on the cusp of change again for stock’s long term outlook. Technical aspects for stocks are bearish and it looks like the currency market is turning bearish for stocks. (see above) The fundamentals or the outlook of companies in earnings season (two weeks away) will ultimately determine the direction. Even the Black Boxes will notice. But, for now downgrading to CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH.

Long Term Outlook = CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

The Dynamic Duo – Petraeus & Bush or is that Obama?

The Afghanistan Quicksand

Please tell Tea Party Patriots the three single largest reasons the deficit has grown over the last decade are

• The 2008 meltdown and consequential bailout/stimulus.
• The Bush tax cuts
• The Iraq/Afghanistan war spending and consequences.

General McChrystal yesterday became the fall guy for the failed surge stratagey in Afghanistan. In effect his insubordination was like taking a hit for the military industrial complex. The new chief in Afghanistan is General Petraeus. Petraeus/Bush planned the first troop surge in Afghanistan. Petraeus/Obama surges two and three.  All have failed But American media is dares not state this reality.

Remember when American media was falling all over itself because American caualties were down due to a surge in Iraq? Now that casualties are up with the 3rd Afghan surge you hear almost nothing. Interesting!?

OK Obama looks tougher because McChrystal got canned. Big deal. Has this changed anything? Pehaps - Petraeus and Obama get to dump blame for their failed Afghan policy on McChrystal. The military Industrial complex grows stronger as does the call for more violence (deficit spending) as the solution.

Informed Comment blog by Professor Cole paint a picture of today’s Iraq (where less American’s are dying) as a failed state with @ 4 million refugee’s, a hung government,(elections were last winter) and an ongoing Shia/Sunni civil war killing at least 300 people per month.

Your deficit dollars continued to be poured into both sink holes.

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

Repeat – ” 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.”

The new homes data for last month was much worse than expected. Worst fall in 4 decades - 33% Everyone expected bad numbers because stimulus was withdrawn, but the news drove the Dow over 100 points near the open. The fact that stocks recovered to slight losses in , of course light volume, is Bullish

Technically the fact that stocks held onto Tuesday’s more significant losses is Bearish

The Fed announcement was nothing new – Interest rates are going to stay between o & o.25% for a long time & Europe has hurt things here.

The dollar started out the day higher and fell. This is what the Black Boxes saw and the reason stocks moved higher throughout the day. Right now, the Black Boxes have focued with lazar like intensity on currency fluctuations.

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) fell a smidge to -2.25 [+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 fell yesterday -0.30% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important. Dollar up = stocks down and visa versa. The one day the trend = Bullish
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped. BDI is in free fall from @4200 to  2515 yesterday. This is a huge -39% drop in 5+ weeks.  Often a leading indicator for stocks. Now at/just above a major support level. Rate of fall declined again yesterday. This index often makes slow changes, so diminished decline (@40% less) could be the start of a reversal. However, 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 but there are NO positions held at this time

From Yesterday – “DGP is ETF that is double long gold. Investors411 plans to buy the dip in this ETF.”

Big Black Storm Clouds - Every major stock indexes 50 day moving average is heading lower. Right now it would take a pretty massive rally to change that direction. Every “Old School” technical interpretation of this is  Bearish.

However, Currency markets are the dog that’s wagging the stock market tail. If the dollar falls stocks will rise. Black Box traders control what’s happening not “old school” analysis, so for now the long term outlook for US stocks is still NEUTRAL

CAUTION – At some point the Black Boxes are going to stop looking at the economic relativity between Europe and the USA. Unfortunately, when this happens the realization they come to may be the USA is growing weaker too, just not as fast as Europe.

Long Term Outlook = NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

What in a mirror? A vase, A slave, Your soul?

Wall Street Killing America’s Soul

Paul R has referenced an excellent piece by Paul B Farrell in the comments section of the blog. It’s exactly what Yankee Bob talks about (again in comments section) when he states-

No matter how small or logically challenged the Tea Partiers are they are invaluable to Corporate Capitalism. [I call it "casino capitalism"] It gives the major players and shakers a human face to spread their poisonous agenda . It’s like interviewing a slave that believes they are being well treated by their master so why don’t you become one too.

You should check out Farrell’s entire editorial, but let’s look at the “hyperspeed, toxic irrationality… of Wall Street (“Corporate capitalism” or “casino capitalism”). Farrell from Market Watch –

• All Wall Street bankers are worth 100 times any Main Street investor
• All Corporate American CEOs deserve to make 400 times their workers
• All children of all Forbes 400 billionaires deserve to inherit tax-free
• All lobbyists deserve millions when winning billions for special interests
• All taxpayers should pay for catastrophic mistakes of Wall Street Fat Cats
• All rich hedge fund managers deserve to be taxed at capital gains rates
• All senators deserve to become millionaire lobbyists when they retire
• And Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein deserves a $100 million bonus

This is the reality we live in – A reality that creates the deficits that John S, Me and even the TTP’s are outraged over. Yankee Bob understands that so many perhaps unaware slaves (the TTP’s) to the system that privatizes gains, socializes losses & creates deficits. Jim J. rightly concludes that we don’t want “less government,” but “Effective Government.”

Bottom Line – What will you do? Just keep staring in the mirror or take action.

The General & The President

Headline news around the US is about the Rolling Stone article The Runaway General. Will General McChrystal get fired or hand in his resignation for insubordinate remarks (he’s apologized) he and his staff made about Obama and his administration.  Tom Friedman’s view

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

Analysis of stocks has become an analysis of what the “Black Boxes“,of  huge institutions with their high frequency trades & computer algorithms are doing. Their focus ,now, is on the huge currency trading markets.

Fed makes interest rates announcement today.

YOUR Questions

From private emails and public comments lets go over four aspects-

• The BDI – I brought back the BDI Index because it was reaching a critical mass. This measurement of world trade had fallen so far and is close to a major support level that the fundamentals (trade) factors it represent were too big for even the Black Boxes to ignore.
• The MO – It’s not a magic bullet. But it does show you when the odds are in your favor to make a trade. There are many similar Indexes, but this one was chosen because it does NOT use stock volume. Volume has become less relevant because the “Black Box Computers” have taken over trading.
• This is NOT your parents buy and hold market. The USA shadow financial corporations are running an opaque unregulated banking system. We have a congress and & administration that is unable or unwilling to balance the system so YOU have the same advantages as (as Yankee Bob would put it) your corporate masters.
• Because of point 3, everything is more opaque & more volatile. Emotionalism, fear, and irrationality make owning most stocks far more risky than in the past. Example, Right now the BDI besides loosing 40% is close to breaking down. A breakdown here greatly increases the chances of a second major recession on top of the first.

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator (MO) fell significantly to +1.01 [+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 yesterday +0.13% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important. Dollar up = stocks down and visa versa. This was the first two up days in a row for the last 13 sessions. Yesterday confirmed the previous days more significant move. For stocks =Bearish
• BDI - The  Baltic Dry Index (Measures cost of shipping – Higher costs good = more being shipped. BDI is in free fall from @4200 to  2547 yesterday. This is a huge -39% drop in 5+ weeks.  Often a leading indicator for stocks. Now at/ just above a support level. Rate of fall declined yesterday. This index often makes slow changes, so diminished decline (@40% less) could be the start of a reversal. However, clearly long term  = Bearish

Reading the Tea Leaves-

Apple computer seems to be single handedly keeping this market afloat. It’s one of the stocks on YOUR Stock List. However, emerging markets especially China is still the key to worldwide growth.

The mantra continues to be watch FXE (EURO currency ETF) and UUP (US currency ETF)

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 but there are NO positions held at this time

DGP is ETF that is double long gold. Investors411 plans to buy the dip in this ETF.

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

-

Bravo Barack

Obama finally hit one out of the park yesterday. Let’s not damn him with faint praise  like America’s media or try to politically toast him for everything he does like the far right, but this time say Amazing, Well Done and Bravo Barak.

• Obama got a $20 billion dollar Trust fund from BP for folks impacted by the BP volcano of oil.
• Obama got BP to suspend their dividend for a year — the money goes to those impacted not shareholders.
• Obama got a NO cap agreement on the $20 billion
• This is especially significant because just a few weeks ago congress could NOT pass a plan for a $10 billion dollar fund. Something many congress people should be ashamed of.
• Obama got BP to pay $100 million for idled workers.
• Obama got, Kenneth Feinburg (oversaw 911 victims) to head independent agency to administer claims

Has an American President ever got $20 Billion from one of the biggest companies in the world? NEVER – This should be the headline of every major paper in the USA – but it isn’t. It is the lead editorial in NYT.

Black Boxes (see below)

NB –  Last Investors411 for week

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

Markets were mixed in surprisingly light volume – This Friday is one of those days all kinds of options expire. Translation there should be a lot of trading.

FXE – The ETF that tracks the EURO fell -0.36% in very heavy trading. The amount of decline is not very significant, but the heavy trading is. Perhaps a reversal of the week+ long EURO rally is happening.

“Black” Boxes

Jim Cramer, host of Financial Channels “Mad Money show, last night called them “Black Boxes” I’ve called them the “Mega Sharks” and “HUGE institutions/hedge funds” that dominate trading. Cramer stated that 4 years ago they made up 30% of the trading, now these entities with their giant computers make up 80% of the trades on the US stock exchanges.

These Black Box traders are another form of casino capitalism-in other words – they rig the game so that YOU loose and they win. Some examples

• High Frequency trading – Their ultra fast trades caused the major 800 point Dow meltdown in stocks a few weeks back. Now 10% curbs have been put in, but both Debolt and the Washington Post stocks were hit with 10% dips this week. Translation – their high speed computers that run on algorithms are in and out of a stock/sector/country’s currency before  you even begin to type in your trade.
• Imagine you are trading SNDK. A stock that has and is doing very well right now. Black Box computers can instantly pick up any news on the company from media outlets to probably the amount of facebook, google or twitter traffic on SNDK and the team monitoring those black boxes can act accordingly.
• They can manipulate to a significant degree a stock, sector, ETF that is close to an important technical level. One way is pumping and dumping. They pump something up, other suckers join in, then they dump it.

They rule and they run the rule book. In other words what used to work like volume confirming a price move seems no longer to apply.  The game has changed and the 20% of us that are not Black Box traders are their easiest targets. Sometimes they go up against each other and sometime they work together. In the long run fundamentals (earnings, company growth, profits, etc.) do move markets. However the Black Box traders that dominate markets can do a lot of damage/manipulation before fundamentals kick in.

Right now the Black Boxes are obsessed with the Dollar/Euro relationship. That’s where the money and the action is – the giant currency markets.

It was surprising to see Cramer, who is basically a market cheerleader, speak out against Black Box trading. He recommened supporting one of the champions of Investors411 – Senator Ted Kaufman. Here’s Kaufman on casino capitalism and black box trading

Bottom Line – Many people no longer invest in stocks. This is evident from the lack of volume. Black Box trading is one of the factors in out casino capitalist system that rewards the few at the top and the rest of socialize their risk.

About the best I can do is follow the tracks of the black boxes and make trades accordingly. Right now their obsessed with currency trading. Until casino capitalism is repaired investing for the long term (years) is more difficult.

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator fell to +60.11 [+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 into Oversold territory = Bearish
• US Dollar –  The dollar rose +0.30% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important.

Reading The Tea Leaves -

The high volume turn around in the FXE (see above) & the oversold condition of stocks (MO) indicates the likelihood of a short term reversal of trend in the EURO. However, major reversals usually happen at support levels and the dollar & the EURO are still a ways away from its 50 day moving average. And one day’s trading in currencies is ardly an indication of a reversal, only the possibility of one. So lets go with moderate upside that gets us back to @+80 on the MO.

Positions

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

Out of all stock positions.

Out for the rest of the week – Back Monday

Long Term Outlook = NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Obama’s Speech

Here’s today’s lead editorial in NYT Obama needs to  “follow through — with more energy and dedication than they have shown so far.” The NYT was one of the best reviews I saw others were a lot harsher. Bluntly – great speech, but where’s the beef?

The rock and the hard place – So far BP’s stock has lost @50% of its value. You push these SOB’s too far too fast and the company disintegrates leaving the taxpayers to pick up the bill.

America’s Debt

Who is the biggest holder of America’s $13 trillion dollar national debt? Hint they hold over $5.2 trillion of it. Slide presentation on Huffington Post was a big surprise to me. The 15 biggest holders of US debt-Link here

Who holds 40% of the national debt and what does that mean?

Tea Party

Tonight at 7:00 PM EST Chris Matthew’s will have a documentary “The Rise of the New Right” on MSNBC. I suggest that you watch it on line or see it live.

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

Another low volume major move for US indexes that crushed significant resistance levels for several of the major indexes = Bullish.

As stated before, volume has NOT been a factor in trading for many many moons.

From yesterday – “FXE (tracks the EURO) is the ETF to watch along with Spain’s EWP”  FXE was up a very significant +0.97% & Spain was up @ +5.75% along with Italy. Spain and Italy are the two largest of the European PIIGS + Hungary nations that are having debt problems.

The MO has reached Overbought territory = Bearish

The Baltic Dry Index BDI kept falling – It’s dropped well over 25% of its value in the last month. Since the BDI measures shipping rates this fall is NOT good for world trade, economics. The BDI is often a lagging indicator,. For stocks = Bearish

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator rose dramatically to +79.56 [+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. You have to go back to March of 2009 to find a higher MO. Clearly  Oversold = Bearish
• US Dollar –  The dollar again fell significantly -0.82% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important.For stocks = Bullish

Reading the Tea Leaves - The HUGE institutions that control 80% of the market ran wild yesterday. Their black box computers all gave a buy signal in front of what’s called a “quadruple witching day” on Friday – This means lots of options expire so there’s usually lots of volatility and trading. Except few outside the Mega Sharks (huge institutions) are investing or trading- so volume has dried up but not volatility.

The Mega Sharks seemed to have decided that Europe is going to be OK & will rally like the US did when Obama took office and the Fed flooded our shadow banks with $$$$. Back then the MO pushed up over +100 and stayed above +20 for 2 months as stock continued to rally.(see chart) Its now at +80.

A similar situation with the EURO could be happening. Don’t let American self centerdcenternessness get in the way – Europe total GDP is slightly larger than ours. We had another day where treasury auctions in Spain & Ireland went well. Just like they have had in the USA for over a year. Therefore, what happens there matters.

Even though we are now clearly oversold, we could see a sustained rally (couple months) develop. The dark cloud in all of this is the falling BDI.

Personally, what’s happening fundamentally does not justify, the rally. It’s Irrational, especially with falling trade (BDI). But mega giant sharks/institutions control this market and what anyone thinks outside their giant computers is irrelevant. The mega sharks control of stocks are a quantum shift from old trading patterns and rules. (best examples – volume is irrelevant & huge volatility in currency markets)

Positions

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

Sold 1/2 of UUP (ETF tracks dollar) for small loss at 25.08 -2% Will probably sell rest today

Sold VCI at 38.00 for +15%

Traders – +80 on the MO is the signal to sell what remains or short any rally.  See Positions section for some ideas.

Investors – Some of YOU commented (see comments section of blog) that you sold into the rally. Good idea. I’d sell into a rally today also.  No one went broke taking profits. When the MO dips down to @+30 you can nibble.

From Yesterday – “Not the technical breakout we were hoping for. Let’s wait till the resistance level actually falls to change the outlook. Maybe today .” The technical levels fell and the long term outlook = NEUTRAL

Long Term Outlook = NEUTRAL

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

Dawn over Newton MA

Obama’s Prime Time on BP

Preview here. Major American oil companies & BP will be in front of congress today. The Bottom Line for me is – the transformation to alternative fuels. This is the golden opportunity to make a giant leap forward to alternative energy solutions.

Chaos and lies has surrounded BP (the free market’s) response to this oil spill. Government from the past and present administration has bought BP line for way too long and was caught with its pants down by its ankles. The right wing’s solution is to scream & their drill baby drill mantra.

Perhaps today in front of congress and with Obama there will be the DAWN of some different solutions.

Wonder if oil executives will make the same mistake and arrive in big private jets like the car executives did? Will they get called on it?

Dawn of Financial Reform

The NYT Business section lead story the Volker Reform section of financial reform looks like it will pass! –

“Bankers have all but given up on defeating …would effectively bar federally insured banks from trading for their own accounts”

What this means is that YOUR FDIC insured deposits would NOT be used socialize the risk of banks trading opaque, over leveraged derivatives. Gee instead they might even loan that money to buisnesses and home buyers.

Current war – Blanche Lincoln’s Derivatives reform. See above link. Better email your congressperson or Senator and tell him/her you support Linclon’s bill.

Why Afghanistan?

The Pentagon, yesterday released the reason we  and should continue in Afghanistan, They have perhaps a trillion dollars of minerals. The Iraq war was fought over oil and now the loosing effort in Afghanistan needed an excuse to continue. China could get those minerals instead of us. What happened to terrorism and why is it the war machine – the Pentagon –  doing a report on minerals now?

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 benchmark S&P 500 fought its to its 200 day moving average/resistance level. Got their in the morning and spent the rest of the day in retreat. = Bearish

One significant data point that investors/traders should remember – Currency markets>Bond Markets>Stock markets. Translation = Because currencies and bonds are so much larger than stock markets they are the DOG that influences how the TAIL (stocks) wags.

With the NYSE up +75 points at it high yesterday – Interday the MO easily reached the +60 or overbought territory. This over bought position added strength to the resistance level and hurt the bulls yesterday. = Bearish

Looks like we may see some teeth in financial reform. Long term Bullish but short term = Bearish

An investment agency downgraded Greek debt in the PM yesterday, but the Euro held onto a significant move higher. In past, this would have sent the Euro tumbling. Sometimes there is a delayed reaction, but for now & for stocks = BULLISH

The Baltic Dry Index BDI has dropped well over 20% of its value in the last month+. Since the BDI measures shipping rates this fall is NOT good for world trade, economics. For stocks = Bearish

Futures up this AM = Bullish

Significant Indexes

• McClellan Oscillator rose to +50.26 [+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. Considering the volatility of the MO this is about as close as you can come without being overbought. = moderately bearish
• US Dollar –  The dollar fell a significant -0.77% [Anything over +/- @0.50 is significant.] Mantra - right now The Dollar Rules is very important. The dollar was @ -1.4% lower in the AM and rose throughout the afternoon.

Reading the Tea Leaves -

A lot of reasons to be bearish this AM. But almost all of Wall Street’s eyes are focused on what’s happening to the EURO. FXE is the ETF that tracks the Euro and it was up +1.09% yesterday despite a downgrade of European debt. There’s a lot of reasons – see red bearish signals above, but if the EURO is going to continue to go up so will stocks.

FXE is the ETF to watch along with Spain’s (EWP underperformed yesterday)

Another charge at the resistance levels for stocks seems likely. Remember, each failed charge weakens the attacking force.

Positions

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

With the DOW up 113 points at it high yesterday – Interday the MO probably reached the 60 or overbought territory. This over bought position probably hurt the bulls yesterday. = Bearish

Traders - YOUR stock List from 2/6 & from 9/6 a list of stocks that were outperforming and “worth a trade.”

• VCI – broke out to new high
• SNDK – broke out to new high
• SAM – broke out to new high
• BIDU – @4-6% rally
• ESRX (not on list but position Investors411 held) – broke out to new high

No one ever went broke taking profits. My best read of the tea leaves is to sell 1/2 into today’s rally (let the rest ride and hope it turns into long term gains)

Of course the ultra long ETF’s often mentioned (UWM, THY) have have done as well in the mini rally of the last three trading sessions.

Dumping 1/2 of UUP for small loss.

The bottom line is will the EURO continue to improve?

From Yesterday – Change in outlook – This is tentative . Upgrading to NEUTRAL. Technically, this looks justified, but frankly, fundamentally I sure don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.” – It was premature. Major indexes bounced off their 200 day moving averages and retreated in heavier volume. Not the technical breakout we were hoping for. Let’s wait till the resistance level actually falls to change the outlook. Maybe today Therefore, a return to CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH.

Long Term Outlook = CAUTIOUSLY BEARISH

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING