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Consumer Confidence

Nov 03 2004

Market Sentiment: Currently A Mixed Bag

  • Nov 3, 2004

An in depth discussion of market sentiment...At present, it is a real mixed bag, there is no clear cut consensus.

Sep 05 2004

Still Can't Count Out The Consumer

  • Sep 5, 2004

American consumer spending is still in an uptrend, helping to drive economic growth, although to a lesser extent. In the meantime, CapEx spending has been accelerating, which should serve to pick up any economic slack.

Jun 04 2003

View From The North Country

  • Jun 4, 2003

Does consumer confidence offers any insight into future spending patterns? Also, the case for shorting T-Bonds.

Mar 05 2003

View From The North Country

  • Mar 5, 2003

Consumer confidence now dismal. Historical analysis however indicates that good buying opportunities are typically found during periods of extreme pessimism. Currently view Conference Board measure as a stock market positive!

Dec 04 2002

Consumer Confidence & The NASDAQ…..Who Leads Who?

  • Dec 4, 2002

A closer look at the relationship between Consumer Confidence and the NASDAQ over the last three years.

Nov 05 2002

Eye On The Consumer

  • Nov 5, 2002

Important pillars of economic bridge until Capex kicks in and business confidence improves. Interest only mortgages-the ticking time bomb debt. U.S. Consumer debt OK compared with other countries but, what happens when interest rates rise?

Sep 04 2002

This Was No Summer Of Love

  • Sep 4, 2002

In August, the bloodletting finally slowed:  Majority of indices actually managed to eke out small gains.

Feb 05 2000

Who's Afraid of the Fed?

  • Feb 5, 2000

The public certainly is not afraid of Mr Greenspan…..Strong public confidence now a key stock market support factor.

Jun 02 1999

May Mutual Fund Flows

  • Jun 2, 1999

Market volatility was the likely culprit for equity fund disenchantment in May, as net inflows into U.S. focus equity funds for the month were less than half of April’s record breaking $26.1 billion. Main Street Confidence: The critical market factor…..what are some potential confidence destroyers?

Mar 02 1999

Main Street Confidence: The Critical Market Factor

  • Mar 2, 1999

What might threaten Main Street equity confidence???

Feb 03 1999

Public Confidence Measures

  • Feb 3, 1999

The driving force behind today’s stock market is the public. Never before had they had such clout.

Dec 05 1998

Public Confidence Again Rising

  • Dec 5, 1998

After noting last month’s declines in public confidence measures we wrote that, in order to sustain a rising stock market, these measures needed to improve in the next month. All of the confidence measures did improve.

Nov 04 1998

Public Conficence Measures

  • Nov 4, 1998

Numerous measures experienced sharp drops corresponding closely to the stock market sell off. Without a bounce in the next two months, the outlook for the economy and the stock market may look quite bleak.

Sep 08 1998

Major Stock Market Positives and Negatives

  • Sep 8, 1998

Steve’s personal judgements and opinions incorporating observations, experience and gut feelings, going beyond the quantitative aspects of the Major Trend Index disciplines.

Aug 05 1998

Major Trend Back to Negative

  • Aug 5, 1998

Major Trend back to Negative...Both Asset Allocation Portfolios shifted to their most defensive posture ever. Steve's judgements and opinions on major stock market positives and negatives.

Jul 04 1998

Should We Believe It This Time?

  • Jul 4, 1998

On June 22, clients received an Interim Memo noting that our composite Major Trend Index had slipped to Negative status. The subsequent calculation lost a few more points and remains marginally negative.

Jun 03 1998

Major Stock Market Positives and Negatives

  • Jun 3, 1998

  A review of the significant stock market positives and negatives as I currently see them.

Apr 06 1998

March Madness

  • Apr 6, 1998

The market finished the first quarter of1998 strong, with the S&P 500 up 13.5% and the Dow Jones flirting with the 9000 milestone. Expectations for April? More of the same. Nothing on horizon to shake individual investors’ confidence.

Mar 05 1998

The February Sweet Spot

  • Mar 5, 1998

Major Trend Index turned Positive in early February...Expect market to move higher over next few months as long as Main Street keeps fueling Wall Street.

Mar 05 1998

Building a New Position: Housing

  • Mar 5, 1998

Buying 10% position in Housing. Moved up to Attractive last month, and currently the fourth highest ranked per our SS Scores. Expect current economic environment to be favorable for Housing.