Consumer Confidence
Market Sentiment: Currently A Mixed Bag
An in depth discussion of market sentiment...At present, it is a real mixed bag, there is no clear cut consensus.
Still Can't Count Out The Consumer
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.
View From The North Country
Does consumer confidence offers any insight into future spending patterns? Also, the case for shorting T-Bonds.
View From The North Country
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!
Consumer Confidence & The NASDAQ…..Who Leads Who?
A closer look at the relationship between Consumer Confidence and the NASDAQ over the last three years.
Eye On The Consumer
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?
This Was No Summer Of Love
In August, the bloodletting finally slowed: Majority of indices actually managed to eke out small gains.
Who's Afraid of the Fed?
The public certainly is not afraid of Mr Greenspan…..Strong public confidence now a key stock market support factor.
May Mutual Fund Flows
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?
Main Street Confidence: The Critical Market Factor
What might threaten Main Street equity confidence???
Public Confidence Measures
The driving force behind today’s stock market is the public. Never before had they had such clout.
Public Confidence Again Rising
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.
Public Conficence Measures
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.
Major Stock Market Positives and Negatives
Steve’s personal judgements and opinions incorporating observations, experience and gut feelings, going beyond the quantitative aspects of the Major Trend Index disciplines.
Major Trend Back to Negative
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.
Should We Believe It This Time?
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.
Major Stock Market Positives and Negatives
A review of the significant stock market positives and negatives as I currently see them.
March Madness
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.
The February Sweet Spot
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.
Building a New Position: Housing
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.