Inside The Stock Market ...trends, cross-currents, and outlook

Our first introduction is of Jun Zhu, who broke the mold by not being another white Midwestern guy.

• Read more

Lots of people spinning economic and market statistics to cast doubt on the recovery and stock market rally. Doug Ramsey goes point by point to make an honest assessment about the current conditions. Things do actually look pretty good right now!

• Read more

A major long term theme developing on a global basis is Clean Technology. The Leuthold Group has built a dedicated portfolio to this theme by doing extensive research on 500 globally traded stocks that could ultimately be big winners in this very long term play.

• Read more

Eric Bjorgen takes an expanded look at some fundamentals surrounding the Financial sector. While bank failures are rising, prior history shows that good performance can still be produced in this environment.

• Read more

While U.S. banks are still seeing loan levels declining, China has seen a 24% increase in bank loans since the end of 2008. Assuming these loans are actually employed to build infrastructure, it would seem the recovery may be getting underway.

• Read more

When clients ask about our country views, we suggest they take a look at our global group work because our Global Group Scores are capable of capturing country alpha!

• Read more

A month ago we suspected June might see a big institutional rush into the stock market. The stampede never came, though, and the market finished essentially flat for the month.

• Read more

Despite strong stock market returns relative to 10-year Treasuries, the “generational anomalies” still exist. Stocks should outperform bonds going forward.

• Read more

Looking at alternative ways to play China. See this month’s list of H-shares trading in U.S. markets.

• Read more

Even after a decline in global earnings of 46%, they could experience another 15% decline before reaching the bottom of the 40 year trend channel. It doesn’t look like last quarter’s stock market bottom means that an earnings bottom is imminent.

• Read more

Believe it or not, 21 of our equity groups have not yet seen a quarterly decline in revenues. Several early cycle type groups have already experienced four quarters of declining revenues, but the good news is three groups have posted rebounds in revenues as of Q1 2009.

• Read more

We have maintained that the mere fact that the Financials sector has been successful in raising capital via new equity issuance in the stock market is a good sign that the system is stabilizing. The aftermarket support for these deals indicates a healthy secondary market, and furthermore, points to the presence of ample stock market liquidity.

• Read more

One might begin to think that if the reports of money supply growth rolling over are true, that the stock market could be facing its own liquidity crisis in short order. While these reports sound pretty bleak for future stock market liquidity, we advise taking these headline “scare” stories with a grain of salt.

• Read more

Starting to see some modest inflow into U.S. focus equity mutual funds, which is a stock market positive.

• Read more

Valuation metrics using S&P 500 aggregate earnings can be skewed by large losses. Building a profile of valuations by looking at median valuations, or the distribution of valuations, can be helpful to avoid this problem.

• Read more

VLT Momentum measures shifted to buy signals based on May 29^th market close. These are low risk signals, which by definition are confirmation of longer term sustainable bull market moves.

• Read more

In mid May, 4% of assets were shifted from U.S. stocks to Emerging Market holdings, buying a package of individual Asian stocks. This same package is being used to boost exposure to 70% in early June.

• Read more

One might have expected gold and gold stocks to stumble as investors abandoned their defensive postures. However, spot gold and gold stocks (on a relative basis) are threatening to break out to new highs.

• Read more

After an uneventful start in 2009, deal flow for equity financings has jumped to life in recent weeks.

• Read more

Despite the recent rally, the best two month move since 1933, investors migrating back to bearish camp. This is the best defined “wall of worry” we have seen in over a decade, and one that will provide more fuel for what we believe is a cyclical bull market.

• Read more