Saturday Randomosity

• I don't think going to war with Syria will have a long-lasting effect on the market. 
• I'm still in cash, and waiting patiently.  
• College football Saturday!  I've been watching a lot of games... since Thursday!  Friday night's North Dakota State win over Kansas State was very fun to watch!
• Not that I'm in favor of going to war with Syria.   Haven't we learned our lesson(s) with wars in the Middle East?
• So, Same-sex couples to get federal tax breaks. Hey, what about the marriage penalty?  Aren't taxes higher when incomes of two wage earners are combined? 
• President Obama said he was going to ask Congress if it was okay to bomb Syria.  Really?  I think he's looking for the do-nothing Congress that opposes him on everything to tell him NO, and that's his out.  Right?  Then, back to working on his golf handicap.
• They say consumer spending tapered off in July as folks held on tight to their wallets. I wonder how rising interest rates and rising gasoline prices are contributing to this.  Oh... and the higher payroll tax, too.
• Sarah Palin said on Syria, "Let Allah sort it out.'"  Agreed!

The Summer Market Correction

Looks like the summer market sell off finally appeared.  There is always some reason du jour.  Is it really Syria?  Is it earnings or economic numbers?  The Fed easing its QE - the taper?

Whatever it is, folks are selling.  And some of the bears are being paraded around on TV with dire forecasts.   

I remain in cash and looking for an entry point probably Sept-Oct time frame. 

Cash is King

I am still in cash and not trading the market or taking long positions. Even though I have been in cash for awhile and have missed the run up from the SP500 1500s to 1700s, I believe that summers can be a little rocky and weak. But that hasn't happened this year just yet.  We shall see. 

Lots of concern about what the Fed will do and when they will do it.  That is almost always the case, but with Quantitative Easing for about $85B a month, this is going to have an pact when they do ease the purchase program. 

Anyway, should be an interesting August and September. Watching and waiting...

#228: Stock Market Correction and Late Game Dodgers Heroics

listen to ‘#228: Stock Market Correction and Late Game Dodgers Heroics’ on Audioboo

Is Everyone Calling for a Stock Crash?

Is everyone calling for a stock crash? It seems like I read that over and over on Twitter and on blogs. Marc Faber, Dr. Doom, is calling for one. How is his track record?

I remain in cash.  For me, a lot of it is market seasonality. We normally get stock market corrections in the summer. Especially, when there has been a stock run up in the spring. It hasn't happened this year, though.  

I haven't been trading stocks this week. I am still home with broken feet, but that ends tomorrow. I am actually going back to work! 

Meanwhile, the Dodgers just keep winning. What an amazing team! What a turnaround from April and May.

#227: Market Thoughts and Dodgers Win Again

listen to ‘#227: Market Thoughts and Dodgers Win Again’ on Audioboo

Thursday Thoughts

Interesting reversal in the market today. Look at the $EMM - Emerging Markets. Whoosh...

Still in cash and sitting on hands.  Don't imagine going back long full time until the Fall.  We shall see.  

I wonder if the selling is over or not.  I think even with the FED QE FOREVER we'd get a correction here and there along the way from here to the moon.  Maybe not.  Sure a strange year.  Folks say this is the most hated bull market ever.  Not sure that's the case.  It's just that it seems that economic data and earnings numbers don't matter as much these days.  Or, maybe it's just that the world wants US stocks and nothing else.

Except $EEM today, that is.  Whoosh.  LOL.

Ah, money market return rates really suck...  bah.

Market Thoughts Randomosity

• So the market seems to be teasing the bears a bit - maybe.  We haven't had much selling lately and any dip has been bought up quickly.  Is this another case where things will just rip higher after a short pause?  That's my guess.  The summer correction just hasn't happened. 
• I'm still in cash, though.  I probably won't do much until the Sept-Oct timeframe somewhere.  
• $IBM selling off.  Kind of curious.  The stock has been trending sideways for awhile above the 200dma.  Consolidating or breaking down...?  Over the long term, they are the big horse in IT mainframes and services, right?
• $XOM selling off because nobody is using fuel anymore I guess.  Same with $CVX.  That is also kind of curious.  You'd think if the economy were expanding, then we'd use more fuel.  But even with the unemployment rate falling the participation rate is falling, and the jobs are part-time jobs.  So just not sure how to piece that puzzle together.  Still think that Big Oil is an okay place to invest For. The. Long. Term.  And these guys will be Big Natural Gas eventually, too - don't you think?
• Feet still broken and sore.  This has been the worst summer evah.  Basically stuck in the house and bored.  Doc told me they'd feel better by September.  I was optimistic it would be sooner, but darn things. 
• I've noticed that the news channels just repeat the same stories over and over, and have the same discussions over and over.  Watching Fox News and Fox Business, and every show is talking minimum wage, your data and privacy, Obamacare, etc.  Same thing, over and over.  
• "Hey Jonathan Hoenig, is raising the minimum wage to $15 a good idea?"

#226: Market Powers Up and Dodgers Keep Winning

listen to ‘#226: Market Powers Up and Dodgers Keep Winning’ on Audioboo