Category Archive: 9a) Buy and Hold

(6/16/22) Markets rallied on Wednesday despite a 75bp rate hike announced by the Fed. Then, overnight, traders sobered-up to the news that the Fed will be more aggressive in the future about raising rates additionally--not a good omen for strong economic growth. Markets are three standard deviations over-sold, and a short-term buy-signal failed to trigger. Markets continue to trade in a defined downtrend, and are now near the bottom of that range....

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(6/16/22) The Fed boosts rates by 75-bp; Joe Biden takes on Big Oil, and Big Oil responds; Retail Sales are measured in dollars, not in volume (what happens when you're paying more for less); Markets as predictor of where economy is heading. The Fed's rate hikes are politically motivated; why the "Headline Number" is so called; Jerome Powell is lying about the economy; Regional Fed's and U. Mich Sentiment are closer to reality. Joe Biden...

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(6/15/22) Cryptocurrencies were supposed to be the ultimate alternatives to Gold and the Dollar, but that hasn't worked out so well: Back in 2015 there was a big move towards crypto's as the new "digital gold," with the ability to combat inflation--which seemed to work well, so long as a continuous stream of liquidity into the markets was unabated. Bitcoin soared to the $70,000 range, but since has fallen dramatically to $20k as the...

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(6/15/22) What will the Fed do? Between the heat, high prices, wars, and uncertainties, it seems to be the Summer of Apocalypse. The Fed is set to raise interest rates (50 vs 75 basis points?) How will the Fed fight inflation? A more pressing problem is Financial Instability; the impact of inflation; high oil prices tend to cure high prices; the Fed's mistake is in trying to extend the business cycle; dealing w inflation by moving to Mexico; the...

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(6/14/22) Markets have officially declined more than 20%--the arbitrary measurement that defines a "bear market," but what does that really mean? (It's FELT like a bear market for the past several months!) Markets are not two standard deviations below the 50-DMA, a point from which markets have previously bounced. "Buy the Dip" is no longer in vogue--it's "Sell the Rip." The next level of resistance in the S&P will...

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(6/14/22) Markets technically enter bear territory, but a longer perspective belies the angst; gauging the markets' response to inflation (which will reverse); what the Fed Whisper says about a 75-bp rate hike; the faster the Fed raises rates, the higher the volatility; CPI, PPI, or PCE: What's the best measure of inflation? When will inflation end? Senior gifts; stock buy-back blackout period; Lance's Narci-drone; the love affair w Cryptocurrency:...

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(6/13/22) Market Futures are sharply lower, with the Dow set to open in negative territory--which could be the low-point of the day. The hotter-than-expected inflation print released Friday is worrying investors that the Fed might move more aggressively in hiking rates in the near-term. That announcement comes on Wednesday, so markets are trading off ahead of the news. We expect the FOMC to follow thru on a 50-bp rate hike; of more interest will be...

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(6/13/22) Inflation is hotter than expected--IRS increasing mileage allowance in mid-year; largest inflation gauge is Homeowners' Equivalent Rent--w a 3-mo lag; Bitcoin sustained a 25% bloodbath over the weekend; inflation is hitting everything: Lottery Tickets, gasoline, Beer, Costco Peanut butter; Biden polling at all time lows; consumer sentiment at lower levels than in Financial Crisis; McDonald's quest for profitability; job hopping at...

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(6/10/22) Markets took it on the chin, and stocks that flourished during the pandemic are not being punished; CPI and Inflation all point to stagflation in the economy and a need for economic cleansing with turbulence in every asset class;

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