Keep An Eye on Bankruptcies

2024-03-27

The Sentiment Index is hanging in, despite weakening regional surveys; economists see no recession in sight; bank reserves have been rising since October 2022. End of quarter rebalancing is generating some activity; after three-days of selling, market futures are positive this morning. Watch markets’ steep angle of ascent; this is not sustainable, and correction will result sooner or later. Lance’s unique inflation indicator… Markets still act like there’s a flood of liquidity when there’s not; markets are bifurcated; Houston real estate is insane. Can Wall Street save your retirement? Larry Fink thinks so, or at least wants you to think he can; Blackrock & Merrill want to hold your money forever. Creation of Merrill’s Target Date Fund. Why Annuities are so lucrative; three reasons why

2024-02-28

Markets continue to trade sideways as the latest earnings season draws to a close. Stock buy-backs will continue for the next three weeks, and then halt in preparation for the NEXT round of earnings reporting. Warren Buffett on buy-backs: Need to occur when companies are under-valued relative to markets for optimal effect; companies are now buying back at high prices. Company stocks are still trading despite 40% reporting negative earnings. What happens when men get sick; Lance answers an email about struggles with higher expenses, despite zero debt; Lance & Danny discuss families’ cost-cutting strategies. Wendy’s experiments with surge pricing; investing wisdom from Warrenn Buffett: What’s he going to do with all that cash? The temptation for "catching-up" in portfolios, and the lure of

2024-02-26

Retail investors have started chasing small-cap stocks in hopes of both a rate-cutting cycle by the Federal Reserve and avoiding a recession. Such would seem logical given that, historically, small capitalization companies tend to perform best during the early stages of an economic recovery. Since debt-driven government spending programs have a dismal history of providing the promised economic growth, disappointment over the next year is almost guaranteed.

Hosted by RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO
Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer
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Articles mentioned in this report:
"Small Cap Stocks May Be At Risk According To NFIB Data:"
https://realinvestmentadvice.com/small-cap-stocks-may-be-at-risk-according-to-nfib-data/
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The latest

2024-01-02

Don’t miss our special, live 2024 Economic Summit, Saturday, January 27, 2024, featuring Greg Valliere with Adam Taggart, Lance Roberts, & Michael Lebowitz, at the Hotel Sonesta in Houston.
Early Bird ticket pricing is still in effect, so don’t delay in reserving your spot in this intimate, limited-seating venue.
Register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ria-advisors-economic-summit-tickets-703288784687?aff=oddtdtcreator

2023-12-15

(12/15/23) Forget the Santa Claus rally: After this week’s Fed announcement, it’s the Jerome Powell rally. Don’t fight the Fed. Darden Restaurants & Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse; reactions to Fed statement; Does Jerome Powell wear a Santa suit? Has owning a pet become a luxury? Financial Planning for Pets: $2,640 avg. annual expense; making emotional decisions about money. The benefits of pet ownership and caring for pets. Pet Sitters & IRS rules for 1099 reporting personal transactions vs side gigs. What happens when you start taking SS early? Knowing the thresholds: Were The Little Rascals in on a welfare scam?

2:58 – The Jerome Powell Rally
14:25 – Has Owning a Pet Become a Luxury?
29:09 – Pet Sitters & IRS Rules
44:24 – What Happens When You Take SS Early

Hosted by RIA Advisors’

2023-12-14

(12/14/23) Throwing caution to the wind, a dovish FOMC takes the bearish stance away from markets; markets are forming a cup-and-handle pattern, suggesting a rally to record-highs; but that does not preclude a 3- to-5% correction. Bond yields are to fall. Out of control tipping; how the Fed trained investors to expect backup; the Fed’s pivot to dovishness: What do they know that we do not? The benefits of lower rates vs risk of more inflation; financial conditions are easing. Look for a huge short-cover rally, and then get ready for correction. But first, more record-highs. Bullish vs bearish commentary; a look at the FRED database; the key phrase is "effective rate." Excess liquidity is leaving the system; where will the Fed turn when it needs more money? THe Fed is still doing QT,

2023-12-11

12/27/23) Hate those self-checkout registers at the store? Merchants are discovering they might be costing more in "shrinkage" than is being saved by fewer employees working registers. Lance addresses the problem with self-checkout & retail theft; creation of more inflation; Gen-Z’s five-finger discount habit.
Hosted by RIA Advisors’ Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts, CIO
Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer
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Watch the full show from which this segment was excerpted on our YouTube channel:
&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1&t=2656s
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The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "Markets Begin Year-End Gyrations" is here: &list=PLwNgo56zE4RAbkqxgdj-8GOvjZTp9_Zlz&index=1&t=4s
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Our previous show is here: "Is the