Monthly Archives: August 2011

Consumer – lower confidence is GOOD news!

Consumer confidence is often mistaken as a leading indicator. My experience over many years is that the measure is used at times to rationalize irrational bullishness – when the brain says sell and take some profits, but the urge to splurge is … Continue reading

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Trees are GOLD in China; but Sino not the only way to play!

If you think the forest products industry is boring, be sure to watch this video.  I recall many years ago being invited to a live demonstration of heli-logging up close and personal on Vancouver Island.  It was a remarkable experience. Trees are gold in … Continue reading

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Banks bounce back? Of course!

Taking time out to “Reflect” really does work:  And as usual, it doesn’t pay to believe what you read.  Less than a month (maybe a day?) ago everyone was worried about bank earnings (inspiring me to buy some banks) and abracadabra….today no … Continue reading

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Is the market on thin ice?

This morning I read this in a note from a trader friend of mine: “Activity still too mixed to suggest we’re going higher – like walking on ice – you don’t know when it will crack so I would prefer … Continue reading

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Time to buy resource stocks again?

Resources to start Rockin’ Again? I think so. A year or two before the resources fund I launched (long gone now) would start a steady climb towards the #1 spot in those performance charts, the mood was just like it … Continue reading

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Europe short-selling ban? Ban all of it everywhere!

From Financial Times: Friday 21.30 BST. “Global stocks are rallying as a partial short-selling ban helps European banks rebound – reducing financial system contagion fears – but lingering concerns about global growth and wariness over recent intense volatility are keeping … Continue reading

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When not sure what to do: Reflect!

DOOM & GLOOM got you confused? Cut your mind and emotions some slack. Even though you know exactly what you should do, it’s hard to insulate your intellect from the adrenalin rush ignited by the hysteria all around you. Get … Continue reading

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Don’t Panic! It’s just 2010 all over again!

Over many years I’ve often been asked to meet with groups (accounting associations or investment advisors with auditoriums full of their clients) in order to help calm them during periods of malaise in financial markets. A tug of war is … Continue reading

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Are Mutual Funds Dead? Or Making a Comeback?

In the spirit of ‘do-the-opposite’ I’m thinking the worst may be over for the estranged ‘mutual funds’ that invest in U.S. stocks. My first indicator, is that finally cash is exiting money market funds. I disagree with this headline though: from … Continue reading

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Real Reason BANK stocks are STRUGGLING!

Banks are in the news. The stocks are sucking wind, and massive layoffs continue unabated (recall in one of my earlier postings that that jobs relating to ‘financial activity’ have been declining rapidly in America). And it’s clearly a global … Continue reading

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