Another week, another ride — in this case, a ride up as the major indices got back to even on the year and erased 2010 losses. Since most stocks enjoyed gains last week, a fair number of stocks dropped off our watchlist and a few saw double-digit gains. However, we must remain unaffected by the [...]
The market’s refusal to set on a clear course in either direction demonstrates the level of uncertainty now confronting the economy and investors. Whereas many pundits had previously posited economic recovery was clearly at hand, the latest round of economic data and indicators are forcing a double-take at such a hastily drawn conclusion. Today, the [...]
A passing sentence in Barron’s this week caught my eye and really highlighted the disparity I’m seeing between the macro corporate outlook and economic reality on the ground. Market analysts are predicting $96.43 of S&P 500 earnings in 2011, which would top 2006 as the record year for corporate profits. Yet a quick survey of the [...]
Even as markets wobble on the basis of global macro uncertainty, we do not have 2009 redux. During that tumultuous period, nearly all asset classes, save US Treasurys, lost ground regardless of fundamentals. Now, however, many stocks are moving due to their specific situations, regardless of the broader market moves. Personally, I favor this environment [...]
No surprise, our watchlist has ballooned to over 60 names due to the market turbulence in recent weeks. As more stocks fall into attractive pricing ranges, some possible quality names begin to visit our screens once more. As for the market itself, I studiously avoid trying to predict the market’s direction. I found a heavy [...]
Barely half over, May has already been the most active month for us in quite some time. The increased volatility has restored some premium back into options, used to good advantage by writing calls against our gold positions. Also, headline risk has presented us with some opportunities. Many European stocks have plunged along with the [...]
