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Daily State of the Markets Good morning. Yesterday morning we spent a fair amount of time listening to the arguments presented by the bear camp. To be sure, the list of negatives espoused by my friend and colleague Curtis Bergquist (who has been managing client assets for more than 30 years) was not all inclusive. I told Curt that I had a deadline and that my readers don’t tend to put up with more than a couple thousand words, so he agreed to keep it short and stick to the key points (something that Curt tends to struggle with as his arguments tend to be voluminous and rarely lack enthusiasm). And all in all, I think we did a pretty good job of offering up the glass-is-half-empty case. With the stock market spending yet another day doing next to nothing on a closing basis and in keeping in the spirit of the election season – where the media is supposed to give equal time to each team – I thought we should hear from the opposition today. But before we get to the musings of the Bull campers, I wanted to also spend at least a moment on yesterday’s action. So, for those of you keeping score at home, Monday marked the seventh consecutive day that the S&P closed within a handful of points from where it did after Ben Bernanke announced that the Fed was going to “infinity and beyond” with the current round of QE. As such, it appears that we all have some time on our hands to consider that analysis from both sides of the aisle. Given that I am a card carrying member of the glass-is-at-least-half-full club, I feel fairly qualified to present the bull case this morning. However, I do feel a need to offer up the very important caveat that my views and opinions of the market do not enter into my investing strategy. As I’ve mentioned a time or two hundred since I began penning my meandering morning market missive in 1999, I prefer to rely on the objective readings of my models when making investment decisions. This approach may not be right for everyone, but I must admit that the models do tend to get most of the big moves right and as a result; I tend to sleep pretty well at night. If I had overslept and time was running short, I could probably offer up just a single argument for our heroes in horns and call it good this morning. Well, okay, unless I was completely out of time, I’d likely toss in a second argument for good measure. You see, with the possible exceptions of the old Wall Street saws “buy low and sell high” and “let your winners run and cut your losses short,” perhaps the two most important Wall Street-isms apply right here, right now. The first is “Don’t fight the Fed.” And over the years, I have added my own take on this particular bit of Wall Street lore by adding “Especially when they are on a mission.” In short, this means that when the Fed is attempting to either stimulate or slow down the economy, history makes it pretty clear that they tend to get their way. History also shows that when the Fed is trying to make things go, the stock markets tends to “go” as well. This one argument alone is likely responsible for the S&P moving back toward its pre-crisis all-time highs (heck, the Smallcaps are already there). But this time around the bulls can also point to “the Bazooka” of central bank intervention that is currently being fired by not only Ben Bernanke’s bunch, but the ECB, Japan, the Bank of England, and very soon, China. (Note that the Communist Congress is happening next month where power will be transferred to a new group of leaders for the next decade. And if history is any guide, it is a safe bet that the new leaders are going to want to make an impression stat once they get the baton.) Therefore, this time around, “Don’t fight the Fed” takes on a global perspective. And the bottom line is I’m not sure I want to bet against them unless things really do start going to heck in a hand basket soon. The second argument the bulls have to offer is also an oldie but a goodie, “Don’t fight the tape.” This one really strikes a chord in my heart because I am, at my core, a follower of trends. Sure, I use market models and some fairly innovative trend following strategies. But the bottom line is that my goal as an investment manager is to try and stay in tune with the market’s big moves. On the “Don’t fight the tape” score, it will suffice to say that the trend is up across the board. And then from a market momentum and/or internal health of the “tape” perspective, we must also recognize that although there is indeed room for improvement and there are a few nagging divergences, the “tape” is fairly healthy right now. Again, I’m not saying everything is hunky dory from a technical perspective. But it ain’t bad either. Next up on the bulls’ hit parade is the idea that stocks look forward and not back. As such those wearing the rose-colored Revo’s these days suggest that things are starting to look better down the road. Our bovine buddies tell us that it now looks like the “Fiscal Cliff” may meet some sort of resolution, or at the very least, be pushed out far enough so as to not send the U.S. into recession in early 2013. In addition, the bulls remind us that inflation remains low, as do interest rates. And finally, while the momentum of earnings growth has clearly slowed, we must remember that corporate earnings are either at or very near record high levels. So, unless the economy is about to stop on a dime, Corporate America seems to be doing just fine, thank you. Then there are the cycles we talked about last week. But given that I’m quickly running out of space and time this fine morning, I’ll leave you with one final argument that would appear to favor the bulls. It’s called “performance anxiety” and anyone who has ever managed OPM (other people’s money) will attest that this concept is very real. Cutting to the chase, if you are a manager who gets paid to outperform, you run the risk of getting fired if you underperform for too long. And with the S&P up more than 15% YTD and the average hedge fund up less than one-half that amount, I’m seeing reports of hedgies playing “catch up” by adding leverage and buying each and every dip. Thus the argument can be made that animal spirits just might push stocks higher into the fourth quarter, which, by the way, tends to be strong from a seasonal standpoint. So there you have it; over that past two days we’ve presented both sides of the market argument. As such, unless you are like me and base your decisions on systems and models, you have the information needed to decide which team you are going to side with going forward. It is my sincere hope that this exercise has been useful. Before I run, I do feel the need to add one more thought. Even the most enthusiastic bulls will agree that stocks are overbought and due for a pullback. As such, we would not at all be surprised to see the S&P test the 1440 area or even the 1420-1400 zone should the bears get something to work with in the coming days. But as long as the important support holds, I would suggest giving the bulls the benefit of any doubt here. Turning to this morning… The legality of the ECB’s bond buying program is suddenly under scrutiny this morning, which has caused traders to pause yet again. Asian markets were slightly mixed, European bourses are down a fraction, and U.S. futures are slightly higher in the early going. On the Economic front… We get reports on Case-Shiller Home Prices, the FHFA Housing Price Index, Consumer Confidence, and Richmond Fed this morning. Thought for the day… Keep in mind that not every person’s opinion is worthy of your attention and/or consideration… Pre-Game Indicators Here are the Pre-Market indicators we review each morning before the opening bell… !========>
Positions in stocks mentioned: none Follow Me on Twitter: @StateDave!========> Download our Special Report on our New “Adaptive” Active Risk Management System for the Stock Market The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are those of Mr. David Moenning and may not actually come to pass. Mr. Moenning’s opinions and viewpoints regarding the future of the markets should not be construed as recommendations. The analysis and information in this report and on our website is for informational purposes only. No part of the material presented in this report or on our websites is intended as an investment recommendation or investment advice. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed nor any Portfolio constitutes a solicitation to purchase or sell securities or any investment program. The opinions and forecasts expressed are those of the editors of StateoftheMarkets.com and may not actually come to pass. The opinions and viewpoints regarding the future of the markets should not be construed as recommendations of any specific security nor specific investment advice. One should always consult an investment professional before making any investment. Any investment decisions must in all cases be made by the reader or by his or her investment adviser. Do NOT ever purchase any security without doing sufficient research. There is no guarantee that the investment objectives outlined will actually come to pass. All opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Neither the editor, employees, nor any of their affiliates shall have any liability for any loss sustained by anyone who has relied on the information provided. The analysis provided is based on both technical and fundamental research and is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Although the information contained is derived from sources which are believed to be reliable, they cannot be guaranteed. The information contained in this report is provided by Ridge Publishing Co. Inc. (Ridge). One of the principals of Ridge, Mr. David Moenning, is also President and majority shareholder of Heritage Capital Management, Inc. (HCM) a Chicago-based money management firm. HCM is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser. HCM also serves as a sub-advisor to other investment advisory firms. Ridge is a publisher and has not registered as an investment adviser. Neither HCM nor Ridge is registered as a broker-dealer. Employees and affiliates of HCM and Ridge may at times have positions in the securities referred to and may make purchases or sales of these securities while publications are in circulation. Editors will indicate whether they or HCM has a position in stocks or other securities mentioned in any publication. The disclosures will be accurate as of the time of publication and may change thereafter without notice. Investments in equities carry an inherent element of risk including the potential for significant loss of principal. Past performance is not an indication of future results. |
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