Courtesy of David Brown, Chief Market Strategist, Sabrient
It’s a Conundrum
Today was a puzzling way to begin our new week: a brisk positive start gave way to the Dow’s inability to penetrate 13,000 for the first time in nearly four years. A plethora of positive economic news last week, corporate earnings surprises to the upside, and a likely final deal with Greece had the market creeping upward today, ready to push the Dow over that important barrier and set another new 11+ year high for the Nasdaq. But alas, it didn’t happen. Was it because Walmart’s (WMT) quarter was weak? Was it simply that technicians were unwilling to support the Dow’s move over 13,000? (Unlikely, since the weakest market was the Nasdaq). Or did it have nothing to do with either?
Let me expand on last week’s news. The steep drop in new unemployment claims was a 4-year low. Very good news! The Philly Fed and Empire Manufacturing numbers were both positive surprises. Housing starts hit a three-year high. Corporate positive surprises such as Met Life (MET) and John Deere (DE) and a number of others offered additional reasons to believe the economy was indeed creeping ahead.
As we mentioned last week, valuations on the Sabrient GARP 1000 were closer to lows than highs. Where else can money go? Government bonds…..but that’s a bad risk/reward ratio on the long side, especially with core inflation numbers rising last week and no reward on the short side. Corporate debt is a little better but with risk/reward issues. Precious metals are in the stratosphere. Real estate is just a bad word. Yet, we didn’t grab the positive Greek news and rush into the market.
Here’s the other side. The Greek tragedy and the PIIGS problems are far from resolved. Iran continues to rattle its sword. Industrial production was up 0% last week, a disappointment. The Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) were on the disappointing side. Retail sales were disappointing. A few companies didn’t fare so well with their earnings reports like Walmart today, General Motors (GM), Marriot (MAR), and others last week. Furthermore, there was very little enthusiasm for any of our wannabe Presidential candidates. Congress has the lowest approval ratings in history. Africa, Pakistan, the Middle East, Russia, North Korea. Worry, worry, everywhere we look. Frankly, there is a lack of leadership in the market or anywhere else.
But…
