The big-picture story out there continues to be the battle between bad news (rising infections, high unemployment, too many crumbling businesses) and good news (progress toward vaccines, therapeutics, etc.; accommodative policies from the Fed; improving fundamentals for some businesses arising from the pandemic). there’s...
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Stocks produced one of their strongest quarters in living memory, with the S&P 500 returning 20.5% in the period ending June 30. The index has nearly fully regained its previously-lost value, declining only 6% for the first half of the year. Investors frequently how...
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How to Learn More about the Companies You Own
As the new Chief Analyst for the Undervalued Stock Advisor, I’d like to thank you for reading this month’s letter. I know you have many sources of investment ideas and advice, and I appreciate your in...
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The big news affecting the market this week is the upward trend in coronavirus cases in some states and the resulting concern that an economic rebound will be curbed sooner than hoped.
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There have been so many changes in 2020, it pains me to heap another change onto your laps, and yet it is time for me to do so. I’ve implemented the next phase of my longtime career plan by establishing a U.S. equity fund...
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The market continues to recover from last week’s short but intense decline. In our portfolio there’s been a dearth of news flow. That’s fine with me. I think we could all use a little less stimulation and step back from our computers and devices...
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Right now, U.S. stock markets are surging, largely due to the Federal Reserve’s bond-buying binge. As bond prices rise from the increased demand, bond yields fall (and they’re tremendously low).
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We’re finally starting to see signs that investors are realizing that risk actually does exist in the market (I think).
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From an investor’s point of view, I will be cautious about owning P&C insurance stocks. We won’t know the cost of all the damage until second and third quarter earnings reports, but you can be sure that profits will suffer.
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How to Monitor Future Trouble in the Housing Market
U.S. stock markets continue to rise, carrying the majority of our portfolio stocks upward. There’s price resistance on the S&P 500 index at about 3,200, so that’s where I will anticipate an end to the run-up...
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In the market, there seems to be some rotation going on. Or at least that was my sense of things over the first two and a half trading days of the week.
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The S&P 500 Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average began new run-ups yesterday, while the NASDAQ Composite Index continues its uptrend. I’m glad that investors are continuing to make money during this market rebound.
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Enjoy the current strength but be aware of the environment we’re in, and why. Accept that we could see a significant retreat in the prices of many of our stocks in the near term, but that the fundamental reasons behind their current strength persist...
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In keeping with last week’s comments, the stock market continues to show a willingness to rise in the near term. More than any other industry, oil refining stocks offer strong upside, including two within our portfolios.
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Under normal market conditions growth investors like to get pulled into strong stocks and buy them as they head higher. This is anything but a normal market, however!
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The stock market continues to exhibit a willingness to rise in the near term. I’m seeing constructive price chart patterns on both the S&P 500 index and on many individual stocks.
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Caution: Rough Seas Ahead
As the stock market recovers from the steep downturn in March, I’d like to stress that this downturn bears no resemblance to any previous stock market downturn. It wasn’t created by corporate excesses or a housing bubble or any specific problem...
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The market continues to remain strong in the face of economic data that’s anything but. As we’ve already discussed at great length, this is because the market is forward looking and there’s been enough potential positive news around treatments and the timeline to vaccine...
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I’ve been receiving questions recently that essentially ask, “Why did this stock go up when the company reported bad news?” and “Why did this other stock go down when the company reported good news?”
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The S&P 500 crossed above its 25-day moving average line on April 6 and is back above its 50-day moving average line today. It is only 16% off its previous high. Granted, under the circumstances that doesn’t seem quite right. But nevertheless, there is...
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