Some things never change. In our day of the thoroughly modern Federal Reserve Bank, Mr. Market hangs on every word, every nuance, every implied hint from the Chairperson. What I understand is this: Although the Fed will continue to buy fewer bonds from (lend money to) the US government each [...]
There is a story about modern technology (capital) and labor: the new factory has smart machines and robotics galore such that it runs itself. But it has also a man and a guard dog. The man is there to feed the dog each day. The dog is there to bite [...]
A month or so ago, I discussed the statistical probability of a change of the bullish stock market trend during the coming months. The view at that time was clearly uncertain. The indexes had plummeted during the last half of January until February 3, a minus 5.76 percent drop for [...]
Harvard University announced last week that Kenneth Griffin, a 1989 graduate, is giving $150 million primarily to support financial aid for its undergraduates. This is part of a $6.5 billion capital campaign started in 2013 to make a Harvard education affordable for all entering students, but especially those from low [...]
Last week, I discussed the advisability of examining periodic corrections or pull-backs in the stock indexes. Particularly when January results are negative, one should be ready for the end of a bullish trend. From what occurred last week, the weather forecast for stocks looks better again, just like our physical [...]
Even though the stock market indexes have recovered some of their losses suffered this year, it is too early to be certain whether the shorter term bullish trend has changed to the downside, or this is just another pause that refreshes. When a bull market thunders ahead too far for [...]
In the good old days, your emergency money could earn at least 3 or 4 percent in a savings account or a short term certificate of deposit. This was often enough to help keep up with inflation. Now that the Fed has used its zero interest rate strategy to help [...]
History quiz for the new year: What happens after a really strong year in the stock market? Does the market then usually go up, down, or sideways? This is a more important question than many would count it. History repeats itself in many instances because people usually act according to [...]
The IRS released a statement yesterday that they will not begin process tax returns until January 31st. According to a statement, the extension "will allow the IRS adequate time to program and test its tax processing systems." This does not affect the April 15 filing deadline. For more, click http://1.usa.gov/1beZwIo.
The countdown to Christmas is almost in the single digits. See Ron's advice to keep this time of the year from following you into the new year! http://bit.ly/196y856
