As one of my regular readers you know I have been a stock market bear for the past 2 years and have encouraged everyone to put their money into a money market account or a short-term no-load bond fund and for the more adventurous what is called a bear mutual fund that goes up when the market goes down. Just being in cash as outlined in my book would have saved 40% or more of your money.
It looks like the bull has returned - at least for a while. The low that was hit on October 8 was a serious one. As the market has gone up there have been more and more who believe we are in a recovery mode so they are committing funds again. This is true not only for the average investor who has been seriously hurt with the invalid Buy and Hold philosophy, but also the pension and retirement plans of both large and small corporations. Many pension plans (hopefully not yours) have had losses of 30% to 50%.
I hate to tell you this, but those fund managers, as expert as they pretend to be, have no more idea how to protect that fund than you do. Am I being pessimistic? Maybe, but then why did 90% of all stock mutual funds lose money so far this year? The only stocks and mutual funds showing a profit have been bonds, gold and bear funds. You can be sure your financial manager was not smart enough to own any of these.
Well, anyway, back to this new bull market. Many pension plans and funds have been making a small recovery and the investor is again opening his mail from his 401K. It has been too painful to see those losses.
Will this bull last? The current underlying fundamentals say 'NO', but the outlook by market analysts is that next year we will see the return of good corporate profits and better exports to foreign countries. So far it has been the American consumer who has held the market up with purchases of cars and houses. If this can continue we will see some corporate expansion and employment rise again.
The market has been rising on anticipation of that scenario. Unless we can see corporations making decent profits so they can expand their business this shadow bull will disappear in a flash of light. Whoever you work for must make a good profit or you won't have a job. It isn't his fault or yours. He can't afford to keep you unless there are profits.
Let's hope this shadow bull has more substance to it.
(c) 2005
Al Thomas' best selling book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter to receive his market letter for 3 months at www.mutualfundmagic.com to discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
car service from Midway Burlington .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThe Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE) is not operating successfully. True,... Read More
If you don't know where you are going any road... Read More
Recently I watched my favorite football team lose a vital... Read More
When the stock market is going up and all your... Read More
You have decided to buy some stock or mutual funds,... Read More
This is a guide to the different types of mutual... Read More
Hedge current portfolio positions and gain access to capital resources... Read More
When will the stock market stop going down and start... Read More
If there is one term over-used when talking about making... Read More
Money management starts with protecting your capital, realizing profits and... Read More
If you've ever flipped on the television to CNN Financial... Read More
The Law of Chaos is the theory of random unpredictable... Read More
If you're like many investors who squander those small dividend... Read More
Do you have a nest egg? You know, a place... Read More
How many times has this happened to you? You're at... Read More
The big bad bear is stirring again. So far he... Read More
Recently I was invited to appear on a live CNNfn... Read More
One of the main reasons many of us get into... Read More
This is an extract of an article which was first... Read More
There are formulas for just about everything, but it has... Read More
The thinking process of the brain relating to the... Read More
When you become interested in a stock or mutual fund... Read More
Having lived aboard a sailboat for 2 years I was... Read More
∙ Make every investment in the stock market a long-term... Read More
In his wonderful book, 'Multiple Streams of Income', best selling... Read More
Granger limo Chicago ..Now that you have some money burning a hole in... Read More
There are red lights, green lights, blue lights and spot... Read More
How do you make money without picking tops and bottoms?I... Read More
The Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE) is not operating successfully. True,... Read More
Checked your 401K lately? Going back to about a year... Read More
When is a dividend not a dividend?The latest thing "conservative"... Read More
Financial markets provide their participants with the most favorable conditions... Read More
I am hearing predictions by brokers, financial planners, talk show... Read More
Profitable day traders recognize that momentum trading is among the... Read More
What a great statement!I just heard someone use it in... Read More
You remember the story about the frog that was put... Read More
If you're like many investors who squander those small dividend... Read More
How many people went to a cash position this week?... Read More
Where is the beef? Or maybe it should be where... Read More
In today's volatile and confusing stock markets everyone is searching... Read More
For weeks, no, months we have been bombarded with nothing... Read More
On the 40 year journey through the turmoil of a... Read More
If you are a baby boomer, time is not on... Read More
Recently I watched my favorite football team lose a vital... Read More
If you have not back tested your trading system, you... Read More
As one of my regular readers you know I have... Read More
I go to the Money Show every year to visit... Read More
On Monday, November 25, 2000 Investor's Business Daily listed on... Read More
Reduce your investing and stock market risks by:Setting your sights... Read More
What is the Series 7 Exam? If you... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |