We keep hearing about this bear market and that the bottom is "in" or "very close" so we should be invested in these bargain basement prices to take advantage of the next bull so we won't lose out on the expected huge profits.
This is not a big bear market - yet. What you are experiencing is the cub phase. The full size bear has not appeared. It is going to be one of the biggest, meanest, ugliest Kodiaks the stock market has ever experienced. If you think you have lost money in the last 2 ? years wait a while as this cub is eating everything in sight as he grows larger each day.
If you haven't thrown your paper down because you think I'm nuts let's try on these facts that the talking heads don't want to discuss.
So far the U.S. is better off than many countries, but the economy is slowing down every day and more and more folks are being laid off. As the American consumer slows his buying that cuts into retail sales which cuts into wholesale sales and then the manufacturer must slow his production so he must lay off workers. The slow down and layoffs at the factory affect at least 6 local businesses who either lay off some of their people or are forced out of business.
As businesses slow and their sales and profits diminish it becomes apparent in their stock price so it goes down. Most stocks are priced to valuations based on company earnings called the P/E ratio, price divided by earnings per share. When you look back upon the P/E ratios for the past 100 years there has a mean (similar to an average) of about 14. Currently the P/E ratio for the stock market is about 31. In order for the mean to be realized you have two ways to achieve it. Either the earnings of companies must double or the price must decline by 50% - from here.
When you have a worldwide slowdown the chance of doubling profits is pretty slim so the market does its thing by decreasing price per share. That is called a bear market. When you think about business slowing more from here you also come to understand that it will take some kind of miracle to get profits up. In fact earnings will continue to decline so the reduction in the P/E ratio is a long way off. The more the stock market goes down the longer it will take to get to a "normal" P/E. It kind of feeds on itself.
If you own any stocks or mutual funds you can realize it is time to sell even at these low prices because the market is going to go lower. One of the keys to being successful in the stock market is to sell with a small loss and not wait for it to get bigger. Unfortunately, the small investor always wants to wait for a rally to get out "even". There is no "even" in this market. The smartest action is to sell before your account approaches zero.
The cub is hungry. Don't wait for him to become a full-fledged bear.
(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.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIs really not as important as to how you invest... Read More
Starbucks earnings are up again and so is their stock... Read More
Profitable day traders recognize that momentum trading is among the... Read More
Now that you have some money burning a hole in... Read More
Well, not really. What I mean is I don't mind... Read More
Recently I watched my favorite football team lose a vital... Read More
Wall Street has been preaching for years and years to... Read More
There has been great condemnation recently because China has been... Read More
You have a lock on your house. You have a... Read More
What is leverage?Here is a definition of leverage from an... Read More
Just about everything you have been told about Social Security... Read More
Ever turn down a street, get half way and suddenly... Read More
Very few people, even professionals, have heard of the Dalbar... Read More
In November of 2000 when the NASDAQ was trading at... Read More
Minority Report the movie may not be far off if... Read More
Reduce your investing and stock market risks by:Setting your sights... Read More
When is a dividend not a dividend?The latest thing "conservative"... Read More
Success in small cap & micro cap stock trading like... Read More
For the last few weeks we have seen the stock... Read More
Now where have I heard that before? I know. It... Read More
As a novice trader, you'll often feel the need to... Read More
The higher the market goes the more confusing are the... Read More
There are major differences between trading stocks and trading futures.... Read More
I have watched my cat play with a bag of... Read More
How do you make money without picking tops and bottoms?I... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..One of the greatest challenges of investing in stocks is... Read More
How do you invest? What do you really pay? At... Read More
Most stock traders know that momentum trading can be a... Read More
That sounds like good advice doesn't it? Don't lose all... Read More
When you invest in the stock market for ever-increasing cash... Read More
No, this is not a symbol for some Latin number.... Read More
Suppose your position has made a big move and you... Read More
One of the things people are always asking me is... Read More
As the man said, "I've got some good news and... Read More
∙ Make every investment in the stock market a long-term... Read More
Four blind men were asked to give a description of... Read More
The big bad bear is stirring again. So far he... Read More
Intervention. Now don't let that big word scare you. The... Read More
During the month of January the Dow Jones Industrial Average,... Read More
As an investor you will want to check out any... Read More
What does it take to be a stock trader? It... Read More
Have you ever thought of investing? Do you have a... Read More
Very few people, even professionals, have heard of the Dalbar... Read More
Do you have a nest egg? You know, a place... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics states that a... Read More
Last time we looked at the real performance of the... Read More
In 1960 an engineer working for a watch company in... Read More
Did you know you can make money (and a lot... Read More
There are many important things you need to know to... Read More
In my opinion, due to the volatility of stock market... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |