Don’t relax yet, the week isn’t over

Mid-week market update: Boy, was I wrong. Two weeks ago, I wrote Why the S&P 500 won't get to 2400 (in this rally). Despite today's market strength, stock prices may be restrained by a case of round number-itis as the Dow crosses the 21,000 mark and the SPX tests the 2,400 level. In addition, the market's...

The Italian referendum = Next populist domino?

Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group recently tweeted the following political calendar in Europe. After the surprising Trump win, the market is closely watching for electoral surprises. Next up is the Italian referendum on December 4, 2016, in which PM Matteo Renzi has asked for revisions to the constitution in order to break the endless...

Going on recession watch, but don’t panic!

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade. The...

Silver linings in Europe’s political dark clouds

As the American elections approach their final denouement in two weeks, it's time to look ahead to a number of political dark clouds forming in Europe. FT Alphaville recently highlighted research from Barclay's showing the collapse in support of establishment parties around the world.   The support for anti-establishment and protest parties and candidates have been...

If Deutsche = Lehman, then Greek banks = ?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade. The...

A second chance on Europe

About three weeks ago, I wrote about opportunities in European equities (see Worried about US equities? Here's an alternative!). I pointed out that stock prices in Europe were far cheaper than US, the fears about European integrity and financial system were overblown, and the market seemed to be ignoring signs of a growth recovery. Since...

Brexit: Fantasy vs. reality

I am seeing an unusual level of rising anxiety over the political implications of Brexit. Last week, Stratfor published a report entitled "Brexit: The First of Many Referendum Threats to the EU", which detailed the threats of additional referendums to the future of Europe. Jim Rogers, writing in the Daily Reckoning, also painted a dire...

Worried about US equities? Here’s an alternative!

I have a suggestion for value oriented investors who are uncomfortable with my market blow-off thesis for US equities (see How to get in on the ground floor of a market bubble and Get ready for the melt-up). What about buying Europe? Valuation metrics for European stocks are certainly cheaper. The SP 500 trades at a price...

Brexit panic: A gift from the market gods?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on research outlined in our post Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade. The Trend...

Brexit: LTCM or Lehman?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on research outlined in our post Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade. The Trend...

The Brexit Pandora’s Box

For my (mainly) American friends, file this under "why you don't understand Europe": The Vietnam War was a war that scarred the national psyche and dramatically changed the tone of American foreign policy for a generation. If you visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC today, you will find roughly 58,000 names of fallen soldiers...

We are all helicopter pilots now

In Ben Bernanke's famous 2002 helicopter speech, he made the point that the Fed has numerous tools to fight deflation, even if interest rates was at the zero bound: The U.S. government has a technology, called a printing press (or, today, its electronic equivalent), that allows it to produce as many U.S. dollars as it wishes...

Mario Draghi reveals the Grand Plan

Policy in Europe has generally been done in the back rooms, with the theatre, e.g. PIIGS debt re-negotiations, done in the front rooms. Last year, the markets were panicked because they perceived the backroom elites had lost control of the situation and events were spiraling out of control. Today, it appears that the elites have...