Tag: Current Economy

January Stock and Fund Picks

State of the Economy: As growth slow and AI continues to grow, the labor market slowly deteriorates as the “Labor Market Trends Index” shows: The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) Declined in December Latest Press Release Updated: Monday, January 12, 2026 The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) declined in December to 104.27, from… Continue reading January Stock and Fund Picks

November Stock and Fund Picks

Week 1 (Nov. 1 – 9): The October sell-off has created opportunities for stock pickers.  On the other hand, Friday’s hot inflation read means the market is now sure of a Dec. Fed rate hike.  As Warren Buffet warns,  “Interest rates are like gravity to stocks.”  A more mechanical rationale for this phenomenon is that… Continue reading November Stock and Fund Picks

Free Market Beating Stock Picks for July

Week 1 (July 2 – 6):   If Pres. Trump makes a trade deal to reduce tariffs (taxes on imports) it will be pro supply side along with the earlier tax cuts and deregulation.  If he stays protectionist, economic growth will slow, both domestically and globally.  The later problem may even lead to a recession. … Continue reading Free Market Beating Stock Picks for July

Free Stock Picks for June 2018

Week 1 (June 1 – 8):   The economy is just right.  Short-term calm and low volatility usually create a “smart-money” outflow and a short-term dip that you should buy . . . maybe by tomorrow.  Consider the growth stocks GTES, and OFG.  Look at the ETFs:  XLI, PSCI, and XSD.   Good dividend growth… Continue reading Free Stock Picks for June 2018

May Market Beating Stock and Fund Picks

Week 1 (May 1 – 4):  Uncertainty about the Fed, a flattening yield curve, and China trade issues are offsetting strong earnings and a higher rate of economic growth.  The result is a trading range for stocks.  Eventually, something must give and the market will head one way or another.  Hopefully, that will be another… Continue reading May Market Beating Stock and Fund Picks

March 2018 Stock State

March 1st Update: Headwinds from trade wars are on the way.  This, as indicated in the February Stock State, is our biggest stock market worry. Why are tariffs on steal and aluminum such a problem?  Trade theory, not stock market talking heads, is the answer.  Tariffs on specific commodities imposed by a large nation such… Continue reading March 2018 Stock State

February 2018 Stock State

February 12 update: The correction or pull-back of about 10% is running its course.  Much of the attention focused on headwinds created by higher interest rates (as the 10 year government bond heads for 2.9% is an overstated concern.  Imagine you are flying a small airplane into a headwind.  The FED has helped you (the… Continue reading February 2018 Stock State

Activist Monetary Policy Conundrum

Recently, many economic and FED commentators point out that if we have a recession we will need a tighter FED balance sheet and higher interest rates in order to fight the recession using stimulative monetary policy.  At the same time, others have pointed out that if interest rates get to high it will cause a… Continue reading Activist Monetary Policy Conundrum

January 2018 Stock State

The economy continues to do well, but not too well.  That is, it is chugging along rather steadily but not so fast as to suggest closing in on the next recession any time soon.  The stock market is not always in lock step with the economy because it rests on not only fundamentals, but such… Continue reading January 2018 Stock State