This Market’s Ready to Implode

Until about this time last month, the world was practically flawless.  Stocks were on the march.  They were generally moving onward and upward as the Fed had ordained them.

New Fed Chair, Janet Yellon, was finding her way too…completing the tapering work that Bernanke began.  Despite a minor stumble of words it appeared she’d be able to hold the paper money charade together for at least a while longer.  But then something slipped.

At first no one noticed.  By the time people caught on to what was going on, the growth and technology stocks in the NASDAQ had cracked.  Then the broad S&P 500 faltered. What to make of it?

David Winters, manager of Wintergreen Advisors fund, believes the recent drop in stock prices is a buying opportunity.  “You can get filet mignon for chuck prices,” he said.  Should you listen to him?

If Winters is right, this is this just a brief correction.  Those who buy the dip will be rewarded. Continue reading

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Give Trains a Chance

Chinese exports and imports slipped in March.  According to trade data from Beijing released Wednesday, exports declined 6.6 percent from this time last year.  Moreover, imports dropped 11.3 percent.

If you can believe it, China’s first quarter GDP rose just 7.3 percent.  That’s its slowest growth rate since 2009.  While this may be red hot growth in many countries, in China this is cause for alarm.

In China, 8 percent GDP is considered necessary to create enough jobs for the tens of millions of migrants flooding from the country to the city.  Likewise, this growth and creation of jobs are thought to be necessary to prevent massive social unrest.  Some, however, believe a slowdown for China will ultimately help the economy.

Last month, Mei Jianping, professor of finance at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of business, explained why a slowdown is inevitable.  “China’s GDP target of 7.5 percent for 2014 ‘may be possible’ but the rate ‘is not sustainable’, said Jianping. Continue reading

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How to Be Richly Rewarded Following the Big Crash

Something utterly unforeseen and unexpected is taking place.  Recent highfliers of Wall Street’s technology space are now dropping like flies.  Can you believe it?

Take Facebook, for instance.  On February 19th, the top social media service bought text messaging application, WhatsApp, for $19 billion.  Shares of Facebook closed out that day at $68.06.  We noted it as a possible signal of a market top…calling it the Mark Zuckerberg Indicator.

At first it appeared Facebook would continue its march onward and upward.  But on March 10th, stock shares peaked at $72.03.  Since then, they’ve dropped 21 percent…falling into the statistical bear market range.

However, Facebook’s not the only technology company whose stock is flaming out.  Not by a long shot.  Many others are slumping over like a half empty commercial grade flour sack.

For example, Tesla Motors, Twitter, and Netflix are down 15 percent, 20 percent, and 25 percent, respectively, over the last month.  Alexion Pharmaceuticals is also down more than 15 percent over the last month.  What’s going on? Continue reading

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The Three Stooges Debunk myRA

The Three Stooges Debunk myRA
By Dennis Miller, Editor, Money Forever

A little skit ran through my head the other day…

The house lights dimmed and the bright American flag glistened in the background.  The crowd hushed as a tall man in a strange costume strode confidently onto the stage.

Curly turned to Larry and Moe and exclaimed, “Oh my, that’s our favorite—Uncle Sam, our boyhood hero.”  Moe put his finger to his lips as if to say “Shhh!”

Uncle Sam rapped the microphone with his fingernail and the sound echoed throughout the hall.  He then bellowed out, “Hello, my fellow Americans!” and the crowd cheered wildly.

He continued, “Today I want to announce the deal of a lifetime.  We all know that IRAs and 401(k)s are tools greedy rich people use to save for retirement.  I’m here to announce a new retirement program for every day, ordinary people.  Everyone should have the right to retire safely and with dignity, and that is what we are going to do for you.” Continue reading

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