The Companies Count

The companies count.  Stocks closed mixed yesterday, reminding investors that individual company risk is a thing.  All eyes are turned east as the G-20 begins in Japan and many are hoping for something big.     MY TWO CENTS    Which way is the exit.  The entertainment event of the month began yesterday in Osaka…

Choose your words carefully!

Choose your words carefully!  It was an up and down ride for stocks yesterday with US-China trade talks rekindling old anxieties.  Stocks started the session believing something good will come out of a Trump-Xi meeting this weekend, but careful examination of the facts proved otherwise.   MY TWO CENTS    More word-smithing.  With some sort…

Step up to the mic

Step up to the mic.  Fed Governors stepped up to the mic and spoke up yesterday and the market didn’t like what they said.  Stocks slid yesterday as Fed speakers dampened hopes of big rate cuts and trade anxiety added to the upset.   MY TWO CENTS    It’s what I do… but also what…

Paused

Paused.  Stocks took a pause yesterday with a mixed close as traders await some news on the trade war.  Early in the session gains melted away as gulf tensions and the ongoing trade war overtook rate cut optimism.   MY TWO CENTS    Divergence in markets may be a warning.  The large cap Dow Jones…

Ready to Launch

Ready to launch.  Stocks snapped a four-day winning streak as traders digested news of a last-minute cancellation of a military strike on Iran.  The increased tensions between the US and Iran hit a high point on Friday dampening the positive momentum brought on by Wednesday’s Fed announcement.   MY TWO CENTS    More weakness is…

Hot to Trot

Hot to trot.  Markets climbed on continued optimism that the Fed is looking out for them.  Even the threat of conflict with Iran in the wake of a downed US drone couldn’t hold risk-on sentiment back.   MY TWO CENTS   What are we missing?  In Wednesday’s Fed policy announcement, the Fed took out the…

Lean On Me!

Lean on me!  Stocks rallied moderately yesterday as the Fed reassured traders that rate cuts could come soon.  The Federal Reserve took a reserved approach and kept rates unchanged but made it quite clear that they are leaning towards future rate cuts.   MY TWO CENTS    What exactly did the Fed give us yesterday?…

Good Vibes

Good vibes.  Stocks climbed yesterday because traders liked what they heard from Mario Draghi and President Trump.  Dovish statements by the ECB President stoked the markets and a Trump tweet pushed stocks to within arms length of all time highs.   MY TWO CENTS    Selective hearing is bad.  Stocks soared yesterday in response to…

Holding Pattern

Holding pattern.  Stocks remained in a holding pattern ahead of the Fed meeting and next week’s G-20 meet-up.  Stocks advanced slightly yesterday amidst speculation over rate cuts, despite an ominous economic number.   MY TWO CENTS    F.O.M.O. at the E.C.B. For those of you that don’t know, FOMO stands for “fear of missing out”.  It is…

Stuck in the Middle

Stuck in the middle.  Stocks did a bunch of nothing on Friday as traders, with not much to do, await audibles from the Fed and the outcome from G-20 trade talks.    Despite interesting economic data, stocks traded marginally lower in Friday’s session.   MY TWO CENTS    People are buying stuff! And that is…