Stock markets have become increasingly bearish since the election. With the fiscal cliff approaching, and little confidence that Democrats and Republicans will agree on a solution to avoid it, the…
Set Our Markets Free!
In the not-too-distant past, the stock market rewarded entrepreneurs who worked hard and had innovative ideas. Today, the market is driven primarily by two things: Monetary policy. The Federal Reserve…
Going For Broke
So The Fed is “all in.” QE3, the third round of quantitative easting, will continue until the unemployment rate drops to an acceptable level. The implication is that buying bonds…
Consumers Might Spend – If They Had Any Money
Bond buying will pump money into the economy and reduce long-term interest rates, which are already at historic lows. Theoretically, this will give consumers a greater incentive to spend their…
Bernanke’s “On the Other Hand” Speech
To the disappointment of many on Wall Street, and to the relief of many in the real world, the Federal Reserve Board did not announce a third quantitative easing program…
The Fed and Facebook
On the surface, The Federal Reserve Board and Facebook have nothing in common. But media speculation about Fed action is very similar to the speculation that preceded Facebook’s IPO. For…
Stock Rally Built On Wishful Thinking
“This is the most disrespected rally I’ve ever seen.” John Buckingham, Al Frank Asset Management Stock prices have rallied and are closing in on their highest level in five years. …
Dog Days Not So Slow
Another near-miss “flash crash,” more European craziness, buzz about more action from The Federal Reserve Board and a stock market that rises along with the unemployment rate … who says…
Over Fed
To QE3 or not to QE3? That is the question the Federal Reserve Board has been pondering for months … or at least Fed observers think it’s being pondered. But,…
Bad News Boosts the Market
In the strange world of investment management, bad news is often good news. That was the case last week, as the S&P 500 gained a hefty 3.7%, more than reversing…