Once again we can thank Washington for trying their best to snatch recession from the jaws of recovery.  The looming sequestration will put the brakes on an already fragile economic recovery, thanks in part to misdirected focus, terrible management skills and inflated egos. [Read more…]

U.S. equities have had quite a start for the year; The Dow Jones Industrial average up 6.78%, the S&P 500 better by 6.43% and the NASDAQ Composite picking up 5.77% from 2012 closing levels.  Now what? [Read more…]

Three fears drive investor behavior:  fear of the unknown, fear of loss and fear of missing out.  With President Obama in the White house for four more years, ObamaCare officially the law of the land, the fiscal cliff calamity avoided and the apparent extension of the debt ceiling, the fear of missing out is driving this rally. [Read more…]

Once upon a time, business cycles were predictable and the economy alternated between periods of expansion and contraction.  As a leading economic indicator, the stock market would predict the business cycle as investor confidence and consumer confidence ebbed and flowed. [Read more…]

As 2012 comes to a close, investors find themselves facing uncertainty when stability and clarity are desired.  All eyes remain on Washington and whether a deal can be reached to prevent the economy from plunging over the “fiscal cliff”. [Read more…]

Pray for the citizens of Newtown, Connecticut, who have experienced what no parent ever should.   Pray for the vulnerable whom have no one to protect them.  Pray for this country to find some meaning in this tragedy. [Read more…]

 Four more weeks of careening from crisis to crisis and then we can kiss 2012 goodbye.  But that still leaves plenty of time for a crash of major proportions. [Read more…]

The Presidential Election was supposed to end all the “uncertainty” that held back business investment and the economy.  Instead, one uncertainty was replaced with many more.   [Read more…]

Markets appear to be in a stall, primed for a breakout but, which way?  Equities are caught between conflicting economic outlooks; gold is stuck in a $400 point trading range and the ten-year Treasury note remains under 2%.  What gives?  [Read more…]