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This is why retail spending has remained weak as an era of frugality prevails due to the damaged psyche of the consumer. In regards to the market, as shown in the first chart, the Volatility Index (VIX) acts as a fear gauge relative to the market. The index is currently at levels that show very little fear of a market decline. Unfortunately, what should be noted by our very bullish friends at First Trust, is that reversals in both the VIX and the market occur VERY quickly. As investors - our job is to sell high and buy low. With current levels of sentiment at such complacent levels the risk of a short term correction is high. Furthermore, since the majority of the mainstream media and analysts are bullish on the outlook of the market for the coming year, this invokes Bob Farrells rule #9: When all the experts and forecasts agree something else is going to happen.
end aggregate demand impedes businesses from increasing production and employment. In the end it is a virtual spiral that is very hard to break. Each month we update our Real Employment Situation Report on our site which covers what is really happening within the context of employment or lack thereof. As we stated in December: This is why I prefer to look at the employment to population ratio (shown above) as a better means of understanding the real employment situation in the country. In order for the country to return to the long term trend of employment by 2020 we will need to be creating nearly 250,000 jobs each month. This, of course, is a far cry from 200,000 that we saw [in December]. With the employment to population ratio remaining at levels not seen since 1984 the real pressure on the economy remains focused on the consumer. There are two very negative ramifications of this large and available labor pool. The first is that the longer an individual remains unemployed the degradation in job skills weighs on future employment potential and income. The second, and most importantly, is that with a high level of competition for existing jobs; wages remain under significant downward pressure. Furthermore, while the recent increases have certainly been encouraging there are several influences that can cause the recent increases to reverse. As we discussed recently the increases that we have seen in recent economic reports are the result of the restart from the near economic freeze due to the combination of the Japan earthquake, Eurozone and Debt Ceiling crisis' this past summer. That pent up demand has likely run its course and while Q4 may look good there is likely going to be weakness in the first half of 2012. Any impact from weakness in consumption, with corporate profit margins already under pressure, could lead to further hiring pressures as corporations adjust to protect their bottom line. We have been fairly vocal that 2012 could likely see the start of the next recession. However, does the recent uptick in employment dissuade us about our call? Not really. The table details every recession going back to 1948 as identified by the "Start Date" which is the first month of the recession as identified by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
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The table shows the month-over-month increases in payrolls beginning 3, 2 and 1 month before the actual first month of economic recession. The first thing to notice is that there are only 4 months in the entire table that actually show job losses. Employers are generally very slow to hire, and fire, an employee which is why employment is a lagging indicator. However, if we look at the net change of employment over a 3 month period what we notice is that job gains were actually quite strong just prior to the onset of an economic recession. Economy Built On Debt Retail sales are up 6.5% from a year ago; orders for long-lasting durable goods are up 12.1%, and auto sales are up 8.4%. Retail sales are the lifeblood of the economy. Consumption today makes up more than 70% of GDP. This is why the condition of the consumer is important in any real discussion of the economy that takes place. Consumption over the last 30 years has been built on the back of an ever increasing level of debt relative to the economy. While short term data points may show positive marks we have to understand where those increases are being derived from. That debt party has met its inevitable conclusion for the time being. Today, consumers are struggling more than ever to maintain a standard of living as wages persist within a long term downward trend as a large and available labor pool, technology and outsourcing drive wages lower. This decline in wages has led to a funding gap between income and the standard of living. While debt assisted in meeting this gap it was also filled be an ever declining level of savings as a percent of incomes. Savings, as a
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function of the economy, provide for productive investment which supports long term economic growth. Debt acts as a cancer on the economy diverting those savings away from productive investment and consumption. With the savings rate currently at 3.5% and the availability of credit sharply reduced the stranglehold on consumption grows. If we step out of the statistical analysis for a moment to look at the world though a broader lens we find a much more disturbing picture. With consumer spending vastly important to the overall economic picture the pressures on the average American are overwhelming. The "cost of living" has been rising sharply over the last few years as wage growth has been to slow to offset cost increases. In the past two quarters consumers have had an effective $60 Billion dollar tax reduction through lower gasoline prices. However, gasoline prices and energy prices are on the rise and that is an impact that is felt immediately by the consumer. Consumers only have a finite amount of income coming into their household. Therefore, with the costs of food and energy now consuming more than 22% of wages it is going to be inherently more difficult for consumers to make purchases outside of "necessities" as wages decline. Here are some important statistics to note in regards to the average consumer: 1 out of 2 utilizes some form of government assistance. 86 Million are out of the work force 46 Million are on food stamps Government transfers now account for more than 35% of incomes.
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It doesnt take an economist to figure out that those numbers do not bode well for stronger economic growth.
I've plotted the S&P regression data as an area chart type rather than a line to make the comparisons a bit easier to read. It also reinforces the difference between the line charts which are simple ratios and the regression series, which measures the distance from an exponential regression on a log chart. As you can see in the chart not ONE of these ratios are currently below their long term mean going back to 1900. Further, there has NEVER, and I repeat NEVER been a bull market that launched from the current levels of valuation. The chart to the right helps with the visual understanding. The markets continually cycle between long term rising bull markets and long term sideways bear markets. The long term trending sideways bear markets consume the excesses generated from the previous bull market. Currently we are a little more than halfway through a typical secular (long term) bear market cycle. Secular bear markets have never ended until valuations reach deeply discounted levels relative to the long term average generally below 10x earnings. This is opposed to Brians more simplistic analysis when he states that stocks are incredibly cheap compared to their long term average. In reality, using his methodology stocks are trading only slightly below the long term mean. This is hardly a bargain particularly when every other measure of valuation pegs valuations much higher. Furthermore, earnings have most likely reached their peak for this growth cycle. Already we are seeing sharp downgrades to earnings estimates and companies are struggling to beat those with one of the worst starts to earnings season in years. In the short term stocks will respond to earnings and economic news. However, in the long run stocks cannot escape the gravity of fundamentals.
divided by price) is higher than the Treasury yield; you should be invested in stocks and vice-versa. The problem here is twofold. First, you receive the income from owning a Treasury bond whereas there is no tangible return from an earnings yield. Therefore, if I own a Treasury with a 5% yield and a stock with a 8% earnings yield, if the price of both assets do not move for one year - my net return on the bond is 5%. My return on the stock is a big fat 0%. Which one had the better return? This has been especially true over the last decade where stock performance has been significantly trounced by owning cash and bonds. Yet, analysts keep trotting out this broken model to entice investors to chase the single worst performing asset class over the last decade. It hasn't been just the last decade either. An analysis of previous history alone proves this is a very flawed concept and one that should be sent out to pasture sooner rather than later. During the 50's and 60's the model actually worked pretty well as economic growth was strengthening. As the economy strengthened money moved from bonds into other investments causing interest rates to have a steadily rising trends. However, as we have discussed in the past in "The Breaking Point" and "The End Of Keynsian Economics" as the expansion of debt, the shift to a financial and service based economy, and the decline in savings began to deteriorate economic growth, the model no longer functioned. During the biggest bull market in the history of the United States you would have sat idly by in treasuries and watched stock skyrocket higher. However, not to despair, the Fed Model did turn in 2003 and signaled a move from bonds back into stocks. Unfortunately, the model also got you out just after you lost a large chunk of your principal after the crash of the markets in 2008. Currently, you are back in again after missing most of the run up in the current bull cycle only most likely to be left with the four "B's" after the next recession ends - Beaten, Battered, Bruised and Broke. The bottom line here is that earnings yields, P/E ratios, and other valuation measures are important things to consider when making any investment but they are horrible timing indicators.
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As a long term, fundamental value investor, these are the things I look for when trying to determine "WHAT" to buy. However, understanding market cycles, risk / reward measurements and investor psychology is crucial in determining "WHEN" to make an investment. In other words, I can buy fundamentally cheap stock all day long but if I am buying at the top of a market cycle I will still lose money. As with anything in life - half of the key to long term success is timing.
of 400%. This is the first time that aggregate debt/GDP has risen above 100% since WWII. With this in mind it is clearly only a function of time until the interdependency between the Eurozone and the U.S. plays catch up. Since it is highly unlikely that the Eurozone will do what is necessary to fix their problems the downside risk to their economy is more than prevalent. While economic indications have been better as of late it is more a testament to the warmest winter in 5 years than it is to a real recovery in the U.S. economy. Back to Rosie: "Indeed, in the U.S., we have seen a flurry of data showing that housing activity is in full-fledged recovery mode and how employment is picking up steam. As an example, a critical inflection point so far this year was that nice round +200k reading on December nonfarm payrolls, which was released on January 6th. The S&P 500 is up 3% since the release of that number. But keep in mind that these numbers are all seasonally adjusted. They are expecting December to be bitter cold and adjust for the usually depressed level of economic activity (outside of holiday shopping) that typically occurs late in the year. And the seasonal adjustment process tends to weight more heavily the experience, for any given month, to the prior three years' worth of data. Keep in mind that for the U.S. as a whole: this was the warmest December in five years the average level of rain or snow this past December was the lowest since 2000 The number of people who reported difficulty showing up for work due to inclement weather was the lowest since 2004." The point here is that any disruption, even something like a rise in gasoline prices (don't look now as that is happening), will impact an already cash strapped consumer. Throw on top of that any type of international dilemma, political intrigue or some other geological event and you have an immediate and damaging impact to an already weak economy. While presenting a Pollyanna economic case is certainly much more entertaining to read than reality - it entices investors to take on far more market risk than they realize. Market losses can be very damaging. This was evident with Brians commentary from the beginning of the year: A year ago, we predicted 4% real GDP growth in 2011 and a 14,500 Dow by year-end. We were too optimistic. Real GDP grew just 1.2% annualized during the first three quarters of 2011. This will climb to about 1.75% if the consensus forecast is right about Q4. The Dow finished the year at 12,218, well off its high for the year of 12,928. This isnt the first time we have missed a forecast, and it wont be the last. Aligning long term fundamentals and short term (one year or less) market trading is a very dangerous game and one that you will lose at more often
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than not. This is why we go to great lengths to align short term outlooks with technical analysis even though, like now, it clashes with the long term fundamental outlook. In the longer term the realities of excess debt, the long term running of deficits and the deleveraging cycle will continue to plague economic growth. It is a function of unwinding thirty years of excess it is basic math. Until then the markets will remain at a sub-par growth rate which in turn keeps the economy in a deflationary cycle. These cycles take a long time to resolve themselves and we are only about half way through this one. This is just the reality of it all. The good news is that we can make money by trading the rallies and getting out of the way of the declines. We successfully navigated the markets last year and, so far, our buy signals have kept us in the current rally. However, the important point here is that you separate emotion from your investing. Hope is not an investment strategy that you can successfully live by. However, for economists, the media and Wall Street analysts the game plan is just to keep calling bottoms until you get one sooner or later you will be right. Have a great week. Lance Roberts
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What makes us different? Its really pretty simple. We believe that managing risk is the key to long term success. Conserve the principal and the rest will take care of itself. Risk = Loss Seems like a simple concept yet most people take way too much risk in their portfolio which is fine as long as the market goes up. The problem comes when it doesnt. Managed Risk = Returns By applying varying levels of risk management to a portfolio of assets the potential for large drawdowns of capital is reduced thereby allowing the portfolio to accumulate returns over time. Total Return Investing We believe that portfolio should be designed for more than just capital appreciation. There are times when markets do not rise. During those periods we want income from dividends and interest to be supporting the portfolio. If you are ready for something different then you are ready for common sense approach to investing. Get Started Today!
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Technically Speaking
Fish Out Of Water
A comedian, Gary Shandling, once said that for him having sex was like being a fish out of water. There was just a lot of flopping around and gasping for air. That can be said about the market this past week. For all of the volatility the market ended up less than 1 point for the week. If you have not read last weeks Technical Review Of The Markets I suggest you do so. In that article we covered domestic and international markets, commodities, oil, gold and the U.S. dollar. Not much has changed since that particular analysis; however, I do want to note that the markets are now wrestling with very important resistance from the peak of the markets in 2007. Currently, as the market challenges the downtrend line from the peak of the markets, there is little fuel left for the market to run on in the short term. The markets are extremely overbought on a short term basis. However, as stated last week, the markets are on a weekly buy signal with a positive trend so dips in the market to support levels (currently around 1260) should be bought. Gold, is also running into resistance of the long term uptrend, however, gold did correct to meaningful support and got oversold working off the previous parabolic spike in the metal this summer. We suggest adding to gold positions on pullbacks to support according to plan. Trade carefully.
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50% Equity
The majority of funds track their respective index. Therefore, select ONE fund for each category. Keep it simple. 30% Equity Income/Balanced/Growth & Income 20% Large Cap Value 0% International Value
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Lance Roberts Director of Fundamental & Economic Analysis Michael Smith Director of Alternative Investments Luke Patterson Chief Investment Officer Hope Edick Compliance Officer Leah Miller Operations Manager Lynette Lalanne General Partner Streettalk Insurance Office Location One CityCentre 800 Town & Country Blvd. Suite 410 Houston, TX 77024 Tel: 281-822-8800 Web Sites www.streettalkadvisors.com
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