Morning Note: A Lot Has To Go Right

Asian equities traded mostly higher overnight, with 13 of the 16 markets we track closing in the green. No such luck, however, for Europe this morning; only 4 of the 19 indices we track trading higher. U.S. stocks are mixed as I type: Dow down 31 points (-0.11%), S&P 500 up 0.07%, Nasdaq up 0.47%, Russell 2000 up 0.24%.

This Week's Message: Brains to Burn

I'm taking this week's message from my little 2013 book. I'm thinking this essay I penned back in 2010 and featured in Leaving Liberty? is once again timely...

Morning Note: What Investing is About...

Asian equities closed yet again mixed overnight; 7 of the markets we track in the green, 9 in the red. Europe, on the other hand, is yet again beginning the day in impressive fashion; 16 of the 19 markets we track presently trading higher. US equities are nicely higher across the board this morning: Dow up 260 points (+.94%), S&P 500 up 1.27%, Nasdaq up 1.63%, Russell 2000 up 0.79%.

The VIX (SP500 volatility) is getting crushed, -7.78% to 22.22. VXN (Nasdaq vol) is supporting this morning's rally thus far as well, -6.65% to 29.75.

Oil futures are up 1.61%, gold's are up $2, silver's down 1% (futures that is, spot price is up), copper's down -.61% and the ag complex is mostly green as I type.

The 10-year treasury is trading lower (yield higher) and the US dollar index is off by -0.11%.

Our core portfolio is off to a decent start this morning; up 1.05% as I type.

I'll circle back a little later with our weekly message. In the meantime here's Popular Delusion's Dylan Grice on what he thinks investing is "about".

"Everyone thinks investing is about being smart. its more about being different."

I agree, although I'd add objectivity and humility... 

Have a great day!
Marty

Quote of the Day: Like the Spring of 2000...

In client review conversations -- in response to the disbelief our more veteran/tutored clients express about the present state of market affairs -- I often find myself harkening back to those tech bubble days (spring of 2000) when retail traders threw all caution to the wind and bid tech stocks into the proverbial stratosphere.

Morning Note: Rotation or Harbinger?

Asian equities traded in mixed, by definition, fashion overnight: 8 of the markets we track closed higher, 8 lower. European markets this morning, however, possess no such ambiguity; 18 of the 19 bourses we follow are solidly in the green as I type. US equities are once again starting the day in let's call it confused fashion; Dow up 296 points (+1.07%), S&P 500 up .21%, Nasdaq down -.80%, Russell 2000 up .94%.

Morning Note: Explosion of #4s

Asian equities traded mostly in the green overnight; 12 of the 16 markets we track closed higher. Same for Europe this morning; 16 of 19 indices presently in the green. U.S. equities are mixed as I type, with the Dow up 244 points (.91%), the S&P 500 up .18%, the Nasdaq down -0.53% and the Russell 2000 up 1.5%. 

Quotes of the Day: A Time To Look Silly

As I continue to stress as the stock market continues to seem to defy economic reality; while much indeed changes over time, there's much about human nature that indeed doesn't seem to.