Stocks are still the right long-term buy because of valuation, says Russ Koestrich, chief investment strategist at Blackrock Inc. Blackrock preferred stocks over bonds at the beginning of the year and continues to do so. It had predicted more volatility this summer, partly because of a slowing economy, and partly because investors adjusting to the notion that monetary policy won’t …
Markets In “Taper” Tantrum Mode
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Equity Indexes plummeted and growth stocks got nailed adding to Wednesday’s solid losses, one day after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Federal Reserve could start scaling back or tapering its monthly bond purchases by year-end. The selling began on Wednesday in the bond market as yields spiked sharply. From the bond trading pits the conflagration …
Bears Feast On Fed’s News
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Concluding the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) monetary policy 2-day meeting, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke held a press conference and appeared to have hinted that the days of easing may be nearing an end. The statement from the FOMC was released ahead of the press conference wherein the Fed left the target fed funds rate …
Markets in Cheery Mood—Keep Up Gains
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] The Major Equity Index ETFs continued yesterday’s momentum to close higher with all eyes feasted on tomorrow’s conclusion of the Federal Reserve’s two-day monetary policy meeting. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 138 points (0.9%) higher at 15,318, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 13 points (0.8%) to 1,652, and the Nasdaq Composite added 30 …
Bulls Open The Week Thanks To Positive Data
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Buyers came into the market today as the bulls maintain the Fed still has lingering concerns about the economy and won’t say anything to rattle the market when its two-day meeting concludes on Wednesday. However, stocks were rattled by a Financial Times story suggesting that Fed Chairman Bernanke is likely to signal the Fed is close …
One Man’s Opinion: Are The Markets Being Perfectly Logical Now?
The markets are not being terribly logical and they are not expected to be logical in the short-term either, says David Kelly, Chief Global Strategist at JP Morgan Funds. Though the markets have remained volatile in recent times, fundamentally, the US economy has improved, Dave noted. Also, since the labor participation rate is falling, the unemployment rate will gradually come …