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Debt, Earnings & The Euro
18 May 10 10:46 AM | Brian Dightman

Stock markets have come under pressure recently as concerns over debt levels of governments around the world take center stage. Policy makers are at a difficult juncture. They must support global economic growth or risk losing much-needed tax revenue...

Filed under: World Economy, S&P 500 Earnings, IMF, Credit Crisis, Cyclical Markets

Credit & Real Estate Remain Key
23 November 09 08:07 AM | Brian Dightman

After easily topping low Q3 earnings expectations, stocks are finding it difficult to advance from highs reached in October. Hesitation may be coming from new reports of continued struggles in the housing market where mortgage delinquencies continue to...

Filed under: S&P 500 Earnings, Credit Markets, Global Banks, U.S. Real Estate, stock leadership, Major U.S. Markets

Earnings & The Economy
05 May 09 11:18 AM | Brian Dightman

We are well into Q1 earnings season; overall earnings are down about 35% but many firms are beating lowered targets. We are also starting to see forward guidance improve, a signal to some the worst may be behind us. So far it appears cost cutting has...

Filed under: S&P 500 Earnings, Investors Business Daily, Global Banks, bear market, Credit Crisis, leading economic indicators, stock leadership

What are P/E Ratios Telling Us?
18 February 09 04:12 PM | Brian Dightman

I have found using earnings and P/E's to establish entry points in broad market positions difficult. For example, if investors wait for PE multiples to arrive at or near 15 (historical average of as reported P/E ratios), they may find the market has...

Filed under: S&P 500 Earnings

Fiscal Stimulus, Stocks, & Interest Rates
19 January 09 01:52 PM | Brian Dightman

Many market commentators are hoping for a stock market rally as the Obama Administration takes the helm of our great country. And for good reason, a roughly $850 billion dollar fiscal stimulus could be just the shot in the arm the U.S. economy needs....

Filed under: TED SPREAD, S&P 500 Earnings, Energy, Global Banks, metals and mining, developed markets, Credit Crisis, leading economic indicators

President Elect Obama & Investors
06 November 08 08:58 AM | Brian Dightman

With the elections over we can now turn our attention to how President Elect Obama is going to potentially affect our investments. Given the magnitude of the economic challenges his administration will face, it will be interesting to see how President...

Filed under: World Economy, S&P 500 Earnings, Energy, Crude Oil, Credit Markets, Global Banks, alternative energy, clean energy, emerging market stocks, Credit Crisis, income investing, dividends, Taxes

Earnings & Elections
03 November 08 12:31 PM | Brian Dightman

After a dismal performance during the first part of the month, stocks tried to regain their footing last week and delivered a gain. Despite the final effort, which was not all that convincing, it did not prevent October of 2008 from delivering one of...

Filed under: S&P 500 Earnings, P/E Ratio, Taxes

Q1 Earnings
29 April 08 05:14 PM | Brian Dightman

By the end of last week just over half of the companies in the S&P 500 reported earnings and so far Q1 profits are expected to fall around 14%. Not good, but better than the 24% decline we saw in Q4 ‘07. On a positive note, companies from the energy...

Filed under: TED SPREAD, S&P 500 Earnings