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Greece on the Brink
16 January 12 01:21 PM | Brian Dightman

On Friday the 13 th global investors received two pieces of disturbing news. S&P downgraded nine of the 17 countries in the euro zone, including AAA rated France, and Greece was unable to get private bond holders to renegotiate terms. The posturing...

Filed under: World Economy, S&P 500, IMF, developed markets, Credit Crisis, risk management, Bond Investing, U.S. Bonds

2011 Reflection, 2012 Projection
03 January 12 08:15 AM | Brian Dightman

After delivering about break-even performance for 2011, the S&P 500 is off to a strong start in 2012. Unfortunately small U.S. company , international developed country, and emerging country stocks all suffered significant declines in 2011. This will...

Filed under: S&P 500, China, Credit Markets, Buy & Hold, developed markets, emerging market stocks, U.S. Real Estate

Headlines & Market Similar to 2008
16 December 11 07:49 AM | Brian Dightman

Are investors facing an environment eerily reminiscent of 2008? The news out of Europe could easily be compared to U.S. housing and mortgage headlines in 2008 and the technical action of stock prices looks similar. Is it possible we are entering a "here...

Filed under: Exchange Traded Funds, S&P 500, Agriculture, agribusiness, bear market, emerging market stocks, Credit Crisis, Secular Markets, Bond Investing, Leading Stocks

Stocks signal an upside follow-through.
25 August 11 11:28 AM | Brian Dightman

Technical analysis can be helpful to an investor. I use a variety of technical tools in my assessment of markets but recognize their limitations and how to deal with them. There are a few technical indicators that I place more emphasis on than others...

Filed under: S&P 500, stock leadership, Technical Analysis, Sector Funds

Leading Stocks - A Conflicted Market
25 June 11 09:35 AM | Brian Dightman

U.S. stocks have been struggling for nearly two months now. Early in the correction I made some defensive moves, not because U.S. stocks indexes started to see big declines, but because those declines were accompanied by warnings about a global economic...

Filed under: International Bonds, World Economy, India, S&P 500, bear market, emerging market stocks, leading economic indicators, stock leadership, risk management, Secular Markets, IBD 50, U.S. Bonds

Secular Vs. Cyclical Markets
22 September 09 04:33 PM | Brian Dightman

If you have been participating in my recent monthly online strategy updates (you can register for the next webinar here ), you have heard me talk about secular and cyclical markets. If you are wondering what this means, I offer the following insight....

Filed under: S&P 500, bear market, Cyclical Markets, Secular Markets

Stock Market Trading Range Targets
01 July 09 11:44 AM | Brian Dightman

More evidence of an improved economic environment was delivered last week when ECRI announced the growth rate of their leading economic indicator for the U.S. broke into positive territory delivering the highest weekly growth reading since August 10th...

Filed under: NASDAQ 100, S&P 500, Investors Business Daily, leading economic indicators, stock leadership

Will Stock Market Gains Hold?
16 June 09 04:43 PM | Brian Dightman

As the pattern of global economic data of less negative numbers continues, a shift may be taking place in asset pricing. Two possible reasons among many: 1) Asset prices are taking a break from the rapid appreciation realized since March 2) Economic data...

Filed under: Commodities, S&P 500, Crude Oil, China, developed markets, emerging market stocks

Rally Reversed
19 August 08 02:12 PM | Brian Dightman

You may have noticed U.S. stock indexes moving higher over the last month, offering some hope we may have found a market bottom. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case as many indexes failed a major test in the last few days. There were some...

Filed under: World Economy, S&P 500, cash, bear market, developed markets, emerging market stocks

The Buy & Hold Portfolio
17 June 08 02:10 PM | Brian Dightman

The following is a modified post I recently made on Marketwatch.com. It is hard to argue with a buy and hold investment strategy, until you look at the numbers. It took the S&P 500 7 YEARS to get back to even from the high hit in March of 2000. Now...

Filed under: S&P 500, Buy & Hold, Balanced Portfolio, Performance

200 Day Test
10 June 08 02:02 PM | Brian Dightman

For those that have read my GMM posts over the last few months, you may have picked up on my skepticism regarding the rally stocks embarked on since the middle of March. Yes, prices have moved up aggressively but without the volume characteristics generally...

Filed under: ETF, Exchange Traded Funds, NASDAQ 100, S&P 500

Credit Markets, Commodities, U.S. Factory Data & Stocks
04 June 08 02:12 PM | Brian Dightman

If you have been following the credit market mess you probably saw the news yesterday that Lehman Brothers may need to raise more cash. That is really no surprise to people following credit market developments. I posted on the subject May 23rd. Strength...

Filed under: Commodities, NASDAQ 100, S&P 500, Investors Business Daily, Credit Markets, Global Banks, Agriculture

Commodities & Related Industry Performance
10 May 08 02:57 PM | Brian Dightman

After three straight weekly gains, it is not surprising stock markets suffered losses last week. It still remains to be seen whether we have started a sustainable rally; how the S&P 500 moves relative to its 200 day moving average may shed light on...

Filed under: Commodities, ETF, Exchange Traded Funds, India, Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, XOP, Energy, Exchange Traded Notes, Industrial Metals, S&P 500, IBD, Coal, Precious Metals, ETN, Crude Oil, China, Steel, Investors Business Daily