The volatility which was predicted in the last quarterly brief continues apace with the markets continuing to climb a “wall of worry” as is typical.
On the basis of Dow Theory, the bull run is still in place with the Dow Transports indicating that new highs are anticipated.
Technology is going through a tricky phase. This market is patchy due to the fact that there are some specific stellar winners and many definite losers. The dynamics involved in tech product development, cloud computing, social networking fads and web marketing strategy are so rapid that “old” business models quickly become stressed and dated. Momentum demands exceptional growth. So one must do ones research well before investing in this arena.
The big story at the moment of course is the collapse of commodity prices. This is good for the overall market in that oil and food price appreciation will hopefully be tamed somewhat. This will have a bearing on core inflation and the future ability of the FED to keep interest rates low. As long as this supportive policy is held in place the market should maintain its bullish stance. (An indication of a change in sentiment in the market will be indicated when the 20 DMA on the Advance -Decline line in the broad market averages starts collapsing below the 50 DMA and fails to recover).
Our favourite commodity instrument, the Silver Ultra ETF: AGQ, was up nearly 100% since March. Its break below the previous low of 318.44 on the 2nd. May indicated it was a sell. Currently Silver is technically broken so it will be some time before we can be sure the worst is over. Thus I would recommend you save your profits and keep your powder dry until solid technical support is in evidence.
The social situation in Europe continues to spiral downward. Here in Ireland economic conditions continue to deteriorate with little help being granted by Germany or France to the Irish government’s attempts to lighten its EU/IMF bailout conditions.
Greece cannot meet its rescue terms and is being given “more time” which is a default in any normal mans language. Of course it cannot be “officially” named as such given that this would kick in the credit default swap insurance militia and nobody wants to give them a free lunch, if at all possible. A recent Vanity Fair article opened the lid on the rampant corruption in Athens and it is hard to see how Greece was ever allowed to join the Euro when it was common knowledge that its taxation system was such a complete corrupt mess.
Most interestingly the Madrid “sit down movement” is bringing a new dynamic into the Euro equation. Spanish youth have finally had enough. With 40% of under 30’s unemployed they want a change. They are educated, eager and ambitious and they do not wish to continue to live, with no income or future, in the homes of their aging parents. Should this movement adversely affect an already fragile Spanish banking complex it may bring Madrid one step closer to needing IMF assistance. That could be a potential Euro endgame.
The one winner in all of this is Germany. It continues to benefit from the Euro arrangement in that it has access to a vast European market for its industrial produce yet benefits from a fixed Euro currency. However Berlin refuses to accept any responsibility for the “lite touch regulation” it allowed to develop at the European Central Bank. It would appear Germans are happy with representation without taxation. Under these circumstances it is hard to see how the Euro will survive over the next decade. Yes, on paper, the cracks can be glossed over and the can kicked down the road but at the end of the day Europe is not only an economy it is a society. Currently its social contract based on dignity, freedom, equality, solidarity, citizen’s rights and justice is crumbling and it would appear that Brussels, as of yet, does not “get it”. The original vision of the great men who founded the E.E.C. is being destroyed by short-sighted bankers, technocrats and bureaucrats. These mandarins are playing with fire. Monnet, Schumann and Gaspari would be ashamed of them.
Dow Transports: Weekly
AGQ: Daily
