BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE SOME CHEESE?

Well once again we are provided another slug of data from our friends in the food stamps program.  All the recovery our President is telling us we are seeing obviously hasn't dribbled down to those that require assistance for food and diapers and other necessities.  Of course this data comes from May, but weren't we told to expect a turnaround somewhere?  Perhaps it will come next month......(holding breath now).

As you have already read the weekly jobless claims were remarkably worse than expected and didn't produce the number of new jobs we were anticipating.  I guess we need more folks our there caulking homes and weatherizing them so we can get our houses all green and stuff.

While we wait for next month's improvement here is a nice little chart which shows how much better things are getting.

May 2010  Highlights   
40,800,000 people participating
18.9 million households
$5.45 Billion in annual costs
$289 cost per household

GOATMUG

THROWING DOWN THE GAUNTLET - AUGUST MACRO REVIEW

RAILS - http://railfax.transmatch.com/

We begin this month's review looking at rail traffic.  Rail traffic in general continues to improve over 2009 levels.  Because there are some seasonal issues going on around this time, I don't want to over-hype the small draw down that we are seeing here.  Seasonally adjusted we are only down around 1.3% in total tonnage from last month.  Having said that, every report I read is simply talking up how great the shipping tonnage rates are.  In an attempt to examine this, we can simply note that tonnage compared to 2009 is about 20% greater yet it is still around 10% lower than 2008.  In addition, we need to keep in mind that the best years on record for intermodal rail shipping were 2006 and 2007 so it is a bit more sobering to think that we are recovering, but not near peak levels.

GDP adjustments really reinforce this as last weeks revisions to GDP showed that growth in GDP was slowing well before 2008.

RECESSION INDICATORS ON RAILS -
Motor Vehicle rail cargo and waste and scrap metal materials shipping is tailing down in recent months.  The autos shipping and sales data is absolutely seasonal so I don't want to highlight that much given that it may mean nothing, however the drop in scrap metal and waste movement is something to keep an eye on as these are inputs into the manufacturing process.  Later we'll look at scrap metal pricing.

THE WEAKEST SHIPPING TONNAGE - KSU

As I mentioned last month KSU and KSU Mexico continue their slide in tonnage.  I put this up because we need to continue watching these rails and their cargo shipping.  Specifically for them, they are encountering a crossover from levels from last year in this quarter and this may be a concerning development to monitor.  Last month I mentioned CNI and showed their chart as the best performer.  I also suggested passing on their stock simply to wait for a retest below support.  That didn't work out well as the stock is now trading almost $6.00 or 11% higher.  (I wouldn't chase it here).

MONSTER.COM EMPLOYMENT INDEX -

I wanted to include some data related to jobs.  Below is the information for the Monster.com Employment Index.  This data shows a summary of online recruiting efforts and job availability.  This data highlights information from June, but I will begin updating it monthly in my chart form.  In that time period, Monster suggests that in 13 of the 20 major employment areas in the country, there were additional listings on job boards and company websites.  The biggest gains were made in hospitality and food services industries.  Examining the most recent unemployment report confirms these trends are continuing as well.

ECRI / WEEKLY LEADING INDICATORS and ECRI GROWTH RATES  - http://www.businesscycle.com/resources/
ECRI continues to release data showing that the weekly leading indicators are falling.  Last week's -10.7% growth rate provides ammo to those that are arguing that we are headed for slow down, if not another recession.  Again, the slowing data here is in contradiction to the ever-ramping stock market.

Housing drops and consumers reducing their purchases is driving the drop in growth rates.

MOODY'S / MIT COMMERCIAL PRICE INDEX - http://web.mit.edu/cre/research/credl/rca.html

The most recent Moody's / MIT Commercial Price Index Data shows that commercial real estate prices in the index increased 3.6% for the month of May.  Again, this data is lagging here, and isn't showing that pricing has leveled off yet. 

FINANCIAL CONDITIONS INDEX - http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=BFCIUS:IND

Equity market gains and other financial market rebounds have fueled the recovery in the Bloomberg Financial Conditions Index.  A level above 0 would indicate that the recession is over, numbers below show a contraction.  We have not pushed through zero yet, but a significant equity market explosion higher in August could at least give us a second attempt at moving into an expansionary number.

SCRAP METAL - GOOD TIME AL'S FAVORITE INDICATOR - Alan Greenspan often said that he watched the price of scrap metal to determine the health of the economy.  Below is a scrap metal chart for the last two years.  Just like every 2 year chart it shows the same shape moving up and to the right, but it is interesting to point out that this index bottomed out in January of 2009.  This would have been a good indicator to use to portend the market's recovery in 2009.  We see that we've endured a drop in scrap pricing in late June and July, only to see a move up in the last week or so.

USD - http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=DXY:IND

The USD's dramatic decline seems to have washed away all fear of European collapse or should I say the lack of fear of the European collapse has begun to wash away the value of the dollar!  Those stress tests sure did the trick didn't they?  The decline of the dollar has certainly also ushered in a revival of the stock markets.  Funny, we are now hearing that folks are concerned about the downward direction of the dollar.  The truth is simply this in my opinion.  We will have little upward momentum in the markets without a destruction of the value of the dollar.  Having said that, Alan Greenspan this weekend put into words what the FED is really thinking.  Greenspan simply stated that the market is the economy!  So, we must be on alert that since the "Economy is the Market" we are being reminded that asset values are the only concern of the Fed and the only hope to return things back to the good old days.  Understanding this means we remind ourselves that they seek a return to inflation, easy money and credit, and if it takes it, a decline in the purchasing power of the dollar.  Here me loud and clear.  There may be ups and downs in the value of the dollar, but if the FED has anything to do with it, there will be an ultimate walking down of the value of the currency.  This is the only way to survive and extend with the looming debt issues we have.   

BALTIC DRY GOODS SHIPPING INDEX - http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=BDIY:IND

The BDI has made a significant drop since May and June and is attempting a bottom here.  As commodity demand increases we should see a move higher in the cost of spot shipping, however the drop in the BDI is a reflection of the over supply of ships that stand ready to carry freight.  Still, if you are an owner of those ships that don't have long term contracts at a fixed price, you are probably hurting very badly at these rates.

TRADING UPDATE -

OVERBOUGHT? / OVERSOLD?

I like the simple chart provided by the guys at Growthstock Advantage. Based on their indicator that examines the number of stocks trading above their 40 day moving average, the market is NOT overbought yet.  As stocks get extended it is sometimes helpful to see when everyone loves the market.  Typically you might consider scaling out of positions or shorting at that time.  At this point the indicator is NEUTRAL.

C

COPPOCK TURN INDICATOR - I showed this chart last month and it is simply a 14 month moving average of the Dow.  When the average turns and heads south like it did last month at the end of July, it is an indicator that the market may be headed the other direction.  The COPPOCK is one of those indicators that confirms a move rather than one that is predictive.  Having said that, even with July's monstrous performance, the COPPOCK is suggesting that we are still going to go lower and therefore it is BEARISH.

1 WK LIBOR -

US Libor continues to improve and so do all other denominated Libor measures.  I made a comment right after the European financial stress test result release that I'd be watching these levels to get a confirmation that the banks actually were believing what was being served up.  Because we are seeing a drop in these rates we can confirm that stress is abating. So while the contraction in rates is only a few basis points since last week, it is a 10% reduction in 1 week funding rates, which is significant. 

ST LOUIS FED PRESIDENT BULLARD THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET -
As the flood of disappointing news rolls in about a slowing economy, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard moved from his centrist position to one of outright advocacy for the spawning of the Son of Stimulus just like we've been warning for at least a month.  Bullard's discussion warned of the specter of a Japanese style deflation, exactly what they want to avoid at all costs.  Bullard's comments make it all the more likely that the Fed will actually move to invoke more stimulus in the form of buying treasuries, buying more agency backed mortgages, and maintaining a near zero rate (no hikes).

Bullard's comments probably are part of an orchestrated effort to convey the Fed's future policy.  We cannot forget that no matter how ineffective Fed policies have been in creating a real recovery in the economy, this is really about creating a rebound in market or asset values.  Like we've stated above, Good Time Al believes the market IS the economy.  Check back to the post we made last year regarding Bernanke's 2002 deflation speech.  There is no ambiguity there.  He is positively stating that the Fed can and must win against the deflation enemy.  Despite the fact that jobs have not returned and the housing market is still floundering, we will see a new round of QE that looks to further juice the market.  I would guess that this will have a smaller effect in terms of the magnitude of a move on the market and the impact will have less of a lasting effect in terms of time than last time, but if we get confirmation from the Fed that they will provide liquidity, we will see a move up.

This further highlights the notion that we will probably see mortgage interest rates at 3% or 3.5% in 2011.  Isn't it funny how despite their efforts we continue to spiral the way of Japan.  Want to get an idea for what it might look like right now?  You can buy a Japanese 10 Year note and receive 1% on your money!  Hello deflation! PUBLIC ENEMY # 1 - DEFLATION

I'll remind you the futility of the game that the Fed is playing - FDR’s Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau came to in 1939 after initially being a proponent in massive fiscal stimulus to cure the depression and employment. His comments are provided below:



"We have tried spending money…We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. I say after eight years of this administration, we have just as much unemployment as when we started… And an enormous debt to boot!”



30 DAY TRADING OUTLOOK- Ok, so the Fed is beating the drum that they will do anything to stop deflation and they will continue to buy treasuries, what is the play for the month?  It is exactly the same strategy that I outlined on July 3rd in the Mid Year Review. We should continue to invest in emerging market issues focused in countries like Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Chile, and Taiwan. 

All of these etfs have broken out, and even the S&P 500 extended its gains over the 1120 level I highlighted last week.  While macro indicators confirm the slowing, we cannot deny the short run impact of a committed Fed.  Bullard essentially has thrown down the gauntlet and stated that the Fed will use all of its ammo to fight deflation.  Once again, the Fed playbook is opened and I suggest you read our post on deflation to remind yourself of the commitment to defeat that enemy at any cost.  The hawkish tones of Bullard emphasize what is at stake and the intensity of the desire to prevail. 

While I've been bearish on gold lately expecting a pullback to the $1040 area, I am tempering this because of the expected Fed devaluation.  CPI data will probably come in lower, yet this will only fuel the Fed's aggressive response.

GOATMUG

WHAT I'M WATCHING -

Here is the long term weekly chart of $SPX.  I'm watching this critical downward channel.  If it holds, then we could see lows down to 925 or so.  If the $SPX can rise above the channel, we could see levels as high as 1140 or even 1220 by the end of August. 

My personal opinion is that we actually will break out above this channel and at that point I will add those emerging market stocks I've mentioned.  Until then, I will watch this trade.

GOATMUG

WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE

(As usual, please forgive the weird spacing issues on this site - The Blogger Editor is up to its old tricks again!  I've tried to fix the spacing issues by placing dots and bullet points to make the site readable.
                                                                                                                            
We did recover right?

• ECRI DATA - http://www.businesscycle.com/resources/

The ECRI released its weekly data from 7/16/2010 yesterday and it is now showing a drop or growth decline of -10.5%.
Declines of this magnitude are absolutely indicative of a recession.  Now as I've mentioned, officially the NBER has not called the recession over, (I guess they have mental images of President Bush on the aircraft carrier), however by any stretch of the imagination economists should have declared the recession over with the managed recovery we've had.  Of course little things like employment and housing that have not recovered shouldn't stop a few economists and administration officials from stating the obvious right?

IF they did declare the recession over, this data would tell us that we were going to double dip with all doubt removed.  However, now that our friends have held off from declaring victory we may have the fabled L shaped non-recovery.

•  

 

• 
   

• 
   
• RAILS - http://railfax.transmatch.com/

Other indicators of slowing are showing up.  I will not post the data here, but rail tonnage is slowing and with carriers are even seeing declines versus last year.  Can you say WHAT?  I thought last year things were terrible and everything this year was all better?  I thought the US consumer was back and commodities were on a tear?  Me too.  Last week almost all categories of shipments were down when compared to 2009's easy levels and this week a few of the categories remain slow again (coal, autos, and food), that is slower than 2009 levels and much lower than 2008 levels.  KSU's shipping declined significantly and so did KSU in Mexico. 

• EUROPEAN STRESS TESTS - STRESSED NO MORE?

European Stress Tests were released today and the US markets caught another surge higher.  The uncertainty is gone for now, but the weekend will give traders and portfolio managers time to examine the sparse details and released information provided in the sham tests.  Are we going to feel better about the solvency of the banks when they really didn't stress them and didn't analyze the cost of default of sovereign debt on their balance sheet?  The potential of country debt defaults is exactly what exposes these banks to their very death!  If Greece, Portugal, Spain, or Italy don't have debt problems then these banks don't have problems (don't even mention mortgage assets - that is so 2009, even though it hasn't been addressed, but don't let reality stop a rant!)  Isn't it ridiculous to think that the regulators ran this test and show the results like they've accomplished something?  Isn't it funny to think that 7 banks in Europe failed anyway?  Isn't it funnier to think our markets rallied on this news?

• LIBOR -

No matter what, the real test for the veracity of this exercise will be the cost of funding between banks on Monday. If we see declines in funding rates, then we must believe that the farce had at least some meaning between other bankers. If we see Libor move out more, this will be the tip off that this wasn't the magic elixir that the regulators had hoped it would be. I'll be watching this chart and I'll have a post on Monday.  We've seen a decline of 6 bps over the last several weeks as stress levels have declined. We'll want to see this come down even more to verify that banks trust each other.  (LIBOR)

•  

•  

I'll leave you with the optimistic quote of the day from someone on CNBC right after the release.
"It's not that the banks are failing, it is that the banks have failed a level of stress, and they are taking steps to improve it".
Yes, I guess that is one way to look at it. To test how this view works with other applications, let's run it through the British Petroleum version of the stress test.

Say this with me ------"It is not that BP is failing to be a good company and manage the environment effectively, it just failed a level of stress, and they are taking steps to improve it". Feel better about the Gulf of Mexico don't you? I thought you might! Perhaps I'll begin to look at all failures with this view! It's not that they have failed, it is simply that there is a failure to communicate!

• 
   

Have a great weekend!
GOATMUG

Mid Year Predictions Review & Trading Update

2010 PREDICTIONS REVIEW


Well, we are more than half way through the year.  The market, if you can believe it, is just about even with where we started, and there is only one word to describe the action, volatile.  If you are trading daily and you are lucky, you are probably breaking even.  If you are not lucky, you are being ground up in the daily, unreasoned swings that occur because the high frequency trading computers run the show.  Call them Skynet (Terminator reference) or Hal 9000, they are doing a job on most active traders.  Unfortunately those that are buy and holders aren't doing any better.  Is it any wonder that treasuries and corporate bonds are the best performers this year?

I have been busy on several projects and that has kept me from writing, but I have had this topic on my mind to review where I thought things were going.  I really love looking at this because it provides great information as to how right and wrong one can be at the same time.  It also allows me to tweak my longer term thesis and review if there has been a significant change that has an impact on my outlook.

Let's jump into it shall we?


INTEREST RATES - (-1)

I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Interest Rates will rise, but not at the direction of the Fed. - The market will demand a more just compensation for the risk it has taken in Treasuries. The 30-year will hit 6%. The market is predicting a rise in the Fed Funds rate coming in August, but I think they will delay raising rates overtly until November or December at the earliest. Any slow down in the economy will be another excuse not to raise them at all in 2010.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Ok, interest rates on the 30 year are more like 3.95% so we don't look like we are in danger of hitting my more reasonable 6% target.  So why are we not at a reasonable 6%.  I think for two reasons. 
A)  There is still tremendous fear in the market and investors would rather buy certainty (that they get paid back their money) rather than risk it in the markets.
B)  I think that there is actually a level of true Quantitative Easing being done despite the fact that it officially has stopped.  What I saying is that there have been a number of buyers of treasuries that have been buying in size that don't really typically opt for these instruments.  So while other buyers of our debt have reduced their consumption, the United Kingdom somehow has stepped up mightily and has purchase somewhere near $200 Billion in treasuries over the last several months.  These guys are massively mired in debt and running deficits.  Where'd they get the cash to buy our T-Bills? 

Doesn't matter, I've missed it so far, and frankly, I've changed my tune on this one, we won't see those 6% rates till there is a shock where investors absolutely shun the USD and Uncle Ben will do anything to stop the move up in rates, cause he has to.  I expect that we will see a 30 year mortgage at 3.5% by mid 2011, so give me a -1 to start out the 2010 Predictions Mid Year Update.



QUANTITATIVE EASING - (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - While the Fed stated they will stop Quantitative Easing in March of 2010, they will not be able to stop because losses on their book will be immense.


REALITY - 7/20/2010 - We as you look above, the question really is, did they really stop?  I would bet they haven't, and we'll actually see more public admission that they are going to publicly do it.  Uncle Ben this week in his testimony on the Hill stated that they are committed to extraordinary steps to keep the fragile economy afloat (my words not his, but that was the meaning).


HOUSING - (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Housing issues will improve through April at which time the impact of increasing interest rates will force the hands of banks and they will begin to release their inventory of "non-foreclosed homes" on the market pushing the new wave of speculators underwater teaching them that falling knives are tough to catch. Some are pointing to the HAMP requirements that state that banks that had home owners that modified mortgages and failed to keep the terms of the deal (make their payments) must release this inventory and use short sales as the tool to divest themselves of the inventory as another reason for a coming drop in home prices. I don't see it that way, I see the government changing their minds again and lifting this requirement when they figure out that it could hurt the recovery.


REALITY - 7/20/2010 - I think this pretty much was nailed.  Check out today's report by NAR about the surge in predicted annualized sales through April and guess what, it is going in the tank.  Ummm, look at that inventory build there too.  Isn't government stimulus effective?

Annualized Sales Data from NAR - http://www.realtor.org/research/research/ehsdata
MONTH       Annualized Sales    Supply
2009 Dec       5,440,000   7.2 Month Supply


2010 Jan        5,050,000    7.8 Month Supply

2010 Feb       5,010,000    8.5 Month Supply

2010 Mar       5,360,000    8.1 Month Supply

2010 Apr       5,790,000    8.4 Month Supply

2010 May      5,660,000   8.3 Month Supply

2010 Jun       5,370,000    8.9 Month Supply




CURRENCIES (-1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - We will see at least 2 currency devaluations in 2010. These will manifest themselves in the form a North Korea style announcement where you will wake up and the currency will be declared -10% less in value or more. These devaluations are necessary to continue each country's desire to sell goods cheaply abroad. The US' motivation of course is simply to reduce the relative amount of the crushing debt that we continue to heap upon ourselves.

REALITY - 7/20/2010  - We haven't seen this yet, but effectively, the rise in the USD has helped prevent this situation.  If we see Geithner and Uncle Ben resume the significant devaluation in the dollar as a measure to inflate and get us out of this mess, we will see these in the back half of the year.  I'm conceding this as a miss.  Note that Argentina is essentially defaulting on debt to bondholders by forcing an exchange, it isn't a currency adjustment, but sure is sucky if you're told to take new bonds (less bonds).

EURO - (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - The Euro will face continued pressure, the US dollar will rise significantly against the Euro from the 1.432 level it is as of this writing.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Problems in the Eurozone will not go away even if they can pull off a US style sham with the bank stress tests.  They still have major issues of spending too much and promising too many benefits in the nanny state.  Need a preview of where our government is taking us?  Look no further than the week Euro, out of control spending, and a detachment from math that is temporary.  Ultimately Europe and the Euro fail.

YEN - (-1) 
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - The dollar will strengthen against the yen.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Hasn't happened.  The Fed and Treasury have had been luck keeping rates low and Japan has not been as effectively using QE as I thought relative to the US.  Remember, this is a race to zero and Japan has been in deflation for 20 years.  I will patiently wait for this, but they are clearly worse than the US.

GSEs - (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will become the dumping ground for all private mortgages loans made in 2009 and 2010. The banks will avoid taking losses and pass all of them to the US taxpayer. The Christmas present (uh-unlimited losses) that the government gave the US tax-payer on Christmas day is unbelievable. For the next 3 years the loss limits on these two organizations have been lifted and we are backing them with a blank check.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Ok, I'm not sure if this was really a stretch in predicting anything.  These companies are toast, and we the US taxpayer are unwillingly footing the bill for complete insanity.

LENDING - (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Small business lending and personal credit will continue to decline through 2010.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 -Lending is still extremely tight.  The administration and Congress just past legislation in an attempt to get small business lending going.  While I applaud this, this probably means an abandonment of conservative lending principles and we'll see losses in this area of government generosity as well.



GOLD (No Rating Yet)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Gold will actually decline to the $950 area and then move higher later on in the year when it becomes increasingly obvious that Bernanke and Geithner have no intention of pulling liquidity. This will be the opportunity to add more to the position. Gold ends the year in the $1150 to $1200 range. Longer term, gold is still a buy.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Gold is still at $1192 as of this update (7/23).  The gold market has not dropped as much as I anticipated, but certainly hasn't ramped up higher.  I am still looking for the move down to the $950 to $1,000 area though after an anticipated ramp up again.  You could potentially buy it and then sell it higher, but you face serious risks in timing it.

EQUITY MARKETS (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - US equity markets will end the year slightly positive (meaning less than 5%). This year will be volatile and gains should be harvested when they are acquired. This means that there will be periods of gains and you need to take advantage of the ranges in the markets and buy at the low end and sell at the high end. I still maintain that the Fed will support this market directly or indirectly at all costs. As housing reverses, be prepared to see unexplainable increases in equity markets. Bernanke knows the conventional thoughts that the collapse in 1937 occurred because the Fed increased rates too soon, he'll be sure not to repeat that lesson. This is how we'll be sure to over inflate and also create the next collapse in 2011 or 2012.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Pretty right on so far, but I would actually look for a move up in markets over the next month or two and then a slide down in the months of October and November.  There will be no rate increases by the Fed.


FOREIGN POLICY - (No Rating)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Middle East tensions will boil over. The US will give Israel the green light to defend herself and presumptively attack Iran. Russia and China will condemn the attack and they will choose the side of their trading partner against Israel by selling arms and providing material support.  Upon attacking Iran, Syria and Lebanon will engage Israel on their northern fronts.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 -  Tensions are mounting.  The longer we languish economically I believe we will see an increase in tensions in the Middle East.


OIL - (No Rating)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Oil moves to $100 this is based on the continued debasement of our currency through the actions of the Fed and Treasury and also geopolitical tensions.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Oil is now back up to $79.  A move to devalue the dollar any will result in meeting my $100 projection.


US POLITICS (No Rating)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Republicans sweep away the majority held by the Democrats in the mid-term elections. The third-party movement continues to garner support but is quashed by the two party system.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - This looks as though it is moving in the direction I thought, however, I am looking at the impact of the Tea Party Movement which is being marginalized by it's inability to speak through the labels that both the Republicans and Democrats are throwing on them.  Unfortunately the Republicans have swept in and made efforts to identify with the Tea Party (and I'm sure some do), but the cost of allowing Republican incumbents to take the Tea Party mantle is that there is no real and lasting change and you continue to have the same political elites in power.  In a sense for me the Tea Party movement is about new leadership and fiscal responsibility, not the same old structure and system with new faces.

SUPREME COURT - (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Obama names a replacement for Justice Ginsberg who retires in 2010.
REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Ok, that was an easy one.


HEALTH CARE REFORM - (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Obama is able to pass some sort of health reform. He passes the reform knowing that it is unconstitutional. The strategy is to destroy the health care industry as we know it in the next several years. When the high court determines that the legislation cannot stand, a one-payer system (government) medical system will be the only option left to pick up the pieces. The final step will not take place till 2013 or 2014. No matter what, abortion will be a major component of the bill and will not be removed.

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Yes, this reform was passed.  We do need change, but this is a mess and more importantly, it is a financial mess.  I've written at length that the cost is out of sight and I am not being over the top.  This is a disaster.  Abortion is a component of this bill and despite the "Executive Order" lie that was provided by our president, we are paying for these with tax payer dollars.  I have rethought my notion that the Supreme Court will strike down the legislation.  It will not, this system is here for good.  The losers are the US consumer and tax payer, the winners are big government advocates and big pharma.


NATIONAL SECURITY / PERSONAL RIGHTS (+1)
I SAID - 1/3/2010 - Despite failed terror attempts our personal rights and privacy will continue to be eroded in the name of our safety. Our government will continue to take measures to protect you after each attempt (meaning safety measures that will waste your time and add little to your safety).

REALITY - 7/20/2010 - Little erosions continue.  We have now discovered in the health care bill that all purchases made by businesses over $600 must be recorded and issued a 1099.  This is far reaching and an encroachment of personal privacy.  The impact is also being felt by gold and silver dealers that now must record and issue a 1099 on all purchases of gold or silver in excess of $600.  What is the purpose of this?  Tax revenue generation, but also a deeper view and insight into the personal transactions of the person in the US. 

OK, thats a wrap.  For those of you keeping score at home, the mid-year update has a score of +6 total.  The tally looks more like this.  +9 Correct right now.  -3 are incorrect now.  4 with no rating.  So 9 out of 17 so far.  This isn't about being right or wrong, it really is about making a statement of what I think will happen and why.

TRADING UPDATE
Over the last several months we've seen markets trade within a 200 point S&P500 range (20%).  As of completing this post today, we are waiting on the European stress tests to come out and convince us that all European banks are healthy and the markets should feel really good about the global economy and recovery.  I personally believe that we will rally for the next month or so and then more reality will set in.  I've written a lot about the possibility of a double dip recession and what is interesting is that we've had no formal announcement from NBER that the recession is even over.  I guess this is a way to hedge your bets and state that there is no double dip - you just never get out of the quicksand in the first place.

I've been laying the ground work for a strategy on the next drop in markets that I will employ and I'll share just a few thoughts about it.  US growth is estimated to be a 2% to 3%.  Emerging market growth is obviously predicted to be much higher somewhere in the 8% to 12% range.  These countries would includes Vietnam, Malaysia, China, India, Brazil, and more.
As we look at this, you must ask yourself where you think the best stock market performance is going to be.  Obviously, you would expect many of these countries to outperform. 

How do you put it together?  First, the easy one, you simply buy those countries.  Second, if you want to give yourself some protection, you could take steps out short US and go long these countries in a relative value trade, hoping that the countries go better.  This gives you some downside protection if they all go down, but you will still suffer.  Ultimately, I think very long term, this will be a home run strategy as millions and millions of new world citizens rise to the ranks of the middle class.  This also makes sense on so many levels as it removes our dependency on our government to actually make responsible decisions and somehow navigate us out of the mess we are in.  If, as the Fed and Treasury desire, they are able to devalue the USD, you'll also win on the currency bet side of things as well.  If deflation in the US takes hold, this strategy my hurt you on the currency side of things as the USD rises in value, but you will hopefully also receive rewards from getting out of the US equity markets into ones that actually will grow.

Ok, enough rambling on this post that has taken a few days to write.  I will develop the relative value trade more and put out some charts to examine.  I'll also do something on gold.  I've thought for a long time that our government would do everything in its power to stop the gold increase and I believe the healthcare bill is just one step to crush the move higher in gold long term.

GOATMUG