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09-13-2012, 01:14 PM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,085
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Thoughts on the economy
I didn’t major in economics, and actually don’t have a very good knowledge of how the economy works, but I’m becoming increasingly concerned that the fed has to keep taking action to stimulate the economy. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when my investments go up (awesome day so far today), but part of me believes things are a lot worse that we are led to believe and the fed is artificially keeping our economy on life support. Does anyone share these concerns or am I just too cynical? Isn't it healthy for the economy to go in cycles?
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09-13-2012, 01:17 PM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,085
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Go get an economics degree or two and we'll chat...
__________________
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
- George Orwell
Ezekiel 23:20
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09-13-2012, 01:28 PM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Naples
Posts: 2,179
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David, from everything I have read, there is no justification for the run-up in the market. There is no logical reason for where the market is today, but as I have always heard, the market doesn't follow logic. Except for the electronic sector, I see no "logical" reason for where the market stands. That being said, I haven't been in the market for quite some time, so what do I know. Maybe I shouldn't care but I do. I love to see the market make those gains as it's good for investors. It doesn't help me because I'm strictly into fixed investments. They aren't looking good.
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09-13-2012, 01:37 PM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,860
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Oh I share them. Any time the gov't thinks they can control something so complex, it worries me...they can't even keep the darn post office in the black.
I don't know that I'd say cycles are "healthy", but they certainly are normal.
What worries me is that governments (not just ours...China recently announced this too) wants people to SPEND...yet that's what got us into the housing mess was too much spending on house.
IMO people need to learn to live within their means. Yes, in the short-term this will cause a slower economy...but over the long-term I think it's the best approach.
P.S. Don't think that because you didn't major in Economics is why you don't understand it. THere are many people with doctorates in Econ and disagree on things.
__________________
"Live every day as if it were your last, and one day you'll be right" - unknown
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09-13-2012, 01:57 PM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,994
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To me it means for the Fed to take continued action we obviously are not where they want us to be and some areas of measurement are negative, are stalling or are just not growing much above 1%. However we all know that. Based on "things", I agree with Johnnie that there is no good reason the market is up this high except for:
1. Companies hoarding cash to deploy later
2. Other countries investing their money over here because the U.S. is the less of all the evils right now.
3. Can not get any return on bank fixed income vehicles so those on the sidelines may have put some back to work in the market.
4. No chance any time soon that rates will rise. The government needs to be able to pay off it's debt...so...interest rates like the Fed Funds Rate will not rise any time soon.
5. There are but a few places to put your money.
But like others I am concern about asset price deflation, possible global recession because China is slowing, has it's own housing bubble ready to pop, China inflation is up, China continues to produce but their exports are way down so they are flooding the market, Germany may pull out of the euro along with a couple of others... etc.
We are almost back to the high before the bust on an economy on life support. Makes no sense whatsoever...but who am I? I just go along for the ride...and keep an eye out.
David..I'd say you are keeping good company. If the real economic gurus knew everything about economics......they would know how to fix it.
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09-13-2012, 02:09 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,391
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Japan tried a very similar approach and now look where they are.
Debt at 225 percent of GDP
sluggish to no growth
an ageing population at risk
Could this be us in a decade ?
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09-13-2012, 03:09 PM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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I don't know, either.
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09-13-2012, 03:39 PM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,902
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Before the Fed there were more frequent ecomomic booms and busts. Busts, when allowed to happen naturally, though painful have the healthy effect of clearing out marginal and/or inefficient operations.
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09-13-2012, 03:43 PM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,304
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David1961
I didn’t major in economics, and actually don’t have a very good knowledge of how the economy works, but I’m becoming increasingly concerned that the fed has to keep taking action to stimulate the economy. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when my investments go up (awesome day so far today), but part of me believes things are a lot worse that we are led to believe and the fed is artificially keeping our economy on life support. Does anyone share these concerns or am I just too cynical? Isn't it healthy for the economy to go in cycles?
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What drives market indexes?
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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09-13-2012, 04:11 PM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,391
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Place Your Bets
Midpack:
Your chart indicates that the S&P500 should be at ~1600 now. It also suggests good times for markets are near and that by the end of next year it will be around 2000.
- Party on !
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09-13-2012, 04:28 PM
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#11
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 497
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nice chart...looks to good to be true....but I like it
how are earnings up but employment flat?
thanks again for that chart...might have it tatooed on my arm.
__________________
You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
Retired July '11 investments in very low cost index and mutual funds, balance once a year at best.
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09-13-2012, 06:17 PM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 1,688
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sheehs1
I agree with Johnnie that there is no good reason the market is up this high except for:
1. Companies hoarding cash to deploy later
2. Other countries investing their money over here because the U.S. is the less of all the evils right now.
3. Can not get any return on bank fixed income vehicles so those on the sidelines may have put some back to work in the market.
4. No chance any time soon that rates will rise. The government needs to be able to pay off it's debt...so...interest rates like the Fed Funds Rate will not rise any time soon.
5. There are but a few places to put your money.
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But these are the state of play at the moment. I'd also add that the multinationals are also benefitting from (i) a weaker USD which inflates overseas earnings and (ii) increased penetration into developing markets which is also helping their earings.
It's also worth remembering that markets are supposed to be forward looking - prices should reflect expectations of future earnings (putting it rather simplistically). Maybe the market is trying to tell us that the economic future is going to be better than the "experts" with all their economics degrees are telling us?
__________________
Budgeting is a skill practised by people who are bad at politics.
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09-13-2012, 06:21 PM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Seattle
Posts: 6,023
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How sure are you about the slope of those earnings going into 2013? If you extend that line to 2015 or 2016 with the same slope, then we are looking at S&P in the 3000 range then? 10,000 by 2020?
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09-13-2012, 06:21 PM
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#14
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 23,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ducky911
how are earnings up but employment flat?
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Increased productivity. See the chart in this paper http://www.epi.org/publication/ib330...-compensation/
__________________
Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
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09-13-2012, 08:27 PM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,994
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Quote:
Originally Posted by traineeinvestor
But these are the state of play at the moment. I'd also add that the multinationals are also benefitting from (i) a weaker USD which inflates overseas earnings and (ii) increased penetration into developing markets which is also helping their earings.
It's also worth remembering that markets are supposed to be forward looking - prices should reflect expectations of future earnings (putting it rather simplistically). Maybe the market is trying to tell us that the economic future is going to be better than the "experts" with all their economics degrees are telling us?
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Wish I was confidant enough about that to bet on it. (oops - invest more!)
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09-13-2012, 08:34 PM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,526
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I think the dilemma now is: are we into a Japan like period of long stagnation or are Mr. Bernake's prescriptions (who after all has been a long time student of the Japan case) really going to cure the patient? Who knows? From a personal stand point I'm at the upper range of my wide 10% reallocation band so another significant up move and I'll have to wake up from my long slumber and reallocate. A down move and I can go back to my nap.
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09-13-2012, 10:11 PM
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#17
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 280
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Lets see... Is it to anyone's advantage to tout how terrible the economy is this year? Hmmmmm.
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09-13-2012, 11:02 PM
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#18
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 154
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Quote:
P.S. Don't think that because you didn't major in Economics is why you don't understand it. THere are many people with doctorates in Econ and disagree on things
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Isn't that the truth. All week different analysts had different opinions cc how QE3 would affect the mkt.
But today Ben even said that it all depends if the fiscal cliff occurs. If it does he said the Fed doesn't have the tools to offset it and tgere may be a recession.
Congress AND Obama will have to do more negotiations and frankly, do what they are getting paid for.
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09-14-2012, 05:06 AM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 8,368
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David1961
I didn’t major in economics, and actually don’t have a very good knowledge of how the economy works
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Send in your resume, there might be a Fed Chairman's position available soon.
__________________
"Exit, pursued by a bear."
The Winter's Tale, William Shakespeare
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09-14-2012, 05:17 AM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,733
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ducky911
nice chart...looks to good to be true....but I like it
how are earnings up but employment flat?
thanks again for that chart...might have it tatooed on my arm.
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The US market is increasingly less important, growth for multinational is in emerging markets. Consider a few "US" companies. Pepsi CEO is an Indian woman, Coca Cola CEO is Turkish Man, US sales are well under 50% and profits less than 30% for both companies. The largest car market for GM is China, same thing is true for Kentucky Fried Chicken (Yum Brands). Intel despite making almost 75% of their chips in the US, sells 75% outside the US
Many S&P 500 companies could shut down their entire US operations (sales, manufacturing, and R&D) and after dealing with disruptions to the supply chain still remain highly profitable.
The US is still the #1 economy but no longer the driver of growth.
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