The three major US stock ended the session with solid gains. Oil prices climbed pushing energy stocks higher. The S&P had the best quarterly rally since 1998. Read More

Clusters of positive monthly gains in LEI above 0.5 percent typically suggest an end to recession. Given this backdrop, I’m sticking with my projection that the recession in the US will end either late in the third quarter of 2009 or early in the fourth quarter. I suspect there’s more upside to come for stocks as the market snaps back from the worst recession since at least 1982. Read More

The three major US stock indexes finished with mixed results as the highest savings rate in 15 years fanned concerns about consumer spending. Read More

The three major US stock ended the session with solid gains. Read More

Consumers are cutting spending and saving more, but this isn’t a death knell for retailers. Here’s how to profit from a more frugal consumer. Read More

The S&P 500 has surged more than 40 percent from its early March low, one of the most dramatic run-ups in US market history. If the past is any guide, we should prepare for a correction of 5 to 10 percent in the broader averages. Read More

We put every stock we consider through a simple, four-step screen. We look for companies whose businesses we understand and then evaluate the relative strength of their balance sheet, free cash flow, return on capital and competitive position. Management also comes under our lens; we look for capable management teams that usually make decisions with shareholders’ best interests in mind. Read More

Although GNMAs are issued and guaranteed by an agency of the federal government, investors have shunned them in favor of the greater perceived security offered by straight Treasury debt. Rising rates have put pressure on the prices of GNMAs, which must offer higher yields to entice investors away from straight Treasury debt. Read More

It may be too early to call a global recovery, but now is a perfect time for income investors to incrementally shift toward conservative growth. Read More

We’ve racked up impressive paper gains in the Growth Portfolio, but a market correction is likely. It’s time to make adjustments. Read More