NEW YORK (CNNMoney) – “The number of
first-time claims for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week, muddling
the picture for the job market. About 366,000 people filed jobless claims in
the week ended August 11, up 2,000 from the previous week, the Department of
Labor said Thursday.” Full story at…
http://money.cnn.com/2012/08/16/news/economy/unemployment-benefits/index.html?iid=HP_LN
No new information in the
employment data. This isn’t a growing
economy. I did see a report last week
about more job openings, so maybe there is a glimmer of hope for the future.
JOB OPENINGS
The Spokesman-Review (8 August 2012) WASHINGTON – “U.S. employers posted
the most job openings in four years in June, a positive sign that hiring may
pick up. The Labor Department said Tuesday job openings rose to a seasonally
adjusted 3.8 million in June, up from 3.7 million in May. That’s the most since
July 2008.” Full story at…
“The most since July 2008?” Great Caesar’s Ghost! That was the middle of the Great Recession! That gives you an idea of how bad this recovery has been.
MARKET
Thursday the S&P 500
finished UP 0.71 to 1416 (rounded). VIX
fell 2.3% to 14.29.
I am glad to be following
an analytical market timing system. This
market is impossible to figure out. I saw a quote from an analysts somewhere (CNN/Money,
I think) that said something like, “…never short a dull market.” Apparently, low-volumes on the stock market
make it subject to sharp upward swings.
NTSM
The
NTSM analysis remained BUY at the close on Thursday. The VIX indicator switched
back to neutral, but it was replaced by the Volume indicator(now positive) that
is showing more upside volume on today’s good-day. Price remains positive too and those
2-indicators were enough to push the overall NTSM analysis to BUY.
MY INVESTED POSITION
Based on the BUY signal, 6
July, I moved back into the market on 9 July (after the weekend) at S&P 500
1352. I now have a 50% stock allocation
overall. For my age, that is what most
advisors recommend, however, I am normally much more aggressive. I have less invested in stocks now because
there’s a lot of risk.
