The market moved back slightly from record levels last week even with better than expected jobs data and a lowering of inflation measures.
Maybe just the sell on the news and buy on the rumor. We are still in good shape, but many have the feeling that the economics are poor. I don’t get it frankly.
Maybe we are all in our winter funk and will need spring to cheer us up.
This week will be a shortened trading period due to the Presidents Day Holiday.
For the revelers amongst us, you have Mardi Gras followed by Lint on Wednesday.
As to the previously mentioned spring, I know it is around the corner as a couple of my ornamental trees at the lake are budding already.
Moreover, it is time to get the hummingbird feeders out.
Sooner than later, I am going to be back at mowing rather than all the pruning I have been undertaking.
Many of you are looking forward in a couple of weeks to Spring Break. Time does not sit still for anyone.
I watched with interest that a fairly significant amount was paid down on the deficit due to increased tax collection and tariffs.
While this is nice, I really can’t wrap my head around the economy doing so well that we can generate enough money to really bring the deficit down.
In fact, it will continue to go up if for no other reason than it is a factor of growth. The main issue is to keep it at or below 3% of GDP. Essentially, we can’t afford any recessions.
We really need to sit down and make hard decisions. As I have often said, you don’t get elected cutting back.
Moreover, you can’t solve the problem taxing the rich. The only way this works is to raise taxes a bit and cut back on spending significantly. That would get you tarred and feathered in DC. I have been watching Bitcoin of late with its move back to around 65,000.
I am not saying it will happen, but there is real support at 50,000.
I am sure I will get my chance but should this current trend continue, I can see smaller investors buying into one of the crypto ETS.
The exposure in limited and the entry fee is next to nothing. Simply saying you can get in the game without wiping out your savings.
I am no fan of tobacco, but those stocks pay a steady dividend. You may fear the impact of climate change, but fossil fuel stocks for the time being are earning you a better yield than Treasuries.
I understand social investing, but I must admit that I will take the profits where I can find them as long as it is legal.
There are many things that are legal that I don’t participate or indulge my free time in. I try to take a moderate attitude in most everything. Not a novel idea on my part, just drilled into my parents from the Great Generation that lived through the Depression and multiple wars.
You can spend your way into financial disaster faster than you can imagine and it really doesn’t improve your life. We build homes with many rooms sitting empty. Functionality is a trait that we have lost touch with.
I need transportation that gets me from one spot to another.
Not suggesting you bind yourself to poverty and study, but sit down and evaluate what you have. You may find that you are far ahead of most.
Anything more you attain may on be excess baggage. I marveled at my parents who came from nothing and built a life around core values of truth, treating others as you want to be treated and service above self.
They cultivated gardens and friendships with a passion. They wasted little or nothing.
They obtained what they needed and avoided most excesses. They were spiritual and logical in their endeavors. I continue to try to measure up to that standard.
As a baby boomer, I often feel we lost our way off the path the great generation laid for us and we were not the guiding light for those who came behind us.
If you perceive all of this to be outside the realm of investing, I would beg to differ. You can only be a successful investor if you have discipline and the required resources.
It does require risk to raise the level of return, but with a real plan in tow.
Many times you need to build the resources you need and that may well entail a bit of sacrifice.
