I know this is like a scratch on a vinyl record where you hear the same thing over and over.
I find new record highs not that annoying personally.
Finally, the market is finding strength in a wider group of stocks outside the Mag 7.
Last week the earnings season kicked off with JP Morgan and Wells Fargo announcing better-than-expected earnings due to high demand for loans.
This is a good indicator that the economy is strong and could maintain such.
We will get earnings this week from Citibank and Bank of America.
It appears this market shrugs off all obstacles.
Two hurricanes on top of each other, a widening Middle East war, elections and general havoc were taken in stride.
I would like to say that I saw this coming, but you know that I have been cautious on this market for over a year and it couldn’t have been anymore off target if I tried.
I threw in the towel waiting for value and bought a couple of my grandkids Nvidia when it dropped down to $115.
It was no bargain, but they are in the black today.
Not sure what great investing knowledge that is going to teach them.
My own children were rewarded with investments in Southwest Airlines years ago
and each cashed in for down payments on their first house.
Of course, none of them invest today - so much for being a life lesson.
It did save me money, as it would have come out of my pocket when it came closing time.
I look at such things as Caterpillar to come back.
It is no bargain basement shopping item.
There is none of that to be had.
I may give in to trading more short term if I want to trade at all.
I keep a trading account and made a couple of purchases this year like Palantir, but they are few and far between.
Some older purchases have grown so much, the only reason I have sold is that they did a stock split.
I got my money back and now playing with the house money.
Most of my investments are dividend stocks that have been behind in gaining value.
I live off the dividends so I have patience there.
An area that doesn’t get as much attention is when stocks spin out certain components of a company.
These entities often made money but were overshadowed by other components.
An example is GE - a great company conglomerate that has split multiple times over the last several years.
It was only five years ago that the stock was trading below $10 a share.
It split off its banking, health and energy sectors.
Each has gained significant value standing alone.
What looked like a lost cause, now has risen from the dead.
The mastermind of the old conglomerate was Jack Welch who has passed.
I think he must look down with great pride in what has evolved.
I am getting concerned about the insurance sector.
The storms this year and health costs are taking their toll.
Berkshire Hathaway made a significant portion of its net worth off the insurance sector.
I would not bet against Warren Buffett, but it seems that consumers and politicians are on the defensive with the rising premiums and the constant fight to get anything back in claims.
I know I canceled a couple of homeowner policies and changed car insurance this year.
I wish that I had never taken out the homeowners to begin with.
That is not an option should you have a mortgage or a loan.
I happened to be in Iowa this weekend with the Children of the Corn.
You cannot get any more Midwest than Des Moines.
A lovely city with charming people.
It was amusing to listen to political commercials.
I had no idea who the candidates were and I was glad.
This too will be over soon and it will not be the beginning or end of anything.
Well, it will be the end of those obnoxious commercials.