Insights

The markets came back down to and slightly below the low of a week ago and then shot up 2% from there near the end of the day to finish 0.7% to 1.1% higher for the day. That is purely technical chart-driven trading having little to nothing to do with news. Last week's...

A Greek default is all but certain, now. It is just a matter of time and will likely happen before 2012. It is just now being discussed publicly, as is how to kick Greece out of the Eurozone group. The problem is that the organizing documents prohibit it. Greece has...

The increasing risk of default by Greece was talked about Friday in Germany and plans are being made for handling such a crisis. Opposition to continued bailouts continues to build since Greece has not met the terms for qualifying for new aid. There is also talk of...

It was another volatile week for stocks. The week ended with the major indexes down 2% for the shortened week. Near-term upside and downside potential are about 8% either way. The intermediate trend is down. Banks fared the worst. Gold mining stocks were up on the...

Each morning before I start work I spend some time alone with the Lord. It has a myriad of benefits, not least of which is that it calms my soul and puts me in the right frame of mind for the day. This morning I read, "Do not fret; it only leads to evildoing" (Psalm...

I have posted the September newsletter at the top of the page under Newsletter. Just click and select the file and it will open for you. Feedback is always welcome. This month's edition is a primer on the European Debt Crisis, though as always I cover investment...

In Europe, stocks were higher today. The German Supreme Court rejected appeals to overturn the 2009 Greek bailout package and restrictions for the future were less onerous than anticipated. There was news that Italy and Greece were working to implement austerity...

US stocks, which opened 2.5% lower, finished the day down less than 1%. Gold was down slightly, bonds up.

Yesterday, Europe lost -4% and headed lower this morning but then turned around and finished mixed. That helped US stocks to open higher than they might have. They opened down -2.5% and have wobbled around since. Tomorrow is the big day this week because the German...

Stock and bond markets as well as banks are closed today. Europe might have wished it was as European stocks fell -4% on the day; Germany -5%. European banks lost 6%. Germany's Supreme Court rules Wednesday on the constitutionality of European bailout provisions and...