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Category: Paul’s Insights

Stocks to Bounce But Pullback Not Over

In part II of the piece I started last Friday, I turn to the market evidence supporting the 3-5% pullback I have been discussing all month. While tensions with North Korea have quieted down over the weekend and global stocks are sharply higher, I do not believe the pullback is over. Now, if the five major indices scream right back to new highs and sector leadership is strong, I will clearly be wrong in this call, but I am willing […]   Read More
Date: August 14, 2017

North Korea was the Excuse

While North Korea is now front and center in the mainstream news as well as the financial news and the financial markets are now fixated on North Korea, the stock market was already positioned to retreat for the past few weeks. It was just looking for a catalyst. I started writing about the likelihood of a pullback beginning in late July as you can read, HERE, HERE, HEREĀ and HERE. As you know, I have been resoundingly bullish all year and […]   Read More
Date: August 11, 2017

Short-Term Pullback in Motion

Over the past week or so, I have gone from a trading range view with perhaps a slightly upward bias to a mild pullback of 3-5%. That’s where I stand today. Stocks sold off very hard on a relative basis from noon to the close on Tuesday as the saber rattling between the U.S. and North Korea continued. President Trump kicked it up a notch. Regardless of the news, the markets were already in a position to pullback as I […]   Read More
Date: August 9, 2017

Economy Good. Markets Less So.

On Friday, the Department of Labor reported that the economy created 209,000 new jobs, which was 26,000 better than expected. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, the lowest level in 16 years. This is just another statistic that supports my thesis that economy is in better shape than the masses realize. You wouldn’t conclude this if you spent your day watching TV. Reality over rhetoric. I don’t care if this is coincidental, Trump’s doing or lack of doing or Congress. […]   Read More
Date: August 8, 2017

Growing Concerns

As the title suggests, I am more worried now than I have been in a while, however, it needs to be taken in context. I really haven’t worried at all lately and I absolutely do not believe the bull market is over or close to being over. I don’t even believe the stock market is starting a 10%+ correction. My theme of late has been that of a trading range environment, but I now think that it may morph into […]   Read More
Date: August 3, 2017

Q2 GDP Frustrates Bears. Bezos Still Rich?

The government released its first look at Q2 economic output and the economy grew by 2.6% at first glance. While I would have been happier with more, it’s the second straight quarter that seems to be falling in line with my forecast. Earlier this year, I offered that Q1 GDP would come weak and below expectations with Q2 much stronger. That’s certainly the case today. I am also looking at Q3 to be stronger than Q2 with a shot at […]   Read More
Date: July 28, 2017

Boring Fed Day On Tap

Model for the Day As with every Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement day, there is a model for the stock market to follow pre and post announcement. Certain environments have very strong tendencies while others do not. Six meetings ago was one of the rare times where the models strongly called for a rally on statement day which was correct as well as a decline a few days later which was also correct. Today, as with most statement days, […]   Read More
Date: July 26, 2017

1996 Flashback

July 23rd marked the 21st anniversary of what I dubbed, the “Garzarelli Bottom”, which turned out to be one of the better stock market calls I made, especially earlier in my career. At that time, stocks hadn’t seen any real downside since 1994 and that year with littered with rolling 5-9% pullbacks. After the bears tried three times to take stocks lower in March, April and May, the bulls powered to yet another new high. After peaking in early June, […]   Read More
Date: July 25, 2017

Trading Range Continues But Lots Beneath the Surface

Stocks fared fairly well last week in the face of overbought conditions and a few tiny cracks in the pavement. As I continue to offer, I believe the bull market is alive and reasonably healthy, especially for one 9 years old. However, my shorter-term view is that stocks are in a trading range with perhaps a slightly upward bias for the time being. The stock market just doesn’t seem like it wants to launch a fresh leg towards my next […]   Read More
Date: July 24, 2017

Stocks Tired. Energy and Transports of Interest

It’s been nothing short of amazing how many people keep calling for a bear market, correction or even single digit pullback. On top of that, we are now hearing calls that the VIX (volatility indicator) is either broken or no longer works. Lots of sour grapes out there! The bottom line is that the ingredients for a major decline are not present and have not been present for a long while. That’s going to change, but it will take some […]   Read More
Date: July 21, 2017