Random Thoughts & Readings

• I'm not surprised to see Ted Aronson's Lazy Portfolio up 15% in 2004. As a trader, I've always appreciated his no-nonsense, passive, well-diversified asset-allocation strategy that actually works!


• Pop & drop? Among the few stocks on my radar this a.m. are SONS, NEOF, ANTP, INFY, ASMI, LPNT, SSNC, DDDC, HCA, WBSN, & GENZ


• The weekly Investor's Intelligence data is out with their weekly sentiment survey, but the mix is slightly better. Those who are bullish came in at 59.4 vs. 62.9 last week. The number of bears also slightly increased to 22.9 vs. prev. 20.6


• Mark Hulbert takes a closer look at the well-known January indicator


• It is sad, but true. Over the past few years, a strong open following a strong report Intel typically led to strong open but ultimately resulted in a weaker close for the Nasdaq


• MBA mortgage applications purchase index came in at 5.8% vs 13.7% prior and the refi index came in at +1.1% vs 5.7% prior


• A good trader always knows when the risks outweigh the rewards


• Jane Kim at the Wall Street Journal takes a look at the advice the big investment firms are telling their clients. In essence, most see a steady, but slower economy, mid-to-upper single digits gains, and they like big caps, healthcare stocks, bonds with shorter maturities, and international stocks


• ABC/Money Magazine consumer confidence index for the week ending Jan. 9 came in at (9), unchanged from the prior week


• Once again, the indexes have beaten the stock pickers


• I don't own an Ipod, and frankly I don't want one. But, I do have to admit, XM2Go may have to be on my shopping list once they work the kinks out


• There are some heavy sellers in homebuilding, transports, telecom, airline, banks, & retail


• If you missed it yesterday, you must take time to read Taser's (TASR) letter to shareholders and customers. It is one of the more remarkable in recent memory. I'm also not surprised to see Herb Greenberg raising some questions about Taser's cozy customer relationships


• Don't look now, but the U.S. yield curve is the flattest since Sept. 2001


• "Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success." - Dale Carnegie