Money Matters Newsletter

Marc's Notes:

Markets sold off last week by 5 % or so on news that Fed Chief Ben Bernanke might not get re-nominated. That was all bluff, puff and smoke. Washington politicians are getting hate mail from Americans on all the bailouts and are now trying to find a fall guy, or at least a fall issue. With the 500 point fall, dissenting politicians got an earful about Bernanke’s nomination and as early as Saturday am, the headlines were ablaze with Senators and the like coming out and saying they support Bernanke. The 500 point fall scared them and their handlers, so like I said in a newscast last week, Bernanke WILL get re-nominated, you can count on it, if not just for the fact they don’t want the markets to get all squirrely on the appointment of a new Fed Chief. It is a sad day when we appoint a man based on what the stock market might do instead of appointing the right man for the job. Washington now only cares what the stock market does and not about doing what’s right.

Marc’s Notes:
Stocks fell today for no good reason I could see except the Democrats lost Kennedy’s seat which means Obama may have trouble continuing to spend money like a drunken sailor. Other items include falling house starts but permits jumped. This means little. Homebuilders built throughout the boom and bust so what do they know. Not enough for us judge a housing prediction on, that’s for sure. These guys know little about MACRO (big picture) economics.Don’t look to them for guidance. All of them fell victim to Mr. Bubble and did their customers much harm by force feeding houses into the mouths of the economically ignorant. Shame on all of them who helped fuel the fire that eventually exploded in everybody’s faces.

Marc's Notes:
Today's local newspaper the UNION features an article I penned about the recovery. Check it out. If you like it and would like to see the UNION feature more of MONEY MATTERS, take a moment to write the editor, Mr. Jeff Ackerman. His email is jackerman@theunion.com

The markets are closed today but I suspect market volatility to start to pick up as the Holiday season is waning in our memories and now the business of getting down to business comes to the forefront of our thoughts. What WILL happen in the markets in the coming months?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20603037&sid=aR9zVMXzOeX0

Marc's Notes:

Does the US Govt believe they can take our IRA's? Just click on the above link and read.

This is another step in total control over our lives. Now they propose taking YOUR money because some people lose THEIRS! Like I said, once things start south, they will do ANYTHING to gain more control. (Thanks to Jason Hommel for this link). We must remain deligent and NEVER become complacent. Keep reading, listening, writing and voting OUT these incumbent crooks that were in place during this crisis. Also vote OUT anybody who even discusses this idiocy of robbing our money from us.

http://www.usdebtclock.org

 

 

The Super Dividend Payers List has now been updated as of the week of January 8th, 2010.

Those who are Money Matters members or have a yearly subscription service may now download the updated version. Those wishing to see it who are not subscribed may do so at the site. The Dream Portfolio will soon also be updated.

 

Marc's Notes:

The index of signed purchase agreements, or pending home sales, dropped 16 percent as Americans waited for a first-time buyer tax credit to be extended, the National Association of Realtors said today in Washington. This is a prelude of an article I am writing for the UNION this very day. The article details the stimulus and how we are now a nation of addicts- addicted to stimulus government money. Without it, the economy falls back into heavy recession. Every indicator that shows positive is a direct and sole result of stimulus money. Withdraw the stimulus and back down we go.

Marc's Notes:
I hope everyone had a great Christmas remembering the reason for the season. Markets were boring as we indicated they would be and gold did hop around a bit as expected. This time of year is usually slow with a new optimism into January. The “January” effect is a phenomenon where by some think we can tell what the rest of the market year will be by January’s action. Last year if you recall, the markets welcomed Obama to the party by beginning a stomach churning drop on inauguration day of all times. In the words of the movie “Die Hard”
“Welcome to the party pal!”