Black Monday

[blackcap]

Renters can apply the same discipline. But how many put the difference between rent costs and property ownership costs into something that will increase their net worth?

That is the crux for so many people. I have a professional friend who is looking to buy and acknowledges that his "costs" will increase by $150 pw if he does buy. However he has not been saving $150pw at all, in fact has never saved and is a financial dunce. If he had saved this in the last 20 odd years and grown his investment he might have something. But because he prefers to spend on frivilous things he is not saddled with debt and struggling to get by week on week. Sad but reality for so many renters in this country. But they make their own bed.

[minimoke]

and is a financial dunce.

it should not take a Financial wizard to work out that when we retire our opportunity to earn will reduce but we will still need to pay for a roof over our heads.

You do this by either being a property owner and being mortgage free. Or a non property owner with a portfolio of assets (which ought to include health) that will create cash to pay the rent.

It can't get simpler than that. Sadly i suspect I'll be paying for those that haven't figured this out.

[minimoke]

This for the risk-off worry warts........

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/06/sp-cu...-negative.html

What else could you expect when pauline hanson may hold the balance of power.

[Baa_Baa]

Colin Twiggs weighs in on the current situation, it's worth a mention I think, and some consideration. The good times never last forever, the key is deciding when the good time are over and/or riding the wave until they are over.

JMHO
Attribution to Colin Twiggs at http://tradingdiary.incrediblecharts...ding_diary.php

One chart that sums up our predicament

By Colin Twiggs
July 7^th, 2016 2:30 a.m. EDT/4:30 p.m. AEST
Advice herein is provided for the general information of readers and does not have regard to any particular person's investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Accordingly, no reader should act on the basis of any information contained herein without first having consulted a suitably qualified financial advisor.


Richard Russell, after conducting research in the early 1960s, based on the earlier work of Charles Dow, concluded that stock markets are over-valued when the dividend yield falls below 3.5% (and undervalued when above 6.0%). This basic rule-of-thumb held true for almost a century but times have changed and the advent of stock buybacks has significantly lowered returns to investors by way of dividend.
With dividend yields no longer an accurate reflection of returns to investors, the best measure of market value is the Price Earnings Ratio (PE). Earnings per share will fluctuate in line with dividends in the long term but, in the short-term, more accurately reflect actual performance. Companies are often reluctant to cut dividends and will instead increase the payout ratio (dividends as a percentage of earnings) rather than disappoint investors when earnings are poor. While there are a number of accounting issues related to recognition of earnings, with some inaccuracy expected when compared to actual cash flows, the relationship is likely to remain reasonably constant over time.
The PE ratio for an index like the S&P 500 is simply the index price divided by earnings per share weighted for all the companies that make up the index. If we chart the index PE over time, it gives a reliable measure of when stocks are highly-priced and when they are undervalued. PEs above 20 on the right-hand scale indicate when stocks are normally considered over-priced.
But the highest PE ratios occur, not at peaks, but after market crashes. And bull markets often coincide with lower PE ratios. Higher PEs are often attributed to animal spirits, with speculative fever driving up prices but that is often not the cause. The chart below compares the S&P 500 index to quarterly earnings per share (EPS) growth. Falling earnings, with growth below zero on the right-hand scale, that last for more than 4 quarters are highlighted with red/green depending on the severity.
The first PE surge, in the early 1990s, was caused by declining earnings per share over more than 2 years. The market held firm, without a major collapse, because a PE ratio below 15 suggests that stocks were undervalued. Falling earnings caused the ratio to rise but it soon recovered when earnings growth resumed, leading to a record-breaking bull market.
The next major peak, in the late 1990s, was clearly a case of animal spirits. Dotcom euphoria led investors to chase prices up well ahead of earnings, with PE soaring to above 30.
I have highlighted the same periods of earnings decline (in green/red) on the chart above. The Dotcom crash, with falling earnings, caused even higher PEs as earnings declined faster than prices. EPS growth soon enough resumed as earnings recovered, out-stripping the index, with the PE ratio subsiding below 20.
Low PEs coincided with another bull market leading up to the GFC. Onset of the sub-prime crisis again caused a sharp fall in earnings, driving the PE ratio higher. The market teetered for several quarters before Lehman's collapse brought very survival of the banking system into question, with an earnings contraction so severe that a market rout was inevitable. Within a few quarters, however, the PE ratio subsided as earnings recovered.
The recent fall in earnings since 2014, brought about by falling oil and commodity prices, caused another PE surge. The ratio to As Reported Earnings rose to 23.83 at the end of March 2016. So far, the market has not panicked, similar to the response in the early 1990s.
The 1989-1991 era had its share of troubles: a savings and loan crisis in the US, Iraq invaded Kuwait, Britain was forced to withdraw the pound sterling from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), and Japanese stock and real estate markets collapsed. The market survived these trials because valuations were modest.
Valuations are no doubt higher because of record low interest rates. But they were only driven to extremes by falling earnings. Resumption of earnings growth would be a bullish sign, with PE ratios expected to fall as growth outstrips the index. Slow growth is likely to evoke a more muted response than earlier bull markets. Unless there are further falls in earnings, however, contagion from low commodity and oil prices has been contained and we are unlikely to experience another bear market.
What we are waiting for is earnings to recover at a faster rate than the S&P 500 Index. I have plotted earnings (EPS) growth minus index growth on the chart below. You can see that earnings growth outstripped index growth ahead of each of the last three bull markets.
Similar signs in the next few quarters would signal the start of another advance. But it is too soon to anticipate until we see at least one good quarter of earnings growth.

[Balance]

Surely must be time to rename this thread : BRIGHT MONDAY.

Every black Monday since this thread was initiated has turned out to be golden & great opportunities to buy stocks cheap and reap huge returns.

[macduffy]

Surely must be time to rename this thread : BRIGHT MONDAY.

Every black Monday since this thread was initiated has turned out to be golden & great opportunities to buy stocks cheap and reap huge returns.

No, Balance. Don't go changing a good thing!

[Balance]

No, Balance. Don't go changing a good thing!

Tis' true unfortunately - just feel bad for so many newbies who are scared out of their wits every time market takes a tumble.

Just remember 'Helicopter' money next time.

[Bobdn]

I know at one point SKT was below its pre merger announcement price. Incredible.

[bull....]

breakout dow, S&p if it holds 20k is the target based on the 2yr consolidation range on the chart all subjective of course but be cool if we get there.
watching bank England this week and what ben bernake is in japan doing ( helicopter money?)(:

[craic]

Rapid fire change of PM is one big plus. No replay of brexit vote - new leader in place by Friday -France choking on the Portugal encounter now has to swallow another large brick. Watch the markets here jumping for joy. I'm off to the shed to put down another brew and another wash to make vodka for the rellies - and a little rum for me.