Regular readers know I tend to focus on the negative aspects of the markets as opposed to the positives – anyone could put on a smile and skip through oncoming traffic, but the truth is, the investment world can be a very dangerous place so skipping along as if there are no risks involved is beyond foolish. But ignoring the positives is equally foolish. In this world of heightened market risks and particularly clear uncertainty here are 17 reasons to consider the bullish case (via David Rosenberg at Gluskin Sheff):
- Congress extending jobless benefits (yet again).
- Polls showing the GoP can take the House and the Senate in November.
- Some Democrats now want the tax hikes for 2011 to be delayed.
- Cap and trade is dead.
- Cameron’s popularity in the U.K. and market reaction there is setting an example for others regarding budgetary reform.
- China’s success in curbing its property bubble without bursting it.
- Growing confidence that the emerging markets, especially in Asia and Latin America, will be able to ‘decouple’ this time around. We heard this from more than just one CEO on our recent trip to NYC and Asian thumbprints were all over the positive news these past few weeks out of the likes of FedEx and UPS.
- Renewed stability in Eurozone debt and money markets – including successful bond auctions amongst the Club Med members.
- Clarity with respect to European bank vulnerability.
- Signs that consumer credit delinquency rates in the U.S. are rolling over.
- Mortgage delinquencies down five quarters in a row in California to a three-year low.
- The BP oil spill moving off the front pages.
- The financial regulation bill behind us and Goldman deciding to settle –more uncertainty out of the way.
- Widespread refutation of the ECRI as a leading indicator … even among the architects of the index! There is tremendous conviction now that a double-dip will be averted, even though 85% of the data releases in the past month have come in below expectations.
- Earnings season living up to expectations, especially among some key large-caps in the tech/industrial space – Microsoft, AT&T, CAT, and 3M are being viewed as game changers (especially 3M’s upped guidance). Even the airlines are reporting ripping results.
- Bernanke indicating that he can and will become more aggressive at stimulating monetary policy if he feels the need and yesterday urging the government to refrain from tightening fiscal policy (including tax hikes).
- Practically every street economist took a knife to Q2 and Q3 GDP growth, which has left PM’s believing we are into some sort of capitulation period where all the bad news is now “out there”.
Source: Gluskin Sheff
Mr. Roche is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Discipline Funds.Discipline Funds is a low fee financial advisory firm with a focus on helping people be more disciplined with their finances.
He is also the author of Pragmatic Capitalism: What Every Investor Needs to Understand About Money and Finance, Understanding the Modern Monetary System and Understanding Modern Portfolio Construction.
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