http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX6bC71Zcos&feature=related
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtb3EtjEic
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap- happiest season of all
There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap- happiest season of all
There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time of the year
YTL Power WB
Sold today at 1.00 after holding it for 5 mths. 5% ROC........so slowwwwwwww..thats life..........
Saturday, November 28, 2009
What is your top priority?
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
--Matthew 6:33
Is the kingdom of God and his righteousness really your top priority in life? This is a tough question, I know.
It is easy for us to say, "My relationship with Jesus comes first, followed by my family, church, career, and finally hobbies and other activities." But it's another thing to actually live out those priorities!
We are constantly faced with choosing between the things that we want to do and the things that we ought to do. And in the process, our priorities can get turned upside down! Sometimes we can even get swept up in the priorities of those around us.
Have you ever been a victim of the tyranny of the urgent... when someone expects or requires that you do something for them rather than tend to your priorities? Sure you have. And it will happen over and over when you are not committed to your priorities.
This is why the apostle Paul urged you and me to lay aside the weights... the encumbrances that slow us down and keep us from advancing in our calling and the things that really matter.
Set your priorities and goals in life beginning with the Kingdom of heaven, that is, your relationship with God! Commit to know him, to love him, and to follow him.
SET YOUR PRIORITIES AND GOALS IN LIFE, BEGINNING WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!
--Matthew 6:33
Is the kingdom of God and his righteousness really your top priority in life? This is a tough question, I know.
It is easy for us to say, "My relationship with Jesus comes first, followed by my family, church, career, and finally hobbies and other activities." But it's another thing to actually live out those priorities!
We are constantly faced with choosing between the things that we want to do and the things that we ought to do. And in the process, our priorities can get turned upside down! Sometimes we can even get swept up in the priorities of those around us.
Have you ever been a victim of the tyranny of the urgent... when someone expects or requires that you do something for them rather than tend to your priorities? Sure you have. And it will happen over and over when you are not committed to your priorities.
This is why the apostle Paul urged you and me to lay aside the weights... the encumbrances that slow us down and keep us from advancing in our calling and the things that really matter.
Set your priorities and goals in life beginning with the Kingdom of heaven, that is, your relationship with God! Commit to know him, to love him, and to follow him.
SET YOUR PRIORITIES AND GOALS IN LIFE, BEGINNING WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!
Neil Sedaka - Betty Grable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQNKUZkMPo
When I used to be a little kid
I used to go
Every Saturday afternoon
To the picture show
Close up to the screen
My life wasso serene
I lived through every scene
With my movie queen
Betty Grable
Three hundred howlin' kids were always pack the house
But they just came for Donald Duck
And Mickey Mouse
But there would be a world of fantasy
Wrapped in the melody
She sang and danced for me
Betty Grable
Lots and lots of pine up shots
I had them all
And there they were pasted up
Upon the wall
When mama said
That it was time for bed
I'd eat some jam and bread
And watched your overhead
Betty Grable
Just the other night I saw her on
Some late, late show
And it occurred to me I'm someone that
She'll never know
So I wrote this little song
For the lady that I've loved so long
Betty Grable
When I used to be a little kid
I used to go
Every Saturday afternoon
To the picture show
Close up to the screen
My life wasso serene
I lived through every scene
With my movie queen
Betty Grable
Three hundred howlin' kids were always pack the house
But they just came for Donald Duck
And Mickey Mouse
But there would be a world of fantasy
Wrapped in the melody
She sang and danced for me
Betty Grable
Lots and lots of pine up shots
I had them all
And there they were pasted up
Upon the wall
When mama said
That it was time for bed
I'd eat some jam and bread
And watched your overhead
Betty Grable
Just the other night I saw her on
Some late, late show
And it occurred to me I'm someone that
She'll never know
So I wrote this little song
For the lady that I've loved so long
Betty Grable
Carpenters - I Need to Be in Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTYBaV9b5go
The hardest thing I've ever done
Is keep believing
There's someone in this crazy world
For me
The way that people come and go
Thru temporary lives
My chance could come and I might never know
I used to say "No promises,
Let's keep it simple"
But freedom only helps you say
Good-bye
It took a while for me to learn
That nothin' comes for free
The price I've paid is high enough for me
(*) I know I need to be in love
I know I've wasted too much time
I know I ask perfection of
A quite imperfect world
And fool enough to think that's
What I'll find
So here I am with pockets full
Of good intentions
But none of them will comfort me
Tonight
I'm wide awake at four a.m.
Without a friend in sight
Hanging on a hope but I'm alright
Repeat twice (*)
The hardest thing I've ever done
Is keep believing
There's someone in this crazy world
For me
The way that people come and go
Thru temporary lives
My chance could come and I might never know
I used to say "No promises,
Let's keep it simple"
But freedom only helps you say
Good-bye
It took a while for me to learn
That nothin' comes for free
The price I've paid is high enough for me
(*) I know I need to be in love
I know I've wasted too much time
I know I ask perfection of
A quite imperfect world
And fool enough to think that's
What I'll find
So here I am with pockets full
Of good intentions
But none of them will comfort me
Tonight
I'm wide awake at four a.m.
Without a friend in sight
Hanging on a hope but I'm alright
Repeat twice (*)
Friday, November 27, 2009
Giving thanks in ALL things
November 26, 2009
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Centuries before Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an American holiday by official proclamation in 1863, the apostle Paul was calling Christ-followers to a daily life of thankfulness.
In fact, Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians contains what we could call one of the most dramatic proclamations on giving thanks in the Scriptures: "to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (emphasis added).
Now, I know it isn't always easy to give thanks. In fact, it's tempting at times to throw up our hands and say, "This is just too hard!" But take heart. Paul knew a thing or two about difficult times. He knew the pain of prison and persecution, and unspeakable hardship.
So when Paul, the greatest Christian who ever lived, tells us to "give thanks in ALL things" this is no ivory tower proclamation. No. It's a bold statement of trust.
You see, when you give thanks in all things you acknowledge that God is in control of everything!
I can assure you that whatever you are facing, God is still in control. Assure your family and friends of this today when you give thanks for the blessings in your life!
WHEN YOU GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Centuries before Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an American holiday by official proclamation in 1863, the apostle Paul was calling Christ-followers to a daily life of thankfulness.
In fact, Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians contains what we could call one of the most dramatic proclamations on giving thanks in the Scriptures: "to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (emphasis added).
Now, I know it isn't always easy to give thanks. In fact, it's tempting at times to throw up our hands and say, "This is just too hard!" But take heart. Paul knew a thing or two about difficult times. He knew the pain of prison and persecution, and unspeakable hardship.
So when Paul, the greatest Christian who ever lived, tells us to "give thanks in ALL things" this is no ivory tower proclamation. No. It's a bold statement of trust.
You see, when you give thanks in all things you acknowledge that God is in control of everything!
I can assure you that whatever you are facing, God is still in control. Assure your family and friends of this today when you give thanks for the blessings in your life!
WHEN YOU GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Carpenters - A Song for You lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PMgmgDq2Fo
I've been so many places in my life and time
I've sung a lot of songs I've made some bad rhyme
I've acted out my love in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you
I know your image of me is what I hope to be
I've treated you unkindly but darlin' can't you see
There's no one more important to me
Darlin' can't you please see through me
Cause we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you
(*) You tought me precious secrets of the truth withholding nothing
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better and if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody cause my love is in there hiding
(**) I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for in my life you are a friend of mine
And when my life is over remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
Repeat (*)
Repeat (**)
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
I've been so many places in my life and time
I've sung a lot of songs I've made some bad rhyme
I've acted out my love in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you
I know your image of me is what I hope to be
I've treated you unkindly but darlin' can't you see
There's no one more important to me
Darlin' can't you please see through me
Cause we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you
(*) You tought me precious secrets of the truth withholding nothing
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better and if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody cause my love is in there hiding
(**) I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for in my life you are a friend of mine
And when my life is over remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
Repeat (*)
Repeat (**)
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
Paul Anka Times of your life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QCBeZi0bRI
Good morning, yesterday
You wake up and time has slipped away
And suddenly it's hard to find
The memories you left behind
Remember, do you remember?
The laughter and the tears
The shadows of misty yesteryears
The good times and the bad you've seen
And all the others in between
Remember, do you remember
The times of your life? (do you remember?)
Reach out for the joy and the sorrow
Put them away in your mind
The mem'ries are time that you borrow
To spend when you get to tomorrow
Here comes the setting sun (the setting sun)
The seasons are passing one by one
So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?
Gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?
Of your life
Of your life
Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life?
FADE
Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life?
[ Times Of Your Life Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]
Good morning, yesterday
You wake up and time has slipped away
And suddenly it's hard to find
The memories you left behind
Remember, do you remember?
The laughter and the tears
The shadows of misty yesteryears
The good times and the bad you've seen
And all the others in between
Remember, do you remember
The times of your life? (do you remember?)
Reach out for the joy and the sorrow
Put them away in your mind
The mem'ries are time that you borrow
To spend when you get to tomorrow
Here comes the setting sun (the setting sun)
The seasons are passing one by one
So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?
Gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?
Of your life
Of your life
Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life?
FADE
Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life?
[ Times Of Your Life Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]
Matt Monro - Softly As I Leave You
Peak chart position # 27 in 1964
Previously hit # 16 for Matt Monro in 1962
Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break if you should wake and see me go
So I leave you softly, long before you miss me
Long before your arms can beg me stay
For one more hour or one more day
After all the years, I can't bear the tears to fall
So, softly as I leave you there
(Softly, long before you kiss me)
(Long before your arms can beg me stay)
(For one more hour) or one more day
After all the years, I can't bear the tears to fall
So, softly as I leave you there
As I leave I you there
As I leave I you there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQR5iDsuud8
Previously hit # 16 for Matt Monro in 1962
Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break if you should wake and see me go
So I leave you softly, long before you miss me
Long before your arms can beg me stay
For one more hour or one more day
After all the years, I can't bear the tears to fall
So, softly as I leave you there
(Softly, long before you kiss me)
(Long before your arms can beg me stay)
(For one more hour) or one more day
After all the years, I can't bear the tears to fall
So, softly as I leave you there
As I leave I you there
As I leave I you there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQR5iDsuud8
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Matt Monro - Portrait Of My Love
There could never be a portrait of my love
For nobody could paint a dream
You will never see a portrait of my love
For miracles are never seen.
Anyone who sees her, soon forgets the Mona Lisa
It would take I know, a Michaelangelo
And he would need the glow of dawn that paints the sky above
To try and paint a portrait of my love
It would take I know, a Michaelangelo
And he would need the glow of dawn that paints the sky above,
To try and paint a portrait of my love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaFw7R0sk_g&feature=related
For nobody could paint a dream
You will never see a portrait of my love
For miracles are never seen.
Anyone who sees her, soon forgets the Mona Lisa
It would take I know, a Michaelangelo
And he would need the glow of dawn that paints the sky above
To try and paint a portrait of my love
It would take I know, a Michaelangelo
And he would need the glow of dawn that paints the sky above,
To try and paint a portrait of my love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaFw7R0sk_g&feature=related
April Love
April love is for the very young
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you
April love is all the seven wonders
One little kiss can tell you this is true
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one don't let her run away
[Instrumental Interlude]
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one don't let her run away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh5rmVkFyrI&feature=fvw
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you
April love is all the seven wonders
One little kiss can tell you this is true
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one don't let her run away
[Instrumental Interlude]
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one don't let her run away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh5rmVkFyrI&feature=fvw
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings Lyrics
Ohhhh, oh, oh, oh, ohhh.
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strain.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiS8YokFzeY&feature=related
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strain.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiS8YokFzeY&feature=related
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - UNCHAINED MELODY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_uBQ9jvAZU&feature=related
Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love,
I oh I need your love
God speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home, wait for me
Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love,
I oh I need your love
God speed your love to me
Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love,
I oh I need your love
God speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home, wait for me
Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love,
I oh I need your love
God speed your love to me
The Casuals 'Jesamine'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZerER6af04k&feature=related
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO,WITH A GIRL LIKE JESAMINE,
THOUGH MY EYES ARE OPEN WIDE,SHE'S MADE
MY LIFE A DREAM
(CHORUS)
WHEN JESAMINE GOES,A PART OF ME KNOWS I'M NOT REALLY LIVING,
A BUTTERFLY CHILD,SO FREE AND SO WILD
AND SO FULL OF LIVING
WHEN JESAMINE STAYS,THOUGH TIME GOES FAST,
THIS IS MY WORLD AT LAST
BEAUTIFUL DAY'S LOST IN HER EYES,
BUT THEN THE WHOLE WORLD DIES
(CHORUS)
WHEN JESAMINE GOES,A PART OF ME KNOWS
I'M NOT REALLY LIVING
A BUTTERFLY CHILD,SO FREE AND SO WILD
AND SO FULL OF LIVING
WHAT CAN YOU SAY,WHEN A GIRL DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW
SHE'S TOO FAR AWAY,AND SHE MAKES MY LIFE A DREAM
(CHORUS)
WHEN JESAMINE GOES,A PART OF ME KNOWS
I'M NOT REALLY LIVING
A BUTTERFLY CHILD,SO FREE AND SO WILD
AND SO FULL OF LIVING
WHEN JESAMINE STAYS,THOUGH TIME GOES FAST
THIS IS MY WORLD AT LAST
BEAUTIFUL DAY'S,LOST IN HER EYES
BUT THEN THE WHOLE WORLD DIES
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO
WITH A GIRL LIKE JESAMINE
THOUGH MY EYES ARE OPEN WIDE,SHE MADE MY LIFE A DREAM
(CHORUS
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO,WITH A GIRL LIKE JESAMINE,
THOUGH MY EYES ARE OPEN WIDE,SHE'S MADE
MY LIFE A DREAM
(CHORUS)
WHEN JESAMINE GOES,A PART OF ME KNOWS I'M NOT REALLY LIVING,
A BUTTERFLY CHILD,SO FREE AND SO WILD
AND SO FULL OF LIVING
WHEN JESAMINE STAYS,THOUGH TIME GOES FAST,
THIS IS MY WORLD AT LAST
BEAUTIFUL DAY'S LOST IN HER EYES,
BUT THEN THE WHOLE WORLD DIES
(CHORUS)
WHEN JESAMINE GOES,A PART OF ME KNOWS
I'M NOT REALLY LIVING
A BUTTERFLY CHILD,SO FREE AND SO WILD
AND SO FULL OF LIVING
WHAT CAN YOU SAY,WHEN A GIRL DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW
SHE'S TOO FAR AWAY,AND SHE MAKES MY LIFE A DREAM
(CHORUS)
WHEN JESAMINE GOES,A PART OF ME KNOWS
I'M NOT REALLY LIVING
A BUTTERFLY CHILD,SO FREE AND SO WILD
AND SO FULL OF LIVING
WHEN JESAMINE STAYS,THOUGH TIME GOES FAST
THIS IS MY WORLD AT LAST
BEAUTIFUL DAY'S,LOST IN HER EYES
BUT THEN THE WHOLE WORLD DIES
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO
WITH A GIRL LIKE JESAMINE
THOUGH MY EYES ARE OPEN WIDE,SHE MADE MY LIFE A DREAM
(CHORUS
The Marmalade - Reflections Of My Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79NiN7ISW7E&feature=related
The changing of sunlight to moonlight
Reflections of my life
Oh how they fill my eyes
Verse 2 (Repeat)
The greetings of people in trouble
Reflections of my life
Oh how they fill my eyes
Chorus
Oh my sorrows
Sad tomorrows
Take me back to my own home
Chorus (Repeat)
Oh my crying (Oh my crying)
Feel I'm dying, dying
Take me back
to my own home
Verse 3 (Repeat Verse 1)
I'm changing, arranging,
I'm changing,
I'm changing everything
Everything around me
Verse 4 (Repeat Verse 1)
The world is
a bad place
A bad place
A terrible place to live
Oh but I don't wanna die ...
Chorus (2 x)
The changing of sunlight to moonlight
Reflections of my life
Oh how they fill my eyes
Verse 2 (Repeat)
The greetings of people in trouble
Reflections of my life
Oh how they fill my eyes
Chorus
Oh my sorrows
Sad tomorrows
Take me back to my own home
Chorus (Repeat)
Oh my crying (Oh my crying)
Feel I'm dying, dying
Take me back
to my own home
Verse 3 (Repeat Verse 1)
I'm changing, arranging,
I'm changing,
I'm changing everything
Everything around me
Verse 4 (Repeat Verse 1)
The world is
a bad place
A bad place
A terrible place to live
Oh but I don't wanna die ...
Chorus (2 x)
One in Four Borrowers Is Underwater
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125903489722661849.html?mod=rss_markets_main
TURTLE system V RABBIT system
Still remember the kids story? The turtle wins the race.
Turtle uses the trend system while the rabbit uses the pivot system.
I am a "rabbit". I trade 1-9 times a day using a proven pivot system. For the past 3 years the maximum loss I can incur in a day is 270pips. My stop loss is 30pips per trade.
So my capital is set at USD300 in the beginning.
Once a while I pretend to be a "turtle" when I see a successful turtle losing!
Turtle system need huge stop loss (SL). Rabbit uses small SL.
The moral of the story is there is no holy grail in trading or investing.
So be cool and not be too emotional whether you win or lose.
At the end of the day we are all heading to meet our loving GOD.
GOD is awesome
GOD is good
Turtle uses the trend system while the rabbit uses the pivot system.
I am a "rabbit". I trade 1-9 times a day using a proven pivot system. For the past 3 years the maximum loss I can incur in a day is 270pips. My stop loss is 30pips per trade.
So my capital is set at USD300 in the beginning.
Once a while I pretend to be a "turtle" when I see a successful turtle losing!
Turtle system need huge stop loss (SL). Rabbit uses small SL.
The moral of the story is there is no holy grail in trading or investing.
So be cool and not be too emotional whether you win or lose.
At the end of the day we are all heading to meet our loving GOD.
GOD is awesome
GOD is good
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Stocks fall for 3rd day as dollar strengthens
Investors can't shake their fears that the economy isn't keeping up with the stock market.
Stocks fell for a third straight day Friday as a disappointing outlook from computer maker Dell Inc. suggested that an economic recovery could be uneven. The major indexes all had moderate losses, leaving the Dow Jones industrials with a slim 0.5 percent weekly gain while broader indexes slid.
The market, which has been shuttling between concerns about the economy and traders' need to find high-yielding investments, is back to worrying about the economy. Demand for safe haven investments like Treasurys and the dollar rose for a second day in response to Dell's outlook and comments from European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, who said the ECB plans to start reining in some of its stimulus programs. A rising dollar also hit commodities producers and exporters.
The week's trading saw investors, who have been pumping money into stocks because record-low interest rates mean paltry returns for the dollar and Treasurys, change that strategy. Many are now questioning whether the massive stock rally this year really has been justified given the soft spots in the economy, and so they've been quick to retreat to safe harbors like government debt and the greenback.
The yield on the three-month T-bill, which moves opposite its price, fell to 0.01 percent from 0.02 percent late Thursday. Yields briefly turned negative Thursday as investors seeking to pad their portfolios with safe investments before the end of the year were willing to accept negative returns.
"Investors seem to need a constant reassurance with where we are in the economic recovery," said Brett D'Arcy, chief investment officer at CBIZ Wealth Management Group in San Diego. "We just haven't gotten it in the past few days."
Instead, investors got the type of downcast news from Dell that suggests a recovery could be uneven. The company said sales of its computers to big businesses remain sluggish. Its quarterly revenue and profit missed analysts' expectations.
The Dow slipped 14.28, or 0.1 percent, to 10,318.16. The Dow fell 119 points, or 1.1 percent, in the final three days of the week. It ended the week up 0.5 percent because of steep gains Monday following an improvement in retail sales.
The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.52, or 0.3 percent, to 1,091.38, while the Nasdaq composite index, dominated by tech stocks like Dell, fell 10.78, or 0.5 percent, to 2,146.04.
For the week, the S&P 500 index fell 0.2 percent and the Nasdaq lost 1 percent. For November, those indexes are each up about 5 percent, while the Dow is up about 6 percent.
The ICE Futures US dollar index, which measures the dollar against other major currencies, rose 0.4 percent. The stronger dollar can hurt commodities prices and sales of U.S. exporters, whose goods become more expensive overseas when the dollar rises.
Demand for longer-term Treasurys fell, pushing yields higher. The yield on the benchmark 10-year note rose to 3.37 percent from 3.34 percent.
Many of the week's economic numbers made investors cautious. Reports Wednesday and Thursday showing a drop in housing starts and a jump in mortgage delinquencies upended an advance that had been all but unbroken in November. Those figures brought worries that an economic recovery will be slow and bumpy.
Concerns about the pace of a recovery have dogged the market's eight-month rally but with the nation's unemployment rate now above 10 percent for the first time in 26 years and new worries about housing, some analysts say investors have raced too far ahead of a recovery in the economy.
Many investors have amassed big gains in the climb since March that has left the S&P 500 index up 20.8 percent so far this year. Analysts say volume has fallen in November because some money managers are stepping away from the market to safeguard their gains.
Traders predict volume will be light again next week because of Thanksgiving. Even with the holiday, the week brings a flurry of reports on home sales, unemployment, consumer confidence and demand for big-ticket manufactured goods.
The government also will revise its early estimate that said the economy grew at an annual pace of 3.5 percent during the July-September quarter. Many analysts now expect gross domestic product will be revised lower because of recent reports on housing and retail sales.
Hank Smith, chief investment officer of equity at Haverford Investments in Radnor, Pa., said investors are worried that a lower reading on GDP will mean the economy didn't start the final quarter of 2009 with as much strength as had been hoped.
Smith said the market's slump after its peak Tuesday wasn't unexpected because of the steep gains of the first half of the month. He predicts the latest slide and others won't be deep because some investors who didn't take part in the market's eight-month rally are looking for opportunities to jump in.
"The investors who have missed this move are experiencing tremendous anxiety about missing a new bull market but also about getting paid nothing or, in some cases, negative returns," Smith said.
Dell fell $1.58, or 10 percent, to $14.29.
Energy companies logged some of the biggest drops as crude oil fell 74 cents to settle at $76.72 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as the dollar rose. Gold rose.
Three stocks fell for every two that rose on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 3.8 billion shares compared with 4.3 billion shares Thursday.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 1.00, or 0.2 percent, to 584.68.
Overseas, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.3 percent, Germany's DAX index lost 0.7 percent, and France's CAC-40 dropped 0.8 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.5 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed the week up 47.69, or 0.5 percent, at 10,318.16. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.10, or 0.2 percent, to 1,091.38. The Nasdaq composite index fell 21.84, or 1 percent, to 2,146.04.
The Russell 2000 index, which tracks the performance of small company stocks, fell 1.60, or 0.3 percent, for the week to 584.68.
The Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index -- which measures nearly all U.S.-based companies -- ended at 11,064.78, down 30.37, or 0.3 percent.
Stocks fell for a third straight day Friday as a disappointing outlook from computer maker Dell Inc. suggested that an economic recovery could be uneven. The major indexes all had moderate losses, leaving the Dow Jones industrials with a slim 0.5 percent weekly gain while broader indexes slid.
The market, which has been shuttling between concerns about the economy and traders' need to find high-yielding investments, is back to worrying about the economy. Demand for safe haven investments like Treasurys and the dollar rose for a second day in response to Dell's outlook and comments from European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, who said the ECB plans to start reining in some of its stimulus programs. A rising dollar also hit commodities producers and exporters.
The week's trading saw investors, who have been pumping money into stocks because record-low interest rates mean paltry returns for the dollar and Treasurys, change that strategy. Many are now questioning whether the massive stock rally this year really has been justified given the soft spots in the economy, and so they've been quick to retreat to safe harbors like government debt and the greenback.
The yield on the three-month T-bill, which moves opposite its price, fell to 0.01 percent from 0.02 percent late Thursday. Yields briefly turned negative Thursday as investors seeking to pad their portfolios with safe investments before the end of the year were willing to accept negative returns.
"Investors seem to need a constant reassurance with where we are in the economic recovery," said Brett D'Arcy, chief investment officer at CBIZ Wealth Management Group in San Diego. "We just haven't gotten it in the past few days."
Instead, investors got the type of downcast news from Dell that suggests a recovery could be uneven. The company said sales of its computers to big businesses remain sluggish. Its quarterly revenue and profit missed analysts' expectations.
The Dow slipped 14.28, or 0.1 percent, to 10,318.16. The Dow fell 119 points, or 1.1 percent, in the final three days of the week. It ended the week up 0.5 percent because of steep gains Monday following an improvement in retail sales.
The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.52, or 0.3 percent, to 1,091.38, while the Nasdaq composite index, dominated by tech stocks like Dell, fell 10.78, or 0.5 percent, to 2,146.04.
For the week, the S&P 500 index fell 0.2 percent and the Nasdaq lost 1 percent. For November, those indexes are each up about 5 percent, while the Dow is up about 6 percent.
The ICE Futures US dollar index, which measures the dollar against other major currencies, rose 0.4 percent. The stronger dollar can hurt commodities prices and sales of U.S. exporters, whose goods become more expensive overseas when the dollar rises.
Demand for longer-term Treasurys fell, pushing yields higher. The yield on the benchmark 10-year note rose to 3.37 percent from 3.34 percent.
Many of the week's economic numbers made investors cautious. Reports Wednesday and Thursday showing a drop in housing starts and a jump in mortgage delinquencies upended an advance that had been all but unbroken in November. Those figures brought worries that an economic recovery will be slow and bumpy.
Concerns about the pace of a recovery have dogged the market's eight-month rally but with the nation's unemployment rate now above 10 percent for the first time in 26 years and new worries about housing, some analysts say investors have raced too far ahead of a recovery in the economy.
Many investors have amassed big gains in the climb since March that has left the S&P 500 index up 20.8 percent so far this year. Analysts say volume has fallen in November because some money managers are stepping away from the market to safeguard their gains.
Traders predict volume will be light again next week because of Thanksgiving. Even with the holiday, the week brings a flurry of reports on home sales, unemployment, consumer confidence and demand for big-ticket manufactured goods.
The government also will revise its early estimate that said the economy grew at an annual pace of 3.5 percent during the July-September quarter. Many analysts now expect gross domestic product will be revised lower because of recent reports on housing and retail sales.
Hank Smith, chief investment officer of equity at Haverford Investments in Radnor, Pa., said investors are worried that a lower reading on GDP will mean the economy didn't start the final quarter of 2009 with as much strength as had been hoped.
Smith said the market's slump after its peak Tuesday wasn't unexpected because of the steep gains of the first half of the month. He predicts the latest slide and others won't be deep because some investors who didn't take part in the market's eight-month rally are looking for opportunities to jump in.
"The investors who have missed this move are experiencing tremendous anxiety about missing a new bull market but also about getting paid nothing or, in some cases, negative returns," Smith said.
Dell fell $1.58, or 10 percent, to $14.29.
Energy companies logged some of the biggest drops as crude oil fell 74 cents to settle at $76.72 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as the dollar rose. Gold rose.
Three stocks fell for every two that rose on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 3.8 billion shares compared with 4.3 billion shares Thursday.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 1.00, or 0.2 percent, to 584.68.
Overseas, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.3 percent, Germany's DAX index lost 0.7 percent, and France's CAC-40 dropped 0.8 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.5 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed the week up 47.69, or 0.5 percent, at 10,318.16. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.10, or 0.2 percent, to 1,091.38. The Nasdaq composite index fell 21.84, or 1 percent, to 2,146.04.
The Russell 2000 index, which tracks the performance of small company stocks, fell 1.60, or 0.3 percent, for the week to 584.68.
The Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index -- which measures nearly all U.S.-based companies -- ended at 11,064.78, down 30.37, or 0.3 percent.
Friday, November 20, 2009
AVA FX BI-WEEKLY GLOBAL MARKET REVIEW: A DIARY OF CURRENCY, COMMODITY, AND STOCK MARKETS
Market Diary: What happened Since our last newsletter? Because Forex and commodities tend to move with major international stock indexes, and these tend to follow the S&P 500 Index, we first review the chart below of the S&P 500 to get an overview of all major global markets since our last Newsletter of 11/02.
The S&P 500 Futures 11/02-11/14
As the chart above shows, the market found support at 1036 and began a steady, though low, volume rise of over 7% back to its 2009 highs near 1100, which has again proven to be the current resistance level.
This performance roughly reflects the direction and magnitude of losses across the spectrum of risk assets. Why the rally? What happened? Key events since the last bi-weekly report: 11/2: Traders realized that while the prior day's US GDP announcement beat expectations, it did so mostly due to temporary government stimulus programs rather than to any sustainable improvements of the underlying fundamentals that caused the current crisis—the financial sector, housing sector, and employment. 11/3: Better than expected data gave risk assets a boost, however, the biggest news was the 200 ton gold purchase from the IMF, which sent gold on its next leg higher to new all time highs as markets took the purchase as a sign of more gold buying by export nations seeking to diversify out of the USD. Gold quickly rose about 5% over the $1100 barrier in the coming days and has held steady around $1116, netting India an over $330 million profit thus far on its $6.2 billion purchase. The rest of week was packed with the usual reports leading up to the Non-Farms Payrolls report. Though both the reports leading up to NFP, and the NFP itself were overall disappointing, markets still managed to climb making most of their gains on Thursday 11/5 on positive earnings announcements from Cisco and other tech heavyweights like Canon. On Monday 11/9, traders focused on the positive revision to prior months that more than made up for the worse than expected job losses. They ignored the stagnant wage and hours work figures, which suggested that there were plenty of excess labor capacity that firms would not be hiring in the near future, and that American consumers were earning less and using less credit. None of this bodes well for the consumer spending sector, which comprises over 70% of GDP. The timing is especially bad because the next 6 weeks comprise the U.S Christmas and New Year holiday season—the biggest consumer spending period of the entire year. After 2 more days drifting higher on low volume, stocks again hit the key 1100 resistance level and pulled back, creating the beginnings of what may be a bearish double top chart formation. They recovered some of their losses on Friday 11/13, which was the last trading day as of this writing. Is this a normal retesting of support or new down trends?
The rally once again has managed to recover back to near 2009 highs despite very mixed data and an overall poor U.S employment report. What about the coming weeks? A few key points stand out as we review the above chart: The S&P 500 may be forming a bearish double top as it has been unable to sustain a break through the 1100 resistance level. The rise over the past 2 weeks has come on low volume, as shown by the red line over the volume histogram, which is a 10 day moving average of volume. Indeed, since October, the rallies are on much lower volume than the pullbacks. This is a bearish sign because it suggests the smart money is selling into the rallies. Healthy rallies show higher volume on up days and lower volume on down days. How strong is the 1100 level? Let's step back and look at a weekly chart of the S&P for the past 5 years.
S&P 500 Weekly Chart
Note that the 1100 level has only held for a few weeks and is thus not major resistance from an historical perspective. This means that if stocks can't get past it within a few weeks, which would suggest the rally is struggling and would undermine its credibility. On the other hand, positive news should be able to get stocks past it if the rally has life. Some Trading Opportunities over the Past Two Weeks
Needless to say, this kind of volatility was a trader's paradise and much of it was in clear sustained directional moves or within identifiable ranges.
The S&P 500 CFDs [100:1 leverage] Went up over 7% in seven sessions from 11/2-11, a potential 700% profit. Gold CFDs [100:1 leverage] Rose over 5%, a potential profit of over 500%. There were plenty of other opportunities as well. Check out a chart of the EUR/USD, or GBP/USD, for which traders can use 200% leverage for higher profit potential.
Of course few would be so lucky to catch even the majority of these moves, but even a very realistic fraction of these moves that one could expect to get using prudent risk management techniques would prove extremely rewarding. Conclusion
In another two weeks we'll have seen the results of the above mentioned critical reports and events and will know whether markets are just undergoing normal consolidation or making a deeper test of support.
The S&P 500 Futures 11/02-11/14
As the chart above shows, the market found support at 1036 and began a steady, though low, volume rise of over 7% back to its 2009 highs near 1100, which has again proven to be the current resistance level.
This performance roughly reflects the direction and magnitude of losses across the spectrum of risk assets. Why the rally? What happened? Key events since the last bi-weekly report: 11/2: Traders realized that while the prior day's US GDP announcement beat expectations, it did so mostly due to temporary government stimulus programs rather than to any sustainable improvements of the underlying fundamentals that caused the current crisis—the financial sector, housing sector, and employment. 11/3: Better than expected data gave risk assets a boost, however, the biggest news was the 200 ton gold purchase from the IMF, which sent gold on its next leg higher to new all time highs as markets took the purchase as a sign of more gold buying by export nations seeking to diversify out of the USD. Gold quickly rose about 5% over the $1100 barrier in the coming days and has held steady around $1116, netting India an over $330 million profit thus far on its $6.2 billion purchase. The rest of week was packed with the usual reports leading up to the Non-Farms Payrolls report. Though both the reports leading up to NFP, and the NFP itself were overall disappointing, markets still managed to climb making most of their gains on Thursday 11/5 on positive earnings announcements from Cisco and other tech heavyweights like Canon. On Monday 11/9, traders focused on the positive revision to prior months that more than made up for the worse than expected job losses. They ignored the stagnant wage and hours work figures, which suggested that there were plenty of excess labor capacity that firms would not be hiring in the near future, and that American consumers were earning less and using less credit. None of this bodes well for the consumer spending sector, which comprises over 70% of GDP. The timing is especially bad because the next 6 weeks comprise the U.S Christmas and New Year holiday season—the biggest consumer spending period of the entire year. After 2 more days drifting higher on low volume, stocks again hit the key 1100 resistance level and pulled back, creating the beginnings of what may be a bearish double top chart formation. They recovered some of their losses on Friday 11/13, which was the last trading day as of this writing. Is this a normal retesting of support or new down trends?
The rally once again has managed to recover back to near 2009 highs despite very mixed data and an overall poor U.S employment report. What about the coming weeks? A few key points stand out as we review the above chart: The S&P 500 may be forming a bearish double top as it has been unable to sustain a break through the 1100 resistance level. The rise over the past 2 weeks has come on low volume, as shown by the red line over the volume histogram, which is a 10 day moving average of volume. Indeed, since October, the rallies are on much lower volume than the pullbacks. This is a bearish sign because it suggests the smart money is selling into the rallies. Healthy rallies show higher volume on up days and lower volume on down days. How strong is the 1100 level? Let's step back and look at a weekly chart of the S&P for the past 5 years.
S&P 500 Weekly Chart
Note that the 1100 level has only held for a few weeks and is thus not major resistance from an historical perspective. This means that if stocks can't get past it within a few weeks, which would suggest the rally is struggling and would undermine its credibility. On the other hand, positive news should be able to get stocks past it if the rally has life. Some Trading Opportunities over the Past Two Weeks
Needless to say, this kind of volatility was a trader's paradise and much of it was in clear sustained directional moves or within identifiable ranges.
The S&P 500 CFDs [100:1 leverage] Went up over 7% in seven sessions from 11/2-11, a potential 700% profit. Gold CFDs [100:1 leverage] Rose over 5%, a potential profit of over 500%. There were plenty of other opportunities as well. Check out a chart of the EUR/USD, or GBP/USD, for which traders can use 200% leverage for higher profit potential.
Of course few would be so lucky to catch even the majority of these moves, but even a very realistic fraction of these moves that one could expect to get using prudent risk management techniques would prove extremely rewarding. Conclusion
In another two weeks we'll have seen the results of the above mentioned critical reports and events and will know whether markets are just undergoing normal consolidation or making a deeper test of support.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
What's Kept the Rally Going? Investor Fear, Not Confidence
As strange as it might seem, the eight-month-old stock rally may just keep going because so many investors still think it won't last.
Investment advisors say clients continue to view stocks with hesitancy and skepticism-a vestige of the panic that swept through the markets just a year ago. But that fear, ironically, has kept stocks from going up too far, too fast-allowing the market to move gradually higher as investors creep timidly back into stocks.
"We're seeing a lot of evidence that they're buying this rally with a lot of apprehension,"says Richard Sparks, senior analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research in Cincinnati. "We would interpret that pessimism and apprehension in a positive way."
As major indexes continue to reach fresh highs-the crossing Monday of 1100 on the Standard & Poor's 500 marks the latest hurdle-conviction that the rally can keep going builds.
"The buying's not getting out of hand. The more controlled a rally is, the more sustainable it is," says Sparks, who expects small- and mid-cap technology to lead the market. "At least in terms of earnings and the economic numbers that are coming out, I would expect we should see a strong, steady rally to continue through at least year's end."
Market watchers are eyeing a few key milestones coming up as tests for the rest of 2009, a year that began with freefalling stocks and looks to end with a better than 60 percent rally.
This is an options expiration week, which a year ago was bad for the market and saw a sharp drop. But seven of the past 12 options expirations weeks have seen gains.
Also, technicians are looking at S&P 1120 as a key level because it represents a two-thirds rebound off the March lows when the broad-based market gauge hit an intraday low of 666.
Should the market pass both tests, that could give a boost to investors' spirits and pave the way for a solid run to close out the year.
"It is difficult to understand why 10,291 on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which was the close on November 11, can make people feel better about stocks than 9,802, which was the close on Nov. 4," managers at Al Frank Investment Management, a value-based firm in Laguna Beach, Calif., wrote in an analysis this week.
"Seems logical that the less expensive stocks are, the more attractive they would be, but such is not always the case with fear and greed playing such a huge role in investor sentiment."
Questions over market volume persist, though, as portfolio managers continue to try to protect clients' interests and as much of the trading seems to be driven by institutional influences rather than retail investors.
The lack of volume as well as weak breadth-the measure of gainers over losers-is feeding some fear that a substantial correction looms before the market can continue its path to new highs.
"Current volume patterns are a sign of money shifting from strong hands to weak hands ..." BofA Merrill Lynch said in a research note Monday. "This condition can remain in place for weeks, if not months, causing choppy equity markets. The key message the market is signaling, in our view, is this is a maturing rally, not the early stages of one."
The firm warned that the market could see a correction that would send the S&P to 935, albeit a constructive move that would pave the way to a 1200-1325 range for 2010.
An additional worry is over dollar trends.
The US currency's sharp decline has been seen as the lynchpin of the stock market rally. But some analysts fear that the greenback is approaching a point of diminishing returns where further weakness will start to sap confidence in the market.
"Eventually the dollar's going to get to a level where it's going to be bad for the markets," says Dave Rovelli, managing director of US equity trading at Canaccord Adams.
Rovelli sees that coming should the dollar index (track the gauge here) hit 70-a steep decline considering that the level is currently just above 75. But with government officials showing no indication that strong-dollar policies are forthcoming, the currency's decline at least in some measure is virtually assured.
At least for the moment-and likely through the end of the year-there's little indication anyone is willing to stand in front of the Wall Street freight train.
"The key question at this point is whether new leadership will emerge. Will volume and breadth come to confirm this rally, or are we nearing a near-term peak here?" says Gary Flam, portfolio manager at Bel Air Investment Advisors in Los Angeles.
"At this point it's too early to say the market is topping...I'm being cautious about the market at these levels. I'm not looking to invest heavily and jump into the deep end on the risk perspective. I'm still hanging out in the shallow end."
Investment advisors say clients continue to view stocks with hesitancy and skepticism-a vestige of the panic that swept through the markets just a year ago. But that fear, ironically, has kept stocks from going up too far, too fast-allowing the market to move gradually higher as investors creep timidly back into stocks.
"We're seeing a lot of evidence that they're buying this rally with a lot of apprehension,"says Richard Sparks, senior analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research in Cincinnati. "We would interpret that pessimism and apprehension in a positive way."
As major indexes continue to reach fresh highs-the crossing Monday of 1100 on the Standard & Poor's 500 marks the latest hurdle-conviction that the rally can keep going builds.
"The buying's not getting out of hand. The more controlled a rally is, the more sustainable it is," says Sparks, who expects small- and mid-cap technology to lead the market. "At least in terms of earnings and the economic numbers that are coming out, I would expect we should see a strong, steady rally to continue through at least year's end."
Market watchers are eyeing a few key milestones coming up as tests for the rest of 2009, a year that began with freefalling stocks and looks to end with a better than 60 percent rally.
This is an options expiration week, which a year ago was bad for the market and saw a sharp drop. But seven of the past 12 options expirations weeks have seen gains.
Also, technicians are looking at S&P 1120 as a key level because it represents a two-thirds rebound off the March lows when the broad-based market gauge hit an intraday low of 666.
Should the market pass both tests, that could give a boost to investors' spirits and pave the way for a solid run to close out the year.
"It is difficult to understand why 10,291 on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which was the close on November 11, can make people feel better about stocks than 9,802, which was the close on Nov. 4," managers at Al Frank Investment Management, a value-based firm in Laguna Beach, Calif., wrote in an analysis this week.
"Seems logical that the less expensive stocks are, the more attractive they would be, but such is not always the case with fear and greed playing such a huge role in investor sentiment."
Questions over market volume persist, though, as portfolio managers continue to try to protect clients' interests and as much of the trading seems to be driven by institutional influences rather than retail investors.
The lack of volume as well as weak breadth-the measure of gainers over losers-is feeding some fear that a substantial correction looms before the market can continue its path to new highs.
"Current volume patterns are a sign of money shifting from strong hands to weak hands ..." BofA Merrill Lynch said in a research note Monday. "This condition can remain in place for weeks, if not months, causing choppy equity markets. The key message the market is signaling, in our view, is this is a maturing rally, not the early stages of one."
The firm warned that the market could see a correction that would send the S&P to 935, albeit a constructive move that would pave the way to a 1200-1325 range for 2010.
An additional worry is over dollar trends.
The US currency's sharp decline has been seen as the lynchpin of the stock market rally. But some analysts fear that the greenback is approaching a point of diminishing returns where further weakness will start to sap confidence in the market.
"Eventually the dollar's going to get to a level where it's going to be bad for the markets," says Dave Rovelli, managing director of US equity trading at Canaccord Adams.
Rovelli sees that coming should the dollar index (track the gauge here) hit 70-a steep decline considering that the level is currently just above 75. But with government officials showing no indication that strong-dollar policies are forthcoming, the currency's decline at least in some measure is virtually assured.
At least for the moment-and likely through the end of the year-there's little indication anyone is willing to stand in front of the Wall Street freight train.
"The key question at this point is whether new leadership will emerge. Will volume and breadth come to confirm this rally, or are we nearing a near-term peak here?" says Gary Flam, portfolio manager at Bel Air Investment Advisors in Los Angeles.
"At this point it's too early to say the market is topping...I'm being cautious about the market at these levels. I'm not looking to invest heavily and jump into the deep end on the risk perspective. I'm still hanging out in the shallow end."
Monday, November 16, 2009
Using Time Well
Matthew 25:14-28
As today's passage indicates, the Lord gives us resources and abilities, and He desires that we use them well. One such gift is time.
In order to manage our days effectively, we should continually review them: What activities did we choose? How long did each one take? What were the results? This discipline will reveal what is most important to us.
In looking closely at our assessments, we can determine what drives our decisions about how to use time. Some people merely respond to circumstances for a majority of their day. They jump from one thing to the next, answering phone calls, reorganizing shelves, or doing anything that appears in their world at the moment. But this style of living misses the mark.
Other people spend their time according to desires. They want to relax, so they get home and watch television for the evening. Or they love to hunt, so they use their time to research equipment and locate wildlife in the forest. Desires are not bad, but they should not drive the bulk of our actions.
Thankfully, there are also people who live according to what they deem important. Loving God and serving others, for instance, are two biblical values that should, ideally, determine what we do with our time.
If you itemize your activities and their time consumption over the course of a week, you might be surprised at the dominating events. Each moment is a gift, so set aside a few minutes each evening to plan. Then revisit the way you spent the last 24 hours. This will help you to live purposefully.
As today's passage indicates, the Lord gives us resources and abilities, and He desires that we use them well. One such gift is time.
In order to manage our days effectively, we should continually review them: What activities did we choose? How long did each one take? What were the results? This discipline will reveal what is most important to us.
In looking closely at our assessments, we can determine what drives our decisions about how to use time. Some people merely respond to circumstances for a majority of their day. They jump from one thing to the next, answering phone calls, reorganizing shelves, or doing anything that appears in their world at the moment. But this style of living misses the mark.
Other people spend their time according to desires. They want to relax, so they get home and watch television for the evening. Or they love to hunt, so they use their time to research equipment and locate wildlife in the forest. Desires are not bad, but they should not drive the bulk of our actions.
Thankfully, there are also people who live according to what they deem important. Loving God and serving others, for instance, are two biblical values that should, ideally, determine what we do with our time.
If you itemize your activities and their time consumption over the course of a week, you might be surprised at the dominating events. Each moment is a gift, so set aside a few minutes each evening to plan. Then revisit the way you spent the last 24 hours. This will help you to live purposefully.
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