4/30/08

Economics

The dollar and the Phillips Curve:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120943024074251369.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

The current economic mess:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OWYwMzY3ZTRhNzVhNDNiNDc1M2RiMzY5ZWUxYTNlYjI=

A look at housing prices nationwide:

http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2008/04/home-prices-fal.html

fiscal profligacy (Government spending as a percent of GDP is too high and the looming explosion in entitlement expenditures will make it worse. There is no good solution save spending discipline.) Our new farm bill:

http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2008/04/farm_bill_is_a_disaster.php

First quarter gross domestic product was reported this morning. A graphic look:

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2008/04/no-recession_30.html

Politics

Domestic

Hillary on pork:

http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2008/04/hillarys_love_for_pork.php

International War Against Radical Islam

The Market

Technical

A technical look at this rally:

http://bespokeinvest.typepad.com/bespoke/2008/04/market-rallies.html

Fundamental

Subscriber Alert

The stock price of Johnson Controls (JCI-$36) has risen above the upper boundary of its Buy Value Range. Accordingly, JCI is being Removed from the Dividend Growth Buy List. The Dividend Growth Portfolio will continue to Hold this stock.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=JCI

The stock price of Mastercard (MA-$274) has risen above the upper boundary of its Buy Value Range. Therefore, it is being Removed from the Aggressive Growth Buy List. The Aggressive Growth Portfolio will continue to Hold MA.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=MA

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

Avon Products (Aggressive Growth Portfolio) reported first quarter earnings per share of $.43 versus $.34 recorded in the comparable 2007 quarter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=AVP

Sysco (Dividend Growth Portfolio) reported its third fiscal quarter earnings per share of $.40 versus expectations of $.39 an $.35 reported in its 2007 fiscal third quarter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=SYY

Mastercard (Aggressive Growth Portfolio) reported its first quarter earnings per share of $3.01 versus expectations of $2.00 and $1.15 recorded in its 2007 first quarter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=MA

BP (High Yield Portfolio) reported first quarter earnings per share of $2.09 versus expectations of $1.74 and $1.44 reported in last years first quarter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=BP

Proctor & Gamble (Dividend Growth Portfolio) reported its third fiscal quarter earnings per share of $.82 versus estimates of $.81 and $.74 recorded in the comparable 2007 fiscal quarter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=PG

UGI (Dividend Growth Portfolio) reported first quarter earnings per share of $1.17 versus $1.12 reported in 2007’s first quarter. The company also raised its annual dividend per share from $.72 to $.77.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=UGI

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