8/13/08

Economics

protectionism (Free trade is a major positive for world and US economic growth.)

http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed080708e.cfm

Debunking some ‘truths’ about off shore drilling:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102145.html

New developments that may impact mortgage foreclosure statistics:

http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2008/08/slowing-foreclo.html

Technically speaking, the dollar is over bought:

http://bespokeinvest.typepad.com/bespoke/2008/08/dollar-overboug.html

The dollar and the price of oil:

http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2008/08/what_to_make_of_oils_weakness.html

Positive data on employment:

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2008/08/business-employment-dynamics-report.html

Politics

Domestic

International War Against Radical Islam

The Market

Technical

A chart on the seasonal patterns of tech stock price movement:

http://bespokeinvest.typepad.com/bespoke/2008/08/tech-sector-sea.html

Fundamental

Aggressive Growth Buy List

Company Close 8/12 Buy Value Range

Ecolab $45.70 43-49

Frontier Oil 19.49 18-21

CH Robinson 51.52 46-53

Schlumberger 93.65 92-106

Suncor Energy 50.91 46-53

Subscriber Alert

The stock prices of American Vanguard (AVD-$15) and Staples (SPLS-$26) have risen above the upper boundary of their respective Buy Value Ranges. Accordingly, they are being Removed from the Aggressive Growth Buy List. The Aggressive Growth Portfolio will continue to Hold these stocks.

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

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

At the Market open this morning, our Portfolios will make additional purchases to take their cash positions to 18.5%. The Dividend Growth Portfolio will buy shares in Canadian Pacific (CNI-$51) and Nokia (NOK-$27); the High Yield Portfolio will buy shares in Rayonier (RYN-$46); and the Aggressive Growth Portfolio will buy shares in Rockwell Collins (COL-$58) and Microsoft (MSFT-$28).

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

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

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

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

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

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

A positive write up on Linear Technology (Dividend Growth Portfolio):

http://seekingalpha.com/article/90701-linear-technology-maxim-integrated-the-other-lucrative-niche-in-semiconductors?source=front_page_long_ideas

More Cash in Investors’ Hands

CVS is buying Longs Drug for $2.9 billion in cash.