Investor’s first read – Brooksie’s edge before the open

Tuesday, February 7, 2012             9:19 a.m. ET

DJIA: 12,845.13     S&P 500: 1344,33

I think the market expects an agreement out of Greece; what’s going on here now  is a “selling process” to the Greek people.  While the process has dragged on for years, all eurozone  countries have had a chance to begin the process of deleveraging  their exposure.  However, a year from now, Greece may no longer be part of the eurozone.

IMF chief  economist Oliver Blanchard  was quoted yesterday while in the U.S. that he believes the only way out for Greece is a reduction in debt, progress on wages, and labor costs and the commitment by the Europeans to extend funds for as long as needed, under these conditions, it’s still a terribly ugly and unpleasant path but it is one which can be tried.

I believe the BIG story in 2012 will, be a huge flow of funds out of Safe havens and into the stock market with stocks edging up in face of  earnings growth, the emergence of new leaders and an expansion of price/earnings multiples,

Of  course we will awake at times to headlines of another disappointment in Europe,  and a few more Mid-Eastern countries will surface as one problem or another.

I suspect  Iran will overreach, provoking a reaction that will move its noise to B20 from Page One in the news papers.

There is just too much of a consensus  packed into the camp of investors who expect world  financial contagion.

I have been in this business long enough to know there is never a “bet the ranch time,”  There are just too many balls up in the air that can descend and alter the picture.

But, I see sneaky buying in the charts, buyers who are quietly accumulating shares in stocks that will dominate headlines a year or two out.

The impact of that buying will be magnified when money comes out  of safe havens

This week’s economic report are less important.

TUESDAY:

  • ICSC Goldman Store Sales (7:45 a.m.) by major retailers which account for 10% of total store sales.
  • Consumer Credit (3:00 p.m.) –Consumer credit jumped $20.4 billion November.

WEDNESDAY: 

  • MBA Purchase Applications (7: 00 a.m.)as a measure of applications at mortgage bankers, this index provides leading indicator of single family home sales and housing construction.

THURSDAY:

  • Jobless Claims (8:30 a,m.) Initial claims dropped 12,000 for the week ending Jan. 28 to 367,000.  Obviously “down: is good.
  • Wholesale Trade (10:00a.m.) – slowed to 1 0.1 percent gain, Inventory/sales ratio holding at 1.15.

FRIDAY:

  • International Trade (8:30 a.m.) Trade gap widened in Nov. due to jump in oil imports and dip in exports. The index is comprised of merchandise and services
  • Consumer Sentiment (9:55 a.m.) Rose  in the final week of January, Sentiments have been soaring since July.

Recent Posts:

Jan 23 DJIA: 12,720 “Europeans Seeking Long-Term Economic Cure
Jan 25 DJIA: 12,675 “Consolidation, Correction Likely though US Stocks Hold Strong Against EU Turmoil
Jan. 26 DJIA: 12,756 “Fed Would Raise Interest Rates If Inflation Picks Up
Jan. 27 DJIA: 12,734 “Warning! Tradable Market Action Lies in Waiting
Jan. 30 DJIA: 12,660 ““HUGE” Week for Economic Indicators
Jan. 31 DJIA: 12,653  “All That Is Needed Is a Spark
Feb. 1   DJIA: 12,632 “Week’s Economic Reports Could Be The Springboard
Feb. 3   DJIA: 12,862 “Investors Beating the Bullish Tune
Feb. 6   DJIA: 12,845 “Follow the Money as It Exits Safe Havens

George  Brooks

*Bloomberg.Com

**National Journal

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The writer of  Investor’s first read, George Brooks,  is not registered as an investment advisor.  Ideas expressed herein are the opinions of the writer, are for informational purposes, and are not to serve as the sole basis for any investment decision. Readers are expected to assume full responsibility for conducting their own research pursuant to investment decisions in keeping with their tolerance for risk.