Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Weekly Market Update for the week of January 3rd

Weekly Market Update
Week of January 3rd 2011
THE MARKETS:

The so-called “January effect” is a calendar-related anomaly in the financial markets where security prices increase in the month of January because investors often sell losing positions in December and reposition themselves after the first of the year, or vice-versa.[1],[2]  Though last week’s trading pattern (strong at the outset, slumping on Friday) could be connected with this event, there are additional factors at play.
On Friday, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled against Wells Fargo and US Bancorp, effectively voiding certain foreclosure sales because the banks couldn't prove that the mortgages had been assigned to them.  Fears that the ruling could make it harder for financial firms to foreclose on mortgages connected with securities resulted in a fall for bank stocks.[3] Friday’s employment report also disheartened investors as data fell short of expectations.[4]  Yet despite adding only 103,000 jobs of the 150,000 expected, the unemployment rate dropped to 9.4%, reaching a 19-month low.[5] 
Although markets were negatively affected by the bank ruling and various other factors, they still managed to end the week higher, marking the sixth straight week of gains. [6]   Overall, the Dow rose 0.8%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.1%, and the Nasdaq increased 1.9%.[7]  Much of the week’s gains were amassed on Monday and Wednesday, riding the wave of optimism into the new year and climbing Wednesday on a stronger-than-expected jobs report for December.[8]
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke optimistically about the economy on Friday, citing improved consumer spending and a drop in unemployment claims as hopeful signs.  "We have seen increased evidence that a self-sustaining recovery in consumer and business spending may be taking hold," he said in his first testimony to Congress since the Fed launched QE2. [9] 
There is a January axiom that says: “As goes January, so goes the year.”  And according to the Stock Traders Almanac's January Barometer, the month of January tends to predict the direction of the market with a 91.4% accuracy ratio, with only five major errors recorded since 1950.[10] This is certainly not exact science, and it is far too early to see if January will accurately predict the rest of the year, but we’ll keep you informed about how things shape up.
ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
Tuesday – Motor Vehicle Sales, Redbook, Wholesale Trade
Wednesday – Import & Export Prices, EIA Petroleum Status, Beige Book, Treasury Budget
Thursday – International Trade, Producer Price Index, Jobless Claims, EIA Petroleum Status
Friday – Consumer Prices, Retail Sales, Industrial Production, Consumer Sentiment, Business Inventories
Data as of 01/07/2011
1-Week
YTD
1-Year
5-Year
10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500
1.10
1.10
11.4
-0.22
-0.21
Dow
0.84
0.84
10.1
1.31
0.95
NASDAQ
1.90
1.90
17.5
3.45
1.23
MSCI EAFE
-0.83
-0.83
2.25
-9.08
0.95
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only)
3.31
N/A
3.82
4.38
4.95

Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MSCI Barra. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. NA means not available.

HEADLINES:
Tragically, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was critically wounded in a Tucson shooting rampage that killed six people, including a federal judge, and wounded 12 others.  Congress has postponed its agenda for the week, which included a vote to repeal the recent health-care plan.[11]
Obama named Gene B. Sperling as director of the National Economic Council, the same job Sperling held for four years under Bill Clinton.  Other changes to the economic team include: Jason Furman, Principal Deputy Director of the NEC, and Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Director of the Budget Office.[12]
Blue Shield, one of California’s largest health insurers, plans to hike its premiums by as much as 59%.  The premium rates are set to take effect on March 1, pending review from state insurance regulators. The move will impact 193,000 individual Blue Shield policy holders.[13]
Gold dipped to settle below $1,369 on Friday, marking its biggest weekly decline since May, after disappointing U.S. jobs data failed to revive safe-haven demand.  Bullion declined for a fifth day, its longest losing streak in seven months, and a 4% decline for the week.[14] 
European sovereign debt concerns peaked on Friday amid reports that the yield on Portuguese 10-year bonds hit a recent high of 7.1%, the cost of insuring the debt of banks in Italy and Spain rose sharply, and the euro hit a three-month low against the dollar.[15] 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” – Helen Keller

RECIPE OF THE WEEK:
 Cumin-Caraway Rounds

From: Better Homes and Gardens
Servings: 40 crackers
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup rye flour
1 tablespoon caraway seed
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 cup butter, cut into 4 pieces
1/3 cup milk
1   egg white, beaten

Directions:
1. In a food processor bowl combine all-purpose flour, rye flour, caraway seed, baking powder, salt, cumin, and coriander. Add butter; cover and process until blended. Add milk and process just until mixture forms a dough (if necessary, add an additional 1 tablespoon milk).

2. Transfer dough to a floured surface and let stand 5 minutes. Roll to 1/8-inch thickness and cut with a 2-inch cutter or use a knife to cut into desired shapes. Transfer cutouts to an ungreased baking sheet. Brush lightly with egg white. Using a fork, prick crackers all over.

3. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 to 17 minutes or until crisp. Cool completely on wire racks. Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Makes 40 crackers.

GOLF TIP OF THE WEEK:
HOW TO HIT UNDER AN OBSTRUCTION
If you need to keep your ball low, such as under tree limbs, but need distance to execute the shot, here’s another trick for your bag:
1) Play the ball slightly rear of center and press your hands forward of the ball.
2) Use a 3, 4, or 5 iron, and close the club face slightly.
3) Keep your hands ahead of the club for the whole swing.
The ball will come out low and hot, so compensate with the amount of back swing you use. Sometimes the ball will draw a little more than usual, so practice this shot on the range before you take it on the course.

Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
Please share this market update with family, friends, or colleagues.  If you would like us to add them to our list, simply click on the "Forward email" link below. We love being introduced!

Jeanine M. Devine
Financial Representative and Insurance Broker
A. Jay Meier & Associates insurance agency
2115 S. Brentwood Blvd.
St Louis , Mo 63144
314-968-4444
Securities offered through:
First Heartland Capital, Inc member FINRA & SIPC
A. JAY MEIER & ASSOCIATES IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH FIRST HEARTLAND CAPITAL,INC..

Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.
The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.
The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.
Google Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
You cannot invest directly in an index.
Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative or named Broker dealer, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.


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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Discover What The New Tax Bill Means For Americans


  Extension of the Bush Era Tax Cuts
When the House of Representatives approved an $858 billion tax deal just before midnight December 16th, they passed the most far-reaching tax bill in nearly a decade.[1]  The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4853) was signed into law by President Obama on December 17th, 2010.
Essentially, the act is a temporary, two-year reprieve from the sunset provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA), commonly known as the "Bush tax cuts".
In a rare show of bipartisanship, the bill was negotiated by the White House and Senate Republicans, and will provide an extension of the Bush tax cuts through 2012, which were otherwise due to expire on December 31, 2010. Failure to pass the bill would have resulted in significantly higher taxes for millions of Americans. The new bill offers tax cuts designed to maintain the gradual recovery of the American economy. 
Timeline of Major Actions:[2]
3/16/2010
Introduced in House
3/17/2010
Passed/agreed to in House
9/23/2010
Passed/agreed to in Senate
12/2/2010
House actions: Amendment
12/15/2010
Senate actions: Amendment
12/16/2010
House actions: Agreed to the Senate amendment
12/17/2010
Cleared for White House, Presented to President, Signed by President
While I will not be able to cover every detail of the act with this single communication, I will do my best to address the most significant areas.
Income Tax Extensions and Changes
The bill maintains tax cuts across all brackets and introduced an additional 2% reduction in the payroll tax rate for 2011 only.[3] The payroll tax credit cut most workers' Social Security taxes by nearly a third, dropping from 6.2% to 4.2%.[4] If you earn between $35,000 and $64,000, you will gain the most after-tax income from the new law by increasing your earnings by about 0.9% of your income.[5] According to a White House press release, the payroll tax holiday will not affect the solvency or benefits of Social Security.[6] 
The bill protects approximately 20 million mostly middle-class Americans from the Alternative Minimum Tax through 2011,[7] and the so-called “marriage penalty” is suspended for another two years.[8]  An additional benefit of the bill is that many investors feel more comfortable proceeding with end-of-year portfolio changes now that capital gains and dividend tax rates are guaranteed to remain at 15%.[9]
If you have dependent children or grandchildren, you will be happy to know the Child Tax Credit remains in effect,[10] and the American Opportunity Tax Credit tripled the relief available to college students.[11] 
What about Businesses?
With unemployment hovering just below 10%, job creation is a fundamental aspect to full economic recovery. Though the new bill threatens an increased deficit by some estimates, it promises to boost the economy and create more employment primarily through a series of business tax breaks designed to encourage investments in research and alternative energies, and, by extension, into human capital. In fact, businesses are permitted to write off 100% of capital investments made between Sept, 9, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.[13] In the meantime, long-term unemployment benefits have been extended for 13 months.[14]
Estate Tax
This was a point of great contention between political parties debating the merits of the Tax Relief Bill. In the end, the plan includes an estate tax that allows the first $10 million of a couple's estate to pass to their heirs without taxation ($5 million for individuals).[15]  The balance will be subject to a 35% tax rate,  rather than the 55% tax on an inheritance of $1 million or more that would have taken effect in 2011.
Summary
As you know, the decision to extend the tax cuts was heavily debated. It is a relief to know that closure was reached before the end of the year and most Americans are happy to know that their taxes aren’t going up. 
To be fair, many critics predict challenges related to the varied expiration dates of certain elements of the package. Some credits expire in one year, and the entire package expires just in time to be a major focus in the 2012 election year.1 Some also argue that in light of our bulging budget deficit, this is a bad time to be extending tax cuts.5  What affect these issues will have remains to be seen.
The new Tax Relief Act arrived at a critical juncture for a few reasons. First, it may predict a new era of bipartisanship among Congressional leaders which could bode well for compromise during the next two years of Obama’s first term in office. Second, it arrived just in time to prevent painful tax increases for most Americans. Third, it boosts confidence that American tax policy is headed in the right direction, and will continue to bolster the U.S. economic recovery.
Why did I send you this communication? One of the primary ways I help my clients is by working hard to provide tax-smart investment strategies to minimize the impact Uncle Sam can have. In addition, I consider it my responsibility to educate you about things that could affect your financial future. As a dedicated advisor, it is my goal to provide you with:
1)    Sound money management
2)    Meaningful education
3)    Exceptional service
Please be assured of my ongoing commitment to support you in these and other ways. If there is ever anything additional my staff and I can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate to call us. It is an honor and a privilege to serve you!
Kind Regards, Jeanine Devine
Would someone you know benefit from receiving this communication? If so, call our office at 314-968-4444 to provide us with their contact information and we will be happy to send them a copy.
Jeanine M. Devine
Financial Representative and Insurance Broker
A. Jay Meier & Associates insurance agency
2115 S. Brentwood Blvd.
St Louis , Mo 63144
314-968-4444
Securities offered through:
First Heartland Capital, Inc member FINRA & SIPC A. JAY MEIER & ASSOCIATES IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH FIRST HEARTLAND CAPITAL,INC.. A. Jay Meier & Associates do not provide tax advice.  Please consult your tax advice for any legal tax advice.
These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative or named Broker dealer, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.
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