Friday, September 18, 2015

Stock Market Update (9/18/15)

It has been a long time since we posted.  Our stock signals have mostly remained steadily long during the stock markets's rise over the past year-plus.

Recent volatility due to "China worries" and the "FED interest rate watch" have increased volatility and led to several relatively sharp declines.  Although there have been several sharp moves downward, investors should note that the S&P 500 is only about -5% to -7% off of recent peaks.  In addition, stocks are 15% to 20% higher than they were two years ago.

Still, based on recent market action, here are our stock market indicators:


  • Long-Term Indicators are currently neutral, and are looking towards market action for a potential change in signal.
  • Intermediate-term models are currently mildly short; the market seems overbought. 
  • Short-term indicators follow the current trend and are too short-term to report regularly.  
It is noteworthy that other markets we trade - such as currencies and commodities - helped to cushion the decline in the equity markets the past few months.  

Good luck!  

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Super-Wealthy and Inequitable NYC Taxes

Thanks to the structure of city and state tax codes, the billionaires buyingpieds-à-terre in the sky over Central Park are hardly paying property taxes at all. The values of these new condos are being assessed at just a fraction of what they're worth. And buyers are paying only a fraction of that fraction in property taxes.

This is a pressing issue for at least three reasons. For one thing, the property-tax levy is New York City's single largest source of revenue. The city is leaving money behind by failing to tax the most valuable homes at a rate closer to their market value. Meanwhile, well apart from the ultra-luxury condos, the city is overtaxing apartment buildings, whose renters are struggling the most with affordability. These outcomes go hand in hand.

Read more here:
http://www.citylab.com/housing/2015/05/why-billionaires-dont-pay-property-taxes-in-new-york/389886/