Master Rider Blog

Last Shoe to Drop?

February 6th, 2008 NW Teong

For those who have read my Chinese New Year message, “Gong Xi Fatt Chai” posted on 1 Feb 2008, you would realize that why I have predicted a more volatile 2008 as compared to last year. The short answer is just simply the macro picture is deteriorating!

In a way, the Americans are going through what I call a transitional pain as far as the US economy is concern. At this juncture, they not only have to adjust to slower economy growth (or even a recession) but at the same time have to endure a high inflation rate. As mentioned before, between growth and inflation, the choice is obvious for US Fed. Just like the employment figure, inflation is a lagging indicator. While the inflation pressure is high at the moment, it will subside gradually if the slowing of the macro economy is gathering speed (more signs pointed to this right now). No surprise that US Fed would continue to cut its interest rate, no surprise that inflation rate would remain in the short term.

What would happen to the stock markets then? Well, the stock markets would react accordingly. That is market would retreat when the bad economic numbers are announced and would rise when Fed cut its interest rates or some positive news in the markets such as big M&A news etc, hence the volatility of the stock markets. This would continue to happen until one force dominates the other. The likely scenario would be that the macro economy would continue to slow and the policy makers would try all their means to reverse that. This is going to play out in the next few months. An optimist would say that by the 4^th quarter of this year, the growth engine would start to roar again!

Before we talk about recovery of US economy, investors have to ensure that they survive for the next few months. We have to be aware that the massive downgrade of credit rating on bonds (corporate bonds, bonds of bond insurers, municipal bonds….etc really all kind of bonds) by credit agencies has barely begun. We have to watch very closely with regard of this development as it would have a huge ramification throughout the entire financial industry. This perhaps would be the last shoe of the market to drop?

What strategies to use? No change, we should still stick to value strategy as well as investrade strategy (need special care to use this, please refer to e-book, “The Essence of Stock Investment” or the e-seminar with the same title). Cheers!

Master “The Essence of Stock Investment” and ride towards the journey of your financial freedom to be the “Master of Your Own Destiny”!Disclaimer: Investors are investing at your own risk. Please read full disclaimer at the end of the blog or from the main page of the website.

Entry Filed under: US Stocks, Macro, Stocks, Singapore