A nasty week in most of the world’s stock markets as the current downtrend extended. The SPX/DOW lost 3.9%, the biggest weekly drop since November, and the NDX/NAZ lost 5.3%. Asian markets were -4.0%, European markets were -5.0%, and the DJ World index lost 5.4%. Economic reports for the week were mixed with negatives edging out positives 7 to 6. On the uptick: the NY FED, the NAHB, housing starts, industrial production, capacity utilization, and the WLEI. On the downtick: retail sales, the CPI, business inventories, building permits, the Philly FED, leading indicators, and jobless claims rose. Next week we will get a look at more housing data, durable goods orders and consumer sentiment. Best to your week!

A nasty week in most of the world’s stock markets as the current downtrend extended. The SPX/DOW lost 3.9%, the biggest weekly drop since November, and the NDX/NAZ lost 5.3%. Asian markets were -4.0%, European markets were -5.0%, and the DJ World index lost 5.4%. Economic reports for the week were mixed with negatives edging out positives 7 to 6. On the uptick: the NY FED, the NAHB, housing starts, industrial production, capacity utilization, and the WLEI. On the downtick: retail sales, the CPI, business inventories, building permits, the Philly FED, leading indicators, and jobless claims rose. Next week we will get a look at more housing data, durable goods orders and consumer sentiment. Best to your week!

"Centralization induces apoplexy at the center and anemia at the extremities." ~ Lamenais The present political system is clearly insane. It suffers from schizophrenia. Around the world, almost no one trusts the politicians, yet almost everyone votes for incumbent politicians who promise to reform the government.

"Centralization induces apoplexy at the center and anemia at the extremities." ~ Lamenais The present political system is clearly insane. It suffers from schizophrenia. Around the world, almost no one trusts the politicians, yet almost everyone votes for incumbent politicians who promise to reform the government.