Special Bulletin: December 6, 2024

Yay! the Stock Investors Sing!

Welcome to December and the end of another year! I was speaking with a friend just recently about how it seemed to me that as I get older the years move faster… but I don’t! (LOL) No doubt, I am not alone in that feeling. 

What a wonderful time of year the CHRISTmas season is! A festive time and yet reflective. A time of sharing and caring, and a time for humble gratitude and anticipation – soberly looking forward and wondering what God may have in store in the future – while celebrating His goodness in our lives at this very moment.

Wall Street is in a good mood this December, too. A politically tumultuous year turned out to be rather fruitful for investors. One can almost hear their chorus (sung to the tune of Hark” The Herald Angels Sing), “Yay! The stock investors sing! Glory to my 4 0 1 thing!” Things have been so good lately that investor sentiment in the equity markets is hitting extreme levels (greater than the potentially dangerous 60.0 level according to this week’s survey released by Investors Intelligence) reflecting the bullish outlook of Trump 2.0.

There is reason to be optimistic about next year with the hope for less regulation and more business-friendly decisions coming from the new Administration (just look at the new cabinet picks! Wow!). BUT, President Trump still has his haters. Sad to say but many of them will push against even the soundest and wisest ideas he may propose for the sole reason that they don’t want him to succeed. Maybe it’s time we nicely remind these folks that it’s our country too and that we want them to help the rest of us in making America great again for everyone. When his plans for our good succeed we all succeed. It’s time to stop whining and to start helping in the healing process.

Our President, #47, will have challenges away from the friendly confines of our sweet little country as well. Even in Korea (South, that is) trouble is brewing right now and is being stirred up by the communists. (Sniff. Sniff. I smell a dragon.)

So, while we are still technically under a green light according to our C.M.O. (Current Market Outlook), the rising tensions (both at home and abroad) coupled with the extreme enthusiasm sends winter shivers through many seasoned investors. Folks, it won’t take much for Wall Street to start a little profit taking that could spill into a capital preservation frenzy that morphs into an all-out panic. Fortunately, our CMO will be responding in real time and adjusting the outlook based on the actual math of the market dictated by the big institutional footprints of money.

Our Current Market Outlook remains “Market in an Uptrend” with a green light as of the close on November 22nd with the SPX @ 5,969.34. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 remain well above their important 50-day mav’s and the trend is still up. Our Core Four still has 1 red with 3 green lights. The VIX has plunged well below its 50-day mav which is a big positive.

Let’s be clear about something: President Trump doesn’t have anything to prove. He’s already done it all. He’s been elected President of the United States… twice now! Look at his resume. Why do you think he has been pouring himself out on the campaign trail, and taken shot after shot of verbal beatings (not to mention the literal ones he survived- Praise God!) when someone in his position could have simply said, “Forget you people! You’re on your own! I didn’t sign up for this much abuse!” But you know what? He didn’t say that, and he hasn’t quit on us. Ask yourself why that is. Answer: He’s too legit to quit. He cares like he says he does.

Because he loves our country and wants to make it great again! Make it great again for his family and ours! And make it so it will survive and thrive long after we are all gone! I for one want that too and I am signing up and am willing to do whatever my part may be. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” The time is here again.

But keep in mind that the issues we face (example: our massive Federal debt) are real and will take courage to tackle. Prepare to tighten your belt. When a patient is sick, the medicine always tastes bad. It takes time for healing to happen. A little necessary pain in the short run can lead to great expansions long into the future.

Given all this above, what then is the right thing to do now? Obviously, investors must remain engaged and vigilant. Employing disciplined risk management tactics will be a must going forward for a while.

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!”

Come, Desire of nations, come, fix in us thy humble home;
rise, the woman’s conquering Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface; stamp thine image in its place.
Second Adam from above, reinstate us in thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!”

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface, stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart, formed in each believing heart.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” 

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing by Charles Wesley and George Whitefield 1739

“… for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:11 NASB 1995

Game plan: Continue in vigilance. Stay focused on love, mercy and unity. Monitor your employed capital with a longer-term view. Ask for wisdom from the Son, Jesus. Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-7). May they prosper who love her.

Note: You can learn more about The Triumphant Core Four risk management system by clicking here.

Have a Triumphant day! ®