Fund Rankings Update, 7/29/2011

Weekly Average Momentum Index (AMI) rankings of HSA, SSPP, RSP, SELECT, ETF, iETF, sETF have been posted at http://sites.google.com/site/ycprankings

Trading signal occurs in sETF model portfolio: Sell IHF, Buy IEZ.

As we approach the August 2 deadline for debt ceiling and still have no resolution in sight, investors' confidence starts crumpling. Making matter worse, the second quarter GDP number released Friday is lower than expect and the first quarter GDP was revised down to 0.4%, indicating that economy was barely growing in the first half of the year. The S&P 500 index closed this week at 1292 down 3.92%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 4.24%, and the Nasdaq composite index decreased 3.58%. Good corporate earnings have been offset by poor economy data and stalemate in Washington. Hopefully next week, politicians can stop playing games to reach an agreement and move the country forward.

Fund Rankings Update, 7/22/2011

Weekly Average Momentum Index (AMI) rankings of HSA, SSPP, RSP, SELECT, ETF, iETF, sETF have been posted at http://sites.google.com/site/ycprankings

Trading signal occurs in SSPP model portfolio: Sell FIUIX, Buy FRESX.

Good company earnings lifted the stock markets. The S&P 500 index closed this wee

k at 1345 up 2.19%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.61%, and the Nasdaq composite index decreased 2.47%. All major indexes rebounded from their support this week, indicating continuation of the rally (see chart below). However, with politicians in Washington still can not reach an agreement on raising the debt ceiling as August 2 deadline is around the corner, we do not know how stocks will react next week.

GM has modified the fund lineup in its retirement plan again. Quite a few Fidelity mutual funds have been phased out and replaced with privately managed funds. The RSP fund ranking table has now been updated with the 32 funds in the program. The momentum indexes of the new funds will not be accurate for a while since no history prices are available for calculation. The RSP model portfolio was not affected by this change as the holding fund, SSGA REIT INDEX, stays with the program.

Fund Rankings Update, 7/15/2011

Weekly Average Momentum Index (AMI) rankings of HSA, SSPP, RSP, SELECT, ETF, iETF, sETF have been posted at http://sites.google.com/site/ycprankings

Trading signal occurs in FEMKX timing model: Sell CASH, Buy FEMKX

Investors turned their attention to the August 2 deadline for US to raise it debt limit. With political bickering going on in Washington, the uncertainty dragged down the stock markets. The S&P 500 index closed this week at 1316 down 2.06%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.4%, and the Nasdaq composite index decreased 2.45%. After breaking the trend line on the upside, all major indexes came back down to test their support this week. The rally will continue, if the trend lines are successfully tested in the next couple of weeks.

After staying at the side line for 2 months, the FEMKX timing model has issued a buy signal again. The system uses the technical indicator, slow STO[15,1], as trading signals. The model will buy FEMKX when its slow STO[15,1] climbs above 50, hold the fund for at least 30 days and sell the fund if its slow STO[15,1] falls below 75. The trading record of FEMKX timing model can be seen in the Select_Log page. FEMKX recently broke its trendline an its slow STO[15,1] went up to 53, above our buying threshold. Our last trade produced a minor loss due to market volatility. Hopefully this trade will be profitable.

Fund Rankings Update, 7/8/2011

Weekly Average Momentum Index (AMI) rankings of HSA, SSPP, RSP, SELECT, ETF, iETF, sETF have been posted at http://sites.google.com/site/ycprankings

Friday's ugly job report for June poured cold water to the enthusiasm of investors. In the report, economy only added 18,000 jobs in June far less than the 154,000 jobs that was expected, and unemployment rate ticked up to 9.2%. With demand still growing, economists think that the recovery although weak is still intact and should pick up steam in the second half of the year. The S&P 500 index closed this week at 1343 up 0.31%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.59%, and the Nasdaq composite index increased 1.55%.

Last week, all the three major indexes climbed above their trend lines, and this week, all of their momentum indicators broke above 50. Based on these signals, I think the correction has ended and the intermediate up trend will continue.

Canadian Rockies, 7/1 - 7/7

We went to Canadian Rockies for a 7 day trip from July 1 to July 7. More pictures from the trip are posted on Facebook. Here are some highlight from our trip:

7/1, Flew to Calgary and drive to Banff. Explore the towns site and watch Canada Day Parade.

7/2, Drive to Lake Louise and hike to Lake Agnes. Went to Moraine Lake and took Gondola at Lake Louise ski area.

7/3, Drove around scenic Lake Minnewanka Loop Drive, headed up Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon. It rained for an hour (the only rain during our trip). Went back to Banff, and visit Fairmont Banff Hotspring Resort.

7/4, Drove up Ice Filed Parkway to Jasper. Stopped at Columbia Ice Field Center and took snocoach tour to Athabasca Glacier.

7/5, Took boat tour at Maligne Lake, walked trail at Maligne Canyon. Drove to Mt. Edith Cavell for a close up view of Angel Glacier.

7/6, Stopped at Athabasca Falls en route back to Lake Louise and Banff.

7/7. Drove to Calgary and flew back home.

Fund Rankings Update, 7/1/2011

Weekly Average Momentum Index (AMI) rankings of HSA, SSPP, RSP, SELECT, ETF, iETF, sETF have been posted at http://sites.google.com/site/ycprankings

Ease of Greece debt crisis and the surprising good US manufacturing data in June gave the over sold market reasons to rally. The S&P 500 index closed this week at 1339 up 5.61%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 5.43%, and the Nasdaq composite index increased 6.15%. It is a good sign that all the three major indexes climbed above their trend lines and their momenta are turning upwards. Hopefully this signals the end of the correction and stock market will go back to its upward trajectory.