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The Investment Strategy Letter # 551
Late July 2006
www.my-broker.com www.investmentvalues.biz
Dow: 10,869 NASDAQ: 2,020 S&P 500: 1,240

Buying Opportunity or (The Trend is your Friend)

Since May 2006 the Dow has fallen from 11,640 to 10,800 (down 7.22%), the Nasdaq from 2375 to 2020 (down 14.95%) and the S&P 500 from 1326 to 1245 (down 6.11%). All investors are asking “Is the new Bull Market still in effect or have we begun a new Bear market?” To answer that question we present three year charts of these markets and let you judge for yourself. A picture is worth at least a thousand words and in our opinion we believe this to be a normal correction in a very strong Bull Market. We have drawn

parallel lines on our three year charts. This is called our upward channel and can be seen
in fig.12 on our pamphlet on charting (http://my-broker.com/charting/index.html). This looks like an uptrend. There is an old saying that “if it quacks like a duck and looks like a duck” even Plato would believe it is a duck. We have been saying since our Investment Strategy Letter #519 (Lone Bull October 2002)
http://my-broker.com/lone_bull/index.html that a new Bull Market is developing which “will give investors many profitable buying opportunities”. We believe this is such a buying opportunity.

The Correction
The recent decline occurred as a natural reaction to the Fed tightening, oil prices rising and the economy entering an uncertain period. GDP growth bounded up to an annual rate of 5.5% in the first quarter, but American consumer markets suggest a slowdown. A 3% annual growth rate is expected for the second quarter. According to the Goldilocks story this is “not too hot or not too cold” and may be just right for the Federal Reserves to stop their consistent interest rate hikes. There is considerable hope that the Fed will not raise interest rates for the 18th straight time. However if they do, many analysts believe a Fed fund rate of 5.5 % will be as high as they go. The Fed may even lower interest rates by year end if 2007 looks shaky.

It is not unusual for Bull Markets to correct 10% every now and then. We believe the current correction would have stopped earlier had it not been for the Middle East military operations and the worry over escalations. It is interesting to note that while many economists have been bearish about 2006, corporate earnings are so far growing at some 16%. In addition the private buyouts of Georgia Pacific and now HCA indicate that American corporations are selling at bargain prices. As can be seen by our three charts, the markets are currently selling at Support Levels that should support buying. However, any further downside momentum would disturb the equilibrium of this four year Bull market uptrend. Continue to go to our website to view our technical current market comment section for updates.
(http://my-broker.com/market_comment/2006/mc08_16_06.htm)

Note to Media
FOR MORE INFORMATION or to interview Carl Birkelbach on what’s happening in the markets and why, please contact: Bill Hammons
Phone: 847/577-1932, Email: ewhammons@compuserve.com
If you don’t care to receive The Investment Strategy Letter and Current Market Comment, please notify Hammons as well.

-- Carl M. Birkelbach

07/25/2006


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
This report has been prepared from original sources and data we believe reliable but make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness. Birkelbach Investment Securities, Inc., its affiliates and subsidiaries and/or their officers and employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell a position in the securities discussed in this report, we may act as principal for our own account or as agent for both the buyer and the seller.

Past performance is no guarantee of future success. Also, while the above suggested prices are as listed on our reports and the sell dates and prices are as issued by our research department, our brokers operate independently and as each individual client has a unique risk tolerance level, the above list should not be deemed as a representation of our clients purchases and sales. Some of our suggestions are volatile and speculative. Therefore, these stocks are only for those investors willing to assume risk. In addition, there may not be enough information available in these reports to make an informed decision. Upon request, we will supply additional information. Purchases should not be made until enough information is obtained and risks understood.

 

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