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Weekly Market Update
Week of January 10, 2011
The Markets:

The so-called "January effect" is a calendar-related anomaly in the financial markets where security prices increase in the month of January because investors often sell losing positions in December and reposition themselves after the first of the year, or vice-versa.[1]  Though last week's trading pattern (strong at the outset, slumping on Friday) could be connected with this event, there are additional factors at play.

On Friday, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled against Wells Fargo and US Bancorp, effectively voiding certain foreclosure sales because the banks couldn't prove that the mortgages had been assigned to them.  Fears that the ruling could make it harder for financial firms to foreclose on mortgages connected with securities resulted in a fall for bank stocks.[2]  Friday's employment report also disheartened investors as data fell short of expectations.[3]  Yet despite adding only 103,000 jobs of the 150,000 expected, the unemployment rate dropped to 9.4%, reaching a 19-month low.[4]
  
Although markets were negatively affected by the bank ruling and various other factors, they still managed to end the week higher, marking the sixth straight week of gains.[5]  Overall, the Dow rose 0.8%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.1%, and the Nasdaq increased 1.9%.[6]  Much of the week's gains were amassed on Monday and Wednesday, riding the wave of optimism into the new year and climbing Wednesday on a stronger-than-expected jobs report for December.[7]

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke optimistically about the economy on Friday, citing improved consumer spending and a drop in unemployment claims as hopeful signs.  "We have seen increased evidence that a self-sustaining recovery in consumer and business spending may be taking hold," he said in his first testimony to Congress since the Fed launched QE2.[8]   

There is a January axiom that says: "As goes January, so goes the year."  And according to the Stock Traders Almanac's January Barometer, the month of January tends to predict the direction of the market with a 91.4% accuracy ratio, with only five major errors recorded since 1950.[9]  This is certainly not exact science, and it is far too early to see if January will accurately predict the rest of the year, but we'll keep you informed about how things shape up.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
Tuesday - Motor Vehicle Sales, Redbook, Wholesale Trade
Wednesday - Import & Export Prices, EIA Petroleum Status, Beige Book, Treasury Budget
Thursday - International Trade, Producer Price Index, Jobless Claims, EIA Petroleum Status
Friday - Consumer Prices, Retail Sales, Industrial Production, Consumer Sentiment, Business Inventories


Performance


01_10_11_graph2

Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MSCI Barra. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. NA means not available.

Headlines


Tragically, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was critically wounded in a Tucson shooting rampage that killed six people, including a federal judge, and wounded 12 others.  Congress has postponed its agenda for the week, which included a vote to repeal the recent health-care plan.[10]

Obama named Gene B. Sperling as director of the National Economic Council, the same job Sperling held for four years under Bill Clinton.  Other changes to the economic team include: Jason Furman, Principal Deputy Director of the NEC, and Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Director of the Budget Office.[11]

Blue Shield, one of California's largest health insurers, plans to hike its premiums by as much as 59%.  The premium rates are set to take effect on March 1, pending review from state insurance regulators. The move will impact 193,000 individual Blue Shield policy holders.[12] 

Gold dipped to settle below $1,369 on Friday, marking its biggest weekly decline since May, after disappointing U.S. jobs data failed to revive safe-haven demand.  Bullion declined for a fifth day, its longest losing streak in seven months, and a 4% decline for the week.[13]  

European sovereign debt concerns peaked on Friday amid reports that the yield on Portuguese 10-year bonds hit a recent high of 7.1%, the cost of insuring the debt of banks in Italy and Spain rose sharply, and the euro hit a three-month low against the dollar.[14] 



Quote of the Week
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." - Helen Keller
Recipe of the Week

Cumin-Caraway Rounds


01_10_11_recipe

From: Better Homes and Gardens



Servings: 40 crackers
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup rye flour
1 tablespoon caraway seed
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 cup butter, cut into 4 pieces
1/3 cup milk
1   egg white, beaten

Directions:
1. In a food processor bowl combine all-purpose flour, rye flour, caraway seed, baking powder, salt, cumin, and coriander. Add butter; cover and process until blended. Add milk and process just until mixture forms a dough (if necessary, add an additional 1 tablespoon milk).

2. Transfer dough to a floured surface and let stand 5 minutes. Roll to 1/8-inch thickness and cut with a 2-inch cutter or use a knife to cut into desired shapes. Transfer cutouts to an ungreased baking sheet. Brush lightly with egg white. Using a fork, prick crackers all over.

3. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 to 17 minutes or until crisp. Cool completely on wire racks. Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Makes 40 crackers.

Golf Tip of the Week

How To Hit Under an Obstruction


If you need to keep your ball low, such as under tree limbs, but need distance to execute the shot, here's another trick for your bag:

1) Play the ball slightly rear of center and press your hands forward of the ball.
2) Use a 3, 4, or 5 iron, and close the club face slightly.
3) Keep your hands ahead of the club for the whole swing.

The ball will come out low and hot, so compensate with the amount of back swing you use. Sometimes the ball will draw a little more than usual, so practice this shot on the range before you take it on the course.

Share the Wealth of Knowledge!

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Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.

The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public.

Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury

Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

Google Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative or named Broker dealer, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.
 
[1] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/january-effect-will-be-nitro-fueled-2011-01-03, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_effect
[2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704055204576068273518378108.html?mod=WSJ_Markets_LEFTTopStories
[3] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-rise-after-jobs-report-2011-01-07
[4] http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052970203439404576061780383594772.html?mod=BOL_twm_col
[5] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-rise-after-jobs-report-2011-01-07
[6] http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2011/01/07/data-points-us-markets-38/?mod=rss_WSJBlog&mod=marketbeat
[7] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704739504576067382362177032.html?mod=WSJ_Markets_LEFTTopNews
[8] http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0614739420110108
[9] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/as-goes-january-so-goes
[10] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rep-giffords-fights-for-life-suspect-in-custody-2011-01-09
[11] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010706394.html
[12] http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/07/news/companies/California_blue_shield_rate_hike/index.htm
[13] http://www.cnbc.com/id/40956236
[14] http://www.cnbc.com/id/40977893

Pat Webb
Pat Webb - Phase 2 Advisors
8100 Turman Ct
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-776-3306
[email protected]
http://www.phase2adv.com