Greetings! This Monday marks the Lunar New Year for much of Asia, including China. The Year of the Rabbit has ended, and the Year of the Dragon - specifically the black water Dragon - has begun. Today's Periscope offers a glimpse into this cultural tradition, a few insights for Westerners, plus links for further reading.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! Or, Happy (Chinese) New Year!
In addition, we could also wish you Happy Birthday, perhaps next week. Why? Because - traditionally - everyone adds a year to their age seven days after the Lunar New Year. The exact day of a person's birth was considered less important. Contrast this mathematically efficient way of aging with the very special position that a "birthday girl" or "birthday boy" has in American society. Imagine how that approach might impact our country's Social Security, Medicare, driving and voting eligibility. What a crush!
The Lunar New Year includes special foods and prioritizes time with relatives, much like Thanksgiving in America. Foods that represent prosperity are eaten, like round oranges; these look circular and golden, like money or coins. Traditionally, red envelopes or "red money" is given as a gift.
From the new moon to the full moon (in about two weeks), people celebrate. You can read more here: (4) The Lunar New Year represents the arrival of spring. New beginnings, fresh starts, best behavior, and thinking good thoughts are all hallmarks of this 15-day celebration. It culminates with the Lantern Festival on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012. Click here to read more (5)
Last but not least, this year's Dragon is the only mythical animal in the Lunar Calendar. It's the luckiest, most powerful sign, and people born in this year are considered natural leaders. Are you a Dragon? (6)
Today, imagine it's your birthday, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break rolled into one. A powerfully energetic and optimistic year full of strong leadership and entrepreneurship is about to begin. Temper that with some patient "water," for calm listening, and we can say, Gung Hay Fat Choy, everyone! (7) |
| Weekly Economic Update | |
NO CONSUMER INFLATION INCREASE IN DECEMBER
For the second month in a row, the Labor Department reported no advance in its Consumer Price Index. Core CPI did rise 0.1% last month. Across 2011, consumer prices rose 3.0%; last year was the most inflationary year since 2007. As for wholesale inflation, the Producer Price Index declined 0.1% in December.(1)
MORE HOMES MOVING ON THE MARKET
The National Association of Realtors announced a 5.0% increase in existing home sales for December, with a 4.6% gain in sales of single-family houses. For all of 2011, existing home sales improved by 1.7% as the median sale price declined 3.9%. One negative real estate signal last week: in December, housing starts fell by 4.1%.(1,2,3)
FEWEST INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS IN FOUR YEARS
The Labor Department said initial applications for jobless benefits dropped by 50,000 to 352,000 in the week ending January 14. That is the lowest number of initial claims taken in any week since April 2008.(1)
GOLD GAINS 2% IN FIVE DAYS
Its 2.04% weekly advance on the COMEX led to a closing price of $1,664.00 Friday. Gold's rise was not matched by oil (-0.37%) or the U.S. Dollar Index (-1.69%) last week. Oil ended the week at $98.33 a barrel on the NYMEX.(2)
DOW RISES FOR A FOURTH STRAIGHT WEEK
Stocks have surprised many analysts this month, as Wall Street has paid more attention to earnings than to news from Europe. The weekly numbers: S&P 500, +2.04% to 1,315.38; NASDAQ, +2.80% to 2,786.70; DJIA, +2.40% to 12,720.48.(2,3) |
| Market Summary |
|
% Change |
Y-T-D |
1Yr Chg |
5-Year Avg | |
DJIA |
+4.12 |
+7.59 |
+0.25 | |
NASDAQ |
+6.97 |
+3.05 |
+2.74 | |
S&P 500 |
+4.59 |
+2.74 |
-1.61 |
(Source: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov - 1/20/12). Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged, and investors cannot invest in them directly. |
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Create a beautiful week!
Karl Frank, MBA, MSF
Certified Financial Planner (R)
A & I Financial Services LLC
303.690.5070
Citations:
(1) - www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-20/consumer-prices-in-u-s-little-changed-as-fuel-costs-fall.html [1/20/12]
(2) - money.msn.com/market-news/post.aspx?post=55467ba4-1839-402e-afbf-0d13ed75740f [1/20/12]
(3) - montoyaregistry.com/Financial-Market.aspx?financial-market=common-financial-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them&category=29 [1/20/12]
(4) - http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Chinatown
/Window_dec.html
(5) - http://www.theholidayspot.com/chinese_
new_year/
(6) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(zodiac)
(7) - http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/19/clsa-
fengshui-idUSL3E8CJ02Z20120119
This material has been prepared and is distributed solely for information purposes only. It is not a solicitation or an offer buy any securities or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. There is no assurance that a particular trading strategy will achieve investment success.
Securities offered through Geneos Wealth Management, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through A & I Financial Services LLC, registered investment advisor. |
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| Words for Thought |
"Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't." Pete Seeger |
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Karl Frank In Investor Advisor Magazine |
 | | Investor Advisor - November 2011 |
Investor Advisor Magazine's November 2011 edition features Karl Frank. In the article "Never Satisfied," John Sullivan writes: Passion born of tragedy drives Karl Frank to do all he can to help business owners ensure a legacy for loved ones and heirs. Industrial age publisher and philanthropist Frederick Bonfils said there is no hope for the satisfied man. If that's the case, Karl Frank is full of hope.
"I'm never satisfied," Frank says matter-of-factly when asked about his advisory firm
.....Read More. |
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Karl Frank was interviewed by 9News on January 9, 2012 regarding "Key Questions to ask when picking a financial advisor". | |
Click Here to View Video
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Riddle of the Week |
I'm usually standing on a city sidewalk, and I'll always stand by your car. But if you don't feed me, I you may get into trouble. What am I?
Last week's riddle:
Create a 13-letter word using all 13 of the following letters:
O A I I S T T R R D N A M.
Last week's answer:
Administrator
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