Stocks closed lower yesterday. But all of the major indexes lately have been flirting with their all-time highs.
As more of the country opens up, the more the economy grows.
There are some challenges however.
Last week's employment report showed an improving jobs market. But it's lagging due to several man-made factors, not the least of which is some people getting paid more in unemployment benefits to not work than go back to work. Roughly 25 states have taken steps to curb that disincentive. But employers are still struggling to fill those jobs. And Tuesday's JOLTS report showed a record number of job openings. (We have more jobs than people to fill them.)
There's also the question over inflation. That hysteria has died down recently. And ironically, the improving, but not runaway, jobs market has helped temper anxieties. But so has the Fed's insistence that they have no intention of raising rates anytime soon. And they aren't yet in a position to even begin discussing when to start tapering their bond purchases. And that's because the Fed still thinks inflation will be more moderate in nature and transitory. Don't forget, it wasn't too long ago that their biggest inflation fear was low inflation, not high inflation.
Then we have the stalled infrastructure package. Nobody doubts a bill is coming. And that it will further ignite the economic recovery. But the size of the package and the timing of it all is still up in the air.
And, of course, we have the topic of increasing taxes. But how much, who pays, and when is also still up in the air.
In the meantime, the market is rightly focusing on the historic economic rebound.
Full-year GDP is expected to come in at the fastest pace in 37 years. And many are predicting we could be at the beginning of a multiyear boom.
So it's important to keep your eyes on the big picture.
Because what we're seeing is history in the making.
And you want to make sure you take full advantage of it.
That means getting into the right stocks, and staying out of the wrong ones.
If you're looking for some new stock picking ideas, be sure to read our latest commentary on how to find winning stocks.
It goes over how to find companies that have recently pulled back, but have subsequently received analyst upgrades and upward earnings estimate revisions. Combined, they act as powerful indicators that a stock could be poised to soar. You can read all about it in our article titled...
Making a Profit from Stock Dips
Best,