Of Bill Gross and Massive Triple Tops

When I grow weary of the garden and all it’s earthen, botanical delights; when I can’t look at another flower or prune another rose  – I turn to Bill Gross and Pimco.  I find that this completely exercises another part of my brain and I challenge you to find anyone else who can think of better excepts from 1960’s songs with which to relate to bonds, equities and Treasuries. 

Along with Gross I particularly enjoy the FT – when I have it.  That’s an expensive one.  The WSJ, also expensive, is good, but I like the FT better.  Of course, the husband always has an IBD lying around, which he loves, but I find a bit dry.  I want a little personality with my statistics, charts, bullishness and bearishness.  

Of course, for television, there is always Bloomberg news, but CNBC remains my favorite.  Je t’adore Rick Santori.  Do I really care that much about the CBOT?  No, but Santori has a way of making me think I do.   I particularly love it when he goes all out punk (some of you, maybe 3 of you, will know what I mean).  

Yes, I enjoy style and delivery.  I enjoy good journalism.  But I do in fact have a sober and earnest quest to be aware of my surroundings and the condition of financial markets.  I work hard for my money – to somewhat quote Donna Summer.  I want to know how to direct my life’s savings. 

One of the things I pay attention to in earnest are charts and one of the most interesting charts at the moment is the 50 year S & P 500 (which I had trouble linking:  go to Yahoo Finance; S & P 500; interactive chart; max). Those in the know tell me that the chart pattern you see from 1996 to the present is a massive triple top (or if you prefer, head and shoulders).   Generally speaking, this chart shows us that markets need a massive Reason for them to break out to the upside.  Or, it portends that markets are about to be exhausted and might be going to H- E – double hockey sticks.  And, it could take months and months before we actually get a sense of things.  

It just so happens that another chart caught my eye this weekend – the “Americans Pay Record Taxes” chart on the cover of the March 4 IBD. Washington and Obama are sending a clear message, “We’re coming after you and your money.”  I wonder what this portends for the massive triple top?  With this message out of Washington, will money still run into bonds and equities? I have my own opinion, but I can’t be so presumptuous as to post it here.  I’m simply asking you the question. 

Anyway, best wishes to all of us, whatever the future may hold.