THE BARGAIN HUNTERS' EDITION
27 MAY 2010
DAYS OF 65 AND OUT ARE NOT OVER!
BINC 2010 to Teach Language of Investing
Most people think the days of retiring at the age of 65 are over. Not so. The 59th BetterInvesting National Convention (BINC), at the Hyatt at the Arch in St. Louis, Mo., June 10-13, will equip attendees with the basic knowledge and understanding to help them invest in the stock market with confidence.
Perfect for beginning investors of any age, the year's BINC features a series of classes geared toward the novice investor. Only offered mutual funds in an employer's retirement plan? BINC has a class for that. Want to know where the stock market is heading? Sam Stovall, lead strategist for Standard & Poor's, will share his thoughts about the fate of the market and will tell attendees how to keep their emotions out of investing decisions.
Texas resident Dianne Seaman, R.N., took the beginners series of classes at BINC 2009. "The classes gave me a firm foundation to understand the stock market, and how to make investment decisions. The BetterInvesting online tools for stocks and mutual funds have given me the ability to have a positive return on my investments so I won't have to keep working at 70," she says. "Going to this year's convention (BINC 2010) is not even a choice, it is a necessity."
There are still several registration options for BINC 2010 for all schedules and budgets. Don't forget to get a general overview of BINC and view the class schedule while you're checking out the pricing options. See you in St. Louis!
LONG-TERM INVESTORS ON THE PROWL
IS TOPSY-TURVY MARKET RIPE FOR BARGAIN HUNTERS?
Your reporter wonders if she should consider herself directionally challenged. It seems that every time she is running pell-mell toward the stock market, she is nearly flattened by a herd of investors running the other way.
The DJIA has lost in the neighborhood of 1,000 points in the last few weeks in trading sessions that would make even a roller-coaster fan succumb to motion sickness.
What's the bottom line for long-term investors? Are there deals to be had in what analysts have deemed a market correction?
Post your pearls of wisdom on The Exchange, a new StockCentral Community Forum for discussions on current events and their impact on the stock market. And, if you feel so inclined, don’t hesitate to post the ticker symbols of your favorite picks.
On to this week's headlines . . .
WE'VE DONE SOME 'REMODELING'
SC Members Flock to Newly Renovated Forum
It's hot. It's new. And it's the place to be. StockCentral staff members have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to create a masterpiece of community, conventional wisdom and current events in the recently unveiled, new-and-improved SC Forum.
In her perusal of hot topics, your most observant reporter noted activity of the most intriguing sort on the following StockCentral forums:
* Abbott Labs: Company announced the purchase of Indian pharmaceutical Piramal Healthcare for $3.7 billion, increasing its presence in the fast-growing emerging markets and its portfolio of low-priced medicines as well as giving Abbott Labs the largest market share in India. Is this a boon for long-term investors? Or a signal to bail?
* Aflac: "AFL just doesn't look good now," notes SC Member Richard Vogel. "Earnings growth has been flat for 5 years. Its stock price has begun to drop steadily. I cannot find any information to explain the doldrums or to lead one to believe that the future looks rosier. Is it time to say goodbye to the duck?"
* Apple, Inc.: In the April 2010 issue, Investor Advisory Service analysts contend that Apple, Inc., is a buy, noting that earnings have finally caught up with the share price, thereby providing a situation where value-minded long-term investors could acquire shares at a reasonable price. Should investors be lured by the company's sweet success? Or is this advice rotten to the core?
* Church & Dwight: "I explored if CHD had too much debt, dug a little deeper into its ROE downtrend, and took a quick look at its Quality and its PERT-A/Quarterly Trend Report," says SC member Armin Fields. Find out what he concluded on the Forum and, while you're at it, analyze the company in Take Stock, using the new Wizard feature to adjust the values if you like.
* Wal-Mart: New SC Member Allen Guillet (Welcome!) poses this question, "I have invested in WMT and my main concern is, what possibilities do the unions have? Has anyone followed this issue who may be able to shine a little light on the subject?" Find out what your cohorts have to say about Wal-Mart's future growth potential.
NO SHOES REQUIRED
Sharpen Your Skills This Summer
Summer is upon us and your most perceptive reporter would guess that you're ready to slip into a pair of sandals and fire up the grill or flop into a backyard hammock. There's great news to be had — you can do all of the above without missing a step on the SC front!
ICLUBcentral's free monthly Webinars continue the first and third Tuesdays of the month right on into the Dog Days of Summer. Join SC Founder and Guru Doug Gerlach and fellow SC members for the latest tricks of the trade at the Toolkit 6 User Group and get the answers you meed at the New Investment Club Orientation.
You won't see your casual reporter posting a "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service" sign here. Come as you are — flip flops, cutoffs and suntans welcome. You only have to register once — and it's FREE! Does life get any better?
TODAY'S ENTIRELY RELEVANT QUOTATION
"What we're seeing here is bargain hunting coming in. Yesterday's (Tuesday's) action is a good indication that the correction is nearing its end."
— Peter Cardillo, Chief Market Economist, Avalon Partners