The Natural State of the Economy

Traders seem to believe that the normal state of the economy is recession and this will occur as soon as government stimulus programs end, the "sugar high" wears off, or the "training wheels are removed."

Investors should realize that the normal state of the US economy is is trend growth of about 3%.  In the absence of any policy, that is where we will eventually wind up.  Specific policy actions may make it happen sooner or later.  Right now there is a huge performance gap, as illustrated by Scott Grannis:

Until the gap is closed, things will seem very negative.

How to React to Selling

Traders need to game the system, anticipating how other hot money players will react and beating them to the punch.  This can imply trading styles that either anticipate market tops or react quickly when they seem to occur.

Investors should see short-term selling as an opportunity to establish positions at favorable prices.  This is a fundamental lesson from the Buffett school -- use your own valuation, not the current market price.

Interpreting Sentiment Indicators

Traders are intensely focused on sentiment, trying to identify "dumb money" (everyone other than them!) and take the opposite side.

Investors seeking to establish new positions hope to find periods of irrational sentiment.

Calendar Effects

Traders are in love with cycles and the calendar.  They have scenarios and retracements and sometimes even astrology.  If something has worked for the last year or two, it is expected to happen again unless there is evidence to the contrary.

Investors make decisions on fundamental values.  The perceived seasonal effects merely provide opportunities to establish new positions or lighten up on those that require rebalancing or selling.

Mistakes

The mistakes come when traders and investors get confused about their roles.

Traders should reduce positions in recognition of the message of the current tape.  I agree.  In trading accounts we are not guessing exactly how deep a correction might be.  Instead we watch the evidence.  Some traders may get impatient to "call a bottom" in a normal market correction.

For investors it is quite different.  Many have been frustrated for months by a market that moved relentlessly higher, providing no obvious points of entry.  Now that there is some selling, these same investors may be unable to pull the trigger for fresh buys.

In our investment accounts we have been waiting to add to positions and we have a shopping list.  There are many candidates.  Since we think that the short term perspective is wrong on Europe and the economy, we have been buying posiitons in energy stocks, strong cyclicals like Caterpillar (CAT), leading technology like Oracle (ORCL), and US banks poised to exploit selling by European banks  -- JP Morgan Chase (JPM).  We also see Aflac (AFL) as a nice back door play in Europe --- good earnings, great business, good dividend, but some holdings of European bonds.  This is safer than buying Europe since there is less downside, and yet plenty of upside.

Conclusion

Understanding your objectives and time frame is essential to market success.  We often have completely different postures for our investment and trading programs.