"The Fed lowered interest rates more than expected and in a way that has Wall Street talking; in fact, the stock market is setting up a potentially bullish technical formation," technician Mark Leibovit, editor of Volume Reversal Survey -- often ranked among the top performing market timing services.

He reports, "The market expected a 50 basis point cut to 0.5% with a chance of a 75 bp cut to 0.25%. Some even called for a rate of 0%. The Fed made a lot of people happy, though a bit confused, by lowered the Fed Funds rate target to a range of 0% to 0.25%.

"This is the first time the Fed has lowered rates to a range instead of a an actual number. It also bring the Fed Funds rate to its lowest target rate ever. The Fed also pledged to use "all available tools" to combat a severe financial crisis and prolonged recession. The stock market likes the lower interest rate and the Dow is up 360 points, the S&P is up 44 and the NASDAQ is up 81.

"As I write, all nine market sectors are trading higher, led by Financials which are up 9.8%. Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is up 17.2% after reporting its first quarterly loss as a public company.

Continue reading Top timer sees bullish technicals after rate cuts

Top timer sees bullish technicals after rate cuts originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My top speculative play for 2008 is SPDR S&P Homebuilders Index (ASE: XHB)," says Mark Leibovit, editor of VRTrader and last year's the #1-rated market timer by Timer Digest.

"The investment seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before expenses, the performance of an index derived from the homebuilding segment of a US total market composite index. The fund uses a passive management strategy designed to track the total return performance of the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry index.

"We expect a sharp recovery in housing stocks. The Case-Shiller Futures Market (traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) is the vehicle of choice for the Plunge Protection team (PPT) to bolster the US real estate market.

"It is obvious that the PPT will be buying the Case Shiller Futures contracts, initially a quiet accumulation, and then more aggressively so as to bias the futures pointing to a rebound in real estate.

Continue reading Best Stocks for 2008: Out-of-favor bet on S&P Homebuilders (XHB)

Best Stocks for 2008: Out-of-favor bet on S&P Homebuilders (XHB) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My top conservative play for 2008 is a repeat of my top pick from last year, StreetTracks Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)," says Mark Leibovit, editor of VRYTrader and last year's #1 rated market timer by Timer Digest.

"StreetTracks Gold seeks to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the trust's expenses. The trust holds gold, and is expected to issue baskets in exchange for deposits of gold, and to distribute gold in connection with redemption of baskets.

"The gold held by the trust will only be sold on an as-needed basis to pay trust expenses, in the event the trust terminates and liquidates its assets, or as otherwise required by law or regulation. The trust is not managed like an active investment vehicle, and it's not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Continue reading Best Stocks for 2008: Top timer goes for StreetTracks Gold Trust (GLD)

Best Stocks for 2008: Top timer goes for StreetTracks Gold Trust (GLD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

streetTRACKS Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) is the top pick for conservative investors for 2007 from technician Mark Leibovit. The editor of VRTrader explains, "streetTracks Gold Trust is an investment trust whose shares strive to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the trust's expenses.

"The trust holds gold and is expected to issue baskets in exchange for deposits of gold, and to distribute gold in connection with redemptions of baskets. The gold held by the trust will only be sold on an as-needed basis to pay trust expenses, in the event the trust terminates and liquidates its assets, or as otherwise required by law or regulation.

"The streetTracks Gold Trust is not managed like an active investment vehicle, and it's not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Our upside target for gold is unlimited, but let's call it $850 and then $1,000 over the next two years -- which translates in to GLD trading first at $85 and then the $100 level."

To see Mark's favorite speculative idea for 2007, click here.

Top Picks 2007: Leibovit tracks streetTRACKS Gold originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Pinetree Capital Corp. (TSX: PNP) (Other OTC: PNPFF) is the top pick for speculative investors for 2007 from technical analyst Mark Leibovit. The editor of VRTrader says, "Pinetree is a diversified investment and merchant banking firm focused on the small cap market. Its investments are primarily in the resources sector: uranium, oil and gas, precious metals, and base metals.

"Its investment approach is to build a macro position in a sector, find the micro-cap opportunities in that sector, and work with those companies to build them to commercial production and create an exit.

"Our primary interest in Pinetree is for its strength as a uranium play. Spot uranium has hit a new bull market high of $60/lb. as growing demand on a worldwide level for uranium grows, based on the recognition that nuclear generated power is the only true long-term answer to our energy needs.

"The upside target in Pinetree is unlimited, depending on whether or not a buying panic ensues for uranium shares. It is our view that larger fish will eventually be gobbling up all available uranium resources to insure future supply for current and soon-to-be-built nuclear plants. Upside target is set for $30 for now, looking through 2007."

To see Mark's favorite conservative idea for 2007, click here.

Top Picks 2007: Leibovit sees Pinetree's growth in uranium originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Dec 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.