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Will Robert Shiller be a good contrarian indicator?

Yesterday, Robert Shiller of MacroMarkets said "the pullback in the US residential real estate market is showing no signs of slowing down." This followed the S&P/Case-Shiller national home price index falling 0.9% sequentially in the second quarter.

The index is down 3.2% from the second quarter of last year and is at its lowest level since it began in 1987. Robert Shiller went on to say he is worried about your home's value, and that's not good.

As a reminder, Shiller, of Yale professorial claim, correctly called the excesses of the late 1990's stock market. However, while he called the top, he never called the bottom, staying with his bearish bias way too long and never becoming a buyer.

Shiller shifted his focus to real estate in the current decade. Once again, his bearish prognostications proved correct. However, as the real estate market becomes weaker and weaker with the media flocking to his doors, the trained economist appears to be focused on following the downward trend and not attempting to find a point to start bottom fishing.

A new contrarian indicator may be when Shiller hits the airwaves in full force with his bearish views, it could prove to be a good sign that the bottom for the bear market in real estate is near.

MacroMavens says short credit card cos; long Fannie Mae

Credit card debt has been soaring since the home equity loan market dried up, according to MacroMavens (subscription required). Leading companies in this space include America Advance (NYSE:AEA), Cash America (NYSE:CSH), Dollar Financial (NASDAQ:DLLR), EZCORP (NASDAQ:EZPW) and ACE Cash (NYSE:ACE). Many have seen revenues jump 50% during the past three years but could now be headed for trouble.

While credit card debt has been increasing, home equity loans have been declining and lending terms have become much more stringent, thereby reducing the risk exposure for these companies.

In the Alan Abelson Barron's column (subscription required) this past weekend, MacroMavens suggested shorting the subprime credit card companies and going long Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM). MacroMavens also suggested shorting regional banks and mortgage brokers.

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DJIA-74.9212,454.83
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S&P 500-2.861,317.82

Last updated: May 28, 2012: 01:03 PM

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