I have not posted in months because there really has been very little in the way of exciting financial news - no heart-sinking daily drops, no financial stalwarts disappearing into the abyss….. just a slow and steady rise in almost all markets around the world.Too much, too fast?  Possibly but as I have previously mentioned regarding my personal take on individual and herd psychology (the same herd to which I of course belong), inevitable.  My take now?  A more stunted but steady rise in the markets punctuated by a stuttering dramatic drops to test investor resolve.  The major reason for the markets to rise?  Human nature to grow and prevail and the tremendous amount of cash stalled on the sidelines.  The estimates are between 3.5 and 10 trillion in cash in the US alone!  Remember this money is losing money although at a slow pace thanks to very low interest rates but losing none the less.Australia has fired the first shot across the bow of deflation with a hike 0.25% rise yesterday.Now is not the time for brave investors to buy stocks - that was 6 months ago but those investors with cautious fortitude will slowly move their hard earned cash and push a continued rise in markets around the world.Sit back and enjoy your capital gains and dividends. 

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I am beginning to think that all an investor has to do is counter mass herd psychology so prominent in many others. Look at the widespread panic selling in November and March and then follow the significant rallies.  It almost did not matter what you bought on March 9th - the stock price is probably much higher today.If you become more sophisticated and actually analyze the macro and micro fundamentals of companies and make educated selections than you are much more likely to be doing even better.There have been a large number of dramatic and profound drops in the markets and each time the masses think it is different than the last time and sell, sell, sell!  You can create your own wealth and buy, buy, buy just wait until the masses start selling again.   

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• It has been quiet on the investment front lately.  

• Sure the markets in North America and … come to think of it elsewhere in the world, have been dropping and dropping recently, BUT this is just the expected reaction to the continual outpouring of bad news by nearly every media outlet in the world.  So really what are people to do but believe that this is the end of the world as we know it!

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• I observe the recent ‘rally’ in North American market indexes with interest.  Sure there is still volatility but the VIX has settled considerably over the past month.  

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• The (Canadian) markets as measured by the SP/TSX have been climbing since December 29th!  Is this a true turning point or just a bear market rally?

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• I aim to change my heritage at least with respect to my financial security.  Many Trust Fund Babies exist around the world but for better or worse neither my wife nor myself are one of them and by that measure neither of my children will be either.  We have to work for everything we have but I sure would like to try being a TFB, just for fun.  

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• There was a considerable amount of money to be made on the recent and profound adjustment in crude oil prices. The low of HOD was $6.30 on the 11th of July with a subsequent high of $53.70 on December 5th. This represents an 850% change in less than 5 months. Anyone who has previously stated that oil prices reflect supply and demand should be hiding their head in the (tar) sand. Clearly this was speculation and manipulation rather than a price increase in lock-step with demand.

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• Check out this recent blog post:  Negative Yields This surely must be a contrarian’s call.  Pessimism is high and opportunities abound, as long as you can tolerate a little pain to the downside….maybe.Remember nobody can call the bottom. 

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• Between Thursday and Friday last week ( 20th & 21st of November) I decided to borrow a substantial amount of money from my HELOC in order to ante up in the market.  I have been investing into stocks I want to hold until the next peak for the past few months but last week decided to make a larger plunge. 

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• Over this last weekend I finally sat down and reviewed my recent purchases which have been 70% dividend-paying Canadian large-cap stocks.  Simply put, only about 20 of the 30 stocks on my Buy list made the cut so far.  I put in buy orders for the day and if the price strikes then I become the proud owner of a few lots.  Some of my recent buys are: CM-T, HSE-T and MFC-T.

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