The current price of key market indexes

[Deleted]

However low it needs to be to get the Saudi's to cut production + $1; give or take.

Though by then the Saudi's most likely will be so financially strangled; they won't have the power that they thought they could gain by crushing Oil prices.

[tyfighter3]

It's called World Growth, It's not just oil, but all commodities. I've been checking out our Eating places  around our main shopping centers and so far I've been hearing How Dead they are for this time of year. We may be in a surprise for 4th Quarter Earnings. As for Me, Cash is King. 

[Value Buy]

Jul 15, 2015 21:02:04 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

July 15th prices

Dow 18,050.17
Nasdaq 5,098.94
S&P 500 2,107.40
Russell 2000 1,264.52
Transportation Index 8,224.31
Utility Index 573.15

Gold $1,148.40 oz
Platinum $1,022..50
Silver $15.065 oz
Copper $2.5113

Brent oil $57.13 per barrel
WTI oil $51.48 per barrel
Gasoline $1.8602 gallon NY Harbor
Natural gas $2.9119
Heating oil $1.673 gallon
Diesel $1.6731 gallon
Coal 41.05

Wheat $567.50
Corn $440.75
Soybeans $1,016.75
Orange juice $121.55
Lumber $284.80
Live cattle $146.95
Lean hogs $75.475

Ten year Treasury 2.359 %

Euro $1.0946
Canadian dollar $77.36 (122.64)
Yen $123.80
Dow back above 18,000 and S&P 500 above 2100
Gold is now below $1,150 an oz
WTI is down to $51-$52 a barrel trading range, and rrob has dropped below $1.90 a gallon

Euro has dropped under $1.10 against the dollar

Check these quotes from July 15th of this year against the December numbers

December 15th closing numbers
Dow 17,524.91
Nasdaq 4,995.36
S&P 500 2,043.41
Russell 2000 1,130.56
Transportation Index 7,551.75
Utility Index 558.57

Gold $1,060.30 oz
Platinum $855.90
Silver $13.735 oz
Copper $2.0525

Brent oil $38.20 per barrel
WTI oil $37.07 per barrel
Gasoline $1.2436 gallon NY Harbor
Natural gas $1.802
Heating oil $1.1383 gallon
Diesel $1.1392 gallon
Coal 43.05

Wheat $493.00
Corn $377.50
Soybeans $867.25
Orange juice $148.30
Lumber $258.00

Live cattle $119.675
Lean hogs $58.70

Ten year Treasury 2.269 %

Euro $1.0922
Canadian dollar $137.34 (122.64)
Yen $121.69

[Value Buy]

Nov 17, 2015 18:24:30 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

From July 15th to December 15th

Dow       down 500 points
Nasdaq       down 100 points
S&P 500       down 64 points
Russell 2000    down 134 points
Transportation Index      down 667 points
Utility Index       down 15 points

Gold        down $78.00
Platinum     down  $167.00
Silver       down $1.33
Copper      down $.46

Brent oil        down $18.93 per barrel
WTI oil         down $14.39 per barrel
Gasoline       down $.616 gallon NY Harbor
Natural gas       down $1.109
Heating oil        down $.544 gallon
Diesel               down $.544 gallon
Coal                  up $2.00

Wheat             down $74.00
Corn                down $63.25 
Soybeans          down $149.50
Orange juice      up $27.00
Lumber             up $
Live cattle        down$47.00
Lean hogs         down $16.77

Ten year Treasury    down .19%
Euro                  down .024
Canadian dollar     
Yen $123.20

[Value Buy]

Today, WTI and Brent crude finally  reached parity.
WTI actually traded a few pennies higher than Brent for a short time today, before closing at five cents below Brent.

Part of the reason for parity is U.S. crude will be allowed to be sold to countries over seas for the first time in more than four decades.  It is so strange to not see  a three to seven dollar difference between them.

[Value Buy]

Year end closing quotes
December 31st 2015

Dow 17,425.03
Nasdaq 5,007.41
S&P 500 2,043.94
Russell 2000 1,139.54
Transportation Index 7,508.11
Utility Index 577.82

Gold $1,059.80 oz
Platinum $891.40
Silver $13.81 oz
Copper $2.134

Brent oil $37.60 per barrel
WTI oil $36.99 per barrel
Gasoline $1.2575 gallon NY Harbor
Natural gas $2.332
Heating oil $1.1007 gallon
Diesel $1.0944 gallon
Coal $43.63

Wheat $469.50
Corn $358.00
Soybeans $863.75
Orange juice $145.00
Lumber $257.90

Live cattle $136.25
Lean hogs $59.875

Ten year Treasury 2.269 %

Euro $1.0867
Canadian dollar $138.39
Yen $120.19

[Value Buy]

Jan 3, 2016 16:34:56 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Year end closing quotes
December 31st 2015
...............................................................up or down from Dec 31st 2014
Dow 17,425.03.........................................down 398 points
Nasdaq 5,007.41......................................down 363.36
S&P 500 2,043.94.....................................down 14.96
Russell 2000 1,139.54...............................down 64.16
Transportation Index 7,508.11...................down 1,620.21
Utility Index 577.82..................................down 40.16

Gold $1,059.80 oz.....................................down $124.30
Platinum $891.40......................................down $307.50
Silver $13.81 oz........................................down 1.75
Copper $2.134...........................................down $.6905

Brent oil $37.60 per barrel.........................down $19.95 
WTI oil $36.99 per barrel...........................down $16.26 
Gasoline $1.2575 gallon NY Harbor.............down $.2146
Natural gas $2.332....................................down $.557
Heating oil $1.1007 gallon..........................down $.7332
Diesel $1.0944 gallon.................................down $ $7356
Coal $43.63...............................................down $4.00

Wheat $469.50..........................................down $120.25
Corn $358.00.............................................down $29.00
Soybeans $863.75.....................................down $159.75
Orange juice $145.00.................................UP $5.20
Lumber $257.90.........................................down $70.30

Live cattle $136.25....................................down $30.30
Lean hogs $59.875.....................................down $21.325

Ten year Treasury 2.269 %........................UP .539

Euro $1.0867.............................................down .1229 cents
Canadian dollar $138.39.............................down .1403 cents
Yen $120.19..............................................down .033 cents

The transports were the big stock losers this year, other stock indexes were down, but not out.
Platinum was the big loser in the metal complex, but all were down.
Oil complex had a horrible year for any trader that bet against the collapse of oil.
Grain complex was also negative, as well as cattle and lean hogs
Treasury for all the aingst, was probably right where it should have been since the Fed actually raised rates in December.Currencies struggled against the strong dollar.
Commodity markets were the big losers this year, unless the trader was short the markets.
Now we have to see if the commodity markets stay flat or down this year. If they tread at these levels, manufacturers will start passing on lower costs with lower retail prices, reducing their last few years of inflated profits on higher returns on higher input costs.
If they do, their quarterly earnings per share might drop (unless sales increase dramatically) and stocks might take a hit this year.
With today's markets in complete turmoil, it looks like this year's market trades could be much more complicated for investors than last year..........in other words, everyone has to be very careful, and thoughtful in purchases and sales of various investments.
I have no clue how we are going to be this year. Very tricky, indeed.

[ModE98]

We'll just have to be careful and stay prudent with stock portfolio actions.  Elections coming up this November so September and October action may be especially tricky to call.

[Ombud]

One of my limits crossed yesterday. Anticipate another today. Then I'm back to just watching. Think ModE98 called it when he said recovery 2017

[Value Buy]

December 31st, wti $36.99 a barrel
Traded a few minutes ago at $30.54
As oil turned negative, the stock indexes started slipping into the red again.
Oil is leading our stock markets downward.

[Ombud]

All the talking heads are talking about oil going to 20s & selling rallies not buying dips .... how long between heads capitulating & market bottom?

[Value Buy]

Jan 12, 2016 17:07:40 GMT -5 Ombud said:

All the talking heads are talking about oil going to 20s & selling rallies not buying dips .... how long between heads capitulating & market bottom?

stock markets are out of kilter. Specialists seem to be selling into any sort of rally this week.
There was no real news today, but oil tanked in the afternoon, and the rout was on.
Funny thing is wti closed up one percent on the day.

[Value Buy]

Hang onto your shorts this morning.
WTI broke below $30 this morning trading now around $29.45 a barrel.
Dow futures down over 300 points.
This is going to be big!

Or we close unchanged today....... (keeping fingers crossed)

[ModE98]

Today's start is terrible, could be a very bad day if it gets much worse.  This is now among the worst Januarys I have ever seen and the month is barely 1/2 over.
Just checked my Scottrade screen ... my account now is a sea of RED!  Argh!

[Ombud]

I still like 3 of my holdings:
BAC
F
JPM

So I'm putting in limit orders at 20% below December highs. Sound about right, ModE98, The Virginian, @di,Value Buy, clarkrl2? Value your opinions more than Schwab's

Reasons for liking these:
Dividends
Solid (?) companies
In it for the long haul

Reasons for 20% below December highs:
Squarely in correction zone
Doubt fed will tolerate more than a 20% correction
Basically almost August lows

[clarkrl2]

In a bull market price to earnings multiples tend to go higher. In a bear market the multiples tend to decline. If you are comfortable buying when the indexes are 20% below the December highs, that is a good price for you.

My opinion, which is no better or worse than yours or that of others, is the markets will go much lower(maybe a PE for the indexes of 10 or lower). I am looking for some positive momentum because I am using a shorter time frame.

[The Virginian]

Sounds good to me Ombud. Larry Fink was saying 10% more drop, it could go lower, who knows?

Maybe split the orders - half  at 20% and half  at 25%.

I read or heard this morning ( don't remember where or who) but they said they didn't think the FED would react until the June meeting , but I agree with you , if it drops too soon I would expect them to do something. If this continues, they will be forced to do something but what? They would look foolish lowering the rate back to zero so maybe another round of QE ?

[ModE98]

I think you may be reasonably fine with those below market orders; but with so much negativity in the market, it's hard to tell.  We all know a positive turn is eventually coming, but the  big question is when.
I bought a few high dividend stock today...could not turn down 13%+ divis.  Timing may be wrong, but income is good.

[Deleted]

Ombud

Our personal feeling is that the Markets could go much lower; possibly as much as 25% below the August 2015 DJIA low of 15,666.44 (8-25-2015).

If that were to happen, then the DJIA would be around 11,800 give or take.

Our feeling to this end is that, Equity prices since early 2009 (March); have been bolstered by Ultra Low Interest Rates & a Weaker Dollar; that is until the last year.

Over the last year Oil has collapsed, Strengthening the Dollar; then China began to meltdown, which helped further crush Commodities which were already hurting due to the collapse in Oil, further Strengthening the Dollar; And then the FED finally raised Interest Rates {Which IOHO, is a good thing & about damn time}, which Strengthened the Dollar some more.

Our research & models indicate that, in order for things to "normalize" (meaning more inflation, better GDP, etc.)  2 things have to happen:

{A} Equity prices need to realign to something more realistic; &

{B} The way to that is two fold, 1st Equity prices need to get hammered (lower prices higher Yields), 2nd money needs to flow from Bonds into those Lower priced; Higher Yielding Equities.

Yet, that is where things get tricky. Folks want more yield (better returns), but are still worried about losing lots of money.

So basically things become a twisted dance which is a cross between playing Chicken with a train & the Simon Says.

-------------------------------------------

Even still; We think that:

BAC has decent prospects going forward; {A} They are one of the cheapest Majors by Stock Price, {B} If they manage to beat the upcoming Earnings Estimates they will have beat Earnings for 5 Quarters in a row, {C} As of the end of last year the majority of issues due to the financial crises have been settled and done with.

Though in the mean time they could get hammered on their stock price further (they broke the old 52 Week Low today; setting a new 52 week low).

Our money is where Our mouth is, We bought 200 BAC @ $14.90 per share on Wednesday January 13th.

F; may go a lot lower. Yet probably will be ok longer term.

JPM; not sure. Haven't really paid them much attention or dedicated much research to them, so have no opinion either way.

[Ombud]

Gluten for punishment, settled on:
BAC $12 buy
F $9.91 buy
JPM $50.07 (August lows) buy
VGR 24.44 sell
Basically almost or at August lows

As bad as this feels, I dn think we're at capitulation yet

[Value Buy]

January 15 th 2015 closing quotes

Dow 15,988.04
Nasdaq 4,488.42
S&P 500 1,880.29
Russell 2000 1,006.39
Transportation Index 6,689.06
Utility Index 582.79

Gold $1,088.30 oz
Platinum $829.30
Silver $13.895 oz
Copper $1.943

Brent oil $29.16 per barrel
WTI oil $29.66 per barrel
Gasoline $1.0277 gallon NY Harbor
Natural gas $2.101
Heating oil $.9408 gallon
Diesel $.9384 gallon
Coal $43.33

Wheat $473.00
Corn $363.25
Soybeans $878.00
Orange juice $127.95
Lumber $247.40

Live cattle $127.575
Lean hogs $62.00

Ten year Treasury 2.031%

Euro $1.0920
Canadian dollar $1.4569 ($.69)
Yen $116.99

carnage these two weeks have been huge in stocks and oil complex
Utility index has climbed slightly as the ten year has dropped to almost 2%
Note WTI is now higher than Brent crude, but both are down almost 19% since January 1st. Nineteen percent drop in ONE MONTH!
RROB is close to breaking below a dollar a gallon, and heating and diesel are already there.
Metal complex is flat to up, except for copper which fell to under $1.95 due to expected smaller industrial demand.
Euro and yen gained against the dollar, Canadian dollar continues to fall because of oil lumber and metals dropping,
Grain commodities are fairly steady.
Quite frankly, I do not know what to say right now. I am flabbergasted

[ModE98]

It's a conundrum.  What next?

[The Virginian]

Jan 16, 2016 13:21:19 GMT -5 ModE98 said:

It's a conundrum.  What next?

Buy more stock - It's on sale !

[ModE98]

Some say we have another 10% to fall before the bear market is over.  Of course nobody knows for sure.  I did add a few more shares of HRZN last week with the price down.  Also, a few more OPK (no div) for potential cap gains sale on rercovery.  Keeping hopes up!

[tyfighter3]

I see oil going to 20. It cost the Saudis 21 to get it out of the ground. They don't want to see Iran making any money on their oil. JMO 

[Value Buy]

Jan 20, 2016 12:50:46 GMT -5 tyfighter3 said:

I see oil going to 20. It cost the Saudis 21 to get it out of the ground. They don't want to see Iran making any money on their oil. JMO 

You could be correct. Today is scary.
Oil and stock markets.

[ModE98]

When things appear the worst, they soon get better.  A turn, however temporary, I think is about to start. Hope it will not be a "bull trap".  If so, things could get a lot worse shortly thereafter, before a final capitulation to end the bear.
But, remember, I'm getting very old, and the brain may not be functioning as in younger days.  Some days I wonder.... 

[Value Buy]

Jan 20, 2016 13:35:33 GMT -5 ModE98 said:

When things appear the worst, they soon get better.  A turn, however temporary, I think is about to start. Hope it will not be a "bull trap".  If so, things could get a lot worse shortly thereafter, before a final capitulation to end the bear.
But, remember, I'm getting very old, and the brain may not be functioning as in younger days.  Some days I wonder.... 

When things appear the worst............sometimes they get even worse!
I will not specifically say how low the portfolio has gone this time, but darn, it is looking really dark right now, with no light at the end of the tunnel, unless it is a speeding train bearing down on me.
Well over six digits, not counting decimals..............

[ModE98]

VB, yes that is true....things could get worse. 
Fool that I may be, just bought a bunch of OPK in the 7.75 range.  This is near to long time lows (per chart) so this is for a 1-2 year hold.  If I do not last that long, the close friends, nieces and nephews will be beneficiaries.  Bet it a least will double+ current price in that period of time. When I am gone, will not have to worry about it.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2016 14:05:35 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Jan 20, 2016 13:35:33 GMT -5 ModE98 said:

When things appear the worst, they soon get better.  A turn, however temporary, I think is about to start. Hope it will not be a "bull trap".  If so, things could get a lot worse shortly thereafter, before a final capitulation to end the bear.
But, remember, I'm getting very old, and the brain may not be functioning as in younger days.  Some days I wonder.... 

When things appear the worst............sometimes they get even worse!
I will not specifically say how low the portfolio has gone this time, but darn, it is looking really dark right now, with no light at the end of the tunnel, unless it is a speeding train bearing down on me.
Well over six digits, not counting decimals..............

ModE98

No, your brain is ok. From what I have been able to gather from my research is that this has all the hallmarks of the start of a "phantom bear" market; so called because everyone believes until too late that it is just "transitory".

But, by the time they realize it is a bear market; it is too late to do much other than bend over and hang on.

Value Buy

If you are really hurting that bad; then you should really look to Buy CALL Options AT THE MONEY Strike with the longest date (2018) to leverage ahead of the final bottom & in the mean time if still concerned over more downside; look to BUY PUT Options AT THE MONEY Strike with the longest date (2018); to try and provide some cushion against further downside.

CALLs & PUTs which are BOUGHT TO OPEN can be SOLD TO CLOSE independently of any existing stock position; thus one can have an Underwater Stock Position and still make some money against the particular stock, without selling the stock at a loss.

Know folks around here aren't really fans of Options; but right now is a perfect time to use them for both profit and protection.