With all the talk about debt, deficits and value destruction in the news lately, I figured you could stand to hear something positive for a change. So with thanks to the analysts at ISI Group in New York, here are some strengths in the U.S. and global economy to put into your mix of thoughts:
6. We Have Years of Growth Ahead: The last expansion, from late 2002 to mid-2007, was 73 months, or slightly longer than average. Other recent expansions included 120 months (1991-2000); 1983-1990 (92 months); 1980-81 (12 months); 1975-1979 (58 months); 1971-1973 (36 months); 1961-1969 (106 months). So you can see, most are multiyear affairs. 5. Yes, the Labor Market Is Improving: Unemployment may be stagnant, but on a trailing 12-month average basis, it is improving quite a bit, which is how investors tend to see it. (The one-month snapshots are deceiving). As the labor market improves, retail sales are turning up, and as retail sales turn up, the labor market has improved. That's another one of those virtuous cycles. More From Investor Place Five Hot Stocks for March Three Emerging Market ETFs to Short Free Investing Guide To help make sure you are in the stocks that are rising in this environment, following are my top five stocks for March. Layoff announcements have declined to a new low. Again, as the labor market has improved, oil prices have increased, helping to explain the sharp +89% annualized increase in the rig count and last week's purchase of Smith International(SII Quote) by Schlumberger(SLB Quote). As the rig count has risen, layoffs in the oil patch have diminished. That's another virtuous cycle. 4. Exports Up Even on a Strong Dollar: U.S. goods exports are up 36% annualized in the last six months. Exports to emerging-market countries, which account for more than half of U.S. exports, have surged at a 42% annualized rate, led by Mexico and China. Exports to developed countries are up 31% annualized, led by Canada and the United Kingdom. And this is all with the dollar trading strongly compared to the euro and other currencies. Naturally, a lot of those exports reflect the global swing higher in inventory after huge drawdowns in 2009, but they are also powering big recoveries in other countries besides the U.S., with Russia, Mexico and Korea seeing among the most prominent rise in exports, at +79%, 55% and 40%, respectively. Loading Comments... 1 2 3 Last » Next ›SHARE:
Featured Photo Galleries Go to Slideshow ArchiveConnect with TheStreet
Dow Jones S&P 500 NASDAQ 10-Year Note 10,428.35 1,121.81 2,285.00 36.40 Oil * 79.02 UP 22.37 UP 3.50 UP 4.21 UP 0.26 10 Yr 3.64% SPDR Gold 112.01 +0.22% +0.31% +0.18% +0.72% Data delayed 20 minutes More From TheStreet Latest Headlines Top Rated Stocks from TheStreet Ratings if (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) < 45) { document.write("Trading Ideas"); } else { document.write("Unusual Trading Volume Stocks"); } if (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) < 45) { document.write("NEW: ETF Research Center"); } else { document.write("NEW: Undergraduate Investor Blog"); } Find returns with the Dividend Calendar if (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) < 45) { document.write("UPDATED: Top-rated ETFs from TheStreet Ratings"); } else { document.write("UPDATED: Top-rated Mutual Funds from TheStreet Ratings"); } Twitter Facebook RSS Mobile App adsonar_placementId=1341369;adsonar_pid=879768;adsonar_ps=-1;adsonar_zw=320;adsonar_zh=280;adsonar_jv='ads.adsonar.com'; Brokerage Partners YAHOO.util.Event.on(window,"load",function(){ setTimeout(function(){ TSCM.util.attachScript('scr_intellitxt','http://thestreet.us.intellitxt.com/intellitxt/front.asp?ipid=10685'); },1200); }); Sponsored Links var ads = [ { link:"http://www.entrepreneur.com/business-opportunities/index.html?cam=thestreet&cid=Homepagetextlink1109", text:"Be Your Own Boss and Start your Own Business Today!", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;221003182;4639705;w?http://www.cboe.com", text:"Options trader? Check out the new and improved CBOE.com", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;222620048;4639705;d?http://www.dionmm.com/sl/py/sitets2.py?adsrc=201041", text:"Free Report: Don Dion's Ultimate Inflation Protection Guide", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;222620047;4639705;c?http://www.dionmm.com/sl/py/sitets2.py?adsrc=201042", text:"Free Report from Don Dion: Protect Your Assets from Inflation", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;220988988;44415082;v", text:"Step-by-Step Guidance to Your Maximum Refund", trk:'http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N5506.1199.0301731801621/B4084309.15;sz=1x1' }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;222418989;46052397;u", text:"High-Yield Savings Accounts from American Express Bank, FSB", trk:'http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N553.thestreet1/B4166733.5;sz=1x1' }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;221522636;43821936;e", text:"FedEx. We understand. You need reliable shipping options.", trk:'http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N3340.TheStreet.com/B3877255.3;sz=1x1' }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;221025362;4639705;a?http://www.gold101.com/request_information/", text:"Learn How to Buy Gold. Let Us Teach You Today!Superior Gold Group Gold101.com", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;222255324;45405692;b?http://www.realtor.com/?source=a28344", text:"4M listings. Comprehensive & current. Search now on Realtor.com", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;222869770;45405692;r?http://www.completetax.com/CTindex.asp?Welcome=PE1341562", text:"Get your maximum refund – fast and FREE – with CompleteTax!", trk:null }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v2|3BDF|0|0|%2a|h;220770099;0-0;0;44407284;31-1|1;34794952|34812830|1;;%3fhttps://us.etrade.com/e/t/jumppage/viewjumppage?PageName=power_et_for_active_traders_mvt&", text:"100 Free Trades. Open today at E*TRADE Securities.", trk:'http://ad.doubleclick.net/imp;v1;f;220770099;0-0;0;44407284;1|1;34794952|34812830|1;;cs=j%3fhttp://ad.doubleclick.net/dot.gif?' }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;221194079;44703744;h?http://www.optionsxpress.com/promos/virtualtrade.aspx?cmpid=tlSTRcopyA", text:"Practice No Risk Trading at optionsXpress", trk:'http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N4417.no_url_specifiedOX2537/B4172134.3;sz=1x1' }, { link:"http://clk.atdmt.com/BEL/go/206871628/direct/01/", text:"ShareBuilder - Buy stocks for $4 and get a $50 Account Bonus!", trk:'http://view.atdmt.com/BEL/view/206871628/direct/01/' }, { link:"http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;220815082;44534915;c?http://www.lvcva.com/campaigns?src=4130", text:"Las Vegas is serious about business. VegasMeansBusiness.com.", trk:'http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N5664.272508.7284099241621/B4167122.6;sz=1x1' } ]; function __trackingpixel(url){ var ord = Math.floor(Math.random() * 100000000000); if(typeof url != "undefined") { if(url.indexOf('[timestamp]')!= -1) { url = url.replace("[timestamp]", ord); } return ""; } } var counter=-1; var limit = 3; function __write_textlink() { counter++; if(counter >= limit)return; var index = Math.floor(Math.random() * ads.length * 10 % ads.length); var it = ads.splice(index,1); var o = it[0]; document.write(''); document.write( o.text ); document.write( '' ); if(o.trk != null){ document.write(__trackingpixel(o.trk)); } if(ads.length > 0) { __write_textlink(); } else { } }; __write_textlink(); TheStreet Premium Services All Services Action Alerts PLUS Get free access to Cramer's portfolio picks at Action Alerts PLUS - Try it now Free RealMoney Jim Cramer's RealMoney team of 70+ Wall Street pros will give you wealth-building strategies - Get started Free RealMoney Silver Doug Kass + our 5 Premium Services - all in one place - Get a free 14-day trial today Stocks Under $10 David Peltier is ready to help you find affordable Stocks Under $10 which could lead to a big-money payoff - Get access to his portfolio FREE ETF Action Don Dion's brand new service can help investors at all levels build profitable ETF portfolios - Learn more document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js' %3E%3C/script%3E")); var beaconurl=""; if(TSC.util.isDefined(document)){ beaconurl=document.URL; try{ if (top.location != self.location){ beaconurl=document.referrer; } }catch(e){} } COMSCORE.beacon({ c1:2, c2:"6036014", c3:"", c4:beaconurl, c5:"", c6:"", c15:"" }); var pvar = { cid: "us-thestreet", content: "tsc", server: "secure-us" }; var trac = nol_t(pvar); trac.record().post(); View Directory Jim Cramer Doug Kass Market Movers Breakout Stocks Options Alerts Stock Under $10 RealMoney Don Dion's ETF Action Hot Topics: How to Invest in Gold - Fast Money - Motorola Droid - Cramer's Picks - Apple Tablet | Hot Blogs: Undergraduate Investor - Wall Street Social Resources About Us Advertise Corrections Customer Service Employment Investor Relations Make a Suggestion Privacy Policy Readers' Feedback Sitemap Video Sitemap Subscribe Terms of Use Financial News Archive Topic Archive TheStreet Premium Services Compare All Services Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS: Now any level of investor can trade right alongside a Wall Street pro — and enjoy 24/7 access to his portfolio! Learn More Login NEW! Don Dion's ETF Action: A concise two-step strategy for learning and trading in this increasingly lucrative area of investing. For all levels of investors! Learn More Login RealMoney: Jim Cramer's team of 70+ investment pros offer a daily wealth of fast-breaking market news... analyses... red-hot opportunities...and wealth-building strategies. Learn More Login RealMoney Silver: The genius of Doug Kass + 5 Premium Services = an unrivaled group of expert fundamental analysts, technical analysts, and Wall Street observers. Learn More Login Breakout Stocks: Bryan Ashenberg combines sophisticated screening software with eagle-eye analysis to find small and mid-caps ready to break out! Learn More Login Market Movers Deep in the Money Calls Stocks Under $10 Top Gun Trader TheStreet Ratings Daily Swing Trade Top Stocks ETF Shark Alerts Options Alerts try { function DM_onSegsAvailable(segs, cust_id) { for(var i=0;i Find the Best: Mortgage Rates | CD Rates | Savings Rates | Personal Finance | Retirement | Saving | Budget | Stock Picks document.write('© 1996-2010 TheStreet.com, Inc. All rights reserved.TheStreet.com's enterprise databases running Oracle are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes for all exchanges. Market Data provided by Interactive Data. Company fundamental data provided by Morningstar. Earnings and ratings provided by Zacks. Mutual fund data provided by Valueline. ETF data provided by Lipper. Terms & Conditions. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions.
TheStreet.com Ratings updates stock ratings daily. However, if no rating change occurs, the data on this page does not update. The data does update after 90 days if no rating change occurs within that time period.
IDC calculates the Market Cap for the basic symbol to include common shares only. Year-to-date mutual fund returns are calculated on a monthly basis by Value Line and posted mid-month.
*Oil Data in Market Overview is Brent Crude Pricing
'); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.sz = "728x90"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.resetTargets(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.calltype = "adj"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.includeDcopt = true; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.additionalTargeting = ";;storytype=investingOpinion;kval=investingOpinion"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.writeTag(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.sz = "336x280,336x850,300x250,468x648"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.resetTargets(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.calltype = "adj"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.additionalTargeting = ";;storytype=investingOpinion;kval=investingOpinion;;storytype=investingOpinion;kval=investingOpinion"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.writeTag(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.sz="336x280,300x250"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.resetTargets(); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.setSite("remnant.thestreet.com"); TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.additionalTargeting=";box=second"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.calltype="adj"; TSCM.ads.AdPlacerx.writeTag(); /** * function wrapper that places all DART ads using TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder * if positionToPlaceholder can't find the elements specified, it just returns and is ready for the next call */ TSCM.ads.placeLazyLoadingAds = function() { // DART 1 (banner) TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ ad: 'ad728x90', placeholder: 'bannerContainer', flexibleHeight: false }); //DART 2 TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ ad: 'customUnit', placeholder: 'cauContainer', flexibleHeight: true }); //DART 3 TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ ad: 'boxAd', placeholder: 'boxAdContainer', flexibleHeight: true }); //DART 4 TSCM.ads.positionToPlaceholder({ ad: 'secondBoxAd', placeholder: 'secondBoxAdContainer', flexibleHeight: false }); }; TSCM.ads.placeLazyLoadingAds() window.onresize = function() { setTimeout(function() { TSCM.ads.placeLazyLoadingAds(); }, 1000); }; BF_BB_DATA = null; (function( ){ document.write(''); var sid="76IOF7"; var c=""; var b=""; BF_BB_SCRIPT=document.createElement('script'); BF_BB_SCRIPT.type="text/javascript"; BF_BB_SRC="http://buzzbox.buzzfeed.com/wd/BuzzBox?sid=" + sid + c + b + '&it=1&cb=' + (new Date()).getTime(); setTimeout(function() { document.getElementById('BF_BUZZBOX').appendChild(BF_BB_SCRIPT); BF_BB_SCRIPT.src=BF_BB_SRC; },1); })();After the Bell
Before the Bell
Booyah! Newsletter
ETF Daily
Midday Bell
TSC Top Ten Stories Newsletter
Winners & Losers
TheStreet Mobile Edition
Take Our Tour
Connect with TheStreet
Read Full Article »