OIL GLUT GETS WORSE

MARKETS DOWN FOR 3 DAY HOLIDAY AND TERRORIST WORIES

One of the reasons the market has rallied some 10% in the last several weeks is because oil prices have risen from low of $26 a barrel to over $40 a barrel. It was falsely claimed that stockpiles of oil were decreasing. It turns out that US oil stockpiles have skyrocketed by 9.4 million barrels last week to 532.5 million barrels according to figures released by the US Energy Information Administration. Oil is presently priced at $38.88 per barrel. The price of oil has been in direct relationship to the price of the US markets, going either up or down with the price of oil. Expect lower oil prices and therefore lower stock prices.

Markets worldwide were stunned by the terrorist acts in Brussels. These attacks in Europe have far-reaching effects as individual European countries disagree with immigration policies. Brexit, the exit of Britain from the European Community, increase the odds of a potential exits with terrorists attacks. In the US, Donald Trump wants to stop all immigration of Muslims in the US and has suggested torture, ground troops and nuclear weapons to stop the Islamic state. Ted Cruz has suggested Carpet bombing and extra police vigilance in Muslim neighborhoods. The net result of all this is uncertainty. Markets dislike uncertainty.

With markets closed tomorrow, the safe thing is to add to cash.

3/21/16 MARKET UP 10% FROM FEBRUARY LOWS/CLOSE TO NOVEMBER HIGHS!    UNLESS S&P CAN BREAK ABOVE 2,134 (NOW 2,049)/SELL RALLIES!It is possible that the US markets have dodged another bullet as it did in February 2016 and as it did earlier in August 2015. Oil prices are once again above $40 a barrel and US markets are close to breaking above November 2015 high and their all-time high. European and Asian markets have recovered much less and are closer to their February lows then they are to their November highs. However, if the S&P 500 can break above 2,131 only 100 points higher than the current price, my Bear Market scenario may be in question. The breakout point for the NASDAQ is 5,231, and the current price is 4800. The breakout point for the Dow is 18,352 with its current price at 17,918. There were real risks in February that the oil price below $26 would affect the bank’s and energy bonds. However the central banks of Europe, Japan and the United States have come to the rescue with stimulation programs, which in my opinion, only delay the inevitable economic crisis. However, as with last year’s August decline, the markets and the economy may have dodged another bullet, at least temporary. With this in mind, my Bear Market scenario may have to go on hold. We shall see! Market will tell us. So watch for the US markets. If US markets break into new high ground, we may have to change our investment strategy. Stay tuned!

The continued weakness of China is the unknown factor. China is a controlled society socially and economically. One third of its industry’s is directly government controlled, with the rest under the threat of the direct control. For instance, the person in charge of regulating the Chinese stock market Xiao Ganghas, has just been fired. He is being blamed for the 40% drop in the Chinese stock market and criticized the People’s Bank of China when they said that they would let banks sell trouble loans to investors. Moody’s has cut China’s credit rating to negative over debt concerns. The People’s Bank of China has warned that lending to corporations is on the high side, compared with the overall size of the Chinese economy. China’s corporate debt has been on a spending binge. In order to keep China’s economy humming, China’s total debt now stands at 2.5 years of GDP. I believe this is unsustainable and the reported growth of China is unreliable.

My ‘canary in the mine’ Deutsches Bank bottomed at $15.38 in February and is now at $19.04 per share, down 70% in the last 2 years. The Wall Street Journal has reported that “When Donald Trump needs a loan, he chooses Deutsches Bank.” While most big banks have shunned Donald Trump the Deutsches Bank has been a steadfast financial backer of the Republican presidential candidate. Just one more reason to mistrust their judgment.

3/15/16 CORPORATE STOCK BUYBACKS THIS YEAR, A RECORD $150 BILLION. Stock markets worldwide are up about 10% from their February lows. I believe most of buying has occurred because of Central Bank stimulus, continued low interest rates (-0% some places) and corporate stock buybacks this year that are a record $150 billion. If it were not this stimulus, I believe the market would be down some 20% at this point. Problems continue in China where the People’s Bank of China said that they would let banks sell trouble loans to investors. China’s corporate debt has been on a spending binge. In order to keep China’s economy humming, China’s total debt now stands at 2.5 years of GDP. I believe this is unsustainable and the reported growth of China is unreliable.

I believe we need to do three things. 1) Eliminate Citizens United and reinstate Glass–Steagall and inforce Dodd Frank . The corporations and Wall Street are running this country. A recent survey has shown that even if 100% of the population believes in an issue, it is only the donor influence that matters. 2) Eliminate gerrymandering. Today in Congress there are actually one more million votes for Democrats than Republicans. However because of gerrymandering Republicans rule and are assured of being reelected. 3) Start four year election terms for the House of Representatives and set  term limits. Maybe there is a #4 which is to speak out as I did below.

I must take issue with  statements from Kim McGahey, Summit County Republican Chairman, in a letter posted in the Summit Daily News on Friday March 11, in which she questions liberal progressive values, asks us to “vote for truth” and gives the Bible and the Constitution as sources rejecting that the “government is obligated to” help the poor “at taxpayer expense.”  Republicans, during this election year seem to live in a fact free world. In fact, the Constitution states to promote “the general welfare” and the message of the New Testament can be summarized as one of “love and compassion.” In our capitalistic and market place society, there are winners and losers. However, the top 1% wants it all and leaves nothing for the bottom 50%. The facts are, as stated by the recognized world standard measurement of social progress, the 2015 Social Progress Index (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Social_Progress_Index), the United States, as ranked against other nations, ranks 35th in meeting basic human needs, 39^th in basic education, has the highest first day infant mortality rate and the highest child poverty rate (21%) among industrialized nations.  That’s one in every five children living in poverty! As a Great Nation, we can do better than that. The 1960s Great Society drove down the general US poverty rate from 23% to 13%, but it is now back up to 16%. How do we combat all of the growth and income going to the top 1% and eighty people owning 50% of the world’s wealth? In my opinion, voters are looking for progressive answers, which calls for a change in our culture that promotes income growth equality, quality education, affordable healthcare and is religiously neutral.

3/10/16 MARKETS CELEBRATE 7 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BULL MARKET/SELLIn the last seven years since March 9, 2009, the Dow has risen 160%, the S&P 500 up 194% and the NASDAQ up 311%. This is the third longest running Bull Market since World War II. However, there is an Elliott Wave 7 year cycle to worry about that calls for a market top now.  Earnings for the S&P 500 are only up 148% compared to the 194% rise of the S&P index. Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2015 for the S&P were down 32% or $23.25 and were only up $7.52 in the first quarter of 2016. US markets made their all-time highs in May 2015. Since then there were two drops of over 10%. Since May of 2015 US markets are down 7%, Chinese markets are down 40%, European markets down 16%, Emerging market markets down 21% and commodity prices down 21%.

There appears to be a respite in our bear market predictions. Oil prices are back to thirty-eight dollars a barrel and banks have admitted the problem of unsecured debt by oil and natural resource companies. China has reduced its growth predictions and Europe seems to once again be stimulating its economy. Many think that the worst is now behind us. However, we believe that this rest period will be temporary.

3/2/15 WORLD STOCK MARKETS RALLIES                                        

Moody’s rates China government Bonds negative. Moody’s has changed the ratings on Chinese government bonds from neutral to negative. In addition there is a warning about the viability of China’s credit rating. China has been decreasing its bank reserve requirements five times in a row. Government debt is now 40% of GDP up from 32% and foretasted to rise to 43% of GDP. Foreign-exchange reserves are down $1 billion. Cash outflows are estimated to be about $1 trillion as Chinese investors scurry away from their homeland. China continues to be a continued problem in world markets. Their growth rate of 6% is being questioned. Is there breakdown of their economy an indication that the worldwide economy will start to break down?

2/24/16 The big news is that J.P. Morgan is doubling its reserve oil loan losses $1.3 billion. I do not believe this is nearly enough. However it does give an indication of the changing landscape of the way the public is looking at loan losses from energy-related companies. The news is out. The banks the United States and in Europe are holding billions of dollars of loans that will probably default. Banks have built up their assets due to differential between low interest rates and the rates they can charge the public. As I have said in previous market letters, “ Banks have built up their assets on the backs of the middle class. In cooperation with the Federal Reserve, Interest rates are at virtually at zero, penalizing savers and retirees and weakening the middle class as banks make huge profits from consumers who pay high rates on credit cards and small businesses on loans. Because banks can borrow at almost nothing, whatever they charge above zero is pure profit. Auto and mortgage rates are 3% or 4%,( there are $1 trillion of subprime auto loans), industrial loans are between eight and 12% (growth down 11% this year ) and credit cards are anywhere from 15% to 29%.This is  high-way robbery and this is weakening middle-class consumers, small businesses and retirees, with the result, as I have said many times, ‘All boats will sink!” This loan reevaluation by J.P. Morgan is just the tip of the iceberg.

I don’t tell the market what to do. The market tells me what it is doing. On Thursday the Dow Jones industrial average broke its August 25 low of 15,666 by closing at 15,660. This was the last major index or average to not break below August lows. All major indexes and averages worldwide have now broken below the August 25 lows and are officially in a BEAR Market.

My forecasts for 2016 call for the Dow Jones Industrial average to be as low as 14,688 to 12,000, the NASDAQ to be as low as 4,000 to 3,000 and the S&P 500 to be as low as 1,560 to 1,400 because of three factors! (See previous market letters)

 

Current noon	Dow	NASDAQ	S&P 500
	17,406	4,747	2,024
Short Term	UP	UP	UP
Int. Term	DOWN	DOWN	DOWN
Long Term	?	?	?
Foretasted Trend	DJIA	NASDAQ	S&P 500
Short Term	Down	Down	Down
Int. Term	Down	Down	Down
Long Term	Bear Market	Bear Market	Bear Market
Breakout Points	DJIA	NASDAQ	S&P 500
Short Term Up (Resistance)	17,918	5,156	2,110
Short Term Down (Support)	15,845/15,484 /15,370	4,468/4,238/  4,209	1850/1830
Int. Term Up (Resistance)	18,352	5,231	2,131
Int. Term Down (Support)	/15,370 /14,688/ 13,377	3,986/3294	1,560
Long Term Up (Resistance)	18,352	5,231	2,134
Long Term Down Fibonacci Support	50%12,000 62%10,750 2008 LOW 6,627	50% 3,000 62% 2,555 2008 LOW 1,204	50%1,400 62% 1,177 2008 LOW 666
10 Treasury LOW 1.60% Now1.89%	Gold 1,220	Oil 26.59low Now 38.88

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Mr Birkelbach does not offer investment advice, but merely his own personal opinion. This report has been prepared from original sources and data we believe reliable but make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness. Mr.Birkelbach , his affiliates and subsidiaries and/or their officers and employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell a position in securities. Past performance is no guarantee of future success. Upon request, we will supply additional information. CarlBis@aol.com