Friday

At our last Pie Party, Jack raised a question about basic definitions regarding terms often thrown around:  bull and bear market.   Well his question led to more questions.  What is a bull market?  When do they start?  How far must a bull market fall before it ends? 

Queen teamed up with David Bowie in 1981 to create Under Pressure which topped the UK’s singles chart.  Search the internet for an interpretation of the lyrics and you’ll find oodles of opinions.  When you’re done reading this note, take a listen here and tell us what you think.  In the meantime, let’s look at an area of the market for which the s

A week ago today we got a look at the latest employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Click here to see what we wrote regarding the strong report.  While parsing through the data, it became clear that the labor market is very tight.  But then another report issued by the BLS subsequently,

Fire and Ice

Clairvoyance is not part of the Atlas investment algorithm.  Endeavoring just to interpret current data is challenge enough.  In fact, since various agencies and institutions revise past data with some regularity, even seeing the past sometimes proves difficult.  Nevertheless, we do have a crystal ball and dusted it off at the most recent pie party to make some bold predictions.&

Atlas is a peaceful bunch.  We don’t like wars, including those revolving around trade.  But everywhere one looks it seems like nations are turning their backs to one another.  Instead of finding new ways to work together and prosper, countries are looking for new barriers.  This is not just a recent phenomenon.  Brexit started off two years ago as the U.K.

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold – W. B. Yeats

First, happy Friday. You made it through another week and are likely to embark on a long weekend.  Monday is Memorial Day, so Atlas and the markets are closed.  Summer is about to unofficially begin and the driving season along with it.  Many Americans will find themselves at the petrol station filling up as they add miles to the odometer. 

"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future."

Long ago I was told the tale of an ancient shaman who, approached by a woman who seemed incapable of bearing a child, suggested she sleep with her husband on a lion’s hide.  Lo and behold she gave birth shortly thereafter to a son.  A curious friend who also was barren asked her what caused the miracle.  Thereupon she too visited the shaman, was given a tiger’s hide,