Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, December 13, the S&P 500 closed @ 1775, and that was...
  
   +7.1% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1658.
   +6.2% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1671.
   +0.1% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1773.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS NEUTRAL 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

U.S. Has the Highest Corporate Tax Rate

High federal and state corporate tax rates make it difficult for U.S. headquartered businesses to compete internationally.

U.S. rates have been consistently higher than the average of industrialized nations.

In April 2012, Japan reduced its corporate tax rate to 36.8 percent, making the U.S. total corporate tax rate the highest.

COMBINED CORPORATE TAX RATES

Income It Takes to Rank in The Top 5% of U.S. Households...

The Top 5% of U.S. households received 22.3% of all income reported in 2012.

Income of at least $191,200 was required to be ranked in the Top 5% of high-income households last year.

 (Source: Census Bureau).

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, December 6, the S&P 500 closed @ 1805, and that was...
  
   +8.9% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1658.
   +8.3% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1666.
   +2.3% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1764.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS FAVORABLE 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Quotes of the Day: From Economist Thomas Sowell

"If you believe in equal rights, then what do 'women’s rights,' 'gay rights,' etc., mean?

Either they're redundant or they're violations of the principle of equal rights for all."

"Those who want to 'spread the wealth' almost invariably seek to concentrate the power. It happens too often, and in too many different countries around the world, to be a coincidence.

Which is more dangerous, inequalities of wealth or concentrations of power?"

Poll: 78% Are Concerned About The Security of the ObamaCare Website

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 29, the S&P 500 closed @ 1806, and that was...
  
 +10.7% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1631.
   +8.9% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1658.
   +3.0% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1753.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS POSITIVE 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Can Obamacare Succeed if Nearly 44% of Physicians Say They Will Not Participate in the New Health Insurance Exchanges?

Some pretty devastatingly negative results about Obamacare from a November 8-12 survey of 3,072 practicing physicians in all 50 states, and reported this week by the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

1. Most physicians didn’t like Obamacare when Congress passed the health-care reform law in 2010. 59% of practicing physicians surveyed said they opposed the Affordable Care Act at the time Congress was debating and adopting the legislation, while only 26% supported the measure.

2. Amid the current wave of negative publicity surrounding the rocky rollout of the program, 61% of the physicians said they have a worse opinion of Obamacare now than they did back in 2010, while just 31% have not changed their opinion and only 8% said they have a better opinion of the law.

3. 80% of physicians said they believe patients will pay more for health care under the new law, while 76% said overall health-care costs would increase.

4. 60% of the survey respondents said Obamacare would hurt the quality of patient care, while 57% said the law would negatively impact their treatment of patients.

5. A sizable minority of the physicians surveyed ­– 44% – said they would NOT participate in the health insurance exchanges the new law has created.

Unhealthy Job Market: Temp Jobs Up +57% vs +4% For All Others Since 2009

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 22, the S&P 500 closed @ 1805, and that was...
  
  +10.3% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1631.
    +8.9% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1651.
    +3.2% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1743.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS NEUTRAL 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

How Much Has Global Life Expectancy Increased Since 1960?

At present, the average life expectancy of  the world (over 186 countries representing +99% of the world’s population) is approximately 70 years.

The chart graphs the change in global life expectancy between 1960 and 2010.

In 1960, the average person could only expect to live about    52 years, whereas in 2010, she could expect to live nearly 70 years.

The increase in life expectancy was particularly rapid during the 1960s and early 1970s.

The Jobless Rate Is Twice As High In Western European Countries Mandating a Minimum Wage...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 15, the S&P 500 closed @ 1798, and that was...
  
  +10.3% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1630.
    +9.4% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1644.
    +3.8% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1732.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS POSITIVE 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Cartoon of The Day: The President Apologizes

$10 Minimum Wage + ObamaCare = 70% Labor Cost Hike

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 8, the S&P 500 closed @ 1771, and that was...
  
   +9.0% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1625.
   +8.2% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1637.
   +3.1% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1718.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS POSITIVE 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Cartoon of The Day: Why Don't We Hold Politicians Who Lie About Their Lies Accountable?

Americans, With Fewer Prospects, Still Reluctant to Quit Their Jobs...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 1, the S&P 500 closed @ 1762, and that was...
  
   +8.5% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1624.
   +8.0% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1631.
   +3.4% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1704.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS NEUTRAL 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Rising Benefit Costs Eating into Worker's Paychecks

Cartoon of The Day: The "Headless" Administation?...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, October 25, the S&P 500 closed @ 1760, and that was...
  
  +10.1% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1599.
   +8.4% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1624.
   +3.9% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1694.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS POSITIVE 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

ObamaCare Is Crippling Low-Wage Workers' Hours...

Bleak Hiring Outlook Could Stifle Economy...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, October 18, the S&P 500 closed @ 1745, and that was...
  
   +9.2% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1597.
   +7.9% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1617.
   +3.6% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1684.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS NEUTRAL 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Cartoon of The Day: To Shutdown or Not to Shutdown? What's the Difference?

As a % of GDP, Unfunded Medicare & Social Security Liabilities To Double in 20 Years...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, October 11, the S&P 500 closed @ 1703, and that was...
  
   +7.1% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1591.
   +5.8% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1610.
   +1.5% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1678.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS NEUTRAL 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

A Political Majority Still Favors Repeal of ObamaCare...

As Government Shuts Down, So Does Consumer Confidence