The Dow Theory: Curbing Emotional Investing
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ENDICOTT 607-754-7550 FULL SERVICE TOLL FREE 1-800-999-7550 INVESTMENT BROKERS FAX 607-754-7500 Members FINRA and SIPC Cheevers, Hand and Angeline, LLC Endicott Office: Square Deal Place, 111 Grant Ave, Suite 107, Endicott, NY 13760 www.chainvestment.com Securities products offered through Excel Securities & Associates, Inc. • Member FINRA and SIPC JANUARY 2020 $ UCCESS The Dow Theory: Curbing Emotional Investing n addition to starting the compa- months to years), and minor trends, will last. And since market prices ny that publishes The Wall Street which don’t last long and run in the fluctuate from day to day, it’s dan- IJournal, Charles Dow (1851–1902) opposite direction of the primary gerous to make too much out of a also lent his name to one of the trend. Primary up trends are bull single day’s movement. most popular U.S. stock market markets and primary down trends Primary trends can’t be indexes (the Dow Jones Industrial are bear markets — these are 4manipulated. The Dow theory Average) and created a theory marked by peaks and troughs in holds that the primary trend in the regarding major shifts in stock mar- price charts. Within these broader stock market is driven by forces ket trends. While neither Dow nor trends, there are secondary (minor) much bigger than any single event. those who refined the Dow theory countertrends called corrections, The stock indexes reflect all after him believed they were creat- which can retrace anywhere from 4available information. The ing a sure-fire way to beat the mar- 33% to 67% of the primary trend’s Dow theory believes that everything ket, they did believe that following movement. Of course, no one ever its principles could at least avoid knows in advance how long trends Continued on page 2 the mistakes associated with greed and fear. Fun Ways for the Entire Family to Save Three Assumptions ost people don’t think saving money is fun, but there are ways to Behind the Dow theory is a set Mmake it fun for the entire family. Check out these ideas: of assumptions about how the stock Make It a Competition — You and your spouse or two of your market works: teenagers can challenge each other to a “save-off.” Set a time frame and a The stock market moves in savings metric to determine the winner. Make sure the prize doesn’t 4broad cyclical trends. Accord- claim everything you’ve saved. ing to Dow, there are primary Create a Savings Thermometer — This is a great way to save when trends, which are long-lasting (from you have younger children. Let the kids create a large thermometer out of poster board, then write a saving goal at the top and hang it somewhere in the house where everyone can see it. Have a Family Garage Sale — A great way to clean out your house is for everyone to find clothes, toys, and other household items they no longer use or need. Let your children help run the sale. Find Inexpensive Family Fun — Not every outing with your kids has to include spending money, especially with younger children. Go to a local park, plant a garden together, or play a family game of baseball or volleyball. mmm Copyright © 2020. Some articles in this newsletter were prepared by Integrated Concepts, a separate, nonaffiliated business entity. This newsletter intends to offer factual and up-to-date information on the subjects discussed but should not be regarded as a complete analysis of these subjects. Professional advisers should be consulted before implementing any options presented. No party assumes liability for any loss or damage resulting from errors or omissions or reliance on or use of this material. FR2019-0715-0081 The Dow Theory 5 Reasons to Start Saving Continued from page 1 f you’re interested in getting perhaps you’re dreaming of a sec- there is to know about a stock and started with savings or want to ond home by the lake, sending the economy at a given moment is Isave more, here are five reasons your kids to college, or starting factored into the prices of stocks. to help keep you motivated. your own business. Whatever your Unexpected events can occur, but 1. You’ll Be Prepared for dreams, they likely have one thing usually they affect the short-term Emergencies — Here’s an alarming in common — they probably re- trend, creating what are called reac- fact: most Americans don’t have quire some money to become a re- tion rallies. enough money saved to cover even ality. Few of those dreams are Three Primary Trend Phases relatively small unexpected ex- achievable if you don’t save for According to the Dow theory, penses. Without cash on hand to them. major trends consist of three phases cover these irregular but inevitable 4. You’ll Be Able to Earn More of varying length: costs, you’re more likely to turn to Money — Saving isn’t just about Stage 1: Accumulation or distri- credit cards or loans when the need setting aside what you’ve already bution. In this phase, the smart arises. Plus, the more debt you earned. It’s also about putting your money — typically large institution- have, the more difficult it is to save. money to work for you. Depending The result? A downward financial on where you save and invest your al investors like investment banks, spiral that can be difficult to pull money, you can earn more just by pension funds, mutual funds — yourself out of. being diligent about saving. Be- start major buying or selling pro- cause of the power of compound- grams. Initially, this looks like a sec- 2. You’ll Be More Independent ing earnings, even relatively small ondary countertrend, but trading — With a healthy amount of sav- amounts can grow significantly, volume on the major exchanges ings, you can feel more free to take provided you don’t touch your noticeably increases on up days, risks, like starting your own busi- principal. while volume tends to be lighter on ness, heading back to school to down days. train for a new career, purchasing a 5. You’ll Be Happier — Money home of your own, or moving to a isn’t the only thing that can make Stage 2: The big move. In this new city. Plus, without savings, us happy. But there’s evidence that phase, there are many more days in you’re living on the financial edge. saving money, even in small which the indexes move in the amounts, can make us happier. In direction of the primary trend than 3. You’ll Be Able to Reach contrast, having debt (often a con- in the opposite direction. In bull Your Goals — We all have goals. sequence of a lack of savings) tends markets, there are strings of up Maybe you simply want to enjoy a to lead to unhappiness. mmm days, followed by shorter strings of comfortable retirement one day. Or down days, reflecting the spread of enthusiasm for stocks. In bear mar- principal, while those who bought firms would show up in business kets, the opposite occurs, as anxiety stocks at high prices have finally for the companies they hire to move and pessimism mounts. The result is given up and sold at a loss. the goods they make. a significant, long-term increase The Indexes Confirm the For the second index to confirm (bull markets) or decrease (bear New Trend the first, the Dow theory looks for markets) in the market averages. For Charles Dow, the primary both averages to be moving in the Stage 3: Excess. The final phase trend was reflected in the Dow same direction. New highs or lows of a primary trend is marked by Jones Industrial Average, which in one index are accompanied by extremely high levels of emotion — today comprises 30 stocks. But Dow highs or lows at the same time or enthusiasm in bull markets and pes- also looked to another index to con- shortly thereafter in the other. simism in bear markets — which are firm the emergence of a new trend. The Dow theory is designed to signs that the primary trend is about In his day, that was the Dow Rail- tip off long-term investors to to change. These extremes can be road Index. Today, it’s the Dow changes in the trend, so they can seen in the behavior of individual Transportation Index of 20 compa- shift their money from stocks to investors: in bull markets, even the nies engaged in the shipping and another asset class. most conservative investors are buy- transportation of manufactured Please call if you’d like to dis- ing stocks. On the other hand, in the goods. The idea was that a true cuss this in more detail. mmm excess stage of a bear market, every- change in the trend of business one is concerned about safety of activity in the big manufacturing FR2019-0715-0081 The Psychology of Saving aving money sounds simple. selves as different or separate from time period. Overall, the evidence You set aside a portion of their current selves. That disconnect seems to suggest that if we can Swhat you earn on a regular can make it hard to prioritize saving change the way we think about the basis and watch your money grow. for the future. future — and our future selves — As a result, you’re more prepared Researchers studying this issue we may be able to boost our savings for emergencies, feel more financial- looked at whether encouraging peo- rates.