We'll look at that, and the market indicators " the stocks of the big Nasdaq 100 companies and the Dow Transports " which are falling, and therefore telling us something important.

Another key indicator for markets is the health of the consumer, and the pricing power of the companies that serve us, which we can assess in the trading of the major retailers, auto manufacturers and hotels, restaurants, cruiseships and casinos, where people spend the bulk of their disposable income.

Two weeks ago I remarked: "This has been a good week for the Bulls. Most are still calling this a Bull market." After this week, are you Bulls thinking of jumping off the bandwagon?

This was another one of those weeks where bullish confidence must be shaky. If you look at the three-month stock performance of America's biggest industrial and retail corporations, you have to admit that something is terribly wrong, and that maybe stagflation like the 1970s is a concern.

Consider that for the ten great American industrial corporations " General Electric, IBM, Intel, 3 M Company, Boeing, United Technologies, DuPont, Honeywell, Caterpillar and Alcoa -- with a total market cap of $839 billion, their capitalization dropped an average -13.3 pct in just the past 90 days.

And for the two big American retailers " Wal-Mart and Home Depot " with a combined market cap of $261 billion, the loss in cap was a company average -11.9 pct over the past 90 days.

Is this just now sneaking up on you? Have you not been watching the Dow Transports, the Nasdaq 100, or the Russell 2000 Small Caps either?

There's nothing wrong with the facts. What's wrong is that influential people -- politicians, Treasury Secretaries, central bankers and Wall Street -- are telling you to ignore the facts.

There are millions of Americans, however, who depend on these great American corporations for jobs and healthcare and pensions who know their stock portfolios are falling in value. They feel the pain. They cannot afford to ignore the facts.

A long time ago, thinking people stopped listening to leaders tell them stories that things are fine and well under control in the economy. Many of us ceased listening to the proselytizing of the Kudlow's or, for instance, media who carry the precise same story for three days running under the banner "Breaking News" when they know it's important, but not materially changing.

These people have got control of the stage and they want to keep control. To hell with the facts!

In matters of importance, I think most of us can agree we need to totally filter the entertainment aspects of the reports we get, and stick to the facts.

In a few words, I'd say people are fed up with spin, and they want the truth.

They want to know, for example, how a nobody like Bill Cara can tell them three months ago that the Bear market started that week, which it did, when the most well-connected, the most brilliant and most accomplished leaders in America missed the boat.

Did they really miss the boat, or just give us that impression?

The people now ask why most of the Talking Heads are continuing to deny this is a Bear market.

Would it not have been nice to have saved that -13.3 pct loss in your portfolio in the past quarter year, so that for the next 20, 40 or 60 years you could live better, enjoy financial independence and pass along a larger estate to your heirs?

I'll tell you why we don't get the truth. It's simple. It's because the major centers of influence are grinding their own axes, taking care of their own business, and worse " despicable really " misleading the rest of us.

The ones who are involved in the financial world need prices and emotions to rise, and then they need prices and emotions to fall. And during these cycles they " you can call these people the gnomes if you want " are the centers of influence who are buying at the bottom and selling at the top.

Consequently, "they" get richer. And, given that there is only x amount of economic value that exists in the world, the rest of the people get less rich in spite of growing economies and they in fact get poorer in stagnant and declining economies.

It's why "We The People" must stop listening to any vested interest that isn't working in our own interest.

"They" have the unfair advantage; and "We" have to take it back, which we can do by sharing our own knowledge, skills and experiences to help one another. And that's why I blog.

I blog to share; not take.

On the other hand, I see Humungous Bank & Broker, and politicians, and their controlling friends, on the take.

So I'm glad you too share with your comments and volunteer work for the blog. And to that end, we are going to start a Virtual Investment Club together " free (in money terms) to all those who contribute to it in some way. I'm trying to get it organized by the end of the month.

Because that's what sharing people do.

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Global Market Summary

International Equities: This week was a negative performance week for the major international indexes. China (FXI) and Russia (TRF) did better than +2.0 pct each, but Brazil dropped -2.1 pct, and Japan (EWJ), the U.K. (EWU) and Europe (IEV) were all down precisely -1.2 pct W/W.

U.S. Equities : The Nasdaq Composite was down -1.1 pct W/W (again mostly Friday as nervous traders don't want any Monday opening blues). The S&P 500 dropped about -1.0 pct, but the Russell 2000 Small Cap index took a huge hit (-3.2 pct W/W) as traders are shying away from the greater risk that smaller caps entail.

Dow 30 : There were just 7 Dow stocks that were up W/W, with AIG (+2.5 pct) being the only one up more than +1.9 pct. On the other hand, the big U.S. industrial companies got hit. CAT (-8.3 pct), BA and AA (-4.4 pct), housing market dependent retailer HD (-4.2 pct), and UTX (-3.9 pct) were the biggest losers this week. As part of the Fed decision to hold rates for the first time in 18 meetings, there was also a statement that the U.S. economy is transitioning to a slowdown, which traders used as good reason to sell the big industrial corps. I suppose with the next round of corporate layoffs, the traders will be encouraged to buy shares.

U.S. Sector ETFs: Only 2 of the 10 ETF's I track were up, and barely so. Friday was tough on them all, particularly SMH (chips). With the recent rally, I wrote here a week ago: "Remember, this is still a Bear market " just an extended rally into further distribution." Are you getting the picture now? The point I'll make in this WIR is that the selling is sporadic, which means it is more emotionally driven than one sees in the usual sector rotation. In my experience, that is often a precursor to a major selling wave. Traders be careful.

First segment: most influenced by global commodities, forex and capex spending
10: Energy (XLE): #1 (+0.5 pct); A 76 price for crude hurts the economy
15: Basic Materials (XLB): #6 (-1.3 pct); Gave back prior week's gain
20: Industrials (XLI): #10 (-2.6 pct); Heavy damage across the sector
Second segment: most influenced by U.S. consumer spending and economic growth
25: Cons. Discretionary (XLY): #7 (-1.4 pct); Only JCP is doing well
30: Cons. Staples (XLP): #2 (+0.4 pct); PG strong again in this Bear market
35: Healthcare (IYH): #4 (-0.9 pct); From "taking a breather" to winded
Third segment: most influenced by U.S. interest rates and general economic health
40: Financial (XLF): #8 (-1.9 pct); Bad week for LEH, DB, MS and JPM
45: Tech (SMH chips): #9 (-2.1 pct); Friday was a -3.5 pct loser!
50: Telecom Services (IYZ): #8 (-0.9 pct); VZ ok; T gave back week earlier gain
55: Utilities (XLU): #4 (-0.6 pct); Competing bond yields were tough

Bonds: Thanks to Friday, the interest sensitive market had a tough week. A week ago, Treasury yields dropped between -7 and -10 bp, but this week it was all gained back as bonds sold off, with the long en getting hurt most. The appetite for bonds until Tuesday did permit the Fed to pause in hiking rates, but then there was a sell-off as bond traders are now thinking about inflation. If the economy doesn't continue to weaken, look for the Fed to hike in Sept. Otherwise, bonds will come off more. It could be that the bullish turn I called in bonds a couple months ago is now over.

Commodities: $CRB was down -1.6 pct W/W, which means this index has still risen over two weeks. A week ago I wrote: "; Copper finally dropped (-2.0 pct), which put it on a track opposite to precious metals but consistent with a global economy softening." This week all the metals dropped, but oil remained strong.

Oil & Gas: $WTIC futures were up +1.7 pct W/W to go along with a gain of +2.1 pct a week earlier. A week ago I wrote: "If the economy softens, so too will energy prices " given that the Mid East War seems to be in the final days. But it's early for the hurricane season, so expect choppy prices." I feel there will soon be downside surprises in the oil market.

Gold: $GOLD dropped -2.5 pct W/W to 631.43, a loss of -15.83. I remain positive on the precious metals because I hold the view the USD will decline. Japan is now in a rate hiking mode, which ought to rally the Yen against the USD, which in turn will push up on the price of precious metals.

Goldminers: The goldminers were trashed on Friday, which more than made the loss on the week. GDX in the U.S. dropped -2.52 pct on Friday and only -2.35 pct on the week. XGD (Toronto) dropped -2.67 pct on Friday and -2.65 pct on the week. Maybe this was related to a U.N. Resolution that is trying to bring an end to the Middle East War this weekend. Let's see what Monday brings.

Forex: After the $USD had only one day up in the previous eight, it was ready to rebound. This week $USD gained -1.1 pct. On Friday it was up +0.45 pct. That's just a recovery of the loss of two weeks ago. I remain a Dollar Bear.

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Sector ETF:

Eight of ten sector ETF's were down. The market had been quiet ahead of the Fed decision on Tuesday afternoon. Industrials, Semi-conductors and Financials suffered most this week.

For the U.S. equity market, as you know, I study it top down by sector. Here is the weekly performance of my favorite ten Sector Index Funds (ETF's). The following table is sorted by price performance Week over Week (W/W), i.e. 1W%N.

Table 1: Cara ETF List

Sorted by 1-Week Price Performance

Symbol	Close	1Day Change	1Day %Change	1W %Change	2W %Change	4W %Change	YTD %Change	3M %Change	6M %Change	12M %Change
XLE	58.15	0.03	0.05%	0.54%	0.66%	0.57%	10.34%	-0.99%	10.68%	15.70%
XLP	24.84	-0.05	-0.20%	0.40%	0.61%	3.50%	5.97%	4.11%	7.02%	7.25%
XLU	33.87	-0.08	-0.24%	-0.59%	-0.35%	3.70%	5.84%	7.22%	6.64%	6.61%
IYH	62.38	-0.31	-0.49%	-0.86%	-1.50%	4.66%	-1.96%	2.87%	-1.78%	-1.25%
IYZ	26.03	0.01	0.04%	-0.88%	-1.03%	5.81%	13.32%	2.48%	6.99%	7.96%
XLB	30.76	-0.35	-1.13%	-1.32%	-0.03%	-0.06%	-0.52%	-10.92%	-0.45%	5.70%
XLY	32.03	-0.01	-0.03%	-1.36%	-0.71%	2.04%	-2.94%	-6.97%	-3.67%	-7.27%
XLF	32.61	-0.10	-0.31%	-1.92%	-1.57%	3.13%	1.27%	-2.77%	2.16%	9.47%
SMH	30.63	-1.11	-3.50%	-2.08%	-2.51%	-0.29%	-19.22%	-15.39%	-19.63%	-17.26%
XLI	31.23	-0.18	-0.57%	-2.59%	-2.47%	-2.41%	-1.26%	-12.00%	-1.98%	2.73%

You can do this table yourself by entering the following string into the Summary window at Investertech.com and then clicking on the link for Performance. XLE XLB XLI XLY XLP IYH XLF SMH IYZ XLU . You can also add more ETF's " up to 30 in total.

For a list of components to any ETF, simply go to the AMEX.com web site, and click on ETF's. I do that frequently.

10 (energy: XLE)

15 (basic materials: XLB)

20 (industrial: XLI)

25 (consumer discretionary: XLY)

30 (consumer staples: XLP)

35 (healthcare: IYH)

40 (financial: XLF)

45 (technology, semiconductor: SMH)

50 (telecom: IYZ)

55 (utilities: XLU)

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Sector 10 (energy: XLE, IYE, VDE, OIH, PBW and IXC)

This week, XLE was up +0.54 pct W/W, closing at 58.15. Not much, but enough to put XLE into #1 spot performance wise on the week.

Here's the XLE Monthly, Weekly, Daily and Hourly data charts:

XLE Monthly data:

XLE Weekly data:

XLE Daily data:

XLE Hourly data:

Table 2: Senior oil & gas equities

Sorted by 1-Week Price Performance

Symbol	Close	1Day Change	1Day %Change	1W %Change	2W %Change	4W %Change	YTD %Change	3M %Change	6M %Change	12M %Change
CEO	90.00	0.40	0.45%	4.64%	4.40%	10.29%	30.08%	9.16%	7.28%	17.96%
CVX	67.85	0.50	0.74%	3.34%	2.73%	2.21%	14.84%	8.20%	19.86%	8.56%
IMO	39.16	-0.49	-1.24%	3.16%	7.32%	5.41%	-62.35%	-63.06%	-60.04%	-58.71%
SU	84.09	-0.44	-0.52%	1.73%	5.26%	4.82%	28.32%	-4.49%	15.83%	43.94%
XOM	69.73	0.36	0.52%	1.51%	4.07%	7.44%	19.26%	9.88%	17.33%	14.41%
ECA	53.86	-0.46	-0.85%	0.69%	0.00%	6.74%	15.33%	3.62%	28.70%	17.98%
PBR	94.26	-0.68	-0.72%	0.64%	1.66%	5.21%	26.15%	-9.36%	12.08%	59.09%
TOT	67.29	-0.11	-0.16%	-0.22%	-1.16%	3.43%	-48.27%	-52.79%	-47.72%	-49.18%
STO	28.53	-0.39	-1.35%	-2.69%	-5.37%	-6.31%	18.23%	-10.56%	9.44%	19.12%

The XOM/IMO duo continued to be strong, and so was Suncor (SU), which is now up +5.3 pct over two weeks.

CNOOC, the China National Offshore Oil Co (CEO), was up +4.6 pct this week and a spectacular +30.1 pct YTD. CEO is a Cara 100 company.

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CNOOC Limited [GICS 10, Cara 100]
(CEO: Yahoo Finance file)
(CEO: StockChart chart)
(CEO: Investertech chart)
(CEO: ADVFN Financial Data)
(CEO: ADVFN Financial Data)

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Integrated Oil & Gas - Canada

Oil & Gas Exploration & Production -Canada

The Canadian oils did well on the week, which gave a little support to the Toronto index. But some of the oils look over-bought, both in Canada and the U.S., so be wary of chasing these stocks higher and getting trapped into a dead money situation for six months or more.

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Sector 15 (basic materials: IYM, XLB, IGE and VAW)

The Basic Materials ETF (XLB) went from #1 to #6 this week as the metals gave up a lot on Friday. XLB lost -1.32 pct W/W, but -1.13 pct was due to Friday.

A week ago I wrote: "The Basic Materials (XLB) sector is not out of the woods just because precious metals have been rallying. I'd like you to go to the Daily data chart and look at the RSI since mid-July. What I do when I see a chart like that is run a trend support line under the RSI. I'll stay long only as long as that trend line hasn't been violated on the down side.

I thought I'd introduce this point here (in a Bear market where I want to be long the rallies) because I think it's an effective alternative to placing stops. I use it for all kinds of price series."

So I timed this advice very well. If you watch these charts like a hawk, your performance will improve. One chart on its own might not be meaningful, but a time series of charts for one instrument, plus a sector or geography based chart, or charts of the usual market inter-relationships, will help you build better market assessments, and ultimately better decisions.

At this point, traders are carefully watching oil and the USD markets. Should oil come off and the USD strengthen again next week, then the metals may take a bigger hit. This is a tough call as traders' emotions are heightened.

I'm really watching the USD:JPY market closest to help make that call.

Here's an old chart from sharelynx that shows the correlation.

In the 1980's, when I was last a heavy trader of gold, I had at least a dozen indicators like this I used for decision support. In the 4Q06, in getting back into the business, I'm going to ramp up some similar models. And I'll be trading CFD's (Contracts For Difference) off-market, where the leverage is 100 to 1 in gold and the indices and 20 to 1 for about 1500 international stocks.

Somebody recently asked me to what extent I rely on models, and I admitted that while I'm a rules-oriented trader, I have fallen back into the "gut-feel" mode. But as soon as one goes into advisory services work, as I plan to do in October, then the Other People's Money (OPM) factor comes into play. I need to have sound decision-support systems at hand.

In the blog of course, my advice is free and you take it for what it's worth. My objective here is to get people to think more for themselves than to take advice from others, including me.

Here's the XLB Monthly, Weekly, Daily and Hourly data charts:

XLB Monthly data:

XLB Weekly data:

XLB Daily data:

XLB Hourly data:

Table 3: Senior metals and steel equities

Sorted by 1-Week Price Performance

Symbol	Close	1Day Change	1Day %Change	1W %Change	2W %Change	4W %Change	YTD %Change	3M %Change	6M %Change	12M %Change
PD	90.32	1.85	2.09%	4.57%	10.82%	13.20%	20.96%	-6.57%	27.16%	60.20%
ACH	65.79	0.17	0.26%	1.45%	-5.19%	-6.48%	-17.14%	-30.76%	-31.04%	5.84%
N	79.21	2.50	3.26%	-0.21%	3.68%	19.56%	83.06%	17.30%	65.06%	82.55%
GGB	15.38	-0.37	-2.35%	-2.47%	-1.54%	7.93%	-11.66%	-9.26%	-24.16%	30.01%
PKX	59.30	-1.55	-2.55%	-2.50%	-4.12%	-1.80%	18.01%	-20.31%	8.71%	10.35%
BHP	41.07	-0.21	-0.51%	-3.66%	-4.29%	-2.68%	17.34%	-15.44%	14.53%	26.56%
RTP	202.78	-2.62	-1.28%	-4.07%	-3.59%	-0.82%	7.40%	-17.23%	4.61%	36.09%
AA	28.27	-0.66	-2.28%	-4.40%	-4.91%	-8.18%	-5.45%	-21.52%	-8.39%	-5.04%
NUE	48.77	-2.50	-4.88%	-4.78%	-7.19%	-3.20%	40.63%	-13.74%	21.26%	66.74%
RIO	22.41	-0.48	-2.10%	-6.82%	-5.28%	0.45%	4.23%	-19.79%	-4.31%	28.65%

The Inco (N) situation is still in play. Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce (NYSE: RIO), a great Brazilian miner that is in the Cara 100, has thrown its hat into Inco's nickel ring. Traders of RIO don't like that at all, and have trashed the stock (-6.82 pct) this week.

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Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce [GICS 15, Cara 100]
(RIO: Yahoo Finance file)
(RIO: StockChart chart)
(RIO: Investertech chart)
(RIO: ADVFN Financial Data)(RIO: ADVFN Financial Data)

---

RIO now has the best bid, and it's all cash, so the market is saying that bid will likely win and they have backed off trading Inco (N) higher.

Phelps Dodge (PD), another Inco suitor, has other issues, such as being taken over itself, so that's a double whammy to drive the stock higher, and PD jumped +4.67 pct W/W.

From mid-day Thursday, Teck Cominco shareholders were elated at the prospects of Teck losing the Inco play to Rio, and the TCK shares (on the NYSE) jumped from under 64 to over 71 at the open Friday. Here's the chart.

The TCK stock still lost -1.9 pct on the week as traders are now thinking that all the base metals are looking toppy. After all, they have had a terrific run in this Year of the Metals, which is the moniker I gave the market last December.

Finally, I see that China Aluminum was up +1.5 pct W/W, which has followed a very depressing YTD performance. Months ago, I told you about the idiot guest on CNBC telling the audience how sound an investment in ACH would be. The incompetence sometimes is astounding.

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Sector 20 (industrial: IYJ, XLI, VIS, and IYT)

The ETF for the Industrials and Transport sector, aka capital goods producers, (XLI) was down sharply -2.59 pct W/W to 31.23. The market came out of its doldrums and sold down hard as traders started to think (following the Fed report) that the U.S. economy could be in for a hard landing.

Here's the XLI Monthly, Weekly, Daily and Hourly data charts:

XLI Monthly data:

XLI Weekly data:

XLI Daily data:

XLI Hourly data:

Table 4: Senior capital goods makers and transportation

Sorted by 1-Week Price Performance

Symbol	Close	1Day Change	1Day %Change	1W %Change	2W %Change	4W %Change	YTD %Change	3M %Change	6M %Change	12M %Change
TYC	25.51	0.04	0.16%	-0.55%	-2.74%	-1.35%	-13.93%	-7.10%	0.20%	-10.80%
ERJ	33.83	-0.42	-1.23%	-0.59%	-3.26%	0.33%	-13.83%	-11.92%	-9.62%	-0.91%
GE	32.50	-0.17	-0.52%	-0.91%	-1.57%	1.21%	-8.11%	-5.82%	-2.34%	-5.82%
MMM	68.53	0.12	0.18%	-1.32%	-2.82%	-3.78%	-13.37%	-21.38%	-5.62%	-5.29%
HON	37.46	0.22	0.59%	-1.86%	-2.09%	1.22%	0.00%	-13.96%	-5.48%	-3.55%
UTX	60.15	-0.30	-0.50%	-3.87%	-3.22%	2.28%	6.40%	-8.61%	5.29%	16.50%
CBE	83.55	0.15	0.18%	-4.41%	-2.87%	-4.55%	13.09%	-9.41%	0.75%	29.49%
BA	75.96	-0.24	-0.31%	-4.44%	-3.74%	-1.67%	7.99%	-13.89%	4.73%	12.85%
CAT	67.03	-1.29	-1.89%	-8.28%	-5.87%	-3.12%	15.97%	-15.81%	-2.50%	20.77%

Caterpillar (CAT) went from recent hero to outcast this week. The CAT fell -8.28 pct. Ouch! A week ago I wrote: "CAT has enjoyed the best success (up this week +2.63 pct, and +6.92 pct over two weeks), mainly because the gold and silver miners are looking good; But this group has had a tough quarter as Table 4 shows."

So I was kind of pointing out the reality of the problems on the one hand, and the hope that precious metals would stay strong, which they didn't.

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Sector 25 (consumer discretionary: XLY, IYC and VCR)

The Consumer Discretionary sector ETF (XLY) was down -1.36 pct W/W, so the ETF dropped from #2 to #7 of 10 ETFs I follow.

After it hit #2 a week ago, I wrote: "But, I remain basically negative (at best, cautious) on XLY." There are so many factors that hurt the consumer cyclical stocks at this point. There are (i) high fuel costs, (ii) slowing economy (iii) quality jobs being sent abroad (iv) more consumers slipping under the so-called poverty line (v) heightened terror alerts (vi) falling home prices in many markets, which means the end of the ‘wealth effect', and (vii) others too numerous to mention.

You know, next to the chips group (SMH), this XLY is weakest Y/Y and over the past six months and YTD.

At the same time I was telling you "Chip and Dip", I was also writing about "Consumers Have No Tickee". I couldn't make it plainer.

Meanwhile the President was telling you "Noooo Problem!" Well, HE IS THE PRESIDENT, and I'm just one of the Little People.

The difference, of course, is that the other guy is carrying one heck of an axe, and from all the photo ops " must be a record " he has been grinding it constantly for years now.

But the truth is that Little People know that it's tough being a consumer in George's World. As George's Oil Administration gushered in higher oil prices, the U.S. consumer (proxy = XLY plus the GM/Ford auto companies) crapped out. XLY peaked in Dec-2004 and has been in a long Bear phase since then. That's 20 months!

No wonder people are unhappy with politicians.

Here's the XLY Monthly, Weekly, Daily and Hourly data charts:

XLY Monthly data:

XLY Weekly data:

XLY Daily data:

XLY Hourly data:

Table 5: Senior consumer discretionary equities

Sorted by 1-Week Price Performance

Symbol	Close	1Day Change	1Day %Change	1W %Change	2W %Change	4W %Change	YTD %Change	3M %Change	6M %Change	12M %Change
JCP	65.20	-0.38	-0.58%	1.76%	3.90%	0.56%	15.50%	-1.18%	17.99%	25.51%
EBAY	24.20	-0.64	-2.58%	0.00%	-0.94%	-5.39%	-45.57%	-24.42%	-38.78%	-41.80%
TM	107.47	-1.90	-1.74%	-0.62%	1.77%	9.71%	0.58%	-7.89%	4.05%	34.91%
DIS	29.43	-0.15	-0.51%	-1.57%	-0.91%	3.30%	20.61%	-1.24%	10.31%	13.72%
BC	29.47	0.24	0.82%	-2.26%	-0.20%	6.93%	-27.80%	-24.46%	-23.67%	-35.27%
SBUX	29.90	-0.06	-0.20%	-2.32%	-12.14%	-11.17%	-3.14%	-18.17%	-15.77%	14.17%
CCL	37.59	-0.32	-0.84%	-2.36%	-5.31%	-5.36%	-31.12%	-20.95%	-27.99%	-26.51%
NKE	76.51	0.31	0.41%	-2.75%	-4.24%	-2.63%	-10.98%	-5.90%	-9.42%	-6.65%
WHR	76.06	0.61	0.81%	-3.99%	-2.81%	0.32%	-8.00%	-16.45%	-12.86%	-5.75%

A week ago I wrote a lot about a Cara 100 favorite, Carnival Cruise Lines, saying that it would be best to avoid until late Sept or maybe Oct. This week CCL dropped another -2.4 pct. That's -31.1 pct YTD.

When the bottom in this stock comes in " 4Q06 " I think the 24-36 month upside will be huge. But that depends on American's still having good quality jobs, and being able to re-fill their autos at the pumps at a reasonable cost.

There is a new Cara 100 this weekend " as soon as I can post it. It is Target (NYSE: TGT). I haven't yet decided to put it into the Consumer Cyclicals or Staples, but for now it goes into the Cyclicals because I think that the target of Target is the consumer with some Tickee to spend on discretionary items.

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Target Corporation [GICS 25, Cara 100]
(TGT: Yahoo Finance file)
(TGT: StockChart chart)
(TGT: Investertech chart)
(TGT: ADVFN Financial Data)(TGT: ADVFN Financial Data)

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Sector 30 (consumer staples: XLP, VDC, RTH and IYK)

This week the Consumer Staples sector ETF (XLP) gained a wooden dime to close at 24.84, up +0.40 pct W/W to slip into #2 performer spot.

A week ago, XLP gained a wooden nickel. It might be Funny Money, but it's money nonetheless.

Here's the XLP Monthly, Weekly, Daily and Hourly data charts:

XLP Monthly data:

XLP Weekly data:

XLP Daily data:

XLP Hourly data:

Table 6: Senior consumer staples equities

Sorted by 1-Week Price Performance

Symbol	Close	1Day Change	1Day %Change	1W %Change	2W %Change	4W %Change	YTD %Change	3M %Change	6M %Change	12M %Change
PG	60.26	0.00	0.00%	1.36%	6.07%	8.34%	2.52%	8.28%	0.94%	12.30%
MO	80.84	0.28	0.35%	1.18%	0.19%	4.46%	7.82%	13.30%	12.48%	19.83%
BUD	48.20	-0.01	-0.02%	1.01%	0.63%	6.66%	10.37%	4.58%	19.25%	8.49%
PEP	63.33	0.13	0.21%	0.25%	0.32%	2.48%	5.97%	8.53%	9.32%	15.76%
DEO	70.53	-0.06	-0.08%	0.24%	0.01%	5.93%	18.42%	2.57%	17.75%	23.41%
KO	43.76	-0.14	-0.32%	-0.21%	-1.71%	2.60%	6.99%	0.88%	6.32%	-0.79%
WAG	48.42	-0.07	-0.14%	-0.39%	3.17%	5.28%	6.68%	19.11%	11.93%	0.17%
WMT	44.69	-0.20	-0.45%	-0.40%	0.52%	3.81%	-3.33%	-5.42%	-2.32%	-8.70%
ABV	40.88	-0.27	-0.66%	-0.99%	0.74%	5.61%	6.07%	-12.43%	-0.75%	26.60%
WFMI	47.37	-0.86	-1.78%	-7.53%	-17.83%	-18.87%	-38.56%	-32.43%	-26.95%	-30.27%

Procter & Gamble (PG), Altria (MO) and Budweiser (BUD) were up over +1.0 pct each. That makes PG the only winner of the three over the past two weeks.

For what it's worth, it's been a while (the week ending June 3) that PG showed up on the top losers list.

But don't think PG is SAFE in a serious storm like that of Black Monday Oct 19 1987. For proof, turn to the history charts at BigCharts.com and insert PG. Or go to the historical prices for PG at Yahoo Finance for October 1987 and a month forward.

That'll hurt like a staple all right " in your finger! That was real money.

And in case you don't know history, it was the fact that on Black Monday the Little People couldn't get their orders through to the Brokers who had tied up all the phone lines putting in their personal trading orders. I was there, running a trading floor on the penthouse floor of the Toronto Stock Exchange tower at the time. A couple months later, I split from the sell-side of the industry and formed my own registered dealer in ways I knew I could help clients best.

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Sector 35 (healthcare: IYH, XLV, VHT, IXJ, and IBB)

The healthcare ETF (IYH) was down -0.86 pct W/W to close at 62.38.

Here's the IYH Monthly, Weekly, Daily and Hourly data charts:

IYH Monthly data:

IYH Weekly data:

IYH Daily data:

IYH Hourly data:

Table 7: Senior healthcare equities

Sorted by 1-Week Price Performance

Symbol	Close	1Day Change	1Day %Change	1W %Change	2W %Change	4W %Change	YTD %Change	3M %Change	6M %Change	12M %Change
AET	35.41	0.04	0.11%	6.75%	10.07%	-6.42%	-24.71%	-10.83%	-29.48%	-10.65%
GSK	55.04	-0.06	-0.11%	0.71%	-1.04%	1.79%	8.01%	-3.42%	6.83%	14.91%
JNJ	63.47	-0.08	-0.13%	-0.09%	0.87%	4.98%	2.99%	7.87%	8.70%	-1.31%
PFE	25.82	-0.15	-0.58%	-0.62%	-1.11%	15.22%	8.58%	4.07%	0.55%	-2.34%
BMET	33.23	-0.03	-0.09%	-1.04%	-0.84%	9.49%	-9.90%	-10.53%	-10.12%	-13.06%
NVS	55.45	-0.08	-0.14%	-1.19%	-1.60%	1.87%	3.70%	-2.26%	2.53%	10.02%
DNA	79.56	-0.56	-0.70%	-1.50%	-0.72%	0.13%	-15.36%	0.94%	-4.74%	-10.34%
UNH	47.57	0.17	0.36%	-2.04%	-0.59%	0.04%	-22.94%	7.21%	-18.82%	-9.17%
AMGN	66.40	-0.51	-0.76%	-3.47%	-3.87%	3.19%	-17.37%	-1.31%	-7.07%	-17.86%
BMY	20.24	-0.59	-2.83%	-11.03%	-17.29%	-17.59%	-12.91%	-17.79%	-9.64%	-19.39%

This week I dropped UnitedHealth Group (UNH) from the Cara Global Best 100 Companies. I figure if (i) the senior officers are embroiled in a scandalous personal options back-dating affair, and (ii) the auditors will not allow them to file financials with the regulators, I don't want to be associated.

I said this before: I will drop all support for any company that is involved in this scandal. I had been aware that UNH was rumored to be, but I had to wait for proof.

As far as the statement that Apple Computer made, and the Nasdaq response of "No filing; no listing", Apple was not in the Cara 100. I have known Apple since they started "in the garage" in the 1970's, and I can say it has been one cycle after another of good followed by hype followed by bad followed by disappointment.

Good products and good marketing, notwithstanding. Life's too short to play the Apple game.

Aetna had another real solid week. I'm glad I supported the stock at the bottom of the cycle Aug 1 when I wrote it up while trading at $31.03.

Yes, some people hate when I brag, but I did miss the absolute bottom at $30.94 by nine cents. Moreover I published my reasons, and just so you wouldn't miss the point I did a follow-up article a couple hours later where I gave you some Wall Street research that supported my case.

Here's what I call proof of concept in my teaching. Check the mid day low of Aug 1, when I published my positive report on Aetna. You know, I'm still looking for the people on Wall Street who can do this " or who would do it free for the People.

The gain btw has been +14.1 pct in 8½ trading sessions. AET this week was up +6.75 pct W/W.

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Sector 40 (financial: IYG, IYF, XLF, VFH, IXG, VNQ, RWR, IYR, and ICF)

The Financials ETF (XLF) lost BIG this week, -1.92 pct W/W to close at 32.61.

After giving you a list of reasons a week ago, I wrote: "So don't expect any improvement in XLF; Besides, the market is slowing and the economy is slowing, so even the investment banks are going to have a tough time matching this past quarter's operating performance numbers."

Look at Table 8 below to see the results of the week. Not pretty for LEH, DB, MS or JPM.

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Here's the XLF Monthly, Weekly, Daily and Hourly data charts:

XLF Monthly data:

XLF Weekly data:

XLF Daily data:

XLF Hourly data:

Table 8: Senior financial company equities

Sorted by 1-Week Price Performance

Symbol	Close	1Day Change	1Day %Change	1W %Change	2W %Change	4W %Change	YTD %Change	3M %Change	6M %Change	12M %Change
MER	72.73	-0.40	-0.55%	0.21%	0.59%	7.76%	6.24%	-1.72%	-0.08%	23.52%
HBC	90.09	-0.46	-0.51%	-0.58%