Shareswatch Australia

Over the last six months stock markets globally have become more volatile as Europe and the U.S. struggle to revive their economies.  To make things more complicated many advanced economies have racked up so much debt during the ‘good times’ that they now don’t have the capacity to spend their way out of trouble.  There will be no quick fixes and the situation is worrying enough to even rattle the commodities bulls.

If you are confused about the conflicting  reports regarding the Australian economy and outlook for the stock market you are not alone.  Much of this confusion is caused by financial journalists who one day are talking about a double dip recession and then suddenly switch to chirping about a robust Australian economy once some positive economic data appears.

It is time once again to put my ramblings, rants and ruminations for the previous 12 months under the spotlight. Did I correctly spot any stock market or economic trends or should I be standing in the corner with the dunce cap on for most of 2010?

After yesterdays surge on the Australian stock market now is a good time to take in the big picture view and see what the charts may be telling us. It seems clear that the market is trending upwards but for how long will this rally last and can we learn anything from looking back at the S&P/ASX 200 over the last few years?

Often economists, journalists and politicians use so much jargon when talking about the current economic situation that is is hard to follow what they are actually trying to say. Economists for example cannot seem to agree on anything except that they are legends in their own minds, journalists try and fumble through economic discussions and politicians simply try and convince us they know what they are talking about. The simple fact is much of the time all three groups talk utter rubbish.