Oil Majors Down Today, But Up For Week

It was another down day for Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Schlumberger, but overall an up week for the oil-related companies.

Next week is a holiday week, with no trading on Thursday, so have some turkey and enjoy yourself. After all, as my cousin Tom says, "Lots of eating, football and wine. Yes, please!"

Cramer Endorses Slobby (SLB)

Jim Cramer said it is probably a good time to buy oil services equipment provider Schlumberger (SLB), or "Slobby" as it is known on the trading floor because of its symbol, SLB. He thinks a low may have been put in around the 70 mark.

Anyone a fan of Ric Edelman? I am. Really enjoy his radio show. He seems to be the most logical financial adviser out there. He's pretty funny, too, so it keeps it entertaining and not dry and stuffy, as financial shows can sometimes be. Here's a link to his latest radio show, in which he reveals "The Key to Building Wealth." 

Is Sears Going Full Press in Online Sales?

Sears Holdings recently hired a number of e-commerce execs in an apparent attempt to boost its online sales. Check out this article from Inside Investor.

Heat From The Sun -- What's Not To Like?

I like this article on why the market for Solar Panels is heating up, from MarketWatch's Myra P. Saefong September 4th. SCTY, SolarCity, is in the Galway Fund as of Monday. Wall Street analysts are looking for price targets from $66 to nearly $100 a share. It's trading this afternoon relatively unchanged around $49.

Stocks to watch:

ENERGY
Schlumberger (SLB), the oil services equipment provider, and Chevron (CVX).

SLB is trading at 76.20, + 3.5% today; our 6-month target is 85 by March, 2016
CVX is trading at 78.10, + 2% today; target is 90 by March, 2016
SCTY is trading flat around $49 today; target is 90 by March, 2016

MEDIA
Disney (DIS) should benefit when the latest Star Wars sequel is released in December.

DIS is trading flat around $103.50; our target is 125 by March, 2016

TECHNOLOGY
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is rumored to be working on a TV streaming service that will cost $40 a month. If that comes to fruition -- as J.P. Morgan said it will -- then Apple should rise nicely.

AAPL is slightly off at $116, - 0.4% today; our 6-month target is 130 by March, 2016


Disclaimer: As always this blog is my opinion only. All quotes are courtesy of Marketwatch.com, a Dow Jones Company. We do not give tax or investment advice or advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. You should always seek the assistance of a professional for tax and investment advice. 

Interest Rates Will Rise Again, But When?

Seems the stock market is waiting forever for the Fed to raise interest rates. This uncertainty is leading investors to take a "risk off" approach, and thus we have the 10% correction we've lived through the past few months.

Thomas H. Kee Jr. speculated on Marketwatch today that if Fed Chair Janet Yellen raises rates, it could lead to a market crash, because the Fed's curtailing of its economic stimulus plan has amounted to a tightening monetary policy, and any further tightening (by raising interest rates) would be a problem. Especially for those owning stocks.

I tend to think the market has priced in a rise in interest rates, and the market may rise when it finally happens, assuming the Fed is transparent about being willing to loosen monetary policy in the future if the economy starts to stumble. According to most metrics -- employment, corporate earnings -- the American economy is booming, and I continue to see it doing so.

Stocks to watch:

Schlumberger (SLB), the oil services equipment provider, and Chevron (CVX) may recover if Saudi Arabia succumbs to pressure from less well-heeled members of OPEC and is forced to stop flooding the market with oil.

SLB is trading at 72.69; our 6-month target is 85 by March, 2016
CVX is trading at 75.78; target is 90 by March, 2016

Disney (DIS) should benefit when the latest Star Wars sequel is released in December.

DIS is trading at 103.75; our target is 125 by March, 2016

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is rumored to be working on a TV streaming service that will cost $40 a month. If that comes true -- as J.P. Morgan said it will in a note today -- then apple should rise nicely.

AAPL is trading at 115.33; our 6-month target is 130 by March, 2016


Disclaimer: As always this blog is my opinion only. We do not give tax or investment advice or advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. You should always seek the assistance of a professional for tax and investment advice. 

Where's That Correction?

Dow up 200+ points today. Everyone's nervous about a pullback. We got a scare last week. Now, will we dip a bit tomorrow and finish strong Thursday and Friday? Who knows. Consumer and Producer Prices are on the docket. Perhaps investors will be spooked when high gas prices skew the results. Then again, there's a chance that's already priced in, and the sky is the limit. Here we go? CVX hitting new all-time high today. Coke trading ex-dividend and over $70. Wal-Mart back over $60. Disney sloughing off mediocre sales of its new blockbuster, "John Carter." Hold onto your hats!

Commodities still rising

After OPEC's failure to meet a consensus on raising output this week, it looks like oil prices will continue to rise. We think this means continued growth for Chevron. It's been a tough couple of months but the stock closed at $101.23 today after bottoming out in the $98-99 range. Credit Suisse, S&P and others have a target of $118 to 120; I think CVX will reach that by August.

Looking for Coke to rise above $70 by August. It's trading around $65 right now.

Summer's here; the next 3 months are looking up!