-Executive Summary-

• A bit lower.  The broader market and DOW (DJ-30) are selling-off a bit – partly in response to todays lack-luster December retail sales data.  Nasdaq issues fared better.  See below.
• The Stock Market Companion re-initiated its Zagg Inc. (Ticker: ZAGG) investment with an SMC Intra-Day ALERT. See more below.

This Stock Market Companion 15MinuteStocks Market Update is a powerful tool designed to help you make money in the stock market.  It’s web-based – available wherever and whenever you are.  It is your essential link to the markets, delivers a broad to narrow summary of important market and company specific conditions and events, and prepares you to be ready for actionable ideas.  We show you when/where we put our own money to work… and when/where we take our profits/losses.  Please see our short (2 minute) website videos for more information.

– Markets “At a Glance” –

(Please scroll down to the end of the report to see your favorite benchmarks – Dollar, Oil, Gold … closing prices and daily direction.)

– Market Trends –

*Summary of terms from Trader Vic II-Principles of Professional Speculation (pg. 140-141)
*_________* Represents a change in trend rating.

– Market Perspectives –

For your added perspective, we’ve included these two different views of the broader market –

1. SMC SP-500 ETF Daily Chart (Click to open helpful chart in a separate browser window).

2. SMC SP-500 Weekly Chart (Spanning back through 2007)

– Today’s Highlights –

The two highlights today that have our attention are December retail sales and Chinese investment in Spanish bonds.

1. December retail sales were a bit of a disappointment as the sales rate towards the end of December slumped compared to the beginning of the holiday season. This is not a big surprise, however it is enough to have cast a bit of a shadow over the market until we have more clarity during earnings season – which starts next week with Alcoa kicking off earnings season.  This news didn’t stop us from initiating a modest investment in Zagg Inc. (Ticker: ZAGG) – see below.

2. Yesterday we read somewhere about a US policy official stating that the US national debt was a national security issue.  There’s someone in the government that has understanding.  Today we read about China publicly declaring that they are proceeding to buy Spanish debt. This should help stabilize the Euro region, but at a price.

– Story-Stock Investing –

Today, Zagg Inc. (Ticker: ZAGG) began pushing higher from yesterday’s favorable close.  We transmitted this SMC Intra-Day Alert –

Dear Subscriber-Friend –

At the SMC, we have re-initiated our investment in Zagg Inc. (Ticker: ZAGG) – the manufacturer of innovative smart phone accessories that are sold primarily at big box stores like Best Buy – but also at mall kiosks…  We have taken a more modest share count here because the market has come a long way without much a pull-back, today is a down day for the market, AND Zagg has not yet pushed decisively above its high at $9.18/share AND there was a strong seller in at around this price point on Dec. 13th and again on Dec. 16th.

Our entry price was $8.789/share and our stop is at $7.70 = just below yesterday’s low.  A more realistic stop would be at around $7.34/share, but we don’t want to give the stock that much room.

Zagg has been basically in a lateral consolidation since mid-October and many of the investors who were in early on the stock at $2-$3/share have had 2+ months to take their profits.  A decisive move above $9/share would have us probably add-to our investment.

For your protection and our own, we would like to remind everyone that this is not an investment recommendation for any particular individual.  We cannot possibly know the risk tolerance and investment suitability of such investments for any particular subscriber. Successful investors know their own objectives, purposes, and risks associated with any investment – whether in real estate, stocks, or other investments.  Each investor is on their own.

We are simply reporting the SMC actions in the market place.

Your – Stock Market Companion

Ford Motor Co. (F) advanced again nicely in the face of some market headwinds. Here is another favorable article on the co.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————

Please remember – at the Stock Market Companion we do not and cannot give individual investment advice. According to the State of Washington RCW 21.20.005 the Stock Market Companion is not a Registered Financial Advisor and we do not render any advice on the basis of the specific investment situation of a particular individual. This information is for a wide readership and is not intended for any particular individual,  and under no circumstances should our SMC Intraday Update, SMC 15MinuteStocks Market Update or Watchlist be considered an investment recommendation or plan for any specific individual.  By accessing this material, you agree that the Stock Market Companion will not be held liable for any actions taken by a subscriber or other parties.  Please seek the counsel of a broker or other licensed investment professional for accurate pricing and concerning the suitability of all investments that you may be considering. Disclosure : Please understand that the Stock Market Companion may hold positions in the above mentioned securities.  Based on market related or personal events these positions may change without notice.

– Stock Market Companion – Current Holdings –

– Stock Market Companion – Performance –

Please click on this chart to see the Stock Market Companion 15MinuteStocks stock performance versus the SP-500.  It will open in a separate browser window.
* Gains (losses) do not include brokerage fees.   Our returns are very strong … BUT …  WE have to remind everyone just like all other financial sites in America – Past Performance is No Guarantee of Future Returns.  Unlike others however, our objective is to teach you to be able to make these types of strong returns On Your Own.

All of the investments – stocks, entries, and exits are listed on our Stock Market Companion Watchlist at the bottom of the spreadsheet, in the section labelled Former Holdings.

– Benchmarks “At a Glance” –

Data Source : Financial Visualizations Inc.

Signing-Off for Today,

Your -Stock Market Companion

** Stock Market Companion Disclaimer **

The Stock Market Companion (SMC) Market Update and Watchlist are published documents to subscribers that show how we (SMC) are viewing the markets and what we are watching, investing in or selling today.  This information is for a wide readership and is not intended for any particular individual,  and under no circumstances should this Market Update or Watchlist be considered an investment recommendation or plan for any specific individual.  By accessing this material, you agree that the Stock Market Companion will not be held liable for any actions taken by a subscriber or other parties.  You understand that the Stock Market Companion holds positions in the above mentioned securities.  Based on market related or personal events these positions may change without notice.

Furthermore, the Stock Market Companion, Inc. is a content provider and publisher and not a registered broker-dealer or licensed investment professional.  Our intent is to publish very accurate market information for an audience of subscribers (1000+ subscribers).  By accessing the Stock Market Companion website and/or using the Stock Market Companion products and services such as this Market Update and accompanying Watchlist, you understand and agree that the material provided in the Stock Market Companion products and services is for informational and educational purposes only, and that no mention of a particular security in a Stock Market Companion product or service constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that or any other security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.  To the extent any of the information contained in any Stock Market Companion product or service may be deemed to be investment advice, such information is impersonal and not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person.  Before selling or buying any stock or other investment you should consult with a qualified broker or other financial professional to verify pricing information and to solicit advice as to the appropriateness of a given transaction or investment.