Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat's commentary for the week of June 12, 2012?

Article Excerpt

Last Wednesday, June 6, the Dow industrials moved up by 125 points after a two-month decline, and many investors wondered what happened in Europe to make stocks go up so much. I think that’s the wrong question. My view is that the market went up because of results in elections the day before in Wisconsin and in the second- and third-largest California cities, San Jose and San Diego. Investors are generally focused on Europe’s finances, since that’s what’s in the news. But many successful investors are more concerned about where the U.S. is headed in the next few years, and how it will deal with its vastly expanded debt and overwhelming budget deficit. They worry less about Greece’s current finances and more about the risk that in five or 10 years, the U.S. will wind up like Greece. To reach a balance in Greece or the U.S., tax revenues have to go up and/or spending has to come down. But rising taxes…