The Elephant

Four blind men were asked to give a description of an elephant. They had not seen one or ever encountered such a beast.

One grabbed hold of its tail. Another put his arms around a leg. The third gripped its trunk and the fourth walked into the side. The description given by each one was correct and accurate except it did not describe the elephant's true form. Each man was right and each man was wrong.

We now have some equally blind men trying to describe what is happening in our economy and the stock market - economists, brokers, bankers and financial planners.

The economists say that because of the interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and the huge inflow of cash that the economy will recover in a short time. The bankers opine that all that money that the banks are allowed to loan is not being given to their old customers and they definitely don't want to make new loans to new and unknown companies. The brokers say you are in for the long haul and don't worry the market always comes back. The financial planners have a new plan to diversify your holdings by shifting your money around to take advantage of this current market.

They are all right and they are all wrong. You cannot explain the overall economy with a single solution. We have a complex mix with new ingredients coming to our awareness each day.

To get a better look at this elephant you must stand back not only in distance but in time as well. Ask this question: Where is the country now economically in comparison to September 10 before the terrorist attack? At that time the stock market was going down and we were in a recession. Then the market crashed and the recession was officially declared. The stock market has climbed back up to where it was September 10 and the economists are telling us that the recession may be over.

However, when I look at this elephant it still looks like the same elephant. The basic portions of the economy are still slow and slowing. Unemployment is rising. The banks are not loaning money even though they have it. Venture capitalists are not putting money in new companies. Manufacturing capacity has not come back. We have weaker housing because of higher interest rates and the consumer is spending like he used to. Deflation has reared its ugly head. Most of the new spending has been on counter terrorism that is not productive and taxes have not been reduced so the consumer can have more spendable cash. And a lot more.

The stock market rally has been in anticipation of greater corporate profits that could be a long way off.

Now is the time to be wary of whom you listen to before you invest or make any changes in your investments. The elephant being described to you may not look like that at all.

Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.

http://www.mutualfundmagic.com; 1-888-345-7870

Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.

Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.

Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.

Australian construction robot Charlotte uses sand, crushed brick and recycled glass to 3D print fireproof, floodproof homes with reduced carbon footprint.

Cybercriminals are using fake invitation emails to trick recipients into downloading malware and stealing personal information and data.

Flying drones could help retailers fight a 93% increase in theft rates as Flock Safety promotes airborne security systems to track suspects and deter crime.

The Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter brings you the latest news on the emerging technology every Saturday, highlighting top stories.

Hacker group Radiant stole data from 8,000 children at Kido nursery chain, demanding ransom and directly contacting parents with intimidation tactics.

As 18 states implement bell-to-bell cell phone bans, creative students use Google Docs, iMessage on MacBooks and Post-It notes to stay connected in class.

A sheriff's captain says deputies often spend hours writing reports between calls, but Axon's AI program, Draft One, helps them save crucial time in the field.

Sora 2, OpenAI's new video-generation app, can create AI-generated videos based on a singular prompt. The results are both mind-blowing and terrifying.

iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.

Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.

From her Arizona living room, Christina Chapman ran a covert hub that helped North Korean operatives infiltrate U.S. firms, netting $17 million in stolen salaries.

UC Santa Barbara researchers developed a soft robotic intubation system that achieved 100% success rates for experts and 96% for paramedics with minimal training.

Scammers exploit probate filings to target grieving families with fake fees and debts, Kurt "Cyberguy" Knutsson reports.

Automotive giant Stellantis becomes latest victim of widespread Salesforce breaches affecting companies like Google, Cisco and Adidas this year.

A woman from Washington reunited with her missing Maine Coon cat Louie after 11 days using Love Lost, a free AI-powered pet recovery platform.

Expert cybersecurity tips help Mac owners remove malware infections and strengthen defenses with antivirus software, password managers and system updates.

Meta's AI chatbot training rules bans sexual roleplay with minors and block access to child abuse material as regulators scrutinize its safety measures.

Online banking users face a new threat: web injection scams that overlay fake pop-ups to steal logins. Here’s how to spot them and protect your accounts.

Meta introduced Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger while launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. educators to report bullying within 48 hours.

Executive order signed by President Donald Trump tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission with using AI to find new cures for childhood cancers.

New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.

Step-by-step instructions help users migrate to Windows 11 while preserving emails, contacts, documents, and software licenses during the transition.

The Elephant

Stocks & Mutual Fund