03 Mar The Daily Stock Report

The stock market stalled today with the Senate testimony of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Secretary Treasurer Geithner as investors looked for positive clues about the economy and the effectiveness of the stimulus and banking plans.

We didn’t get the big down day with high volume that we wanted to give us the high odds bottom to start buying stocks long but we should know in the next couple of days if we get that. In the meantime, if the market doesn’t give us a decisive bottom stocks could start creeping up slowly instead of rebounding up sharply like the overstretched bungie cord.

Most of the banks still drifted lower and note we could see BAC and WFC make a decent rebound if they drop further first. Watch these two as the first to rebound.

REPEAT: Banking stocks followed through with their declines as forecasted with WFC, Wells Fargo dropping another 10.4%, BAC down 8.1%, USB down 8.4%, JPM down7.4% and C down 2% (no position in C). Two out of the six bank stocks that were short sales were covered today, WFC and BAC. The remaining four have more downside left with JPM and KEY looking like tomorrow is the right day to cover.

Oil was up 2% today.

Intermediate Trade Positions: New ideas: Most of the banks still drifted lower and note we could see BAC and WFC make a decent rebound if they drop further first. Watch these two as the first to rebound. Consider buying gradually small positions long and for the more conservative investor, you could wait until they start moving up before buying.

GE, General Electric, is ripe for a rebound even though this stock normally doesn’t move much. Gradual buying in small increments would be smart.

OEX, S&P 100 is getting close to being a buy; this is a good index to trade options. The spread is tighter with higher volume which gives you higher liquidity. Make sure you expiration month is at least several months out.

Swing Trades: New Ideas: HUM, Humana Health is worth a small position long as well as UNH, United Health Group.

Day Traders/Intraday stock ideas: Excellent intraday trading today and likely to continue tomorrow. FSLR, First Solar is moving up so the drop is likely to be shallow with a bigger pop. Continue to watch ICE, BLK, CME, POT, MON, MOS, AMZN, AAPL, FSLR, BIDU, USB, WFC, JPM and any high volume, high volatility stocks.

Notes: The market still wants to react to positive news, as if to look for excuses to buy and speculate on a bull run.

I am still expecting some sort of substantial rally in the stock market sometime this year mostly driven by the massive stimulus that has already been poured into the system plus the planned stimulus package being proposed now. Longer term though, in a couple years down the road, no doubt the taxpayer is going to have to pay for such the high debt amounts that the US government (and other countries) have taken on. So tax rates probably will rise in coming years, interest rates will very likely have to rise as inflation surfaces and likely the bear market resumes sometime down the road. But we don’t have to be stuck in a miserable cycle like most investors. With the techniques and approach to the market, we will still thrive.

If you have been uncomfortable shorting stocks, which most people are, learn to get used to it, this will be a useful tool in the coming years.

When I list several stocks from the same sector, like the housing industry for example, don’t short all of them unless you are well diversified and it represents a small percentage of your total stock account (in that same account).
REPEAT: Keep an eye out for biotechs; they are building momentum and often do well in January.
SWI (SWING): 2-7 days INT: Intermediate term position 8 days to several months. Open Price: price paid on opening long position or price sold on short position. Bold notes on table above represent changes from previous day.
Current positions are highlighted in yellow. Green colored lines are next probable positions to consider. Red, take action or watch closely.

Thoughts: Best odds only, be decisive, aggressive, mentally flexible, stay in position size, don’t overtrade and wait a little longer to buy and wait a little longer to sell. You will find that will make you more money on your trades. Trade what you see, not what you hope for. Intermediate and swing trades are really important to have trailing stop losses set.
Don’t trade unless the setup is there for you, then use the charts to tell you when the odds are heavily in your favor. Don’t force anything to work for you, let the setups develop and then take advantage of that. Be patient. Stay in position sizes without letting any intraday trade represent no more than 10-15% of your total account value. As you build your account, your position size percentage should get smaller and smaller to lower your risk.

Rowan Gibson shares his thoughts on innovating healthcare in his latest online column

Rowan Gibson is a global business strategist, a bestselling author and an expert on radical innovation. He is also one of world’s most in-demand business speakers. Rowan’s books have been translated into over 20 languages. His new book Innovation to the Core (co-authored with Peter Skarzynski) was published in March 2008 by Harvard Business School Press.

Below is Rowan’s latest online column looking at innovating our healthcare systems and rethinking and improving the way things are done.
Innovating Healthcare

The first modern hospitals were founded in Europe and America in the 18th century. About a hundred years later, both the pharmaceutical industry and the health insurance industry began to emerge. So it’s safe to say that, in much of the developed world, the healthcare business has been around for about two or three centuries. And, over time, like most other businesses, it has become bigger, better and faster. But has it actually become different in any essential ways? Not really. Yet that’s about to change. In a world of hyper-accelerating change, global competition, rapidly commoditized products and services, and unprecedented patient primacy, the industry is waking up to the need to reinvent itself from top to bottom for a whole new era.

Over the last few years, I’ve been spending a disproportionate amount of time with healthcare people. Not because I’m sick (thankfully!). But because there’s a growing recognition right across the industry that the strategies and business models of the last couple of centuries may no longer be fit for purpose. The world is simply changing so much, and so quickly, that the old ways of doing things (and they are very old) are looking increasingly archaic, perhaps even obsolete.

As regular readers of this column will know, my approach to radical rethinking and renewal is centered on a set of strategy tools called the “Four Lenses of Innovation”. Briefly, they are: challenging orthodoxies, harnessing trends, leveraging resources in new ways, and addressing unmet customer needs. And if we look at what is happening in the healthcare industry around the globe, we can see numerous and very exciting examples of these four “lenses” in action. Here are just a few.

One of the stubbornly enduring orthodoxies in hospital management is the age-old notion that we all make mistakes – “to err is human”. Everyone has heard horror stories of people having the wrong leg amputated, or getting an operation that was meant for the patient next door. Every year in the U.S., for example, millions of hospital patients suffer injuries – about 100,000 of them fatal! – from things like false medication, incorrect dosage, inefficient diagnostics, duplicated procedures, and so forth. Yet in healthcare, people have long accepted these medical errors as “part of the system”. This is clearly an orthodoxy that must be challenged. When IBM took a good look at what was going wrong – and all too often it was stupid things like illegible handwriting, misplaced decimal points, missed drug interactions and allergies – they realized they could alleviate the problem. They offered to use IT to help hospitals manage their patient data a lot more effectively, in much the same way that companies manage their supply chains. This was the birth of IBM Life Sciences, which has grown from a 2-person unit in 2000 to a multi-billion dollar, 1500-employee business today.

Consider another orthodoxy – this time in the pharmaceutical industry. The traditional pharma model is based on drug discovery – testing thousands of compounds to see if any of them makes a measurable difference. It’s a model that has essentially remained unchanged since the industry got started in the 19th century—the only difference being the scale and efficiency with which today’s pharma companies can manage the compound-testing process. Today, however, a new set of players has emerged – companies like Amgen, Genentech, and Genzyme – where the business model is focused on understanding disease mechanisms (i.e., genetic diseases, immune system disorders, heart disease, cancer) and creating targeted products that address those mechanisms. Their promise is “personalized medicine,” in which the therapy can be matched to an individual’s own unique genetic makeup, as opposed to big pharma’s “mass medicine” model. By innovating around gene-based therapy, which is based on completely different skills and assets from conventional drug-making, this new breed of pharma companies is fundamentally changing the game. Which explains why Swiss pharma giant Roche was recently so focused on swallowing up biotech pioneer Genentech.

Now think about trends. Look at what’s happening in the technology field alone – from e-health to handheld scanners, mobile information devices, telemedicine, surgical robots, remote diagnostics, “integrated digital hospitals”, 24/7 access to full medical records, and the list goes on. Or consider the parallel trend “from high tech to high-touch”, where design elements such as nature, color, lighting, noise reduction, and so forth, are being used by a few cutting-edge hospitals to promote what is known as a “healing environment” that treats both body and soul.

Then there are healthcare providers that leverage their resources in novel ways to create new value for customers. India’s Apollo Hospital Group, for example, which is the largest healthcare provider in Asia, and the third largest in the world, uses its expertise to offer medical business process outsourcing – i.e. writing of diagnosis reports, medical coding, billing etc. – to hospitals right across America. And for many of these hospitals, Apollo take cares of radiology, X-rays, ultrasound, CTs and MRIs when it’s nighttime in the U.S., taking advantage of the time difference. The company’s IT-enabled services already generate tens of billions of dollars.

And what about unmet customer needs? Again, there are great examples. Like Florida Hospital, where staff did “day in the life” profiling of patients so they could better understand and address their problems and frustrations. Or California’s Fresno Surgical Hospital, which has modeled itself on the Ritz Carlton hotel to offer a “5-star patient experience” –including luxury rooms, mini-bars, art on the walls, and food prepared by a Ritz-Carlton chef.

True, many of these examples are still about improving what has always been done. But as all this exciting innovation activity continues, I believe we’ll soon see the healthcare industry doing things it has never done before.

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Business Development for Tomorrow?Prospecting for New Clients

Even though existing clients are a prime source for new matters and referrals, by no means should you neglect your prospecting for new clients. The key to expanding your client base is to think in terms of specific industries – health care or biotech, for example – rather than narrow practice areas.

In other words, market what you want, not what you do – which means establishing Industry Practice Groups within your firm.

Identify which industries you wish to target
Consider first your existing relationships within a particular industry, as well as your firm’s current expertise, then research the profitability and the sophistication of the legal work required. Look at projected growth of the industry in your geographic areas, and consider what competing firms have done.

Appoint strong and committed group leaders
This is a critical decision that should not be based solely on seniority or your current book of business. Industry Practice Group chairs have to be capable and effective marketers, willing to lead by example, are respected within the firm, and, above all, are passionately committed to the Industry Practice Group model.

Determine group members
It’s a good idea to let your attorneys select the group or groups themselves. Some attorneys might want to participate in more than one group, and that’s okay. But they should declare a primary affiliation with one group, not three or four.

Develop a Practice Group profile
Get the ball rolling by having the Group chair prepare a written profile that sets forth basic information about the Group, including current clients, referral sources, key trade organizations, etc. The profile serves as a starting point for discussions and as a roadmap for ongoing business development for the Group.

Hold the Group’s first meeting
We suggest lunch meetings that last 60-90 minutes. Have an agenda and relevant handouts, track attendance, and distribute meeting notes within a few days after the meeting.

Meet monthly to discuss business development
For best results, Industry Practice Groups should hold monthly meetings that focus exclusively on business development. Lunchtime seems to work best for many firms.

Develop Industry Practice Group descriptions
Keep them short and easy to read…no more than 500 words. Avoid legal jargon and tortuous syntax. Include brief case studies that demonstrate the firm’s industry expertise. These descriptions can also serve as springboards for marketing materials for the Group.

Develop a Group Marketing Plan
Keep it simple and focused. Use the techniques discussed in Chapter 1.. For prospecting new clients, consider getting involved in industry trade organizations and seminars, and providing industry-focused law alerts and related communications.

Develop Individual Attorney marketing plans
This is the chance for Group members to set forth their contributions to the Group’s plan, as well as their other marketing and business development activities. The latter includes enhancing relationships with existing clients and referral sources, and getting involved in key industry trade groups.

As the individual plans generate results, New Client Welcome Kits start a relationship on the right note. Include a letter from the managing partner, Industry Practice Group contact list, firm brochure, practice group description, and a client service pledge.  

While you’re at it, ask a new client the method (phone, email) and frequency of communications they prefer, then deliver updates and progress reports accordingly.  Invite new clients to visit your offices. Introduce them to the lawyers, paralegals, support staff, etc., who comprise the Practice Group.

Provide adequate resources
As we discussed in the section on planning, most law firms spend 2-3% of gross revenue on marketing and business development. We encourage you to make it 3-4%. Most of these dollars should be invested in programs that enhance relationships with existing clients and referral sources.

Measure and reward desired behavior (even when it’s not billable!)
Enlightened firms are finding ways to measure and reward non-billable contributions, including business development. Start by measuring non-billable time invested in meaningful activities. Consider establishing a bonus pool to recognize these contributions.

Look for meaningful results in 12-24 months
Results will not come overnight. It takes time to build relationships and see the results of an effective marketing program. Look for a payback in 12-24 months. If your firm develops and implements an effective industry group-oriented marketing program, you’ll see great results for years to come.

Gut Feelings

Gut Feelings

It never ceases to amaze us in our naturopathic medical practices how many individuals come in for an office visit complaining of symptoms that they don’t realize are related to digestive health.  In fact, a large number of the patients we see are constipated, yet they often don’t realize that their lack of regularity may be impacting several other aspects of their overall health.

The relationship between digestive function and health is so intertwined that researches studying conditions as diverse as arthritis, autism, ADHD, skin conditions, depression, and decreased cognitive function have found an undeniable association between these conditions and gastrointestinal health.

The digestive tract constitutes a significant component of our immune system. It’s one of the main routes of exposure from the outside world because it is in constant contact with the foods we eat and microbes, toxins, and pesticides from our environment.  The gastrointestinal system acts as both a physical barrier against harmful agents from a structural standpoint, and an immunological barrier as the site of production for immunoglobulins and other immune proteins, which defend against potential infections.

Given the all-important role our digestive tract plays, it’s important to understand what it takes to keep this system functioning at the top of its game.

Products That Can Help

There are many products that can aid in maintaining digestive health.  Among them are the following:

Thorne Research Medibulk – This product provides supplemental soluble fiber as a combination of psyllium powder, prune powder, and apple pectin.  Soluble fiber has mucilaginous properties and provides bulk for bowel movements, which can ultimately enhance intestinal health by removing toxins.  Supplementing with these sources of fiber may have cardiovascular benefits as they can lower cholesterol levels.

Doctor’s Best: Best Digestive Enzymes and Betaine HCl Pepsin & Gentian Bitters – These products complement one another nicely.  Best Digestive Enzymes contain vegetarian fungal-derived enzymes that are active at a wide pH range and are therefore not inactivated by stomach acid.  They support the proper digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.  Betaine HCl Pepsin & Gentian Bitters is a supplemental source of hydrochloric acid (HCl), as stomach-acid secretion often decreases as a result of aging and other factors.  The product also contains pepsin, an enzyme produced by the body to break down proteins in the stomach, which works as a complement to stomach acid.  Gentian bitters function to stimulate the secretion of digestive enzymes.

Ganeden Biotech’s Digestive Advantage and Sustenex – These products contain GanedenBC30, a novel lactic acid-producing probiotic that has the advantage of high survivability with exposure to process conditions, heat, and stomach acids.  These products have been clinically shown to promote digestive and immune health.  Supplemental probiotic bacteria help support the body’s own friendly bacteria, which produce numerous beneficial by-products and play critical roles in the functioning of the body’s digestive process and immune response to pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

Cell Nutritionals’ Constant Health – This is a comprehensive digestive and immune-support formula with a base of brown rice protein powder that is designed to be taken as a shake.  It contains several types of fiber, including red raspberry seeds, apple fiber and cellulose, anti-inflammatory herbs such as turmeric and boswellia, anti-oxidants such as grape seed extract and Nacetyl cysteine, a host of essential vitamins and minerals, along with other nutrients to promote intestinal health, immune wellness, and optimal detoxification.

Ritter Nutrition’s Better Digestion – To avoid health problems and help the digestive system, avoid unhealthy foods and consume an adequate amount of dietary fiber. One can supplement this with friendly probiotic bacteria that helps protect the intestinal flora and take digestive enzyme supplements. One such product that offers both, as well as beneficial herbal extracts is Better Digestion. Better Digestion is a natural daily supplement designed specifically to enhance overall digestive health, bowel function and wellness. It contains Lactobacillis Acidophilus, Bifidobactierum Bifidum, and Bacillus Coagulans, Three essential probiotics that strengthen the microflora in the small intestine and improve overall digestion. Ginger Root and Chamomile Herbs that help calm and soothe the irritation in the digestive system are also found along with Amylase, a powerful enzyme that reduces the amount of stress on the digestive system, by assisting in the breakdown of food.

Purity Products’ TriGest ZC – This formula features PepZin GI zinc L-carnosine, a zinc complex that has been studied for years in Japan for its ability to heal ulcers and inhibit mucosal inflammation caused by H. pylori.  By decreasing gastric inflammation, it allows the tissue of the stomach wall to heal.  In addition, this product contains broad-spectrum digestive enzymes to support digestive function and the probiotic is a unique strain of Bacillus coagulans, a beneficial bacterium that transiently populates the intestinal tract and restores a healthy bacterial balance.

Dietary Habits

Proper dietary habits can lead to optimal functioning of the digestive tract.  However, improper dietary habits, toxins, and microbes from our environment can lead to crucial digestive deficits that can ultimately be a contributing factor to a variety of diseases.  Consuming adequate dietary fiber is an important step in establishing a healthy digestive system.  Fiber also confers protection against colon cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Beyond fiber, there are several factors that aid in maintaining digestive health.  These include promoting a healthy bacterial balance in the intestines by supplementing with beneficial probiotic organisms, supporting the structural integrity of gut tissue by consuming nutrients that provide fuel for cellular health, and maintaining optimal digestive enzyme and stomach acid production to help with proper digestion of foods.  By addressing these fundamentals, one can ensure that digestive function remains optimal.  Good digestive health is a harbinger of good overall health.  As someone once said, “The road to health is paved with good intestines.”

Fiber and Digestive Health

Fiber is a major component of whole plant foods such as nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  Since fiber cannot be digested, it passes through the digestive system intact.
There are two types of fiber in general – soluble and insoluble.  Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel-like substance due to its polysaccharides.  It consists of the gums and pectins and is found in fruits, vegetables, and beans.

Insoluble fiber, or cellulose, does not dissolve in water.  Whole grains, as well as vegetables, are the most common source of insoluble fiber.  Because soluble fiber turns into a gel-like substance and slows the digestive process, it allows for nutrients to be absorbed more slowly.  It also plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of glucose from the diet.

Soluble fiber can benefit cholesterol levels by absorbing the cholesterol and lipids present in the digestive tract, causing them to be excreted.  Insoluble fiber acts as a cleanser.  Since it can’t be dissolved, it functions to regulate digestive function by keeping the intestines clean of toxins and waste products as well as providing the bulking you need to prevent constipation.  Fiber also regulates appetite by increasing satiety.  Both types of fiber are necessary for digestive health.

Fiber as a Prebiotic

Several types of soluble fiber such as inulin and oligosaccharides have health benefits resulting from their prebiotic effects.  As prebiotics, they support the growth and health of several species of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.

Although humans don’t digest dietary fiber, several bacterial strains thrive by fermenting prebiotics.  Healthy bacteria, including the important Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, preferentially metabolize inulin and oligosaccharides.  An added benefit of this metabolism is the production of several short-chain fatty acids, which are beneficial for colon health and which can actually increase the absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

The end result, contributing to the health of the beneficial bacterial species, is repopulation of the gastrointestinal tract, pushing out any potentially pathogenic bacterial and yeast species, as well as an overall reduction in guy inflammation due to the immune system support.

Fiber further contributes to healing from gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and diarrhea.  It also aids in healing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as effects of infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Nutritional Outlook. May 2009

Raleigh Real Estate | Discover North Carolina’s Best

Set aside for a moment any misconception you might have about Raleigh. Consider it anew. Like the rest of the country, Raleigh is working hard to pull itself out of a recession. It is using its vast arsenal of economic muscle to enter the coming years with a healthy city budget. But to set aside misconceptions, you need to understand the mechanics of Raleigh’s economy, culture and politics.

Raleigh is divided into seven neighborhoods. Downtown is the epicenter, housing historic homes, boutique shops and fine restaurants. It is a pleasant walking area that attracts many annual visitors for its eclectic culture and regional tastes.

East Raleigh works as a kind of corridor, connecting many of the city’s main roads and allowing traffic to flow in and out of the area.

West Raleigh lies along Hillsborough Street and Western Boulevard. It is home to many colleges, churches and museums. It also serves as a thoroughfare, but many people still call this area home. An array of stately mansions and beautiful southern homes line the streets.

North Raleigh is a growing suburban area with diverse neighborhoods and attractions. It has a generous amount of stores, restaurants and schools. Many young families call this area home, with parents either working within the suburb or traveling into the city center.

Midtown Raleigh, which used to be considered part of North Raleigh, is now its own neighborhood that boasts many residential and commercial real estate properties. Its shopping centers, parks, and streets lined with Oak trees make it a pleasant place to live and work.

South Raleigh and Southeast Raleigh are bound to downtown, but remain individual places, steeped in history and regional culture. In these areas there are numerous museums, concert venues and other attractions that focus on the Civil War and various significant time periods in the south’s history.

Raleigh’s industrial base includes electrical, medical, electronic and telecommunications equipment; clothing and apparel; food processing; paper products; and pharmaceuticals. Raleigh is part of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, one of the country’s largest and most successful research parks and a major center in the United States for high-tech and biotech research, as well as advanced textile development. The city is a major retail shipping point for eastern North Carolina and a wholesale distributing point for the grocery industry.

Despite the country’s troubled economy, Raleigh maintains a steady, healthy way of life, celebrating its rich, mountainous surroundings and substantial contributions to modern day business and cultural with a peaceful way of life and southern charm.

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