Madmaxx
As I got back to work today ....
On March 24, 1998 the S&P 500 closed at 1105 and today the S&P 500 closed at 1349. That is 244 points in 10 years for about 22%, or a 2.2% annualized gross return. But if you add in the average annual dividends of 1.8-2.2%, this brings you up for a total return of about 4%. The long term charts (from 1927 to 2007) usually show the S&P Total average of ~10%. Remember that the S&P 500 has over 20% in financial stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (30 stocks) on March 24, 1998 closed at 8,904 and today, 10 years later, closed at 12,548, for 3644 points, for about a 40% 10 year return, or about 4% plus 1-.8-2% dividends for about a 6% annualized return.
Again, this shows the upswing of the late 90's, tech bust of 2000, Iraq war bottom in 2003, and now the housing and credit crunch. What a ride.
Everyone is saying how good gold is, but in the last week, Gold has dropped from $1,011 to $925! A gold bubble?
Over the long term (over 10 years), small cap stocks have out performed the broader market, but I didn't pull the stats.
Talking heads? Are we at the bottom? Are we already comming out of the recession? See our talking head David Darst, Chief US Invesmtment Stratagist for Morgan Stanley on Bloomberg today:
www.bloomberg.com/index.html?intro=intro3
If you want an E-Ticket ride, cut back on the Starbucks and stick with a 427 Cobra.
