Morning Journal-Another government 'investment' bites the dust

Economics
This Week’s Data

December new home sales fell 2.5% versus expectations of an increase of 1.5%.
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2012/01/2011-record-low-new-home-sales-and.html

The December leading economic indicators rose 0.4% versus estimates of a 0.7% advance.

Initial fourth quarter GDP was reported up 2.8% versus forecasts of up 3.0%; the GDP deflator came in at +0.4% versus expectations of +2.0%
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2012/01/real-gdp-increased-28-annual-rate-in-q4.html


Politics
Domestic

How much does Buffett’s secretary make? You might be surprised.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2012/01/25/warren-buffetts-secretary-likely-makes-between-200000-and-500000year/?feed=rss_home

Another government ‘investment’ bites the dust (medium):
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/taxpayers-lose-another-1185-million-next-obama-stimulus-pet-project-files-bankruptcy

International

More euro incontinence (medium)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/juncker-breaks-away-propaganda-pack-says-euro-default-will-lead-contagion

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

More earnings per share reports:

Reported Expected

T Row Price $.72 $.66
Alliance Resources 1.93 1.80
Altria .50 .49
Federated Investors .36 .39

Steve Cook received his education in investments from Harvard, where he earned an MBA, New York University, where he did post graduate work in economics and financial analysis and the CFA Institute, where he earned the Chartered Financial Analysts designation in 1973. His 40 years of investment experience includes institutional portfolio management at Scudder, Stevens and Clark and Bear Stearns. Steve's goal at Strategic Stock Investments is to help other investors build wealth and benefit from the investing lessons he learned the hard way.