Morning Journal-Selective transparency

Economics

This Week’s Data

The International Council of Shopping Centers reported weekly sales of major retailers up 1.0% versus the prior week and up 3.3% versus the comparable period a year ago; Redbook Research reported month to date retail chain store sales up 1.3% on a year over year basis.

The June Richmond Fed’s manufacturing index came in at -17.0 versus expectations of 0.0.
http://advisorperspectives.com/dshort/commentaries/Richmond-Fed-Manufacturing.php

Weekly mortgage applications rose 0.9% while purchase applications fell 3.0%.

Other
 Politics
 Domestic

Selective transparency---Obama versus Romney (medium):
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/310378/selective-transparency-victor-davis-hanson

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

More quarterly earnings per share reports:

Reported Expected

Sigma Aldrich $.97 $.97
Illinois Tool Works 1.11 1.10
Altera .50 .39
Total System Services .35 .32
CH Robinson .71 .71
Linear Technology .44 .47
Caterpillar 2.54 2.30
Boeing 1.27 1.11
General Dynamics 1.77 1.74
Pepsico 1.12 1.09
Praxair 1.42 1.42

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.