Stock Trader’s Alamanac 2012

       Now in its 45th annual edition, the Stock Trader’s Almanac 2012 (Wiley; October 2011; $45.00, 978-1-118-04869-6; Hardcover and Ebook) is packed with loads of new features, including a 15-year projection for the Dow that provides ample opportunity for long-term investors to accumulate stocks at a discount over the next several years and for nimble traders to capitalize on a volatile range bound market. Following up on last year’s forecast for the Next Super Boom to start in 2017 and carry the Dow up 500% to 38,820 by 2025 (expanded on in his book Super Boom: Why the Dow Jones Will Hit 38,820 and How You Can Profit From It; Wiley, April 2011), Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey A. Hirsch projects “a continuing sideways market through the year 2017 or 2018 with the Dow remaining in a range of roughly 7,000 to 14,000 before it takes off” on this 500% move. Hirsch continued, “Rising inflation from massive government spending and easy monetary policy over the next 5-10 years will begin to taper off as the stock market begins to inflate six-fold.” Relying on market behavior and global economic trends as well as monthly, seasonal, annual, and four-year cycle patterns during the last three major boom and bust cycles of the 20th century, Hirsch expects several tests of Dow 10,000 and resistance to hold at 14,000. “Dow 8,000 is likely to come under fire in 2013-2014 as we withdraw from Afghanistan. Resistance will likely be met in 2015-2017 near 13,000-14,000. Another test of 8,000-support in 2017-2018 is expected as inflation begins to level off and the next Super Boom commences.”
       This must-have investment tool has a wealth of information organized in a calendar format. It alerts readers to little-known market patterns and tendencies that help investors forecast market trends with accuracy and confidence. The data and analyses in the Almanac are relied upon by savvy professionals, from well-known money managers to journalists. Allowing shrewd investors to maximize profit potential, STA is the ultimate desktop market data bank, showing the market’s likely direction every hour, day, week, and month based on historical precedent. In addition, sector seasonalities that were revamped last year to include several consistent shorting opportunities have been expanded and updated with this edition. STA transforms investing into a business framework and makes investing easier by presenting new techniques and tools, providing pertinent statistics on past market performance, and supplying forms necessary for portfolio management.
       Created by Jeff Hirsch and the Hirsch Organization, tools and strategies contained in STA include:
       The January Barometer: Predicts that stock market performance during the month of January sets the direction for the entire year. In fact, every down January for the S&P 500 since 1950 has been followed by a new or continuing bear market, a 10% correction or a flat year. The indicator has registered only seven majors errors since 1950 for an 88.5% accuracy ratio. In 2010, the S&P 500 was down 3.7%, but after a 16.0% correction, the year ultimately ended up as the market was buoyed by the Fed’s QE2. In 2011, the S&P was up by 2.3% in January, which bodes well for full-year gains in 2011 though current conditions suggest gains will be modest.
       Also included are: The Best Six Months Switching Strategy, Four-Year Presidential Election/Stock Market Cycle and much more.
       About the Editor-In-Chief: Jeffrey A. Hirsch is editor-in-chief of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, Commodity Trader’s Almanac, and the Almanac Investor newsletter. He has been a market analyst and historian with the Hirsch Organization since 1990. He regularly appears on major news networks such as CNBC, CNN, FOX, and Bloomberg. As well as writing numerous financial columns, he is widely quoted in all of the major newspapers and financial papers.
       How To Order: Stock Trader’s Almanac 2012 is available at www.wiley.com (special offer, 1-800-225-5945), Amazon.com and major book stores.