ASCOD       Consumer Discretionary                          

ASENE         Energy                                                                  

ASFIN          Financials                                   performance

ASGRO        Growth                                       

ASHLT         Health                                       

ASIND         Industrials                                 

ASMAT         Materials                                   

ASQLY         Guality                                      

ASTEH         Technology                               

ASVAL          Value                                      

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ASFIN

This fund has long   term track records.

Inception:   Jan 24, 2003 
# of Securities:   79
Since Inception 176.79% 
(Annualized)      36.72% 

                                                                                more

2007 "Castaway Pick"

GS  Goldman Sachs Group Inc NYSE $199.35  astuk, lturner

Sectors Outlook 

Sector:FINANCIALS
For U.S. regional banks, I expect earnings growth rates will slow to 6.6% in the fourth quarter of 2006 from 7.4% in the third quarter, because of the inverted yield curve.
The fourth quarteris going to be difficult for the regional banks and thrifts due to the yield environment.
I believe that loan growth will offset net interest margin pressure, as competition for loans remained fierce.
This caused many thrifts and banks to moderate loan growth while waiting for more favorable funding conditions. Those with investment
banking activities should fare the best.
To expect property-casualty insurers to post significantly improved fourth-quarter operating earnings (9% to 12% in many cases) in the absence of any significant catastrophe claims, favorable contributions from investment
income, and the positive effect of share buybacks.

ASFIN  Top Holdings:

Sector: ENERGY

Oil and gas prices have retreatedsignificantly from last year’s
record levels, owing to forecasts of reduced oil-demand growth
rising inventories, and warmer-than-expected
weather in some parts of the United States.
President George W. Bush’s proposal to attain total energy independence
could serve to bring more profits to domestic oil companies, but the
idea of complete energy independence is not very realistic.
The United States remain increasingly dependent on
imports, and that is not likely tochange.” The Independent Petroleum
Association of America predicted that the annual growth rate in
crude oil imports would increase 1.6% from 2005 to 2010 and
0.8% from 2010 to 2015. In his State of the Union address, the
president announced a goal of reducing gasoline consumption in
the United States by 20% in 10 years by increasing the use of biofuels
and promoting conservation. Plans to increase the use of biofuels,
in excess of what can be achieved economically, may be
putting a crimp on refiners’ plans for expansions.
.
Probably the oil prices will remain relatively high and volatile
in 2007, supported by continued strong demand.
Outlook for contract drilling and equipment group is to remain strong.
Most of the industry’s largest companies are confident the current
environment of strong demand for all types of oil equipment and
services will last well into 2008.

Recent thought:

An odd  2007 Outlook ?
Despite a plethora of different Market Outlooks these days, more or less approximate, I see 2007 as business as usual along with less disciplined and more emotional investors with same hunger to trade, many times passing right over an obvious, consistent advantages, like thinking long term or making same mistake like trading too much etc, trying to find an edge in the game. Maybe to concur with John Maynard Keynes an his saying that financial markets are driven by what he called “animal spirits,” the most powerful being fear and greed or with Alan Greenspan saying that there is one important caveat to the notion that we live in a new economy, and that is human psychology. . . which appears essentially immutable ?
In the end, 2007, is just a year, very short period of time that even a divination isn't of great help. But, if you edge the Wall Street out at the last moment than all years will present an equal chance to win, otherwise, everything becomes arbitrary. As usual, the investor's psychology: mano a mano with financial markets.

Yes I know if you're strong in psychology, you aren't necessarily strong in the stock market , but it helps to  understand a lot about market psychology too.

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