GE

General Electric Company

Dow Jones

Dow Jones Industrial Average Today Slides with Brexit, Trump's Inauguration in Focus

The Dow Jones Industrial Average today is trending downward in pre-market trading as Trump's inauguration comes into focus.

Global stocks were mainly lower in the morning hours as geopolitical concerns about China, Donald Trump, the Brexit and more leak from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Here's a look at today's most important market events and stocks, plus a look at Tuesday's economic calendar.

Trading Strategies

You Won't Believe How Profitable the Next Four Years Could Be

As the coauthor of the 1998 book "Contrarian Investing: How to Buy and Sell When Others Won't and Make Money Doing It," I've always been willing to take the "other side" of the "consensus view." That willingness – combined with a commitment to the long view – has worked out very well through the years.

So, while most people don't trust politicians – especially presidents – as far as they can throw them, I've found it can pay big when you take the chief executive's words at face value.

Consider this:

In a recent story in The New Yorker, political scientist Michael Krukones tabulated the campaign pledges of presidents – from Woodrow Wilson to Jimmy Carter – and revealed something that might shock you.

Presidents actually achieved about 73% of what they promised.

Outgoing President Barack Obama is no exception. Nonpartisan PolitiFact found that he achieved at least a "compromised version" of 70% of his campaign vows.

The investing takeaway here is simple: If we align our investing with the new administration's spending targets, we stand to clean up.

It worked with healthcare stocks in the last administration, and I'm confident the sectors and stocks I'm about to show you will take off after the transition...

Washington

Donald Trump's Corporate Tax Reform Aimed at $2.6 Trillion in Profits

A President Donald Trump corporate tax reform plan is something that could definitely get done in 2017.

With $2.6 trillion in untaxed foreign corporate profits sitting overseas, there's already a bipartisan appetite on Capitol Hill to get something done next year.

But while corporate tax reform sounds like a threat to large multinationals, the proposed changes have some surprising benefits.

Here's why tax reform could actually boost the stocks of a lot of big companies...

Stocks

This Long-View Play Will Make You (and Your Grandchildren) Rich

It was easy to miss during this most recent election, but there were some "real" policy issues discussed from time to time. 

One of them was the deteriorating state of America's infrastructure. It's a pressing problem, huge in scope, and there's just no cheap or easy solution.

That's good news for investors who get in on this play right now, because this can't really be "kicked down the road" any further.

In fact, the problem (and the opportunity) is right outside my door today. And if it's not outside yours, chances are it's close.

Let me show you a few pictures to prove my point and spotlight this investment. They really drive home the scale of what I'm talking about...

Earnings

How You Can Win This Ugly Earnings "Baseball" Game

If you're a big baseball fan – as I am – then you know that a team's leadoff hitter plays a determinative role in the club's success or failure.

Great leadoff hitters – guys like Rickey Henderson, Richie Ashburn, and Ichiro Suzuki – are terrific "table-setters." As the first hitter to the plate, their job is to "get something started" by getting on base in any way possible – and to serve as an emotional catalyst for the rest of the team… and for the fans in the stadium.

Some of baseball's all-time best leadoff guys were masters at igniting momentum – my favorite old-timer was Eddie Stanky, an infielder and leadoff hitter whose nickname – "The Brat" – reflected his penchant for momentum-swinging plays.

Branch Rickey, the baseball executive who broke the color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson, once took note of Stanky's "spark plug" qualities by observing: "He can't run, he can't hit, and he can't throw. But if there's a way to beat the other team, he'll find it."

In 1951, in a World Series game between the New York Giants and New York Yankees, Stanky (who was then a Giant) tried to steal second base and realized Bronx Bombers shortstop Phil Rizzuto was already waiting to apply the tag. But instead of accepting the out, Stanky (a former soccer player) kicked out with his right foot as he slid and punted the ball out of Rizzuto's mitt and into centerfield.

The Brat popped up and skittered to third. The error lead to five unearned runs and a Giants victory that day.

Rizzuto never forgave Stanky for the play.

So while a walk, hit, or even an occasional homer by the leadoff hitter can ignite a team and even fire up the fans in the stands, the opposite is also true.

And of course a poor showing – like a three-pitch strikeout – by the leadoff hitter can hang over a game like a depressingly thick fog. It has a deleterious effect on the other hitters – and can take the fans right of the game.

And when that happens, things can get downright ugly - as I'll show you right now...