Keith Lerner: "the economy is on solid footing and that equities look attractive"

The short-term noise we’re dealing with does not change the fact that we think the economy is on solid footing and that equities still look attractive relative to other assets.  We still think the primary market trend over the next 12 months is higher.

~ Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services, "U.S. Stock-Market Tumble Hasn’t Quelled Optimism," The Wall Street Journal, September 21, 2021

Kevin O'Leary: "I have never seen a better environment in America, ever" (2019)

In all the years I've been an investor in private and public companies, I have never seen a better environment in America, ever.  And it's not because of tax reform.  It's deregulation over the last three years has set free all of my small cap companies in a way I've never seen... Whatever Washington is doing, keep the policy the same.

~ Kevin O'Leary, Markets Now interview, November 24, 2019

Credit Suisse strategist: "we have an economy that is healthy and creating a ton of jobs"

We think stocks are going to continue to deliver over the next several years — high single digits or better returns... The real key here is that we have an economy that is healthy and creating a ton of jobs... I think the feeling among investors is anything that causes any near-term pain is inherently bad, but it’s very possible that as a result of this [trade war] we’d end up with more open access to Chinese markets in the long run, and a better situation for intellectual rights. And if those are the outcomes, then yes, this will increase volatility for a period of time, but it’s possible the results here are positive ones.

I think all the people who are waiting to buy on a dip this year, a lot of them waited too long. The market is very attractively valued, and the economy is in good shape and corporate profits were fine.

~ Jonathan Golub, chief U.S. equity strategist, Credit Suisse, "One of Wall Street’s biggest bulls is looking well past the trade drama," MarketWatch.com, May 7, 2019

Jamie Dimon on the business expansion: "no law that it has to stop" (2019)

Do you have to have a recession?... The consumer's in good shape, the balance sheet's in good shape, people are going back to the workforce, companies have plenty of capital... business confidence and consumer confidence are both high... So it could easily go on for years.  There's no law that says it has to stop.

~ Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase Q1 conference call, April 12, 2019

Bank of Canada governor: "Our fundamentals are quite solid"

The Canadian economy begins the new year in solid shape. Our fundamentals are quite solid.

~ Stephen Poloz, Bank of Canada governor, interview with CTV news, December 20, 2018

Wall St "Big Money" bulls say we're clear for takeoff

The path of least resistance is upward. Right now, the market isn't particularly expensive, and, for the most part, the fundamentals have been pretty good. Interest rates remain low.

~Jacob Gottlieb, chief investment officer of Visium Asset Management,"Money Managers are Cautiously Bullish", Barron's.com, April 23, 2011

("In keeping with that forecast, Gottlieb expects the industrials to clear 14,000, and the S&P 1550, by the middle of next year.")

Argentine central bank chief denies monetary connection to price increases

The price problem doesn’t have monetary roots. The conditions that could cause inflation to accelerate don’t exist in Argentina.

~Mercedes Marco del Pont, president, Central Bank of Argentina, Bloomberg Markets Magazine, "No One Cries for Argentina", March 28, 2011

Ken Fisher on the idiocy of the "New Normal" PIMCO-brigade

We are chimpanzees with no memory.

The next 10 years are going to be just as good as the 1990s. The problems in this current environment we think are so different, and so new and so unique. It’s the same stupid old normal we’ve always had. We’ve got a great future.

~Ken Fisher, CEO, Fisher Investments, Inc., Bloomberg.com, September 29th, 2010

Oppenheimer's Brian Belski on the fundamentals never having been better (to some degree)

There's a lot of headline risk right now because of what's going on in the Gulf and what's going on in Europe, people just don't feel very good about buying equities. One of the things that [Commerce] Secretary Locke talked about earlier was the fundamentals of our economy in corporate America almost, to some degree, have never been better.

Yes, the trajectory of employment is heading in the right direction, but we need to see more job gains.

~ Brian Belski, analyst, Oppenheimer & Co., "Market Breakdown", CNBC, June 7th, 2010

Art Laffer: "It's a beautiful economy" (2006)

It's a beautiful economy. The conditions look very good for a long-term prosperity.

Art Laffer, as appeared on CNBC, November 15, 2006

Jack Welch on the economy and market sentiment

Q: What do you think of analysts who predict we'll be in recession in six months?
A: They should find another line of work.

Q: Do you think sentiment is too bullish?
A: I'm not here as a market timer. I'm hear to tell you this economy's in one helluva good shape.

~ Jack Welch, interview on CNBC, January 19, 2007

Rich Karlgaard: "It is not clear that we are in a recession" (2008)

The U.S. economy is in better shape than the pundits, polls, and press say it is. It is not clear that we are in a recession. The Fed is on the case, bargain hunters like Warren Buffett are moving in, signalling a bottom. Small business is curiously robust despite the credit crunch. Employment is still pretty strong. Every commercial flight I've been on this year has been oversold. But there is a deeper cause of economic anxiety and it is the underlying rate of economic change. That rate is accelerating. Companies that are leaders in their industries - and this applies to leaders in all industries - are falling out of leadership faster than before. New and disruptive companies are popping up everywhere, like jaguars amid elephants.

~ Rich Karlgaard, Forbes Video, September 15, 2008