When I vacation to my happy place—The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park—the market usually misbehaves.  Last year, the S&P 500 fell more than 10% in just four trading days, only to finish up 0.9% for the week.  Volatility is remarkably low at the present time, and this is the season volatility often picks up.  Today I am headed out of town, so brace yourself.

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Once Again, It’s Too Quiet out There.  Russ Koesterich of Blackrock reminds readers that volatility has declined to a level that should set off at least a few alarm bells.  Investors tend to overestimate the importance of seasonal effects, but the one exception appears to be the fall, more specifically September, when markets do tend toward weakness. Click here to read the full article

Get Ready for the End of the Sumer Slumber.  You may have been lulled to sleep by the market action (or inaction) over the past month. In the view of Liz Ann Sonders and the analysts at Charles Schwab, action is likely to heat up, with the threat of a near-term pullback, but with a bull market still intact.    Click here to read the full article

Get ready for a 5%-10% stock market drop.  According to columnist Michael Brush of MarketWatch, it could get a little rough for stock investors over the next two months or so.  He gives seven reasons the market looks vulnerable and what you should do about it.  Click here to read the full article

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