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12:00 TUESDAY – Investing Insights #278 – 3/10/26

by Robert Holman, CFA CFP® | www.DefensiveAdvisor.com



STOCK MARKET RATING (THE BIG PICTURE) …

  • Bullish/Bearish Rating: 5 = neutral (1 - 4 is bearish, 5 is neutral, 5 - 9 is bullish).  

  • Market/Economic Condition: Normal market, approaching a peaking economy

  • Outlook: Selectively reinvesting sidelined cash, guarded and wary


The military action against Iran appears to be ending as quickly as it began.  Experience has shown that, on average, markets are 12% higher in the next 12 months after hostilities have ceased.  Unless something unexpected happens, investors should expect the market to retrace the remaining 2,000 DJIA points to get back to the early February peak. There should be opportunities to make a short-term trading profit.

 

That’s bullish, but it will be a short-lived rally in my view, because Iranian leadership still rests with anti-America/anti-Israel clerics, and the Iranian citizens have yet to fight for their independence.  It’s hard to fight power with little or no access to weapons with which to fight.  Most guns were confiscated by the prior regime, there are no gun shops, etc.

 

So, my market rating remains neutral at 5.0 – neither bullish nor bearish, my outlook remains guarded, and the market is functioning normally, reacting to events as one would expect.  If we don’t expect too much just yet, remain patient, and keep our emotions in check, and keep our thought process working effectively, we may see opportunities come up as Washington brings forward more changes in the economy over time.

 

PORTFOLIOS … After reading this report, if you are unsure how to respond to these conditions and would like a discussion or some complimentary advice, you may send an email message and I’ll respond with the information you need.  For a free portfolio review, get my Portfolio Assessment.

 

TO MY CLIENTS … THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST.

 

LINKS:           My Story                   About            Subscribe to Blog              Contact 

 

LEARN FROM THE BIBLE … Proverbs 15:22 MSG - Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.  See also James 4:13-16.

 

This report is a 2-3 minute read, published every Tuesday afternoon. To sign up for this weekly e-Newsletter, go to: http://www.defensiveadvisor.com/blog.

 

Opinions in this post are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice to, or recommendations for, any individual without our complete knowledge of that individual’s total financial profile. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Nor does past performance guarantee future results.

 
 
 

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Last Edited: October, 2025

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CFA - Chartered Financial Analyst (or CFA®): The CFA charter is the gold standard for the investment industry. CFA charterholders enjoy a mark of the highest distinction in the investment management profession, a globally respected, graduate-level investment credential established in 1962 and awarded by CFA Institute — the largest global association of investment professionals. Passing the three six-hour cumulative CFA exams (Levels I, II, III) is a difficult feat that requires extensive study (successful CFA candidates report spending an average 3,000 hours of study to become a CFA). Earning the CFA charter demonstrates mastery of many of the advanced skills needed for investment analysis and decision making in today’s quickly evolving global financial industry.  The CFA exam is generally considered more difficult than the CPA exam or the bar exam. There are about 59,000 CFA charterholders.

 

To earn the CFA charter, candidates must master a broad-based curriculum of investment principles, and commit to abide by, and annually reaffirm, their adherence to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. The CFA Program curriculum provides a comprehensive framework of knowledge for investment decision making and is firmly grounded in the knowledge and skills used every day in the investment profession. The three levels of the CFA Program test a proficiency with a wide range of fundamental and advanced investment topics, including ethical and professional standards, fixed-income and equity analysis, alternative and derivative investments, economics, financial reporting standards, portfolio management, and wealth planning.

 

The CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, enforced through an active professional conduct program, require CFA charter holders to:

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To attain the right to use the CFP® marks, an individual must satisfactorily fulfill the following requirements: 
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