Finally, just because stocks look cheap, relative to record-low yielding Treasury bonds, does not make them cheap in any absolute sense.

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This seems inconsistent with recent data on profits, income, weekly jobless claims, ISM readings, record low inventories relative to sales and solid consumption growth into July.

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Moreover, this time Mr Rossi would be facing not a relative unknown but a sitting governor with a strong record.

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But you still want to own dividend-paying stocks, consider only those with a record of stable earnings and a high Relative Strength ranking, because those stocks are holding up best in the current market.

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But even if you accept Mr. Geithner's case that the well-to-do must pay more for their presumed "privilege" of being governed, his story ignores the empirical fact that they already do pay a record share of income taxes, even relative to their share of income.

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Even with these protections, our energy multinationals consistently record some of the largest income tax expenses relative to other U.S. companies.

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Many families have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order put on the patient record, and the health care proxy (usually a close relative) thinks that takes care of the problem.

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When properly interpreted, in other words, the numbers suggest insiders have responded to the stock market's march into record territory by cutting back on the pace of their sales relative to their purchases.

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