Well, today should be interesting. With the pick-up in inflation numbers, there is a lot of chatter out there about a more hawkish tone coming from the Fed later in the day on interest rates. If that happens, I would imagine downward pressure on the market would materialize. However, if it doesn't happen, I could see a large exhale and upward movement. Given how the price action has withstood some less than stellar (being generous here) housing and retail numbers lately, it could be a pretty solid move up. I don't know what time the statement from the Fed comes out, but I assume it will be after the 12:00 deadline.
Currently, my toe is dipped in at 15% C and 85% G (bought the latest "mini" dip a few days ago). Obviously, I'm being extremely cautious at the current moment and doing an IFT now for tomorrow based on a coin flip of what the Fed will say is inconsistent with that caution. If they come out more hawkish and the markets head down, I will look at it as a potential buying opportunity at some point. If they come out with continued dovishness, I am expecting to increase my allocation somewhat for a short time period.
So far this year, I'm at a riveting 2.99%. My goal coming into the year was >7.3% (based on comfort level at beginning year prices), thus, I will be trailing at the coming 6 month point. I've been in G most of the year and have bought the dips as they have presented themselves. Even then I have been cautious, taking a small incremental approach of increasing my overall position in the market as it slides down. I have little confidence in the ability of this market to sustain the prices they are currently at, but am pragmatic enough to know that they can stay elevated for long periods of time. Thus, I'm trying to have it both ways in terms of elevated risk management and making some gains. Since the markets have generally gone up this year, I've somewhat paid the price for it with lagging returns, but not so lagging as to kick myself in the junk or to make my yearly goal unattainable.
Given how the market has shrugged off the latest retail and housing numbers, it just doesn't seem ready to falter in a big way as of yet. We shall see what the news from today brings.