Market Commentary for 2010

July Monthly Update

July 1, 2010

It is safe to say that a cyclical (short-term) bull market commenced in March 2009. Bull markets are formed when all pullbacks inside the bull are contained at a higher price than the previous pullback. We saw pullbacks during the summer and fall of 2009, and on February 5, 2010 when the S&P 500 Index was at a low price of 1045. Most recently on June 7th, the S&P 500 Index tested this level successfully, meaning that buyers bid-up the price of underlying securities.

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June Monthly Update

June 9, 2010

Stadion clients can be assured that we are reading and reacting to the market data and balancing safety and return according to our rules-driven process.

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May Monthly Update

May 3, 2010

As the second quarter began the equity markets continued a powerful uptrend supported by positive market technicals, fundamentals and macro-economic news. Midst abundant optimism , the markets traded even higher during April thanks to positive earnings announcements, with over 80% of companies beating estimates. The markets ascended vigorously through mid-month when we began to see a slowed upward momentum, sideways price movement and increased volatility as headlines shifted from pleasant earnings surprises to negative events.

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April Monthly Update

April 1, 2010

At Stadion, we react to what is happening right now versus attempting to predict where the market might be headed. Even our market-reactive (vs. predictive) model can be wrong, but over time it assures we won't stay wrong for long. This means you can rest well at night knowing that even when we have one foot pressing the throttle, the is other poised over the brake.

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March 2010 Market Commentary

March 10, 2010

The average investor is often affected emotionally by short term gyrations as the investment "crowd" moves in one direction, and the market in another. During February we saw heavy bearish sentiment readings from surveys such as Investor's Intelligence and American Association of Individual Investors.

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February 2010 Market Commentary

February 1, 2010

What a difference a couple weeks can make! After a strong start in the first week of the New Year, we saw a sideways second week, and then watched the third week descend into uncertainty.

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February 2010 Update

February 1, 2010

The difference between my mindset and Hogan's is that my golf shot really didn't matter and his did. I was playing for fun, he was playing for keeps. There is a parallel between that story and Stadion's philosophy of managing money. We realize that clients are trusting us with their serious money. Money they know they'll need to live a comfortable retirement. They are playing for keeps.

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