According to the recent TIM (Trade Ideas Monitor) report for August 20th, the TIM Sentiment Index (TSI) in North America was 50.37, down 1.76 points, right near the critical 50 mark (see last post, and previous post and the youDevise website for additional information on the TIM report). The TSI Worldwide Index was down marginally. Total new long ideas as a percentage of all new ideas sent to investment managers by way of the TIM decreased 3.15 points to 62.53%.

As for individual securities in the U.S. and North America, Medidata Solutions (MDSO), BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ), and Alcoa (AA) were stocks with long broker sentiment, while First Solar (FSLR), Brocade Communications (BRCD), and Las Vegas Sands (LVS) had short broker sentiment. In general, the materials, telecommunication services, and energy sectors had long broker sentiment, while the consumer staples, industrials, and consumer discretionary sectors had short broker sentiment.

According to the recent TIM (Trade Ideas Monitor) report and the TIM Sentiment Index (TSI), institutional brokers became more bullish over the last five trading days as the TSI increased 12.7% from 51.96 to 58.54 (see previous post or youDevise website for additional information on the TIM report). For the five trading days ending June 25, the number of new long ideas as a percentage of new ideas sent to investment managers increased to 72.55% from 70.92% one week earlier (see last week's post). The intra-week trend was positive. Longs now represent 66.50% of all ideas in June.

As for individual securities in the U.S. and North America, Ashland Inc. (ASH), Bank of America (BAC), and Black & Decker (BDK) were the stocks most recommended as longs by institutional brokers, while Boeing (BA), Century Aluminum (CENX), and Microsoft (MSFT) were recommended as shorts. The information technology, industrial, and energy sectors had increased broker sentiment for the week, while health care had decreased sentiment.