Economic Commentary Highlights...

• Policymakers remain on the front lines this week, as economic data takes a back seat.
• Several of the high frequency data points we watch to gauge recession risk have deteriorated in recent weeks, but the odds of a recession are still below 50% in the United States.

View the entire economic Commentary (pdf format)

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Economic Commentary for the week of August 22, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

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This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

Market Commentary Highlights...

• Rather than an economic recession, we seem to be experiencing a confidence recession.

• In contrast to the pronounced lack of any recession readings in the U.S. economic data last week, the readings on sentiment were uniformly weak as they priced in a recession.

• There are several events here and abroad in the next week or two that may provide the stimulus needed to turn around this confidence recession.

View the entire economic Commentary (pdf format)

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Market Commentary for the week of August 22, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

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This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

Over the past week, the LPL Financial Current Conditions Index remained relatively unchanged at 207. The CCI is in line with levels not seen since the economic soft spot in August 2010.
The growth momentum in the index has stalled as the economy transitions from strong recovery to uneven, modest growth. Most components of the CCI point to an environment of slowing growth momentum over the past 13- and 52-weeks.

View the entire Current Conditions Index (pdf format)

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above commentary for the week of August 17, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx ____________________________________________________________________________________

The LPL Financial Research Current Conditions Index is a weekly measure of the conditions that underpin our outlook for the markets and economy. The CCI provides real-time context and insight into the trends that shape our recommended actions to manage portfolios. This index has proven to be a useful tool for investment decision making.

This weekly index is not intended to be a leading index or predictive of where conditions are headed, but a coincident measure of where they are right now. We want to track the conditions in real-time to aid in investment decision making. There are thousands of indicators-some lead the economy, some lag, while others merely offer a lot of statistical noise. We chose to create our own index tailored to the current environment to provide the clearest and most useful way to track conditions. The components of the CCI are periodically changed to retune the index to those factors most critical to the markets and economy so it may continue to be a valuable investment decision-making tool.
Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

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This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Economic Commentary Highlights...

• Knowing the extent of the highs and lows and when it is going to be over play a crucial role in the summertime fun of riding a metal roller coaster. Riding a market roller coaster offers no such assurances and is no fun at all.

• While last week’s volatility is unprecedented, we can take some comfort that the overall moves and sentiment in the market this summer are familiar; they echo those of last summer.

• Last year, the roller coaster did not leave the track and the summer plunge turned into a steep climb as stock and bond yields rose to new post-recession highs. We continue to believe this summer’s drop will end with similar results and ultimately produce a modest single-digit gain for the S&P 500 in 2011.

View the entire Economic Commentary (pdf format)

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Market Commentary for the week of August 17, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

###

This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

Market Commentary Highlights...

• We view the U.S. rating downgrade from AAA to AA+ as a disappointing, but lagging indicator of the pressures already reflected in the markets. We find plenty of historical evidence that markets have priced in the events that led to the downgrade much earlier than when the downgrades took place.
• While there are some negative consequences, there are not triggers stemming from the downgrade that would spark a chain of events leading to a financial crisis.
• Could this mark a “Sputnik moment” for policy makers tasked with finding the additional savings stipulated in the debt ceiling legislation?

The initial beneficiaries of the downgrade include precious metals and Treasuries given the hit to investor sentiment and the desire to seek safety and liquidity. Stocks, led by Financials, may initially suffer. However, low valuations and efforts to address the debt problems in Europe combined with improving economic data may put a halt to the stock market’s decline.

 

View the entire economic Commentary (pdf format)

 

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Economic Commentary for the week of August 8, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

###

This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

 

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

Economic Commentary Highlights...

• Policy will likely be back on the front burner this week.
• What policy actions might the Fed employ to boost the economy?
• What indicators are we watching to monitor the risk of a double-dip recession?

View the entire economic Commentary (pdf format)

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Economic Commentary for the week of August 8, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

###

This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

Over the past week, the LPL Financial Current Conditions Index fell to 211. The CCI has slid to a level not seen since the soft spot one year ago.

The growth momentum in the index has stalled as the economy transitions from strong recovery to uneven, modest growth. Most components of the CCI point to an environment of slowing growth momentum over the past 13- and 52-weeks.

View the entire Current Conditions Index (pdf format)

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Economic Commentary for the week of August 3, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx ____________________________________________________________________________________

The LPL Financial Research Current Conditions Index is a weekly measure of the conditions that underpin our outlook for the markets and economy. The CCI provides real-time context and insight into the trends that shape our recommended actions to manage portfolios. This index has proven to be a useful tool for investment decision making.

This weekly index is not intended to be a leading index or predictive of where conditions are headed, but a coincident measure of where they are right now. We want to track the conditions in real-time to aid in investment decision making. There are thousands of indicators-some lead the economy, some lag, while others merely offer a lot of statistical noise. We chose to create our own index tailored to the current environment to provide the clearest and most useful way to track conditions. The components of the CCI are periodically changed to retune the index to those factors most critical to the markets and economy so it may continue to be a valuable investment decision-making tool.

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

###

This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Bond Market Perspectives...

• Treasuries remain at risk of losing their coveted AAA rating despite the fact Congress has finally agreed on a debt limit deal.

• In the event Treasuries do get downgraded, we do not see the key ingredients of a forced selling environment prevalent in today’s financial markets similar to the one witnessed in 2008.

View the entire economic Commentary (pdf format)
Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Bond Market Perspective for the week of August 3, 2011. It is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

###

This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

Economic Commentary Highlights...

• Economic data replaces earnings and budget negotiations as the market’s likely focus this week.

• Although the ink is not dry yet, the deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling will help to lift some of the uncertainty that has hampered economic activity over the past few months.

• The market is looking for a modest acceleration in private sector job creation in July and for the unemployment rate to remain stable at a still-elevated 9.2%

View the entire economic Commentary (pdf format)
Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Economic Commentary for the week of August 3, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

###

This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

Market Commentary Highlights...

• While the current deal making in Washington may alleviate the problem of having “run out of debt capacity”, the government will soon “run out of money” if another deal is not reached by the end of next month to avoid a shutdown.

• This serves as a reminder that the markets are going to have to deal with ongoing fiscal fights for the foreseeable future.

• Nevertheless, stocks may post a modest relief rally on the debt ceiling agreement averting sharp spending cuts and a potential default. The backdrop for the market outside of Washington has been improving with further evidence coming to light last week.

View the entire economic Commentary (pdf format)
Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Economic Commentary for the week of August 3, 2011. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. The above commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

###

This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com

Securities and Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA / SIPC.

Not FDIC Insured	No Bank Guarantee	May Lose Value
Not a Deposit	Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are not registered broker/dealers, nor are they affiliated with LPL Financial. This site is designed for U.S. residents only. The services offered within this site are available exclusively through our U.S. Investment Representatives. LPL Financials U.S. Investment Representatives may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.