We have learned to settle for less.

Let's go over a few of this week's financial headlines to prove my point.

  • GPS giant Garmin (NASDAQ:GRMN) posted a 44% drop in profitability, yet its stock inched 7% higher.
  • The stock of discount apparel retailer TJX (NYSE:TJX) also gained 7% on Thursday, despite the company posting lower earnings for its telltale holiday quarter.

We had grown to expect more. Good luck finding a discount broker that isn't offering up some sweet perks if you open a new account these days. Whether it's up to $100 cash or a pocketful of commission-free trades, everybody seems to want your business.

Then again, they probably don't want you as badly as American Express (NYSE:AXP) doesn't want your business. If you're a high-risk borrower, the credit card giant may be sending you a $300 prepaid gift card if you clean out your account and go elsewhere.

That $300 is a lot of money, but American Express wouldn't be offering that much if it didn't think it would light a fire under its delinquent -- or near-delinquent -- accounts.

Companies paying you more to stay away than to attract you? Stocks getting high-fives when their earnings fall? Please wake me up when Mr. Market wants to talk sensibly.  

Briefly in the news
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.

  • The market hit levels last seen in 1997. It may seem as if we've just walked in a big circle over the past dozen years, but one index size doesn't fit all. Over the past 12 years, for instance, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been a 20-bagger! In other words, don't let the headlines scare you away. If you pick the right stocks, you can beat the market. Even in a downturn, some stocks are still doubling.
  • Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Gmail was down for a few hours this week, and there was media uproar. Gee, who can I go cry to when my mail carrier is a few hours late?

Until next week, I remain,
Rick Munarriz