Turnaround Thursday

  • At 3:06pm, as the S&P hit 808, on its way to 700, an announcement from Washington that it was considering a program of home loan subsidies turned it all around.   We wound at 835, up 0.17%.  A small gain, but it was a green gain.   Designed to keep homeowners in the house this idea should have been floated months ago.  No details yet and am sure the cost w/b horrendous.  Home prices in record plunge
  • It would certainly be wonderful if a program could keep people in their homes but am wondering if we aren’t just spitting into the wind.
  • The problem with today’s turnaround is that the charts will effectively say it was an itraday reversal.  That could excite some so we could have a positive opening tomorrow.
  • Google Info: I sneaked out of the house after lunch on this beautiful 72 degree day.  I was going to get a shingles inoculation.  If you have had measles then you can get shingles.  My wife and my sister have had this painful, painful problem and I try to avoid pain.  My local walk-in medical joint did not have the serum and directed me to public health department.  Wow, that is an experience.  Not the most attractive place.  Anyway, they said it would cost $175!  And you must be over sixty.  As I filled out the form I used Google Info (800-466-4411) to find another place in town with a possible lower price.  After connecting they said it would be $252.   So a wonderful nurse with forty years of public health experience gave me a painless injection and I paid.  Google Info is free and it works.
  • PALM, up almost 12%, made a new 52-week high on twice average daily volume.  It is also trading higher in after market. I have kept my shares and will look to add.
  • Mean Johnson (MDJ) came public yesterday with a 10% gain and added another 2.75% today.  As mentioned yesterday, spin-offs tend to do well.

The market needs to understand this latest housing proposal.  Knee-jerk reactions tend to last as long as knee-jerks.  Without follow through it has little meaning.  But we don’t want to be dismissive; if this can keep people in their homes, at a reasonable cost (unlikely) then we should listen.

Have a wonderful evening!