The Markets Traders have a lot to digest this morning.  Major companies have reported over the last several days and the signals are mixed, to say the least.  Now it will be encumbant for investors to separate the weak from the strong, the strong from …

See-Saw

The Markets Well, I mentioned that this would be a choppy day.  In the last fifteen minutes they took ’em up. In almost all cases that is a good sign for the bulls.  It becomes a very good sign on days that Microsoft, Amgen, Amex …

Chop

Too, too tough to trade.  The lack of direction makes it impossible for a guy with chump change, like me, to trade this market.  Guys trading lots of 10,000/sh. Citi or Ford, for example, may be able to eke out a few bucks.  But what …

Mixed Messages

The Markets This is getting difficult.  How to read the tea leaves? On the one hand we see CH Robinson* (CHRW), which is a truck-load aggregator (they don’t own trucks), blowing the top off of earnings.  Then, today, we read that UPS disappoints. Apple continues …

Appetite for Risk?

The Markets You cannot ignore it.  Revenues are falling, forecasts are dim and/or vague, earnings only OK after being dumbed down already.  The corporate world is not knocking the sock off the ball. But one cannot ignore a growing appetite for risk.  After initially falling …

The Markets Tim Geithner had best watch his step or he may be accused of moving markets.  Seriously, the boy is beginning to say all the right things. After a sloppy opening and some tough guidance from companies before the opening we heard better news.  …

Turn Around Tuesday (?)

The Markets So far, Tuesday is living up to it’s billing.  After struggling through numerous corporate earnings conference calls as well as Mr Geithner’s speech, traders bought the market.  Now, lets see if the afternoon gives us follow-through. I have traded a little GE, PALM …

Five of the Dow thirty reported this morning and all gave grim guidance.  You will remember from my Sunday post that guidance is my key to current market performance.  You gotta have earnings to back-up the recent rise in shares.  Otherwise, the easiest resistance is …

Fear is Back

The Markets Unfortunately, my thoughts about a severe decline (see yesterday’s post) came about. The Wall Street Journal started it all with the front page story that banks were not, as had been stated, making loans. Bank of America blew away the numbers this morning, …

Important Week

The Markets We have had the best market move since 1938.  To sustain it we will need earnings guidance better than expectations.  Currently, the first quarter reported earnings are a throw-away.  Everyone knows the last three months have been terrible for business. So, this week’s …