Nikkei Opens Higher On Friday

After a few days of downward drifting, the stock market leveled off today with a more sideways closing.

The news today would make one think that the recession is easing. So while we experience many days with a headline like "the market sank on economic concerns", today we got "the market rose on economic hopes."

Reuters: Oil rises on economic hopes, Nigeria disruptions

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week, but the number of people staying on the benefits rolls fell for the first time since January, data showed on Thursday.

Okay, this might be completely off base but did those people leave the benefits rolls, AKA unemployment insurance, because their benefits ran out? If yes, then sorry, no gains. If no, then are these people going back to work?

Concerns and hopes, concerns and hopes, its like a battle of the bands.

The Nikkei opened higher following the leader.

Reuters: Nikkei rises 0.5 pct after Dow, S&P edge higher