Modest Bump

The DOW and S&P had slight gains today, 27 and 4 respectively. The DOW is now at 8,359.

The reports are mixed, some banks are doing great, consumer spending is weaker last month, car sales are better, etc etc.

The question that arises is this. Last week we read all kinds of dire predictions about this next quarter. We read about a need for the market to shed some points in light of no compelling information that indicates the recession is shriveling up and going away. So is this still relevant or are we simply stringing it along on day to day activity.

We also still need to be mindful of the fact that many market related articles are written in order to place misinformation out there and manipulate the environment.

Reuters: Wall St up as earnings offset retail data; Intel soars

...better-than-expected corporate profits overshadowed concerns about weak consumer demand.

...Intel reported results after the bell that surpassed expectations...

Competing positive and negative earnings reports tempered each other, keeping the markets range-bound.