The Market On Wednesday

Good morning. Welcome to hump day and welcome to winter, little by little the light will return. The ground freezes and the soil has a chance to rest. Snow gives us a rest from the vibrancy of color in the summer. Winter always strikes me as an especially contemplative time.

At 8:20 a.m. futures are flat, the dollar is mixed, and oil is now up over $90 per barrel. That $90 per barrel is on the high side...

Investors will soon learn the latest revised numbers on the third quarter GDP, along with data on previously owned housing. That should be of concern to all homeowners.

Volume is expected to be low as many investors have already closed the books on 2010 as they now vacation and take tourist tours of outer space.

CNN: Stocks poised for flat open

...both companies and investors have piles of cash on the sidelines.


The existing home sales index from the National Association of Realtors is also due Wednesday morning.


...a reading on mortgage applications also are on tap for Wednesday.


Oil for February delivery gained 42 cents to $90.24 a barrel.