The Market On Tuesday

Good morning. It is overcast and cold here in Upstate NY. We had more flurries last night that left an inch or two of new soft snow. We are expecting a 30 to 40 degree increase in temperature as we go from -20 to -10 degrees up to 20 to 30 degrees. Its a heat wave baby, I got my shorts on, t-shirt, and sunglasses.

At 8:30 a.m. futures are slightly down, the dollar is mostly down, and oil is down. Will oil continue to go down - no.

We are within striking distance of 12,000 in the DOW. Who knew. Right now its all about fourth quarter earning which investors appear to be getting all giddy and silly over. Equities are hot.

This can only mean one thing, the time is ripe for some unknown ameliorating or excruciating factor to arise in system which will ultimately have a confusing or adverse effect. What could it be? Perhaps China redesigning its interest rate structure, or a new European country that somebody noticed is on life support, or maybe something militarily harsh in the world, its all possible I don't have to tell you about it. Wars tend to make the market trip up...

CNN: Stocks set to slip at the open

...a stone's throw of 12,000...


"It's going to be choppy, but still a continuing an upward trend...There's an expectation that earnings will keep improving and we're looking for more surprises on the upside."


The Conference Board, a business research group, will report its January report on consumer confidence shortly after the opening bell.


Oil for March delivery slipped $1.36 to $86.51 a barrel.