The Market On Thursday

Good morning. It is 65 degrees, sunny, and superlative here in Upstate NY. It really doesn't get any more gorgeous than this temperature wise. I am sitting here with the windows wide open, its bright outside, there is a cool breeze coming through, people are jogging by and walking by the front of the house, and the sound of the bulldozers leveling out a plot for a new apartment complex about 1/4 mile away is coming through as well. Its good.

At 8:15 a.m. futures are slightly up, the dollar is mixed, and oil is ever so slightly down.

The market is expected to open higher except in a short time we get the weekly numbers on first time unemployment filers. That number has been stubbornly high and so any improvement over last week will be seen as positive. Needless to say worse numbers could be a deal breaker.

Investors continue to hail Greece's approval of new austerity measures with a vote on how to implement those measures to be taken today. Investors expect all will go according to script. On the other hand, the Greek people are not going along with cuts to things like their retirement funds, and all basic services provided by their government. That is a lot to swallow.

Its unfortunate but there will be continued riots and strong protests in Greece probably marked by state sponsored repression. That's how it works right. Maybe something better can occur. They are truly in a tough spot.

CNN: Stocks: Waiting for Greece's next move

Markets also welcomed Greece's approval of austerity measures Wednesday, which aim to keep the country from defaulting.


Oil for August delivery slipped 2 cents to $94.75 a barrel.