The Market On Thursday

Good morning. It is 72 degrees and with a promise of rain here in Upstate NY. I was up at 6 a.m. and out walking under a dark clouded sky, definitely a rawness to the feel of the environment. We are subtly shifting back to Fall. If you are like me, Fall is the best time of the year. Its a time of tangible poignancy as we feel the changing of seasons, and the changing of our lives. The kids get older and move up a rung, we went through all of the rungs, and we did alright. Its the reflection back on our time that cuts through our daily experience. Maybe Fall is the sweet and sour season.

At 8:15 a.m. equity futures are modestly up, the dollar is mixed, and oil is up per barrel ascending its way towards $90 a barrel. Want to bet that the price of gas goes up after the travel season...

Investors are wondering how Apple will maintain consistency with the departure of Jobs. Apple is the second most profitable company out there. Its a big deal.

The real news comes on Friday when Bernanke tells Wall Street how he intends to stimulate their economy. I say 'their economy' because Bernanke's words are directed primarily to Wall Street. That's the way the game is played, and that's how Bernanke rolls.

CNN: Stocks: All eyes on Apple

Former Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will replace Jobs (at Apple)...


Since the start of the week, investors have been gearing up for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's key speech on Friday for further hints about the health of the economy.


Oil for October delivery gained 68 cents to $85.81 a barrel.