The Market On Friday

Good morning. It is 38 degrees and rainy here in Upstate NY. The final holiday weekend push is here minus the snow. In the New England area the official colors are red, white, and green. Last night I joined a group of neighbors in Christmas caroling, yes I did. It was a good experience, and I will do it again in the future.

At 8:30 a.m. futures are relatively flat, the dollar is down, and oil is up.

I am going to predict that the market stays flat and not too much changes. Its a wish really more than a prediction, my holiday wish. One gets the sense that the trading floor will be sparsely peopled. We need a holiday here, its been a weird year.

CNN: Stocks: Investors pack up for the holidays

Investors got more good news after Thursday's market close, as House Speaker John Boehner said that he would accept a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, a move that ensures taxes will not increase on Jan. 1


Oil for February delivery rose 46 cents to $99.86 a barrel.