The Market On Thursday

Good morning. It is 27 degrees and overcast in a bright way here in Upstate NY. I was out walking with the new bowser for the last hour and a half. We had a great time! So listen to this, we got maybe 1/8 of an inch of snow this morning, a dusting. Damned if the town isn't out there salting down the roads, and when they salt the roads around here, they throw it out there by the sack. So most of the walk we had to try to avoid the salt as it hurts a dog's delicate paw parts.

At 8:30 a.m. futures are moderately higher, the dollar is down against major world currencies, and oil is pricier per barrel. Right now the market is poised to open higher.

I see the first time unemployment numbers for the last week is 377,000. This is higher than last week but the number is still below the critical 400,000 threshold so this is good news.

Otherwise investors will be hit with all types of data today and in particular on durable goods, new home sales, and a slew of fourth quarter corporate earnings reports.

Greece still looms in the background and foreground. Investors were also very pleased to hear that the Fed will be holding interest rates at near zero levels through 2014.

CNN: Stocks: Bracing for a busy day

Also due Thursday morning are reports on durable goods orders and new home sales.


Oil for March delivery added $1.39 to $100.79 a barrel.