The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 21 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY. The weather logos insist we are heading into a very slight warming trend with sunshine as well. We're into that mysterious week between Christmas and New Year's Day when we are not quite sure if it's a complete holiday or if we need to work or what, but we are definitely in a holiday mindset. Do we take the time off or do we work harder. I'm still convalescing from last Friday's surgery, I figure I can milk this thing for hopefully another week with lots of lazing about. In truth I've got a few months before everything heals completely, each day I'm taking a few short walks through the neighborhood adding a little bit more distance each time.

  At 8:35 a.m. ET futures are slightly higher and the price of oil per barrel is slightly up too. The market is poised to open in the flat to slightly higher area.

  According to the CNN article the most salient part today points to a sell off because investors are looking to lower tax bills in 2014. Call it a reality check tax day, how mundane. Otherwise the second most salient point suggests that many are viewing 2014 as more of the same rally of the past 6 years but at a slower pace. What does that mean? Are we talking about the DOW passing 17,000 or more? So much for all the expert articles on how 2013 would be the year of a cataclysmic recession. We can safely say - not this year, put it to bed for a while. I will belligerently predict that we will not experience a recession in 2013...

CNN: Stocks: Santa rally may run out of puff

...many individuals are selling stocks to reduce their tax bills.

...many experts believe the bull market will continue for a sixth year in 2014, albeit at a more modest pace.