The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 37 degrees and overcast with some light rain here in Upstate NY. It's a classic Upstate gray day. There's a sun behind all that gray, don't forget. Remember that 2 months from now we will be in the bloom of Spring and even a little beyond that. The birds of Spring are making their voices heard even in the middle of this wintery mix. It's a good day for melting.

  At 8:25 a.m. ET DOW futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open in a mixed position. The DOW is presently at 16,136.

  The indexes are back up to their fluffy altitude numbers. Fourth quarter corporate reports have in general been positive and the steep correction that was in the wind in recent weeks is on the back burner again. The prediction remains that 2014 will be a reasonable year. Maybe it has to do with that wooden horse thing...

CNN: Stocks: Pushing on to new highs?

...existing-home sales for January will be released at 10 a.m. ET.

European markets were mixed in midday trading, as unrest continued in nearby Ukraine...