The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is a whopping 27 degrees and it is hazy sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We are going to get another day in the 40s and man have we earned it. It was nice being in 40 degree temperatures yesterday and I will enjoy it again today. There are tiny signs of the very thick covering of snow melting away, the roads are still not their full width with the margins thick with ice. I am feeling better from the most persistent flu I've ever had, still coughing a bit but it is drying up and I know you know what I mean. My voice is now very close to the normal speaking voice with a tinge of stuffy nose in there.

  At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are significantly lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to tank at the opening bell.

  The robust American economy has investors in a fretful state. As a result of the improved economy, the Fed is expected to raise the base interest rate and the free flow of money will be ever so slightly impinged. The party is almost over. Despite today's awful opening, recent trading days have shown some resilience with some recovery by the end of the day, on the other hand, it can get much much worse fast. We shall see.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open

Traders have pushed the U.S. currency higher as they expect the Federal Reserve will be forced to hike interest rates soon from rock bottom levels. That contrasts starkly with the eurozone, where massive monetary stimulus has just started.