The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 55 degrees and overcast here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Looks like we are headed for another warming trend. We see that Congress is de-funding Amtrak. This does not seem very smart but we've come recognize this Congress and it's intentions and policy. The assault on the middle class continues. I'm sorry to see BB King pass away. I've been listening to his work for around 50 years and that's a long time. He was like an old friend for us.

  At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher.

  The market is impossible to predict. It's easy to find an article by a heavyweight predicting the worst. That said, the DOW is now perched at 18,252.24. Enjoy the weekend.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open

Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar is staging a modest comeback against a range of major global currencies, after tumbling this month following a significant rally.