wrapping things up in '09

Short week, finished on a positive note. Another short week upcoming as we close out the decade.

Happy weekend.

DJIA 10,520.10 +53.66

NASDAQ 2,285.69 +16.05

SP500 1,126.48 +5.89

the effects of December

The holidays are upon us, Hanukkah, Christmas ramp-up, other holidays I'm sure, festivus? Anyway, the December effect seems to be doing okay, a few down days this week but overall things held their own.

Huge snowstorm blowing through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast this weekend....safe travels to all.

Happy weekend.

DJIA 10,328.89 +20.63

NASDAQ 2,211.69 +31.64

SP500 1,102.47 +6.39

lotsa steam

this market continues chuggin' every so slowly upwards. Plenty of travel this week, much more than I like but due to various reasons, it had to be done.

Overall the market looks ok, can we have that end-of-the-year run to cap off a fine performance for the indices?

And what's up with Citigroup? More rumors than a Tiger soap opera...and yet the stock is fading into the horizon.

DJIA 10,471.50 +65.67


NASDAQ 2,190.31 -0.55

SP500 1,106.41 +4.06

vacations and holidays

Off last Friday due to the holiday and short trading day. This week has been busy with non-market related goings-ons....and more travel this week and next. Then we're right in the midst of the holidays again. Quick.

Lots of alerts set but not much triggering. The longs are working fine to the upside. There are short candidates that only need to inch up a bit more to get close to their lower highs so that risk can be mitigated and stops can be tight. Then we short 'em and wait for the fall.

Oil meanders around the mid to upper 70's, natty gas sets a new low according to the graph on UNG, one for which we are patiently waiting. The VIX appears to be setting up to go under 20. The hey-days of VIX over 60, 70, 80 (!!!!???) look to be a distant memory. And finally, can gold go any higher?

We'll watch out for the December Effect, which is the new January Effect. Just like Tiger is the new Eliot.

Happy Friday.

DJIA 10,388.90 +22.75

NASDAQ 2,194.35 +21.21

SP500 1,105.98 +6.06