Might also want to look at the graph on this.
businesscycle.com
Futures are interesting this evening as well.
mrci.com
I've made no bones about it, I've a large basket of shorts, and have yet to cover a single one. IT/LT I think they are down, down, and down some more, at least the ones I've selected. My shorts include EBAY, IBM, MMM, WHR, KLIC, BRKS, BRCM, and BZH. Some I hit right on, some I missed a hair. May add some more next week. Should have mr softie in the bunch, just on principal. EBAY is one that should get walloped over the next qtr or two, and maybe some more. But hey, can't always hit em right.
As known I work in the oil patch. We spend tons of money. A must or the oil doesn't flow. I've been through several ups and downs. The current emphasis on reducing expenditures in my neck of the woods is at an all time high. Almost unbelieveable. I suspect it is samo samo elsewhere, maybe worse. I had thought last year that the worst was over in the oilpatch, in my time anyway. But I'm beginning to think maybe I was wrong, and it is yet to come. Time will show, as always, but mood very bad here now. AK will soon have state income tax, MO. Damn.
The next qtr or two will be very interesting. WTC and the aftermath created a lot of out of sync events. It could be that earnings for the next few qtrs are going to really stink up the joint, at a lot of places. This is whether one gauges them on qtr/qtr comparisons, or however. I know in my corner we are doing everything possible to delay expenditures, regardless of the consequence. And yes employment reductions are surely to follow. Re spending cuts, I doubt it is a temporary phenom.
Still a bear, but bears can watch their backside as well.
And still waiting for the damn dollar to crack. Soon I think, but thought has thought that one before.
PS Roebear. Weather shifting up here again. Looks like cold air returning en masse. May be coldest of yr yet. And it was damn cold a while in Dec. I suspect the cold will stay awhile, and eventually effect lower 48, later in the season.
I know little about weather, but what seems to have screwed up our patterns are lows, in the gulf of AK. With em come warm air, for us, and no snow. |
