Today the market is pausing a bit, given the strong performance last week. There is lot of acquisition activity, which is giving the market some lift, particularly because oil prices are stable.
The consumer price index rise was very modest. It suggests, that inflation is in the process of moderating.
The consumer price index rise was very modest. It suggests, as I think many of us have been forecasting, that inflation is in the process of moderating. The good news is investors can feel somewhat more comfortable about monetary policy.
The consumer price index rise was very modest.
Usually, when you have a stock market mania, it's driven largely by individual investors borrowing money to buy stocks at prices that are too high. And usually, when a bubble becomes unwound, it's because of margin calls.
It seems so tied to the price of oil, that it's very hard to forecast what stocks will do next. On balance the message of the markets for the last nine trading sessions, including today, seems to have shifted to say that the price of oil is taking a chunk out of consumer spending.
It's very clear that higher energy prices are now being passed along to consumers, and it's not difficult to do that when the economy is as strong as it is. This will put additional pressure on the Federal Reserve to continue to raise short-term interest rates.
The rise in oil prices and concern over the Fed's interest rate policy are very troubling to the market. That's going to present a challenge to this rally.
As long as the price of oil remains above $65 a barrel, investors are going to be very guarded and volume low.
Something has got to give, ... Crude prices will have to come down or there will have to be some assurance on interest rates before the market will be energized.
Investors become very guarded at the point that they think oil prices could take a chunk out of economic growth,
The price is down some, but it's clear that oil is at a level that raises serious questions about the U.S. economy and earnings going forward.
Really they're companies with consistent price performance, ... In other words, it's better than the S&P and consistent earnings performance.