Ned Riley Selling Quotations

Whether the catalyst was the cessation of tax selling or just a rally from a truly depressed area, the Nasdaq is attracting some bargain hunting. I would suggest stocks were over discounting shorter-term problems that have already been announced.

We're looking at a company that's going to grow, I think, at about 14 percent over the next several years with, I might add, a lot of predictability and I think a lot of visibility and a high level of confidence, ... So with Merck at 31 times earnings now and down about 20 percent from its high, I think we're getting into an opportunity where it's a lot better than trying to buy a cyclical that's selling at 27 times earnings and where the visibility is a lot more questionable.

The worst point of the tech cycle is probably upon us now, but the actual results and the commentary on earnings are no surprise. There's a selling exhaustion in regards to tech stocks. People are trying to focus on the road ahead. Looking forward; there is a lot of upside potential.

These companies are actually growing, ... The whole group is growing somewhere between 10 and 13 percent relative earnings growth and the price-earnings ratios are about 13 to 14 times. It's one of the few groups out there that are actually selling at their growth rate in terms of price-earnings ratio. And, right now, it's strange -- people don't like the group. It isn't a hot group.

That's imposing a ceiling of sorts on any rally. But the good news is that at the end of next week, tax-loss related selling may abate dramatically.

It's a conviction on the part of some that a lot of the stocks have reached such a downside level that they are discounting the worst of all scenarios. The enthusiasm is clearly restrained because the selling and anxiety continues so we've got a little short covering and selective buying.

The inclination is toward selling the rally instead of buying on the dips.

The markets got a little premature declaring victory last week and the shorts rushed in to cover. Now enthusiasm has dissipated and the selling pressure is on. People are realizing that the war is going to be longer and more drawn out than anticipated.