There is a seasonality bias to the upside.
Right now it is a market of indecision. There's no clear theme to build on. If retail sales come in very strong, it is going to tip that delicate scale into the direction of a strong economy, a hot economy and higher rates.
IBM is going to have another negative effect in the broader market. It's a major stock.
I believe what we may see is a minor pullback due to a lack of fresh catalysts now that the Fed has already said what they said.
Merger and acquisition activity is usually looked at as a positive for the market as it eventually brings fresh cash into hands of managers.
With the Fed watching every stream of data that's coming out, investors are taking a cautionary stance due to ongoing concerns about the likely direction and the extent of future rate increases.
Earnings will be coming in full gear today, but even if they were to be good, stock investors will question the sustainability of such results given high oil prices.
The report may give a reading on the economy and, bottom line, what may happen with interest rates. We are also coming from several days of declines, so a benign report may help boost stocks today.
There's been a great focus as to whether we have a housing bubble and if housing is dying or not.
Considering that it's a bank holiday, there are no earnings and no economic numbers, Dell could be one of the few points of interest today.
Earnings may prove to be a good distraction from what's been going on with energy prices. But managers, including myself, are asking themselves how long companies will be able withstand oil prices at these levels without being hurt.
Oil seems to be a tad off today. One of the reasons yesterday sold off so much was having that surge in oil. We're getting a little respite from that this morning.
Oil seems to be a tad off today, ... One of the reasons yesterday sold off so much was having that surge in oil. We're getting a little respite from that this morning.
The jobs data should tip the scales one way or another.
The confluence of three themes today -- energy prices, earnings and economic numbers -- should make for an interesting market.
Investors are looking for a sign as to when rate hikes are going to stop.
If crude oil prices hit $60 a barrel, that's going to stir up old fears of higher energy prices and revive worries about their impact on consumer spending. The $60 dollar level is a key psychological barrier.
For the most part, Christmas is here and everyone is taking a well-deserved break, including Wall Street. Unless there's a significant deviation from expectations on the economic data, I'd be surprised if the market closed more than 30 points either way.
The market has been hungry for some semblance of a positive trend, and it appears that one is developing.
The market is apprehensive and hesitant in its conviction, waiting for clearer earnings direction from perceived market leaders.