Douglas Altabef
Douglas Altabef
attitude earnings higher late numbers reaction return saw seeing starting talk whisper
Earnings have been good, but what you're starting to see is a return to the attitude about earnings that we saw in the late 1990's, where you're seeing more talk about whisper numbers, higher expectations, and a more punitive reaction to numbers that disappoint.
attempt continues decided events hold iraq market meaningful result seem signal somewhat unfolding united
The market continues to attempt to find a footing. Essentially, we are still somewhat on hold as a result of events unfolding between the United States, Iraq and the United Nations. There just doesn't seem to be a meaningful signal that Iraq has decided to disarm.
amount certainly expensive
This is not an expensive stock. We think Merrill certainly has a significant amount of upward opportunity.
attention blowing buying coming couple fair few investors last left lousy meeting nervous number paying run seen tremendous trends volatility whistle worth
I think there are a couple trends worth paying attention to. Number one is the re-emergence of financials. We've seen that already over the last few months. They've had a tremendous run but they're coming off such a lousy last year-and-a-half that I think it's fair to say that it hasn't really left the station. But there's a lot of whistle blowing going on. The other one is that investors are very nervous about any kind of whiff of disappointment of not meeting expectations, so there is tremendous short-term volatility going on, and that's a buying opportunity.
center focus good iraq prospect recession
With Iraq off center stage, there is more good to focus on than not. The prospect of a double-dip recession will fade, I think.
brief continue good last markets moving stock year
You'll see markets continue to do the Cha-Cha, moving higher, but paced by brief retrenchments. It's not going to be as good as last year, but I think 2004 will still be a good year for the stock markets.
companies future less report
What companies report now is less influential than what they say about future quarters.
broader earnings economic impact news stocks
Today, there isn't any economic news, and the earnings news is having an impact on those stocks but not the broader market.
closely decision fed looking matter negative opinions people reaction saying slowly statement
We were going to have a knee-jerk negative reaction to the Fed's decision no matter what, with so many different opinions on what should be done, but I think today, it may be that people are looking more closely at the statement and see it as the Fed saying things are slowly going in the right direction.
case expect higher january jump lower massive people percent profit run wanting year
We expect the year to end 2 to 3 percent higher or lower than where it is now. The case for it going down is a massive run of profit taking. The case for it going up is people wanting to get a jump on the January rally.
exciting market tech year
We think one of the more exciting opportunities this year in the market are in the tech sector.
events friday market pricing reaction reality terrible
You had a terrible day Friday with the market pricing in the reality of these events and you have a continuation of that reaction now. There are no surprises. It's pretty much across-the-board negativity.
clearly economy employment fed influenced next potential reflection report surprise
The potential is that there could have been a surprise that could have influenced the Fed next Tuesday, and clearly that hasn't happened. But employment is a lagging indicator. So the report is not a reflection of where the economy is going, but where it's been.
given investors people prospect rally reality telling three today
Three years ago people actually thought that the Dow could go to 36,000 and it did the opposite. It's when people have really given up on the prospect of a real rally that you see a real rally, but try telling that to most investors now. Three years ago there was no reality dose, today there's no perspective.