Rebel Traders - Stock Market and Economic Analysis

There are numerous reasons being floated in the media today to explain the sharp sell off in the equities market. Some are ridiculous, while others are meaningful. Unfortunately bubble TV pays little attention to the meaningful reasons, so let us briefly list the important ones here.

   Sovereign default concerns continue to grow for Greece and the Eastern European region.

   China has temporarily restricted banks from any further lending to control excesses in the economy. Additionally, a Chinese economist has floated the idea that China should curtail further purchases of U.S. debt.

   The U.S. dollar has risen significantly in response to the items listed above.

   Q4 earnings so far have been met with ‘sell the news’. An indication that stock prices have advanced far too much and earnings don’t substantiate the stock prices.

   Financial firms are still reporting en masse losses on loans and other credit portfolio products.

   The FHA, in an attempt to save itself from complete destruction has tightened lending criteria. A good first step for the FHA, but bad for those who were counting on more ‘easy money’ to keep the housing market afloat.

   Unemployment, unemployment, and unemployment.

   And the biggest one of all today is the Massachusetts senate election that elected Republican Scott Brown last evening.

Famed CNBC windbag Jim Cramer misinterpreted what the election of Scott Brown means. Jim Cramer claimed that the market would rally ‘huge’ today if Scott Brown were elected. The part that Mr. Cramer fails to comprehend is that Scott Brown threatens the normal way of life in Washington and he embraces the ‘tea party’ ideals of ending free money.

The ‘tea party’ movement has had lots of bad press. But that is understandable since the ‘tea party’ represents the idea of fair and balanced taxes, no bailouts for Wall Street firms who dug their own grave, and a government that actually represents the people instead of lobbyists and their interests. Any group of people that threatens the normal way of life in Washington will be singled out and made to look foolish by those who are threatened the most.

Senate elect Scott Brown says he will take to Washington the very concept that threatens the normal way of life, and that has Wall Street worried.