Rebel Traders - Stock Market and Economic Analysis

The markets are in limbo with low volume so far. There is a general weakness theme to today’s action as there have been some attempts to advance but each time they were sold back down.

The consumer confidence numbers came out earlier and it was another decline. Consumer confidence is eroding and that is always a concern for the markets because it is a direct connection to the consumers wallet/pocketbook. When consumer confidence weakens so does the markets ability to sustain upward movements.

So far the markets have been floating with no solid direction (almost sounds like a broken record). We don’t like saying it anymore than you like hearing it. But it is what it is.

Just a few moments ago Vonage (VG) had their share halted for pending news. That news was Vonage violated Sprint’s (S) patents, Kansas jury decides, Vonage must pay $69.5 mln for using Spring inventions, jury says. Well, this may be the end of Vonage now.

The financial and housing sectors have taken a turn for the worse and are impacting the broader markets. Financials, Banks, and Housing all continue to weaken here at this hour.

Hello Rebels,

Sorry for the lack of a pre market report today. Had a small emergency this morning that had to be taken care of. All is OK now.

When the market opened this morning the US dollar had already set another record low against the Euro. The dollar just keeps getting weaker.

There was no significant news events this morning that would be market movers. But just moments ago the United Auto Workers called a strike against General Motors. At all the GM plants across the country the workers are walking off the job now. Be aware that AKS Steel (AKS) may fall in sympathy with GM as they are a large supplier to the auto industry. If you have a long swing trade in AKS you may want to cash out. No telling how long the strike will go. So why take the chance if your holding AKS.

So far the markets are trading with trepidation. The financial sector is in the red again and is pulling the broader markets in. No confidence in the financial sectors yet. Ironic, the rate cuts were supposed to benefit the financial sectors but it is not working.

Another update later.

Hope you all got to check out the new stock market show (see earlier post).

Had a meeting to attend this morning which ran much longer than I anticipated. Lisa will be posting some information on today’s market soon.

Goldman Sachs beat their earnings by a significant margin. And Bear Stearns missed by a large margin. Currently market is trading down. There will be much more shortly.

Could it be that the euphoria in the market is quickly wearing thin? Price action is showing strength but some of the market internals are showing a drop in the intensity of buying (or short covering). At the moment it seems we have hit a ceiling. May only be temporary or maybe the hangover from yesterday is setting in and reality is taking over..

The Advance/decline ratio is showing signs of profit taking increasing. And the trading volume has been tapering off.