Observation. I see a market that is completely hypnotized by the Fed. The rate cut from September 18th was the first in four years. The market responded not once, but three times to the same rate cut! In anticipation of, in reaction to, and even afterwards when the Fed minutes from the rate cut were released three weeks later. These minutes gave investors reason to believe in another rate cut.
New elements: The new Chairman (Bernanke) and new Secretary of the Treasury (Paulson) meet weekly, and are part of the Plunge Protection Team. All this novelty created a climate of uncertainty, but that has now changed to total dependency. When the Fed winks the market jumps.
Hard for shorters. Good news will make the market rise, but so will bad news, because it will be seen as reason for another rate cut. Everybody in the market knows this, so who is left to sell? This is not a bull market, but a market that is bullied upwards.
Normally I would short the market tomorrow, for a few weeks, but in the present climate that seems hardly worth it.
Thoughts?
New elements: The new Chairman (Bernanke) and new Secretary of the Treasury (Paulson) meet weekly, and are part of the Plunge Protection Team. All this novelty created a climate of uncertainty, but that has now changed to total dependency. When the Fed winks the market jumps.
Hard for shorters. Good news will make the market rise, but so will bad news, because it will be seen as reason for another rate cut. Everybody in the market knows this, so who is left to sell? This is not a bull market, but a market that is bullied upwards.
Normally I would short the market tomorrow, for a few weeks, but in the present climate that seems hardly worth it.
Thoughts?
