Stocks Plunge On Fear That The Economy Won't Recover As Quick And That Jobs Data Will Continue Negative

Look for a negative open Thursday.   Jobless new claims and earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Traders pull the plug on Wall Street Thursday, selling nearly every stock at hand.  Prices plunge on recovery worries, specifically relating to Europe and U.S. job market.  The major indexes dropped 2 to 3 percent.  Barometer model data got dinged again with today's performance that could lead to a downgrade of the Forecast to negative.  A negative Forecast would mean the market could drop substantially from current levels.   Thursday, February 4, 2010,  9:01  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:41p

>  Model data indicates a slight chance that the stock market could go up from Thursdays big drop. Its not 100 percent but there is an indication in the data pointing to a bottom to this correction.

>  Jobless new claims increases to 480,000- chart.

Blue Chip And NASDAQ Stocks Mixed, Broader Market Off By 1/2 Percent

Look for a neutral-to-negative open.   ADP jobs report and earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Investors end two days of gains as selling pressure over jobs data came into play Wednesday.  Stocks, measured by the major indexes, ended mixed with the broader market retreating 1/2 percent.   Wednesday, February 3, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:25p

Housing And Earnings Get Two Positive Sessions In A Row

Look for a neutral flat open Tuesday. Could turn mixed.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Two in a row as investors add to yesterdays gain, ahead of the payroll jobs report Friday.  Barometer model metrics turning around, could see forecast upgrades if market performance continues positive.   Tuesday, February 2, 2010,  8:46  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:34p

Starting February Right With A One Plus Percent Gain On The Session

Look for a neutral-to-positive open Monday.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Factory order data (ISM report) and consumer income and spending set the tone for today's advance, recovering some of the loss generated in January.   Monday, February 1, 2010,  8:48  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:50p

>  ISM reported the PMI at 58.4 percent for January. A PMI over 50 indicates economic expansion in manufacturing.

Tech Leads The Broader Market Lower Continuing The Sell Off

Look for a neutral-to-positive open for Friday.   GDP and earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Selling continued Friday to end January in red ink as investors now look to February for better footing.  January sees red as the major indexes sink into negative territory, prompting the Forecast to be cut to caution.   Friday, January 29, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:49p Easter

>  GDP 5.7 in Q4, well above estimates, economy churning- chart.

Forecast Turns To Caution On Worsening Market Fundamentals

Look for a neutral-to-positive open.  Could open mixed.   Jobless new claims, Durable Goods report and earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Mid afternoon model run is changing the Forecast to caution.  Stocks continue moving lower as investors are becoming more concerned over the economic recovery.   Thursday, January 28, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:54p Easter

>  Ben Bernanke to get confirmed Thursday for another term as Federal Reserve Chief, greatly relieving concerns for most marketeers.

>  Market Barometer Forecast gets downgraded to caution Thursday.

>  Jobless new claims disappoints, decreasing just 8,000 last week- chart.

Major Indexes Jump Around The Unchanged Line, Head Higher Into Positive Territory

Look for a neutral-to-negative open Wednesday.   Fed day and earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Investors saw the market underwater for most of the session, but after the FOMC announced no change to monetary policy, shares headed higher to post a gain.   Wednesday, January 27, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:47p Easter

>  Thursday and Friday could be volatile if initial new claims and GDP data come in with unexpected results.

>  Fed FOMC keeps rates steady at 0-1/4 percent, statement virtually unchanged.

Stocks Were Unable To Hold Positive Territory Tuesday, Causing The Forecast Bias To Get Downgraded

Look for a neutral-to-negative open.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start as well as the FOMC meeting and Bernanke confirmation hearing.  The pre close Barometer model changed the Forecast-Bias to negative.   Tuesday, January 26, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:38p Easter

>  U.S. markets could get real volatile with the Fed FOMC on deck for tomorrow, jobless new claims Thursday, Bernanke "hopeful" confirmation, and GDP report Friday- makes you want to raise cash.

>  A caution Forecast could be next. What does that really mean?

>  A disappointing session today, as confidence in the ability of stocks to advance is weakening, causing the forecast-bias to be downgraded.

Market Reverses A Three Day Sell Off, Gains Attributed To Bernanke Anti Foe Movement

Look for a positive open Monday.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Bernanke confirmation opposition tempered.  Stocks end well off the high of the session, reversing last weeks big downturn.  Political wrangling continues as investors vote with each buy and sell on Bernanke uncertainty.   Monday, January 25, 2010,  8:52  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:46p Easter

Another Sell Off As More Government Talk And Bernanke Uncertainty Builds Fear

Look for a neutral-to-negative open Friday.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Afternoon model run has changed the BLI to negative.  Stocks, for a third day, fell as the Presidents plan to cap big banks continue to eat away at the markets and an additional fear that Bernanke will have trouble in confirmation took its toll on Wall Street.   Friday, January 22, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 6:02p Easter

>  Big losses this week, but don't panic, it might just be a correction. See chart.

>  Today's downgrade of the BLI indicates that the stock market has entered a period where, if not reversed within another several S&P 500 percentage points, could cause a direction change from a bullish rally mode to a more substantial bearish move lower.

>  Afternoon model-run changed the Leading Indicator to negative.

Market Sells Off On Threat Of Big Bank Capping

Look for a neutral-to-negative open.  Could turn positive.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start as well as initial jobless claims data.  S&P 500 survives the sell off, holds a slight gain for the year, Dow and NASDAQ give-up YTD gain.   Thursday, January 21, 2010,  9:28  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:38p Easter

>  Sneak peek at fresh model data -chart- shows we could be near a pullback. Click this link then click chart to launch advance model.

>  Tough two days for stocks, but chart shows little effect compared to the run-up of the March rally.

>  U.S. stocks under a little pressure from China's market, Government wrangling, and some believe overbought condition, primed the market for a fall with probably a follow-on threat Friday.

>  Stocks slammed again as nearly all the 2010 gain for the year have been reversed.

>  Jobless new claims move higher by 36,000 last week- chart.

Volatility Picks Up As Investors Dump Stocks Wednesday

Look for a negative open Wednesday.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Shares end in a sell-off Wednesday but well off the lows of the session as investors fear of a stagnate economic recovery reasserts itself.  The DJIA and S&P 500 index were lower on the session by 1.1 percent, the NASDAQ was down by 1.3 percent.   Wednesday, January 20, 2010,  8:54  A.M. Eastern- updated 10:07p Easter

>  With today's sell off, the S&P 500 is back where it was 10-sessions ago.

>  GDP for China came in at 10.7 percent, slightly higher than most had expected.

Investors rally the stock market recovering Fridays loss

Look for a neutral flat open.  Could turn positive.   earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Stocks rally Tuesday sending stocks back up recovering all of Fridays loss and then some.   Tuesday, January 19, 2010,  8:54  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:22p Easter

>  Republican win in Massachusetts could add a measure of gridlock, inspiring the markets- Futures indicate a slight negative open.

>  Investors reverse Fridays loss, taking stocks back up.

>  IBM earnings beat, upbeat outlook but stock struggles in after hours.

Stocks down near 1 percent ahead of long holiday weekend

Look for a neutral-to-negative open.   Consumer price report and earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  JP Morgan earnings miss scares investors to selling as the stock market gives up near 1 percent for the day and ends negative for the week.   Friday, January 15, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:21p Easter

>  U.S. markets closed for holiday. Will reopen Tuesday, normal schedule.

>  Both CPI index and core index rose 0.1 percent in December.

2010 Starts Strong With Gains Nearly Topping 3 Percent For The Broader Market

Look for a neutral to negative open Thursday.   Jobless new claims data and earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Even with a setback Tuesday, stocks continue to climb higher adding to the Y-T-D percentages which are approaching 3 percent.   Thursday, January 14, 2010,  8:54  A.M. Eastern- updated 10:38p Easter

>  New unemployment claims increase by 11,000 to 444,000- chart.

Market reverses direction Wednesday recovers yesterdays loss

Look for a neutral-to-positive open.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Trade deficit data and Bankers testifying before a Congressional special panel didn't phase traders Wednesday as a near steady climb higher for stocks recovering yesterdays Alcoa inspired sell off.   Wednesday, January 13, 2010,  8:54  A.M. Eastern- updated 5:42p Easter

Alcoa inspires selling as stocks drops on earnings concern

Look for a negative open Tuesday.   Alcoa earnings in focus for the start.  Alcoa's miss on earnings and other not so friendly news keeps stocks from advancing although the major indexes ended off the low of the session.   Tuesday, January 12, 2010,  8:52  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:39p Easter

>  Past 10 sessions we've had 3-positive, 3-negative, and the rest mixed. This indecision by investors and traders could cause a sell off, at this point.

>  Evening model run shows a possible downgrade of the BLI- the BLI is used to detect market-direction change. It will be important to see stocks do better over the next couple of sessions.

>  Alcoa pays for its earnings miss, down by 11 percent in the regular session.

Dow And The Broader Market Sees A Gain, Tech Lags Ahead Of Earning

Look for a neutral-to-positive open Monday.   Earnings/ outlook in focus for the start.  Alcoa started 4th. Quarter earnings with its report after the close.  Results were less than expected setting the stage for a possible problem in Tuesdays market.   Monday, January 11, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 9:39p Easter

>  Alcoa earnings disappoint, could cause trouble Tuesday.

Tech rallies, broader market ramps up at the close for a gain

Look for a neutral-to-negative open for Friday.   Jobs and unemployment-rate report in focus for the start.  Nice gain to start the year but mixed economical data could signal a tough but profitable year ahead.  Late session surge by the broader market sees a gain.   Friday, January 8, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 5:52p Easter

>  Unemployment rate holds 10 percent.

>  Corporations lost 85,000 jobs in December, more than had been expected.

>  Government payroll report showed November jobs revised up to a gain but December disappoint investors sending shares lower Friday morning.

Broader Market Eked Out A Small Gain Ahead Of Jobs Data

Look for a neutral-to-negative open.   Jobless new claims data and December retail sales data in focus for the start.  If payroll data can't break the market one way or the other then stocks could trade flat all year long, barring Fed intervention; almost another flat session Thursday but the broader market rose to end up with a nice gain while tech lagged. Thursday, January 7, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:56p Easter

>  Stock market is hoping for a positive jobs number or a very very small negative number.

>  Jobless new claims tick up- trend moves lower- chart.

Stocks On Two Day Stagnate Run As Marketeers Await Fresh Data And Earnings

Look for a neutral flat open.   Earnings season is in focus for the start.  Stocks go flat for the second session as the market gets ready for earnings next week and payroll/ jobs data tomorrow and Friday.   Wednesday, January 6, 2010,  8:53  A.M. Eastern- updated 4:50p Easter

>  Manufacturing expanded in December, but will jobs? Thursdays jobless new claims and Fridays payroll will get investors attention.

Stocks Go Mixed For Second Session Of New Year

Look for a neutral flat open Tuesday.  Investors rest from Mondays rally sending the market averages to close mixed.   Tuesday, January 5, 2010,  8:49  A.M. Eastern- updated 5:43p Easter

>  Pending home sales data and factory orders send mixed signal, sending shares to close mixed Tuesday after new year rally.

New Year Sees Rally, Inspired By Good Data And Intel Upgrade

Look for a positive open.  The afternoon model run has changed the Barometer Leading Indicator (BLI) back to neutral.  Intel and friendly economical data helped traders send stocks to rally Monday, the first trade of the year.   Monday, January 4, 2010,  9:07  A.M. Eastern- updated 5:53p Easter

>  Mid afternoon model run changed the Leading Indicator to neutral.