12/31/04 Friday- New Year's Eve-

12/31/04 Friday 9:27a Eastern- Look for a neutral open. Could turn positive to mixed after the open.

12/31/04 Friday 10:53a Eastern- Stocks meander on New Year's eve in positive mode as investors close out the old to bring in the new-  trading should be slow today. The DJIA and S&P 500 are slightly higher by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ is up by 0.2 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a neutral bias.

12/31/04 Friday 4:55p Eastern- Stocks end New Year's eve on a slightly negative note but up for the year. Indices hung around unchanged for most of the day until last few hours when adjustment trades took the averages up and ultimately lower to end 2004. The DJIA ended lower by 0.2 percent, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ ended slightly lower by 0.1 percent.  |  The forecast going into the new year is caution with a neutral bias.  

12/30/04 Thursday-

12/30/04 Thursday 9:26a Eastern- Look for a neutral possibly mixed open.

12/30/04 Thursday 12:04p Eastern- Mixed economical data [Chicago PMI, jobless claims] and light volume keeps the major indexes close to unchanged all morning with the indices [DJIA, S&P 500, NASDAQ] reporting slightly positive by 0.1 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a neutral bias.

12/30/04 Thursday 4:55p Eastern- Market moves sideways Thursday on the next to last day of 2004 trade, as lackluster economical data [jobless initial claims, Chicago PMI] and more focus on New Years and bonuses than trading, causes the major indexes to end nearly unchanged. The DJIA moves lower at the end of trade to settle at a 0.3 percent loss, the NASDAQ was slightly higher by 0.1 percent, the S&P 500 ends flat.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a neutral bias.  

12/29/04 Wednesday-

12/29/04 Wednesday 4:55p Eastern- Stock market starts out lower but recovers most of the days loss to end near unchanged;  oil surges-  on weekly inventory/supply report and a Saudi bomb blast;  Boeing puts pressure on the Dow-  S&P and NASDAQ recover losses;  markets ends nearly flat. The DJIA ends slightly lower by 0.2 percent, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ end near unchanged.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a neutral bias- bias was change Monday evening.

12/29/04 Wednesday 11:17a Eastern- Major stock indexes move sideways in morning trading as investors mull the latest Government oil report and economical data-  oil lower at 41.65 bbl, -0.12. Investors may be content to move sideways for the remainder of 2004, as very little in data to digest until first week of the new year. The Dow Jones 30 is off by 0.3 percent, the NASDAQ is higher by 0.2 percent, the S&P 500 is flat.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a neutral bias.

12/29/04 Wednesday 9:26a Eastern- Look for a neutral-to-negative open-  could turn mixed after the open.  

12/28/04 Tuesday-

12/28/04 Tuesday 9:25a Eastern- Look for a neutral-to-positive open.

12/28/04 Tuesday 10:43a Eastern- Stocks rebound from yesterdays losses and capture the highs of the day amid a surging consumer confidence reading and continuing holiday retail sales data- oil also rebounds [$41.85 bbl, +0.53]. The DJIA and NASDAQ posts 0.7 percent gains, the S&P 500 also higher by 0.6 percent. The forecast, changed last evening, indicates caution with a neutral bias-  forecasters noted that the downgrade of the bias could be temporary.

12/28/04 Tuesday 4:55p Eastern- Consumer confidence data and Amazon upgrade cause buyers to run the stock market major indexes back up to the high of the day- holiday retail sales data helps. The DJIA and S&P 500 end Tuesday with a 0.7 percent gain, the NASDAQ outperformed with a 1.1 percent gain. The forecast bias was changed yesterday to neutral on indication from the forecast models that the market could get weaker. It was also stated that this downgrade could be temporary, as light volume can amplify market signals. The forecast indicates caution with a neutral bias and is subject to change- no change is expected this evening.  

12/27/04 Monday-

12/27/04 Monday 9:24a Eastern- Look for a neutral-to-positive open start.

12/27/04 Monday 11:23a Eastern- Stock market starts the last week of 2004 in positive territory with oil continuing lower [ $42.13 bbl, -2.05] and hopes that retail sales pick-up in after Christmas sales. At 11:23a, the indices moved lower to the unchanged line as oil continues its decline. The DJIA was flat, the S&P 500 was off by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ was lower by 0.3 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.

12/27/04 Monday 4:55p Eastern- Stocks get pulled lower Monday on mostly negative news [Earthquake- tsunami in South Asia and mixed holiday retail sales] and a new Bin Laden tape;  oil continues its move lower. News dominates investors with little in way of corporate news and no economical data to mull. The DJIA ended lower by 1/2 percent, the S&P 500 was off by 0.4 percent, and the NASDAQ ended down by 0.3 percent.  |  The forecast indicate caution with a positive bias;  bias is subject to change this evening after mid-evening model run.

12/27/04 Monday 10:15p Eastern- The forecast bias is changing to NEUTRAL from positive. Models indicate weakness in the major indexes that could move the market lower over the next couple of sessions. More information to follow.

12/27/04 Monday 11:27p Eastern- The Barometer bias was changed tonight to neutral from positive. Models identified weakness in the market that could possibly get worse. Forecasters noted that since today's market action was light, this weakness could pass. See bias change log, forecasters notes, and forecast objective for more information.

12/24/04 Friday, Christmas holiday weekend-

12/24/04 Friday 10:40a Eastern- Markets closed for Christmas holiday.

12/26/04 Sunday 10:36a Eastern- New to Market-Barometer™?  Find out how forecasting the U.S. stock market can help you. Just mouse-over and click the area of interest below-  all charts have been updated for Monday's open.  >The Market Memo page contains a seven week forecast, advisory memo, forecasting objectives and explanations.  >Forecasting performance is very important-  how well we forecast-  we benchmark our forecast indications to the S&P 500 index.  >The Barometer channel chart is a pictorial of the metrics of the forecasting models- we use the metrics of the models to make forecast changes.  >The Barometer Leading Indicator is used to identify potential changes in market direction- normally, this indicator alerts to a major direction change days before it happens.  >The forecast is continuously displayed in the upper-right corner of all public pages. For more information and description of the forecast-bug visit the Market Memo page.  >New users can get more information about Market-Barometer™ on the Markets page, About us page, and the Contents page.

12/26/04 Sunday 12:17p Eastern- Forecast reiteration: |  The Barometer stock market* forecast models indicate caution with a positive bias going into Monday's open.  *- Dow Jones 30, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ indices.  Barometer Chart   Forecast Objective  S&P 500 Forecast Performance Chart

12/23/04 Thursday-

12/23/04 Thursday 9:27a Eastern- Look for a neutral-to-mixed open.

12/23/04 Thursday 11:33a Eastern- Stock market continues the 'Santa' rally with the indices reporting better than 0.2 percent gains amid a slew of good-to-mixed economical data [durable goods, consumer spending, jobless claims, consumer sentiment- and others] with the DJIA and NASDAQ higher by 0.3 percent;  the S&P 500 was up by 0.2 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias- no change to the forecast is expected before next week.

12/23/04 Thursday 4:44p Eastern- Stocks end in neutral with 1 percent, or greater, gain [the indices] on the week. Mixed economical data [durable goods, consumer spending, jobless claims, consumer sentiment- and others] keeps positive sentiment going into a long weekend-holiday [U.S. markets closed tomorrow];  the DJIA and S&P 500 closed Thursday with a 0.1 percent gain, the NASDAQ was higher by 0.2 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias. No forecast change is expected through the holiday period.  

12/22/04 Wednesday-

12/22/04 Wednesday 9:25a Eastern- Look for a neutral-to-mixed open.

12/22/04 Wednesday 10:23a Eastern- GDP is growing at an annual rate of 4 percent, according to the latest report from the Government...

12/22/04 Wednesday 11:38a Eastern- Stocks surge Wednesday morning on Government report that heating oil reserves increased [analysts had thought it would decrease], also helping the market was another Government report that shows GDP growing at 4 percent annually in the 3rd. quarter. Oil was trading at $44.00 -1.76. The DJIA was higher by 0.4 percent, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ was higher by 0.3 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.

12/22/04 Wednesday 4:55p Eastern- Major market indexes end Wednesday with gains on a Government report that saw oil supply [heating oil] increase and in another Government report showing annual GDP, in the third-quarter, rose to 4 percent. The price of oil lost more than 3 percent closing at $44.24 bbl. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ closed with gains of 0.3 percent, DJIA outperforms with a 1/2 percent gain.  |  The *forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and continues to be subject to change.  * Forecast of caution with a positive bias means the indices are nearly equally weighted with a propensity to advance.  

12/21/04 Tuesday-

12/21/04 Tuesday 9:25a Eastern- Look for a neutral-to-positive open.

12/21/04 Tuesday 11:18a Eastern- Stocks advance Tuesday morning amid good quarterly earnings from investment centers [Bear Stearns, Morgan Stanley] and an upgrade on Intel stock-  slightly holding things back were the attack in Mosul and Bayer AG hart risk warning news. The Dow Jones 30 index and NASDAQ were higher by 0.4 percent, the S&P 500 higher by 0.3 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias. The forecast continues to be subject to change.

12/21/04 Tuesday 4:55p Eastern- Investors stair-step the major indexes higher, nearly all day, amid better than expected earnings from investment banks [Bear Stearns and Morgan Stanley], an upgrade to Intel Corp., as the price of oil moves slightly lower;  today's trading discounted the Mosul attack. The DJIA and S&P 500 moved higher by 0.9 percent, the NASDAQ was higher by 1.1 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias- forecast is subject to change.    

12/20/04 Monday-

12/20/04 Monday 9:27 am ET- Look for a positive open.

12/20/04 Monday 11:11 am ET- Stocks move higher Monday midmorning on a shortened week [markets closed Friday] helped by lower oil prices [$45.60 bbl] and a positive reading on the economical leading indicator (LEI), reported by the Government. Late morning trade saw the DJIA up by 1/2 percent, the S&P 500 was higher by 0.4 percent, and the NASDAQ was up by 0.3 percent.  |  The Barometer forecast indicates caution with a positive bias- forecast continues to be subject to change.

12/20/04 Monday 5:39 pm ET- Major market indexes did well early on but trended lower to end near unchanged;  it was a slow news day, although the economical leading indicator [LEI] came in above expectations and reversed months of declines-  oil was lower on the day. Wednesday and Thursday [short trade week] will see a lot of economical data for investors to maul- should influence trading. The DJIA and S&P ended slightly higher within 0.1 percent of unchanged and the NASDAQ was lower by 0.3 percent.  |  The Barometer forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is still subject to change.  

12/18/04 Weekend-

12/18/04 Saturday 9:25 am ET- New to Market-Barometer™?  Find out how forecasting the U.S. stock market can help you. Just mouse-over and click the area of interest below-  all charts have been updated for Monday's open.  >The Market Memo page contains a seven week forecast, advisory memo, forecasting objectives and explanations.  >Forecasting performance is very important-  how well we forecast-  we benchmark our forecast indications to the S&P 500 index.  >The Barometer channel chart is a pictorial of the metrics of the forecasting models- we use the metrics of the models to make forecast changes.  >The Barometer Leading Indicator is used to identify potential changes in market direction- normally, this indicator alerts to a major direction change days before it happens.  >The forecast is continuously displayed in the upper-right corner of all public pages. For more information and description of the forecast-bug visit the Market Memo page.  >New users can get more information about Market-Barometer™ on the Markets page, About us page, and the Contents page.

12/19/04 Sunday 9:26 am ET- Forecast reiteration: |  The Barometer stock market* forecast models indicate caution with a positive bias going into Monday's open.  *- Dow Jones 30, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ indices.  Barometer Chart   Forecast Objective  S&P 500 Forecast Performance Chart  

12/17/04 Friday-

12/17/04 Friday 9:25 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-mixed open.

12/17/04 Friday 11:31a ET- Stock market moves lower Friday amid Celebrex news from Pfizer [hart risk study taking drug] and economical data [CPI increased by 0.2 percent]. Oil is back above $45 bbl and today is options day which can cause volatility. DJIA was lower by 0.3 percent, the NASDAQ slightly lower by 0.1, and the S&P 500 leading the way with a 0.6 percent loss.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias. The forecast is subject to change.

12/17/04 Friday 4:55 pm ET- Pfizer-Celebrex warning sets negative tone, while CPI data suggests inflation is tame;  major averages slide into the weekend with slight gains for the week. The forecast, going into Christmas week, indicates caution with a positive bias- the forecast is subject to change. DJIA and NASDAQ end with a 1/2 percent loss;  the S&P 500 lost 0.8 percent.  

12/16/04 Thursday-

12/16/04 Thursday 9:28 am ET- Look for a neutral-  possibly mixed open.

12/16/04 Thursday 10:58 am ET- Investors sift through mixed bag of economical data [November housing starts, jobless claims] and a continuation of M&A activity and hold stocks near the open prices. The indices hang around the opening values as investors and traders look for direction. The DJIA is slightly higher by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ slightly lower by 0.1 percent, and the S&P 500 is flat.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias. The forecast is subject to change.

12/16/04 Thursday 4:59p ET- M&A activity keeps traders active but mixed economical data [Nov. housing starts and jobless claims] keeps the stock market mixed with the averages [Dow and S&P] near neutral for the day but the NASDAQ got slammed with a 3/4 percent decline. The DJIA closed slightly higher by 0.1 percent, the S&P 500 slightly lower by 0.2 percent, and the NASDAQ lost 0.8 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and continues to be subject to change.  

12/15/04 Wednesday-

12/15/04 Wednesday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral to possibly mixed open.

12/15/04 Wednesday 11:07 am ET- Indices oscillate near unchanged most of the morning but move lower in late morning trading as the price of oil moves up [$43.55 bbl] ahead of the Governments oil supply/reserves report. The Barometer forecast, reviewed last evening, indicated no change to the current forecast [see forecaster notes]. The DJIA and S&P 500 were lower by 0.2 percent, the NASDAQ lower by 0.1 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.

12/15/04 Wednesday 4:59 pm ET- Market ends positive even though it could have been a very negative day-  oil fear accounts for market top. Stocks couldn't get out of first-gear, as traders focused on Yukos and news that the oil supply dropped according to a Government report. Sprint-Nextel merger account for some positive-ness today. The DJIA and NASDAQ end slightly higher by 0.1 percent, the S&P 500 ended Wednesday session higher by 0.2 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias- a review yesterday evening indicates no change to the forecast.  

12/14/04 Tuesday-

12/14/04 Tuesday 9:24 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-negative open. NASDAQ could turn positive after the open.

12/14/04 Tuesday 11:06 am ET- Indices hang close to the unchanged-line as investors await the expected 25 basis point rate hike later this afternoon. The hike will put the rate target at 2.25 percent, which is the target the Federal Reserve will try and maintain until the next policy change-  the statement accompanying the rate hike announcement will be important for any possible policy direction change. The DJIA was flat, the S&P 500 was slightly higher by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ higher by 0.2 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias- the forecast is subject to change.

12/14/04 Tuesday 3:08 pm ET- The Federal Reserve FOMC raised the Fed funds rate target to 2.25 percent, as expected. Initial market reaction was neutral.

12/14/04 Tuesday 4:55 pm ET- Stocks put in another positive day on rate hike and GE news. The Fed increased the Fed funds rate to 2.25 percent and said they will continue monetary policy "measured pace" and separately, GE had some bullish statements from their performance and business outlook meeting. Both got investors attention as the indices got a positive spike on both events. The dow and S&P 500 ended higher by 0.4 percent, and the NASDAQ was higher by 1/2 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias-  the forecast is subject to change. Any change to the forecast will be posted later this evening after the last model run.

12/14/04 Tuesday 11:05 pm ET- The forecast was not changed- that's not bad news! See forecasters notes.  

12/13/04 Monday-

12/13/04 Monday 9:26 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open.

12/13/04 Monday 10:58 am ET- The major indexes hold on to gains Monday on mixed economical data [retail sales, business inventory] as investors await the Fed's FOMC meeting tomorrow- it is expected that interest  rates [Fed funds interest rates] to be increased by 25 basis point making the rate 2.25 percent. The DJIA, S&P 500 are up by 0.3 percent, the NASDAQ is higher by 1/2 percent. Oil is priced at $41.25 bbl, slightly higher in late morning trading. The Barometer forecast indicates caution with a positive bias.

12/13/04 Monday 5:08 pm ET- Stocks kick into high gear ahead of the Fed and end Monday nearly 1 percent richer. Mixed economical data and Oracle/PeopleSoft merger agreement sends the averages to close at the high of the day. The DJIA and S&P 500 close with a 0.9 percent gain, the NASDAQ closes up by 1 percent.  |  The Market Barometer forecast indicates caution with a positive bias.  

12/11/04 Weekend-

12/11/04 Saturday 8:52 am ET- New to Market-Barometer™?  Find out how forecasting the U.S. stock market can help you. Just mouse-over and click the area of interest below-  all charts have been updated for Monday's open.  >The Market Memo page contains a seven week forecast, advisory memo, forecasting objectives and explanations.  >Forecasting performance is very important-  how well we forecast-  we benchmark our forecast indications to the S&P 500 index.  >The Barometer channel chart is a pictorial of the metrics of the forecasting models- we use the metrics of the models to make forecast changes.  >The Barometer Leading Indicator is used to identify potential changes in market direction- normally, this indicator alerts to a major direction change days before it happens.  >The forecast is continuously displayed in the upper-right corner of all public pages. For more information and description of the forecast-bug visit the Market Memo page.  >New users can get more information about Market-Barometer™ on the Markets page, About us page, and the Contents page.

12/12/04 Sunday 8:45 am ET- Forecast reiteration: |  The Barometer stock market* forecast models indicate caution with a positive bias going into Monday's open.  *- Dow Jones 30, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ indices. [Barometer Chart]  [Forecast Objective]  

12/10/04 Friday-

12/10/04 Friday 9:25 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-negative open.

12/10/04 Friday 11:44 am ET- Major indexes oscillate around unchanged Friday morning amid increased inflation concerns [PPI came in higher than expected] but somewhat offset by higher reading in consumer sentiment. The price of oil advances on OPEC report of a decision to cut production and the Dollar continues to make progress against the Euro and Yen. Plus investors are anticipating another rate hike by the Fed on Tuesday sending the Fed funds target to 2.25 percent. In late morning trade, the DJIA, S&P 500, and NASDAQ are down slightly by 0.1 percent.  |  The Barometer forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and the bias is subject to change.

12/10/04 Friday 5:05 pm ET- Stock market major indexes try for a comeback Friday but selling is reestablished mid afternoon as investors end the session [indices] near neutral. Investors got mixed signals [oil price turns around on OPEC, PPI shows inflation, consumer sentiment] Friday and opted to wait for the Fed to raise rates Tuesday as it is expected the Fed funds target to increase to 2.25 percent. Monday most likely will be as tame as today unless events dictate otherwise. The DJIA and S&P 500 end slightly lower by 0.1 percent-  the NASDAQ ends flat.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.

12/9/04 Thursday-

12/9/04 Thursday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-negative open.

12/9/04 Thursday 11:08 am ET- A tough jobless claims report and oil-price rebound has the market under pressure Thursday. Jobless initial claims came in over what economists had expected and oil prices [currently $42.70 bbl] put a damper on investors as the major indexes move lower in late morning trade. The DJIA is off by 1/2 percent, the S&P 500 lower by 0.6 percent, and the tech heavy NASDAQ lower by 1.1 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias- the bias is subject to downgrade this afternoon.

12/9/04 Thursday 2:06 pm ET- We are experiencing a network computer problem- some pages [home page is the worst] loads very slow. Problem is being worked on.

12/9/04 Thursday 4:55 pm ET- Stocks turnaround [better than 1 percent from morning trade] and trend positive to end the day with gains amid higher than expected jobless claims-  higher oil prices-  higher Dollar, Dollar  takes back some lost territory against the Euro and Yen. The DJIA gained 0.6 percent, the S&P 500 was higher by 1/2 percent, and the NASDAQ slightly higher by 0.1 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is subject to change-  no immediate change is expected.

12/8/04 Wednesday-

12/8/04 Wednesday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open and start amid oil and gold moving lower.

12/8/04 Wednesday 11:00 am ET- Stocks move higher Wednesday as oil and gold prices decline, [since, oil back above $42. bbl] removing some of yesterdays negative sentiment. All eyes are on the oil supply report today and jobless claims tomorrow. The indices have stabilized and moved lower back to the unchanged-line with the DJIA slightly higher by 0.2 percent, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ slightly higher by 0.1 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias. The bias is subject to change.

12/8/04 Wednesday 4:59 pm ET- Market takes back some of yesterdays selling-  S&P 500 takes back nearly 1/2 of yesterdays loss. Oil and gold [commodities in general] was part of today's focus as both lost ground at the open with oil recovering to end slightly higher. The DJIA, S&P 500, and NASDAQ all gained 1/2 percent.  |  The Barometer forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is subject to change-  although no change is expected immediately.  

12/7/04 Tuesday-

12/7/04 Tuesday 9:25 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open.

12/7/04 Tuesday 11:36 am ET- Stocks meander Tuesday on light economical data;  future econ data this week for investors to eye is oil supply report tomorrow, jobless claims Thursday, and PPI report Friday. Meanwhile, not much conviction as the indices trend sideways;  DJIA and S&P 500 a virtually flat, but positive, the NASDAQ is slightly higher by 0.1 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.

12/7/04 Tuesday 4:59 pm ET- corrected- Stocks take a hit Tuesday as the major indexes decline more than 1 percent on a day that sees the price of oil move lower-  economical reports were also mixed. The DJIA and S&P 500 lost 1.1 percent, the NASDAQ lost 1.7 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.  

12/6/04 Monday-

12/6/04 Monday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-negative open.

12/6/04 Monday 10:49 am ET- Stocks retreat Monday morning on little reason to bid stocks higher-  little in way of economical data and earnings-  oil back above $43. bbl as investors await data this week to trade on.. The DJIA off by 1/2 percent, the S&P 500 lower by 0.3 percent, and the NASDAQ down by 0.2 percent.  |  The Market Barometer forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive Barometer bias.

12/6/04 Monday 4:58 pm ET- Dow moves lower on downgrades-  S&P 500 and NASDAQ end near neutral Monday. With little news to move traders, stocks meander as investors await productivity and consumer credit reports tomorrow. The DJIA lost nearly 1/2 percent today while the S&P 500 ended slightly lower by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ end slightly higher by 0.2 percent.  |  The Barometer forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  

12/4/04 Weekend-

12/4/04 Saturday 8:34 am ET- New to Market-Barometer™?  Find out how forecasting the U.S. stock market can help you. Just mouse-over and click the area of interest below-  all charts have been updated for Monday's open.  >The Market Memo page contains a seven week forecast, advisory memo, forecasting objectives and explanations.  >Forecasting performance is very important-  how well we forecast-  we benchmark our forecast indications to the S&P 500 index.  >The Barometer channel chart is a pictorial of the metrics of the forecasting models- we use the metrics of the models to make forecast changes.  >The Barometer Leading Indicator is used to identify potential changes in market direction- normally, this indicator alerts to a major direction change days before it happens.  >The forecast is continuously displayed in the upper-right corner of all public pages. For more information and description of the forecast-bug visit the Market Memo page.  >New users can get more information about Market-Barometer™ on the Markets page, About us page, and the Contents page.

12/5/04 Sunday 9:07 am ET- Forecast reiteration: |  The Barometer stock market* forecast models indicate caution with a positive bias going into Monday's open.  *- Dow Jones 30, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ indices. [Barometer Chart]  [Forecast Objective]  

12/3/04 Friday-

12/3/04 Friday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-mixed open.

12/3/04 Friday 10:55 am ET- The economy added 112,000 new jobs in November, well below expectations.

12/3/04 Friday 11:53 am ET- Market turns positive after negative open Friday on a disappointing jobs report [nonfarm payroll report] this morning. Stocks turned around midmorning amid falling oil price [now at $42.55 bbl] and on Intel renewed outlook. The DJIA and S&P 500 are up by 0.3 percent, the NASDAQ is up by 0.4 percent.  |  The barometer forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.

12/3/04 Friday 4:55 pm ET- Stocks turned positive midmorning-  after a negative start-  but as the indices reflect, mixed news sees the averages end nearly unchanged for the day. Jobs data [nonfarm payroll] set the early negative tone for investors but it was short-lived, as Intel upped its business outlook and oil prices continued lower, setting the stage for buying. The indices settled for a flat day with the DJIA and S&P 500 advancing by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ ended with a 0.2 percent gain.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  

12/2/04 Thursday-

12/2/04 Thursday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-mixed open.

12/2/04 Thursday 11:06 am ET- Initial jobless claims increase by 25,000 last week;  the 4-week moving average is 336,500.

12/2/04 Thursday 11:57 am ET- Stocks rebound Thursday morning from a negative open amid mixed economical data [retail sales, jobs data, factory report] and oil continues to move lower, now below $44 bbl. The DJIA and S&P 500 were slightly higher by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ was up over 1/2 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias- the forecast is subject to upgrade if today continues positive.

12/2/04 Thursday 4:55 pm ET- Investors rest Thursday after running stocks up Wednesday. Price of oil continues to drop and mixed economical data [jobless claims, factory orders, retail sales] has investors waiting on jobs data [jobs created and unemployment rate] out tomorrow- economists are expecting a healthy number of jobs to be added to the economy-  any disappointment could cause some selling Friday. The DJIA and S&P 500 closed slightly lower by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ was higher by 0.3 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias- no forecast change is expected.  

12/1/04 Wednesday-

12/1/04 Wednesday 9:26 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open.

12/1/04 Wednesday 11:33 am ET- Stocks rally late morning Wednesday [indices higher by 1 percent] as bullish economical data [ ISM and consumer reports] and falling oil prices [47.60 bbl, -1.53 ] fuel buying. The DJIA was higher by 1.2 percent, the S&P 500 up by 1.1 percent, and the NASDAQ was up by 1.4 percent.  |  The Barometer forecast indicate caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.

12/1/04 Wednesday 4:55 pm ET- The stock market rallied Wednesday as investors cheer good economical data [ISM, beige book, and consumer reports] as the price of oil dives [drops below $46 bbl] on supply [reserves] buildup. The DJIA ended up by 1.6 percent, the S&P 500 was higher on the day by 1.5 percent, and the tech heavy NASDAQ outperformed and ended up by 2 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.  

11/30/04 Tuesday-

11/30/04 Tuesday 9:26 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open- Could turn mixed.

11/30/04 Tuesday 10:38 am ET- The Government reported today that annual GDP in the 3rd. quarter increased 3.9 percent (preliminary), better than economists had expected.

11/30/04 Tuesday 11:05 am ET- Market off to a moderately lower start Tuesday amid better than expected GDP reading from the Government and other mixed economical data released this morning. Oil trying to maintain $50 bbl and gold moves lower, off of the $450 line. The DJIA and S&P 500 are lower by 0.4 percent, the NASDAQ is off by 0.3 percent.  |  The Barometer forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is subject to change today.

11/30/04 Tuesday 5:10 pm ET- Last day of November trading sees the averages move lower amid good GDP data but other mixed economical reports. The S&P 500 ended Tuesday with a 0.4 percent loss, the DJIA and NASDAQ ended lower by 1/2 percent. For November, the DJIA rose 4 percent, the S&P 500 was higher by 3.9 percent, and the NASDAQ was up by 6.2 percent. The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.  

11/29/04 Monday-

11/29/04 Monday 9:26 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open.

11/29/04 Monday 11:12 am ET- Socks rollover and go negative amid confusing retail sales data;  Wall Mart disappoints, oil and gold prices moving higher Monday morning. The DJIA sporting a loss of 1/2 percent, the S&P 500 index off by 0.4 percent, the NASDAQ turns negative with a 0.1 percent loss.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution.

11/29/04 Monday 4:55 pm ET- Stocks end midpoint of the highs/lows of the session Monday amid minor bond market strategy concern, Wal-Mart disappointment, higher gold-oil prices, and Black Friday retail sales concern. The DJIA closed lower by 0.4 percent, the S&P 500 was lower by 0.3 percent, and the NASDAQ moved slightly higher and closed positive with a 0.2 percent gain on the day.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution.   

11/27/04 Weekend-

11/27/04 Saturday 9:05 am ET- New to Market-Barometer™?  Find out how forecasting the U.S. stock market can help you. Just mouse-over and click the area of interest below-  all charts have been updated for Monday's open.  >The Market Memo page contains a seven week forecast, advisory memo, forecasting objectives and explanations.  >Forecasting performance is very important-  how well we forecast-  we benchmark our forecast indications to the S&P 500 index.  >The Barometer channel chart is a pictorial of the metrics of the forecasting models- we use the metrics of the models to make forecast changes.  >The Barometer Leading Indicator is used to identify potential changes in market direction- normally, this indicator alerts to a major direction change days before it happens.  >The forecast is continuously displayed in the upper-right corner of all public pages. For more information and description of the forecast-bug visit the Market Memo page.  >New users can get more information about Market-Barometer™ on the Markets page, About us page, and the Contents page.

11/28/04 Sunday 9:03 am ET- Forecast reiteration: |  The Barometer stock market* forecast models indicate caution with a positive bias going into Monday's open.  *- Dow Jones 30, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ indices.  

11/26/04 Friday- Thanksgiving holiday- short trade day-

11/26/04 Friday 9:29 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-mixed open.

11/26/04 Friday 11:16 am ET- Major indexes move higher Friday on a short trade day amid early reports that Black Friday [one of the biggest days in retail sales] shopping is off to a good start. What is expected to be a slow day in the financial markets, with low volume and many investors taking a long 4-days, the DJIA is sporting a 0.2 percent gain, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are up by 0.4 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias. NYSE and NASDAQ will close at 1:00 pm ET and reopen for a full session Monday.

11/26/04 Friday 1:48 pm ET- The stock market ends the Thanksgiving holiday short week with the major indexes ending nearly unchanged for the day. Many traders are off for a long 4-day's and will be back Monday to decide market direction-  to take us to the end of the year. The S&P ended with a slight gain of 0.1 percent, the DJIA and NASDAQ ended flat.  |  The Barometer forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  

11/24/04 Wednesday-

11/24/04 Wednesday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open- could turn mixed.

11/24/04 Wednesday 12:57 pm ET- Indices choppy in midday trade ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday as investors mule the latest economical data. Oil lower all morning is beginning to trend higher as the major indexes move lower and sideways. The DJIA was flat, the S&P 500 was up by 0.3 percent, the NASDAQ was higher by 0.6 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.

11/24/04 Wednesday 4:55 pm ET- Indices end in pre-holiday style- in positive territory with notable gains on the NASDAQ. Low volume Wednesday as many investors and traders takeoff for the holiday and will return Monday-  Friday will be a shortened day with tomorrow being closed for Thanksgiving.  The DJIA closed with a 0.3 percent gain, the S&P 500 up by 0.4 percent, and the NASDAQ outperformed with a 0.9 percent advance.  |  The forecast, unchanged, will go into Friday indicating caution with a positive bias.

11/24/04 Wednesday 10:44 pm ET- U.S. markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving Day holiday. Stock market will reopen Friday for a shortened session.  

11/23/04 Tuesday-

11/23/04 Tuesday 9:26 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-mixed open.

11/23/04 Tuesday 11:11 am ET- Indices move lower, late morning Tuesday, amid higher oil prices [approaching $50 bbl] and lower Dollar. With low volume expected today, market could get volatile ahead of Wednesday's jobless data and consumer sentiment reports. The DJIA and S&P 500 are lower by 0.4 percent, the NASDAQ is off by 1/2 percent.  |  The Market Barometer forecast continues to indicate caution.

11/23/04 Tuesday 5:05 pm ET- Market ends in neutral after early move lower on oil- Dollar- Intel news. Market could react to jobs data and consumer sentiment [economic reports] tomorrow;  low volume can  enhance volatility-  indices could, again, end Wednesday near unchanged. The DJIA closed Tuesday's session with a slight gain of 0.03 percent, S&P 500 and NASDAQ ended slightly lower within 0.04 percent of unchanged.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  

11/22/04 Monday-

11/22/04 Monday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral, possibly mixed open.

11/22/04 Monday 10:50 am ET- Oil back in focus, as the price per barrel is just under $50. A shortened week as the markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving;  could see slow trading all week. Monday's trading most likely to see a slow day as investors will want to see Tuesday's economical data-  jobless claims, consumer sentiment, and others-  could influence sentiment Tuesday. The DJIA and S&P 500 are off by 0.2 percent, the NASDAQ is lower by 0.4 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.

11/22/04 Monday 5:10 pm ET- Investors come back from lunch in a good mood and buy stocks-  market turns around and advances on less than stellar volume. Oil falls back slightly as worries over the Dollar get quashed, for the time being. With some economical data to maul tomorrow, traders look to Wednesday for jobless new-claims data and consumer sentiment for direction, in an otherwise anticipated slow week. The DJIA closed 0.3 percent higher, the S&P 500 with a 0.6 percent gain, and the NASDAQ with a 0.7 percent gain.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias- positive bias in a cautionary market means the indices are seen favorable to advance.  

11/20/04 Weekend-

11/20/04 Saturday 12:51 pm ET- New to Market-Barometer™?  Find out how forecasting the U.S. stock market can help you. Just mouse-over and click the area of interest below-  all charts have been updated for Monday's open.  >The Market Memo page contains a seven week forecast, advisory memo, forecasting objectives and explanations.  >Forecasting performance is very important-  how well we forecast-  we benchmark our forecast indications to the S&P 500 index.  >The Barometer channel chart is a pictorial of the metrics of the forecasting models- we use the metrics of the models to make forecast changes.  >The Barometer Leading Indicator is used to identify potential changes in market direction- normally, this indicator alerts to a major direction change days before it happens.  >The forecast is continuously displayed in the upper-right corner of all public pages. For more information and description of the forecast-bug visit the Market Memo page.  >New users can get more information about Market-Barometer™ on the Markets page, About us page, and the Contents page.

11/21/04 Sunday 10:04 am ET- Forecast reiteration: |  The Barometer stock market* forecast models continue to indicate caution with a positive bias going into Monday's open.  *- Dow Jones 30, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ indices.  

11/19/04 Friday-

11/19/04 Friday 9:26 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-negative open. Could turn mixed.

11/19/04 Friday 11:51 am ET- Stocks drop in Friday morning trade amid Greenspan comments [no economical data today] as investors take profits ahead of shortened week [Markets closed Thursday for Thanksgiving]. The DJIA is off by 0.9 percent, the S&P 500 lower by 1 percent, and the NASDAQ is off by 1.2 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution.

11/19/04 Friday 5:18 pm ET- Indices end lower Friday amid continuous stream of bad news and events;  Greenspan speech and oil surges back above $48 bbl;  Dollar moves lower against the Yen and Euro. And today was options expiration- November contracts. The DJIA and S&P 500 lost 1.1 percent, the NASDAQ hit the hardest with a 1.6 percent loss. |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  

11/18/04 Thursday-

11/18/04 Thursday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-mixed open.

11/18/04 Thursday 11:09 am ET- Market starts out in mixed mode as tech heavy NASDAQ lags on AMAT outlook, while the Dow and S&P are within shouting range of unchanged. The Barometer Leading Indicator continues at neutral while the forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  |  In late morning trading, the DJIA was higher by 0.2 percent, the S&P 500 up by 0.1 percent, and the NASDAQ turning positive by 0.1 percent.

11/18/04 Thursday 4:58 pm ET- Market investors were cautious Thursday amid mixed economical data and not-so-good news from AMAT and Google [business outlook warning]. Stocks, however, inched up and the major indexes closed slightly higher within 0.2 percent of unchanged. The Dow Jones Ind. 30 and NASDAQ closed slightly higher by 0.2 percent, S&P 500 closed just above unchanged.  |  The Barometer forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias-  this means the major indices are performing [and should continue to] positive but caution to should be used... see forecast objective...   

11/17/04 Wednesday-

11/17/04 Wednesday 9:25 am ET- look for a positive open and start.

11/17/04 Wednesday 11:30 am ET- Stocks open strong Wednesday on Kmart-Sears merger and amid economical data [CPI and housing starts]. Oil slightly lower at $46 bbl. The DJIA and S&P 500 are higher by 1.1 percent, the NASDAQ is up on the session by 1.6 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  |  See forecast objective for more information on market direction.

11/17/04 Wednesday 4:55 pm ET- Market surges out of the gate Wednesday on good economical data [cpi, housing starts] and Kmart-Sears merger. Late day selling in stocks trend the indices off the highs as, once again, oil takes center stage and runs the price up to $46.84 bbl. Major indexes close well off the highs of the day but with substantial gains;   the DJIA and S&P 500 closed up 0.6 percent, the NASDAQ up by 1 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  

11/16/04 Tuesday-

11/16/04 Tuesday 9:28 am ET- Look for a negative open.

11/16/04 Tuesday 11:33 am ET- Stocks opened depressed Tuesday morning on news of  the Governments PPI report that indicates higher prices in October caused, on a large part, by higher food and energy costs. The Producer Price Index for finished goods increased 1.7 percent in October, well above expectation, causing some concern of inflation returning to the economy. In late morning trade, the DJIA and S&P 500 were down by 1/2 percent, the NASDAQ was off by 0.8 percent.  |  The Market Barometer forecast continues to indicate caution and is subject to change.

11/16/04 Tuesday 4:57 pm ET- Inflation worries hit investors Tuesday on a strong PPI report that indicates prices could become a problem down the road- CPI report tomorrow will shed more light the matter. Meanwhile, the market started out in negative territory and trend lower all day [S&P 500]. The DJIA lost 0.6 percent, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ lost 0.7 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.  

11/15/04 Monday-

11/15/04 Monday 9:28 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-negative open.

11/15/04 Monday 11:23 am ET- Stocks move slightly lower, late Monday morning, amid continued falling oil prices and a two-week rally that boosted the indices from the summer slowdown- soft patch. The DJIA, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 are lower by 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 percent, respectively.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias. Forecast continues to be subject to change.

11/15/04 Monday 4:53 pm ET- Slow day sees NASDAQ gain-  Dow and S&P 500 end near unchanged on very little news to move investors to trade. Next several days sees PPI, CPI, and jobless initial claims data that could move the market. The DJIA closed up 0.1 percent, the S&P 500 near unchanged, and the NASDAQ gained by 0.4 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias.  

11/13/04 Weekend-

11/13/04 Saturday 9:10 am ET- New to Market-Barometer™?  Find out how the Barometer can help you. Just click the links below. All charts have been updated for Monday's open. The Barometer chart shows the latest market (DJIA, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ) advance into bear territory. The leading indicator chart (full chart) shows the Barometer-plot and boundaries moving higher. The leading indicator "channel chart" gives a closer look at the boundaries and the Barometer-plot. The market forecast indicates caution. The forecast bias is positive. New visitors can get additional information on the Markets page.

11/14/04 Sunday 9:56 am ET- Forecast reiteration: |  The Barometer stock market* forecast models indicate caution with a positive bias going into Monday's open.  *- Dow Jones 30, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ indices. see forecast note.  

11/12/04 Friday-

11/12/04 Friday 9:28 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open. Could turn mixed.

11/12/04 Friday 11:49 am ET- Appears the market wants to rest this week from the election rally last week as the indices continue to hold close to unchanged in Friday morning trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is near unchanged, The S&P 500 is slightly positive by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ is higher by 0.2 percent.  |  The forecast, unchanged last evening, continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and continues to be subject to change.

11/12/04 Friday 5:08 pm ET- Late day advance for stocks as the major indexes, in positive territory most of the day, turn higher in the last two-hours of trade Friday to post better than 1.5 percent gain for the week. Evening forecast models will run at 9:30 pm and any change to the forecast will be posted around 11:00 pm. The DJIA ended Friday's trade with a 0.7 percent gain, the S&P 500 higher by 0.9 percent, and the NASDAQ closed higher by 1.2 percent.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias and is subject to change this evening.

11/12/04 Friday 11:04 pm ET- No change to the forecast. The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias. See forecasters note. Get a definition of a cautionary  market.  

11/11/04 Thursday Veterans' Day-

11/11/04 Thursday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open.

11/11/04 Thursday 11:14 am ET- Stocks get off on the right foot Thursday morning on lower oil prices and renewed prospect for Mideast peace on the passing of Arafat last evening. The DJIA was higher by 0.3 percent, the S&P 500 higher by 0.4 percent, and the NASDAQ higher by 1/2 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and the forecast is subject to change.

11/11/04 Thursday 4:55 pm ET- Stocks move higher Thursday amid oil moving lower and a renewed hope for peace in the middle east. There is a bunch of economical data coming out tomorrow for traders and investors to mull- see if this bond-less day can keep together with another advance in stocks. The Dow Jones 30 index closed higher by 0.8 percent, the S&P 500 closed higher by 0.9 percent, and the NASDAQ outperformed with a 1.3 percent gain on the day.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias- forecast is subject to change. The current forecast indicates stocks most likely to move higher but caution should be used.  

11/10/04 Wednesday-

11/10/04 Wednesday 9:25 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-positive open, could turn mixed.

11/10/04 Wednesday 11:30 am ET- Dow and S&P hold close to unchanged, NASDAQ 1/2 percent lower as the street waits for the Fed announcement of another rate hike and more importantly any hint of a policy change. The DJIA was slightly off by 0.1 percent, the S&P 500 nearly unchanged, and the NASDAQ was much lower by 1/2 percent.  |  The forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.

11/10/04 Wednesday 4:51 pm ET- Dow and S&P end neutral- NASDAQ moves lower. The Federal Reserve increased the target for the Fed funds interest rate to a full 2 percent and didn't indicate any change in monetary policy- this gives way for further hikes in December and 2005. The DJIA ended nearly unchanged, the S&P 500 ended slightly off by 0.1 percent, and the NASDAQ lost 0.4 percent.   |  The Barometer forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and is subject to change. Check the forecast performance chart.  

11/9/04 Tuesday-

11/9/04 Tuesday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-negative open.

11/9/04 Tuesday 10:45 am ET- Market indices continue to hold close to the unchanged-line as investors await the Fed meeting tomorrow, where it is likely they will raise interest rates. The market will also be interested in what the Fed says about future rate hikes. In midmorning trade, the DJIA and NASDAQ are slightly off by 0.1 percent, the S&P 500 index is nearly unchanged.  |  The Barometer forecast continues to indicate caution with a positive bias and is subject to change. A new chart was introduced yesterday that gives a better view of the forecast and also shows how we are doing in forecasting the market. Link to the chart can be found on the right-side navigation area on all pages. The link is called Forecast Performance.

11/9/04 Tuesday 2:55 pm ET- We have a new chart- now you can SEE the stock market forecast...

11/9/04 Tuesday 4:55 pm ET- Ditto yesterday! Market ends nearly unchanged with the indices slightly lower as investors look for the Federal Reserve FOMC to raise Fed funds rate tomorrow. It is widely expected for another rate hike but analysts want to see if the Fed will give out any hint on policy change- most think we will get another hike in December. The DJIA and S&P 500 closed lower by 0.1 percent, the NASDAQ lower by 0.2 percent.  |  The forecast continues to show caution with a positive bias and is subject to change.  |  Checkout the Performance Chart!  

11/8/04 Monday-

11/8/04 Monday 9:27 am ET- Look for a neutral-to-negative open.

11/8/04 Monday 11:20 am ET- Stocks meander Monday morning holding close to the unchanged line as investors get set for the Federal Reserve meeting Wednesday, where it is expected that a rate hike will be announced. The DJIA is slightly lower by 0.1 percent, the S&P 500 is lower by 0.2 percent, and the NASDAQ is unchanged.  |  The forecast indicates caution with a positive bias.

11/8/04 Monday 4:50 pm ET- Market takes a rest Monday as traders and investors are on Fed watch. The Federal Reserve- FOMC  is expected to raise rates Wednesday, but all eyes will be on the accompanying statement for any hint of change in Fed policy direction. Meanwhile, the market ended in neutral with the DJIA and NASDAQ slightly positive, and the S&P slightly lower by 0.1 percent.  |  The Barometer forecast indicates caution with a positive bias. Forecast is subject to change.

11/8/04 Monday 11:56 pm ET- Introducing a new chart-  Forecast Performance chart-  a sort of report card on how we are doing forecasting the U.S. stock market, compared to the S&P 500 index. The objective of the Barometer forecast is to identify advancing and declining markets, so the new chart can be used to see how we are doing in forecasting and to see a visual forecast overlaid with the S&P 500 index. The link to get to the chart is here, Forecast performance, and on the right-side navigation area on all pages. We hope this will give you a better visual of the direction of the market using Barometer forecast methodology.  

11/6/04 Weekend-

11/6/04 Saturday 9:39 am ET- New to Market-Barometer™?  Find out how we can help you. Just click the links below. All charts have been updated for Monday's open. The Barometer chart shows the latest market (Dow 30, S&P 500, and the NASDAQ) advance into bear territory. The leading indicator chart (full chart) shows the Barometer-plot and boundaries moving higher. The leading indicator "channel chart" gives a closer look at the boundaries and the Barometer-plot. The market forecast indicates caution. The forecast bias is positive. New visitors can get additional information on the Markets page.

11/6/04 Saturday 11:17 am ET- Last evenings forecast models indicated no change to the forecast-  data shows minor resistance for Monday-Tuesday's market. The bias was changed Thursday to positive but the forecast continues to indicate caution. A forecast of caution with a positive bias means the market has improved over the past months but caution is indicated. A caution forecast means the market can advance or decline in the short-term but the edge is for the market to advance- a positive bias. The market could