[expat_panama]

Ah, but it's certainly a blustery morning today isn't it?   Yesterday's stock action's all covered at the top of this thread, but fwiw today's stock index futures are bonkers --the heat map's got 'em at -2.43%! Metals seem fine, futures calling them at +1.67% and gold/silver are right now at $1,093.20/$14.22.

Reports:

8:30 AM Continuing Claims
8:30 AM Export Prices ex-ag.
8:30 AM Import Prices ex-oil
10:30 AM Natural Gas Inventories

Elsewhere:

Asian shares skid as Brent crude plumbs 12-year lows Reuters - 11:41am TOKYO Asian shares fell on Thursday in the wake of steep losses on Wall Street, as Brent crude oil skidded to 12-year lows amid a commodities rout that heightened fears about the global economy.

Beige Book: U.S. economy expands, but wages stay flat Philly.com - 4 hours ago The U.S. economy expanded across most of the country in the last six weeks as the job market showed strength that is failing to stoke broad wage pressures, a Federal Reserve survey showed.

This is why Obama is bullish on the economy
Why the plunge in oil is crushing all stocks
Why Doom and Gloom Has Taken Over Wall Street - Shawn Tully, Fortune
'No Normal' Is the New Stock-Market Normal - John Shmuel, National Post
Why the Market's Bull Run Might Be Done - Howard Gold, MarketWatch
China Isn't the First To Fumble a Market Panic - Stephen Mihm, Bloomberg
Analyst: Here Comes the Biggest Stock Market Crash in a Generation It would be worse than the financial crisis. Fortune

[refermech]

Ive been in cash for some time. Feel bad for a buddy that went heavy into energy. He’s losing his shirt now, but it will come back especially if there is war coming. And I think there is.

[palmer]

Catch a falling knife alert: I decided since one of my ultraconservative portfolios is only down 2% YTD, I would switch some money into international funds from reading the articles above. I don’t think those will do better in the long run and may go down some more in the short run, but in between those two there might be a little room for another developing markets bubble.