Posted on 10/07/2011 2:21:40 PM PDT by blam
STOCKS TANK IN FINAL MINUTES OF THE DAY: Here's What You Need To Know
Sam Ro
Oct. 7, 2011, 4:00 PM
More signs that the U.S. economy is not as bad as everyone thought. But, big downgrades in Europe bring us back to reality.
First, the scoreboard:
Dow: -18
S&P 500: -10
NASDAQ: -27
And now, the top stories:
* The highly-anticipated September jobs data came out with a bang. U.S. companies added 103k non-farm payrolls. Economists expected just 60k. The July and August figures were both revised upwards. However, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.1%, which wasn't a surprise. Also, the jobs recovery remains painfully slow.
* Fitch downgraded Italy and Spain in the middle of the trading day. Italy was cut from AA- to A+ with a negative outlook. Spain was cut by two notches to AA- and its outlook is also negative.
* The Euro dived against the dollar after the two downgrades.
* U.S. banks also sold off, as uncertainty remains regarding Eurozone exposure. Everyone's new favorite punching bag, Morgan Stanley got, banged up, even as their biggest competitor Goldman Sachs made a bullish call on the stock. Morgan Stanley fell 6%. Goldman Sachs lost 5%. Bank of America and JP Morgan declined 6% and 5%, respectively.
* Sprint shares dived after a rough investor day.
* Late in the day, the Federal Reserve said consumer credit unexpectedly shrank by $9.5 billion in August, the first contraction in 11 months. Economists expected growth of $8 billion. However, markets rallied after the news came out.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
OK, it's time we put this lie in its place: it doesn't matter how much "better" the economy is doing (and I certainly take exception to the claim) -- what matters is how the pie is being divided: to union and government employees and pensioners.
Don't tell the rest of us that "the economy isn't as bad" as we know it is.
I’d say it’s continuing to bump along the bottom.
With small up and down deviations in the data from month to month.
A year ago I worried that a “recovery” might possibly give Baraq something to run on economically. It looks now like that has minimal chance of happening. Now economists are considering it “optimistic” if bumping along continues rather than another significant leg downward.
Stock tanks are what I water my cattle in, though they are pretty low right now due to the drought. (Yes, I live in Texas).
First, the scoreboard:
Dow: -18
S&P 500: -10
NASDAQ: -27
Effectively, the rally in US shares was a short squeeze in front of option expiration. And it just ran out of steam (and new buyers) with 20 minutes to go in today's session.
Do please note that Shapiro, of the IMF no less, said that without a credible plan, it could be SHTF in Wonderland within 3 weeks' time. This is all the more remarkable a comment because, if a meltdown does really occur, the IMF are fapp out of business (not exactly a bad thing, given their atrocious track record over the past 40 years).
Have fun next week, traders. I'm delta short the Fishwrapper and intend to write OOM SP Oct 14 calls next week. About a 1.4% return on capital on what is a VERY low-risk trade. Be alert for an opportunity to buy VIX lightly, probably the Dec or Jan calls. This is a "just in case" trade; just in case the SHTF in the next 5-6 weeks in Wonderland, there is effectively no upper limit for VIX in the short term. In 2008, for example, VIX hit 82 during the crash; spot VIX is right now 36. Think about it. Good trading to all!
That's about the way I see it too. However, I think a lot of the 'survivors' are slowly going broke.
“survivors”?
what are you referring to?
Posted to FR yesterday:
"In The Absence Of A Credible Plan We Will Have A Global Financial Meltdown In Two To Three Weeks"
In any event, such a quote from any honcho at IMF is indeed remarkable, and might be worth repeating for emphasis.
Mainly the low income people...the ones that still have some sort of job and the ones who just lost a job. They, and the middle-class are becoming poorer, is my point.
Surviving but slowly sinking financially.
No problem. I like the habit at FR of linking revelant threads. They're more informative and complete.
If you need to know you would have been advised yesterday.
dire again.
i always liked that song,
and the mama!
I think ^DJI fell 120 or so in 20 minutes (approximate numbers). It sure looked like a tank (and UNEXPECTED).
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