Todays Stock Market Thread (DJIA 7784.58 (-234.68; -2.93%) NASDAQ 1282.55 (-36.60; -2.77%)

[AdamSelene235]

The "disconnect" between the market and our economy is that we still have a pricing bubble left on Wall Street. We've still got triple-digit P/E's on EBAY and AMAT, hardly the stuff that "bottoms" in the market are made from.

AMAT is transitioning from negative to positive earnings. The also have ~5 billion in cash and very little debt. They know how to profit in deflationary environments.

There are simply too many contradictory "signals" for traders to "agree" on the direction of the Market. We've got low inflation, low interest rates,

How low can interest rates and inflation go? What happens when they become negative.

[steveegg]

Not off-hand, but I can find them shortly.

With the closing bell about 2:30 away...

Dow -235
NASDAQ -37
S&P -27.

[ken5050]

HPL=Hewlett Packard...

[OldFriend]

Good grief.......how did I miss that bit of propaganda.......

[wardaddy]

Negative interest rates?

[hchutch]

Not too much about that, but at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if other rumors around Bob start showing up. They will involved a period of time in federally subsidized housing.

Something tells me that Rubin is in deep trouble, and it certainly will help the GOP out. Clinton's SecTreas invovled in questionable loans to Enron and Worldcom? And it also tags Lieberman, too.

[Dog]

HPL TECH Ousts CEO..

[ken5050]

Sorry, read your coment wrong..carly's still safe, for now...

[steveegg]

From the HPL Technologies web site:

HPL provides yield-optimization software that enables semiconductor companies to enhance the efficiency of the semiconductor production process. Our products include a flexible software platform supported by over 600 software modules that allow our customers to accelerate the process in which they identify, measure and correct sources of failure in the production process. By accelerating this learning and corrective process, we enable our customers to recognize the higher levels of revenue and profitability that are typically associated with the early part of a new semiconductor product cycle. Identifying production failures early in a semiconductor product cycle also permits our customers to improve the quality of their products, reduce production costs and meet volume production requirements in a timely manner.

[Dog]

This is really going to get bloody before August 14th huh??

[Miss Marple]

There were some newbies on various threads pushing the idea that Rubin should be called in as a confidence-builder. I found that amazing and highly suspicious, since in my opinion very few of the sheeple even know who Rubin is.

Rubin has also maintained a VERY low profile over the last year. Isn't that strange, considering all the other Clintonistas have been all over the tubes yammering about what Bush should do?

Here is another interesting thing...those crummy bonds Gray Davis is issuing from California are being bought by Citicorps, Goldman Sachs, and a bunch of the usual suspects. My highly suspicious mind causes me to guess that Davis is getting bailed out by his friends on Wall Street, and I think Rubin is behind part of this.

Coupled with the fact that Enron had NO investigations of any of their practices for the last 3 years of the Clinton Administration (by the SEC) I am beginning to see Rat crooks everywhere.

[steveegg]

You nailed it.

[Admin Moderator]

;^)

[Dog]

Feds have joined the probe of Jack Grubman at Salomon Smith Barney this is a research arm of Citigroup..

[hchutch]

You know, I think that the corporate scandals could end up playing a bit like the Lewinsky scandal did in 1998.

Gingrich had initially hammered it hard, and it suddenly stopped. As it turns out, he was getting a little action on the side himself. He very quickly backed down, and ultimately, the only folks energized by the whole thing were the Dems and their voters (a portion of the GOP base stayed home), turning what should have been a good GOP year to a major disappointment, and it ultimately took Gingrich out of politics.

Here, I think the same dynamic might be playing out. Only this time, it will be the Dems who mostly back off as it turns out their guys are not exactly innocent on this issue. They could end up going very quiet as Clinton's SecTreas and their 2000 VP nominee are tarred. And their silence will not play well with the "progressives", who have someplace to go (Green Party).

This could be very interesting...

[AdamSelene235]

Negative interest rates?

I've always considered a good short position to be a negative interest rate loan.

The Fed is going to need negative interest rates to fix things...Pity they don't exist.

I wouldn't be too surprised if we transition from an inflationary to a deflationary environment. The Feds will try to spend their way out of it but if the GSE backed housing bubble pops, it will be difficult to stop the evaporation of imaginary wealth.

[steveegg]

I finally feel safe posting closing numbers:

DJIA 7784.44 (-234.82; -2.93%)
NASDAQ 1282.55 (-36.60; -2.77%)
S&P 819.83 (-27.93; -3.29%)

[Admin Moderator]

Spot on.

[mwl1]

The Rubin "boomlet" pointed out above is very shrewd and impressive.

Say what you want about the RATS, they are a very manipulative bunch of scheming liars.

[Admin Moderator]

#257

thanks.