Morning Morsel

Posted by UpsideTrader
on November 18th, 2009

The underlying strength that the materials and oil sector showed yesterday was quite impressive, especially in the face of a very strong dollar rebound. The carry trade is in full swing and unbridled enthusiasm is all the rage. Corporate America is addicted to cheap rates and our politicos are as dovish as all get out on both rates and the dollar. Do we really have to keep rates at a 1/4? Would things be really much worse off at 1/2 or 3/4? Probably not, but optically and psychologically it would be devastating. Perception is reality.

So for now the beat goes on and if you aren’t long commodities and materials your missing the boat. We’ve closed over 1100 for two days in a row. Perhaps the dollar bears bid up those sectors yesterday because they viewed the bump in the greenback yesterday as a one day wonder.

Yesterday Blankfein apologized for being rich and doing “bad” things (GS) so now he and Buffet (willing co-conspirator) have decided to give back to small businesses. Thanks for that Lloyd, you’re swell. Don’t get be wrong I love GS and love the free market more than anyone, I just marvel at the incestuous triad of Warren, Lloyd and Timmy. What a great book it would be, but no one will be allowed to write it.

Around the Horn:

China asks Obama how he plans to pay for healthcare

RIMM catches a downgrade

Mortgage apps fall to 12 year low

Bartiromo starts a newsletter

Creditors takeover Trump casinos

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Economic

4:30 BoE minutes

8:30 Oct CPI (last m/m 0.2%, y/y -1.3%; ex food & energy last m/m 0.2%, y/y 1.5%), Oct CPI Core Index SA (last 220.053), Oct Housing Starts (last 590K), Oct Building Permits (last 573K)

10:30 DoE Crude Oil/Gasoline/Distillate Inventories

Events

9:15 Fed’s Bullard to speak on economy. 11:45 Fed’s Plosser speaks in Singapore. ALTR Shareholder Meeting. GWW Analyst Meeting. CBG Investor Day. MBA Mortgage Applications (7:00, last 3.2%). CVGW to be added to S&P600 after the close. Trades Ex-dividend: TGT $0.17, HON $0.303, AVP $0.21, WHR $0.43, CMI $0.175, AIV $0.10.

Earnings

Before the Open: BJ, CHS, CSUN, PERY, SOLF. After the Close: CYBX, DCI, GYMB, HOTT, JACK, LTD, NTAP, NTES, PETM, PVH, SMTC, WGOV.

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