ByLo, at least you are currently, on the right side of the market. That's always a good idea. But i tend to think Dividend will be right. I too believe that the dismal first half of 2009 has already been baked in. i don't discount the probability that we could revisit the 740 low, but if we do i fully expect it to hold for now. That old low is just two very bad days in a row away from here.
Any time there is a lot of short interest, and there is now, we have the delicious possibility of a short squeeze that could be the impetus to bring us back across the trading channel to the 950-1050 area.
Finally, we note that there are still many companies whose balance sheets and current and prospective income support their dividends and those dividends are getting juicy and very attractive relative to current bond yields. Juicy dividends can put a floor under a stock and there are enough dividend paying stocks in the DOW and S&P to temper further down movement.
I only offer these remarks in an attempt to add balance. I haven't a clue what the market will actually do, but the probability at least favors chopping around for the next few months between the 740 low and the ledge of the cliff at 1200 we fell off of. The 800-980 trading range remains the most probable for the near term of the next four weeks. This is Las Vegas with better odds. I ask unanimous consent to be permitted to revise my remarks should we make a strong close below the Jan 20 low.