Asia just closed:
Shanghai: 2,881 +109.28/+3.94%
Nikkei 225: 17,604 -515.80/-2.85%
Watch the USDJPY, on my hourly chart the low of yesterday was 117.85. We're retracing a tiny bit... if the next move takes out that low it will put more strain on a
lot of players which would in turn be forced into liquidation. We're not out of the woodshed yet, not by a long shot.
Do not listen to bullshit like PE ratios, any morons on Bubblevision today or "We're oversold" talk.
JPY up or down is key, nothing else. If you have longterm stock exposure add puts while they're cheap. I bought 60 SPY May 143 PUTs contracts which were at-the-money at the time I bought them with a VIX of 14. These protect the long portion of my account 1:1. Paying (and losing due to time premium erosion) 14% premium is dirt cheap considering historic levels.
I would be careful going net short equities too, at least of for the short-term. Bernanke is speaking today, and regardless of what he says just his mere media presence will probably have a soothing effect on the markets (at least for a couple hours).
Preserve your capital. I am net neutral equities, short dollar and long many commodities (except gas). Cash is king.