I did and still think it is going to get worse for Public Companies traded on the Exchanges.
Fear and loss of confidence has forced solid companies into a very bad position. They are loosing market cap and loosing "Value" faster than air out of a blown tire.
I do believe the INDU is finished, as is the Nasdaq for at least a decade. This will not "Bounce" there will be no "Panic" buy. People will shun stocks period.
I do not think that "Overall Economy" will get as bad as 1932. Call it a new Depression, Which I do, but nothing like 1932.
The Private Sector, Manufactures and private companies have the staying power and have "Cash" on hand to get their companies through this storm. Of course, weak private companies will fail, but their customers will be swooped up by the stronger Private Companies.
Hard assets are in play. We just started a huge Private Placement in the Bakken Shale region. 4 Phase project and the total capital to be raised is 45 million this year. So far, we just started talking to Potential and current clients. All most all 92 units in the first phase are gone, in less than a week. Each unit is 65K. Second phase is starting out at 120k per share and they are mov'n now. 3 and 4th phase will be near 500k per share.
Plenty of guys with money out there looking to get into longterm, hard asset plays.
Once again, we will blow past a record year with guys becoming Millionairs by 2010 in our firm.
Smart money, True players who are liquid, who own their own companies are staying away from the Markets and have no interest in the stock market. They have lost confidence and what little of their net worth they had vested, they either pulled out or just left it in, not giving a rats ass what happens to the stock market.
This has been my experience when talkng about Stocks vrs Hard Asset plays.