Quote from ShoeshineBoy:
Yesterday, the news was the terrible ISAM report - it's a sign of the end. Today it's the opposite - all fear of recession is gone due to the great jobs report:
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=FT&Date=20071102&ID=7750918
Bottom line to look at: 1) earnings (outside of financials and housing) are good and 2) yield spread is okay.
Will the acid test be Christmas??
Looks like it's going to be a Black Christmas and that may be the beginning of the end??
http://www.forbes.com/home/markets/...etail-markets-equity-cx_ml_1109markets19.html
Retailers' October sales have investors shaking in their boots before the holidays.
Target (nyse: TGT - news - people )'s October sales for stores open more than a year beat its recently reduced forecast, but investors still weren't thrilled. The Minneapolis-based company reported on Thursday that its October comparable-store sales rose 4.1%, while net sales increased 9.7% to $4.45 million from $4.05 million in October of 2006.
Several weeks ago, Target reduced its October forecast to a growth range of 2% to 4% from 3% to 5%. The company attributed the decrease to slow sales in the first half of the month. However, Target was able to beat its forecast on increased traffic and customer spending in the last week of the period, led by stronger demand for health care products, consumables and electronics. Sales of jewelry, apparel and seasonal products like blankets and heaters remained low.
Target's stock slumped $1.94, or 3.3%, to $56.78 in Friday midday trading.
Banc of America Securities analyst David Strasser blames the "increasingly challenging macroeconomic headwinds" for slow traffic in Target.
Like Target, Wal-Mart (nyse: WMT - news - people )'s October sales fell below expectations, rising only .4%. The company has been slashing prices since September trying to lure in holiday shoppers, but has suffered weakness in apparel and home goods, as shoppers haven't bitten the discount bait.
Wal-Mart's stock slid 56 cents, or 1.3%, to $43.06 on Friday.
Gregory Melich of Bear Stearns blames unseasonable weather, the weak housing market and sky-high gas prices for the retail dip. "With inventor levels rising and sales growth slowing, we expect to see a highly promotional retailing environment this holiday season," said Melich.
"Retailers with more discretionary and seasonal goods in their mix generally had a tough time driving sales," said Bear Stearns analyst Christine Augustine of October's retail woes.
Other retail companies suffered on Friday too. Costco Wholesale (nasdaq: COST - news - people ) lost 68 cents, or 1%, to $65.90. BJ's Wholesale Club (nyse: BJ - news - people ) fell 46 cents, or 1.4%, to $33.23. Big Lots (nyse: BIG - news - people ) dropped 26 cents, or 1.2%, to $20.91, and Dollar Tree (nasdaq: DLTR - news - people ) plunged $2.47, or 7.8%, to $29.22 in Friday midday trading. (See: Retailers: A Red October)
The Associated Press contributed to this article.