<i>"For the March lows, I personally think the market works in probabilities rather than guarantees. I would never rule out a strong move in either way. Personally, I'd give a 33% chance for visiting 1245 in the ES from here. For the year end, 50% chance for a close above 1450."</i>
Makloda, I always enjoy your posts and consider you one of the more intelligent (and sane) characters here.
That said, what do you see which would propel stock markets to new yearly highs by xmas? Are you expecting to increase your budget on holiday gifts? Everyone I know is reeling from $4+ gas and $4.50 gal heating oil to come. Unless crude goes back below $100 bbl AND STAYS BELOW $100 bbl, heating oil will be $5+ this winter. Propane / natty gas will tag along in sympathy.
People can always cut down on their driving. No one can cut back much more on their heating bill without suffering frozen pipes, frozen pets or frozen grandparents & children.
Do you have any idea what it'll be like for literally millions of people, lower income and middle-class people who will face $750 to $1,000 per month heating bills unless things dramatically change?
The bulk of this country's population (and Canada) reside in the northeast and great lakes region. Many if not most of them burn fuel oil, currently priced here at $4.59 per gallon. An efficient house burns about 100+ gallons per month on average... 200 gallons per month during the real brutal cold. Like Jan & Feb, right after xmas bills hit the mailbox.
I'm not into predictions at all, but I would more expect the Dow below 10k than above by year's end, especially so by Jan 31st. SPX 1100s is not out of line at all.
Just an intraday trader myself, flat at day's end with no dog in the hunt for long-term direction. What I see brewing in the economy that middle-class people are facing and bracing themselves for has nothing to do with sustained economic recoveries anytime soon.