Clearly people feel less wealthy and people are going to focus on what happens to the direction of interest rates. Over the next couple of weeks, as the election subsides attention is going to shift to (Federal Reserve Chairman) Alan Greenspan. |
I think Citigroup is one of the best ways to play the rising middle class around the world. It's obviously one of the premiere global plays in the financial services sector. Now with a combination of Salomon Smith Barney and Travelers, it reaches all different aspects of the financial services market and obviously it's a global play. |
I think it's going to be very difficult for this bounce back to continue. |
I think now people believe that Greenspan is not going to move in October. Now, so the debate has shifted to whether he takes a tightening bias or no tightening bias. |
Now, if anything, you should be buying these stocks because if anything, (the weakness) is going to be reversing itself. |
Really, everything you can point to is showing that you have inflation in check. Inflation is less of a concern, rising interest rates are less of a concern and I think sentiment in the market has turned around. |
The key thing is you are going to see a separation from the true companies -- those that are going to be able to weather all markets and those that had business plans that ultimately won't make a lot of sense. |
We know that political uncertainties will ultimately work themselves out. It's a very good opportunity to buy these stocks cheap. |
You've already seen what the market is betting on. Clearly the market believes a Bush win would be good for the market, but it's much more important to focus on valuations and quality companies. |