I think the economy stinks and the numbers (corporate results) for the next couple of quarters are going to be lousy. You have exhausted sellers on the one hand and the crummy economy on the other, so you get a standoff, |
I think there's a possibility that after Vice President Gore makes his comments, I would expect a little bit of a relief rally tomorrow. |
I think we are down to levels were people have said enough is enough. |
I think what stocks are reflecting, especially with respect to the Nasdaq, is they've incorporated the worst news. |
IBM is benefiting from a growing tailwind. The confidence shown recently by companies in their IT plans augurs well. |
In companies like this, people are looking for change, ... The hedge funds come in and they're going to bet that this is something that will push the stock price up. And it's a decent bet. Icahn's name is important because of the history that he will get something done. |
Investors continue to wait and see if there is anything that signals a bottom, |
Investors, ... ...say that when interest rates go up, avoid the financial stocks. Last year, interest rates went up a lot, both the short-end and the long-end. [But] in fact, financial companies reported very good earnings. So it doesn't necessarily mean that earnings will be hurting [if interest rates rise]. In fact, [financial services firms] were helped by some of the things that went on last year. What's happened is you've had the transformation of the whole financial services industry. Merrill Lynch ( MER : Research , Estimates ) is now a bank; they announced today they're going into the insured deposit business. They're an Internet company as well. They're no longer just an interest-rate sensitive company. |
It was a precursor to a great earnings season. I think the next few weeks are going to be better than anyone expects. |
It's just continued disappointment in the Federal Reserve, ... We have a growing problem in the economy and with companies' profitability and the Federal Reserve is behind it (the curve). |
It's the wild, wild West of the securities area, I wouldn't even call it an industry there. |
It's very possible it will take a completely different course than any of us expected, ... The real story is where will this thing go sometime in the future, particularly as people continue to become more and more involved in telecommuting. |
Managements in the U.S. have led the way and now we see are starting to see it around the world, BP et al are starting to show that they understand the importance of getting leaner and stronger and better, ... And we continue to have greater and greater productivity. |
Merrill Lynch could go down some more, but I like stocks like that. I like Merck, but they got pounded on Friday, |
People are saying at some point the recession will be over and earnings will come, and at some point you have to own stocks. |