The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, commonly known as the VIX, has secured a spot in the limelight as technical traders and six o'clock news broadcasters have religiously cited the measure throughout the unfolding economic crisis. The index is sometimes referred to as the "fear gauge" as it rises during times of increased market
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Speculators placed bets against disease fearful consumers during pre-market trading but confidence re-emerged as markets opened and earnings from Humana (HUM), Whirlpool (WHR) and Corning (GLW) beat estimates. Predictions from most corporations and analysts leading into 2009 Q1 were unrealistically low, causing many firms to beat estimates this earnings season. Each time a major corporation reports another “earnings beat” the confidence of bulls increases parallel to the complacency of bears.
The proof may be in the pudding but the pudding isn’t earnings season… The equity market will show its true colors as it faces hard economic data without “better than expected earnings” contributing to the euphoric aura surrounding current market projections.

The specifications of the stress test were released Friday afternoon, but failed to specify what tangible equity requirements banks must keep on their balance sheets. The regulators have specified that they are adding more stringent parameters to the test that will take into account a 22% decrease in home prices throughout 2009 and an additional
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None were bold enough to put money to work on Monday following the dire Bank of America (BAC) outlook concerning credit cards, mortgage defaults, and capital reserve ratios. The S&P 500 fell more than 4% as equities saw linear destruction across the board. Financial stocks lead the market lower, signaling the shift in disposition from
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Following the pre-market release of earnings from Bank of America (BAC) on Monday, U.S. equity futures were down sharply across the board. BAC reported 2009 Q1 earnings of $0.44 per share compared to $0.23 per share a year earlier and analysts expectations of $0.04. B of A will present the firm's financial situation in a
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Worse than expected housing starts, better than expected jobless claims, better than expected Philly Fed Survey, worse than expected Nat Gas Inventories. The churn of Economic data can be exhausting for both "home gamers" and pros.  The only clear facts are that economic conditions are "worsening", regardless of whether or not they are worsening at
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As we finally mailed our checks to Uncle Sam and shed the stress of tax season, Wednesday brought a considerable slew of data to U.S. traders' desks. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) reported slight deflationary price pressure while the level of production in the U.S. dropped further than analysts' estimates during the month of March.
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The United States has lead the global economy throughout this downturn and the U.S. equity market is scrutinized as a forward indicator of global economic health. In early April a survey cited CEO confidence in the market for the remainder of 2009. Two thirds of industry leaders surveyed saw further weakness in sales and further
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Tuesday economic reports were victorious in confusing U.S. retail stock investors, as multiple reports could have made the case for bears or bulls depending on how they referenced the numbers. The retail sales report for the entire month of of March came in well below the low end of analysts expectations, where retail sales excluding
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For reasons known only to themselves, Wells Fargo decided to pre-announce earnings of $0.55 per share on Thursday, ahead of this weeks earnings reports from rival TARP beneficiaries Goldman Sachs (GS), Citi Group (C) and JP Morgan (JPM). Whatever the reason, the news thwarted earnings estimates for Wells by more than 50% and knocked a
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