Okay, sometimes it’s good to miss a couple of days. Everything and nothing has happened. Yesterday it was the amazingly boring and meandering Fed statement that had a little something for everybody. (How many “buts” can you stuff in this thing?) The bullish headline writers wrote many over the top gems claiming the recession is over per nuggets they gleaned.

Okay but not much happened really.

Today all the bad employment data was ignored with bulls focused on a few odd things. Bed Bath and Beyond “beat estimates” (folks need new towels and stuff. Or, was it the heavy expense cutting?) and economic growth, while still in the toilet hadn’t been plunged yet so to speak. Finally, some headline writers dubbed Bernanke a “rock star” as bulls hoped he would be reappointed.

Is that a good thing?

Impressively, volume picked up today as markets were short-term oversold and shorts remain easily squeezed. Breadth was quite positive. The hedgies and trading desks just continue to pick each other’s pockets as the games continue. And, after all, we are approaching the end of the month and bonuses need serious protection.









The McClellan Summation Index continues its decline. Now some have asked for the dates to be placed on the chart. That would entail adding another confusing chart to the mix and explaining it. Suffice it to say this is a “daily” chart and covers a year.









































































































































Games? Sure, there’s a lot of that going on especially over the past few months. Trading desks and hedge funds dominate markets. Short sellers get squeezed mercilessly. Those long the markets with tight stops get ripped. Trend followers who are long get their patience and disciplines tested. Those with heavy cash positions feel smart one day and stupid the next. We’re in the latter two categories. It’s been that kind of market.

What can change this?

We could have honest data from authorities and honest reporting from the financial media (thank God for the blogosphere!). But, we will also have real earnings coming next month and earnings still drive stock prices ultimately. Continued light volume through the summer will only continue games being played since the Street and trading desks are awash in liquidity. Insiders need to stop selling and start buying. Consumers need to buy more than new pillow cases and soap. Home prices need to start rising instead of dropping. These are the “game changers”.

I’m back in the turret and don’t see any further travels until August. The tape painters will be out in force the next few days propping things up. To see the real action we’ll have to wait for July’s earnings which are “real news”.