The stock market has been posting gains the past few days. After two very tough months to start 2009, what could go wrong?
Plenty, especially if you are focused on just the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The Dow Jones has many financial-related companies, like Citibank,
JP Morgan, Bank of America, American Express and quasi-financial stocks
like General Electric and Caterpillar Tractor, which perform extensive
lending and financing.
Remember, the financial stocks have led the charge the last two
weeks, after Citibank's CEO circulated a memo to employees announcing
the bank did well in January and February. But two months do not make
a full quarter, and the banks have posted significant losses in the
previous quarter, as mentioned before.
In fact, JP Morgan CEO James Dimon mentioned on Friday, March 27,
2009 that March is shaping up to be a difficult month. And financial
stocks promptly swooned, bringing the rest of the market along with
them.
What else could go wrong?
On Tuesday, March 31, we will finally hear the final revised 4th
Quarter GDP numbers. Remember, one month after each quarter, we get
preliminary GDP numbers. Then one month later, we get revised GDP
numbers.
Then, at the end of the following month - which is also the end of the NEXT quarter - we receive the final revised GDP number.
The market took a beating on each of the previous two GDP
announcements at the end of January and also February 2009. If the
number on Tuesday is revised downward, watch out.
We also will receive preliminary 1st quarter GDP numbers (1st
quarter 2009) one month from now, at the end of April, 2009. Fasten
your seat belts.
Thomas Mullooly is the owner of Mullooly Asset Management, LLC, NJ Fee Only Investment Advisor, providing guidance for your 401k account. Mullooly Asset is a fee-only alternative to stockbrokers and financial planners.
Tom's popular email alerts help folks to reduce the risks in their portfolios. To learn how to stop making investing mistakes or if you would like a free look at your 401k account at work - or your 403b annuity, or section 457 deferred compensation plan at work, visit www.mullooly.net today!
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