Sunday, September 12, 2004

Market Week in Review

S&P 500 1,123.92 +.50%

Click here for the Weekly Wrap by Briefing.com.

Bottom Line: Last week's action was positive for the Bulls as the overall market consolidated recent gains and most sectors/stocks rose. The technology and steel sectors led the way. Technology investors bid shares higher from very oversold levels after a few bell-weathers made positive comments with respect to future growth and traders speculated the bad news had already been discounted in the stocks. Steel stocks broke higher from their recent consolidation on earnings optimism, low valuations and speculation that energy prices would fall further in coming weeks. Falling interest rates, after better-than-expected inflation readings and positive comments from Greenspan, also helped lift shares. Finally, the comments by Judge Walker, who ruled against the Justice Dept. in the Oracle/PeopleSoft case, were a big positive for technology stocks towards week's end. This should provide the catalyst for imminent consolidation within this sector still burdened by the overcapacity generated during the bubble of the late 90's. On the negative side, most measures of investor anxiety are now approaching levels of complacency normally associated with short-term tops.

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