Stocks are tumbling from Hong Kong to Europe and U.S. futures are showing their deepest drop since 9-11 on rising speculation we are now in the midst of a worldwide slowdown and that company defaults will rise. Oil is down almost 11% from Jan 3 high as it recognizes the impact of a global slowdown. Copper and gold are also lower. Canada and Latin America are also plunging. The market is priced for 72% odds of a 75 basis -point cut by the Fed at the January 30 FOMC meeting and the market is priced for 100% odds of a 100 basis-points in cumulative cuts by March. For April, its priced for a 100% chance of 125 basis-points in cuts. For the end of 2008 the market is pricing in a a fed funds rate of 2.375%.
Is this the capitulation that we have been looking for? Not so fast as a 500 point downside open could easily accelerate to a 1000 point decline. I will be walking in to the wood chipper in the morning flat with no open positions and will be looking for a bounty of opportunities on a day trading basis. With this volatility and potential short term panic on the horizon I just don’t trust the market yet to babysit my money over night. The best chart patterns of late have been the ones of the ultra short etf variety. That has to tell me something. The market never sends out invitations to “the bottom” so no one alive knows when it will show up. With that thought in mind don’t try to pick one. My father used to say “if it doesn’t feel right-don’t do it.” That is the message I will take into the open tomorrow. Try not to be a hero,trust your gut, and if you do decide to play tomorrow-honor your stops.