“Overall retail sales data was better than expected…”

“But it wasn’t enough to pull the markets out of the doldrums.”

“Two big wins on earnings set the stage for more retail sales data today.”

“Both Walmart (WMT) and Home Depot (HD) posted better than expected earnings, which shows that inflation is not simply grinding retailers into the dirt.”

Mixed messages from the Fed might be a trial balloon.

So much of trading is dependent on “expectations” – what people think stocks will do in response to what some government official or powerful shareholder says.

“Fix your companies. Or Congress will.”

“The worst is behind us,” is probably the most ominous phrase you can utter.

Well, other than “I’ll be right back.”

The “metaverse” is collapsing in real time.

Remember not to trust techno-messianic prophecies about what’s inevitable…

Every investor needs his own PRIVATE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY on his side.

And powerful weapons at his disposal to act when information comes in.

Why?

Yesterday proved it.

“It’s finally here.”

“And while I don’t want to be accused of doubting “Our Democracy,” I can’t help but think of Bill the Butcher screaming “it’s election day!” in Gangs of New York.”