wtever, I can't believe that this rally is finishe, page-19

There is no doubt the US economy and stock markets are still going down longterm, but in the next few months there could be a rally before the downtrend resumes. The immediate Dow reaction to the interest rate drop was a rise on Wednesday of 100 points, followed by a fall on Thursday of nearly 200 points due to uncertainty.

Then the US markets opened very strong on Friday but ended moderately down after reversing when the UN resolution on Iraq was passed.

Economies and markets are driven by sentiment. Things are actually looking up judging by unemployment, productivity, earnings (or reduced losses). Then there is relief felt by US citizens from a hopefully short but sweet capitulation by Iraq or a limited military action. The worst is past in actuality - now for the realisation to set in.

In the longer term structural weakness of the US in respect of world markets and lethargy in the US domestic markets can only be solved by at least a big fall in the value of the greenback. Rome, on its way to world dominance, had many setbacks.