Editor's Note: The following was posted in real-time on the Buzz & Banter and is being shared here for the benefit of the Minyanville community. It is a continuation from Todd's earlier Buzzes, Random Thoughts: Civil Liberties.


Four Score and Levels of Lore - 1:00 pm

The big picture blues will be with us for a long time. 

This, we know.

As the destination we arrive at pales in comparison to the path that we take to get there, Hoofy is trying to capture the near-term trend.

We've got our finger on the pulse of the reaction to news and thus, Wachovia (WB) supports his case while American Express (AXP) and Apple (AAPL) do not. 

Technical analysis provides a better context than catalyst but, for my part, I'm watching S&P 1260 (right here) as the right shoulder of reverse (bullish) dandruff. If the bulls can boogie through there, it should be game on.

Other levels of note are NDX 1765 and BKX 60, lest you care.


Click to enlarge

In other news, I just sneezed with a mouth full of salad and balsamic vinegar. Nice. Like I needed a Jackson Pollack imitation right now.

As always, I hope this finds you well.


See me, Feel me, Touch me, Squeeze me.... - 1:12 pm

Two quickies from Kenicke.

First, Market breadth continues to sneak better. That's bullish.

Second, S&P 1260 is green---if Hoofy can stomp the yard, it won't bode well for Boo Boulevard.


Love Boat, soon will be making another run. - 2:18 pm

Love, exciting and new. 

The problem is, by the time everyone comes aboard, they're expecting you.

The Battle of 1260 is, as one would assume, primitive. 

WHACK! Those poking their keppes above the all-important S&P level are clubbed.

BANG! Those pressing the short side are thumped.

I'll tell ya, it's enough to drive you crazier than Eddie on his wildest episodic tantrum.

What am I doing? Hmm, you mean aside from my usual Tuesday duties? 

In addition to finally scheduling my knee surgery for August?

Other than speak to a slew of frustrated traders telling me they don't enjoy the business anymore?

I swam against the tide this morning and bought some banks, a trade I've since taken. 

When I sniffed the stealth breadth and reminded myself of the "If they can't get 'em down..." axiom, I nibbled anew with the Matador City crowd.

I'm keeping my exposure tighter than a snare drum and expect to see a higher close.

If I don't get what I want--shocker there, eh?--I'll likely pare my risk into the close.

Watch the banks, the breadth and S&P 1260, not necessarily in that order.

And watch that attitude boy. If you keep it up, you'll likely be more frustrated than Kevin Bacon before he started taking all the dark roles.

Breathe Yo--It could be worse. And for alotta folks, it already is.


Do You Yahoo? - 3:15 pm

Google (GOOG) reported earnings and got Punk'd.

Apple (AAPL) did the same and got skunked.

Yahoo (YHOO) reports tonight and--thinking this through--it should miss, right? 

I mean, if someone was trying to eat your lunch while at the same time someone else was trying to sleep with your spouse, you'd be distracted too, right?

Maybe I'm over-thinking it. Perhaps I'm going to the well once too often. Maybe I am crazy.

Either way--and always honest--I'm taking a small, defined risk upside shot through the September 22 calls.

For what it's worth and regardless of the report, I think the company has the franchise for the next generation media model. 

Yahoo--or an eventual suiter--simply needs to execute.

It hasn't yet--but stocks trade on what will be, right?

R.P.