On Tuesday, the market lost support at Nasdaq 2500 after losing S&P 500 1200 last week, and then threatened to breakdown below the psychologically important Dow 11,000. But alas, one bad day does not confirm a trend change, and today (Wednesday) was the exact opposite.

Slow Holiday Week Ahead

by David Brown, Chief Market Strategist, Sabrient Systems

The market is finally giving us the long anticipated and overdue pullback. This is good for its longer term health. The media is attributing the weakness to news out of Ireland, but the fact is that the technical picture has been screaming for a pullback and retest of key support levels, including Dow 11,000.

The Market Giveth & the Market Taketh Away

by David Brown, Chief Market Strategist, Sabrient Systems

Or is it the dollar that giveth and taketh away?

The resolution of uncertainty last week around the elections and FOMC announcement allowed the market to release some pent-up energy and finally break out of its consolidation pattern. After the normal head fakes in both directions, it rallied hard such that the S&P 500 reached a 2-year closing high.

QE2 as Popular as R2-D2

by David Brown, Chief Market Strategist, Sabrient Systems

Note from Editor:

The market continues to dwell in a zone of consolidation in a virtual tug-of-war between the bulls & bears. Bears think the market needs to prove itself by testing key support levels and working off its overbought technical indicators.

Stocks Buffeted by Macro Forces

by David Brown, Chief Market Strategist, Sabrient Systems

What does the market want, anyway? I know that's the name of this newsletter, but it's not an easy question to answer in recent months, and especially in the last couple of weeks.