MARKET COMMENT
December 19, 2006

If when you awake and read the crummy news from Thailand
[currency restrictions], Producer Prices coming in “hot” at 2% and ORCL trading
down 5% in Europe, you’d think today might be worse than rough. But no!
The amateur hour decisions out of Thailand were quickly reversed once
military government officials got the midnight phone calls, huddled up and did
one of those instant replay reversal deals.
[“Hey, whatsamattah you! The market’s down 15%!!!]
Producer Price data was quickly isolated and set aside as the
odd headline in MarketWatch read: “US Stocks end
mixed; rising oil stocks offset PPI worries.”
Come again?

In the meantime, ORCL’s weakness endured
throughout the day but SWH [Software Holders] managed to gain fractionally
supported by MSFT.








You knew it might be a top when folks start stealing the
wiring from utility poles for the copper content.




Other market movers today were in housing and financials.


Overseas Asian markets were pretty rattled by the Thai
situation. It got me thinking this
morning about an “Asian Contagion Part II”.
But, as noted authorities changed their minds, but it served as a
reminder that perhaps some markets can’t be trusted.


There are two major lessons today. First, be patient and stay disciplined. Emotional trading will just get you confused
and impair your judgment. Second,
Emerging Markets can be both very rewarding but also equally risky. If you can’t stay with any market, stay out.
Good buddy Greg Newton [he of Naked Shorts fame] sent me this wonderful video today. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Among
other issues, the ETF Digest maintains positions in: SPY, XLE, USO, DBC, GLD,
SLV, CEF, FXE, IEF, EWM and EEM.