*FUNDAMENTALS DON'T SUPPORT LATEST BANK RALLY AS ECONOMY SHOWS SIGNS OF ONLY A SLOW RECOVERY
Astoria, New York
Cash for clunkers, national health care proposals, shaky labor market and no real economic theory fundamentals are making stories in August. While the cash for clunkers has helped auto sales and Obama may back off from a national run government medical insurance idea, companies are still unsure of what to do with unemployment. Even though we may have seen some kind of bottom, ripple effects could take a toll from a surge in taxes that will help governments curb increased expenditures, it may hurt small to mid size businesses. With this in mind and fresh off a sizzling July to August market rally, there may be room for a correction in the Dow. The Dow could easily crack back below the 9000 level with a possible aim towards Dow 8700 territory, an area of resistance in the late spring rally. Even the latest bank rallies were not as justified since PE ratios have been pushed to their highest level in the last few years with banks also shedding off their dividend payouts. Short term profit taking for various reasons could be taking place especially in some of the banks that have went up too much. Stay tuned to the real economist at www.therealeconomist.blogspot.com