E Market Briefing For Friday, Oct. 27

Synergies matter  in so many ways. Whether it’s politicians putting aside, at least for the moment, their differences to narrowly pass a far larger and a bit distasteful larger debt-encumbering Budget, which however better clears the path toward passage of a tax-reform BIll; or whether it’s two ‘colleagues’ in an advanced technology area that ‘may’ eventually work closer together.

Or for that matter common interests in containing a madman, which draws a growth-oriented competitive China, with its own high Debt levels, closer to a U.S. led containment policy regarding North Korea’s threat becoming global.

Or even if one sees the ‘synergies’ between big-pharma lobbyists and why a poor law stayed on the books for years. Now Senator Pelosi says ‘show me the money’ on the President’s ‘war on opioid addiction’ and part of me thinks she’s got a point; but then why does Government have to cover this? Maybe all that does is get repeat visits to rehab centers (and bills to insurance and / or Government). Media focused on the downside; not a failure of politicians for years to address this problem. Most doctors will likely agree on this. It’s gone on for years; and while it’s easy for some to blame the users; it’s also a responsibility of Washington not to ‘play ball’ because of big contributions.

Most investors might view the run-up in stocks late today (and aftermarket) as concentrated in a handful of stocks (including FANG or momentum type issues); and they would be correct. Finally we have the ‘good news’ pops in the big boys like Google (Alphabet), Amazon and Microsoft. The trends for sure may not break primary patterns; but it can set the stage for a reversal at least short-term. Or profit-taking; not chasing as some advise late today.

In sum: still on the prowl for the elusive correction and realize that: a) you can have a blow-off that corrects and doesn’t tank; b) complacency or just frustration dominates the markets as prices move high (I’m tickled pink just now); c) the stabilizing has occurred because ‘value investors’ mostly gave responsibility of money management to others or computers; and are thus less attached to their money (in more ways than one) versus history; d) this is a danger while seen by ‘the Street’ as a palliative for passive investing.