Gustav...

If the name isn't familiar to you, you are probably like many traders out there who's taking a break from this market.   Let's be realistic here, the market pulled one of those post- Christmas day volumes which means not many people care one way or another of what is occurring on the markets.   A positive came from Eco. data (Durable goods report), but that won't bring volume to the table.  A good GDP # in the morning may add to a higher manipulated move, a move we wouldn't put too much credence in because of low volume.

Aside from the E&P Shale plays (GDP,CRK, XCO, HK, PVA,GMXR), noted as the only 'most wanted' group yesterday, there's really not much going on anywhere else.    Toward the end, we feel even these plays are looking a little exhausted.   Of course, you can never guess what mother nature is capable of, so we believe the story may still carry some weight into Friday's close.  If these do get a nice kick up in the next 2 days, the best trade may be to short late Friday and put a bet on that the storm will cause little damage over the long weekend.  You are also betting, if you don't sell any Shales accumulated so far into any strength by weeks end.  The question is though do you really want to watch the weather channel all weekend, instead of getting a reprieve from the markets.  Anyways..come Tuesday, we may have a "Hanna" to monitor.

Right at this moment, trading is slowing down to the point where anyone left is pretty much looking forward to the long weekend.  Unless something major happens between now and then, which we very much doubt, the trading pace will be slow and directionless.   Tomorrow, we have one report from ENER which may cause a little splash in the solar market.    Honestly, unless the report (including guidance) is as spectacular as the last one, it most likely will be a sell on news event for the entire solar sector.    Basically, we wouldn't be holding our breath for something exciting to trade tomorrow morning.