Market Outlook for the rest of December 2008.

Market Outlook for the rest of December 2008.

An outlook and expectation for the stock markets for the rest of the year.
( Dec 11, Amsterdam 10.30 GMT +1)

With China having had its worst month for exports in 7 years in November it looks like Asian markets are getting more prudent and consolidating. Oil prices head up in Asia ahead of the OPEC meeting in Algeria on the 17th of December.
The OPEC which accounts for 40% of Oil Production in the world is expected to cut output by 2 million barrels per day.
Asian markets are lackluster for the moment and expected to sink again.

Companies are using the current crises to lay off more people. A number of large U.S. employers announced layoffs this week, including Dow Chemical Co., 3M Co., Anheuser-Busch InBev, National Public Radio and the National Football League. The U.S. auto-industry emergency loan plan is taking shape although nobody seems to know what to do next. It is a gigantic problem with dire consequenses.
Brokers and Banks are propping up balance sheets before year end. The recent end of November rally is running out of steam. More deep and dire economic news analysis is appearing almost every day.
We do expect the U.S. markets to go down before year end.
All eyes are on the Obama plan.

In Europe a rift is showing up between the 'Brownites' and the Germans with the almost paralyzed Dutch Government having no plan at all but still waiting for new information. ( A few snippets of news are sippling through about the Dutch Government becoming less wasteful with tax payers money).
The trend and outlook for European markets is negative.

The speed and impact of the current crisis on all levels of society spreading around the world, is really amazing and in some cases stunnishing.