Hugh Johnson Leading Quotations

The stock market rally today is because we drove the market down to levels that were on the cheap side and when you get news like the leading indicators saying things are going to be good for the economy and profits, that attracts buyers.

The numbers across the board were pretty surprising. I would say that improvements in the leading indicators of the economy, like the employment and manufacturing numbers, is very encouraging and indicate that the economy is expanding and not contracting. It also suggests continued expansion into the first quarter.

We are gradually, slowly building investor confidence that the profit recession will end, ... What's leading to the bullishness is not anything you are currently looking at. Earnings are dismal, but investors are becoming more optimistic that the profits recession will end.

These are the really important numbers because they give us a first look at January, and they include leading indicators.