Monday
If it's the last trading day of the year, you're going to see a lot of window dressing. The arguably shady "window dressing" practice finds fund managers buying the year's biggest winners and divesting their portfolio of its biggest losers. Why? Well, so when the fund mails out its year-end report card, investors see warm and fuzzy names. It's a flimsy facade, of course. We live in a day and age where anyone can access Morningstar
Tuesday
The market is closed for New Year's Day. Take the morning to make your 2008 resolutions, and pray that you're not breaking them later that night.
Wednesday
The first trading day of the year is typically quiet on the news front. Companies are just settling back into the swing of things after the midweek holiday and don't want to be the first ones to chime in with their earnings reports while no one is paying attention.
Thursday
Finally, the companies awaken. Agricultural-chemicals giant Monsanto
Poor Finish Line. The purveyor of athletic footwear and apparel has been pulling up lame in recent quarters. Analysts expect an even wider quarterly loss out of the retailer on Thursday, but the real story here will be the company's outlook for the current holiday quarter. If it comes up short, will it have to run some laps?
Friday
The abridged trading week closes with another slow day on the earnings front. Texas Industries
Until next week, I remain,
Rick Munarriz
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