We're a society that loves to get an expert opinion before we buy or consume things. Probably you'll pick one based on how many stars it got in newspaper reviews. Lots of people use the ratings in Consumer Report and other publications to help them buy. The stock market is looking to the economy for guidance but the market itself may soon become the economy's greatest obstacle. Of course, sinking markets have cried wolf many times before.
Investors know the feeling.
Bought gold this week because there didn't seem to be anything else left. Except Nortel, of course. The European mobile telecom giant went public last month with stock that went squelch like a tangerine dropped from an Airbus. But the shares are above the issue price at last. No, just news the shares are joining France's benchmark index.