[Off-topic] newuser888:
I think many factors are behind the share rally. The cash for clunkers program is one. The Chinese government's forcing its bank to lend is another. Then, there is also the issue of financial institution given the leeway to value the toxic assets as anyting they want once again which mask the problems. Add to that the massive money printing by the US government, and some of those money are now propping up the US share market.

Bank CEO's are doing anything in their power (including cooking their books) to justify paying themselves obscene bonuses once again.

When the Chinese government forced the State controlled banks to lend, there is no actual demand by businesses or individuals to borrow it. After all the export market is shrinking rapidly. But since the order from the top must be followed, the banks have to bribe the borrowers to accept the loan. These loans ended up in risky properties, shares, and commodity futures bets and gambles. We already see how the Shanghai A share plunged 20% within a few days recently when the Chinese goverment announced that it is "finetuning" its lending policy. The Chinese has yet to learn to spell bubbles but I think it is definitely forming and that will in turn send a shockwave throughout the world.

Unemployment is still worsening, not geting better. The loan defaults in US is now a more serious problem in the primed mortgage area, even surpassing that in the subprime mortage area. The banks are once again packaging extremely risky assets and try to market them to unsuspecting investors all over again.

According to some reports, the insiders are throwing out their own share at the ratio of 8:1 (for every share they buy, they're selling 8), while the fools are being sucked in once again.

Unfortunately, retail investors will never learn. Memory is short. The reason is we're all driven by greed. Many are investing purely with a herd's mentality. Once again, they're not happy with a small trading profit and try to hold it longer for larger gain. Once again, they may find out that when the market head for the exit again, they can't sell it fast enough as the big guys who have everything computerised.

There is so much spin going around in the market, with so many experts telling us that the economy has recovered. They won't tell you about 77 (edit: Just read from Bloomberg that it is now 84 in the year 2009) US banks have already collapsed this year. According to a very famous analyst, hundreds more are heading that way. They manipulate the unemployment figures to make it look less worst than it actually is. They are trying to encourage private investor to buy up those lousy banks with worthless assets.

I think the world is now characterised by the Chinese doing all the hardwork for the West to enjoy, and their money are still with the west in the form of investments that they are stuck with. This was the great imbalance that, unless corrected, will continue to worsen the problem of the world. This imbalance is unsustainable.

The "stimulus" is no stimulus that resume the heatbeat when removed. It is more like a crutch, which remove, the patient collapses once again.

The world needs reform. The imbalance needs to be addressed. The Chinese/Japanese/Indian must start consuming more and save less. The West must start consuming less and save more. There is also progressively more imbalance in the world in terms of pay. Just look at what the greedy CEOs are getting compared to the ordinary workers. As a result, the purchasing power of the masses, hence consumption power in the economy, will suffer.

Just my 2 cents.