Just a quick note in that the U.S. stock market is acting like a boxer who has just been rocked by a flurry of punches and one more solid blow could take it out and cause it to rollover and fall below 10,000 on the Dow.

The data is just bad, bad, bad.

And there is no end in sight.

For traders, its an opportunity because we don't care which way the market falls and if we have money to put aside in long-term investments, then we just look for strength in other global markets. 

For mom and pop trying to save for retirement and junior's college fund, its just looking grim.

This is not the Age of Buy and Hold because markets are getting rocked while the government spends like its "1999!" all over again.

For now, look for strength abroad and outside the U.S. market to find solid values that will appreciate typically in Singapore and selected parts of Asia.  In the short to intermediate term, trade to the downside.

And use caution....there are alot of stocks that look strong and forming up in bullish patterns but, truth be told, without the general market behind any bullish move, stay on the sidelines till momentum returns to the upside.

Till then, look at shorts.