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The Fear of Fear



The stock market is going up and up both in the USA and the world, despite impeachment, Iran, climate, swine flu, nuclear bomb production, taxes, and everything else you might think should mitigate the market.  With so much negativity you must have thoughts of impending doom. I do.
Yet economic data are encouraging. People are spending money like crazy. Housing starts are up 16%.  The 10-year rate is strong. Unemployment is down. The new NAFTA and China deals are set. So, what do we fear besides fear itself? (Homage to FDR.)  Maybe Dengue fever?  Well, scientists have genetically modified mosquitos to fix that.  Is all this fear washed away?  Not quite.  
The national barometer of fiscal confidence is the NYSE, the New York Stock Exchange. Here’s the latest assessment from that group of money grubbers The greatest fear on the floor of the stock market exchange is the fear of no bad news.
This is singularly remarkable, that of discussing the fear of fear. So, what fear do you fear the most?

Maybe you fear the unknown, the unpredictable, the mystery solution? More mundane, maybe you fear more Trump, the advent of Bernie, an invasion by the faithful of any persuasion. Maybe regulations. Maybe the homeless. Maybe crime.  

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