Overheard On The Street

Here’s what they’re saying at mid-day:

Michael Lyons, Senior Trader, Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter: “We’ve got a mixed bag here this morning. You’ve got
the Nasdaq going one way, and the Dow going the other. We just can’t get them
going together here. There’s some good strength in the brokers again following
some profit taking in the group yesterday. They’ve come alive on the speculation
and consolidation in the industry. Semiconductors and select technology are
strong and are leading the Nasdaq higher. Juniper Networks
(
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is up 9
and Intel is coming back. The drugs are seeing a little selling, likely because
of the euro weakness. We had some friendly economic news this morning, and we
have some more news set for tomorrow. We might see a little more volatility with
triple witching tomorrow as well.”

Gregg Parise, General Partner, Dorado
Capital Management: “I think that today’s number was a good number and
unexpected to the positive side. I still think we are in a range-bound market,
and I think we still have some seasonal weakness in front of us, but we should
have a good fourth quarter. People are still nervous about the pre-earnings
season that is upon us, and I look at the market and just don’t think that we
have a tremendous amount of upside. I don’t see conviction in the market, and
there’s a lack of volume. While we’ve had a nice bounce here, it’s been a bounce
into resistance, and I think we are going to pull back and kind of consolidate
before what I think will be a great fourth quarter rally.” 

Barry Hyman, Chief Investment Strategist,
Weatherly Securities: “This Nasdaq market is just push-pull. The debate
will go on, I think, through the third quarter and into the fourth quarter as to
the cyclicality of semiconductors, as well as the perceived demand slowdown in
the telecom equipment players. The bears are going to take charge sometimes, and
the bulls are going to take charge sometimes. I think net-net, there probably
won’t be much progress either way through the end of the year, but the market
will still provide great trading situations.”