Fed Move Just One Of Many Solutions Needed To Save Sick Market

While we feel the Fed’s recent actions were
a welcomed tonic, they came late, and thus, the patient had slipped further into
dangerous territory. Of the available solutions, the quickest would be another
move by Alan Greenspan and his band of economic mixologists. Don’t hold your
breath for that to happen right away, as the surprising 50 basis point Fed Funds
rate cut is probably all we can expect until the January 30—31 Fed meeting.

Our reasoning for this is simple; either this week’s Fed move was the action
of a group of frightened bankers, or a timely intervention. Either way, another
fast move would be viewed as the former and could spook an already nervous
market.

The next likely scenario is President-elect George W. Bush’s pet project — a
tax cut. Bush is already posturing for a bigger short-term impact of such a cut,
saying the legislature needs to pass a package to give taxpayers relief on an
accelerated basis (much of the tax benefits of his preliminary 10-year proposal
would have come at the end of the plan).

You will know the likelihood of such a scenario playing out if you see a number
of prominent Democrats looking for camera time and throwing their support behind
the President-elect. In any case, this week’s move is not enough to act as
more than a brief tonic to very sick market. Sustained rallies are unlikely
before we get the earnings season behind us, see additional Fed support and feel
whether President-elect Bush’s tax cut will be meaningful rather than window dressing.