Quotes by Hans Olsen

“A good number will confirm the upward bias for interest rates and higher rates are a headwind for equity prices.”

“In reality, it wont matter as much because other elements like spending and consumer sentiment look good and that will keep the upward pressure on interest rates.”

“If the number is 50,000 above or below, thats a variation where youll see a reaction. If its below, then people will right away start talking about what the revision will be next month.”

“We are starting to see the bite from some of the risks that have been lurking in the background, like oil. I think its going to continue to be tougher for this market to do anything positive.”

“Look for it in the earnings of discount retailers, restaurants and travel sectors. Start to look for GDP to be impacted, earnings in the third and fourth quarters, especially now because were starting to approach the home heating season. This is not good. We havent seen anything like this in the better part of 25 years, where you start to have people thinking about gas lines.”

“This is expected to be one of the worse hurricane seasons, and so far theyre right and were only halfway through it. All you have to do is pose the question: What if you had another monster storm in another few weeks, just as things are starting to come back on line? I dont know how you would avoid recession in that environment.”

“If you believe that higher interest rates will put a brake on the economy, the whole tech sector is highly susceptible because companies are going to be spending on tech-related items depending on where the economy is going.”

“[The rise in energy costs caused by Katrina is] going to start taking money out of peoples pockets that they would have spent on something else, ... Look for the (impact) in the earnings of discount retailers, restaurants, and travel sectors - start to look for GDP to be impacted.”

“The market is clearly responding to the drop in consumer confidence. Its hard to be terribly optimistic when it cost you $60 to fill up the car.”

“Whats going to drive things over the next several weeks is how third-quarter earnings come out,”