Editor's Desk
Even Dozen for Bulls in Poll
David Morrow
01/03/07 - 01:58 PM EST
The bulls are showing no signs of letting up in the new year, as they notched their 12th straight victory in TheStreet.com RealMoney Barometer survey.
Of the 1,005 votes cast, bulls got 543 votes, or 54%, while the bears could muster only 186 votes, or 18%. Neutral finished with 276 votes, or 27%.
In the sectors, precious metals was tapped as most likely to rise, which is rather incongruous considering the confidence in the stock market and the performance of stocks lately.
Homebuilding, as it has mostly been for months now, was seen as most likely to decline.
And in the first day of trading for 2007, the stock market got off to a partying start. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 12,526.03, up 63 points; the Nasdaq Composite was higher by 23 points, to 2438; and the S&P 500 was up 3.83 points, to 1422 -- all off their earlier highs.
This is a rare three-day trading week. The markets were closed Monday for New Year's Day and on Tuesday for the funeral of former President Gerald Ford.
The Nasdaq and the NYSE were closed for four consecutive days for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Crude oil futures were off $2.55 a barrel, to $58.50.
In one of the top stories of the day, Home Depot(HD Quote) ousted CEO Bob Nardelli. As TSC's Matt Goldstein reported: "Ending months of tumult at the Atlanta-based home-improvement retailer, Home Depot's board generously handed Nardelli $210 million Wednesday to pack his bags. Wall Street applauded, sending shares up 4% in midday trading.
"The move comes less than a month after a big shareholder, riled by Nardelli's hefty pay and the stock's long stupor, threatened to start a proxy fight if Home Depot's board didn't agree to review its strategy and corporate governance. The company agreed to a meeting but pledged to stay its charted course."
Below are the complete poll results.
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| Date | Bullish | Bearish | Neutral | Week Ending S&P % Change |
Bullish Sector |
Bearish Sector |
| Jan. 3 | 543 (54%) | 186 (18%) | 276 (27%) |  |
Precious Metals | Homebuilding |
| Dec. 26 | 194 (37%) | 179 (34%) | 156 (29%) | + 0.5% | Precious Metals | Homebuilding |
| Dec. 18 | 405 (61%) | 114 (17%) | 145 (22%) | - 1.1% | Integrated Oil | Homebuilding |
| Dec. 12 | 874 (54%) | 307 (19%) | 438 (27%) | + 1.2% | Investment Bankers and Brokers | Homebuilding |
| Sector | Total Votes | Percentage |
| Aerospace and Defense | 32 | 3% |
| Airlines | 26 | 3% |
| Automobiles | 14 | 1% |
| Beverages and Food Products | 16 | 2% |
| Biotechnology | 61 | 6% |
| Commercial Banks | 44 | 4% |
| Computers and Peripherals | 54 | 5% |
| Consumer Nondurables | 27 | 3% |
| Energy Equipment & Services | 92 | 9% |
| HMOs and Hospitals | 19 | 2% |
| Homebuilding | 32 | 3% |
| Insurance | 23 | 2% |
| Integrated Oil | 67 | 7% |
| Internet, Software Services | 71 | 7% |
| Investment Bankers and Brokers | 66 | 7% |
| Media | 18 | 2% |
| Multiline Retail | 16 | 2% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 37 | 4% |
| Precious Metals | 101 | 10% |
| Semis, Semi Equipment | 64 | 6% |
| Telecom Equipment | 37 | 4% |
| Tobacco and Alcohol | 31 | 3% |
| Utilities | 29 | 3% |
| Wireless Communications | 26 | 3% |
| Source: RealMoney.com | ||
| Sector | Total Votes | Percentage |
| Aerospace and Defense | 9 | 1% |
| Airlines | 56 | 6% |
| Automobiles | 111 | 11% |
| Beverages and Food Products | 21 | 2% |
| Biotechnology | 13 | 1% |
| Commercial Banks | 17 | 2% |
| Computers and Peripherals | 26 | 3% |
| Consumer Nondurables | 20 | 2% |
| Energy Equipment & Services | 45 | 4% |
| HMOs and Hospitals | 15 | 1% |
| Homebuilding | 163 | 16% |
| Insurance | 9 | 1% |
| Integrated Oil | 86 | 9% |
| Internet, Software Services | 19 | 2% |
| Investment Bankers and Brokers | 25 | 2% |
| Media | 27 | 3% |
| Multiline Retail | 76 | 8% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 65 | 6% |
| Precious Metals | 58 | 6% |
| Semis, Semi Equipment | 34 | 3% |
| Telecom Equipment | 19 | 2% |
| Tobacco and Alcohol | 30 | 3% |
| Utilities | 41 | 4% |
| Wireless Communications | 15 | 1% |
| Source: RealMoney.com | ||