Editor's Desk
Bears Beat Bulls in Close Poll Battle
David Morrow
03/19/08 - 12:04 AM EDT
The bears held off the hard-charging bulls in this week's TheStreet.com RealMoney Barometer survey.
Of the 4,266 votes in the poll, the bears got 1,984, or 46%; the bulls mustered 1,739, or 41%, and neutral came in wth 543 votes, or 13%.
In the sectors, it was precious metals, with gold recently hitting $1,000 an ounce, chosen as the sector most likely to rise this week. Investment banks and brokers was tapped as most likely to fall. That's no surprise following the stunning news that credit-strapped Bear Stearns (BSC) was being bought byJP Morgan Chase for $2 a share.
On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve announced a three-quarter point cut in the fed funds rate. The stock market responded with a huge rally.
Below are the complete poll results.
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| Date | Bullish | Bearish | Neutral | Week Ending S&P % Change |
Bullish Sector |
Bearish Sector |
| March 17 |
1,739 (41%) |
1,984 (46%) |
543 (13%) |
 |
Precious Metals | Investment Banks and Brokers |
| March 10 |
650 (28%) |
1,285 (55%) |
387 (17%) |
- 0.4% | Precious Metals | Commercial Banks |
| March 3 |
484 (22%) |
1,361 (60%) |
406 (18%) |
- 2.8% | Precious Metals | Commercial Banks |
| Feb. 25 |
506 (41%) |
480 (38%) |
259 (21%) |
- 1.7% | Precious Metals | Homebuilding |
| Feb. 19 |
1,487 (35%) |
1,606 (38%) |
1,117 (27%) |
+ 0.02% | Precious Metals | Homebuilding |
| Sector | Total Votes | Percentage |
| Aerospace and Defense | 25 | 1% |
| Airlines | 213 | 5% |
| Automobiles | 117 | 3% |
| Beverages and Food Products | 13 | 0% |
| Biotechnology | 21 | 0% |
| Commercial Banks | 687 | 16% |
| Computers and Peripherals | 17 | 0% |
| Computers and Peripherals | 29 | 1% |
| Energy Equipment & Services | 79 | 2% |
| HMOs and Hospitals | 43 | 1% |
| Homebuilding | 242 | 6% |
| Insurance | 58 | 1% |
| Integrated Oil | 506 | 12% |
| Internet, Software Services | 22 | 1% |
| Investment Banks and Brokers | 1285 | 31% |
| Media | 25 | 1% |
| Multiline Retail | 58 | 1% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 44 | 1% |
| Precious Metals | 545 | 13% |
| Semis, Semi Equipment | 34 | 1% |
| Telecom Equipment | 26 | 1% |
| Tobacco and Alcohol | 35 | 1% |
| Utilities | 48 | 1% |
| Wireless Communications | 31 | 1% |
| Source: RealMoney.com | ||
| Sector | Total Votes | Percentage |
| Aerospace and Defense | 81 | 2% |
| Airlines | 36 | 1% |
| Automobiles | 13 | 0% |
| Beverages and Food Products | 122 | 3% |
| Biotechnology | 78 | 2% |
| Commercial Banks | 514 | 12% |
| Computers and Peripherals | 32 | 1% |
| Consumer Nondurables | 47 | 1% |
| Energy Equipment & Services | 312 | 7% |
| HMOs and Hospitals | 43 | 1% |
| Homebuilding | 51 | 1% |
| Insurance | 33 | 1% |
| Integrated Oil | 364 | 9% |
| Internet, Software Services | 75 | 2% |
| Investment Banks and Brokers | 677 | 16% |
| Media | 16 | 0% |
| Multiline Retail | 19 | 0% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 140 | 3% |
| Precious Metals | 1092 | 26% |
| Semis, Semi Equipment | 53 | 1% |
| Telecom Equipment | 31 | 1% |
| Tobacco and Alcohol | 163 | 4% |
| Utilities | 201 | 5% |
| Wireless Communications | 41 | 1% |
| Source: RealMoney.com | ||