Market comments for Thanksgiving day

With the stock market closed today and minds on Turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings, I think I can make a very safe market prediction. The market won't be going down today, nor will it be going up. A Buy and Hold strategy will work for today, but there are no promises for tomorrow. THAT'S ONE PREDICTION I FINALLY WILL GET RIGHT!

The Put to Call ratio will be unmoved and remain where it was at the close of the market yesterday, which was at the 1.06 level. The last time the Put to Call ratio was this high was on Oct. 12th, Christopher Columbus day, when it closed at the 1.15 level.

Given this market certainty for today, I would suggest settling back, taking a deep, relaxing breath and watch The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, your favorite Football game rivalry and join family and friends for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, while giving thanks for all of what you have. I plan to do this too because I see the storm clouds on the horizon, but today is no day for that. Just look at the best side of everything today and chill. That's an order!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Headline reads: Turkey launches ground operation in Iraq

"STANBUL, Turkey - Turkish troops launched a ground incursion across the border into Iraq in pursuit of separatist Kurdish rebels, the military said Friday — a move that dramatically escalates Turkey's conflict with the militants.

It is the first confirmed ground operation by the Turkish military into Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. It also raised concerns that it could trigger a wider conflict with the U.S.-backed Iraqi Kurds, despite Turkey's assurances that its only target was the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK."

This is not good news, as the potential for a wider conflict with Nato ally Turkey and with Iraq, both allies of the U.S., grows with each escalation. Turkey recently has been tilting to their Islamic groups which has troubled the secular leadership of the country. Turkey's ruling government party removed a ban for the head scarfs worn by women in Schools and Universities. The U.S. and its Allies have been looking to admit Turkey into their economic block with benefits. This incursion could harm the outlook for that to happen thus alienating Turkey against the U.S. even more than it has in recent years. Turkey has been a good Ally of the U.S. going back decades. It has been the Bush Administration that has most set back this relationship for possibly decades to come.

To read the entire article click here.

Iraq- On the brink of disintegration?

We all want stability and success in Iraq. There is no easy answer or it would have been taken. Yes, Iraq is broken and just when we hear the President's message of a 20,000 troop surge, Iranian and Syrian meddling in Iraq and threats to intervene with our forces to stop Iran, we see emerging Turkish concerns and threats to invade Northern Iraq's Kurds. Reuters news item is worth reading here. If this happens, there will be no containing the conflict within Iraq's borders and other countries in the region will feel the need to get involved in the conflict to support their own self interests. With Iraq having the second largest Oil reserves in the Middle East, you can see where this is heading.