$$STOCK**$**OPTION**$**UNIVERSE$$©~S.M. BILLIONAIRES$$$

[ukie]

For weeks now, the absence of vacationing senior traders has been haunting the stock market. It’s amazing what a few fellows can do when the grey-beards of the trading desks are away. Prices can jump and tumble for little reason – all as the young turks try to make a few quick trades to impress the elders before they return to the trading pits.

But now, volume is finally returning. To give you a sense of scale, the Dow Jones Industrials (DJIA) first half hour last Friday saw a mere 11.0 million shares traded. Tuesday morning saw 27.7 million shares move through the pits.

Questions remain, however, as to whether returning senior traders will see a buying opportunity this week – or an opportunity to lock in a good year’s gains.