PRE OPEN

Futures were way up last night but have since pulled way back on the heels of more bad news out of financials.

Retail sales appear to be pretty good after a few days of data but hardly enough to give the all clear signal. My guess is this Holiday sales period will be like most others - decent- nothing terrible/nothing outstanding. The last thing folks give up is buying gifts for others regardless of how deep into credit one needs to go.

Barrons was bullish on HOG and a few deal stocks including CCU HET and BCE.

Finished Charlie Gasparino's King of the Club and must say it was a terrific read. All the memories of Grasso/Spitzer/Phelan/Donaldson/Langone/ and others. Charlie did a great job with background and the players and I not usually a big Gasparino fan but this was certainly a fine research/writing job. And if you don't think the specialist were ripping off the public............