Lame Duck Spotting

(1) Stock prices rising in thin air. (2) Reassuring words after reassuring conference call. (3) French banks downgraded, as expected. (4) Geithner tells Cramer no risk of European Lehman after predicting no downgrade for US. (5) Fresh signs of trouble in Austria. (6) Upset in Queens for our king. (7) Rampant bearishness lifts stocks. (8) Earnings, revenue, and margin estimates all declining. (9) Q3 GDP: consumer spending up a tad, while inventories down a bit. (10) High-income folks aren’t happy. (11) Market weighting Retailers.