Regarding current market stresses, it looks to me like high oil prices are putting the lion’s share of the stress on the broader stock market and keeping this economy from growing faster. Since were paying more for gasoline, we have less money in our wallets to buy other goods and services. On the positive side, this continued effect should keep core inflation reasonably under control while food and energy go higher. If we do see lower oil prices, the market will rally as it did today.