Which way is the stock market supposed to go in the next week or so?

I don't know if it is even possible to answer this question. I have some investments that have lost money in the last few months, around $130 over all and that is for 7 different investments so not so much. Well, I need to take the money out but it is not critical that I do it today. Is it expected to get any better in the next couple weeks or is this even a question anyone can answer? Please only answers from people who know what they are talking about and please list your source if possible. Thanks so much!!!

Also, I am mostly invested in ETF's like spiders and vipers, etc. I will need the money with in the next two weeks so if that helps... thanks

Your question while interesting is unanswerable.

Anyone who tells you that the market is going up, down or flat is just guessing. There is certainly downward pressures now, due to the financial industry fall out, BUT a lot of that may already be priced in. In addition, the market typically does well in an election year as the incumbent party wants people to "feel good" and vote them back in..

But it is purely a guess.

If you need the money this year, take it out, and sleep at night.

If you have the ability to wait it out, and it might take a while, you'll be rewarded.

But predicting the stock market movement, next week, next month..maybe even next year is really just a fools guess.

It's likely to go up....AND down. No way to know for sure. Otherwise, we'd all be Warren Buffet.

You're right - it is not possible to answer your question. No one knows. Money you need in the near term should not be invested in the stock market for exactly this reason.

if January is down, the year will be down. IMO, January will be a down month.

Get Out. get out

If I could predict the stock market I'd be a millionaire.

down down down. the US has effectively stuffed itself completely and will be in recession for 2 or 3 years: several trillion dollars in Iraq and giving mortgages to trailer trash are not exactly the way to run an economy. If you want to make money buy gold and oil stocks.

If you need it in the next few weeks, it's going to be the luck of the draw. I expect a real roller coaster ride for awhile. Trying to hit the right day is going to be very difficult.
It's a shame you can't let it ride for awhile until the market stabilizes some.

In February it will go up right now its gonna continue to fail because of problems with international trade. I'm gonna sell and then re buy in a couple of weeks

If I knew I would put all my money in. I learned a lesson a long time ago, ONLY invest what you can afford to loose.

Read the Wall St. Journal and the Economist magazine. These two sources are a good place to start finding out about the stock market.
Try to find companies that have had double digit annual growth rates for several years in a row (like Whole Foods Market). These companies are probably good ones to invest in. And if you can, talk to a stockbroker (that's what they're there for). And good luck!

People who are not familiar with the stock market assume that the experts are able to predict (with some degree of success) whether the stock market will go up over the next day, week, month or year. The truth is most recognized experts, whether it's Peter Lynch or Warren Buffett, have no idea what the market is going to do over the short term. They are long term investors and admit they cannot predict short term movements. They don't try to get out before the market drops, because they can't predict it.

There are people called "market timers" who try to predict when the market will drop. They try to get out, and buy back in at a lower price. They usually predict wrong. Most market timers do worse than those who buy and hold stocks. Every once in awhile a market timer will guess things right and become an overnight celebrity because they correctly predict a market drop. When their later predictions are wrong, they quickly lose credibility.

If you only lost $130 with 7 investments when the Dow has dropped 1400 point, you are doing better than 99% of investors, including the so-called pros.
The stock market is no palce for $$ that you're gonna need in the next few weeks, even it it's a roaring bull market.

Like previously stated, no one can give you a for sure answer.

However, the market saw a huge drop in the first week of the year. Earning are beginning to really roll this week. But the most encouraging news is the increased likely hood of an interest rate cut at month's end.

I'd say if you could hold the investments for two more weeks, you are unlikely to see another large drop in value like last week. You may see a small rise in the market due to anticipation of the rate cut at month's end.