Market Watch with Tom Waitt

July_13th_2011.mp3 Confidence Returning    Despite negative news media reports North American stocks are strong. U.S. equities have more than doubled since lows reached two years ago. Canadian stocks as measured by the S&P/TSX Composite are up 92%.   Retail Sales (Click For Larger Picture) Over the last decade uncertainty and fear has ruled, media pundits have caused the markets to climb a wall of worry. Despite record job losses, the housing meltdown, mortgage foreclosures, bank failures, bailouts of the auto industry, Mideast unrest and revolutions, Japanese earthquakes and tsunamis, nuclear meltdowns, financial concerns in Greece, Italy and weaker Euro market participants, stocks have doubled. It has been two years since the financial crisis hit panic levels. North American equities have recovered the losses by doubling in value from the lows. The markets have prevailed but not confidence. Not all individuals or mutual funds have recovered their losses. Most market pundits