1. New Year’s Resolution?- the Dow industrials Index ended the first week of the new year up 190, or 1.8%, to 10,618, their highest level in more than 15 months. For what it’s worth, a strong five-day start has led to further gains three out of every four years in the Dow’s history. (source:  Barrons).




2. Growing–  online sales increased an impressive 15.5% this past holiday season (source:  MasterCard Advisors Spending Pulse). 




3. Out for a Movie – Americans shelled out $10,500,000,000 (that’s $10.5 Billion) at U.S. movie theaters in 2009, a record (source: Hollywood.com).





4. 58%– the percentage of parents who say they are not currently setting aside any money for their children’s college education (source:  FINRA Investor Education Foundation).





5.  Home, sweet, home – American homes are priced at around fair value on the basis of the long term relationship between current value and their market rental rate.  Britain is still overvalued by 20%, and Australia, Spain and Hong Kong by 50% (The Economist magazine).