Market Commentary Highlights...

• Asking what Black Friday means for the stock market has the relationship backwards; it is the gain in the stock market this quarter that bodes modestly well for retail sales this holiday season.
• While Black Friday tells us little about how stocks might behave, there is a very consistent relationship between stock market performance in the months leading up to the holiday season and the gain in retail sales in the fourth quarter. This year, the performance of stocks in October and November points to a low-single-digit gain for holiday retail sales.
• Stocks, particularly those of the retailers, have reflected the improving consumer incomes and balance sheets and now sales may begin to reflect the release of pent-up demand. This may create a positive feedback loop, supporting job and economic growth in 2011.

Read the entire Market Commentary. (pdf format)

Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial are pleased to provide the above Market Commentary for the week of November 29, 2010. The commentary is prepared by LPL FINANCIAL RESEARCH, the broker-dealer partner for Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial. This commentary and others like it can be found at www.mylsb.com/investments/commentary.aspx

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This information is being provided by Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) / LSB Financial, an Iowa-based institution devoted to providing complete financial services since 1902. www.mylsb.com