Here's why you can't trust the media to correctly inform you about the market:

[brentspeak]

From Reuters today at 5:30 AM EST:

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCAL1141579320080411?rpc=44

Wall Street seen firmer, GE results in focus
Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:35am EDT

By Natsuko Waki

LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures rose on Friday, indicating a firmer open on Wall Street later, with investor focus on General Electric (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) which reports first-quarter results.

Expectations that Group of Seven financial chiefs, meeting in Washington on Friday, might unveil a drastic plan to stabilise banks and financial markets also helped sentiment.

GE rose 0.9 percent on Thursday and was the second-biggest boost to the S&P index thanks to expectations that economic strength outside the United States would support the conglomerate's bottom line.

(snip)

"It seems that underlying sentiment in the market has generally improved," said Elvin de Groot, senior market economist at Rabobank.

And this is from Reuters today at 12:42 PM EST:

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCAN1118569520080411?rpc=44

US STOCKS-GE's poor results, consumer data slam Wall St
Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:42pm EDT

(Updates to midday, changes byline)

By Cal Mankowski

NEW YORK, April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks dropped on Friday after General Electric Co's (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) disappointing profit forecast cast a shadow on the upcoming earnings season and data showing consumer sentiment at a 26-year low added to recession fears.

Stocks tumbled 1 percent within minutes of the market's opening with shares of GE slumped nearly 12 percent in their worst decline since the market crash in October 1987.

[Lasher]

1. I have often wondered if they're doing this on purpose

To get suckers to buy before the market goes down, and sell just before the market goes up.

[Warpy]

2. Sure they do

which is why the only sane strategy for the small investor is to take the long view and leave the day trading to the desk jockeys who do it full time.

[Lasher]

3. I have had some success with buying when the outlook looks the worst

and selling when it looks the best. If that theory holds up, I should buy US equities right now.