From Ken Little,
Your Guide to Stocks.
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Where will the Dow be on Dec. 31, 2008?

The coming year will be challenging for stock investors and you don’t need a crystal ball to make that prediction.

However, since investing is always about future results, what do you think 2008 will be like for the stock market?

My personal prediction: The Dow will end 2008 near 14,000.

The odds are 2008 will be very much like the latter part of 2007, at least through the first four to six months.

Credit Crisis

The credit and housing crisis is not going away. The economy will continue to slow or hold its own at best.

The big question on many investors' minds is will we slip into a recession and will the market follow it into a full bear environment.

The situation in the Middle East looks even more unstable than ever. Russia has become a trade competitor and policy foe, armed not with rockets but oil.

Oil at record high prices will continue to wreak havoc on global economies.

U.S. Leadership

Stirring things up to a boil will be presidential politics leading to the November election of a new president.

The U.S. will retain its leadership position in financial markets, but with a dollar that is a shadow of its former self, our influence in the global economy isn’t what it used to be.

You know things are bad when South American super-models demand payment in euros instead of dollars.

So, what do you think? Where will the market end 2008? Take the poll and see how others have voted.

Take the Poll

Poll: Where will the Dow be on Dec. 31, 2008?

1. Over 15,000
2. 14,500 - 15,000
3. 14,000 - 14,500
4. 13,500 - 14,000
5. 13,000 - 13,500
6. 12,500 - 13,000
7. 12,000 - 12,500
8. 11,500 - 12,000
9. 11,000 - 11,500
10. Under 11,000

View Results