Offbeat Market Indicators

Time

Time

Want to know where the market isheaded this year? Traditional marketmavens will tell you to watch the market'sJanuary numbers. An up-month usuallyprefigures positive results for theyear. Others look at quirkier signals, likethe height of women's hemlines or thecover of magazine. The Super Bowlindicator, which predicts an up-year forthe market when the NFC team or a teamfrom the old NFL wins, was on target lastyear, raising its batting average to about90%. Hemlines are up, which also augursanother year of rising stock prices. Watchout, though, if features the currentbull market on its cover. ConventionalWall Street wisdom says that by the timethe general media get wind of a financialtrend, it's usually over.