Ganges, Potomac, and L’Etat C’est Moi (Oh My)

Welcome to the FarrCast! As always we start with the markets, and what a difference a week makes. The Dow ricocheted 500 points -- Kenny Polcari joins from the floor, and he says the pain isn't over yet, but it does seem like the markets are building a floor; Kenny says to watch for the lows creeping higher -- that's the good sign we want to see. It's early in earnings season, and while bottom line profits look good, the top line revenue growth is important and Michael and Kenny explain why.

Senior political analyst Dan Mahaffee from the Center for the Study of the President and Congress calls in to give us the latest from Capital Hill. The President has been using the Stock Market as a scorecard for the economy, and that is becoming politically dangerous. Trump has said "my greatest threat" is the Federal Reserve. Looking abroad, Dan makes the point that while the US relationship with Saudi Arabia might not be a love match, the cost of the divorce is more than the cost of staying together -- expect realpolitik to outweigh outrage.

For our third segment, Michael welcomes Mark Hamrick, longtime financial journalist, and current Washington Bureau Chief of Bankrate.com. We are living in a world of market gyrations, jawboning, and fake news. Mark talks about the importance of clear, verified information to the financial markets, and how as a journalists they plow through. Mark talks about the markets and how it's good for the investor that the Fed stays focused on their (apolitical) long-term goals.