Market Thoughts (and Cheerleaders!)

• Why not a cheerleader sandwich for this blog entry?  On top, we have the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.  On the bottom, we have the Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders.  Are you ready for some Monday Night Football?
• It's pre-options week.  My first thought is that it'll be a little weak in the early part of the week, followed by a rally through the first part of the following week.  It doesn't always work out like that, of course.  I think if we do have a dramatic selling day, that'll be the point to add some beta.  We'll see if it plays out that way.  My guess is that buyers show up.  Plus, earnings season starts soon.
• According to the Stock Trader's Almanac, October is the best month since 1998.  And, the monday before expiration?  The DOW is up 22 of the last 26, and 6 straight!
• Well, the bell just sounded and the Nasdaq finished up over 7.  We'll ignore the rest of the index numbers because they may not be in the green.  And I'm not about the bring down on Columbus Day.
• Maria Bararomo taking this Columbus Day off.  (No, she's not over here).
• I did some more web searching for the "Magic Formula Investing" from The Little Book that Beats the Market.  More on that as the week goes on.  Seems like folks are having different experiences with it depending on when they started using the formula.  Kind of fun to follow along.  The key, according to the book, is to stick with it and not give up early.  It'll be interesting to see if that's what folks do...