Stocks rise on relief over earnings, debt auction: But ever the skeptical Trader am I

*a few things of note here for me. Cramer is saying we are coming out of the worst bottom since the depression, so I have to be automatically skeptical, because I have learned to do the opposite of Cramer, thats how I make money. But more importantly, the key phrase in the article below, "modest". Does this mean that analysts have lowered their expectations because we are all so sick of lounging or drowning, in a constant spiraling downtrend? Read further and you get a little clue as to what is really going on here. And that is the analysts giving a helping hand to those less than average Mutual Fund managers who had such a horrendous year at your expense. They will be getting into the market now with your dwindled funds, only to get handed their hat on the way down. Remember, all glory is fleeting, no matter how far they dumb down.

Stocks extend gains following upbeat corporate results, relief over Treasury auction
Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer
Thursday March 26, 2009, 2:46 pm EDT
NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street built on its big March rally Thursday as fresh nuggets of upbeat news gave traders reason to reach for more stocks.

Good numbers from Best Buy Co. and ConAgra Foods Inc. as well as strong demand at a government debt auction pushed traders to step into the market. Major stock indexes rose more than 2 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which rose more than 150 points.

The approaching end of the quarter on Tuesday could also leave money managers fearful of missing out a rally that has left major indicators up about 20 percent in only 12 days. Gains of that size can often take years to occur.

Best Buy, ConAgra and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. all turned in quarterly numbers that beat analysts' modest expectations on Thursday. The reports raised hopes that consumer spending may be more robust than some had expected. Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of all U.S. economic activity.

Consumers worried about falling home and stock prices as well as more difficult access to credit have slashed spending since the recession began in December 2007.

Traders on Thursday piled into the market in the early afternoon after a successful auction of Treasury notes. A poor showing at a separate auction the day before interrupted a stock market rally.

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