Is a major correction coming? That was a question for Fast Money Traders Tuesday morning as markets climbed higher despite a barrage of negative U.S. economic data.
U.S. home prices fell to 2002 levels in March, according to the latest Case-Shiller housing data. Prices fell 3.6% in the 20 key U.S. cities tracked by the index from the prior year.
The Chicago PMI data released Tuesday was also weak. The index dropped to 56.6% in May from April’s 67.6%. The worse-than-expected reading indicated that manufacturing sector, though still expanding, was weakening significantly.
Neither data point boded well for the upcoming employment situation report, scheduled for Friday release.
The good news driving the market higher appeared to be optimism that Europe’s sovereign debt crisis would not end with a Greek exit from the euro or massive default. A Wall Street Journal report that Germany may not push Greece to restructure its debt, making a second bailout package more likely, was fueling optimism Tuesday morning over Europe’s economic recovery – driving the euro higher against the dollar and goosing stocks.
But Fast Money’s Stephen Weiss, of Short Hills Capital, wasn’t buying Greece as a reason to buy the market.