What's Been Troubling the Techs By Thomas Kurlak About this article: This year, tech company fundamentals have played out about as I'd hoped. However, the stocks have been down and just can't seem to generate a rally, even on very good news. What trouble does the "market" see ahead, and what is just a normal correction after a big year of gains in 2003? Over the years, technology -- particularly semiconductor -- stocks have been good barometers of investor confidence. They have always led economic and market upturns and downturns. In addition, gold stocks have been good barometers of investor pessimism about future trends in inflation, profits and the dollar. So far this year, we've had both weak semis and weak gold stocks, and that would be an apparent contradiction. When it comes to the future, are investors simultaneously bearish (falling tech stocks) and bullish (falling gold stocks)? Or do gold investors expect that inflation won't increase... Or, call us at 1-866-321-TSCM (8726) Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET. Outside the U.S. and in Canada, call 1-212-321-5200.

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