Due to the holiday there will be no long-form linkfest tomorrow.  We hope all our readers have a safe and happy holiday season.

Quote of the day

Howard Lindzon, “I worry about 2011 because so many people are confusing a roaring bull market that I have often called ‘inconceivable’ with being smart.”  (Howard Lindzon)

Chart of the day

Investors keep piling into volatility ETNs.  (WSJ, chart: StockCharts)

Markets

What are to make of the extreme levels of bullish sentiment?  (Bespoke)

Energy and consumer discretionary continue to lead the sector pack.  (Dragonfly Capital)

A look at some really overbought stocks going into year-end.  (Bespoke)

It’s too early to get bullish on natural gas.  (Big Picture also Can Turtles Fly?)

Banks are short-term overbought.  (Trader’s Narrative)

How did the much-vaunted BRICs do in 2010?  (Global Macro Monitor)

Things could have been a lot worse for commercial mortgages this year.  (Floyd Norris)

Strategy and Tactics

It’s time to look beyond the biggest ETFs.  (IndexUniverse)

James Montier in defense of good, old fashioned mean reversion.  (Zero Hedge)

This year would you rather have had coal or toys in your stocking?  (Street Sweep)

All pundits get things wrong.  What matters is their thought process.  (Megan McArdle)

Investments are supposed to serve your purposes, not be a purpose unto themselves.  (Marketwatch)

You can’t become a better trader in the new year if you don’t properly assess your performance for the past year.  (Minyanville)

Companies

Why the run in Netflix (NFLX) may be over.  (ROI)

No wonder everyone is trying to get a piece of Facebook, Groupon and Twitter on the secondary market.  (Dealbook)

Can Wall Street save New Jersey’s horse racing operations?  (WSJ)

Economy

A look at consumption and the state of the recovery.  (EconomPic Data also Capital Spectator)

Inflation?  What inflation?  (Pragmatic Capitalism also The Source)

Go figure.  The US has become a net exporter of distillates.  (Infectious Greed)

Just because

Copyright issues aside, we are living in the “golden age of cocktails.”  (Freakonomics)

Thanks for checking in with Abnormal Returns. For all the latest you can follow us on StockTwits and Twitter.

This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.

The commentary in this “post” (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Ritholtz Wealth Management employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Ritholtz Wealth Management LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Ritholtz Wealth Management or performance returns of any Ritholtz Wealth Management Investments client.

References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.

Please see disclosures here.

Please see the Terms & Conditions page for a full disclaimer.