Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM

, By Michael E. Lewitt

Don't be fooled. There are tidal waves building out there — and our so-called leaders are doing little to stop them

By Michael E. Lewitt

The financial markets enter 2010 on a much calmer note than they entered 2009, when the worst effects of the financial crisis were still being felt. By mid-December 2009, the S&P 500 rallied from its March 2009 low of 666 to nearly 1,100, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was perched above the 10,000 mark, and credit markets were functioning again (with the exception of securitization markets, which remained dead in the water). The recession appeared to have ended sometime during the summer of 2009, and third quarter GDP growth was a positive 2.8 percent. Fourth quarter growth was expected to be positive as well. Overall, investors were breathing a well-earned sigh of relief.

Perhaps they should save their breath and their capital until: