As FedEx rained on the market's parade modestly today (with its biggest drop in 18 months and heaviest volume since Jun 2010), it is the 'crash' in Caterpillar's sales that should be more worrisome. Just as the economies of the world are supposed to be getting ready to re-surge and expectations are set for a second half renaissance, it seems that in reality, corporations that build stuff, mine stuff, and move stuff are not buying in anticipation. As the following chart suggests, perhaps CAT is yet another canary in the global economic decline coalmine?
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Cat - Canary - get it?
Chart: Bloomberg