What specifically is causing the stock market to go up?

[Tom]

Does the market correspond to the real world?

If so what in the real world is improving so much?
Since 90% of the stimulus money will not actually be spent until 2010 - why is the stock market going up?

[Proud Texan]

The stimulus worked and people are once again spending money.

[Infernal Disaster]

Capitalism, the last remnants of Capitalism is what is causing our economy to take an upswing.

Obama has done nothing but guarantee we have another recession or worse, when the massive debt he and Congress created comes back to haunt us.

[<3]

when consumers spend, the market goes up. when consumers have fear and are constantly hearing "the economy is in the dumps" they won't spend and therefore the economy won't improve.

[pdooma]

When people buy stock, the market goes up. When people sell stock, the market goes down.

[mamadixie]

The market responds to a lot of different things, including foreign currencies, rumors, and whatever is in the news of the day.
It has not improved a lot as is demonstrated by the job market and real estate losses. 2.78 million people have lost their jobs .

[Warren T]

Some big corporations have increased their profits by the cuts in workers.

[Greg]

Speculation, and investors don't know where to park their money. They are still looking for short-term gains instead of long-term growth.

[New Deal Democrat]

Trillions of newly-created dollars, which are being steered into financial markets, where it is highly financially leveraged, and thus results in an ascending balloon.

"Does the market correspond to the real world?"

No. It is a virtual reality that's much closer to a Vegas casino than anything in the real world.

"If so what in the real world is improving so much?"

Nothing.

"Since 90% of the stimulus money will not actually be spent until 2010 - why is the stock market going up?"

The stimulus package, at some $500 billion in actual outlays, is only a small percentage of the total bailout package. The total Fed and Treasury bailouts are at $24+ trillion.

[Max M]

Good economic news
Unemployment claims drop
Jobless claims drop
Good Consumer Confidence Number