Just a noobish spectator here. I just think that if even the US is going down the austerity route due to political pressure from the up coming election, I can't imagine how a lot of the equities are going to do all that well for 2H 2010. Maybe on the short term valuations are suppressed too much and too quickly, staging for a short term lift. On the longer run I just don't see anything positive that might encourage any sustained rally in equities the 2H.
Not that I'm complaining. Gold and USD is holding rather well.
Like you, I am bearish about the long term trend as well, but the timing of these massive drops on pretty lame news and low volume is really confusing. I was all short last week but unfortunately I went long on Monday. I thought I could have a good long weekend. Now it seems like it's ruined.