Stock markets are notoriously fickle, forever expanding or contracting on the basis of whatever new wind happens to blow. Let a coup occur in Bahrain, and the Dow may drop 100 points over fears about oil production; should the US land a new rover on Mars, the NASDAQ may soar amid rising confidence in American technological prowess.
Perceived fortunes of papal candidates are a bit like the markets, actually, in that they also often wax and wane on the basis of whatever’s happening right now. Should a particular cardinal turn in a bravura performance navigating a controversy, his odds will be seen to rise; if another cardinal is associated with a gaffe or scandal, his chances will be regarded as having dimmed.
