hope you will come back on the show dennis lockhart, former atlanta fed president. >> thank you >>> thatm on and test -- good for him >> so if he has been doing this for a long time, he has done very well because the stock market has outperformed over a period of time it kind of explains the divergence between the fed and the markets. it really -- ultimately the argument is that the markets are going to do what they're going to do and they're not necessarily totally anchored in where the economy is or where the earning cycle is, but equities have provenen to win. >> i heard hawkish, but i'm staying long equities. i think so many people out there are sick and tired of being negative that now, you know what they're just throwing -- i believe we are sort of in that caution to the wind. the fed is going to do what they want to do on the other hand you can't bet against the united states. that's at the point of the cycle we are at right now >>> coming up, dividend decisions. should you bet on high-yield names or give money markets a second look? the best place for your money ahead. plus, the

liz: dennis lockhart, former atlanta fed president. closing bell. we're four minutes away. bear market territory. it came very close earlier. right now we're less than 1% away from exiting that bear market. not there yet. from bears to punxsutawney phil, the groundhog. he saw his shadow this morning. i hate this. that is so tortuous for that poor thing. he saw his ahead dough. according to him or adults who think they know what he thinks six more weeks of winter. let's bring in our county "countdown" closer, with picks to keep you warm. lamarville lori. tell me why you big the three different names. semiconductor, free port mack moran and monster beverage. >> we're talking about -- liz: on holding. my mistake. >> we hold of them. it is confusing. >> [inaudible] liz: how could i forget. >> a great growth story in the staples sector which you don't see a ton of those. this company, they're growing in asia-pacific over 80% a year. growing in north america 50% a year. investor were a little disappointed last year with the margins. they took about 3% hit to margins because of th

. >> the former atlanta fed president, dennis lockhart, says chair powell gave a well calibrated statemento do next. now, this of course as he starts getting ahead of inflation. he spoke to us earlier on "daybreak: asia." >> my take on it is, he was right in the middle. it was a balanced, measured, and in some respects, noncommittal performance today. he certainly did acknowledge the growing disinflation. that is a very good thing, and that is new. he said something to the effect of, this is the first time i've been able to say this, but at the same time, he said, "our job is not done," that the fed's job is not over, and suggested there will be more rate hikes and he is going to keep watching inflation very carefully. it is too early to react to what they have seen so far. >> what happens if inflation does continue to come down, but the labor market is still very tight and wages have not come down? what will the fed do then, what should they do? >> i think they should be relatively pleased, because that is a storyline that sounds to me like a soft landing and good for employment. if infla