One of the previously unanswered questions regarding the Obama victory was the pending reaction on Wall Street. The markets opened down nearly 200 points. It doesn’t seem that investors are swayed by a historic election. Investing is not based on the ideas of hope and change. It’s based on math, research and speculation based on historical trends and current market forces.

Electing the first black president doesn’t signal a shift in the economic winds. The policies of that president are what will determine the ethusiasm in the markets.

And currently they are not enthused.

Increased taxes on investments. Increased taxes on high wage earners. The idea of killing the 401(k) all together. These aren’t things that make people want to invest. Hopefully Obama will change his mind and encourage investing by keeping taxes on capital gains low and encourage investing among the masses by focusing on 401(k) accounts and their value to the average person.