It's pretty easy to understand. It was a weak, temporary and ultimately irrelevant correlation, even at the time. It was no more scientific --and thereby no more useful in understanding our world or making useful predictions-- than a win streak by the monkey stock broker. (i.e. A win streak by a stock picking monkey is no indication of that monkey's instinctual or intellectual grasp on financial markets. It should not lead you to put all your money in monkey-managed mutual funds. This largely applies to human stock brokers.)

And this nail polish shiat is the same thing. You could hold up any set of data next to the economy and find a trend if you look hard enough. Hell, you could put the results of a roulette wheel next to the economy and draw some short-reference-frame correlations. But that sure as shiat doesn't prove the predictive power of the roulette wheel in determining where the economy is or is going.

Morans.

Wrong. There are several analysts who provide very insightful views based on some variation of the lipstick factor (usually a basket of goods and not just lipstick). Also the author of this story seems to have not read any equity research this year. The HK wine auctions have been heavily analyzed as an indicator for Chinese demand for luxury goods, luxury autos, etc. Very insightful research out there. Author should maybe consider covering sports or something.