There was speculation this morning from CBS Marketwatch’s Frank Barnako that bloggers could start leaking exit poll results before polls closed. Whether these leaks have had an impact on the election is an open question, but they have had an effect on the financial markets. According to Reuters, blogs speculating that John Kerry was leading in key swing states sent the Dow Jones industrial average down more than 40 points.

The article quotes Lisa Hansen, head trader at Transamerica Investment: “Apparently the blogs are saying that Kerry is ahead in one or two of the swing states and that’s why the market dipped.” Markets tend to favor Republican presidents.