Investor's Business Daily - Investing RSS

Heavy Selling Hits Japan ETFs: Time To Buy?

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:52:00 GMT

Extraordinary selling overtook Japan's stock market Thursday, leaving it with the largest one-day loss since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Investment strategists generally say it's a chance to jump into the market before it rises again from ongoing massive economic stimulus and yen devaluation. iShares MSCI Japan Index (EWJ) -- the most widely traded Japan ETF by assets -- gapped down 7.5% at the open. Buyers stepped in right away and pared

Stocks Trim Losses; Utilities Overcome Flash Crash

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:55:00 GMT

Stocks overcame an ugly start with a positive reversal that left the indexes with small losses Thursday. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 fell as much as 1.2% in the first 10 minutes of trade Thursday. But the indexes reversed to cut the losses to 0.1% on the Nasdaq and 0.3% on the S&P 500. The IBD 50 eased 0.2%. Volume fell across the board. News that May manufacturing contracted in China shook markets worldwide. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dropped 7%.

Sears Spinoff Extends Gains After Cup Base Breakout

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:47:00 GMT

A resilient performance by the major averages Thursday didn't do much to expand the New Highs list, but several names bucked the trend and hit 52-week highs. Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores (SHOS), spun off last year by Sears Holdings (SHLD), extended gains after Wednesday's breakout from a second-stage, cup-with-handle base. Shares hit a 52-week high, rising 2% to 48.23. It's now 3% above a buy point of 46.85. The company operates 943 Sears

Bad News From Big 3 Economies Sparks Selling Abroad

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:24:00 GMT

Global stocks got knocked overnight Wednesday, and there was more at play than just the big loss seen a few hours earlier in the U.S. session. Bad news from China and Japan sparked fears that Asia's two biggest growth engines might be sputtering. Even without these dismaying events, foreign markets had to cope with losses in the U.S. following Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's suggestion that, given the right circumstances, he could see the central bank

Profit Cushions Helping Stocks Get Through Selling

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:01:00 GMT

Although some selling has hit leading stocks this week, most of the Weekly Review components have plenty of profit cushion from their buy points. Most of these stocks have made sizable gains from the time they broke out of bases or from when they made subsequent pullbacks to the 10-week moving average. If investors bought properly, they have profits in those stocks that are now helping them sustain this week's bout of selling. This is valuable

Sector Leaders Reverse Higher, But Some Close Lower

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:01:00 GMT

The Sector Leaders erased much of their morning losses, and some managed to close with gains Thursday. Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ) broke out of a cup with handle on Wednesday and closed Thursday still within a buy range. The stock reversed higher, rising 1.47 to 63 in above-average volume. Shares closed 5% above the 60.30 buy point of the base. For a stock just breaking out to new highs, Jazz has a mediocre Relative Price

LinkedIn Has Big Growth, But Time Is Wrong For Stock

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:51:00 GMT

In the rush for investing success, it's easy to become distracted from your core mission. The goal is to buy the best stocks at the best time. One factor that defines elite stocks is annual earnings growth of 25% or better in each of the past three years. Common sense suggests you should look for stocks that are expected to continue that kind of growth in the current year. How many stocks can do that? In Thursday's IBD, just one stock in the Stock

Export Bids Lift Wheat; China's Data Hit Copper

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:51:00 GMT

Wheat futures jumped the most in two weeks on signs of increasing demand for supplies from the U.S., the world's biggest exporter. Corn prices also rose. In the week that ended May 16, exporters sold 952,561 metric tons of wheat, the most since April 11, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed. Shipments of 162,900 tons for delivery in the 12 months that start June 1 were for unknown destinations, and the Dominican Republic

T. Rowe Price Unveils Less Volatile Target Date Funds

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:51:00 GMT

In a sign of the shareholder jitters that still linger in the wake of the 2008-09 market meltdown, T. Rowe Price plans to launch a new suite of 11 target date funds with smaller allocations to stocks at retirement. The Baltimore-based fund complex will continue its existing lineup of target date funds. T. Rowe will label its new series Target Retirement Funds. The existing suite is called Retirement Funds. The new suite is scheduled to debut on

J.M. Smucker Tests Support At 10-Week Line

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:51:00 GMT

With market conditions turning rocky, income investors may want to look at food stocks, which tend to be better performers when the environment gets wild. One such issue is the J.M. Smucker Co. (SJM) The stock has a beta of 0.66, meaning that it has about one-third less day-to-day price volatility than a market index such as the S&P 500. J.M. Smucker has pulled back to test support at its 10-week moving average in mostly tame volume. It's also

Electronic Arts, NetEase Unaffected By Turbulence

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:51:00 GMT

When stocks were struggling to shake off losses spurred by a global sell-off Thursday, video game maker Electronic Arts (EA) was perking higher in healthy trade. Gaming markets, including Electronic Arts, received a stir this week with Tuesday's release of the Xbox One from Microsoft (MSFT). Tied to the release, Microsoft and Electronic Arts expanded their games and content partnership. On Thursday, Electronic Arts announced an Oct. 29 release

Learn To Sell To Avoid Letting Gain Turn Into A Loss

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:26:00 GMT

What's worse than seeing your stock fall? Seeing it fall after it had posted a nice advance. Cutting out a stock before a gain turns into pain is tough. It's counterintuitive. That stock likely may be just above an important price support level. And it may be a good stock, with fat earnings growth and an exciting story. After all that work, you won't really want to dump it. Now let's make this more difficult. Selling a stock as it dips below your

T-Bond Prices Tick Higher As Investors Snap Up TIPS

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:10:00 GMT

Treasuries rose after investors won the largest share of 10-year inflation-indexed notes sold today at any auction since at least 2003 amid renewed debate over whether the Federal Reserve will slow monetary stimulus. Investors bought about 69% of the $13 billion in Treasury Inflation Protected Securities issued, according to data going back to July 2003 that was compiled by Bloomberg. TIPS maturing in 10 years or more lost 5.4%

Fidelity 401(k) Account Balances Hit Record High

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:57:00 GMT

Workers participating in 401(k) plans have reaped benefits from the recent market rally. Fidelity Investments said Thursday that the average account balance in plans it runs rose in Q1 for the third quarter in a row. The latest level was $80,900 on March 312. That's the highest average since Fidelity began to track this data in Q3 2007. The new high-water mark was 8.45% higher than the average balance in Q1 a year earlier. It was 4.66% more than

Stocks Dip In Weak Trade; Several Leaders Reverse Higher

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:36:00 GMT

Stocks tried to gather a rebound Thursday after the prior session's drubbing. While indexes trimmed losses, they still closed lower. When the closing bell rang, the S&P 500 fell 0.3%, while the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones industrial average each ceded a scant 0.1%. Volume dipped 17% on the Nasdaq and 7% on the NYSE, according to preliminary data. A depressing report from China's factory sector -- the HSBC Purchasing Managers index sank below the

Stocks Recover Early Losses; HP, Workday Rise On Earnings

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Stocks fell modestly with about one hour left to go in Thursday's session; an impressive performance considering the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down by as much as 1.2% earlier in the day. The S&P 500 lost 0.3%; the Nasdaq fell 0.1% and the Dow Jones industrial average was virtually unchanged. NYSE volume was tracking very close to Wednesday's level. Nasdaq volume fell 15%. Among the day's gainers, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) buoyed the Dow. Shares gapped

Profit From The Bond Market Sell-Off With These ETFs

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:13:00 GMT

The blood bath in the bond market this month suggests bond king Bill Gross may have hit the nail on the head when he declared earlier this month the death of the 30-year bull run in bonds. The founder and co-chief investment officer of Pacific Investment Management Co. and manager of the world's biggest bond fund said the specific time of death likely occurred on April 29, when yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond rose to 1.67%. Bernanke

Market Fights Back After Big Losses; Airlines Outperform

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:39:00 GMT

It looked like Thursday was going to be another rough session for stocks but buyers came in after April new-home sales data came in better than expected. More than halfway into the session, the S&P 500 lost 0.3% while the Dow Jones industrial average gave up 0.1% each. The S&P had been down by as much as 1.2%. Preliminary data showed NYSE volume tracking about 15% higher than Wednesday. Nasdaq volume fell 8%. In the stock market today, IBD's

Stocks Ease To Mild Losses: Dollar Tree, HP Add Gains

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:13:00 GMT

Stocks trimmed early losses and volume eased, as what appeared set to become a brutal morning began to act more like a relatively tame follow-up to Wednesday's sell-off. The S&P 500 remained down 0.3%. But the Nasdaq had trimmed its loss to 0.1% and the Dow Jones industrial average was just a fraction below the break-even line. Volume has faded, and was down 8% on the Nasdaq and up 16% -- well off its early strength -- on the NYSE. Losses remained

Stocks Down, But Off Lows; Hewlett-Packard Gaps Higher

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:36:00 GMT

Stocks opened lower Thursday, but quickly pared losses, showing some resistance to the sell-off pressuring global markets. The S&P 500 was down 0.7%. The Nasdaq and Dow Jones industrial average were off 0.5% each. Volume rose unevenly, up 16% on the Nasdaq and 57% higher on the NYSE compared with Wednesday morning's trade. The stock market today set sail amid a tough day on global markets, as investors worldwide responded to possible changes

Futures Veer Sharply Lower; Hewlett-Packard Bucks Trend

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:01:00 GMT

Futures were under heavy pressure ahead of Thursday's open as global markets, particularly in Tokyo, downshifted in response to hints at a potential slowing in U.S. monetary stimulus programs. Dow futures were down 116 points and still slipping. S&P 500 futures were a shade off their lows at minus 15.25 points. Nasdaq 100 futures had also trimmed a fraction from their losses at minus 27 points. The stock market today appears set to continue to

Bond Markets: Why The 30-Year Bond Bull Run Is Dead

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:55:00 GMT

The typically tame bond market turned tail and crashed even harder than stocks Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Joint Economic Committee on Capitol Hill that the central bank may slow its bond buying spree when it sees continued improvement in the labor market. Yields on benchmark 10-year Treasury bonds broke above 2% for the first time since March. Stocks rallied to new highs while bonds soared in the morning as the

Market Rocked By 2nd Straight Day Of Heavy Institutional Selling

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:37:00 GMT

Professional sellers smacked the stock market for a second straight session Wednesday as the major averages reversed from solid early gains to significant losses. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.1% as volume rose, marking a second day of distribution in as many sessions. On Tuesday, the tech-rich index made little price progress upward as volume increased. Such stalling action indicated that money managers sold heavily into the rally. The Nasdaq

Concentrate On Winners: Sell Stock From The Bottom Up

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:36:00 GMT

The market is rallying. You are fully vested in a handful of stocks, but feel you could do better. What do you do? An odd quirk of human nature spurs many investors to sell their best performing stocks -- a strategy intended to lock in gains and protect capital. What it actually does is leave you holding the weakest stocks from your initial portfolio. The cure for this problem is to sell from the bottom up. Carefully weed through your portfolio.

Rash Of Breakouts A Bullish Sign For Foreign Stocks

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:01:00 GMT

About 10 highly rated foreign stocks have broken out of bases in the past few days -- a bullish development for international investors. The rash of breakouts indicates a significant shift to foreign stocks. But many of the stocks have fallen below buy points. Already, some foreign leaders such as SodaStream (SODA) and MercadoLibre (MELI) had rallied to new highs. Now, the fact that several breakouts are happening in short succession seems to

Financials, Other Leaders Hit Hard During Market Sell-Off

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:01:00 GMT

Daunting losses for the market Wednesday resulted in nasty reversals for several growth names that hit new highs earlier in the session. Carnage was everywhere, but asset managers tracked in IBD's Finance-Investment Management group -- pillars of strength during the recent rally -- were particularly hard hit. BlackRock (BLK) reversed hard in heavy volume after hitting a fresh high, falling 2% in fast trade. It suffered a bearish outside day because

Sector Leaders Come Under Attack But Jazz Breaks Out

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:01:00 GMT

Most Sector Leaders slid Wednesday in a wave of selling the likes of which had not been seen lately. Ocwen Financial (OCN) fell 1.93, or 4%, to 41.60 in volume 56% above average. The stock closed below the 42.17 buy point of its cup without handle after just nine days since the breakout. HomeAway (AWAY) reclaimed its 50-day moving average but reversed lower. It closed with a loss of 58 cents to 30.44. Volume was about average for the online market

SouFun Appears To Take Cue From Shanghai Composite

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:53:00 GMT

China-based real estate listings provider SouFun Holdings (SFUN) is having an interesting 2013, so far. The stock, which trades on the NYSE, appears to be reacting more to the Shanghai composite than to the U.S. market. In a way, this shouldn't surprise anybody because that's where the business operates. So shareholders must keep at least one eye on China. The Shanghai composite advanced 7% in early 2013 -- until the market closed for a week in

Homebuilder MDC Holdings Back To Building Profit

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:53:00 GMT

Generally, investors should focus on companies with a track record of profitability. Also, don't overlook turnarounds, which can go on to be big winners. One such issue that has recently turned profitable is MDC Holdings (MDC), which builds homes under the Richmond American Homes label. The Denver-based company lost money from 2007 to 2011, but turned a profit of $1.28 a share last year. MDC got off to a strong start in 2013. The company this

Bristol-Myers, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Lead Pharma Rally

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:53:00 GMT

Drugmakers of all stripes rocketed in early trade Wednesday, although many pared gains sharply before the end of the session. The Amex Pharmaceutical Index trimmed its initial 1.3% gain to less than 1%. Market Vector's Biotech ETF (BBH) erased a 3% gain to a close fractionally lower. New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) gapped up to a 5% gain in heavy trade after a note from Citigroup boosted the stock to buy from neutral and increased the

Gold Flies, Then Dives As Fed Chief Testifies

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:38:00 GMT

Gold futures closed lower following wide prices swings as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled that U.S. monetary stimulus may be scaled back. June gold dropped 0.7% to close at $1,367.40 an ounce at 1:44 p.m. on the Comex in New York. The price fell as low as $1,353.10 after the settlement. "If we see continued improvement, and we have confidence that is going to be sustained, we could in the next few meetings take a

Treasury Yields Surge As Bernanke Hints At Less QE

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:38:00 GMT

Treasuries fell, pushing 10-year yields above 2% for the first time since March, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke told Congress the Fed may cut the pace of bond purchases at the next few meetings if policy makers see signs of sustained economic growth. U.S. debt rose earlier as Bernanke told Congress the economy remains hampered by unemployment and government-spending cuts and that reducing stimulus too soon would

Stocks Reverse Lower On Fears That Fed May Pare Easing

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:20:00 GMT

Stocks staged a harsh downside reversal Wednesday after remarks from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and minutes from the recent policymakers meeting sparked fears of less easing in the near future. The Nasdaq slid 1.1%, the S&P 500 lost 0.8% and the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.5%. Those indexes had been up as much as 0.9%, 1.1% and 1.1%, respectively -- new highs for all -- before reversing. Volume swelled 25% on the Nasdaq and 34% on the NYSE,

Stocks Reverse Early Gains; LinkedIn Gives Up 50-Day Line

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:30:00 GMT

Stocks reversed off session highs as investors digested comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke earlier today as well as the minutes from the May 1 Fed meeting. With a little more than an hour left to go in Wednesday's session, the Nasdaq underperformed, falling 0.9%. It been up by as much as 0.9%. The S&P 500 lost 0.5% and the Dow Jones industrial average eased 0.2%. After a churning session on Tuesday, a distribution day was taking shape

Stocks Trade Higher on Dovish Fed Comments; Biotechs Lead

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:45:00 GMT

Dovish comments by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke fueled a new round of buying in the stock market Wednesday. Bernanke said raising interest rates too early could crimp the nascent recovery. Investors took that to mean that the Fed's "easy money" policy wouldn't be changing anytime soon. More than halfway into Wednesday's session, major averages were still in positive territory but off session highs. The Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 gained

Stocks Stage Broad Advance; Bristol-Myers Leads Medicals

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:09:00 GMT

Stocks added to early gains in rising trade near midday, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress a tightening of monetary policy would be premature. The Dow Jones industrial average led with a 0.8% gain. The S&P 500 also jumped 0.8% and the Nasdaq was ahead 0.6%. Volume picked up across the board, rising about 18% on the Nasdaq and NYSE exchanges, compared to Tuesday's action. The advance was surprisingly broad, with more than

Stocks Climb In Mixed Trade; Toll Bros. Up, Target Slumps

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:41:00 GMT

Stocks opened higher in mixed trade early Wednesday, despite a constrained advance in April existing-home sales. The Nasdaq, S&P 500 and the Dow Jones industrial average all forged 0.3% gains. Volume rose 9% on the Nasdaq and was 1% lower on the NYSE compared with the same time Tuesday. The stock market today will be closely attuned to comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, as well as notes from the Federal Open Market Committee's

Futures Rising As Dollar Eases; Saks, Toll Brothers on The Move

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:06:00 GMT

Futures pushed modestly higher ahead of Wednesday's open, as the day's earnings reports were mostly positive and the dollar gave up some recent gains. Dow futures rose 33 points. S&P 500 futures were ahead 4.25 points and Nasdaq futures climbed 10 points. All were on the uptick. The most pressing news -- or non-news -- for the stock market today is likely to come from congressional testimony from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, set to begin

6 Reasons Why Gold Prices Could Crater 80% From Here

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:53:00 GMT

Dr. Phil McGraw preaches "There's no reality -- only perception." We see the world through individual lenses, shaped by our past, attitudes and personal agenda. That's evident in gold markets this week. Now that the yellow metal has melted nearly 30% from its September 2011 high, those who see the glass half-full claim gold will rebound from oversold levels on bargain buying and short covering. Those who see the glass half-empty say it stands to

Indexes Rise But A Few Leaders Tumble

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:39:00 GMT

The stock market continued its solid upward trajectory Tuesday, although a few cracks appeared on the bull market's surface. After shaking off some morning weakness, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed 0.2% higher. Volume rose moderately. The major indexes are not slowing their advance in the merry month of May. The S&P 500 is up 4.5% for the month and the Nasdaq 5.2%. Their price channels are now more steep than they were in the January through

Sector Leaders End Mixed; ARM Falls Hard

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:27:00 GMT

The Sector Leaders were mixed Tuesday, with most maintaining their current course. But ARM Holdings (ARMH) stood out as shares plunged 2.65, or 5%, to 47.24 in more than double its average volume. In a single day, the chip designer gave up half the profit it had made since it broke out past a 44.57 buy point on April 23. ARM had been up as much as 13% from the buy point, but that gain was whittled down to 6%. The severity of the selling came

Oil Services Name, Chip Firm Within Buying Range

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:21:00 GMT

Fresh all-time highs for the Dow and S&P 500 Tuesday resulted in another round of new highs for several top-rated growth stocks. The Nasdaq shows gains in 18 out of the past 23 trading sessions. What's discouraging for investors looking to put fresh money to work is that stocks breaking out of fresh bases have been the exception, not the rule, in recent days. The vast majority of stocks hitting new highs these days are extended stocks that are

When To Hold Or When To Sell If A Stock Gaps Down

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:20:00 GMT

Any time a stock gaps down, it serves notice to the market. No matter the magnitude, a gap down in share price warns of an abundance of sellers. Often, those sellers will stick around and the stock will continue falling. Other times, however, the selling is temporary and the stock can get on with its life. Here's how to tell the difference from survivable gap downs from the outright pernicious ones. First, let's make sure what a gap down is: It's

Two New Names Appear On IBD's Top World Stocks List

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:57:00 GMT

IBD's Top World Stocks list is shifting as the broad market continues to forge new high ground. As old names fall off, new entrants keep the list fresh and relevant to investors seeking winners. Here are two names you may never have heard of. China-based Vipshop (VIPS), an online retailer which came public 14 months ago on the NYSE, has been rising for months along its 10-week moving average. It broke out of a base in September. But a key problem

Bonds Snap Losing Streak As Fed Officials' Talk Dovish

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:49:00 GMT

Treasuries rose for the first time in three days as comments from Federal Reserve officials added to speculation Chairman Ben Bernanke will emphasize the need to sustain stimulus when he speaks before Congress tomorrow. Ten-year note yields dropped from two-month highs after Fed Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said the central bank should continue its bond buying because it's the best available option for policy makers

Demand For Wood Help Drive Weyerhaeuser's Earnings

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:44:00 GMT

With the housing market in recovery mode, homebuilders are not the only way to partake in the comeback. Investors may also want to check out Weyerhaeuser (WY). The Federal Way, Wash.-based firm isn't just a paper company. Weyerhaeuser produces lumber and engineered wood products used in homebuilding. The firm is one of the biggest owners of timberland in the nation. It owns or controls 6 million acres of timberlands, mostly in the United States.

AutoZone Leads Defensive Rally; Five Below Basing

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:44:00 GMT

With a four-week climb, new highs and only one distribution day under its belt, the market is being anything but defensive. But it's worth noting that defensive industries were some of Tuesday's top-performing groups. And a number of defensive stocks have recently been making new highs and sketching interesting charts. Two of Tuesday's best moves came from Monro Muffler Brake (MNRO) and AutoZone (AZO) in the Retail/Wholesale-Auto Parts industry

TripAdvisor, Biogen, Lennar: Stocks Will Danoff Likes

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:44:00 GMT

Will Danoff's hunt for best-of-breed companies for his $93.7 billion Fidelity Contrafund takes him to sectors he's cool toward as well as others where he finds a lot to like. He's underweight in energy vs. the S&P 500. His 5.8% weighting as of March 31 was little more than half of the big-cap bogey's 10.61%. But he likes EOG Resources (EOG). "They're a leader in shale technology," Danoff said. That gives EOG an edge in helping meet growing global

Volatility 7 – Volatility Summary

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:44:00 GMT

This is the seventh and final article in a series on volatility. The goal of this series is to clarify the different meanings of the term volatility and to discuss its many possible uses, including describing stock price action, evaluating option prices, choosing option strategies, and forecasting the market.

Stocks Get A Boost From Dovish Fed Remarks

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:47:00 GMT

Remarks from a voting member of the Federal Reserve's policy-making board helped push stocks into new high ground Tuesday, with volume rising modestly. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.4%, while the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each added 0.2%. Volume climbed slightly on both major exchanges, according to preliminary data. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is slated to testify before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress Wednesday. Ahead of his

Electronic Arts Could Offer Entry Via Short Stroke

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:32:00 GMT

Video game software developer Electronic Arts (EA) broke out of a base two weeks ago. The stock is extended from a 19.61 buy point. However, new buy opportunities could emerge. After the breakout, the stock drew an imperfect short-stroke pattern. A short stroke involves a big weekly gain, forming a long price bar, followed by a short price bar. The entry is the high of the first week plus 10 cents. Ideally, the second price bar should not make a

Coffee Takes A Hit As Brazilian Supplies Weigh

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:41:00 GMT

Coffee futures fell, extending the longest slump in two months, on signs of ample supplies in Brazil, the world's top exporter. Cotton and orange juice declined. July Arabica coffee dropped 1.7% to $1.3285 a pound at 11:04 a.m. on ICE Futures U.S. in New York. The price saw its sixth straight decline, the longest slide since March 19. Earlier, the commodity touched $1.3275, the lowest for a most-active contract since April 29. A

Stocks Strengthen Into Close; OpenTable Gains Traction

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:03:00 GMT

A ho-hum session Tuesday turned a bit more exciting late in the day as buyers came in and pushed stocks to session highs. The Dow Jones industrial average added 0.5%, the S&P 500 rose 0.4% and the Nasdaq gained 0.3%. Preliminary data showed NYSE volume tracking 4% higher than Monday. Nasdaq volume was on pace to come in very close to Monday's level. In the stock market today, several names in the IBD Big Cap 20 outperformed. The list of leading

Will Investors Find Profits With Search Engine Yandex?

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:24:00 GMT

Yandex (YNDX) is sometimes called the "Google of Russia" and it's that country's top search engine with more than 60% of that market. Google (GOOG), which is its closest competitor there, only has 26% of the Russian search market. And 97% of Yandex's revenue comes from Russia, but it also serves other countries in the region. And though it may not be a household name here in the States like Google is, a May 16 New America article noted that it

Stocks Edge Higher; J.P. Morgan, Home Depot Lead Dow Rally

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:51:00 GMT

Stocks held on to mild gains with about three hours remaining in Tuesday's session. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.4%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq picked up 0.3% each. Preliminary data show NYSE volume tracking about 6% higher than Monday. Nasdaq volume was tracking close to Monday's level. In the stock market today, Home Depot (HD)outperformed in the Dow, rising 3% in 2-1/2 times its usual volume after the home-improvement chain

Stocks Defend Thin Gains; Leaders Face Selling Pressure

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:22:00 GMT

Stocks lost their lift, flipping back and forth between gains and mixed territory in rising trade near midday. The Dow Jones industrial average kept its small lead, up 0.2%. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 wrestled to hold 0.1% gains. Volume rose in the stock market today, turning from negative to positive and climbing 3% on the Nasdaq and holding steady, up 16%, on the NYSE. Gains were narrow, with only 27% of the 197 industries tracked by IBD

Stocks Climb In Early Trade; Monro Muffler, AutoZone Surge

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:49:00 GMT

Stocks opened higher in mixed trade Tuesday with Home Depot (HD) hoisting the Dow ahead of the major indexes. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.4%. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 were up 0.2% each. Volume on the stock market today was up 14% on the NYSE and 19% lower on the Nasdaq, compared with the same time Monday. A number of high profile earnings reports rolled out Tuesday morning, including Home Depot, Medtronic (MDT), Best Buy (BBY) and

Futures Mixed, Trimming Losses; Home Depot, Medtronic Power Up

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:58:00 GMT

Futures looked toward a tightly mixed start Tuesday, with the season's straggling earnings reports behind most of the significant premarket action. Dow futures were up 11 points, well off their early lows. S&P 500 futures had pared their early losses to a fraction and traded above fair market value. Nasdaq futures had turned early losses into a one point gain. The stock market today has little economic data and a dwindling number of quarterly

Gold, Silver Reverse Higher; Is This The Real Bottom?

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:04:00 GMT

Gold and silver prices staged dramatic reversals Monday after diving to new lows in early trade on heavy short covering, bargain hunting and a weaker dollar. Gold spot prices climbed 2.54% to $1,396 an ounce. "Gold has long-term support at $1,300 (an ounce). The next support levels would be the 100 levels, $1,200, $1,100, especially $1,000," James DiGeorgia, editor of "Gold And Energy Advisor" wrote in a client note Monday. "Prices are close to

Stocks Waver To Flat Ending

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:03:00 GMT

Stocks seesawed to close flat Monday, digesting gains from the prior four weeks. The Nasdaq eased 0.1% after hitting its highest levels since October 2000. The S&P 500 touched a fresh all-time high, but it also ended down 0.1%. Small caps showed modest strength Monday, as the Russell 2000 mustered a 0.2% gain. Stocks had been up modestly early in the session thanks to a batch of merger and acquisition news. Generic drugmaker Actavis (ACT),

Something's Up At China-Based Mindray Medical

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:44:00 GMT

Something is happening at Mindray Medical (MR). The Chinese medical-equipment maker's array of products includes patient-monitoring systems, life-support equipment and in-vitro diagnostic technology. Mindray Medical, with a market cap of just under $5 billion, had been putting up subpar numbers -- that is, less than the minimum growth expected for CAN SLIM companies -- for years. The company reported one quarter of lower EPS in the past four years

Look Out Below When Industry Leaders Start To Stumble

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:32:00 GMT

There's no reason to take profits in an emerging leader when it's under accumulation and breaking out from an early-stage base. But after big runs and a series of breakouts, leaders in an industry group invariably start to show signs of wear and tear, mostly due to persistent signs of institutional selling. At some point, savvy fund managers and big investors cash out and rotate into other areas of the market. Recognizing when this happens is key

Search Firms, Builders And Financials Push To New Highs

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:13:00 GMT

Mild losses for the market Monday didn't stop a slew of stocks from scoring 52-week highs. Base breakouts are rare these days, but one small-cap name was up to the task. One of the biggest winners was Ambarella (AMBA). Shares rocketed 10% in huge turnover ahead of its earnings report on June 4. The company's chips let cameras capture high-definition video. Profit is seen falling 17% to 15 cents a share with sales up 23% to $25.9 million. Ambarella

RS Line Can Help Investor Decide When To Hold Stock

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:11:00 GMT

In an uptrending market like this one, the chief worries are twofold. For a stock that investors already own, the worry in the stock market today is how long they should stay with the stock. For a stock that investors are considering buying, the worry is buying a winner just before it corrects. One tool that can help investors is the relative strength line. The RS line shows how the stock price is behaving in relation to the S&P 500. A rising RS

Analyst Upgrade Sends Priceline To New High

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:43:00 GMT

Most of the several Sector Leaders rose Monday, including a few that made new highs. Ocwen Financial (OCN) was flat, inching up 0.06 to 44.31 in slightly below-average volume. The stock is barely out of buying range from the 42.17 buy point of its May 10 breakout. Monday was the first time this month that the stock rose in below-average volume; all others were in above-average volume and often in markedly higher volume. Ocwen broke out in the

Homebuilders Rebound With Assist From Pulte, Ryland

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:28:00 GMT

Homebuilders sprang back into the top 50 groups on Monday among the 197 industries tracked by IBD, just ahead of existing- and new-home sales numbers for April due out Wednesday and Thursday. Homebuilders tumbled out of the leading ranks in February as stocks including Lennar (LEN), Hovnanian Enterprises (HOV) and MI Homes (MHO) saw their uptrends collapse. Home markets have continued to make choppy progress, but rising materials and labor prices

ALPS Options ETF Seeks To Generate Income

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:28:00 GMT

The stark realities of income investing in a low-yield environment has created heavy demand for dividend-oriented assets outside of bonds. The new ALPS U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund (HVPW) aims to fulfill this need with a sophisticated options strategy and fast-moving stocks. Launched in late February, it charges a 0.95% annual management fee. The ETF's subadviser, Kevin Rich, president and founder of Rich Investment Solutions

Packaging Corp. Lifts Payout For Second Time In 2013

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:28:00 GMT

Some companies may take years before giving shareholders a higher dividend. But that's not the case with Packaging Corp. of America (PKG), or PCA. Last week, the company hiked its dividend for the second time this year. Citing its operational and financial prowess, as well as its commitment to deliver shareholder value, PCA lifted its annual dividend by 28% to $1.60 a share. It will dole out a quarterly installment of 40 cents a share July 15 to

Chart Of Chuy's Weaker Than It Was Two Weeks Ago

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:04:00 GMT

Time and chart action can change a stock's situation for better or worse. When last we looked at the chart of restaurant chain Chuy's Holdings (CHUY) in this space, the stock was etching the fourth week of a potential flat base. A flat base involves a sideways pattern that corrects no more than 15%. The pattern must be at least five weeks long. The day after the May 6 article in IBD, wild action took the stock 16% off the pattern's high. At that

Celgene, Visa, Apple: Rob Bartolo's Likes, Dislikes

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:57:00 GMT

T. Rowe Price's website describes its $33.8 billion Growth Stock Fund as aiming for stocks whose price will grow and whose dividend yields will rise too. Right now, manager Rob Bartolo sees much more potential for price gains. The fund's dividend yield was a modest 0.78% as of March 31. That was barely one-third of the S&P 500's 2.27% yield. It was also below the 1.29% average of large-cap growth funds tracked by Morningstar Inc. "Dividends are

Gold Stages Fat Reversal After Moody's Warns

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:57:00 GMT

Gold and silver futures rebounded after Moody's Investors Service said U.S. policymakers must address debt woes to avoid a credit-rating downgrade this year, boosting the appeal of the metals as a haven. June gold gained 1.4% to settle at $1,384.10 an ounce. Earlier, the price touched $1,336.30, the lowest for a most-active contract since April 18. The metal dropped in the previous session sessions, the longest slump in four

Stocks Back Off Slightly After Surrendering Small Gains

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:40:00 GMT

Stocks limped to a soft close Monday after ceding small gains as volume ended mixed. The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 0.1%, while the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each gave up a fraction. Volume barely edged higher on the Nasdaq but fell 18% on the NYSE -- compared to Friday's very active options expiration session -- according to preliminary data. The market's minuscule reversal appeared at about the time that Moody's Investors Service warned

Stocks Turn Mildy Lower But Salesforce.com Bucks Trend

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:28:00 GMT

Modest gains faded and stocks turned lower with about about an hour left to go in Monday's session. The Dow Jones industrial average S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each lost 0.1%. Preliminary data showed NYSE volume tracking about 19% lower than Friday. Nasdaq volume rose 3%. In the stock market today, IBD 50 firm Web.com Group (WWWW) rallied 5% in heavy turnover. The provider of Internet services to small- and medium-sized businesses broke out during the

Stocks Hold Mild Gains; Small-Cap Ambarella Breaks Out

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:39:00 GMT

Buyers have been in control for a while now, and it was no different Monday as stocks kicked off the week with more gains. About three-and-a-half hours into the session, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones industrial average each rose 0.1%. The Nasdaq managed just a fractional gain. Volume on the NYSE was tracking well below's Friday's levels. Volume was heavy Friday due to options expiration. Nasdaq volume was tracking close to Friday's level. In the

Stocks On Positive Footing; 3D Systems, Stratasys Rally

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:59:00 GMT

Stocks wrestled back into positive territory in late-morning trade, with leaders turning in some of the strongest performances. The Nasdaq was up 0.2% as both Apple (AAPL) and Baidu (BIDU) powered up more than 2% in strong trade. The S&P 500 also gained 0.2% and the Dow Jones industrial average shed its early loss to gain 0.1% Volume had picked up but still remained below Friday's levels, down 38% on the NYSE and off just 5% on the Nasdaq. The

Stocks Open Down, Turn Mixed; Priceline.com Climbs On Upgrade

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:35:00 GMT

Stocks opened lower Monday, but quickly crawled into narrowly mixed territory as leading stocks posted a number of significant moves. The Nasdaq fought to hold a 0.2% gain. The S&P 500 also shed its early loss to climb 0.1%. The Dow Jones industrial average remained down 0.1% Volume was sharply lower in the stock market today, down 37% on the Nasdaq and 62% lower on the NYSE compared with the same time Friday. Action was mostly subdued at the

Futures Lower Head Of The Bell; Actavis Buys Warner Chilcott

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:59:00 GMT

Stock futures pointed firmly lower early Monday as the dollar pulled back from recent highs, and mergers and the last bits of earnings news fanned the bulk of early stock action. Dow futures were down 18% and pushing lower. Nasdaq 100 futures were off six points and above early lows. S&P 500 futures slipped 2.25 points. The stock market today sets out with a solid four-week advance under its belt. A pullback, or at least a pause, would not be out

Mergers And Aquisitions Fuel Evercore Profit, Sales

Sat, 18 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Evercore Partners (EVR) isn't a widely known name in the investment banking space, but it could be soon. The business is dominated by names like Goldman Sachs (GS) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM), but Evercore is quickly making a name for itself. With a market capitalization of $1.6 billion, Evercore provides advisory services on mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and other strategic corporate transactions mostly for multinational corporations. Its

Use Leaderboard Cut List As One Of Several Screens

Fri, 17 May 2013 23:01:00 GMT

The sharp investor never takes stock tips blindly. Yet he or she will keep an open mind and consider ideas from knowledgeable, trusted sources for serious study. (Right now you might think: Isn't the art of investing paradoxical?) For short sellers, it's wise to continually look for ideas. After all, most of us do not work for bulge-bracket investment banks that hire dozens of industry analysts. IBD's "Making Money" section and the intraday market

Stocks Post Gains, But Volume Is Missing

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:58:00 GMT

Stocks booked solid gains Friday, as the major indexes notched their fourth straight up week. The Nasdaq and S&P500 advanced 1%, while the Dow Jones industrial average added 0.8%. The IBD 50 ran up 1.4%. The chief drawback Friday was volume. Turnover slowed across the board despite options expirations. An expirations day will often drive up volume. While the gains were sizable and the indexes closed bullishly high in the day's range, the lack of

IBD 50 Stocks Delivering Strong Earnings, Sales Gains

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:51:00 GMT

With earnings season winding down, a large number of companies have reported quarterly earnings above views. Yet sales have come in below expectations for many firms. When evaluating companies, make sure they have strong growth in their top and bottom lines. A number of IBD 50 companies have posted solid earnings and sales gains. Nationstar Mortgage Holdings (NSM) smashed expectations on May 7 with Q1 earnings that grew 52% to 85 cents a share.

Kroger's results Bolt Higher After Years Of Tears

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:51:00 GMT

Kroger has a lot to recommend for itself: surging profits, solid sponsorship and a juicy return on equity. But don't miss its weak spots. Supermarket chain Kroger had for years been showing subpar profit growth. Quarterly reports since late 2008 showed EPS ranging from -31% to a gain of 21%. But in the October-ending quarter, Kroger's fiscal Q3, earnings surged 39%, followed by a 76% burst in Q4. Sales in that most recent report rose 13% -- not

HomeAway Gets Busy As You Plan Your Vacation

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:51:00 GMT

HomeAway's (AWAY) work begins when you start to plan your vacation. The Austin, Texas-based company's websites are a shopping mall for those seeking to rent a vacation home. Owners list their properties with pictures, prices and availability, and HomeAway collects its listing fee. HomeAway carries hundreds of thousands of listings in 168 countries, but three places make up the bulk of its business: the U.S. (60% of 2011 revenue), France (17%) and

Mindray Medical, Synchronoss Break Out Of Bases

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:30:00 GMT

Scores of new price highs continued to flood the market Friday, although there were fewer breakouts among top-rated stocks. Mindray Medical (MR) broke out of a flat base, jumping above the 40.44 buy point in close to double its usual volume. Shares rose 1.58, or 4%, to 41.67. The China-based company is the world's third-largest manufacturer of patient-monitoring systems. On May 6, the company reported a 56% surge in earnings for Q1, a sharp

Advisers Are Still Jumping Ship From Wirehouses

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:25:00 GMT

Trading a job at a giant corporation for a tiny firm often means a big pay cut. For Leo Arms, it was anything but. Arms left his brokerage job at Morgan Stanley in November 2011 to start his own firm, Thomas Leo Advisory, in Minneapolis. "I'm making a little bit more than I was at the wirehouse," he said. "But my clients are paying significantly less." He is also happier. "I run my business in my own way. And I've eliminated the conflict of

Challenges For Advisers: Compliance, Recruiting, Tech

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:22:00 GMT

Financial advisers want to help their clients worry less, but just like anybody, they have their own concerns. Advisers say their top challenges these days include compliance issues, attracting and retaining staff and evaluating new tech tools. Sheryl Garrett says advisers should expect to put more money and energy toward compliance. She's the founder of the Garrett Planning Network, a group of fee-only financial planners. "Plan to spend more from

Trust Is Main Factor In Keeping A Financial Adviser

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:22:00 GMT

When it comes to choosing a financial adviser, being able to sleep at night outranks everything else, even investment performance. So say investors in a new IBD survey that plumbs how they feel about financial advisers. An overwhelming 89% of investors who have used financial advisers or plan to in the future rank trustworthiness as very important in selecting an adviser. That's nearly 15 percentage points ahead of the No. 2 factor -- proven

To Add Value, Advisers Add Range Of Client Services

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:22:00 GMT

Like many service providers, financial advisers seek to add value. Expanding their role to accommodate all sorts of client needs is one way they do that. From helping clients buy cars to referring them to social service agencies, advisers are increasingly positioning themselves as full-bore problem solvers. They may provide planning that affects many aspects of their clients' lives -- with wealth management at its core. "I tell our clients that

To Build Top Career, Maximize Your First Three Years

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:22:00 GMT

Financial advisers cannot build a career overnight. They can expect long, hard years of laying solid groundwork. Seasoned financial advisers warn that the first three years will test professionals' fortitude. They probably won't make much money at the outset. They'll work nonstop and suffer setbacks. And no matter how well they promote themselves and hunt for clients, rejection is a constant job hazard. "I've found by putting your clients'

Financial Planners Further Innovate On Social Media

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:22:00 GMT

Financial planners are famous for treading lightly when it comes to marketing their services on social media. Those investment advisers are well aware that the Securities and Exchange Commission imposes restrictions when it comes to selling products on Facebook (FB), LinkedIn (LNKD), Twitter and other sites. As for displaying testimonials, the SEC says don't do it. Still, that hasn't stopped ingenious financial planners from marketing in the

Ameriprise Hikes Dividend As Industry Recovers

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:12:00 GMT

Financial services company Ameriprise Financial (AMP), now trading at record highs, has just raised its quarterly dividend. The new dividend, which was declared in April and went into effect last week, is 52 cents a share, up from 45 cents. It was also the sixth time Ameriprise has raised the dividend in the past three years. At the new rate, the annualized dividend yield is about 2.5%. The firm is part of an investment banking and brokerage

A Quick Look At Top Stocks In Weak Groups

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:12:00 GMT

Only a dozen stocks on the current IBD 50 list come from groups ranked in the top 20 of the 197 industries tracked by IBD. Some, like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) and Alaska Air Group (ALK), do come from top-ranked industries. But it is unusual that nearly 60% of the current list belong to industries ranked No. 50 or weaker. The recent rally has supercharged groups like automakers and solar energy. These two groups are up 85% and 114%

Yandex Stretches Win Streak To Four Sessions

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:12:00 GMT

Sector Leaders ended mixed Friday, even though the major market indexes ramped up new multiyear or record highs. Yandex (YNDX) rallied for the fourth straight session. It added 0.99, or nearly 4%, to 29.01 in hefty volume. Intraday, the stock touched its highest levels since October 2011. Yandex closed 11% past a 26.07 buy point from a cup-without-handle base. For the week, Yandex jumped 9% in volume that picked up sharply from the prior two

Watch Out When Distribution Days Stack Up

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:57:00 GMT

The old adage of "everything in moderation" has merit. Too much of anything can have undesired consequences. In investing, a few distribution days here and there isn't a cause for concern. But watch out when they pile up in a short time frame. A distribution day occurs when one of the major stock indexes -- the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 -- falls 0.2% to 0.25% or more in higher volume than the prior day. As IBD Chairman William O'Neil wrote in "How To

Four Steps For Boosting Your 401(k) Account Balance

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:31:00 GMT

Members of 401(k) plans nationwide are feeling richer. The average account balance in plans run by Fidelity Investments hit $77,300 in the fourth quarter. That was an all-time high since Fidelity -- the largest operator of 401(k)s -- began to track this data in 2007. Workers ages 60 to 64 averaged $134,600. Studies of other plans industrywide show similar trends. Still, even that balance for older workers would not be enough by itself to pay for

Stocks Rally Into Close; SolarCity Soars To New High

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:07:00 GMT

Stocks rallied into the close Friday, ending higher for the fourth straight week, as consumer confidence rose to a near six-year high and a gauge of future economic activity rebounded. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 each rose 0.9%, while the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.7%, ending at intraday highs. Volume was 7% lower on the Nasdaq but 17% higher on the NYSE compared to Thursday, according to preliminary data. The volume data may have been

Strong Economic Data Give Stocks Another Boost

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:47:00 GMT

Strong economic data on Friday lent a boost to stocks, pushing the major indexes into new high ground. The Nasdaq rose 1%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.9% and the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.8%. The Nasdaq hit new highs going back to November 2000, while the Dow and S&P 500 are going where no one has gone before. Volume on this options-expiration session rose 10% on the NYSE but fell 11% on the Nasdaq, according to preliminary data. The

Strong U.S. Economic Data Hit T-Bonds, Boost Yields

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:09:00 GMT

BY BLOOMBERG NEWS Treasuries declined after a measure of consumer confidence in May reached an almost six-year high and an index of leading economic indicators topped forecasts, as Federal Reserve officials debate the pace of asset purchases. The 10-year yield climbed from almost the lowest level in a week as Fed Bank of San Francisco President John Williams said yesterday the central bank may begin to slow bond purchases as early as this summer.

NatGas Surges After Gov't OK's Texas LNG Plant

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:00 GMT

Natural gas futures posted the biggest one-day gain in more than two weeks after the U.S. conditionally approved a Texas liquefied natural gas project. June-delivery natural gas shot up 12.2 cents to $4.054 per million British thermal units. The Freeport LNG export project received only the second approval from the Energy Department to export gas to countries that don't have free-trade agreements with the U.S. The facility would

Stocks Higher In Late Trade, But Aruba Plunges

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:10:00 GMT

The major averages held on to most of their gains late Friday after consumer confidence rose to a near six-year high and a gauge of future economic activity rebounded. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 were each up 0.5%, while the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.4%. Volume was running 12% lower on the Nasdaq but 16% higher on the NYSE compared with the same time Thursday. Expect some skewed volume on this options-expiration session. The

Stocks Up In Afternoon; Oceaneering Hits New High

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:31:00 GMT

Stocks remained moderately higher early Friday afternoon as consumer confidence rose to a near six-year high and a gauge of future economic activity climbed. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 were each up 0.5%, while the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.4%. Volume was running 12% lower on the Nasdaq but 22% higher on the NYSE compared with the same time Thursday. Expect some skewed volume on this options-expiration session. The Reuters/University of

Broad Gains In Mixed Volume; Northrop Grumman Seizes New High

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

Stocks fought to hold early gains as volume sputtered into mixed terrain near mid-day Friday. The S&P 500 held the high ground, up 0.5%. The Nasdaq and the Dow Jones industrial average defended gains of 0.4% each. Volume slipped lower, down 14% on the Nasdaq, but remained 31% above Thursday's levels on the NYSE. After a week of tough economic news, the stock market today got some relief from a surge in May consumer confidence and a

Stocks Power Up In Firm Trade; Advanced Micro Devices Bounces

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:44:00 GMT

Stocks scrambled higher in firm trade at Friday's open, as solid consumer confidence data offered some early lift. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 stepped out to early leads, up 0.5% each. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 0.4%. Volume surged 83% on the NYSE and was up a mild 4% on the Nasdaq compared with the same time Thursday. The stock market today received an early boost from consumer confidence, which jumped this month, hoisting the

Futures Aim For Positive Open; Aruba Networks Unravels

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Futures were steady, holding their early gains ahead of Friday's open as the first quarter reporting season dwindled toward its finish. Dow futures were up 42 points. Nasdaq 100 futures held an 8.25 point gain and S&P 500 futures were steady, up 5.25 points. The stock market today faces no early pressure from economic data and little influence from earnings releases. The Nasdaq and the Dow each rose 0.8% for the week through Thursday. The S&P 500