Blue Chips Tumble As Investors Continue To Worry About Interest Rates

Auto manufacturers will be reporting sales numbers tomorrow, and many investors believe that the news won't be good, especially for struggling General Motors.

The continuing threat of interest rate hikes by The Fed did not help today's numbers:

DJIA: Closed Down @ 10,805.87

NASDAQ: Closed Slightly Up @ 2,232.82

S&P 500: Closed Down @ 1,249.48

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Investors Worry About Interest Rates In An Improving Economy

Investors are worried about interest rate hikes by The Fed as a result of an economy that is showing signs of improvement; investor worries contributed to today's weak numbers:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: Closed Down @ 10,888.16

NASDAQ: Closed Down @ 2,232.71

S&P 500: Closed Slightly Up @ 1,257.48

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Merck To Cut 7,000 Jobs & Plans On Closing Plants

The pharmaceutical company Merck announced today that 7,000 jobs will be cut and that five plants will either be sold or closed in an attempt to appease shareholders; Merck stock lost 4% as a result of today's news.

A decent "Black Monday" for Internet retailers wasn't enough to help today's numbers:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: Closed Down @ 10,890.72

NASDAQ: Closed Down @ 2,239.37

S&P 500: Closed Down @ 1,257.46

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A Strong Black Friday

Today, shoppers hit the stores in numbers that defied the predictions of analysts; a strong Black Friday helped many retail stocks rise.

Today's Numbers:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: Closed Up @ 10,931.62

NASDAQ: Closed Up @ 2,263.01

S&P 500: Closed Up @ 1,268.25

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US Markets Closed Today for Thanksgiving Holiday

No trading in U.S. markets today as markets took the day off for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

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Good News All Around: Oil Is Down While The DJIA Reaches 10,916.09

Banking-related stocks did well today on news that The Federal Reserve will most likely be ending it's interest rate hiking spree soon, while the cost of the light & sweet stuff for January 2006 delivery fell to $56.23 per barrel. The lower cost of energy should translate to better-than-expected holiday spending, so if oil continues to drop, retail stocks should continue to do well.

Today's Numbers:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: Closed Up @ 10,916.09

NASDAQ: Closed Up @ 2,259.98

S&P 500: Closed Up @ 1,265.61

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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Gold Reaches for $500 As The Dow Hits 10,871.43

Benchmark December gold finished up at $492.90 per ounce today with increased jewelry-related demand coming from the robust economies of India and China. Gold probably won't make it to $500 per ounce this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday; the NYMEX exchange will close early tomorrow so the week is just about wrapped up.

$500 per ounce might sound like a very health price for gold, but to put things into perspective: gold hit $873 per ounce back in January of 1980.

Today's Numbers:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: Closed Up @ 10,871.43

NASDAQ: Closed Up @ 2,253.56

S&P 500: Closed Up @ 1,261.23

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NYSE & Archipelago Set Date for Vote on Proposed Merger

NYSE members & Archipelago stockholders will vote on the big merger on December 6^th, 2005. Details are below in the snippet from a press release issued today:

"The New York Stock Exchange®, Inc. and Archipelago Holdings, Inc. (PCX: AX) today announced special meetings of their respective Members and stockholders for Dec. 6, 2005 at which approval will be sought for the proposed NYSE-Archipelago merger. Scheduling the meetings and votes reflect that today the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission declared effective the Form S-4 Registration Statement of NYSE Group, Inc. with respect to the NYSE/Archipelago merger. The NYSE and Archipelago will begin mailing the joint proxy statement/prospectus and voting materials to its respective Members and equity holders. Also, the NYSE filed with the SEC for publication and approval proposed rules pertaining to the NYSE Group's corporate structure and governance, trading licenses and other transitional matters.

'We believe that our combination with Archipelago maintains our leadership position and fulfills our goal of becoming a global multi-product marketplace,' said NYSE CEO John A. Thain. 'Our proposed merger gives the Exchange a strong platform for future growth, competitive positioning, and value creation. Moreover, this transaction provides significant benefits for all Exchange constituents, our Members and our customers.'

'This combination will create a dynamic and innovative next generation exchange to the benefit of all investors,' said Jerry Putnam, CEO of Archipelago. 'We believe that together, we will be better positioned to serve our clients, compete in the global arena and enhance value for our shareholders.'

Completion of the merger requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes cast by a quorum of NYSE Members and a majority of the outstanding shares of Archipelago common stock. If approved, the merger will represent the largest-ever among securities exchanges and combine the world's leading cash equities market with the first totally open, fully electronic exchange. As merged enterprises, the NYSE and Archipelago will become wholly owned subsidiaries of NYSE Group Inc., a newly formed, for-profit Delaware corporation that will be a publicly traded corporation.

The NYSE board of directors and Archipelago board of directors have unanimously recommended that NYSE Members and Archipelago stockholders, respectively, vote "for" the approval and adoption of the merger agreement. The NYSE and Archipelago announced the merger on April 20, 2005. The parties expect to close the transaction in early 2006. The joint proxy and prospectus is available at: www.sec.gov, www.nyse.com, and www.archipelago.com.

Important Acquisition Information with Respect to the Merger

In connection with the proposed merger of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ('NYSE') and Archipelago Holdings, Inc. ('Archipelago'), NYSE Group, Inc. has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) containing a joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction. The parties have filed other publicly available relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction with the SEC. The SEC declared the Registration Statement effective on November 3, 2005.

NYSE MEMBERS AND ARCHIPELAGO STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE FINAL JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. NYSE members and Archipelago stockholders can obtain a free copy of the final joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about NYSE and Archipelago without charge, at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the final joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, once they are filed with the SEC, by directing a request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, NYSE, 11 Wall Street, New York 10005, 212-656-2061 or to Archipelago, Attention: Investor Relations, at 100 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 1800, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or calling (888) 514-7284.

The NYSE, Archipelago and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Archipelago stockholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Archipelago's directors and executive officers is available in Archipelago's proxy statement for its 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, dated March 31, 2005.

Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended."

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