Dow Retreated, but The NASDAQ and S&P 500 Gained

The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Composite indexes advanced today, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) retreated. 1,755,463,220 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,080.73 (-5.77)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,366.71 (+2.94)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,377.94 (+0.01)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future closed @ $58.54/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $604.20/ounce (+$0.10)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7835 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2762 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (WSJ Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.606%

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Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for October, 2006

The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for this month (October, 2006) was released by The Conference Board this morning:

Predicted: 108.0
Actual: 105.4

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Every month, The Conference Board sends a questionnaire to 5,000 U.S. households. Survey participants are polled about their feeling regarding the current U.S. economy, the future of the U.S. economy, and about their own fiscal circumstances. On average, 3,500 participants complete and return the 5-question survey.

The baseline "100" score for the CCI is linked to 1985 survey data.

When consumers feel good about the economy, they tend to do more spending, and vice versa.

Based in New York City, The Conference Board is a private, not-for-profit organization with a mission to, "create and disseminate knowledge about management and the marketplace to help businesses strengthen their performance and better serve society."

The CCI is always released on the last Tuesday of the month.

Last month, the CCI was 104.5.

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of October 28, 2006

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on October 28, 2006 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +3.3%

The Redbook measures the weekly sales at chain stores, discount stores, and department stores -- about 9,000 stores in total -- and is therefore an important measure of current consumer spending in the U.S. The above figure represents the year-to-year change in the Redbook sales figures, so sales are up by 3.3% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in October of 2005.

The weekly Johnson Redbook Index report is produced by Redbook Research.

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The S&P 500 and NASDAQ Advanced Today; The Dow Lost Some Ground

The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Composite indices advanced today on cheaper crude oil prices, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lost some ground. 1,432,314,490 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,086.50 (-3.76)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,363.77 (+13.15)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,377.93 (+0.59)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future closed @ $58.27/barrel

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7864 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2716 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (WSJ Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.673%

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Personal Income & Consumer Spending In September, 2006

Earlier today, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis released their report on Consumer Spending and Personal Income in September, 2006:

Personal Consumption Expenditures
(a.k.a. Consumer Spending)
Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.4%

Personal Income
Predicted: +0.3%
Actual: +0.5%

The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in Consumer Spending and Personal Income for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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The 3 Majors Declined Today On Soft GDP Numbers, But All 3 Advanced On The Week

The 3 major indexes retreated today on weak Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates for the third quarter, but all 3 majors gained for the week. 1,556,744,780 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.

For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 87.89 points (+0.732%), the NASDAQ Composite Index added 8.32 points (+0.355%), and the S&P 500 Index added 8.74 points (+0.639%).


Shares of DJIA component Caterpillar (CAT) lost $1.08 (-1.73%) to close @ $61.27.

Shares of DJIA component Wal-Mart (WMT) lost $1.02 (-1.97%) to close @ $50.73.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of Rinker Group Ltd. (RIN) added $17.70 (+33.15%) to close @ $71.10 on news that Mexico-based Cemex -- the global #3 cement producer -- has bid around $12 billion to buy the company.

Shares of Florida Rock Industries (FRK) added $2.99 (+7.46%) to close @ $43.09.


Shares of Texas Pacific Land Trust (TPL) added $12.99 (+8.43%) to close @ $166.99.


Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) added $6.09 (+17.62%) to close @ $40.66.


Shares of Volcom Inc (VLCM) added $3.32 (+11.68%) to close @ $31.74.


Shares of Netgear Inc. (NTGR) added $3.84 (+16.24%) to close @ $27.48.


Shares of Home Inns & Hotels (HMIN) added $2.94 (+13.07%) to close @ $25.44.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of Google Inc. (GOOG) lost $9.90 (-2.04%) to close @ $475.20.


Shares of Alltel Corporation (AT) lost $4.19 (-7.20%) to close @ $53.99.


Shares of Invitrogen Corporation (IVGN) lost $8.03 (-12.16%) to close @ $58.01.


Shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM) lost $5.65 (-12.81%) to close @ $38.44.


Shares of Hittite Microwave Corporation (HITT) lost $6.42 (-15.05%) to close @ $36.25.


Shares of CommScope Inc. (CTV) lost $3.00 (-8.54%) to close @ $32.13.


Shares of Georgia Gulf Corporation (GGC) lost $4.99 (-18.54%) to close @ $21.93.


Shares of Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (ASPV) lost $3.16 (-14.27%) to close @ $18.99.


Shares of Interphase Corporation (INPH) lost $2.22 (-21.87%) to close @ $7.93.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,090.26 (-73.40)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,350.62 (-28.48)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,377.34 (-11.74)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future closed @ $60.75/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $598.00/ounce (+$1.40)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7848 Euros

In New York, a euro buys 1.2742 U.S. dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.675%

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Consumer Sentiment for October, 2006

Consumer Sentiment for October, 2006:

Predicted: 92.4
Actual: 93.6

The Consumer Sentiment Index is compiled on a monthly basis by the University of Michigan; 500 U.S. households are queried about their own financial circumstances and about the economy in general. 200 questions are asked, e.g. "Do you think that right now is a good time to purchase a major household item, like a new microwave oven, TV set, or a new sofa?"

The Consumer Sentiment Index uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the Consumer Sentiment Index = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as the sample that was polled back in 1966.

The Consumer Sentiment Index is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer insight into consumer spending.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

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Gross Domestic Product (GDP) "Advance" Released Today for Q3, 2006

U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers for the third-quarter of 2006 were released this morning by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis:

Predicted: +2.0%
Actual: +1.6%

The above percentages represent the quarter-to-quarter change in the Gross Domestic Product for the United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The GDP is a very broad measure of economic activity for the entire United States, covering all sectors of the economy.

The "advance" estimates are based on data that are incomplete or subject to future revision. Next month, the Commerce Department will release a "preliminary" report for the above-referenced quarter, which will contain more accurate data. A "final" GDP report will be released later this year, which will contain the most accurate and authoritative data on the above-referenced quarter.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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The 3 Majors Advanced on Cheaper Crude Oil

Cheaper crude oil helped all 3 major indexes to advance today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closing at a brand new record high: 12,163.66. 1,737,941,290 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,163.66 (+28.98)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,379.10 (+22.51)

S + 500: Closed @ 1,389.08 (+6.86)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $60.57/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $596.50/ounce (-$0.10)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7874 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.27 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.721%

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New Home Sales for September, 2006

The September, 2006 New Home Sales report was released this morning:

Predicted: 1,050,000

New Home Sales for September 2006: 1,075,000

September New Home Sales: Average Price: $293,200

September New Home Sales: Median Price: $217,100

------------------------------------------------------

August, 2006 New Home Sales (Revised): 1,021,000

September, 2005 New Home Sales: 1,253,000

Compiled jointly by the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the monthly New Home Sales report measures the number of newly-built homes with committed buyers for a given month.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The New Home Sales report is watched by economists and investors because it offers insight into the state of the U.S. housing market, and also provides data that can be used to predict sales of large household furniture and appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners and microwave ovens.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of October 21, 2006

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on October 21, 2006:

Predicted: 305,000
Actual: 308,000

The above figures represent the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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Durable Goods Orders Report for September, 2006 Released Today

The Durable Goods Orders report for September, 2006 was released this morning:

Predicted: +2.2%
Actual: +7.8%

The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in orders for durable or hard goods for immediate or future delivery from U.S. manufacturers. Examples of durable goods: cars, microwave ovens, computers -- items that are built to last 3+ years.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure. The Durable Goods Orders report is produced by the Commerce Department.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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The 3 Majors Gained Today As The Fed Elected To Keep Interest Rates Steady

All 3 major indices advanced today as the Fed decided to keep interest rates at their current level. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed with a brand new record high: 12,134.68. 1,830,141,800 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,134.68 (+6.80)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,356.59 (+11.75)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,382.22 (+4.84)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $61.64/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $589.40/ounce (+$2.20)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7926 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2618 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (WSJ Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.773%

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Existing Home Sales for September, 2006

The Existing Home Sales report for September, 2006 was released by The National Association of Realtors® this morning:

Predicted: 6,200,000
Actual: 6,180,000

Median Price for A Preowned, Single-Family
Home In September, 2006: $219,800


The U.S. Existing Home Sales report is a sales count of existing homes, co-ops and condominiums for a given month. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The monthly Existing Home Sales report is released on or around the 25^TH day of each month.

Click here to view the full NAR report.

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of October 20, 2006

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on October 20, 2006 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: -3,300,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: +15,900,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 332,300,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories can translate to higher crude oil prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Click here for a more detailed summary of The Week in Petroleum.

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The DJIA and S&P 500 Gained Today; The NASDAQ Declined

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the S + P 500 both advanced today, but the NASDAQ Composite retreated as the Fed began their seventh monetary policy meeting of the year. Crude oil prices edged upward. The DJIA closed with a brand new record high: 12,127.88. 1,695,294,590 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of DJIA component General Motors (GM) added $1.00 (+2.84%) to close @ $36.19.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of Imation Corporation (IMN) added $3.95 (+9.18%) to close @ $47.00.


Shares of Brinker International Inc. (EAT) added $6.95 (+17.57%) to close @ $46.50.


Shares of Corn Products International Inc. (CPO) added $3.35 (+9.99%) to close @ $36.90.


Shares of Centene Corporation (CNC) added $4.85 (+26.58%) to close @ $23.10.


Shares of Travelzoo Inc. (TZOO) added $6.22 (+19.20%) to close @ $38.62.


Shares of VistaPrint Ltd. (VPRT) added $3.42 (+12.24%) to close @ $31.37.


Shares of Netflix (NFLX) added $4.29 (+18.59%) to close @ $27.37.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of Mesa Royalty Trust (MTR) lost $4.83 (-8.32%) to close @ $53.25.


Shares of First Indiana Corporation (FINB) lost $3.55 (-12.54%) to close @ $24.77.


Shares of MTC Technologies Inc. (MTCT) lost $3.03 (-11.65%) to close @ $22.97.


Shares of NeuroMetrix Inc. (NURO) lost $5.75 (-28.97%) to close @ $14.10.


Shares of US Xpress Enterprises Inc. (XPRSA) lost $2.98 (-13.13%) to close @ $19.72.


Shares of Systemax Inc. (SYX) lost $1.87 (-15.56%) to close @ $10.15.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,127.88 (+10.97)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,344.84 (-10.72)

S + P 500: Closed @ 1,377.38 (+0.36)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $59.57/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $583.30/ounce (-$13.60)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7956 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2568 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.824%

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of October 21, 2006

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on October 21, 2006 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +3.2%

The Redbook measures the weekly sales at chain stores, discount stores, and department stores -- about 9,000 stores in total -- and is therefore an important measure of current consumer spending in the U.S. The above figure represents the year-to-year change in the Redbook sales figures, so sales are up by 3.2% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in October of 2005.

The weekly Johnson Redbook Index report is produced by Redbook Research.

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All 3 Majors Advanced with A New Record-High Close for The Dow

All 3 major indexes advanced today as investors got bullish on falling crude oil prices and the prospect that the Fed will most likely leave interest rates alone on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed with a new, record high: 12,116.91. 1,549,794,090 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of DJIA component Wal-Mart (WMT) added $1.91 (+3.87%) to close @ $51.28.

Shares of DJIA component 3M (MMM) added $1.62 (+2.06%) to close @ $80.09.

Shares of DJIA component Caterpillar (CAT) gained $1.42 (+2.41%) to close @ $60.42.

Shares of DJIA component General Motors (GM) gained $1.85 (+5.55%) to close @ $35.19.

Shares of DJIA component International Business Machines (IBM) gained $1.08 (+1.19%) to close @ $91.56.

Shares of DJIA component Boeing (BA) gained $1.06 (+1.30%) to close @ $82.80.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of William Wrigley Jr. Co. (WWY) added $6.40 (+13.67%) to close @ $53.23 on news that William Perez will take over as CEO of the company; Perez will be the first-ever, non-family CEO at Wrigley.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) added $1.75 (+2.39%) to close @ $75.00. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Robbins & Myers Inc. (RBN) added $3.60 (+10.03%) to close @ $39.50.


Shares of Hasbro Inc. (HAS) added $2.03 (+8.71%) to close @ $25.33.


Shares of St. Joseph Capital Corporation (SJOE) added $10.37 (+36.54%) to close @ $38.75 on news that Old National Bancorp is purchasing the company in a cash deal valued at around $75.6 million.


Shares of First Indiana Corporation (FINB) added $3.65 (+14.80%) to close @ $28.32.


Shares of Connetics Corporation (CNCT) added $5.36 (+45.77%) to close @ $17.07.


Shares of Silicom Ltd. (SILC) added $2.23 (+33.99%) to close @ $8.79.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of global #1 uranium producer Cameco Corporation (CCJ) lost $3.67 (-9.63%) to close @ $34.44 on news that the company hasn't been able to control the flooding at its Cigar Lake project; the flooding happened as a result of a Sunday rock slide.


Shares of Blyth Inc. (BTH) lost $2.22 (-8.55%) to close @ $23.73.


Shares of Adeza Biomedical Corporation (ADZA) lost $2.94 (-16.40%) to close @ $14.99.


Shares of Neoware (NWRE) lost $2.08 (-14.32%) to close @ $12.45.


Shares of Replidyne (RDYN) lost $4.65 (-45.41%) to close @ $5.59.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,116.91 (+114.54)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,355.56 (+13.26)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,377.02 (+8.42)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $58.70/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $579.20/ounce (-$13.60)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7973 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2542 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (WSJ Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.826%

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S&P 500 and The NASDAQ Composite Gain; Dow Retreats

The NASDAQ Composite and the S + P 500 indices gained some ground today, while Caterpillar's 14.5% decline contributed much to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closing lower. 1,639,067,110 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.

For the week, the DJIA gained 41.86 points (+0.35%), the NASDAQ Composite Index lost 14.99 points (-0.64%), and the S + P 500 Index added 2.98 points (+0.218%).


Shares of DJIA component Merck (MRK) added $1.15 (+2.58%) to close @ $45.64.

Shares of DJIA component Coca Cola (KO) added $1.84 (+4.10%) to close @ $46.75.

Shares of DJIA component Caterpillar (CAT) lost $10.02 (-14.52%) to close @ $59.00.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of Bairnco Corporation (BZ) added $1.19 (+10.04%) to close @ $13.04.


Shares of Mindray Medical International Ltd. (MR) added $1.33 (+8.34%) to close @ $17.28.


Shares of Google Inc. (GOOG) added $33.61 (+7.89%) to close @ $459.67.


Shares of Synaptics Inc. (SYNA) added $3.97 (+16.48%) to close @ $28.06.


Shares of ExlService Holdings (EXLS) added $5.34 (+39.56%) to close @ $18.84 on the stock's first day of trading. Yesterday's IPO made about 18% of the company available to the public, and generated $67.5 million on 5 million shares sold. Price forecast was in the $10-$12 range, but ended up starting at $13.50 per share.


Shares of Osiris Therapeutics (OSIR) added $2.00 (+13.32%) to close @ $17.02.


Shares of Sun Healthcare Group Inc. (SUNH) added $1.60 (+13.45%) to close @ $13.50 on news that the company is purchasing Harborside Healthcare Corporation in a deal valued at around $350 million. Sun Healthcare will either assume or refinance Harborside's $275 million of debt.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of UnionBanCal Corporation (UB) lost $4.73 (-7.64%) to close @ $57.21.


Shares of SanDisk Corporation (SNDK) lost $12.585 (-20.39%) to close @ $49.145.


Shares of msystems Ltd. (FLSH) lost $9.61 (-20.59%) to close @ $37.06.


Shares of Agrium Inc. (AGU) lost $2.46 (-8.55%) to close @ $26.31.


Shares of Insteel Industries Inc. (IIIN) lost $4.88 (-22.24%) to close @ $17.06.


Shares of Senomyx Inc. (SNMX) lost $2.99 (-16.40%) to close @ $15.24.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,002.37 (-9.36)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,342.30 (+1.36)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,368.60 (+1.64)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $59.33/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $592.80/ounce (-$6.00)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7926 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2617 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.784%

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All 3 Majors Closed Higher, with The Dow Crossing 12K and Setting a New Record

A jump in crude oil prices didn't hurt stocks that badly today, as all 3 major indices advanced. Two milestones for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) today: the index closed above the 12,000 mark for the first time ever, and we now have a new, record-high close for the DJIA: 12,011.73. 1,638,977,660 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.

Shares of DJIA component Altria Group (MO) added $1.85 (+2.36%) to close @ $80.19.

Shares of DJIA component Honeywell (HON) lost $1.05 (-2.46%) to close @ $41.58.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of Barnes Group Inc. (B) added $2.66 (+14.58%) to close @ $20.91.


Shares of Texas Industries Inc. (TXI) added $5.91 (+10.73%) to close @ $61.00.


Shares of Albemarle Corporation (ALB) added $5.35 (+9.57%) to close @ $61.27.


Shares of CR Bard Inc. (BCR) added $6.32 (+8.28%) to close @ $82.68.


Shares of Universal Stainless + Alloy Products Inc. (USAP) added $5.03 (+19.28%) to close @ $31.12.


Shares of NVE Corporation (NVEC) added $6.53 (+20.49%) to close @ $38.40.


Shares of Answers Corporation (ANSW) added $2.32 (+21.36%) to close @ $13.18.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of Radian Group Inc. (RDN) lost $5.85 (-9.52%) to close @ $55.61.


Shares of New Oriental Education & Technology Group (EDU) lost $2.33 (-9.02%) to close @ $23.50.


Shares of United Panam Financial Corporation (UPFC) lost $3.49 (-22.44%) to close @ $12.06.


Shares of Hypercom Corporation (HYC) lost $1.36 (-17.53%) to close @ $6.40.


Shares of Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS) lost $6.91 (-19.71%) to close @ $28.15.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 12,011.73 (+19.05)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,340.94 (+3.79)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,366.96 (+1.00)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $59.25/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $598.80/ounce (+$10.10)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7913 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2637 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.786%

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Leading Economic Indicators for September, 2006

The Conference Board report on the nation's Leading Economic Indicators for September, 2006 was released this morning:

Predicted: +0.3%
Actual: +0.1%

The above numbers represent the month-to-month change for the nation's leading economic indicators. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The Leading Economic Indicators Index is a composite of 10 of the nation's economic data releases that's put together by The Conference Board. Statistically, the components listed below have shown a significant increase or decrease before national economic upturns or downturns, respectively:

1. The Money Supply (M2)
   
2. The Standard and Poor's 500 Index
   
3. The interest rate spread between the 10-year Treasury Note and Fed Funds Target Rate
   
   
4. Manufacturer's new orders for consumer goods or materials
   
5. Manufacturer's new orders for non-defense capital goods
   
6. Average weekly claims for unemployment insurance
   
7. Average weekly manufacturing hours
   
8. The Index of Consumer Expectations
   
9. Vendor performance
   
10. Building permits for new private housing

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of October 14, 2006

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on October 14, 2006:

Predicted: 310,000
Actual: 299,000

The above figures represent the number of new claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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A Brand New Record-High Close for The Dow

Cheaper crude oil and an encouraging September Consumer Price Index (CPI) report helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) achieve a brand new, record-high close: 11,992.68. The S and P 500 Index added 1.91 while the NASDAQ Composite Index lost 7.80. 1,624,992,480 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 11,992.68 (+42.66)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,337.15 (-7.80)

S and P 500: Closed @ 1,365.96 (+1.91)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $57.76/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $588.70/ounce (-$0.90)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7955 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2572 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.764%

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of October 13, 2006

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on October 13, 2006 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: +5,100,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: +23,600,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 335,600,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories can translate to higher crude oil prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Click here for a more detailed summary of The Week in Petroleum.

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Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September, 2006

Earlier this morning, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers for September, 2006:

Predicted: -0.3%
Actual: -0.5%

Here are the numbers when food and energy are subtracted from the equation:

Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.2%

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The above numbers represent the month-to-month change in prices for a specific group of goods and services that consumers buy, and is, therefore, a very important part of the overall inflation picture for the country.

General categories are:

• Healthcare
• Housing
• Clothing
• Communications
• Education
• Transportation
• Food & Beverages
• Recreation
• Miscellaneous Goods & Services (grooming expenses, etc.)

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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Housing Starts in September, 2006

The U.S. Commerce Department this morning released the Housing Starts report for September, 2006:

Housing Starts:
Predicted: 1,640,000
Actual: 1,772,000

Building Permits:
Actual: 1,619,000

The above is a measure of initial construction of single and multi-family residential units in The United States for last month. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

If you're wondering about the demand for new homes in the United States, or about the American construction industry in general, then you should pay attention to the monthly Housing Starts report. The monthly Housing Starts report also offers insight into specific types of consumer spending: when housing starts are up, demand for the stuff that a consumer would purchase for a new home (large appliances, consumer electronics, furniture, etc.) tends to also rise--and vice versa.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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All 3 Majors Lost Ground Today

All 3 major indices lost some ground today. 1,520,181,760 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of DJIA component Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) added $1.15 (+1.77%) to close @ $66.08.

Shares of DJIA component United Technologies (UTX) lost $1.51 (-2.26%) to close @ $65.28.

Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of CBOT Holdings Inc. (BOT) added $17.48 (+13.00%) to close @ $151.99 on news that Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings is buying the company is a deal valued at around $8 billion.


Shares of International Securities Exchange Holdings Inc. (ISE) added $2.37 (+4.87%) to close @ $51.02.


Shares of InterContinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) added $4.37 (+5.65%) to close @ $81.67.


Shares of ICOS Corporation (ICOS) added $4.38 (+16.15%) to close @ $31.50 on news that Eli Lilly & Co. is purchasing the company in a deal valued at around $2.1 billion.


Shares of Robbins & Myers Inc. (RBN) added $4.05 (+12.76%) to close @ $35.79.


Shares of Greenbrier Companies (GBX) added $3.17 (+9.29%) to close @ $37.30.


Shares of InterMune Inc. (ITMN) added $4.29 (+25.49%) to close @ $21.12.


Shares of Broadwing Corporation (BWNG) added $2.62 (+19.73%) to close @ $15.90.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of Callaway Golf (ELY) lost $1.49 (-10.57%) to close @ $12.61.


Shares of Virginia Commerce Bancorp Inc. (VCBI) lost $2.52 (-11.57%) to close @ $19.26.


Shares of AO Smith Corp. (AOS) lost $4.97 (-11.33%) to close @ $38.91.


Shares of Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR) lost $1.54 (-8.59%) to close @ $16.38.


Shares of SunOpta Inc. (STKL) lost $1.11 (-9.77%) to close @ $10.25.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 11,950.02 (-30.58)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,344.95 (-18.89)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,364.05 (-5.00)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $59.21/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $589.60/ounce (-$5.20)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7966 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2554 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.778%

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Industrial Production for September, 2006

The Industrial Production numbers for September, 2006 were released by the Federal Reserve this morning:

Industrial Production:
Predicted: 0.0%
Actual: -0.6%

Capacity Utilization Rate:
Predicted: 82.2%
Actual: 81.9%

The above Industrial Production numbers represent the month-to-month change in physical output from mining operations, utility plants and factories for the entire United States.

The Capacity Utilization Rate percentages represent the use of available resources at mining operations, utility plants and factories for the entire United States last month.

The "predicted" figures are what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

More numbers:

Industrial Production:
Change from Last Quarter: +3.6%
Change from Last Year: +5.5%

Click here to view the full Federal Reserve report.

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Producer Price Index (PPI) for September, 2006

The Producer Price Index (PPI) numbers for September, 2006 were released this morning:

Predicted: -0.7%
Actual: -1.3%

Here are the numbers when food and energy are subtracted from the equation:

Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.6%

The above numbers represent the month-to-month change in prices for a specific group of goods and capital equipment that producers buy in order to produce finished goods for consumers. The PPI is an important part of the overall inflation picture for the country because when costs go up for producers, producers will often pass those increased costs on to consumers.

The PPI is released by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The PPI is a family or amalgamation of indexes, including The:

• All Commodities Index
• Crude Energy Materials Index
• Crude Foodstuffs & Feedstuffs Index
• Crude Materials for Further Processing Index
• Finished Goods Index
  
• Finished Consumer Foods Index
• Finished Consumer Goods Index
• Finished Consumer Goods Excluding Foods Index
• Finished Energy Goods Index
• Finished Goods: Capital Equipment Index
• Finished Goods Excluding Foods Index
• Finished Goods Less Energy Index
• Finished Goods Less Food & Energy Index
• Fuels & Related Products & Power Index
• Industrial Commodities Index
• Intermediate Energy Goods Index
• Intermediate Foods & Feeds Index
  
• Intermediate Materials: Supplies & Components Index
  

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of October 14, 2006

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on October 14, 2006 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +3.5%

The Redbook measures the weekly sales at chain stores, discount stores, and department stores -- about 9,000 stores in total -- and is therefore an important measure of current consumer spending in the U.S. The above figure represents the year-to-year change in the Redbook sales figures, so sales are up by 3.5% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in October of 2005.

The weekly Johnson Redbook Index report is produced by Redbook Research.

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The 3 Majors Closed with Gains Today and A New, All-Time High for The Dow

All 3 major indexes advanced today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) once again setting a new record-high close: 11,980.60. 1,444,443,520 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of DJIA component Exxon Mobil (XOM) added $1.43 (+2.09%) to close @ $69.83.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of JLG Industries Inc. (JLG) added $6.81 (+32.82%) to close @ $27.60 on news that Oshkosh Truck Corporation is buying the company in a cash deal worth about $3 billion.


Shares of Eaton Corporation (ETN) added $5.25 (+7.47%) to close @ $75.55.


Shares of Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN) added $2.71 (+8.93%) to close @ $33.06.


Shares of Greenbrier Companies (GBX) added $2.88 (+9.22%) to close @ $34.13 on news that the company is buying Meridian Rail Holdings Corporation in a cash deal valued at around $227.5 million.


Shares of Open Solutions Inc. (OPEN) added $7.28 (+24.04%) to close @ $37.56 on news that the company is being bought by private investors in a deal worth about $785 million and includes the assumption of debt.


Shares of Medtox Scientific Inc. (MTOX) added $2.05 (+22.78%) to close @ $11.05.


Shares of BioMimetic Therapeutics Inc. (BMTI) added $1.35 (+14.36%) to close @ $10.75.


Shares of Evergreen Solar Inc. (ESLR) added $1.25 (+15.23%) to close @ $9.46.


Shares of A4S Security Inc. (SWAT) added $1.16 (+19.86%) to close @ $7.00.


Shares of Lumera Corporation (LMRA) added $3.42 (+216.46%) to close @ $5.00.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of Oshkosh Truck Corporation (OSK) lost $3.05 (-5.49%) to close @ $52.49.


Shares of InterContinental Exchange (ICE) lost $5.67 (-6.83%) to close @ $77.30.


Shares of Maidenform Brands Inc. (MFB) lost $1.66 (-8.18%) to close @ $18.64.


Shares of LaBranche & Co. Inc. (LAB) lost $1.98 (-17.92%) to close @ $9.07.


Shares of Omrix Biopharmaceuticals (OMRI) lost $2.91 (-14.29%) to close @ $17.45.


Shares of Mannatech Inc. (MTEX) lost $2.45 (-12.83%) to close @ $16.65.


Shares of SumTotal Systems (SUMT) lost $1.01 (-13.50%) to close @ $6.47.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 11,980.60 (+20.09)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,363.84 (+6.55)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,369.05 (+3.43)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $60.15/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $595.00/ounce (+$0.20)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7977 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2536 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.788%

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All 3 Major Indexes Gained On The Day and On The Week

All 3 major indices advanced on the day and on the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed at 11,960.51 today, a new record-high close. 1,510,870,600 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.

For the week, the DJIA gained 110.30 points (+0.931%), the NASDAQ Composite Index gained 57.30 points (+2.491%), and the S&P 500 Index gained 16.04 points (+1.189%).


Shares of DJIA component International Business Machines (IBM) added $1.38 (+1.63%) to close @ $86.08.

Shares of DJIA component Boeing (BA) lost $1.25 (-1.49%) to close @ $82.39.

Shares of DJIA component Home Depot (HD) lost $1.00 (-2.64%) to close @ $36.90.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of Universal Compression Holdings Inc. (UCO) added $2.90 (+5.44%) to close @ $56.16.


Shares of EZCORP Inc. (EZPW) added $6.12 (+16.84%) to close @ $42.47.


Shares of FMS Financial Corporation (FMCO) added $4.85 (+18.13%) to close @ $31.60.


Shares of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (JTX) added $2.00 (+7.14%) to close @ $30.01: the company has authorized a $200 million, multi-year share buyback program.


Shares of eHealth, Inc. (EHTH) added $8.90 (+63.57%) to close @ $22.90 on the stock's first day of trading. Yesterday's IPO made about 24% of the company available to the public, and generated $70 million on 5 million shares sold. Price forecast was in the $10-$12 range, but ended up starting at $14 per share.


Shares of Acme Packet (APKT) added $6.41 (+67.47%) to close @ $15.91 on the stock's NASDAQ debut today. Yesterday's IPO raised $109 million on 11.47 million shares sold. Price forecast was in the $8-$9 range, and ended up starting at $9.50 per share.


Shares of Sensient Technologies Corporation (SXT) added $1.68 (+7.96%) to close @ $22.78.


Shares of UnumProvident Corporation (UNM) added $1.84 (+9.26%) to close @ $21.72.


Shares of Herley Industries Inc. (HRLY) added $2.53 (+20.21%) to close @ $15.05 on news that the company's Israeli facility has won a contract worth about $8.5 million.


Shares of Qimonda AG (QI) added $1.55 (+10.00%) to close @ $17.05.


Shares of LightPath Technologies Inc. (LPTH) added $1.65 (+43.38%) to close @ $5.45.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) lost $1.16 (-1.55%) to close @ $73.81. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (ASPV) lost $2.84 (-11.41%) to close @ $22.05.


Shares of Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation (AVNC) lost $1.04 (-19.89%) to close @ $4.19.


Shares of TESSCO Technologies Inc. (TESS) lost $3.55 (-10.50%) to close @ $30.25.


Shares of Centex Corporation (CTX) lost $3.03 (-5.50%) to close @ $52.06.


Shares of Ryland Group Inc. (RYL) lost $2.43 (-5.18%) to close @ $44.51.


Shares of MSC Software Corporation (MSCS) lost $2.06 (-13.12%) to close @ $13.64.


Shares of Saifun Semiconductors (SFUN) lost $7.38 (-25.38%) to close @ $21.70.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 11,960.51 (+12.81)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,357.29 (+11.11)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,365.62 (+2.79)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $58.57/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $588.90/ounce (+$12.90)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7992 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2513 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.806%

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U.S. Retail & Food Services Sales Report for September, 2006

The Commerce Department this morning released advanced estimates of U.S. Retail and Food Services Sales for September, 2006:

Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: -0.4%

Minus Auto Sales
Predicted: 0.0%
Actual : -0.5%


The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in total sales receipts for retailers that sell both durable and non-durable goods.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the actual or real figure.

Here's a snippet from today's Commerce Department report:

"The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for September, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $366.2 billion, a decrease of 0.4 percent (±0.7%) from the previous month, but up 5.5 percent (±0.7%) from September 2005. Total sales for the July through September 2006 period were up 5.6 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The July to August 2006 percent change was revised from +0.2 percent (± 0.7%) to +0.1 percent (± 0.3%).

Retail trade sales were down 0.6 percent (±0.7%) from August, but were 5.2 percent (±0.8%) above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 12.9 percent (±4.6%) from September 2005 and sales of clothing and clothing accessories stores were up 10.7 percent (±1.5%) from last year."

Click here to view the full report.

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Consumer Sentiment (Preliminary) for October, 2006

The preliminary Consumer Sentiment numbers for October, 2006 were released this morning:

Predicted: 86.5
Actual: 92.3

The Consumer Sentiment Index is compiled on a monthly basis by the University of Michigan; 500 U.S. households are queried about their own financial circumstances and about the economy in general. 200 questions are asked, e.g. "Do you think that right now is a good time to purchase a major household item, like a new microwave oven, TV set, or a new sofa?"

The Consumer Sentiment Index uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the Consumer Sentiment Index = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as the sample that was polled back in 1966 (and vice versa.)

The Consumer Sentiment Index is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer insight into consumer spending.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

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U.S. Import and Export Price Indices for September, 2006

The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning released the price indices for U.S. imports and exports for September, 2006 :

Import Prices
Predicted: -0.9
Actual: -2.1%

Export Prices
Actual: -0.5%

The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in prices for

• Imports: the cost of goods produced in other countries and sold in the U.S.
  
  
• Exports: the cost of goods produced in the U.S. and sold in other countries.
  

Together, these indices offer insight into the status of inflation in the United States, and for the global economy as well. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The following is a clip from today's Labor Department report:

"Import Goods

Prices for overall imports fell 2.1 percent in September, the largest one-month decrease in the index since a 3.1 percent drop in April 2003. The decline was led by a 10.3 percent decrease in petroleum prices, which had been up in five of the previous six months. The September decrease in petroleum prices was the largest monthly drop since the index fell 11.4 percent in December 2004. In contrast, nonpetroleum prices edged up 0.1 percent in September, the sixth consecutive month the index increased. For the year ended in September, the price index for nonpetroleum imports rose 2.0 percent, the same increase as overall import prices for the September 2005-2006 period.

The modest September increase in nonpetroleum prices was primarily driven by a 0.4 percent advance in prices for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials. A 3.1 percent increase in unfinished metals prices led the advance in prices for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials, with higher prices for building materials and textile supplies also contributing. Partially offsetting those increases were decreasing prices for natural gas and chemicals. The price index for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials rose 6.6 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages also increased, up 0.4 percent in September and 6.3 percent over the past year.

More modest increases in the price indexes for consumer goods and automotive vehicles also contributed to the September advance in nonpetroleum prices. Consumer goods prices and prices for automotive vehicles each advanced 0.1 percent for the month, and 0.9 percent and 0.6 percent for the year ended in September, respectively.

The price index for capital goods was unchanged in September and declined 0.2 percent over the past 12 months.

Export Goods

Export prices fell 0.5 percent in September as a 0.7 percent decrease in agricultural prices and a 0.5 percent drop in the price index for nonagricultural goods each factored into the decline. The September drop in export prices was the first in 10 months and followed increases of 0.4 percent the previous two months. The decline in agricultural prices followed increases in each of the four previous months as lower prices for soybeans, vegetables, and cotton all contributed to the decrease. Despite the drop, agricultural prices increased 4.4 percent for the year ended in September. Nonagricultural prices also rose over the past 12 months, advancing 3.7 percent for the period.

The September decrease in nonagricultural prices was led by a 1.8 percent decline in the price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials. Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices were driven by a sharp decline in fuel prices, with lower chemicals prices also contributing to the decrease. In contrast, metal prices continued to rise. Prices for nonagricultural supplies and materials rose 9.5 percent over the past year.

Prices for the major finished goods areas were either up or unchanged in September. The price indexes for consumer goods and automotive vehicles each rose 0.1 percent in September, and increased 2.1 percent and 1.4 percent for the September 2005-2006 period, respectively. Capital goods prices were unchanged in September, although excluding computer prices, prices for capital goods advanced 0.1 percent. The price index for overall capital goods rose 0.7 percent for the year ended in September."

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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All 3 Majors Closed Higher with The Dow Setting New Closing Record

Strong corporate earnings and anecdotal evidence that the economy is doing OK helped all 3 major indices to advance today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) crossed the 11,900 mark for the first time ever, closing at a record-high 11,947.70. 1,564,231,520 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of DJIA component McDonald's (MCD) added $0.98 (+2.38%) to close @ $42.23.

Shares of DJIA component Exxon Mobil (XOM) added $1.12 (+1.68%) to close @ $67.65.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM) added $4.51 (+8.26%) to close @ $59.08.


Shares of OYO Geospace Corporation (OYOG) added $7.76 (+14.90%) to close @ $59.85.


Shares of Volt Information Sciences Inc. (VOL) added $2.83 (+7.79%) to close @ $39.18.


Shares of AGCO Corporation (AG) added $2.20 (+8.94%) to close @ $26.81.


Shares of JW Mays Inc. (MAYS) added $2.70 (+14.00%) to close @ $21.99.


Shares of Deluxe Corporation (DLX) added $3.08 (+16.91%) to close @ $21.29.


Shares of Coachmen Industries Inc. (COA) added $1.98 (+18.15%) to close @ $12.89.


Shares of Simclar Inc. (SIMC) added $3.85 (+75.64%) to close @ $8.94. Currently, Simclar is delinquent in its regulatory filings.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of InterContinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) lost $3.90 (-4.44%) to close @ $83.90.


Shares of Methanex Corporation (MEOH) lost $2.81 (-10.95%) to close @ $22.86.


Shares of Internap Network Services Corporation (INAP) lost $1.64 (-9.62%) to close @ $15.41.


Shares of Systemax Inc. (SYX) lost $3.24 (-21.54%) to close @ $11.80.


Shares of Zones Inc. (ZONS) lost $3.10 (-22.24%) to close @ $10.84.


Shares of Restore Medical Incorporated (REST) lost $1.96 (-32.89%) to close @ $4.00.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 11,947.70 (+95.57)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,346.18 (+37.91)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,362.83 (+12.88)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $58.15/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $576.00/ounce (+$3.50)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7955 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.257 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.778%

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International Trade Balance Level for August, 2006

The International Trade Balance Level for August, 2006 was released by The U.S. Commerce Department this morning:

Predicted: $ -66,500,000,000
Actual: $ -69,900,000,000 (record high)

The "actual" figure above represents the balance of trade--imports vs. exports--between the United States and all other countries, and includes both goods and services. A negative number represents a trade deficit, while a positive number represents a trade surplus.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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Treasury Budget for September, 2006

The U.S. Treasury Budget for September, 2006 were released today:

Actual: +$56,600,000,000

The "actual" figure above represents the monthly balance on the U.S. federal government's "books" and is compiled by The Treasury Department. A positive number represents a surplus, while a negative represents a deficit.

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of October 6, 2006

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on October 6, 2006 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: +2,400,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: +24,100,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 330,500,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories can translate to higher crude oil prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Click here for a more detailed summary of The Week in Petroleum.

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of October 7, 2006

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on October 7, 2006:

Predicted: 310,000
Actual: 308,000

The above figures represent the number of new claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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The 3 Majors Declined On Modified Outlook for Interest Rates

All 3 major indices declined today despite crude for future delivery falling below the $58 mark. Investors got bearish in response to the minutes from the September 20 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) monetary policy meeting and recent comments made by high-ranking Federal Reserve officials: the Fed is still worried about inflation, and therefore probably won't cut interest rates on January 31. 1,595,828,400 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component Alcoa (AA) lost $1.44 (-5.09%) to close @ $26.85.


Miscellaneous Gainers:

Shares of RTI International Metals (RTI) added $2.43 (+5.37%) to close @ $47.71.


Shares of First Federal Banc of the Southwest (FFSW) added $5.32 (+29.31%) to close @ $23.47 on news that Washington Federal Inc. is purchasing First Federal in a deal worth about $99 million.


Shares of Sigma Designs Inc. (SIGM) added $2.68 (+18.07%) to close @ $17.51. Currently, Sigma Designs is delinquent in its regulatory filings.


Shares of Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) added $4.07 (+17.22%) to close @ $27.70.


Shares of Cabela's Inc. (CAB) added $1.53 (+6.52%) to close @ $24.98.


Shares of Flamel Technologies SA (FLML) added $2.53 (+13.00%) to close @ $21.99.


Shares of Jacuzzi Brands Inc. (JJZ) added $2.00 (+19.32%) to close @ $12.35 on news that the company may be bought out by a private equity firm in a deal worth about $990 million.


Miscellaneous Decliners:

Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) lost $1.68 (-2.18%) to close @ $75.31. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Legg Mason Inc. (LM) lost $18.16 (-17.24%) to close @ $87.15.


Shares of Media General Inc. (MEG) lost $3.50 (-9.21%) to close @ $34.50.


Shares of Medis Technologies Ltd. (MDTL) lost $3.66 (-12.00%) to close @ $26.83.


Shares of E*TRADE Financial Corporation (ET) lost $2.15 (-8.79%) to close @ $22.31 on news that Bank of America will permit investors with at least $25,000 on deposit to trade equities online for free.


Shares of TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation (AMTD) lost $2.28 (-11.94%) to close @ $16.82.


Shares of Systemax Inc. (SYX) lost $3.76 (-20.00%) to close @ $15.04.


Shares of Audiovox Corporation (VOXX) lost $2.20 (-14.77%) to close @ $12.70.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 11,852.13 (-15.04)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,308.27 (-7.16)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,349.95 (-3.47)

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NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $57.60/barrel

NY Spot Gold is currently @ $572.50/ounce (+$0.40)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7977 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2536 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.784%

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