The 3 Majors Closed Lower On The Day, but Gained On The Week and for The Quarter

All 3 major indices retreated today as recent data suggest that the Fed won't be lowering interest rates any time soon. 1,465,225,530 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) added 170.97 points (+1.486%), the NASDAQ Composite Index added 39.50 points (+1.78%), and the S&P 500 Index added 21.07 points (+1.601%).

For the third quarter of 2006, the DJIA added 4.74%, the NASDAQ Composite added 3.97%, and the S + P 500 added 5.17%.


Shares of Blackberry maker Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM) gained $16.59 (+19.28%) to close @ $102.65.


Shares of Global Payments Inc. (GPN) gained $5.07 (+13.02%) to close @ $44.01.


Shares of AZZ incorporated (AZZ) gained $4.55 (+14.24%) to close @ $36.50.


Shares of Bare Escentuals (BARE) gained $5.15 (+23.41%) to close @ $27.15.


Shares of Novelis (NVL) gained $2.61 (+11.36%) to close @ $25.59.


Shares of CTC Media (CTCM) gained $2.16 (+10.73%) to close @ $22.30.


Shares of Ultralife Batteries Inc. (ULBI) gained $1.56 (+17.63%) to close @ $10.41.


Shares of Corel Corporation (CREL) gained $1.52 (+13.39%) to close @ $12.87.


Shares of Chemed Corporation (CHE) lost $6.68 (-17.15%) to close @ $32.26.


Shares of Timken Co. (TKR) lost $3.03 (-9.23%) to close @ $29.78.


Shares of U.S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) lost $2.49 (-9.20%) to close @ $24.57.


Shares of American Vanguard Corporation (AVD) lost $2.33 (-14.27%) to close @ $14.00.


Shares of Optimal Group Inc. (OPMR) lost $2.21 (-15.82%) to close @ $11.76.


Shares of Labopharm Inc. (DDSS) lost $1.66 (-22.69%) to close @ $5.65.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,679.07 (-39.38)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,258.43 (-11.59)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,335.85 (-3.30)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $62.91/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $598.70/ounce (-$6.40)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.789 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2674 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.633%

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Consumer Sentiment for September, 2006

Consumer Sentiment for September, 2006:

Predicted: 85.0
Actual: 85.4

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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Personal Income & Consumer Spending for August, 2006

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

Personal Consumption Expenditures
(a.k.a. Consumer Spending)
Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.1%

Personal Income
Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.3%

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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All 3 Major Indexes Gained Ground Today

The 3 major indices gained ground today as news that the U.S. economy grew at a slower-than-expected pace in the second-quarter virtually guarantees the Fed won't raise interest rates again this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed @ 11,718.45, just shy of its all-time, record high close. 1,488,309,970 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Orix Corporation (IX) gained $6.54 (+4.98%) to close @ $137.84.


Shares of Landauer Inc. (LDR) gained $3.03 (+6.25%) to close @ $51.50.


Shares of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ENER) gained $5.17 (+15.34%) to close @ $38.87.


Shares of GATX Corporation (GMT) gained $2.68 (+6.94%) to close @ $41.31.


Shares of Accenture Ltd. (ACN) gained $2.24 (+7.63%) to close @ $31.60.


Shares of Align Technology Inc. (ALGN) gained $3.76 (+48.21%) to close @ $11.56.


Shares of American Greetings Corporation (AM) lost $2.21 (-8.83%) to close @ $22.83.


Shares of Brinks Co. (BCO) lost $2.13 (-3.86%) to close @ $52.99.


Shares of Novatel Wireless Inc. (NVTL) lost $2.07 (-17.68%) to close @ $9.64.


Shares of Presstek Inc. (PRST) lost $1.47 (-19.09%) to close @ $6.23.


Shares of TVIA Inc. (TVIA) lost $2.06 (-58.86%) to close @ $1.44.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,718.45 (+29.21)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,270.02 (+6.63)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,339.15 (+2.56)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $62.49/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $605.10/ounce (+$7.50)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7869 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2708 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.626%

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Gross Domestic Product (GDP) "Final" Released Today for Q2, 2006

The final, real U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report for the second-quarter of 2006 was released this morning:

Predicted: +2.9 %
Actual: +2.6%

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 report is produced by the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Today's final GDP report contains the most authoritative data for Q2, 2006.

The GDP is a very broad measure of economic activity for the entire United States, covering all sectors of the economy. The Commerce Department defines real GDP as, "the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States."

Here's a snippet from a press release issued by the Commerce Department this morning:

"Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 2.6 percent in the second quarter of 2006, according to final estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 5.6 percent.

The GDP estimates released today are based on more complete source data than were available for the preliminary estimates issued last month. In the preliminary estimates, the increase in real GDP was 2.9 percent (see "Revisions" on page 3).

The increase in real GDP in the second quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE) for services, exports, nonresidential structures, state and local government spending, and private inventory investment that were partly offset by negative contributions from residential fixed investment and federal government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

The deceleration in real GDP growth in the second quarter primarily reflected downturns in PCE for durable goods, in equipment and software, and in federal government spending, decelerations in PCE for nondurable goods and in exports, and a larger decrease in residential fixed investment that were partly offset by a deceleration in imports, an acceleration in PCE for services, and an upturn in private inventory investment.

Final sales of computers contributed 0.04 percentage point to the second-quarter growth in real GDP after contributing 0.07 percentage point to the first-quarter growth. Motor vehicle output subtracted 0.31 percentage point from the second-quarter growth in real GDP after contributing 0.12 percentage point to the first-quarter growth."

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

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of September 23, 2006

Earlier today, the Department of Labor released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on September 23, 2006:

Predicted: 315,000
Actual: 316,000

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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All 3 Majors Advanced Today On Positive New Homes Sales Report

All 3 major indices gained ground today on a positive New Homes Sales report. Gains were limited by a discouraging report on Durable Goods Orders. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) got even closer to its all-time high today, closing @ 11,689.24. 1,727,928,090 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.

Shares of DJIA component Altria Group (MO) added $1.53 (+2.02) to close @ $77.29.

Shares of DJIA component Verizon (VZ) lost $1.18 (-3.11%) to close @ $36.78.


Shares of Foxhollow Technologies Inc. (FOXH) gained $5.55 (+20.37%) to close @ $32.80.


Shares of Core Laboratories NV (CLB) gained $2.85 (+4.72%) to close @ $63.18.


Shares of Actuant Corporation (ATU) gained $3.19 (+6.87%) to close @ $49.61.


Shares of Alon USA Energy Inc. (ALJ) gained $2.32 (+8.66%) to close @ $29.12.


Shares of HB Fuller Co. (FUL) gained $4.77 (+23.44%) to close @ $25.12.


Shares of DIVX (DIVX) gained $3.50 (+19.31%) to close @ $21.63.


Shares of Cambridge Display Technology Inc. (OLED) gained $1.60 (+35.01%) to close @ $6.17. Cambridge Display Technology has failed to meet NASDAQ Global Market continued listing requirement(s).


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) lost $2.05 (-2.80%) to close @ $71.25. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Red Hat Inc. (RHAT) lost $6.11 (-23.21%) to close @ $20.21.


Shares of Molecular Devices Corporation (MDCC) lost $3.81 (-17.45%) to close @ $18.03.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,689.24 (+19.85)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,263.39 (+2.05)

S + P 500: Closed @ 1,336.59 (+0.25)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $62.97/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $597.60/ounce (+$6.50)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7858 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2725 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.594%

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New Home Sales for August, 2006

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

Predicted: 1,040,000

New Home Sales for August, 2006: 1,050,000

August New Home Sales: Average Price: $304,400

August New Home Sales: Median Price: $237,000

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

July, 2006 New Home Sales (Revised): 1,009,000

August, 2005 New Home Sales: 1,271,000

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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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of September 22, 2006

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on September 22, 2006 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: -100,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: +19,100,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 324,800,000 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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Durable Goods Orders Report for August, 2006 Released Today

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

Predicted: +0.5%
Actual: -1.1%

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 U.S. Durable Goods Orders report is produced by the U.S. Commerce Department.

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

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The 3 Majors Advanced On A Positive Consumer Confidence Report

A positive Consumer Confidence report today helped all 3 major indices to gain ground. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed @ 11,669.39, its second-highest close ever and a mere 54 points from its all-time high. 1,718,197,010 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.

Shares of DJIA component Caterpillar (CAT) added $1.57 (+2.44) to close @ $65.90.

Shares of DJIA component American Express (AXP) added $1.02 (+1.86%) to close @ $55.96.

Shares of DJIA component Boeing (BA) added $1.29 (+1.66%) to close @ $79.00.

Shares of DJIA component 3M (MMM) added $1.05 (+1.42%) to close @ $74.75.

Shares of DJIA component Exxon Mobil (XOM) added $1.37 (+2.11%) to close @ $66.43.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) added $3.34 (+4.77%) to close @ $73.30. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS) added $6.17 (+5.87%) to close @ $111.26.


Shares of Endesa SA (ELE) added $4.71 (+11.94%) to close @ $44.15.


Shares of Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) added $3.84 (+13.14%) to close @ $33.06.


Shares of Superior Energy Services Inc. (SPN) added $1.82 (+7.79%) to close @ $25.17.


Shares of Titanium Metals Corporation (TIE) added $1.86 (+7.93%) to close @ $25.31.


Shares of Career Education Corporation (CECO) added $3.05 (+14.42%) to close @ $24.20.


Shares of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (ACOR) added $2.50 (+29.41%) to close @ $11.00.


Shares of AnorMED Inc. (ANOR) added $2.79 (+28.04%) to close @ $12.74.


Shares of Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (EYE) lost $7.55 (-16.31%) to close @ $38.75.


Shares of Eagle Materials Inc. (EXP) lost $4.08 (-10.38%) to close @ $35.23.


Shares of Avid Technology Inc. (AVID) lost $6.28 (-14.32%) to close @ $37.59.


Shares of Merix Corporation (MERX) lost $3.76 (-26.76%) to close @ $10.29.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,669.39 (+93.58)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,261.34 (+12.27)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,336.34 (+9.97)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $61.23/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $591.10/ounce (+$0.90)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7876 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2697 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.585%

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Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for September, 2006

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

Predicted: 101.0
Actual: 104.5

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 99.6.

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of September 23, 2006

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on September 23, 2006 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +4.3%

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 4.3% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in September of 2005.

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

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The 3 Majors Advanced Today Despite Continued Evidence of A Slowing Housing Market

The yield on the 10-Year Treasury Note dropped to 4.555%, indicating continued investor concern about the strength of the U.S. economy: today's Existing Home Sales report for August, 2006 showed that the housing market is still sliding. Nevertheless, all 3 major indices advanced today: Eleventh District Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said that the economy is still doing great even though some weakness exists in the automobile and housing sectors. 1,753,645,970 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component Caterpillar (CAT) added $1.56 (+2.49) to close @ $64.33.

Shares of DJIA component Altria (MO) lost $5.26 (-6.39%) to close @ $77.06 on news that a Federal Judge has granted class-action status to a lawsuit against Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds and other cigarette makers for marketing "light" cigarettes as a healthier alternative to regular ones, even though these companies allegedly knew that the health risk for both types are about the same.


Shares of Warrior Energy Service Corporation (WARR) added $9.88 (+68.90%) to close @ $24.22.


Shares of Maritrans Inc. (TUG) added $11.07 (+43.41%) to close @ $36.57.


Shares of DJO Incorporated (DJO) added $3.60 (+9.41%) to close @ $41.85.


Shares of Brookfield Homes Corporation (BHS) added $2.55 (+9.35%) to close @ $29.81.


Shares of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (ACOR) added $6.28 (+282.88%) to close @ $8.50.


Shares of Pharmion Corporation (PHRM) added $3.60 (+19.99%) to close @ $21.61.


Shares of GPC Biotech AG (GPCB) added $4.77 (+34.07%) to close @ $18.77.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) lost $1.94 (-2.70%) to close @ $69.96. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of InterContinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) lost $4.22 (-5.73%) to close @ $69.47.


Shares of Oregon Steel Mills Inc. (OS) lost $3.14 (-6.37%) to close @ $46.18.


Shares of Hughes Communication (HUGH) lost $5.12 (-11.37%) to close @ $39.90.


Shares of Cryptologic Inc. (CRYP) lost $3.01 (-11.17%) to close @ $23.93.


Shares of Microsemi Corporation (MSCC) lost $3.18 (-13.97%) to close @ $19.59.


Shares of Telefonica of Argentina, Inc. (TAR) lost $2.90 (-13.21%) to close @ $19.05.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,575.81 (+67.71)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,249.07 (+30.14)

S + P 500: Closed @ 1,326.37 (+11.59)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $61.75/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $590.20/ounce (+$1.00)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7839 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2757 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.555%

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Existing Home Sales for August, 2006

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

Predicted: 6,200,000
Actual: 6,300,000

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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The 3 Major Indices Closed Lower On Both The Day and The Week

Crude for future delivery falling below the $61 mark wasn't enough to help the major indices today, as all 3 retreated on the day, and on the week. 1,438,969,240 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.

For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lost 52.67 points (-0.46%), the NASDAQ Composite Index lost 16.66 points (-0.75%), and the S&P 500 Index lost 5.09 points (-0.39%).


Shares of f Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component Caterpillar (CAT) lost $1.77 (-2.74) to close @ $62.77.

Shares of DJIA component Boeing (BA) added $1.14 (+1.50%) to close @ $77.25.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) gained $3.60 (+5.27%) to close @ $71.90. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (LFC) added $3.31 (+4.21%) to close @ $81.90.


Shares of China Medical Technologies Inc. (CMED) added $2.36 (+12.01%) to close @ $22.01.


Shares of Cognos Inc. (COGN) added $3.17 (+9.92%) to close @ $35.11.


Shares of Genesco Inc. (GCO) added $2.57 (+8.11%) to close @ $34.26.


Shares of Bakers Footwear Group Inc. (BKRS) added $2.28 (+20.45%) to close @ $13.43.


Shares of Ameron International Corporation (AMN) lost $3.88 (-5.58%) to close @ $65.70.


Shares of Microsemi Corporation (MSCC) lost $2.86 (-11.16%) to close @ $22.77.


Shares of CTC Media (CTCM) lost $2.68 (-11.20%) to close @ $21.25.


Shares of Systemax Inc. (SYX) lost $1.72 (-10.99%) to close @ $13.93.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,508.10 (-25.13)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,218.93 (-18.82)

S + P 500: Closed @ 1,314.78 (-3.25)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $60.55/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $589.20/ounce (+$6.60)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7822 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2784 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.597%

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All 3 Majors Declined Today On New Evidence Of Economic Downturn

The 3 major indices declined today as investors reacted to new evidence that the U.S. economy is on the wane. 1,675,113,580 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of f Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) lost $1.91 (-5.19) to close @ $34.87.

Shares of DJIA component Caterpillar (CAT) lost $1.34 (-2.03%) to close @ $64.54.

Shares of DJIA component International Business Machines (IBM) lost $1.81 (-2.17%) to close @ $81.61.

Shares of DJIA component United Technologies (UTX) lost $1.00 (-1.56%) to close @ $62.90.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) gained $3.61 (+5.58%) to close @ $68.30. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of InterContinental Exchange (ICE) added $4.43 (+6.11%) to close @ $76.88.


Shares of Gymboree Corporation (GYMB) added $4.81 (+12.67%) to close @ $42.78.


Shares of Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR) added $4.20 (+14.38%) to close @ $33.40.


Shares of Serono SA (SRA) added $3.19 (+17.43%) to close @ $21.49.


Shares of OraSure Technologies (OSUR) added $1.53 (+21.83%) to close @ $8.54.


Shares of Houston Exploration Co. (THX) lost $6.00 (-9.85%) to close @ $54.90.


Shares of FormFactor Inc. (FORM) lost $5.18 (-11.20%) to close @ $41.09.


Shares of Walgreen Co. (WAG) lost $3.67 (-7.35%) to close @ $46.28 on news that Wal-Mart will sell a broad selection of generic drugs in Florida at $4 per prescription. Wal-Mart has plans to offer the discount generics in more states in 2007.


Shares of CVS Corporation (CVS) lost $2.96 (-8.35%) to close @ $32.47.


Shares of InfoSpace Inc. (INSP) lost $4.93 (-21.80%) to close @ $17.68.


Shares of Nucryst Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NCST) lost $2.54 (-23.63%) to close @ $8.21.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,533.23 (-79.96)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,237.75 (-15.14)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,318.03 (-7.15)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $61.93/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $582.60/ounce (+$2.40)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.782 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2788 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.648%

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Leading Economic Indicators for August, 2006

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

Predicted: -0.3%
Actual: -0.2%

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 & Poor's 500 Index
   
3. The interest rate spread between 10-year Treasury Bonds 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 September 16, 2006

Earlier today, the Department of Labor released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on September 16, 2006:

Predicted: 310,000
Actual: 318,000

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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Fed Inaction On Interest Rates Helped All 3 Major Indices to Advance Today

All 3 major indices advanced today as investors got bullish on the prospect that the Fed will probably remain on the sidelines for the rest of the year; falling crude oil prices also helped stocks. 1,614,759,680 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of f Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component Boeing (BA) gained $1.32 (+1.76) to close @ $76.19.

Shares of DJIA component Exxon Mobil (XOM) lost $1.39 (-2.12%) to close @ $64.11.

Shares of DJIA component International Business Machines (IBM) added $1.55 (+1.89%) to close @ $83.42.


Shares of Eagle Materials Inc. (EXP) added $4.27 (+12.50%) to close @ $38.43.


Shares of Park Electrochemical Corporation (PKE) added $6.10 (+23.46%) to close @ $32.10.


Shares of CentraCore Properties Trust (CPV) added $3.32 (+11.70%) to close @ $31.70.


Shares of CarMax Inc. (KMX) added $3.16 (+7.87%) to close @ $43.30.


Shares of Zareba Systems Inc. (ZRBA) added $1.01 (+21.96%) to close @ $5.61.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) lost $1.98 (-2.97%) to close @ $64.69. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO) lost $4.69 (-6.50%) to close @ $67.46.


Shares of Dril-Quip Inc. (DRQ) lost $3.96 (-5.76%) to close @ $64.78.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,613.19 (+72.28)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,252.89 (+30.52)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,325.18 (+6.87)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $61.05/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $580.20/ounce (+$3.20)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7861 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.272 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.729%

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of September 15, 2006

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on September 15, 2006 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: -2,800,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: +16,800,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 324,900,000 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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All 3 Major Indexes Declined Today

All 3 major indices retreated today despite a significant drop in crude oil prices and the prospect that the Fed won't raise interest rates tomorrow. 1,504,910,340 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Summit Bank Corporation (SBGA) added $6.28 (+39.01%) to close @ $22.38.


Shares of First Niles Financial Inc. (FNFI) added $2.34 (+18.50%) to close @ $14.99.


Shares of Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) added $3.36 (+10.28%) to close @ $36.06.


Shares of Votorantim Celulose e Papel S.A. (VCP) added $1.41 (+9.07%) to close @ $16.96.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) lost $1.01 (-1.49%) to close @ $66.67. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Google (GOOG) lost $10.88 (-2.62%) to close @ $403.81.


Shares of Yahoo! (YHOO) lost $3.25 (-11.21%) to close @ $25.75.


Shares of Trex Co. Inc. (TWP) lost $2.87 (-10.26%) to close @ $25.09.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,540.91 (-14.09)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,222.37 (-13.38)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,318.31 (-2.87)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $61.78/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $577.00/ounce (-$9.00)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7887 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2678 U.S. Dollars

The U.S. Prime Rate is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.737%

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Producer Price Index (PPI) for August, 2006

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

Predicted: +0.3%
Actual: +0.1%

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

Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: -0.4%

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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Housing Starts in August, 2006

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

Housing Starts:
Predicted: 1,750,000
Actual: 1,665,000

Building Permits:
Actual: 1,722,000

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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Redbook Numbers for The Week of September 16, 2006

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on September 16, 2006 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +4.1%

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 4.1% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in September of 2005.

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

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NASDAQ Closed Essentially Flat, Modest Gain for The S&P 500 and The DJIA Retreated Today

The NASDAQ Composite gained less than one point, a modest gain for the S + P 500 Index, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lost some ground today as investors braced for tomorrow's Producer Price Index (PPI) report and Wednesday's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. 1,503,806,150 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of DJIA component Caterpillar (CAT) added $1.56 (+2.38%) to close @ $66.99.

Shares of DJIA component Exxon Mobil (XOM) added $1.65 (+2.55%) to close @ $66.30.


Shares of Northern Empire Bancshares (NREB) added $3.97 (+16.56%) to close @ $27.95.


Shares of AMREP Corporation (AXR) added $3.32 (+7.60%) to close @ $47.00.


Shares of Plains Exploration & Production Co. (PXP) added $3.86 (+9.68%) to close @ $43.72.


Shares of Premium Standard Farms Inc. (PORK) added $2.26 (+12.75%) to close @ $19.99.


Shares of Symbol Technologies, Inc. (SBL) added $1.96 (+15.42%) to close @ $14.67.


Shares of First Data Corporation (FDC) lost $3.40 (-7.61%) to close @ $41.25.


Shares of Aftermarket Technology Corporation (ATAC) lost $3.19 (-15.07%) to close @ $17.98.


Shares of Gevity HR Inc. (GVHR) lost $3.31 (-13.66%) to close @ $20.92.


Shares of HealthSpring Inc. (HS) lost $2.43 (-10.90%) to close @ $19.87.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,555.00 (-5.77)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,235.75 (+0.16)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,321.18 (+1.31)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $63.80/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $586.00/ounce (+$8.70)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7865 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2714 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.81%

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The 3 Majors Advanced Today On Encouraging Inflation Data; All 3 Gained On The Week

The numbers in the August, 2006 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report helped the 3 major indices advance today as investors responded positively to indications that inflation is on the wane. 2,187,834,990 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.

For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 168.66 points (1.48%), the NASDAQ Composite Index gained 69.80 points (3.22%), and the S + P 500 Index gained 20.95 points (1.61%).


Shares of DJIA component United Technologies (UTX) added $1.61 (+2.56%) to close @ $64.61.

Shares of DJIA component General Motors (GM) lost $1.30 (-3.94%) to close @ $31.66.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) gained $5.26 (+8.50%) to close @ $67.13. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of InterContinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) gained $9.72 (+15.04%) to close @ $74.35.


Shares of First Marblehead Corporation (FMD) gained $9.10 (+17.38%) to close @ $61.45.


Shares of Somanetics Corporation (SMTS) gained $2.26 (+12.56%) to close @ $20.26.


Shares of Superior Well Services Inc. (SWSI) gained $2.24 (+13.15%) to close @ $19.27.


Shares of Goodman Global Inc. (GGL) gained $1.33 (+10.64%) to close @ $13.83.


Shares of Cygne Designs Inc. (CYDS) gained $1.16 (+36.42%) to close @ $4.36.


Shares of Ford Motor Co. (F) lost $1.07 (-11.77%) to close @ $8.02.


Shares of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG) lost $4.15 (-6.27%) to close @ $62.00.


Shares of International Assets Holding Corporation (IAAC) lost $2.81 (-11.72%) to close @ $21.16.


Shares of OmegaFlex, Inc. (OFLX) lost $1.99 (-8.87%) to close @ $20.44.


Shares of Quest Resource Corporation (QRCP) lost $1.36 (-14.38%) to close @ $8.10.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,560.77 (+33.38)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,235.59 (+6.86)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,319.87 (+3.59)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future closed @ $63.33/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $577.30/ounce (-$2.00)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7895 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2666 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.798%

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Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August, 2006

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

Predicted: +0.3%
Actual: +0.2%

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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Consumer Sentiment (Preliminary) for September, 2006

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

Predicted: 84.0
Actual: 84.4

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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The NASDAQ Composite Index Was The Only Major to Advance Today

The NASDAQ Composite was the only major index to advance today as the numbers in the August, 2006 Import and Export Prices report had investors worried about inflation and interest rates. 1,452,223,810 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component Boeing (BA) lost $1.31 (-1.72%) to close @ $75.01.


Shares of Kendle International Inc. (KNDL) gained $5.40 (+21.77%) to close @ $30.20.


Shares of Hansen Natural Corporation (HANS) gained $3.62 (+12.16%) to close @ $33.38.


Shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) gained $2.45 (+9.86%) to close @ $27.30.


Shares of Terra Nitrogen Co. LP (TNH) gained $2.00 (+9.66%) to close @ $22.70.


Shares of Volt Information Sciences Inc. (VOL) lost $3.34 (-9.15%) to close @ $33.15.


Shares of Gerber Scientific Inc. (GRB) lost $2.26 (-13.67%) to close @ $14.27.


Shares of FortuNet (FNET) lost $2.95 (-18.67%) to close @ $12.85.


Shares of IAMGold Corporation (IAG) lost $1.32 (-12.88%) to close @ $8.93.


Shares of Dectron Internationale Inc. (DECT) lost $1.71 (-30.05%) to close @ $3.98.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,527.39 (-15.93)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,228.73 (+1.06)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,316.28 (-1.79)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $63.19/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $579.30/ounce (-$9.60)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7859 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2724 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.793%

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

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

Predicted: -0.2%
Actual: +0.2%

Minus Auto Sales
Predicted: +0.3%
Actual : +0.2%


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 August, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $368.2 billion, an increase of 0.2 percent (±0.7%)* from the previous month and up 6.7 percent (±0.7%) from August 2005. Total sales for the June through August 2006 period were up 5.6 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The June to July 2006 percent change was unrevised from +1.4 percent (± 0.3%).

Retail trade sales were up 0.2 percent (±0.7%)* from July and were 6.6 percent (±0.8%) above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 12.5 percent (±4.5%) from August 2005 and sales of gasoline stations were up 11.0 percent (±2.0%) from last year."

Click here to view the full report.

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U.S. Import and Export Price Indices for August, 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 August, 2006 :

Import Prices
Actual: +0.8%

Export Prices
Actual: +0.4%

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

"Import Goods

Import prices increased 0.8 percent in August, compared to a 1.0 percent rise in July. Petroleum prices rose 2.3 percent in August, and were up 25.9 percent over the past five months. Nonpetroleum prices also increased in August, rising 0.5 percent. For the year ended in August, prices for nonpetroleum imports rose 2.7 percent while overall import prices advanced 6.6 percent.

The August increase in nonpetroleum prices was led by a 1.8 percent rise in the price index for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials, which resumed an upward trend following a 0.9 percent downturn in July. The index increased 11.4 percent over the past 12 months. The August increase in nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials prices was driven by higher natural gas and unfinished metals prices which more than offset declining prices for chemicals and building materials. A 2.5 percent advance in foods, feeds, and beverages prices in August also contributed to the rise in nonpetroleum prices. The increase was the largest one-month jump in the index since March 2005, and prices for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 6.0 percent over the past year.

Price indexes for each of the major finished goods areas recorded little movement in August. Capital goods prices rose a modest 0.1 percent while the price indexes for consumer goods and automotive vehicles were both unchanged. For the August 2005-2006 period, consumer goods prices and prices for automotive vehicles increased, up 0.7 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, while capital goods prices decreased 0.3 percent.

Export Goods

Export prices rose 0.4 percent in August as higher prices for both agricultural exports and nonagricultural exports contributed to the increase. Prices for agricultural exports advanced for the fourth consecutive month, rising 1.0 percent in August. Higher prices for cotton, corn, and other agricultural foods more than offset lower wheat and soybean prices. Led by the increases in the past four months, agricultural prices rose 3.5 percent for the year ended in August. Nonagricultural prices continued a steady upward trend, rising 0.4 percent in August and 5.3 percent over the past 12 months. Overall export prices advanced a similar 5.2 percent for the year ended in August.

The August increase in nonagricultural prices was mostly driven by a 1.5 percent advance in the price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials, which was attributable to higher prices for metals, fuels, and chemicals. Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices rose 15.4 percent for the year ended in August. A 0.2 percent increase in consumer goods prices also contributed to the August rise in nonagricultural prices. Prices for consumer goods advanced 2.4 percent over the past year.

In contrast, capital goods prices fell 0.3 percent in August as prices for computers, peripherals, and semi-conductors declined 1.8 percent. Excluding computers, capital goods prices rose 0.2 percent. Despite the August decline, overall capital goods prices increased 0.5 percent over the past 12 months.

The price index for automotive vehicles was unchanged in August and up 1.4 percent for the August 2005-2006 period."

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of September 9, 2006

Earlier today, the Department of Labor released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on September 9, 2006:

Predicted: 315,000
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 actual or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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The 3 Major Indices Advanced Today

The 3 major indexes advanced today despite the fact that crude oil crept up above the $64 mark. 1,661,165,200 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component Boeing (BA) added $2.06 (+2.77%) to close @ $76.32.

Shares of DJIA component Caterpillar (CAT) gained $1.18 (+1.81%) to close @ $66.33.

Shares of DJIA component Merck (MRK) lost $1.06 (-2.51%) to close @ $41.09.

Shares of DJIA component Procter + Gamble (PG) lost $1.29 (-2.09%) to close @ $60.56.


Shares of NYSE Group (NYX) gained $1.01 (+1.65%) to close @ $62.38. NYSE Group owns the New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ENER) gained $4.21 (+12.76%) to close @ $37.20.


Shares of WiderThan Co., Ltd. (WTHN) gained $2.63 (+18.83%) to close @ $16.60.


Shares of BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) gained $8.67 (+6.41%) to close @ $143.89.


Shares of New Oriental Education (EDU) gained $3.58 (+16.97%) to close @ $24.67.


Shares of Pall Corporation (PLL) gained $3.18 (+11.78%) to close @ $30.18.


Shares of Windrose Medical Properties Trust (WRS) gained $1.90 (+12.52%) to close @ $17.08.


Shares of Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU) gained $3.36 (+9.58%) to close @ $38.43.


Shares of RF Industries Ltd. (RFIL) gained $3.00 (+53.19%) to close @ $8.64.


Shares of Telefonica of Argentina, Inc. (TAR) lost $3.72 (-14.87%) to close @ $21.30.


Shares of NeuroMetrix Inc. (NURO) lost $2.75 (-12.80%) to close @ $18.74.


Shares of Napco Security Systems Inc. (NSSC) lost $1.30 (-17.31%) to close @ $6.21.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,543.32 (+45.23)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,227.67 (+11.85)

S + P 500: Closed @ 1,318.07 (+4.96)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $64.43/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $588.90/ounce (+$1.40)

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 @ 4.765%

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of September 8, 2006

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on September 8, 2006 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: -2,900,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: +19,300,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 327,700,000 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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Treasury Budget for August, 2006

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

Predicted: -$65,000,000,000
Actual: -$64,600,000,000

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.

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

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The 3 Major Indices Advanced Today As Crude Oil Prices Continued on A Downward Trend

All 3 major indexes gained today as investors got bullish about crude for future delivery falling below the $64 mark. 1,796,483,560 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component General Motors (GM) added $1.39 (+4.37%) to close @ $33.23.

Shares of DJIA component Home Depot (HD) gained $1.60 (+4.56%) to close @ $36.66.

Shares of DJIA component McDonald's (MCD) added $1.08 (+2.91%) to close @ $38.20.

Shares of DJIA component 3M Company (MMM) added $1.22 (+1.71%) to close @ $72.57.

Shares of DJIA component International Business Machines (IBM) added $1.35 (+1.67%) to close @ $82.28.


Shares of Psychiatric Solutions Inc. (PSYS) gained $3.72 (+11.53%) to close @ $35.98.


Shares of Ark Restaurants Corporation (ARKR) gained $2.85 (+11.80%) to close @ $27.00.


Shares of Apria Healthcare Group Inc. (AHG) gained $2.08 (+10.05%) to close @ $22.78.


Shares of FortuNet (FNET) gained $5.87 (+59.29%) to close @ $15.77.


Shares of Opexa Therapeutics (OPXA) gained $1.71 (+30.65%) to close @ $7.29.


Shares of Intertape Polymer Group Inc. (ITP) gained $1.33 (+19.85%) to close @ $8.03.


Shares of Hartmarx Corporation (HMX) gained $1.16 (+20.71%) to close @ $6.76.


Shares of Triumph Group Inc. (TGI) lost $2.94 (-6.65%) to close @ $41.25.


Shares of International Assets Holding Corporation (IAAC) lost $2.83 (-11.50%) to close @ $21.78.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,498.09 (+101.25)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,215.82 (+42.57)

S + P 500: Closed @ 1,313.11 (+13.57)

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

NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $63.70/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $587.50/ounce (-$3.10)

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7884 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.2684 U.S. Dollars

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

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.773%

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International Trade Balance Level for July, 2006

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

Predicted: $ -66,000,000,000
Actual: $ -68,000,000,000

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 actual or real figure.

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

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of September 9, 2006

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on September 9, 2006 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +3.8%

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 3.8% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in September of 2005.

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

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The 3 Majors Enjoyed Modest Gains Today On Cheaper Commodities

The 3 major indexes enjoyed modest gains today as many commodities got cheaper. New York Spot Gold fell by $19.10 and crude for future delivery fell below the $66 mark. 1,672,781,680 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange®.


Shares of Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) component Alcoa (AA) lost $1.52 (-5.30%) to close @ $27.16.

Shares of DJIA component Boeing (BA) gained $1.02 (+1.40%) to close @ $73.82.

Shares of DJIA component Caterpillar (CAT) lost $1.81 (-2.69%) to close @ $65.51.

Shares of DJIA component Exxon Mobil (XOM) fell by $1.87 (-2.80%) to close @ $64.94.


Shares of NS Group Inc. (NSS) added $18.16 (+39.35%) to close @ $64.31 on news that IPSCO is in the process of purchasing the tubular product manufacturer in deal worth around $1.46 billion.


Shares of Freescale Semiconductor Inc. (FSL) added $6.31 (+20.52%) to close @ $37.06 on news that 2 private investment concerns are vying for the company.


Shares of Scottish Re Group Ltd. (SCT) added $1.12 (+12.03%) to close @ $10.43 on news that the company is making progress with buyout offers and may be sold by November.


Shares of Telus Corporation (TU) added $7.88 (+17.47%) to close @ $52.99 on news that the company will transform itself from a corporation to an income trust, a move that the company expects will triple annual shareholder distribution.


Shares of Angeion Corporation (ANGN) gained $4.55 (+109.17%) to close @ $8.71.


Shares of wireless gaming machine maker FortuNet (FNET) gained $2.20 (+28.57%) to close @ $9.90 on news that the company is now a Nevada-approved operator of mobile gambling devices.


Shares of St. Joe Co. (JOE) gained $3.57 (+7.19%) to close @ $53.24.


Shares of MFRI Inc. (MFRI) gained $2.72 (+22.67%) to close @ $14.72.


Shares of PRG-Schultz International, Inc. (PRGXD) gained $1.19 (+36.62%) to close @ $4.44.


Shares of PRG-Schultz International, Inc. (PRGXD) gained $1.19 (+36.62%) to close @ $4.44.


Shares of Meridian Gold Inc. (MDG) lost $3.70 (-12.42%) to close @ $26.10.


Shares of Glamis Gold Ltd. (GLG) lost $3.99 (-8.82%) to close @ $41.24.


Shares of Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) lost $1.26 (-9.17%) to close @ $12.48.


Shares of Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM) lost $3.36 (-9.17%) to close @ $33.27.


Shares of Dril-Quip Inc. (DRQ) lost $5.87 (-7.87%) to close @ $68.74.


Shares of Bucyrus International Inc. (BUCY) lost $5.81 (-12.22%) to close @ $41.75.


Shares of TETRA Technologies Inc. (TTI) lost $2.73 (-9.69%) to close @ $25.43.


Shares of Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. (GPRE) lost $3.57 (-14.80%) to close @ $20.55.


Shares of Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEMLW) lost $3.11 (-15.99%) to close @ $16.34.


Summary of The U.S. Markets:

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

DJIA: Closed @ 11,396.84 (+4.73)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,173.25 (+7.46)

S&P 500: Closed @ 1,299.54 (+0.62)

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NYMEX Crude Oil Future is currently @ $65.71/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $590.60/ounce (-$19.10)

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 (Fed Prime Rate) is 8.25%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.799%

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