Sentiment

Stocks are trading modestly higher on another slow news day Wednesday. The bond market and most government offices are closed for Veterans Day. The stock market averages moved higher early following gains across the Asia/Pacific and Europe. However, after the initial run higher, the market action has been mostly sideways and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 33 points heading into the final hour.

The CBOE Volatility Index (.VIX) added 13 to 22.97 and trying to snap a 7-day losing streak. Trading in the options market is active. 4.9 million puts and 6.35 million calls have traded so far (a ratio of .77, compared to a 22-day average of .81).

Sentiment

Stocks opened lower after four days of gains, but with no real news to guide the market action, are trading mixed late Tuesday. With no economic data and no earnings of broad market significance, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped on profit-taking after a four-day 4.7 percent advance.

However, the selling never gathered any momentum and the industrial average has traded in a narrow 63-point range. With an hour left to trade, the Dow has overcome the early weakness and is up 17 points.

Sentiment

Stocks opened higher Monday after global equity markets cheered G-20 promises of additional fiscal stimulus. Equity markets moved broadly higher across the Asia/Pacific and in Europe after the Group of 20 central bankers and finance ministers agreed to "continue to provide support for the economy until the recovery is assured."

In the US, with no economic data scheduled until Thursday and no earnings of broad market significance to guide the morning action, the major averages moved higher along with overseas markets.

Sentiment

The major averages opened lower on disappointing jobs data, but then battled back and are little changed late Friday. Stock index futures sank early after the Labor Department reported that the US economy lost 190,000 jobs during the month of October. Stock index futures were higher ahead of the news, but then fell because economists were expecting a smaller 175,000 drop. In addition, the nation's unemployment rate unexpectedly jumped. The percent of unemployed rose to 10.2 percent and its highest since 1983. Economists were expecting the unemployment rate to hold steady at 9.8 percent.

The jobs report wasn't a complete disaster, however. September numbers were revised up to show a loss of 219,000, better than the -263,000 initially reported. August numbers were revised higher as well. Meanwhile, average hourly earnings rose .3 percent in October, which was better than the .1 percent economist had expected.

Sentiment

Stocks opened higher on positive earnings from Cisco (CSCO) and a bigger-than-expected decline in weekly jobless claims. Before the opening bell, the Labor Department reported that jobless claims fell by 20,000 to 512,000 last week. Economists were looking for a smaller 8,000 decline. The report takes on added importance this week, as it comes ahead of the Labor Department's monthly jobs data Friday. Economists expect tomorrow's numbers to show the economy losing 175,000 jobs in October. The unemployment rate is expected to improve to 6.5 percent, from 6.6 percent.

Meanwhile, Cisco Systems is helping both the Dow and the NASDAQ. Shares are up 68 cents to $23.97 after the tech bellwether reported earnings that beat Street estimates and the company's CEO also noted that a recovery in the industry is "well underway." CSCO and the other 29 components of the Dow are up and the industrial average has added 200 points heading into the final forty-five minutes of trading. The NASDAQ gained 47.

Sentiment

Stocks are trading higher after the Federal Reserve concluded its latest FOMC meeting and signaled no real changes to their ultra low interest rate policy. Some investors were concerned the Fed would signal a tighter stance and remove the phrase "economic conditions are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period," from the post meeting text. But, they didn't.

After the typical knee-jerk reaction, the major averages found some support about 15 minutes after the statement was released and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 125 points heading into the final forty-five minutes of trading. The NASDAQ added 13.

Sentiment

The major averages opened lower following weakness in overseas markets and, after a move back to positive territory midday, are under water again late Tuesday. Bank stocks led benchmarks lower across Europe after RBS announced plans to participate in an asset-protection plan with the UK Treasury. Lloyd's opted not to, but the concern is that some European banks are still holding bad assets.

UK's FTSE lost 1.3 percent. France's CAC 40 dropped 1.5 percent and Germany's DAX gave up 1.4 percent. Losses were suffered across the Asia/Pacific as well. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.8 percent and India's Sensex tumbled more than 3 percent.

Sentiment

The major averages are trying to bounce back from steep losses suffered Friday and were helped higher in morning trading by better-than-expected economic news. The ISM Manufacturing Index, released at 10:00 eastern time, showed a surprise uptick to 55.7 in October -- which was up from 52.6 in September and better than the 53 economists had predicted. Separate data on construction spending and pending home sales, also released at 10:00, improved more than economists had expected as well.

Yet, after the initial positive reaction to the data, the major averages gave back the gains, as the bearish underlying tone continues. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which hit a high of 9,859, was under water by midday and up 38 points to 9,751 heading into the final hour. The tech-heavy NASDAQ is down 3 points after Citi analysts whacked PALM and Research In Motion (RIMM) with Sell ratings.

Sentiment

The bearish funk continues Wednesday. The S&P 500 is down for a sixth time in seven days, as the economic and earnings news failed to spur any buying interest in the equity market. A number of companies, including SAP (SAP), Conoco Philips (COP), and Etrade (ETFC) slipped on earnings news early in the day.

Meanwhile, energy, metals and mining names are mostly lower after crude oil lost $2.08 to $77.47 a barrel and gold gave up $6 to $1029.40 an ounce.

Sentiment

The S&P 500 is flat late-Tuesday following a round of mixed earnings news. Some of the energy-related names, including Dow components Exxon Mobile (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), are seeing gains after BP reported earnings that beat Street estimates and crude oil gained 74 cents to $79.42 a barrel. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 40 points heading into the final hour of trading.

However, the tech-heavy NASDAQ is down 20 points after Chinese Internet company Baidu.com (BIDU) fell on earnings news. BIDU is down $52.33 to $380.64 in late-day action.

Sentiment

The S&P 500 Index is down for a fourth time in five days, as a cautious underlying tone continues through the earnings reporting season. The major average opened higher, with better-than-expected earnings from Marvell Tech (MRVL) helping the tech sector and Radioshack's (RSH) results giving a lift to some of the consumer names.

However, Dow component Verizon (VZ) slipped after earnings met Street estimates and BofA (BAC) sank after the Wall Street Journal reported that its plans to repay TARP funds might have hit a snag. BofA (BAC) is down 5 percent and the biggest loser in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Sentiment

Stocks are trading broadly lower despite a batch of better-than-expected earnings and economic news Friday. Microsoft (MSFT) is up 5.3 percent and helped lift both the Dow and the NAZ early after the software giant reported a quarterly profit of 40 cents per share on $12.92 billion in revenues. Analysts were expecting 32 cents on 12.32 billion.

Better than expected results from Amazon.com (AMZN), Ingersoll Rand (IR), Honeywell (HON), Fortune Brands (FO), and Whirlpool (WHR) also helped set a positive tone for morning trading.

Sentiment

Stocks were trading mixed early Thursday, as investors digested another hefty dose of earnings news. 57 components of the S&P 500, or 11 percent of the index, were due to report results today. A number of Dow stocks, including McDonald's (MCD), 3M (MMM), and Travelers (TRV), moved higher on better-than-expected earnings, which gave the Dow Jones Industrial Average a modest lift in early trading. However, the NASDAQ opened lower on the heels of a disappointing fourth quarter earnings outlook from eBay (EBAY).

Stocks traded mixed through midday, but then a late day push higher drove both the Dow and the NASDAQ to their best levels of the day by around 15:00 eastern time. There doesn't seem to be a specific catalyst for the late day strength. Travelers shares are up 7 percent and leading the industrial average to session highs. 24 other Dow stocks are higher, 5 lower, and the industrial average is up 130 points.

Sentiment

Stocks are holding modest gains in a day of relatively quiet market action Wednesday. With no economic data to guide the morning action, attention was again on earnings. The major averages slipped at the open after Boeing (BA) and Wells Fargo (WFC) traded lower on earnings news.

However, Sandisk (SNDK) and Morgan Stanley (MS) rallied (see Implied Volatility Movers) on better-than-expected results. Meanwhile, a jump in crude oil helped lift some of the energy-related names. Crude oil rose $2.25 to a one-year high of $81.37 a barrel following EIA's latest weekly inventory report.

Sentiment

Stocks are trading broadly lower late Tuesday after the latest round of earnings news failed to spark another round of buying interest in the equity market. Better-than-expected results from Apple Computer (AAPL) and Texas Instruments (TXN) helped lift stock index futures late Monday. A number of Dow stocks -- United Technologies (UTX), Pfizer (PFE), and Caterpillar (CAT) -- reported better than expected results Tuesday morning.

However, after a 96-point advance Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average failed to extend the gains Tuesday morning. The day's economic data didn't help. A report released before the bell showed housing starts increasing by 3,000 to an annualized rate of 590,000 in September. Economists were looking for an increase to 610,000. Building permits, a better gauge of future activity, fell to 573,000 from 580,000. Economists were expecting 595,000. Meanwhile, the Producer Price Index [PPI] took an unexpected dip in September. After increasing 1.7 percent in August, the gauge of prices on the wholesale level fell .6 percent. Economists were looking for no change in the PPI.

Sentiment

Stocks are broadly higher on hopes the earnings reporting season will deliver good news for investors in the days and weeks ahead. Caterpillar (CAT), which releases results Tuesday morning, is up 5.3 percent and leading the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a triple digit gain. Texas Instruments (TXN) is holding modest gains and Apple Computer (AAPL) is flat ahead of reports due out after the closing bell. The tech-heavy NASDAQ is up 20.

The economic calendar remains light. A report from the National Association of Homebuilders [NAHB] released Monday afternoon showed homebuilder sentiment [HMI] slipped to 18 in October, down from 19 the month before and its fist decline since June, when the gauge of industry confidence slipped to 15.

Sentiment

Stocks opened broadly lower following a round of mostly disappointing stock news Friday. GE (GE) is down 4 percent and weighing down the Dow Jones Industrial Average after the company reported quarterly earnings of 22 cents per share on $37.8 billion in revenues. Analysts were looking for 20 cents on $39.5 billion.

IBM (IBM) is the Dow's biggest loser, falling 4.7 percent after the computer maker reported better-than-expected earnings and revenues, but also made cautious comments about corporate technology spending. Bank of America (BAC) reported a 26-cent per share loss for the quarter, which was a nickel worse than expectations. Revenues also missed estimates and BAC is down 4.2 percent on the news.

Sentiment

Stocks have bounced back from early losses and are trading mixed late Thursday. The table was set for weakness after Citi (C) and Goldman Sachs (GS) slipped on earnings news. While both reported profits and revenues that beat Street expectations, shares slipped as some of the good news might have been already discounted during the latest market rally. It was buy the rumor, sell the news.

Meanwhile, the day's economic news was mixed. Before the start of trading in New York, the Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index [CPI], a gauge of inflation at the consumer level, rose .2 percent, which is in-line with expectations..

Sentiment

Stocks are trading higher and the Dow is making a run above 10,000 following a round of upbeat earnings and economic news Wednesday. Intel (INTC) shares are helping both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ after the chipmaker reported quarterly earnings of 33 cents per share, which beat Street estimates by 6 cents. Meanwhile, JP Morgan (JPM) is up 3 percent and among the best gainers in the Dow after the bank reported 82 cents per share for the quarter, which trounced analyst estimates by 30 cents.

The day's economic news helped as well. Data released before the opening bell showed retail sales down 1.5 percent in September, which wasn't as bad as the 2.1 percent decline economists had predicted. Excluding autos, sales edged up .5 percent–compared to expectations for a .2 percent increase.

Sentiment

Stocks are trading modestly lower, as investors brace for this week’s “event risk”. After several days of slow news on the economic front, investors get data on retail sales and import/export prices Wednesday morning. Minutes from the latest FOMC meeting come into focus Wednesday afternoon.

The earnings calendar is picking up as well. Intel (INTC) is due to report after the closing bell and JP Morgan (JPM) releases Wednesday morning. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is down 2.4 percent and the biggest loser in the Dow Jones Industrial Average Tuesday after investors expressed disappointment with JNJ’s revenue numbers.