Sentiment

The major averages battled back from early weakness and are trading mixed late Tuesday. The table was set for morning losses after data showed the US economy growing at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the third quarter, which was revised down from an initial reading of 3.4 percent. The number was in-line with economist estimates, but the data also showed consumer spending increasing 2.9 percent and less than the 3.4 percent initially reported. A wider trade deficit and less business investment were also responsible for the lower GDP number.

Sentiment

The major averages opened higher following gains in overseas markets and the early advance gathered momentum after existing home sales data topped economist projections. Prior to the opening bell on Wall Street, benchmarks were broadly higher across Europe. France's CAC 40 rose 1.7 percent, Germany's DAX gained 1.6 percent, and UK's FTSE was recently up 1.5 percent.

Sentiment

Stocks are broadly lower, as falling crude oil prices, an analyst downgrade of the chip sector, and the options-expiration conspired to kick volatility up a notch. Semiconductor stocks slipped early after BofA/Merrill Lynch downgraded eight semiconductor companies, including Dow component Intel (INTC). Intel is down 4.2 percent and the biggest loser in the Dow Jones Industrial Average late Thursday. Chevron Texaco (CVX) and Exxon Mobile (XOM) are also lower after crude oil fell nearly $2 to $77.60 a barrel.

Sentiment

The major averages opened lower on disappointing housing data and have chopped around somewhat aimlessly ever since. A report released one hour before the start of trading in New York noted that builders broke ground at an annual rate of 529,000 homes last month, which was less than the 592,000 in September and well below economist estimates of 600,000. Building permits, a better gauge of future activity, fell to 552,000 from 575,000. Economists were looking for an increase of 5,000.

Separate data from the Labor Department showed the Consumer Price Index [CPI] increasing by .3 percent in October, and a bit more than the .2 percent economists had expected. Stripping out food and energy, the core CPI rose .2 percent and double what economists had predicted.

Sentiment

Stocks opened lower after the latest round of earnings and economic news failed to spur another round of buying interest in the equity market Tuesday morning. Dow component Home Depot (HD) slid at the open after the home improvement retailer reported better-than-expected earnings for the most recent quarter, but offered only in-line guidance for the full year. Target (TGT), JC Penney (JCP), and SunPower (SPWRA) are also seeing post-earnings weakness.

Meanwhile, the day's economic news included a weaker than expected Producer Price Index (+.3 percent vs. .5 percent consensus) and a disappointing read on industrial production (+.1 percent vs. +.4 percent consensus).

Sentiment

Stocks are broadly higher after the latest retail sales numbers showed an increase of 1.4 percent in October. The increase was fueled by an uptick in auto sales. Excluding autos, sales rose just .2 percent. In addition, September numbers were revised sharply lower (-2.3 percent vs. an initial reading of -1.5 percent). Nevertheless, the headline number seemed to get most of the attention and, along with gains in overseas markets, the news helped set a positive tone for early trading on Wall Street.

Meanwhile, many of the energy, metals and mining names are seeing gains after crude oil jumped $2.50 to $78.85 a barrel and gold gained $22.80 to $1139.50 an ounce.

Sentiment

Stocks are trading modestly higher in a light volume trading session Friday. Economic data came into focus early after a report released before the bell showed the nation's Trade Balance widening to $36.5 billion in September, from -$30.8 billion the month before and more than the $31.8 billion deficit economists had expected. Separate numbers showed import prices jumping .7 percent in October, which was a bit less than the .8 percent economists had expected. Export prices, excluding ag, rose .3 percent.

Stock index futures showed little reaction to the data and the major averages opened the session with modest gains, before slipping on consumer sentiment numbers. About 30 minutes into the trading session, the University of Michigan reported that its index of consumer attitudes fell to 66 in November, down from 70.6 the month before and significantly worse than economist estimates of 71.

Sentiment

Stocks fell despite merger news, a better-than-expected earnings report from Wal-Mart (WMT), and data that showed a decline in weekly jobless claims. Wal-Mart is one of only 5 Dow stocks moving higher after the retailer reported a quarterly profit of 84 cents, which beat Street estimates by 3 cents. On the economic front, the latest weekly jobless claims showed some improvement. According to the Labor Department, filings fell by 12,000 to 502,000 in the week ended November 7. Economists were looking for a smaller 4,000 drop. Meanwhile, the tech sector was in focus on news H-P (HPQ) made a bid for 3Com (COMS) and Advanced Micro (AMD) rallied on news of a long-awaited settlement with Intel (INTC).

However, the tech-heavy NASDAQ gave up its early gains and weakness in the commodities markets sent many metals, mining and energy names lower. Crude oil is down $2.52 to $76.76 on bearish weekly inventory data. Gold lost $8.50 to $1106.10 after the buck bounced a bit higher against the euro.

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.