Thread: This Month in Stocks January: 12/28 - 02/01/2008

It's either the Santa Claus Rally or the Grench Pull-back!........

New Year Set for a Negative Start

Last Update: 31-Dec-07 16:33 ET

Price level vs. 4 pm ET: Despite some encouraging news on the housing front, the major averages closed lower on Monday, the last day of a difficult year, as overarching concerns about the economy continued to weigh on investor sentiment.

Nine out of ten economic sectors posted losses today.

For 2007, the Dow Jones Industrials average gained 6.4%, while the broader S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 3.5% and 9.8%, respectively. The Nasdaq 100 finished 18.7% higher on the year, while the Russell 2000 ended the year down 2.8%.

A slightly negative tone dictates the after hours session. The S&P 500 futures, at 1477.20, are less than a point below fair value, while the Nasdaq 100 futures, at 2104.75, are slightly below fair value.

S&P 500 did 3.5% that stinks, but is better than a negative number.

Today: Events: Federal Open Market Committee monetary policy meeting minutes released (2:00 PM ET) and November Construction Spending, December ISM Index.

According to the STA the Jan. 3rd is a strong day.

Good luck!

The S&P 500's 1460 gap was just filled. Let's see if we get any support there.

Originally Posted by tsptalk

The S&P 500's 1460 gap was just filled. Let's see if we get any support there.

Blew through that. What's next support 1439 or lower?

Nonfarm payroll missed big. Trays in the upright position, turbulence ahead.

Wow, what a ride. All gaps are fill and the PPT is getting ready for a save the day maneuver.

The Week Ahead

Last Update: 04-Jan-08 09:04 ET

http://www.briefing.com/GeneralConte...44LookingAhead

Business gets back to usual now that the holidays have passed and the kids are back in school. The key happenings during the week will be the Consumer Electronics show, the same-store sales reports from the retailers, and a speech on the economic outlook from Fed Chairman Bernanke.

Separately, in light of Friday's weaker than expected payrolls report, the weekly initial claims number on Thursday will receive increased attention. Similarly, now that oil prices have pierced the $100 per barrel mark, the weekly inventory report from the Dept. of Energy will remain a focal point. Further details on the economic data can be previewed via the links on our Economic Calendar.

An array of companies are scheduled to report their latest earnings results next week, including Briefing.com Active Portfolio holding Immucor (BLUD). Other companies slated to announce include KB Home (KBH), Mosaic (MOS),and Alcoa (AA). The latter company's report will mark the official start of the fourth quarter earnings reporting season. A complete schedule can be previewed on Briefing.com's Earnings Calendar.
__________________________________________________ ______________
Monday, January 7:

• Earnings: Immucor (BLUD), Lawson Software (LWSN)
• Economic Data: None
• Events: None
• Conferences: JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, Consumer Electronics Assoc. Conference and Show, Credit Suisse Group Investor Reception, JP Morgan Tech Forum
• Fed Speakers: Atlanta Fed President Lockhart speaks on U.S. economic outlook in Atlanta (12:40 PM ET)

Tuesday, January 8:

• Earnings: Acuity Brands (AYI), Constellation Brands (STZ), Family Dollar (FDO), KB Home (KBH), Supervalu (SVU), Apollo Group (APOL)
• Economic Data: November Pending Home Sales, November Consumer Credit
• Events: None
• Conferences: Annual Needham Growth Conference, Consumer Electronics Assoc. Conference and Show, Citigroup Entertainment Conference, JP Morgan Global Energy Day, JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, Pritchard Capital Partners Energize Conference, Raymond James Government Services & Technology Summit
• Fed Speakers: Philadelphia Fed President Plosser speaks on economic outlook in PA (8:20 AM ET), Boston Fed President Rosengren speaks at economic conference in CT (10:50 AM ET)

Wednesday, January 9:

• Earnings: Mosaic(MOS), Alcoa (AA), Ruby Tuesday (RT), Helen of Troy (HELE), WD-40 Co. (WDFC)
• Economic Data: None
• Events: VF Corp. Analyst Meeting
• Conferences: Annual Needham Growth Conference, Consumer Electronics Assoc. Conference and Show, Citigroup Entertainment Conference, JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, Pritchard Capital Partners Energize Conference
• Fed Speakers: St. Louis Fed President Poole discusses U.S. economic activity in St. Louis (9:30 AM ET)

Thursday, January 10:

• Earnings:Shuffle Master (SHFL), IHS Inc. (IHS)
• Economic Data: Initial Jobless Claims (week ending Jan. 5), November Wholesale Inventories, Crude Inventories (week ending Jan. 5)
• Events: Merit Medical Supplies Investor Meeting, December Same-Store Sales
• Conferences: Annual Needham Growth Conference, Consumer Electronics Assoc. Conference and Show, Citigroup Entertainment Conference, JP Morgan Healthcare Conference
• Fed Speakers: Fed Chairman Bernanke speaks on economic outlook (1:00 PM ET), Kansas City Fed President Hoenig speaks in Kansas City regarding U.S. economic outlook (1:00 PM ET)

Friday, January 11:

• Earnings: Infosys(INFY)
• Economic Data: December Import and Export Prices, November Trade Balance, December Treasury Budget
• Events: Merit Medical Supplies Investor Meeting
• Conferences: Annual Needham Growth Conference
• Fed Speakers: Fed Governor Mishkin on monetary policy flexibility, risk management and financial disruptions (12:45 ET), Boston Fed President Rosengren speaks at an economic outlook conference in VT (1:00 PM ET)

--Jeffrey Ham, Briefing.com

Pluge Protection Team (PPT)

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080105/bush_economy.html

AP
White House Considering Stimulus Package
Saturday January 5, 7:26 am ET
By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer Bush Administration Considering a Possible Economic Stimulus Package to Ward Off Recession

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration, faced with a deteriorating economy and a big jump in unemployment, said Friday it was considering an economic stimulus package that might include tax cuts to ward off a recession.

Officials stressed that President Bush has not decided yet to offer a proposal but was looking at a variety of options with a plan possibly being unveiled around the time of his Jan. 28 State of the Union address.
"The president is always looking at options ... always talking to people and looking at data," Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Bush met Friday with top economic officials including Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who are part of the president's working group on financial markets, a group formed after the 1987 stock market crash to monitor markets.

The president was given an assessment of how the economy is behaving and how financial markets are performing after the severe credit squeeze that hit in August. A number of big financial institutions have declared multibillon-dollar losses because of rising defaults in the subprime mortgage market. White House spokesman Tony Fratto said tax cuts were an option being considered.

More at link.