52 Week Highs and Lows

NYSE

New Highs 38 

COMPANY                       SYMBOL      HIGH                VOLUME 
-------                       ------      ----                ------ 
AES                           AES         13.56              372,272 
AdvanceAmer Cash Centers      AEA         10.55           21,009,138 
Advance Auto Parts            AAP         85.40            1,205,616 
Allied World                  AWH         67.50              129,905 
Ameriprise Finl 7.75% Nts     AMPpA       28.92                2,350 
ApartmentInvMgmt7%Cl Z        AIVpZ       24.75                  200 
Assd Banc-Corp.8.00%Pfd       ABWpB       27.08                  700 
Blackrock Core Bond Tr        BHK         14.11               22,483 
China Mobile                  CHL         52.41              123,881 
Colfax                        CFX         35.65               34,343 
Energ Gerais-Cemig C          CIG/C       19.08                  200 
Energ Gerais-Cemig            CIG         22.58              192,387 
Ecopetrol                     EC          53.88               80,286 
Entergy LA First Mtg Bd       ELB         28.30                1,701 
Enterprise Pdts Partners      EPD         51.71              121,971 
Fomento Economico             FMX         75.00               89,322 
GNC Holdings A                GNC         31.65            1,314,234 
Home Depot                    HD          46.22              994,393 
Hornbeck Offshore             HOS         40.18              633,705 
Intl Paper                    IP          33.32              879,961 
Jabil Circuit                 JBL         25.56              268,198 
KapStone Paper & Pkg          KS          19.21               20,609 
Kayne Anderson Engy Dev       KED         23.24               22,621 
Kilroy Realty                 KRC         43.66               30,741 
Lowe's Cos                    LOW         27.58            1,298,040 
MSC Indust Direct             MSM         80.90                9,937 
Magellan Midstream            MMP         70.44               19,414 
Main Street Capital           MAIN        22.95               11,924 
MS Emerging Mkts Debt         MSD         10.95               22,133 
Motorola Mobility Hldgs       MMI         39.74            2,488,705 
Myers Industries              MYE         14.69               74,515 
Nuveen Insured CA Muni 2      NCL         16.80                8,701 
PS Business Parks             PSB         64.77               22,177 
Plains All Amer Pipeline      PAA         81.90               67,322 
Sunoco Logistics Partners     SXL         40.46               52,460 
Targa Resources Partners      NGLS        40.55               13,138 
VF Corp                       VFC         148.84             475,500 
Western Gas Partners LP       WES         44.55               57,966 

New Lows 4 

COMPANY                       SYMBOL      LOW                 VOLUME 
-------                       ------      ----                ------ 
Agnico-Eagle                  AEM         31.42            1,791,678 
Dynegy                        DYN         1.44               224,443 
Hyperdynamics                 HDY         1.01            11,208,435 
Ultra Petroleum               UPL         22.98            2,331,718

NASDAQ

 
New Highs 32 

COMPANY                       SYMBOL      HIGH                VOLUME 
-------                       ------      ----                ------ 
Altisource Ptfl Sol SA        ASPS        56.47               65,685 
American Capital Agency       AGNC        30.91              496,572 
America's Car-Mart            CRMT        43.21               25,218 
Amylin Pharm                  AMLN        18.35              956,518 
BCSB Bankcorp                 BCSB        14.37                2,500 
BE Aerospace                  BEAV        46.65              112,118 
Body Central                  BODY        28.78               18,119 
Cincinnati Fincl              CINF        35.25              130,401 
Discovery Comm C              DISCK       42.06               61,945 
Discovery Comm A              DISCA       46.60              395,348 
Emcore                        EMKR        5.24                29,161 
Equinix                       EQIX        139.00           1,042,029 
Garmin                        GRMN        44.50              163,934 
German American Bancorp       GABC        21.98                  955 
Gladstn Comcl 7.125 C Pfd     GOODN       25.60                2,400 
Golar LNG Partners LP         GMLP        36.52                9,710 
GRAVITY Co ADS                GRVY        2.70               357,679 
IDEXX Laboratories            IDXX        88.40               24,343 
IRIS Intl                     IRIS        11.17                4,138 
Integrated Silicon Sol        ISSI        10.92               26,555 
Mattel Inc                    MAT         32.79              394,115 
MercadoLibre                  MELI        101.84             134,121 
Monro Muffler Brake           MNRO        46.33               11,323 
NetLogic Microsystems         NETL        49.98              283,913 
Peoples Bancorp of NC         PEBK        8.25                 5,370 
Saba Software                 SABA        12.05               21,653 
Shire PLC                     SHPGY       108.41             118,301 
Simulations Plus              SLP         4.30                25,765 
Town Sports Intl Hldgs        CLUB        10.24              137,406 
Verastem                      VSTM        11.75                1,180 
Verisk Analytics Inc          VRSK        41.68              151,892 
ViroPharma                    VPHM        32.00               45,317 

New Lows 7 

COMPANY                       SYMBOL      LOW                 VOLUME 
-------                       ------      ----                ------ 
AVEO Pharmaceuticals          AVEO        12.45               60,642 
Amyris                        AMRS        6.22                44,743 
B Communications              BCOM        11.03                  639 
Digital Generation            DGIT        11.13              851,145 
iSh Emg Mk Engy Sectr Cap     EMEY        49.61                  100 
Orckit Comm                   ORCT        0.51                61,019 
Uroplasty                     UPI         3.06                34,128

Comments »

“So much for the double dip we always hear so much about.  Neil Hennessy of Hennessy Funds says we’re on the verge of a double recovery:

“That is the first leg of the double recovery.  In my opinion, the second leg of the double recovery is on the near horizon, and it will be driven by investor confidence.  Every fundamental you can measure for the financial markets, price–to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio, price-to-sales ratio, and even price-to-cash-flow, are all at historical lows.  Corporate earnings are at an all-time high.  I believe that these fundamentals provide substantial evidence that there is strong value in the market place today.  I would argue that there are still a few missing ingredients for recovery: job creation, home values and consumer confidence.  What I see happening right now is a slow but deliberate return of confidence among both consumers and businesses.  And I firmly believe that oncebusiness and the consumer return to the marketplace, this double recovery will begin in earnest.  I believe consumer confidence will lead investors back to the equity markets, and that will bolster the confidence of our business leaders to begin spending their cash, expanding and hiring again.  The housing market may take a bit longer to enter this double recovery, but I have no doubt the other ingredients are going to drive growth.”

 

Source

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Full article

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“NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — States are getting $2.5 billion from the national mortgage settlement, but not all of that money is going to help troubled homeowners.

At least two states — Missouri and Wisconsin — are using the funds to plug big holes in their budgets. This does not sit well with some consumer advocates, who would prefer to see the money go to help those suffering from the housing crisis.

Federal and state officials last week announced a $26 billion foreclosure settlement with five of the largest home lenders over allegations of improper foreclosures based on robosigning and faulty paperwork. The vast majority of the funds will be used to provideprincipal reduction or refinancing, as well as payments to borrowers who lost their homes.

States, which took the lead in negotiating the deal, also got a tidy bundle. The settlement says the attorneys general may distribute the money to foreclosure relief and housing programs, such as counseling, legal assistance and mediation initiatives.

But, like in the 1998 tobacco settlement that was supposed to fund health programs, states have some leeway in how they use the money.

Full video/article

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 -CALLS- 
OPTION    EXP.DATE       STRIKE PRC.     VOLUME        LAST S/PRC.    NET CHANGE 
YHOO       4/21/12          16.0000       22027            0.5100      dn 0.0400 
YHOO       7/21/12          16.0000       21900            1.0800      up 0.0500 
BAC        3/17/12           8.0000        8008            0.2700      dn 0.0500 
LLTC       3/17/12          34.0000        3173            0.7500      up 0.1500 
BAC        3/17/12           7.0000        3013            0.8700      dn 0.0600 
AAPL       2/18/12         500.0000        2791            1.8000      dn 2.2000 
AAPL       2/18/12         495.0000        2531            3.0000      dn 3.4500 
BAC       11/17/12           8.0000        2520            1.1300      dn 0.0600 
AAPL       2/18/12         490.0000        2403            5.2000      dn 4.2000 
ESRX       5/19/12          60.0000        2070            1.2800      dn 0.0400 

 -PUTS- 
OPTION    EXP.DATE       STRIKE PRC.     VOLUME        LAST S/PRC.    NET CHANGE 
YHOO       7/21/12          14.0000       21896            0.8800      dn 0.0700 
BAC        5/19/12           7.0000        3607            0.5100      up 0.0200 
AAPL       2/18/12         490.0000        2664            4.7500      up 2.6200 
BAC        3/17/12           7.0000        2435            0.1800      up 0.0200 
AAPL       2/18/12         485.0000        2355            2.8500      up 1.8000 
AAPL       2/18/12         480.0000        2205            1.5000      up 0.9700 
AMZN       2/18/12         180.0000        1626            4.1500      up 3.3800 
BAC        2/18/12           8.0000        1604            0.3200      up 0.0500 
YHOO       4/21/12          14.0000        1551            0.4200      dn 0.0600 
AAPL       2/18/12         495.0000        1515            7.5000      up 3.7000 

 -VOLUME- 
 CALLS      PUTS           TOTAL 
387485     374079         761564

-CALLS- 
OPTION    EXP.DATE       STRIKE PRC.     VOLUME        LAST S/PRC.    NET CHANGE 
ESRX       5/19/12          60.0000         713            1.2800      up 0.0100 
AAPL       2/18/12         500.0000         496            1.7100      dn 2.1900 
AAPL       5/19/12         700.0000         426            0.9600      dn 0.3400 
AAPL       2/18/12         495.0000         380            3.1000      dn 3.4000 
AAPL       2/18/12         505.0000         303            0.8700      dn 1.5100 
WFR        3/17/12           5.0000         292            0.2000      dn 0.0800 
AAPL       2/18/12         490.0000         270            5.4000      dn 4.2000 
OXY        2/18/12         105.0000         233            0.2000      dn 0.2600 
AAPL       2/18/12         510.0000         211            0.5000      dn 0.8400 
AAPL       2/18/12         515.0000         132            0.3400      dn 0.4600 

 -PUTS- 
OPTION    EXP.DATE       STRIKE PRC.     VOLUME        LAST S/PRC.    NET CHANGE 
BAC        4/21/12           7.0000         500            0.3700      up 0.0200 
AAPL       2/18/12         485.0000         432            2.7100      up 1.6600 
AAPL       2/18/12         490.0000         331            4.8000      up 2.7100 
GLD        2/18/12         165.0000         229            0.4400      up 0.2000 
AAPL       2/18/12         480.0000         217            1.5600      up 1.0300 
BAC        5/19/12           7.0000         201            0.5100      up 0.0300 
AAPL       3/17/12         475.0000         176           10.9000      up 3.2000 
YHOO       4/21/12          14.0000         163            0.4600      dn 0.0200 
GLD        3/17/12         160.0000         155            1.1400      up 0.2900 
JPM        3/17/12          32.0000         152            0.1600      up 0.0100 

 -VOLUME- 
   CALLS      PUTS           TOTAL 
   19251      23039          42290

Comments »

Inventories down, employees up…good news again today!

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Purists: continue to argue among yourselves over stimulus period.

For those who understand the need for it; let’s push for more laser focused appropriated funds. Articles about unskilled workers should only be a opportunity for business and government to help citizens re-educate and re-tool America.

Full article

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“The strong market run of early 2012 might not continue, but investors should stay long stocks, says Bob Doll, chief equity strategist for fundamental equities at investment firm BlackRock.

The U.S. economy is likely to “muddle through” and, despite the unlikelihood of ever-improving economic data, stocks will remain a good bet, Doll writes in his weekly commentary.

Corporate earnings should close ahead of expectations and the problems in Europe, while significant, will continue on a path of central bank policy actions and slow government reaction to crises as they happen. That is creating a “risk on, risk off” environment, but one that investors should continue to buy, Doll contends….”

Read more 

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Perverted logic in  a global economy….

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Could we be entering a sustained trend ?

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“Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said investors in oil and gas companies who ignore the cost of emitting carbon dioxide and othergreenhouse gases are making a mistake similar to those who invested in subprime mortgages.

“The value of the subprime mortgages was based on a false assumption,” Gore said yesterday in an interview. “In almost exactly the same way, the value of all of these carbon fuel reserves is based on a similarly absurd assumption.”

Gore made the analogy as Generation Investment Management LLP, the asset manager he founded with former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) executive David Blood, published a five-point plan titled “Sustainable Capitalism” to reform the investment industry. They want the proposals to help combat climate change and poverty as well as boost profit in the long term.

Gore and Blood recommended investors identify “stranded assets” whose value would change significantly under certain scenarios, such as a price being set for carbon or for water. Second, they said investors should use environmental, social and governance data as well as financial data to value companies. Third, companies should end quarterly earnings guidance to remove pressure for short-term gains. Fourth, companies should reward managers for long-term performance, and fifth, investors should be rewarded for holding shares longer with “loyalty- driven securities,” Gore and Blood said….”

Full article

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Many jobs rely on tax credits in the wind industry. A tax credit is set to expire this year threatening tens of thousands of jobs.

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Source

Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM) fell 5.1 percent to $32.47. The Toronto-based gold producer with operations in countries including Finland and Mexico swung to a fourth-quarter loss after a writedown of its Meadowbank mine and said its chief operating officer is leaving.

AMP Ltd. (AMP) : The Sydney-based asset manager said full-year profit fell 11 percent on costs related to its takeover of Axa Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd.’s Australian and New Zealand units.

Blue Nile Inc. (NILE) dropped 24 percent to $31.70. The online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry forecast profit in 2012 of no more than 85 cents a share, missing the average analyst estimate of $1.06.

CBS Corp. (CBS) : The owner of the most-watched U.S. television network reported fourth-quarter sales of $3.78 billion, missing the $3.9 billion average of analysts’ estimates.

Clearwire Corp. (CLWR) fell 11 percent to $2.09. The wireless broadband provider reported a wider fourth-quarter loss on higher interest and tax costs and issued a full-year sales forecast of $1.25 billion, trailing analysts’ estimates of $1.36 billion.

Hyperdynamics Corp. (HDY) : The oil and gas exploration company said its Sabu-1 well off the shore of Guinea reached its planned total depth and an analysis indicates larger volumes of oil were formerly present in reservoirs and may have since leaked out.

Itron Inc. (ITRI) gained 13 percent to $45.28. The maker of utility meters was raised to outperform from neutral by Robert W Baird & Co., meaning the firm expects the shares to beat the U.S. equity market in risk-adjusted total return over the next 12 months. Baird cited fourth-quarter results and the acquisition of Smart Synch to improve technology.

JM Smucker Co. (SJM) fell 7.2 percent to $72.50. The maker of Folgers coffee reported third-quarter earnings excluding some items of $1.22 a share, missing the average analyst estimate of $1.41.

Marriott International Inc. (MAR) (MAR US): The largest publicly traded U.S. hotel chain reported fourth-quarter earnings that missed analysts’ estimates as demand from business groups remains weak.

MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (WFR) : The second-largest U.S. polysilicon maker posted a fourth-quarter loss as the price for the main raw material in solar cells plunged and it had costs related to cutting production and its workforce.

NetApp Inc. (NTAP) : The maker of data-storage products said revenue in the third quarter was $1.57 billion, above the average analyst estimate of $1.56 billion. The company said it won a record number of new customers and significantly increased the amount of units shipped.

Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) dropped 5.7 percent to $15.25. The maker of graphics processors gave a first-quarter sales forecast that missed analysts’ estimates, providing more evidence that hard-disk shortages are cutting into PC production.

ReachLocal Inc. (RLOC) : The company that helps businesses buy online advertising said fourth-quarter profit was 12 cents a share, excluding some items, beating the average analyst estimate of 4 cents.

Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) : The maker of battery-powered cars run by entrepreneur Elon Musk said its fourth-quarter net loss widened to $81.5 million as electric Roadster sales end ahead of the release of Model S sedans.

United Rentals Inc. (URI) : The construction-equipment rental company acquired Coble Trench Safety, a specialty rental company. The terms of the deal were undisclosed.

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Source

Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) Started as Hold at Jefferies.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) Cut to Equal-weight at Morgan Stanley.
AMERCO, Inc. (NASDAQ: UHAL) named as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN) Started as Outperform with $22 target at Credit Suisse.
Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) named as Bear of the Day at Zacks.
Canon, Inc. (NYSE: CAJ) Cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) Reiterated Buy and raised target to $37 at BofA/ML.
Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) Cut to Market Perform Wells Fargo.
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR) started as Overweight with $76 target at Morgan Stanley.
EnerSys Inc. (NYSE: ENS) named as Value Stock of the Day at Zacks.
Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX) Reiterated Buy with $155 target at BofA/ML.
Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ: INCY) Cut to Equal-weight at Morgan Stanley.
Lorillard, Inc. (NYSE: LO) Started as Buy at Jefferies.
MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE: WFR) Raised to Hold at Jefferies.
Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. (NYSE: NWL) Reiterated Buy and raised target to $24 at BofA/ML.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) Cut to Neutral at BofA/ML.
Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) Started as Hold at Jefferies.
Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN) Reinstated as Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Comments »

Gapping up 

AEA +29%, NTAP +9.8%, ITRI +8.5%, TRN +7.6%, LOGM +5.4%, TEX +4.1%, AFFX +3.7%, Z +2.7%, DDIC +2.2%, VDSI +7.6%, TRN +7.6%,

GNC +4.2%, TEX +4.1%, Z +4%, TAP +3.9%, DTV +2.6%, DDIC +2.2%, TSLA +2.2%, VMC +1.5%, NETL +0.3%, CLSN +15.2%, EXPD +0.5%,

Gapping down

HDY -30.7%, NILE -30.7%, CAR -10.2%, PMFG -10%, HWAY -9.3%, HBI -9%, PLX -8.6%, CLWR -7.2%, NVDA -5.4%, A -5.1%, TNGO -4.8%, ACOM -4.5%,

EQIX -4.3%, MT -2.8%, CBS -2.8%, SKX -2.4%, CF -2.4%, BBL -1.9%, RIO -1.8%, ETP -1.8%, DB -1.5%, BDE -1.4%, BHP -1.4%, MAR -1.4%, KGC -1.2%, DGIT -13.8%,

AEM -6.1%, NVDA -6%,  SBLK -5.9%, ABB -5.4%, VALE -2%, ETP -1.8%, ING -1.7%,  AU -4%,  GOLD -2.1%, GFI -2%, GDX -1%, GLD -0.9%, SLV -0.8%, AMZN -2.4%,

FMS -2.1%

 

 

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In Play

On the Wires

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Initial claims: Prior 358k, Market Expects 365k, Actual 348k continuing claims 3.43 millio

PPI: Prior -0.1%, Market Expects 0.3%,  Actual 0.1% Core 0.4%

Housing Starts: Prior 657k, Market Expects 617k, Actual up 1.4% or 657k

Building Permits: Prior  679k, Market expects 674k,  Actual 676k

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Source

“I hesitate to label this piece as “opinion,” because it is fact — rather than one’s editorial opinion — that the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) contains indefinite detention without trial provisions which violate a shocking number of Constitutional and international civil rights protections.

These imprisonment without trial provisions were drafted by a bipartisan group in Congress, and then quietly signed into law by President Obama on New Year’s Eve — after his administration withdrew an earlier veto threat on NDAA.

The lack of media coverage of this historic event has been stunning, and as awareness of the NDAA grows online, some individuals are seeking clarity as to what laws, specifically, are violated by the NDAA’s indefinite detention provisions.

The video segment below gives you a brief, two-minute rundown on the legal specifics, and the rights violated by the NDAA. Special thanks to the National Lawyers Guild; I’ve relied heavily on their analysis for this piece. Also, other leading legal and civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have come to similar conclusions about the NDAA’s unconstitutionality and threat to our democratic values.

At time of publication, multiple bills have been proposed in the House which would seek to “de-claw” or repeal the most egregious portions of the NDAA. The public’s support of such bills is, in my view, crucial at this time.

Legal breakdown of the NDAA:

[youtube://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufOE3Bd002o 450 300] “

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