A Milestone Monday

Last week was good, but today was the topper. The Dow crossed over into territory it had not seen since 2001... 11,000!!! But the bigger news is that NASDAQ keeps rolling, adding another 1/2% today as techs rack up. Even beleagured GM fared well today, as analysts gave the stock a nod and news from the auto show was promising. With rising oil prices, hybrids are looking better by the day! Dow +52.59 NASDAQ +13.07 S&P 500 +4.70

What a Week!!

The first week of 2006 started off with a bang. Tech companies came out of the shoot like a bullet, with NASDAQ gaining over 100 points in this first week. That puts this index up 4.5% so far this year. Not bad for a weekly return!! The Dow also showed signs of life, despite the automakers, gaining nearly 3/4%, while the broader S&P 500 put in a nice showing of almost 1%. The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas gave clues to future tech winners. Everyone is still trying to one-up Apple and its Ipod. Intel is set to unveil Viiv, and Microsoft is ready with a new Windows upgrade called Vista. Could "V" stand for victory? Not everyone had good news today. Martha Stewart's conviction was upheld... a good thing she already served her time. Dow +77.16 +0.71% NASDAQ +28.75 +1.26% S&P 500 +11.97 +0.9%

Three in a Row!

Markets continued in the green, with all three indices posting gains on the day. The Dow, although positive, only gained 2 points. Automakers continue to leave a mark on this index. Technology continues to soar, gaining more than 1/2% for the day. The S&P 500 was also, basically, flat. 2006 seems to be starting on the right foot. Jobless claims are down. Retailers reported mixed news on the holiday season. Wal Mart disappointed, but Nordstrom exceeded expectations. Could consumers be so confident that they are giving up discounters and heading upscale? Dow +2.00 NASDAQ +13.41 S&P 500 +0.02

Automakers Crying the Blues

GM, Ford, and Chrysler just can't keep pace with the foreign guys. Another day of bad news on the sales front for all three. GM was the worst with a dip in sales of 10%. How much worse can it get for this old-line manufacturer? Concern is growing about a possible bankruptcy. I'm watching the bond market closely on this one. These three held the Dow down today to modest gains. Meanwhile, the techs posted a gain of nearly 1%, on top of the 1.74% gain from yesterday. What a way to start the new year! Dow +32.74 NASDAQ +19.72 S&P 500 +4.66

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's the beginning of another stock trading year. While the calendar reads the 3rd of January, for stocks, it's day one. And what a day it was! After a tepid December, stocks took off on the first day of 2006. NASDAQ added 1.74%, while the Dow tacked on 1.21% for the day. What's the excitement about? The Fed indicated it may not raise rates again for some time. Notes from their December meeting show an inclination to leave things alone for now. Investors cheered this news. Dow +129.91 NASDAQ +38.42 S&P 500 +20.51