Markets Friday, 01/4/2008

Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 17:37:44 -0500

|
| Dow : 12800.18 down 256.54

| S & P : 1411.63 down 35.53

| NASDAQ: 2504.65 down 98.03

| Bond (10Y): 3.87%, 103.03

MARKETS:
Brutal selloff on Wall Street
Dow tumbles over 250 points after weaker-than-expected jobs report
revives recession worries. The Nasdaq plunges.

Jobless rate jumps to 5% as payroll growth stalls

Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:06:11 (GMT)

Jobless rate jumps to 5% as payroll growth stalls

WASHINGTON
The nation's unemployment rate shot up to 5% in December as job growth
stalled, a sign that the labor market is stressed as the U.S. economic
slump spreads. .

Huckabee, Obama win first-in-nation Iowa caucuses
WASHINGTON
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won
upset victories in Iowa's Republican and Democratic caucuses on Thursday
night, sealing important wins in the first bout in the 2008 presidential
election. See full story.

Tokyo stocks plunge during first session of 2008

HONG KONG
Japanese shares started the first day of trading in the New Year by
plunging to a 17-month low in a shortened half-day session that export
saw stocks pressured by concerns over the stronger yen and fears of a
slowing U.S. economy.

And Now, On To New Hampshire

Breaking News
January 4, 2008

Clinton Team Retools Strategy In N.H.

Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to target what her campaign calls Barack
Obama's inexperience over the next five days in New Hampshire and
deliver much sharper attacks against the Iowa winner, the Politico
reports.
-------------------
And Now, On To New Hampshire

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee headed into the
Granite State on Friday as Iowa's presidential champions, one hoping to
ride history's trend and the other eager to break it. Neither can expect
it to be easy. 

Recession fears hammer stocks with the Nasdaq marking its worst day in more than a year. Dow tanks 260 points.

Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 16:01:52 -0500

Recession fears hammer stocks with the Nasdaq marking its worst day in
more than a year. Dow tanks 260 points.

Midday Report: U.S. stocks drop as jobs data point to economic trouble

Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:06:11 (GMT)

U.S. stocks drop as jobs data point to economic trouble

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks on Friday sank after the government reported the jobless
rate jumped up to 5% in December, signaling broader troubles for the
economy.

Economic Report: Jobless rate jumps to 5% as payroll growth stalls

WASHINGTON
The nation's unemployment rate shot up to 5% in December as job growth
stalled, a sign that the labor market is stressed as the U.S. economic
slump spreads.

Huckabee, Obama win first-in-nation Iowa caucuses

WASHINGTON
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won
upset victories in Iowa's Republican and Democratic caucuses on Thursday
night, sealing important wins in the first bout in the 2008 presidential
election.

Tokyo stocks plunge during first session of 2008

HONG KONG
Japanese shares started the first day of trading in the New Year by
plunging to a 17-month low in a shortened half-day session that export
saw stocks pressured by concerns over the stronger yen and fears of a
slowing U.S. economy.

Federal Reserve announces it will lend up to $60 billion this month to banks in continuing effort to ease credit crunch.

Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 12:05:49 -0500

Federal Reserve announces it will lend up to $60 billion this month to
banks in continuing effort to ease credit crunch.

Huckabee, Obama Win Iowa Caucuses

Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 08:30:02 -0500
Huckabee, Obama Win Iowa Caucuses

Sen. Barack Obams swept to victory in the Iowa caucuses over a
high-powered Democratic field. Mike Huckabee rode a wave of support from
evangelical Christians to win the opening round among Republicans in the
2008 campaign for the White House. 

U.S. payrolls up an anemic 18,000 in December, unemployment rises to 5%.

Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 08:30:48 -0500

U.S. payrolls up an anemic 18,000 in December, unemployment rises to
5%.

AP: Huckabee, Obama win Iowa caucuses

Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:50:40 -0600

DES MOINES - Barack Obama has won the Iowa Democratic caucuses and Mike
Huckabee has won the GOP race, the Associated Press estimated Thursday
night.

News Alert! Barack Obama has won the Iowa Democratic caucus.

Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 21:24:55 -0500

Barack Obama has won the Iowa Democratic caucus.

Markets Thursday, 01/3/2008

Thursday, 1/3/2008

| Dow : 13056.72 up 12.76

| S & P : 1447.16 up 0.00

| NASDAQ: 2602.68 down 6.95

| Bond (10Y): 3.89%, 102.88

MARKETS:
Stocks struggle ahead of jobs
Wall Street wobbles after previous session's big decline, as investors
mull reports on jobs and factory orders and gear up for Friday's big
report.

After The Bell Report: Crude ends lower on economic concerns after earlier topping $100

Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:01:09 (GMT)

Crude ends lower on economic concerns after earlier topping $100

Crude-oil futures ended Thursday's volatile session down modestly, as
concerns about economic weakness overtook a government report that
showed U.S. crude inventories dropped more than expected. Crude,
however, topped $100 in earlier trading.

Monsanto's shares rally; results get a Latin America boost

Monsanto Co. shares hit an all-time high Thursday, rallying as the
agricultural company raised its earnings outlook for fiscal 2008 and
reported having nearly tripled its first-quarter profit.

Weather Channel up for possible sale

The Weather Channel, one of the pioneering 24-hour cable news networks,
is for sale and has already drawn a number of interested bidders.

Netflix, LG team up to bring movies straight to HDTV

Online DVD-rental pioneer Netflix Inc. and LG Electronics said Thursday
that they're developing a set-top box that will allow consumers to
stream movies and other content directly from the Web to their
high-definition TVs. It's a move that could put new pressure on the
already-declining DVD market.

Huckabee wins GOP Iowa Caucuses

Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 18:09:43 -0800 (PST)
BREAKING NEWS
Report: Huckabee wins GOP Iowa Caucuses

The AP reports that Mike Huckabee has won the Republican caucuses in
Iowa.

News Alert! Iowa Caucuses Begin; Tight Race For Dems

Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 19:54:12 -0500

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are battling for the lead in the Iowa
Democratic caucuses, according to entrance polls.

U.S. stocks higher after economic data, Monsanto outlook

Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:06:06 (GMT)

U.S. stocks higher after economic data, Monsanto outlook

U.S. stocks were higher on Thursday, casting aside two sessions of
losses after economic data offered stronger-than-expected readings on
the labor and manufacturing fronts and agricultural giant Monsanto Co.
hiked its yearly forecast.

Futures Movers: Crude little changed on inventories, weak jobs data

Crude-oil futures swung between gains and losses on Thursday, after
touching $100 a barrel in the previous session, as traders pondered a
larger-than-expected drop in U.S. inventories and the weakest jobs
report in four months.

Monsanto's shares rally; results get a Latin America boost

Monsanto Co. said Thursday it almost tripled its fiscal first-quarter
profit from a year ago thanks in part to strong Latin America demand for
its Roundup herbicide and seed trait products.

Auto makers seen posting worst sales year since 1998

Major auto makers on Thursday will close their books on what is expected
to be the worst year of car sales in almost a decade, as buyers were too
busy dealing with ballooning gas prices and persistent housing woes to
flock to showrooms.

Oil touches $100 a barrel for second straight day after crude inventory shortfall. Update soon.

Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 11:33:48 -0500

Oil touches $100 a barrel for second straight day after crude inventory
shortfall.

Market Briefing Newsletter for Wednesday, 01/2/2008

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 17:37:44 -0500

| Dow : 13043.96 down 220.86

| S & P : 1447.16 down 21.20

| NASDAQ: 2609.63 down 42.65

| Bond (10Y): 3.90%, 102.75

MARKETS:
Stocks tank on recession fears
Wall Street starts 2008 on a down note after weak manufacturing report
and surging oil prices unnerve investors.

Dow tallies biggest first-session-of-year point drop ever

Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:06:13 (GMT)

Dow tallies biggest first-session-of-year point drop ever

U.S. stocks on Wednesday started off 2008 with a whimper instead of a
bang as escalating commodity prices and a gauge of manufacturing
activity fueled worries about the economy, propelling the Dow to its
steepest start-of-a-year point drop ever.

Futures Movers: Crude hits $100 a barrel on supply concerns, Nigeria
violence

Crude-oil futures hit the $100 mark Wednesday and closed up nearly $4 on
expectations that U.S. crude inventories fell for a seventh consecutive
week and on concerns that violence in Nigeria may cut output from
Africa's biggest oil producer.

Marshall Loeb: The candidates are better than you might think

NEW YORK
As election year 2008 begins at last and voters in Iowa and New
Hampshire let us know their preferences, many people throughout the
nation are asking an irksome question: Why, in a nation so rich and
varied as ours, can we not come up with a more exciting list of
candidates for the presidency than the mediocre bunch we appear to be
stuck with?

The Fed: Dec. rate cut had little opposition in FOMC

WASHINGTON
With Federal Reserve officials surprised by the weakening of the credit
markets and the economy, and worried that things could get even worse,
nearly all members of the Federal Open Market Committee backed the
quarter percentage-point cut in the federal funds rate at the Dec. 11
meeting, according to a summary of the meeting released Wednesday by the
Fed.

Auto makers seen posting worst sales year since 1998

Major auto makers on Thursday will close their books on what is expected
to be the worst year of car sales in almost a decade, as buyers were too
busy dealing with ballooning gas prices and persistent housing woes to
flock to showrooms.

Wall Street walloped on first trading day of '08 as $100 oil and recession fears send Dow, Nasdaq, S&P more than 1% lower.

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 16:01:51 -0500

Wall Street walloped on first trading day of '08 as $100 oil and
recession fears send Dow, Nasdaq, S&P more than 1% lower.

Oil settles at record $99.62 a barrel on a day that saw crude push to $100 for first time ever.

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 15:02:04 -0500

Oil settles at record $99.62 a barrel on a day that saw crude push to
$100 for first time ever.

Federal Reserve sees economy as 'unusually uncertain' and consumer spending slowing, minutes from last meeting show.

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 14:05:04 -0500

Federal Reserve sees economy as 'unusually uncertain' and consumer
spending slowing, minutes from last meeting show.

News Alert! AG Mukasey To Open Criminal Probe Of CIA Tapes Destruction

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 14:27:17 -0500

Attorney General Michael Mukasey will announce that the Justice
Department has opened a full-scale criminal investigation into the
destruction of the CIA interrogation videotapes.

Breaking News: Oil hits $100 a barrel

Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:39:42 -0600

NEW YORK - Oil prices hit a record $100 a barrel Wednesday on supply
concerns sparked by renewed violence in Nigeria and a warning that OPEC
may not be able to meet global oil demand by 2024.

Breaking News: Oil hits $100 a barrel

Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:39:42 -0600

NEW YORK - Oil prices hit a record $100 a barrel Wednesday on supply
concerns sparked by renewed violence in Nigeria and a warning that OPEC
may not be able to meet global oil demand by 2024.

Dow industrials down 200 points as oil surges and worries about economy intensify

Date: 2 JAN 2008 17:34:28 GMT

BULLETIN »
Dow industrials down 200 points as oil surges and worries about economy
intensify
1/2/2008 12:32:51 PM

Pakistan Elections Delayed Until February

Breaking News
January 2, 2008
Pakistan Elections Delayed Until February

Pakistan elections will be delayed until February 18 following the
turmoil sparked by Benazir Bhutto's assassination, last month, an
election official said. 

Independents May Boost Obama In Iowa

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 11:30:03 -0500

Independents May Boost Obama In Iowa

Significant support for Barack Obama from independents has put rival
Democratic campaigns on edge, challenging the traditional model of the
state's caucuses as a low-turnout exercise dominated by partisan
insiders, the Washington Post reports. 

U.S. stocks decline amid worries about economy

Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:06:13 (GMT)

U.S. stocks decline amid worries about economy

U.S. stocks on Wednesday extended the prior session's losses into the
new year after a key gauge of manufacturing activity showed continued
weakness in the sector and rising energy prices added to market
uncertainty.

Futures Movers: Oil contract rises 2% on supply concerns, violence in
Nigeria

NEW YORK
Crude-oil futures surged to trade near $98 a barrel on Wednesday,
propelled higher by expectations of another drawdown in weekly U.S.
crude supplies as well as by a fresh outbreak of violent clashes
reported in oil-rich Nigeria.

National City slashing dividend, laying off 900 staffers

NEW YORK
National City Corp said Wednesday that it's cutting its quarterly
dividend in half, laying off 900 mortgage-services workers and moving to
bolster capital as it becomes the latest bank to feel the pain of the
subprime-mortgage debacle.

Qualcomm eyes 'workarounds' as Broadcom wins patent order

NEW YORK
Qualcomm Inc. warned Wednesday that it expects an "immediate, short-term
impact" to result from a federal court's ruling that it must stop
producing and marketing wireless-phone chips and software that infringe
three Broadcom Corp. patents.

Election Notebook: Obama and Huckabee hold leads on eve of Iowa
caucuses: poll

WASHINGTON
It's looking like it could be a happy New Year for Barack Obama: The
Illinois senator is leading closest rival Hillary Clinton in a new poll
with just one day to go before the critical Iowa caucuses.

Oil - up 60% in the past year - passes $100 a barrel for first time on concerns about inventories and Nigerian supplies.

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 12:15:09 -0500

Oil - up 60% in the past year - passes $100 a barrel for first time on
concerns about inventories and Nigerian supplies.

U.S. stocks retreat as manufacturing index shows first pullback in activity in nearly a year.

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 10:02:49 -0500

U.S. stocks retreat as manufacturing index shows first pullback in
activity in nearly a year.

---------------------------------
BULLETIN :
U.S. construction spending rises slightly; economists had predicted a
decline
1/2/2008 10:03:54 AM

U.S. manufacturing index tumbles - first indication of decline in almost
a year.
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 10:02:49 -0500

U.S. stock indexes inch upward as 2008 trading opens

Date: 2 JAN 2008 14:43:08 GMT

BULLETIN
U.S. stock indexes inch upward as 2008 trading opens
1/2/2008 9:40:33 AM

Kenya Teeters On Brink Of Civil War

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 08:30:03 -0500
Breaking News

Kenya Teeters On Brink Of Civil War

Post-election violence in Kenya has pushed the African bastion of
democracy to the edge of ethnically-motivated civil war. At least 275
people have been killed, including dozens, many children, burned alive
while seeking refuge in a church. 

Kenyan Mob Burns Church, Killing Up To 50

Breaking News
January 1, 2008
Kenyan Mob Burns Church, Killing Up To 50

A mob torched a church sheltering hundreds of Kenyans fleeing election
violence on Tuesday, killing about 50 people as the convulsion of
bloodshed continued after the disputed vote that gave the president a
second term.

U.S. Diplomat Killed In Sudan Attack

Breaking News
January 1, 2008

U.S. Diplomat Killed In Sudan Attack

A U.S. diplomat shot in Khartoum died of injuries sustained in the
attack, which also killed the official's Sudanese driver, the U.S.
Embassy said. Officials say the diplomat was shot five times and
underwent surgery. 

World Welcomes 2008

Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2008 08:30:03 -0500
World Welcomes 2008

Fireworks have flashed and people have hugged and danced to celebrate
the arrival of 2008 in cities across the globe.

Breaking News: Bhutto planned to expose vote-rig scheme, aide says

Date: Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:29:37 -0600

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP); On the day she was killed, opposition leader
Benazir Bhutto planned to give two U.S. lawmakers a dossier accusing the
ruling regime and Pakistan's intelligence service of rigging upcoming
elections, an aide said Tuesday.

Forum:

Date: 1 Jan 2008 05:16:00 -0000
香港2017普選：您的意見

中國全國人大常委會訂立香港在2017年普選行政長官的時間表，孰遲孰早？
More...go to

http://www.bloglines.com/blog/johnDispatch

Markets Monday, 12/31/2007

Monday, 12/31/2007

| Dow : 13264.82 down 101.05

| S & P : 1468.36 down 10.13

| NASDAQ: 2652.28 down 22.18

| Bond (10Y): 4.03%, 101.75

MARKETS:
2007: A winning year on Wall Street
However, major indexes stumble on the last trading day of year.

Stocks under pressure but still on track to post yearly gains

Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:06:08 (GMT)

Stocks under pressure but still on track to post yearly gains

U.S. stocks dropped Monday on the final trading day of 2007, with the
market finding only short-term comfort from a report that existing-home
sales modestly improved in November.

Economic Report: Existing-home sales rise modestly in November

Offering a rare hint of stability, sales of U.S. existing homes rose
0.4% in November to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5 million,
the National Association of Realtors reported Monday.

Merrill reportedly seeking more capital from foreign investors

BOSTON
Merrill Lynch & Co. was in talks this weekend with Chinese and Middle
Eastern sovereign wealth funds to raise more capital in a bid to stave
off liquidity concerns following massive credit losses, British
newspaper The Observer reported.

Delta Petroleum climbs as Kerkorian takes 35% stake

Delta Petroleum Corp. announced Monday that billionaire Kirk
Kerkorian's private investment firm Tracinda Corp. is taking a 35%
stake in the Denver-based natural gas company, providing a major
infusion of cash that will allow it to step up its exploration drilling
and perhaps boost reserves through acquisitions.

Google looks to increase ad space with newspapers

Google shares edged below the $700 mark Monday as investors sussed out a
report that the Internet giant is exploring a method of selling
newspapers' advertising space online.

Stocks fall on last day of '07 but end the year higher with the Nasdaq up 11%, the Dow 7%, and the S&P 4% .

Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:00:50 -0500

Stocks fall on last day of '07 but end the year higher with the Nasdaq
up 11%, the Dow 7%, and the S&P 4% .

Stocks under pressure but still on track to post yearly gains

Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:01:22 (GMT)
Stocks under pressure but still on track to post yearly gains

SAN FRANCISCO
U.S. stocks fell Monday on the final trading day of 2007, with the
market finding only short-term comfort from a report that existing home
sales modestly improved in November.

Economic Report: Existing-home sales rise modestly in November

Offering a rare hint of stability, sales of U.S. existing homes rose
0.4% in November to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5 million,
the National Association of Realtors reported Monday.

Currencies: Dollar mostly higher in thin trading on last day of 2007

The dollar slipped against the yen but managed gains against most major
counterparts Monday, in extremely thin trading conditions on the last
day of the year.

Pakistan stocks slump as market reopens after Bhutto killing

Pakistani stocks slumped as trading resumed in Karachi following a
three-day mourning period for former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who
was assassinated on Thursday.

Delta Petroleum climbs as Kerkorian takes 35% stake

NEW YORK
Shares of Delta Petroleum Corp. jumped 24% at the open Monday after the
oil and gas exploration and development company said it would sell a 35%
stake to Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp., a move that will help Delta
fund its development and drilling activities in Colorado and Utah.

Obama Counting On The Web For Turnout

Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:30:02 -0500
Obama Counting On The Web For Turnout

Barack Obama has built an Election Day operation that combines an
apparent edge in technology with the tried-and-true grunt work of a
traditional Iowa campaign, the Washington Post reports. 

Pakistan Elections Likely To Be Delayed

Breaking News
December 31, 2007

Pakistan Elections Likely To Be Delayed

The Pakistani elections scheduled for Jan. 8 will likely be delayed by
at least four weeks, as the government's account of opposition leader
Benazir Bhutto's murder draws more criticism. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

U.S. indexes slip at start of 2007's final stock-trading session

Date: 31 DEC 2007 14:32:49 GMT

BULLETIN
U.S. indexes slip at start of 2007's final stock-trading session
12/31/2007 9:30:43 AM

Existing home sales up 0.4% in November to 5 million annual rate, in line with forecasts, Dow Jones reports.

Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:00:48 -0500

Existing home sales up 0.4% in November to 5 million annual rate, in
line with forecasts, Dow Jones reports.