Markets Friday, 05/2/2008

Friday, 5/2/2008

| Dow : 13058.20 up 48.20

| S & P : 1413.90 up 4.56

| NASDAQ: 2476.99 down 3.72

| Bond (10Y): 3.85%, 97.09

MARKETS:
Mixed end to upbeat week
Wall Street's early advance on April jobs report dissipates as investors
look to Sun Micro's surprise loss, plus rising oil and gold prices.

U.S. stock indexes up 1% and more for the week

Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 21:01:04 (GMT)
U.S. stock indexes up 1% and more for the week

Stock waver mostly higher to end with weekly gains after a day of mostly
choppy trade as investors mostly pulled the plug on an earlier rally
sparked by fewer job losses than expected and central bank liquidity
moves.

The Fed: Fed expands auction, accepts wider collateral to boost
liquidity

The Federal Reserve and other central banks are increasing the funding
they provide to banks. The Fed also says that, for the first time, it's
willing to accept bonds backed by auto loans and credit cards.

John Dvorak's Second Opinion: What Microsoft may be thinking with
Yahoo's board

Microsoft could load up the Yahoo board with supporters and revisit the
whole offer in six months or so, after its stooges try to ruin the Web
portal, according to John Dvorak.

Economic Report: April U.S. nonfarm payrolls shed 20,000 jobs

Job losses decelerate in April, suggesting that the nation's economic
downturn may be short and shallow rather than long and severe.

Buffett gets crisis to invest cash as annual meeting looms

SAN FRANCISCO
Berkshire Hathaway, the insurance focused conglomerate run by
billionaire Warren Buffett, has been sitting on more than $40 billion in
cash since 2004.

Fed expands auction, accepts wider collateral to boost liquidity

Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 16:01:04 (GMT)
Fed expands auction, accepts wider collateral to boost liquidity

The Federal Reserve and other central banks are increasing the funding
they provide to banks. The Fed also says that, for the first time, it's
willing to accept bonds backed by auto loans and credit cards.

Market Snapshot: U.S. stocks extend gains into second day on jobs data,
Fed move

U.S. stocks jump higher in early trade, adding to the prior day's
rally, after the government reports far fewer job losses than expected
in April, and the Federal Reserve widens the funding it offers to
banks.

Economic Report: April U.S. nonfarm payrolls shed 20,000 jobs

Job losses decelerate in April, suggesting that the nation's economic
downturn may be short and shallow rather than long and severe.

Buffett gets crisis to invest cash as annual meeting looms

SAN FRANCISCO
Berkshire Hathaway, the insurance focused conglomerate run by
billionaire Warren Buffett, has been sitting on more than $40 billion in
cash since 2004.

Economic data fuel U.S. stock gains: Dow industrials up 120 points

Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 10:12:58 -0400

Economic data fuel U.S. stock gains: Dow industrials up 120 points
5/2/2008 10:09:42 AM

Employers trimmed a less-than-expected 20,000 jobs in April, marking the 4th straight month of losses; unemployment falls to 5%.

Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 08:32:10 -0400

Employers trimmed a less-than-expected 20,000 jobs in April, marking the
4th straight month of losses; unemployment falls to 5%.

Treasury officials to meet Wall Street execs: report

Treasury officials to meet Wall Street execs: report
May 02, 2008 03:03 AM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasury Department officials plan private meetings
with Wall Street executives and bankers, in an apparent
attempt to counter Congressional Democrats seeking stronger steps to
handle the housing crisis, the Wall Street Journal
reported on Friday.

April auto sales plunge 14 percent
May 01, 2008 10:31 PM ET
DETROIT (Reuters) - U.S. auto sales fell 14 percent to their lowest
annual rate in a decade in April as weak consumer confidence and rising
gas prices hit the industry's most profitable vehicles
hardest.

The Federal Reserve announces coordination with European central banks in an expanded effort to deal with the global credit crisis.

Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 08:20:10 -0400

The Federal Reserve announces coordination with European central banks
in an expanded effort to deal with the global credit crisis.

Stocks surge at the open after Labor Department reports that employers cut fewer jobs in April than Wall Street expected.

Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 09:33:07 -0400

Stocks surge at the open after Labor Department reports that employers
cut fewer jobs in April than Wall Street expected.

Nasdaq rockets 2.8%, and Dow industrials finish with gain of nearly 200 points

Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 16:05:15 -0400

Nasdaq rockets 2.8%, and Dow industrials finish with gain of nearly 200
points
5/1/2008 4:01:55 PM

U.S. stocks advance as market ponders Fed words

Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 16:01:04 (GMT)
U.S. stocks advance as market ponders Fed words

U.S. stocks tilt higher after a choppy start as inventors contend with a
mixed stream of economic data and Exxon Mobil Corp.'s nearly $11 billion
in earnings, which had the oil giant's per-share profits falling under
expectations.

Exxon Mobil's quarterly net rises 17%, shy of expectations

Exxon Mobil says first-quarter profit gushed 17% higher, but the
petroleum giant fell short of its all-time record set last year in spite
of oil hitting $100 a barrel early this year and rising fast ever
since.

Futures Movers: Oil falls for third day on stronger dollar

Crude-oil futures fall, extending their decline from the previous
session, as strength in the dollar put pressure on energy prices.

Home Depot cuts expansion plans, plans to shut 15 stores

Home Depot, hurt by the declining U.S. housing market, says it will slow
the pace of new-store expansion, abandoning plans to open about 50 U.S.
stores to devote more cash for existing stores.

Bank of England signals worst of credit crisis may be over

The Bank of England asserts that the correction in credit markets has
gone too far and that risk appetite and confidence are likely to
gradually return to the financial system.

People claiming unemployment for 1st time rose last week by 35,000 to 380,000, according to U.S. Labor Department.

Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 08:41:05 -0400

People claiming unemployment for 1st time rose last week by 35,000 to
380,000, according to U.S. Labor Department.

Dow wavers, S&P edges down, Nasdaq sees slight gain as Wall Street mulls Exxon earnings and a spate of economic reports.

Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 09:34:03 -0400

Dow wavers, S&P edges down, Nasdaq sees slight gain as Wall Street mulls
Exxon earnings and a spate of economic reports.

Exxon profit disappoints even with record oil

Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 09:05:29 -0400

Exxon profit disappoints even with record oil
May 01, 2008 08:35 AM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp on Thursday posted disappointing
first-quarter earnings, as record crude oil prices did not help the
company as much as investors hoped.

Markets Wednesday, 04/30/2008

Wednesday, 4/30/2008

| Dow : 12820.13 down 11.81

| S & P : 1385.59 down 5.35

| NASDAQ: 2412.80 down 13.30

| Bond (10Y): 3.73%, 97.47

MARKETS:
Wall Street wilts after Fed
Stocks slump, giving up gains as investors take a 'sell the news'
reaction to central bank's rate cut, statement that hints no more rate
cuts for the time being.

U.S. stocks lose steam after Fed cuts rates

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:01:04 (GMT)

U.S. stocks lose steam after Fed cuts rates

U.S. stock indexes lose momentum after surging near four-month highs, as
investors debate the significance of words that came with the Federal
Reserve's latest cut to short-term interest rates by 25 basis points to
2%.

The Fed: Fed trims rates by quarter-point, no strong hint about future

WASHINGTON
The Federal Reserve chose to cut short term interest rates on Wednesday
for the fourth time this year, saying it remains troubled by the
economic outlook, but signaling that it now may leave rates steady for a
while.

Emerging Markets Report: S&P raises Brazil's rating to investment grade

Brazilian shares rally after Standard & Poor's raises the country's
long-term sovereign credit rating to investment grade, an important
acknowledgement of Brazil's economic progress.

Economic Report: U.S. economy grows better-than-forecast 0.6% in first
quarter

The U.S. economy barely keeps its head above water in the first quarter,
growing at an annual rate of 0.6% on inventory building, export strength
and a never-say-die consumer.

Google shares awaken from six-month snooze

The once high-flying shares of Google have apparently recovered from
their six-month slump, surging nearly 30% since a strong earnings report
two weeks ago.

U.S. stocks close lower following Fed cut, wiping out rally

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:08:17 -0400

U.S. stocks close lower following Fed cut, wiping out rally
4/30/2008 4:04:54 PM

Fed cuts key interest rate 1/4 percentage point, but hints at pause. Stocks higher, dollar up.

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:20:08 -0400

Fed cuts key interest rate 1/4 percentage point, but hints at pause.
Stocks higher, dollar up.

U.S. economy grows better-than-forecast 0.6% in first quarter

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:01:04 (GMT)

U.S. economy grows better-than-forecast 0.6% in first quarter

The U.S. economy barely keeps its head above water in the first quarter,
growing at an annual rate of 0.6% on inventory building, export strength
and a never-say-die consumer.

The Ratings Game: Citi's share sale shows capital woes are lingering:
analysts

Citigroup's surprise $4.5 billion common-stock issuance hammers home
the fact that the bank still faces capital issues, and it keeps pressure
on the largest U.S. bank to prove it's equipped to ride out the credit
crisis.

GM shares rally as $3.25 billion loss still tops targets

A dismal U.S. market for selling pickups and SUVs along with a strike at
a top parts supplier leads General Motors Corp. to a massive
first-quarter loss, but shares still surge 10% as Wall Street had
expected much worse.

Time Warner net off, outlook affirmed, cable-unit separation eyed

Time Warner Inc. reported on Wednesday that first-quarter net income
fell 36%, affirmed its full-year outlook, and said that a "complete
structural separation" of Time Warner Cable would be in the best
interests of both companies' holders.
Procter & Gamble's profit gets boost from razors, cost control

Household-products giant Procter & Gamble reports its quarterly net
income rose nearly 8% from a year ago, boosted in part by cost controls
and higher income from razor-blade sales.

First-quarter growth stronger than forecast

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:00:08 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The economy grew at a slightly stronger pace than
forecast as 2008 began, helped by inventory-building that tempered a
steadily deteriorating housing sector and less
vigorous consumer spending.

U.S. gross domestic product up 0.6% in first quarter on inventories, consumers and exports

Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:34:05 -0400

U.S. gross domestic product up 0.6% in first quarter on inventories,
consumers and exports
4/30/2008 8:31:44 AM

Markets Tuesday, 04/29/2008

Tuesday, 4/29/2008

| Dow : 12831.94 down 39.81

| S & P : 1390.94 down 5.43

| NASDAQ: 2426.10 up 1.70

| Bond (10Y): 3.82%, 97.50

MARKETS:
Mixed day on Wall Street
Stocks end mixed amid concerns about interest rates and softening
consumer confidence. Tech stocks see modest gains.

After The Bell Report: Fed words may mean more than action this time

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:01:04 (GMT)
Fed words may mean more than action this time

As Federal Reserve policy-makers gather for the start of their two-day
meeting, the statement they'll cobble together over the next two days
will be more important than any action taken by the central bank.

Capitol Report: Gas-tax reduction plans are counterproductive,
economists say

It might seem axiomatic that cutting taxes on gasoline would make it
cheaper. But economists say a side effect of cheaper gas would be
increased demand. That, they point out, would put prices right back
where they started.

BP, Shell surge as oil prices propel higher profits

BP and Royal Dutch Shell see sharp boost as crude-oil prices helped
offset virtually flat production and skyrocketing costs.

Merck shares fall on rejection of cholesterol drug

Merck's share price drops more than 10% on news that the Food and Drug
Administration has denied approval of a new cholesterol drug called
Cordaptive.

Dow industrials, S&P close in the red on eve of Fed rate decision

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:07:33 -0400

Dow industrials, S&P close in the red on eve of Fed rate decision
4/29/2008 4:04:16 PM

U.S. stock futures ease as Fed caution still prevails

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:01:04 (GMT)
U.S. stock futures ease as Fed caution still prevails

U.S. stock futures slipped on Tuesday, with pharmaceutical Merck reeling
from a surprise regulatory rejection of a key drug and caution still
prevailing ahead of a key interest-rate decision.

BP, Shell surge as oil prices propel higher profits

BP and Royal Dutch Shell see sharp boost as crude-oil prices helped
offset virtually flat production and skyrocketing costs.

Daimler's quarterly profit drops 32%; trucks, Chrysler weigh

Daimler's first-quarter profit dropped 32%, hurt in part by a poor
performance from its truck-making unit, financial results show.

Valero Energy's quarterly net plunges 85%; margins pinched

Valero Energy's first-quarter net income from continuing operations
plunged 85% on record crude-oil costs, financial results show.

HBOS to tap shareholders for $8 bln, takes further write-downs

HBOS, Britain's biggest mortgage lender, said Tuesday that it plans to
raise 4 billion pounds ($7.95 billion) through the sale of stock to
existing shareholders as it battles against rising write-downs and
tighter lending margins.

Bush, citing 'anxiety' over gas and food, pushes for new oil refineries and exploration; blasts subsidies for 'millionaire farmers.'

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:54:04 -0400

Bush, citing 'anxiety' over gas and food, pushes for new oil refineries
and exploration; blasts subsidies for 'millionaire farmers.'

Consumer confidence index falls in April to lowest level in five years.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:03:04 -0400

Consumer confidence index falls in April to lowest level in five years.

U.S. home prices down 12.7% in the year through February, Case-Shiller data show

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:07:04 -0400

U.S. home prices down 12.7% in the year through February, Case-Shiller
data show
4/29/2008 9:04:09 AM

Stocks fall at the open as Wall Street mulls a mixed bag of corporate results and falling oil prices.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:33:06 -0400

Stocks fall at the open as Wall Street mulls a mixed bag of corporate
results and falling oil prices.

Yahoo is betting it can win proxy battle with Microsoft

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:01:04 (GMT)

Yahoo is betting it can win proxy battle with Microsoft

After snubbing Microsoft Corp.'s deadline for a merger deal, Yahoo Inc.
may now face the prospect of a proxy war with the software behemoth -- a
struggle many observers think it will likely lose.

Mars to buy Wrigley for $23 billion with Buffett's assistance

Chocolate giant Mars Inc., with financial backing from Warren Buffett's
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has inked a pact to buy gum pioneer Wrigley for
about $23 billion.

Futures Movers: Crude oil hits record near $120 after U.K. pipeline
shut

Crude-oil futures close slightly higher after hitting a new record near
$120 a barrel after a strike at Scottish refinery forced a pipeline
closure while rebel attacks in Nigeria and tension in Persian Gulf also
fanned concerns about supply disruptions.

Economic Report: Home vacancies rise to record 2.9% in first quarter

Putting further downward pressure on home prices, the number of vacant
homes in the United States increases by 1 million over the past year to
a record 18.6 million.

U.S. stocks turn higher boosted by Wrigley buyout

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:01:04 (GMT)

U.S. stocks turn higher boosted by Wrigley buyout

U.S. stocks turn higher on Wrigley buyout with investors keeping a wary
eye on the Fed looking for signals on interest rates.

Mars to buy Wrigley for $23 billion with Buffett's assistance

Chocolate giant Mars Inc., with financial backing from Warren Buffett's
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has inked a pact to buy gum pioneer Wrigley for
about $23 billion.

Verizon profit rises 10% on wireless growth

Verizon Communications Inc. posts a 10% increase in first-quarter profit
as the carrier adds 1.5 million wireless customers and more than 250,000
video subscribers.

Tracinda bids $8.50 a share for 20 million Ford shares

Kirk Kerkorian on Monday bid $8.50 a share for up to 20 million shares
of Ford, valuing the struggling car giant's shares at a 13% premium to
their closing level on Friday.

Continental Airlines says it's not interested in merger

Continental Airlines Inc. said Sunday it has no plans to merge with
another airline, apparently scuttling rumors of a possible hookup with
UAL Corp., the parent of United Airlines.

Stocks open higher as Wall Street cheers big corporate investments by Kirk Kerkorian and Warren Buffett.

Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:34:04 -0400

Stocks open higher as Wall Street cheers big corporate investments by
Kirk Kerkorian and Warren Buffett.