Market Commentary for August 13, 2007


An almost listless day for a Monday with light trading volume across the board. The Bears made a minute attempt to take over the stressed trading direction, with pressure on the major indices into the closing bell. Very little interest from investors today provided no catalyst to create any real market moving activity.

At the closing bell, here is how the major indices ended the session: the DOW (Dow Jones Industrial Average) posted a slight loss of 3.01 points to end the session at 13,236.53; the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) posted a loss of 6.18 points to end the session at 9,428.86; the NASDAQ posted a loss of 2.65 points for a close at 2,542.24; the S&P 500 moved lower by 0.72 points to end at 1,452.92 and the RUSSELL 2000 moved lower by 8.97 points to close at 779.80.

The FTSE All-World Index ex-US (top Large/Mid Cap aggregate from over 2,700 stocks from the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (GEIS) which covers 90% of the worlds investable market capitalization) posted a gain of 2.66 points to close at 251.04 and the FTSE RAFI 1000 posted a gain of 7.99 points to close at 6,025.36.

Comments from the Fed today: Fed evaluating whether to conduct money market operations; Fed "Stands Ready" to conduct further operations later in day and Fed Survey: Banks see weaker demand for most us loan types and 'considerable' tightening of sub-prime standards seen.

Economic Data:

Retail Sales: A measure of retail sales consisting of total receipts at stores that sell durable and non-durable goods. This data is a key element in economic growth since consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of the national Gross Domestic Products (GDP). Retail Sales data released today: U.S. July Retail & Food Sales rose 0.3% compared to consensus of an increase by 0.2%; U.S. July Retail & Food Sales excluding Autos rose 0.4% and June Retail & Food Sales was revised to a drop by 0.7% from a drop by 0.9%.

Business Inventories: Dollar amount of business inventories held by manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers. Near-term direction of production activity is related to the level of inventories in relation to sales. Business Inventories data released today: U.S. June Business Inventories rose by 0.4% compared to expectations of an increase by 0.4%.

Commodities Markets

The trend was mostly lower across the board today for the Energy Sector: Light crude moved higher by $0.15 today to close at $71.62 a barrel; Heating Oil ended the session lower at $1.97 gallon; Natural Gas moved lower today by $0.04 to close at $7.02 per million BTU and Unleaded Gas moved lower by $0.02 again today to close at $1.94 a gallon.

Metals Market ended the session mixed across the board today: Gold moved lower today to post a loss of $0.70 to close at $680.90 an ounce; Silver closed lower today by $0.02 to close at $12.86 per ounce; Platinum moved higher today by $7.80 to close at $1,287.10 an ounce and Copper moved higher by $0.08 to close at $3.44 per pound.

On the Livestock and Meat Markets, the trend was higher across the board today: Lean Hogs ended the day higher by 0.60 to close at 71.40; Pork Bellies ended the day higher by 2.15 to close at 95.50; Live Cattle moved higher by 0.50 to close at 95.05 and Feeder Cattle ended the day higher by 0.58 at 115.88.

Other Commodities: Corn lower on the day with a loss of 1.50 at 350.50 and Soybeans moved nicely higher today for a gain of 10.00 points to end the session at 881.75.

The e-mini Dow ended the session today at 13,265 with a gain of 28 points on the trading session. The total Dow Exchange Volume for the day came in at 374,081 which are comprised of Electronic, Open Auction and Cash Exchange. Traders should review workshops available at the CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) Educational in-person seminars schedules available on CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) website.

Bonds were higher across the board today: 2 year bond closed higher by 3/32 at 100 12/32; 5 year bond closed higher by 7/32 at 100 11/32; 10 year bond closed higher by 11/32 at 99 28/32 and the 30 year bond closed higher by 17/32 at 100.

The end of day results for the CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) which is comprised of the total Exchange Volume for Futures and Options (EVFO) including Electronic, Open Auction and Cash Exchange ended the day at 4,896,591; Open Interest for Futures moved lower by 156,254 points to close at 10,067,613; the Open Interest for Options moved higher by 97,052 points to close at 9,085,078 and the Open Interest for OTC closed at 7,641 for a total Open Interest of 19,160,332 for a total Open Interest loss on the day of 59,202 points.

On the NYSE today, advancers came in at 1,522; decliners totaled 1,727; unchanged came in at 80; new highs came in at 23 and new lows came in at 218. Gainers and losers for the day as well as active day trading stocks on the NYSE: Pre-Paid Legal Services Incorporated (PPD) romped higher on the session to post a gain of 6.95 points for a gain of 14.79% with a high on the day of $56.00, a low of $48.72 with a final trading price on the day of $53.93; M&F Worldwide Corporation (MFW) made a nice gain on the trading day of 11.85% to move higher by 6.34 points to end the trading day at $59.82; Energizer Holdings Incorporated (ENR) bolted higher on the Big Board today to post a nice gain of 8.56 points, with a high of $104.97, a low of $94.69 with a final trading price of $102.63; Transatlantic Holdings Incorporated (TRH) moved higher on the session by 6.79 points for a gain of 10.79% for a closing price on the day of $69.69; Kronos Worldwide Incorporated (KRO) moved sharply lower amidst very light trading volume for a loss of 19.69% to shed 5.59 points to close the trading session at $22.80; CME Group Incorporated (CME) moved sharply lower on the session for a loss of 13.18 points with a high on the day of $600.90, a low of $580.30 for a closing price at $581.07; BlackRock Incorporated (BLK) moved lower on the session with a high of $168.75, a low of $152.10 with a loss of 5.22 points to close the trading day at $152.78 and Rio Tinto plc (RTP) shed 8.15 points on the session with a high of $261.90, a low of $256.44 for a final trading price at $256.85.

On the NASDAQ today, advanced totaled 1,427; decliners totaled 1,681; unchanged came in at 97, new highs came in at 25 and new lows came in at 99. Gainers and losers for the day as well as, active day trading stocks on the NASDAQ: Sears Holdings Corporation (SHLD) bolted higher on the session today for a gain of 7.45 points with a high on the trading day of $141.34, a low of $135.91 with an end of day trading price at $140.55; Accredited Home Lenders Holding Corporation (LEND) moved sharply lower today for a sharp loss of 33.86% to shed 3.01 points with a final trading price of $5.89; Sun Hydraulics Corporation (SNHY) rallied higher on the trading day for a nice gain of 23.00% to tack on 5.18 points for a closing price at the beginning of the week of $27.70; Innospec Incorporation (IOSP) made a nice run higher today by 19.37% to gain 4.02 points with a final trading price of $24.77 and Innovative Solutions and Support Incorporated (ISSC) moved sharply lower on the session by 19.82% for a loss of 3.93 points with a high of $21.00 on the day, a low of $15.84 on the day with a final trading price just off its low at $15.90.

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Millennium-Traders