Market Commentary for July 31, 2007


A confusing day in the markets with the Bulls in control until the mid afternoon session when the Bears stepped in to control the market action, into the close of the session. Continued fears over the housing markets in addition to the ongoing concerns over financial companies appears to have led investors to the cashing it in tables. Taking profits and little interest in buying has assisted in moving markets lower. Without a positive catalyst, will the markets continue to plunge? A few more down days may lead the DOW into losing the 13,000 mark.

At the closing bell, here is how the major indices ended the session: the DOW (Dow Jones Industrial Average) posted a triple digit loss of 146.32 points to end the session at 13,211.99; the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) posted a loss of 68.68 points to end the session at 9,554.50; the NASDAQ posted a loss of 37.01 points for a close at 2,546.27; the S&P 500 moved lower by 18.64 points to end at 1,455.27 and the RUSSELL 2000 moved lower by 8.11 points to close at 776.12.

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 2.25 points to close at 256.33 and the FTSE RAFI 1000 posted a loss of 66.26 points to close at 6,056.31.

St. Louis Fed President Bill Poole commented today: inflation expectations `quite' well anchored; key for Fed to anchor inflation expectations; must act when expectations change in unwelcome way; drop in long rates helped stabilize markets last week; `most' market upsets stabilize on their own; more normal market conditions will reemerge; overactive Fed tends to destabilize markets; should not add policy uncertainty to unstable markets; Fed will act in due time if appropriate; Fed to act on upsets if prices, jobs, markets at risk; market equilibrium requires Fed to behave as expected and dangerous for Central Bank to ignore money growth.

Economic Data:

ICSC-UBS Store Sales: Weekly measure of comparable store sales at major retail chains which is related to the general merchandise portion of retail sales, as reported by the International Council of Shopping Centers. This date accounts for approximately 10% of total retail sales. ICSC-UBS Chain Store Sales were reported higher today by 1.1% for week of July 28th.

Employment Cost Index: Broadest measure of labor cost, the ECI is a measure of total employee compensation costs including wages, salaries and benefits. As reported today: U.S. 2nd quarter Benefit Costs rose by 1.3% which is largest rise since 1st quarter of 2005; U.S. 2nd quarter Employment Cost Index rose by 3.3% from a year ago and U.S. 2nd quarter Employment Cost Index rose by 0.9% as compared to consensus of an increase by 0.9%.

Personal Income and Outlays: Personal Income, received from all sources by individuals, is the dollar amount of income. Personal Outlays include purchase by consumers for both durable and non-durable goods and services. U.S. Personal Spending rose 0.1% in June compared to consensus of an increase by 0.2%; U.S. Personal Income rose 0.4% In June compared to consensus of an increase by 0.5%; Jun PCE Price Index rose 0.1% rate on the month; June PCE Price Index rose 2.3% on the year; June PCE Core Price Index rose 0.1% on the month; June PCE Core Price Index rose 1.9% on the year; May Spending revised to a rise by 0.6% from a rise by 0.5% and May Personal Income unrevised at a rise by 0.4%.

Redbook: General merchandise portion of retail sales covering only approximately 10% of total retail sales, this data is a weekly measure of sales at department stores, chain stores and discounters. Redbook data released today: U.S. Retail Sales for first 3 weeks in July were up 0.5% versus June.

NAPM-Chicago: A compilation by The National Association of Purchasing Management of a survey and composite diffusion index of business conditions in the Chicago area. The survey includes both manufacturing and non-manufacturing firms. This data is considered a leading indicator of the ISM Manufacturing Index. Data released today: U.S. Chicago Purchasing Management adjusted July index came in at 53.4 versus June index of 60.2; U.S. Chicago Purchasing Management July Prices Paid Index came in at 73.1 versus June reading of 68.1; U.S. Chicago Purchasing Management July Supplier Deliveries came in at 55.3 versus June reading of 52.1; U.S. Chicago Purchasing Management July New Orders Index came in at 53.4 versus June reading of 65.7 and U.S. Chicago Purchasing Management July Employment Index came in at 61.6 versus June reading of 52.7.

Construction Spending: New construction activity on residential, non-residential and public projects measured in dollar value which is available in nominal and inflation adjusted dollars. Data released today: U.S. Construction Spending fell 0.3% in June compared to consensus of an increase by 0.2% and May Construction Spending was revised to higher by 1.1% from higher by 0.9%.

Consumer Confidence: A compilation by the Conference Board of a survey of five thousand consumer attitudes, across the country, on present economic conditions and expectations of future conditions. Conference Board data released today: July Consumer Confidence came in 112.6 versus June reading of 105.3; July Present Situation Index came in at 139.2 versus June reading of 129.9; July Expectations Index were 94.8 versus June reading of 88.8 and Consumer Confidence jumps to highest since August 2001.

Commodities Markets

The trend was mostly higher across the board today for the Energy Sector: Light crude moved higher by $1.40 today to close at $78.23 a barrel; Heating Oil ended the session higher by $0.04 at $2.13 gallon; Natural Gas moved lower today by $0.31 to close at $6.19 per million BTU and Unleaded Gas moved higher today by $0.05 to close at $2.11 a gallon.

Metals Market ended the session higher across the again board today: Gold moved higher today to post a gain of $2.70 to close at $679.30 an ounce; Silver closed higher today by $0.11 to close at $13.02 per ounce; Platinum moved nicely higher today for gain of $15.80 to close at $1,302.60 an ounce and Copper moved higher on the day by $0.06 to close at $3.65 per pound.

On the Livestock and Meat Markets, the trend was mostly higher across the board today: Lean Hogs ended the day higher by 1.40 to close at 75.20; Pork Bellies ended the day lower by 0.55 to close at 90.50; Live Cattle moved higher by 0.98 to close at 99.95 and Feeder Cattle ended the day higher by 0.25 at 117.90.

Other Commodities: Corn moved higher again today for a gain of 2.25 points to close at 342.25 and Soybeans moved nicely higher again today for a gain of 9.75 points to end the session at 857.50.

The e-mini Dow ended the session today at 13,429 with nice gain of 145 points on the trading session. The total Dow Exchange Volume for the day came in at 285,664 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 5/32 at 100 7/32; 5 year bond closed higher by 9/32 at 100 8/32; 10 year bond closed higher by 17/32 at 98 5/32 and the 30 year bond closed higher by 28/32 at 97 21/32.

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 4,314,774; Open Interest for Futures moved higher by 98,727 points to close at 10,120,917; the Open Interest for Options moved higher by 186,325 points to close at 8,540,086 and the Open Interest for OTC closed with no change again today at 7,590 for a total Open Interest of 18,668,593 for a total gain on the day of 285,052 points.

On the NYSE today, advancers came in at 1,407; decliners totaled 1,839; unchanged came in at 82; new highs came in at 37 and new lows came in at 231. Gainers and losers for the day on the NYSE which received much attention from many day traders: CME Group Incorporated (CME) fell sharply lower on the trading day to shed 19.05 points for a high on the session of $575.50, a low of $548.81 for a final trading price on the day of $552.50; Under Armour Incorporated (UA) rallied higher on the trading session for a gain of 11.29% to tack on 6.23 points to end the trading session at $61.41; Rio Tinto plc (RTP) moved nicely higher on the trading day by 6.12 points for a high on the session of $294.70, a low of $287.07 for a final trading price of $289.12; Ambac Financial Group Incorporated (ABK) moved lower on the day by 5.97 points to provide a nice day trading stock for day traders with a high on the session of $73.00, a low of $65.48 for a closing price at $67.15; MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) plummeted sharply on the trading day to shed 14.92% on the day for a loss of 6.78 points with a high on the day of $42.75, a low of $37.06 to close the session at $38.66; Dow Jones & Company Incorporated (DJ) moved higher on the day after buy out talks again, with a gain of 11.29% to tack on 5.82 points for a final trading price at $57.38 and Terra Nitrogen Company L.P. (TNH) moved sharply lower for a loss on the day of 8.26 points with a high on the session of $122.44, a low of $108.53 for a nice day trading range to close the day at $109.73.

On the NASDAQ today, advanced totaled 1,250; decliners totaled 1,822; unchanged came in at 119, new highs came in at 56 and new lows came in at 199. Gainers and losers for the day on the NASDAQ: Apple Incorporated (AAPL) shed 9.34 points on the day with a high of $143.48, a low of $131.52 for a final closing price of $132.09; LCA-Vision Incorporated (LCAV) moved sharply lower on the trading day for a loss of 17.86% to move lower by 7.68 points to close the session at $35.31; First Solar Incorporated (FSLR) fell hard on the trading session for a loss of 13.99% to shed 16.83 points for a high of $123.21, a low of $106.00 to end the day at $103.45; Rent-A-Center Incorporated (RCII) made a strong move southbound today to shed a whopping 19.53% to move lower by 4.71 points for a closing price at $19.41 and FARO Technologies Incorporated (FARO) bolted higher on the session to gain 23.34% on the day to tack on 7.02 points for a closing price at $37.23.

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Millennium-Traders