Market Commentary for December 20, 2007


At the closing bell, here is how the major indices ended the session: the DOW (Dow Jones Industrial Average) posted a gain of 38.37 points on the day to end the session at 13,245.64; the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) posted a gain of 36.20 points to end the session at 9,622.27; the NASDAQ posted a gain of 39.85 points for a close at 2,640.86; the S&P 500 moved higher by 7.12 points to end at 1,460.12 and the RUSSELL 2000 moved higher by 11.41 points to close at 767.54. 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 world’s investable market capitalization) posted a gain of 0.45 points to close at 257.72 and the FTSE RAFI 1000 posted a gain of 22.77 points to close at 5,940.97.

On the NYSE today, advancers came in at 1,757; decliners totaled 1,466; unchanged came in at 78; new highs came in at 55 and new lows came in at 334.

Momentum stocks traded by active day traders on the NYSE today: The Bear Stearns Companies Incorporated (BSC) gained 0.82 points with a high on the day of $93.25, a low of $88.00 for a closing price at $91.42; Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (PBR) gained 2.78 points with a high on the day of $110.41, a low of $107.33 for a closing price at $105.22; MBIA Incorporated (MBI) shed 7.07 points with a high on the day of $23.63, a low of $18.84 for a closing price at $19.95; CME Group Incorporated (CME) gained 7.50 points with a high on the day of $704.52, a low of $694.10 for a closing price at $701.00; CPI Corporation (CPY) shed 6.97 points with a high on the day of $26.94, a low of $19.00 for a closing price at $21.16; Lindsay Corporation (LNN) gained 13.70 points with a high on the day of $71.98, a low of $59.35 for a closing price at $71.40; Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated (GS) shed 1.49 points with a high on the day of $206.72, a low of $200.65 for a closing price at $202.67; SLM Corporation (SLM) shed 2.36 points with a high on the day of $23.85, a low of $19.84 for a closing price at $20.53; Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) shed 1.31 points with a high on the day of $125.77, a low of $121.90 for a closing price at $123.30; Merrill Lynch & Company Incorporated (MER) shed 0.23 points with a high on the day of $55.33, a low of $52.46 for a closing price at $54.50; Accenture Limited (ACN) gained 2.28 points with a high on the day of $38.00, a low of $37.00 for a closing price at $37.24; LDK Solar Corporation Limited (LDK) shed 18.26 points with a high on the day of $56.95, a low of $45.50 for a closing price at $47.85; Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Incorporated (POT) gained 8.55 points with a high on the day of $132.80, a low of $123.72 for a closing price at $132.40; CNH Global NV (CNH) gained 5.79 points with a high on the day of $65.02, a low of $59.01 for a closing price at $64.22; The Mosaic Company (MOS) gained 8.40 points with a high on the day of $90.71, a low of $82.15 for a closing price at $90.71; NETSUITE Incorporate (N) posted a high on the day of $35.70, a low of $23.86 for a closing price at $35.50 and Cummins Incorporated (CMI) gained 5.12 points with a high on the day of $121.68, a low of $115.56 for a closing price at $118.97.

On the NASDAQ today, advanced totaled 1,895; decliners totaled 1,131; unchanged came in at 120; new highs came in at 54 and new lows came in at 279.

Momentum stocks on the NASDAQ today: Array BioPharma Incorporated (ARRY) shed 2.89 points with a high on the day of $9.20, a low of $7.81 for a closing price at $8.12; Pacific Ethanol Incorporated (PEIX) shed 0.01 points with a high on the day of $9.88, a low of $8.67 for a closing price at $9.14; Activision Incorporated (ATVI) gained 1.15 points with a high on the day of $27.98, a low of $27.00 for a closing price at $27.95; Google Incorporated (GOOG) gained 17.29 points with a high on the day of $691.00, a low of $680.61 for a closing price at $694.66; Baidu.com Incorporated (BIDU) gained 8.03 points with a high on the day of $382.85, a low of $376.49 for a closing price at $383.00; Intuitive Surgical Incorporated (ISRG) gained 11.00 points with a high on the day of $322.32, a low of $315.21 for a closing price at $323.95; First Solar Incorporated (FSLR) shed 0.63 points with a high on the day of $251.24, a low of $241.24 for a closing price at $247.35; Celgene Corporation (CELG) gained 2.17 points with a high on the day of $49.74, a low of $41.26 for a closing price at $49.49 and Wynn Resorts Limited (WYNN) shed 1.53 points with a high on the day of $121.96, a low of $114.39 for a closing price at $116.45.

Third Quarter Corporate Profits unrevised from Preliminary Report; Third Quarter Corporate Profits unchanged versus increase by 5.2% in Second Quarter; Third Quarter Chain-Weighted Price Index revised to increase by 1.0% from increase by 0.9%; Third Quarter Purchases Price Index revised to increase by 1.8% Rate from increase by 1.6%; Third Quarter PCE Price Index revised to increase by 1.8% Rate from increase by 1.7%; Third Quarter Real Final Sales revised to increase by 4.0% Rate from increase by 3.9%; U.S. Third Quarter GDP Consensus rose by 5.0% and U.S. Third Quarter GDP rose 4.9%, unrevised from preliminary report.

Chicago Fed November National Activity Index fell 0.27 versus a drop by 0.89 in October and Chicago Fed Index 3-Month Moving Average fell 0.53 November versus a drop by 0.69 in October.

U.S. Jobless Claims rose 12K to 346K in week of December 15 compared to survey of an increase by 2K and U.S. Week of December 8 Continuing Claims rose 12K to 2,646,000.

Commodities Markets
The trend was lower across the board today for the Energy Sector: Light crude moved lower today by $0.18 to close at $91.06 a barrel; Heating Oil moved lower today by $0.01 to close at $2.59 a gallon; Natural Gas moved lower today by $0.07 to close at $7.27 per million BTU and Unleaded Gas closed at $2.33 a gallon.

Metals Market ended the session mixed across the board today: Gold moved lower today by $2.20 to close at $803.20 a Troy ounce; Silver moved higher today by $0.12 to close at $14.34 per Troy ounce; Platinum moved lower today by $6.30 to close at $1,517.50 per Troy ounce and Copper moved higher today by $0.01 to close at $2.97 per pound.

On the Livestock and Meat Markets, the trend was lower across the board today: Lean Hogs ended the day lower by $0.20 to close at $59.90; Pork Bellies ended the day lower by $1.98 at $86.50; Live Cattle ended the day lower by $0.58 at $95.78 and Feeder Cattle ended the day lower by $0.40 at $106.95.

Other Commodities: Corn ended the day higher by $2.75 at $438.00 and Soybeans moved higher today by $2.75 to end the session at $1,179.00.

Bonds were mixed across the board today: 2 year bond moved higher by 2/32 to close at 100 3/32; 5 year bond moved lower by 1/32 to close at 99 22/32 today; 10 year bond moved lower by 4/32 to close at 101 21/32 and the 30 year bond moved higher by 2/32 to close at 109 2/32 on the day.

The e-mini Dow ended the session today at 13,292 with a loss of 6 points on the trading session. The total Dow Exchange Volume for the day came in at 200,632 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.

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 3,549,022; Open Interest for Futures moved lower by 18,556 points to close at 9,581,198; the Open Interest for Options moved higher by 21,962 points to close at 7,358,779 and the Cleared Only closed lower by 90 points to close at 19,330 for a total Open Interest on the day of 16,959,307 for a total Change on the day with a gain of 3,316 points.

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Millennium-Traders