Evening in Bowery, Chinatown

New York City, NY USA

Tech Daily: Chip stocks power tech sector; Sun, EA sell heavy on reports

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:00:10 -0400
Tech Stocks: Chip stocks power tech sector; Sun, EA sell heavy on reports

Technology stocks close with mostly strong gains, led by a sharp
upswing from the semiconductor equipment sector that is partially
offset by sharp sell-offs at firms such as Sun Microsystems and
Electronic Arts.

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EA shares fall as video-game maker cuts earnings outlook

Electronic Arts' shares plunge to their lowest level in seven years
after the video-game publisher scales back its earnings forecast for
the fiscalyear and outlines plans to lay off workers in an effort to
cut costs.

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Sun Micro shares fall as Wall Street sees cloudy outlook

Shares of Sun Microsystems slid on Friday after the high-tech giant
posted a large quarterly loss and said it continued to see weakness
across several markets.

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McAfee shares surge on results, outlook

Shares of McAfee Inc. jump more than 16%, one day after the security
software company posts third-quarter results that beat estimates and
issues better-than-expected guidance for the current period.

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London Markets: British shares extend winning streak as miners climb

London's FTSE 100 closes firmly higher for the market's
fourth-straight winning session, as a month of turmoil ends with the
biggest weekly gain in more than 20 years.

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Telecom Stocks: Smaller telecoms lead as sector gains

Telecommunications stocks mostly rose in Monday
trades, led by smaller companies such as Windstream Corp. and Ciena Corp.

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Europe Markets: Europe shares extend win streak to four; BT, L'Oreal warn

European shares closed higher Friday extending this week's winning
streak to four, although the move couldn't save the Stoxx 600 from a
dire monthly. performance.

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BT shares sink after group warns on second-quarter profit

Shares of BT Group Plc fell 19% Friday after the U.K.'s largest
telecommunications company warned that second-quarter profit would miss
expectations and lowered its outlook for the year.

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Google, Yahoo may walk from ad deal - WSJ

Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. may walk away from their proposed Internet search
advertising partnership as soon as next week, according to a published report.

Markets Friday, 10/31/2008

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:31:05 -0400

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| Dow : 9325.01 up 144.32 | S & P : 968.75 up 14.66 |
| NASDAQ: 1720.95 up 22.43 | Bond (10Y): 3.96%, 100.34
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MARKETS:
Strong end to a brutal month
Investors muster gains at the end of one of the worst months in Wall
Street history. Good news: Stocks rally this week.

NUMERS IN OBAMA'S FAVOR...

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:01:43 -0400
NUMBERS IN OBAMA'S FAVOR GOING INTO FINAL WEEKEND

Going into the final weekend of 2008's long, arduous campaign, it
appears that Democrat Sen. Barack Obama will beat his Republican
opponent Sen. John McCain
_________________________________________________________
ECONOMIC REPORT: BIGGEST DROP IN CONSUMER SPENDING IN 4 YEARS IN SEPT.

Reluctance on the part of consumers to shop for big-ticket items like
cars led U.S. consumer spending in September to its biggest drop in
over four years.

October set a slew of trading records, mostly bad

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:01:43 -0400
October set a slew of trading records, mostly bad
U.S. STOCKS FINISH WITH SOLID WEEKLY GAINS, BUT SLIDE ON MONTH

U.S. stocks advance for a second day to tally solid weekly gains but
post the worst month in decades, as investors bypass generally bleak
economic data to focus on improvement in the troubled credit markets.

NUMBERS IN OBAMA'S FAVOR GOING INTO FINAL WEEKEND

Going into the final weekend of 2008's long, arduous campaign, it
appears that Democrat Sen. Barack Obama will beat his Republican
opponent Sen. John McCain by as much as a 2-to-1 margin in electoral
votes.

THE FED: BERNANKE TURNS OVER 'ALTERNATIVE FORMS' FOR FANNIE, FREDDIE

The Federal Reserve chairman launches public debate over what the
government should do with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac once the
financial-market crisis is over
.
ECONOMIC REPORT: BIGGEST DROP IN CONSUMER SPENDING IN 4 YEARS IN SEPT.

Reluctance on the part of consumers to shop for big-ticket items like
cars led U.S. consumer spending in September to its biggest drop in
over four years.

Stocks treated to an up week, with the Dow 157 points higher..

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:04:04 -0400

Stocks treated to an up week, with the Dow 157 points higher at the
day's close, ending a brutal month on Wall Street.

Energy: Five oil majors ring up $45 billion in profit, setting records

Date: 31 OCT 2008 19:32:26 GMT
Five oil majors ring up $45 billion in profit, setting records

The five Western oil majors ring up a combined $45 billion in
third-quarter profits, heading into a recession with a bigger cash
cushion than most industries, but still facing uncertainty and fears
of leaner times ahead.

Home-value declines crimp consumers more...

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:27:10 -0400
Home-value declines crimp consumers more than portfolio losses

Consumers react more to changes in their home values than changes in
their investment portfolios, according to a recent study.

In fact, real estate economists at UCLA and the University of Southern
California found that a 10% decline in housing wealth from the 2005
highs would result in a $105 billion, or 1.2%, drop in personal
consumption expenditures.That 10% decline in home values translates to
roughly a 1 percentage-point
reduction in real GDP growth, researchers said.

Crude finishes October down 32.6%, worst monthly drop on record

Crude finishes October down 32.6%, worst monthly drop on record
10/31/2008 3:00:30 PM EDT

Dow industrials up 200 points

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:35:45 -040

Dow industrials up 200 points
10/31/2008 1:33:49 PM EDT

Stocks shed losses to tilt higher, with financials pacing gains

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:01:26 -0400
Stocks shed losses to tilt higher, with financials pacing gains

U.S. stocks on Friday wavered mainly lower, on track for their worst
month in 28 years, as generally bleak economic data showed consumers
spending less and Electronic Arts Inc. joining the list of companies
cutting forecasts and employees.

BANK OF JAPAN CUTS RATES TO 0.3% IN SPLIT DECISION

The Bank of Japan's policy board decides to cut its base lending rate
to 0.3% from 0.5%, abandoning its goal of normalizing interest rates
as it injects stimulus into the No. 2 global economy in an effort to
head off recession.

ECONOMIC REPORT: BIGGEST DROP IN CONSUMER SPENDING IN 4 YEARS IN SEPT.

Reluctance on the part of consumers to shop for big-ticket items like
cars led U.S. consumer spending in September to its biggest drop in
over four years.

BARCLAYS TO RAISE UP TO $11.9 BILLION

Barclays strikes a deal to raise up to 7.3 billion pounds ($11.9
billion) in fresh capital as the U.K. lender signals its preference
for cash from Middle Eastern royal families to the British government.

FUTURES MOVERS: OIL FALLS ON DEMAND CONCERNS, SET FOR BIGGEST MONTHLY LOSS EVER

Crude-oil futures headed lower for a second day
Friday, poised to suffer the biggest monthly loss ever in New York as
weak U.S.economic data fed concerns that a slowdown in global economic
growth will continue to reduce oil demand.

U.S. consumers' spending drops 0.3% in September, weakest in more than three years

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:33:27 -0400

U.S. consumers' spending drops 0.3% in September, weakest in more than
three years
10/31/2008 8:31:29 AM EDT

Government reports that consumer spending fell in September - another sign of weakness in the economy.

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:33:03 -0400

Government reports that consumer spending fell in September - another
sign of weakness in the economy.

Tech Daily: Chip stocks lead sector higher as market advances

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:00:07 -0400

Tech Stocks: Chip stocks lead sector higher as market advances

Chip stocks power the tech sector after an industry group reports a
modest growth in semiconductor sales for September.

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DOJ allows Verizon, Alltel merger with conditions

The U.S. Justice Department says it's suing to block Verizon
Communications Inc.'s proposed, $28 billion acquisition of Alltel
Corp. unless Verizon agrees to divest assets in 22 states.

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EA losses grow as video game publisher announces layoff plans

Electronic Arts' net losses grew in the second fiscal quarter thanks
to a sharp rise in expenses while video-game sales also grew, driven
by demand for titles such as "Madden NFL" and "Spore." The game
publisher announced plans to lay off
about 6% of its workforce in a cost-cutting move.

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Netflix teams up with TiVo to stream content

Netflix and TiVo are collaborating on a service that would offer
subscribers the ability to have thousands of movies and TV episodes
instantly streamed from Netflix directly to their TVs.

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Sun Micro reports $1.68 billion loss as charges swell

Sun Microsystems Inc. reports a huge fiscal first-quarter loss as the
computer server and software maker sees sales fall more than 7% from a
year ago and records a goodwill impairment charge of $1.45 billion.

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Eastman Kodak posts higher profit, cuts outlook

Eastman Kodak Co. shares drop 7% after the camera and film giant pares
its outlook for the full year and says it almost tripled its
third-quarter profit from a year ago when hefty restructuring charges
cut into the bottom line.

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Symantec shares pounded after sober outlook

Shares of the security-software maker slide more than 17% a day after
the company reported strong results for the period ended in early
October but added an outlook that fell well short of expectations.

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Beatles label taps 'Rock Band' makers for new video game

The Beatles are taking a tentative step forward into the digital media
market with a new video game that will include the group's music and
will be published in partnership with MTV Networks and Harmonix –
makers of the popular "Rock Band" title.

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Motorola posts loss and delays spinoff of handset biz

Motorola Inc. on Thursday swung to a loss in the third quarter and
said it would delay the spin-off of its faltering wireless-phone
business beyond 2009.

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Cisco expected to post 7% quarterly revenue rise

While Cisco Systems Inc. has survived and even thrived in past
downturns, some analysts still worry about the current slowdown's
impact on the tech giant.

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Chip sales up slightly as analyst upgrades sector

Sales of semiconductors rose slightly in September boosted by strong
demand in the Asia-Pacific region, an industry group said Thursday.

Markets Thursday, 10/30/2008

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:31:03 -0400

| Dow : 9180.69 up 189.73 | S & P : 954.09 up 24.00 |
| NASDAQ: 1698.52 up 41.31 | Bond (10Y): 3.97%, 100.22

MARKETS:
Stocks get a boost
Wall Street advances after Fed, other central banks cut rates, lending
improves and GDP shrinks at a slower-than-expected pace.

Stocks resume GDP-inspired rally to close solidly ahead

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:01:55 -0400
Stocks resume GDP-inspired rally to close solidly ahead

U.S. stocks rally, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average back above
the 9,000 level, after the government says the economy shrank less
than forecast in the third quarter.

TREASURY MAY BORROW $1 TRILLION TO COVER BAILOUTS, DEALERS SAY

Major bond dealers say the United States may have to issue more than
$1 trillion in debt during its current fiscal year, by far the most
ever, to fund massive programs designed to bail out the banking
system.

DISMAL SALES RESULTS ON TAP AS GM/CHRYSLER DEAL LOOKS LIKELY

Automakers are expected to hand in yet another set of sickly U.S. car
sales numbers next week in what could mark the last time the industry
reports results before Detroit's Big Three becomes the Big Two.

AMERICAN EXPRESS TO CUT 10% OF WORK FORCE, OR 7,000 JOBS

Highlighting that even some of the most creditworthy and wealthiest
Americans are having trouble paying their bills, American Express says
it's cutting 10% of its staff, or about 7,000 people, in an effort to
save money.

Banks over the last week borrowed a record $112 billion a day on average under the Fed's emergency lending program.

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:40:21 -0400

Banks over the last week borrowed a record $112 billion a day on
average under the Fed's emergency lending program.

Markets rally late in day, with Dow up 193 points at the close, as investors cheer interest-rate cuts and easing of credit markets.

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:02:20 -0400

Markets rally late in day, with Dow up 193 points at the close, as
investors cheer interest-rate cuts and easing of credit markets.

Stocks climb after economy shrinks less than forecast

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:01:21 -0400
Stocks climb after economy shrinks less than forecast

U.S. stocks climb, but remain off session highs, after the government reports

the economy shrank less than forecast and on hopes interest-rate cuts
by central banks around the world will curb the global economic
slowdown.

ECONOMIC REPORT: GDP FALLS 0.3% IN THIRD QUARTER ON DIVE IN SPENDING

The U.S. economy contracted at a 0.3% annualized rate in the third
quarter, as consumer spending declined at the fastest rate in 28
years, the Commerce Department estimates.

EXXON MOBIL'S PROFIT APPROACHES $15 BILLION, SETTING NEW RECORD

Exxon Mobil's third-quarter net income rises 58% to a new record of
nearly $15 billion, but the results are likely to mark a swan song for
groundbreaking profits tied to this past summer's triple-digit prices
for crude oil.

BORROWING COSTS EASE AFTER FED RATE CUT, LIQUIDITY MOVES

Credit-market conditions show further signs of improvement, responding
to the Federal Reserve's decision to slash a key U.S. interest rate to
1% along with central banks' moves to further flood money markets with
dollars.

MOTOROLA POSTS LOSS AND DELAYS SPINOFF OF HANDSET BIZ

Motorola Inc. on Thursday swung to a loss in the third quarter and
said it would delay the spin-off of its faltering wireless-phone
business beyond 2009.

Breaking News: Economy shrank in Q3

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:49:43 -0500

WASHINGTON - Gross domestic product shrank at a 0.3% annual rate in
the third quarter, the worst showing since third quarter 2001, when
the nation was last in recession.

U.S. stock benchmarks tally 2% gains in opening minute of trading

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:33:39 -0400

U.S. stock benchmarks tally 2% gains in opening minute of trading

Tech Daily: Sector dips then rebounds after rate cut

10/29/2008 4:33 PM ET

Technology stocks dip into the red before rebounding after the Federal
Reserve cuts interest rates by half a point, highlighting what
continues to be a jittery market.

Markets Wednesday, 10/29/2008

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:31:04 -0400
| Dow : 8990.96 down 74.16 | S & P : 930.09 down 10.42 |
| NASDAQ: 1657.21 up 7.74 | Bond (10Y): 3.85%, 101.16 |
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MARKETS:
Stocks succumb to bleak Fed outlook
Wall Street erases most of the session's gains that followed the
Federal Reserve's interest-rate cut.

Dow jumps 250 points, after seesawing initially, following the Fed's announcement of a half-point rate cut.

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:25:20 -0400

Dow jumps 250 points, after seesawing initially, following the Fed's
announcement of a half-point rate cut.

Dow falls into negative territory, after being up most of the day, following Fed's announcement of half-point rate cut.

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:25:21 -0400

Dow falls into negative territory, after being up most of the day,
following Fed's announcement of half-point rate cut.

Fed expected to cut rates by half point

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:01:22 -0400

Fed expected to cut rates by half point

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates this afternoon, making
good on Chairman Ben Bernanke's pledge to do whatever it takes to get the
economy back in gear.

FUTURES MOVERS: CRUDE LEADS BROAD RALLY IN COMMODITY FUTURES

Crude-oil futures surge as much as 8%, leading a broad rally among commodities,
with prices for oil on track to post the largest daily percentage gain since
June.

ECONOMIC REPORT: ORDERS FOR DURABLES UP 0.8%, LIFTED BY AIRCRAFT

Strong demand for airplanes lifted orders for U.S.-made durable goods to a 0.8%
gain in September, the Commerce Department reports.

ASIA MARKETS: TOKYO SURGES 7.7%, BUT REGION ENDS OFF HIGHS

Most Asian markets advanced Wednesday after a massive overnight rally on Wall
Street on hopes the U.S. and Japanese central banks would reduce interest rates
to support their weakening economies. But the indexes came off their highs in
as investors chose to remain cautious on weak corporate earnings reports.

Stocks edge lower in early trading as Wall Street bides it...

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:31:03 -0400

Stocks edge lower in early trading as Wall Street bides its time ahead
of an expected Fed rate cut later in the day.

More companies may ax 401(k) match

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:31:42 -0500

More companies may end 401(k) match

More News

Most Asian markets extend gains after U.S. rally

Pakistan earthquake kills at least 150, leaves 15,000 homeless

Durable goods rose 0.8% in September, a surprise gain, the government said.

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:33:05 -0400

Durable goods rose 0.8% in September, a surprise gain, the government said.

Rally fuels surge in tech stocks as Nvidia, Adobe lead gains

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:00:11 -0400

Technology stocks stage a late rally led by Nvidia Corp., Adobe,
Amazon.com and Cisco Systems as the broader market soars.

Markets Tuesday, 10/28/2008

Tuesday, 10/28/2008

| Dow : 9065.12 up 889.35 | S & P : 940.51 up 91.59 |

| NASDAQ: 1649.47 up 143.57 | Bond (10Y): 3.77%, 101.78

MARKETS:
Dow's 2nd best day ever
The Dow jumps as much as 906 points as investors use 5-year lows as an
opportunity to get back into stocks.

U.S. consumer confidence plunges on financial crisis

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:01:42 -0400

U.S. consumer confidence plunges on financial crisis

Wounded by the financial crisis, U.S. consumer confidence plunges in
October, reaching an all-time low in the series' 41-year existence,
the Conference Board reports.

VW SHORTS SCRAMBLE FOR EXITS AS MARKET CAP SWELLS

Short sellers of Volkswagen scramble for the exits, briefly making the
European auto maker the world's largest company by market
capitalization and raising worries about the banks that sold Porsche
Automobil Holding the options to build its stake in the Beetle maker.

OUTSIDE THE BOX: HAVE INVESTORS PANICKED AND CAPITULATED?

Is it time to buy stock? Ever since mid-September, we have read that
the bottom is in because investors have "panicked" and "capitulated."
But market history. does not support this widespread view.

Breaking News: Dow soars more than 800 points

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:05:49 -0500

NEW YORK (AP) - The Dow Jones industrial average jumped more than 800
points Tuesday as bargain hunters, buying in anticipation of a Federal
Reserve rate cut, grabbed stocks that have been pounded lower in
recent sessions. All the major indexes were up at least 9%.

Dow jumps 350 points, rebounding from...

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:35:06 -0400

Dow jumps 350 points, rebounding from a 5-year low, as global rally
cheers investors and Fed begins a 2-day meeting on rates.

U.S. consumer confidence plunges on financial crisis

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:01:27 -0400

U.S. consumer confidence plunges on financial crisis

Wounded by the financial crisis, U.S. consumer confidence plunges in
October, reaching an all-time low in the series' 41-year existence,
the Conference Board

EUROPE MARKETS: BP, VOLKSWAGEN HELP EUROPE STOCKS CLAW BACK SOME LOSSES

European shares moved higher on Tuesday, paced by gains for oil giant
BP and automaker Volkswagen, as investors shopped for bargains after a
22% drop for stocks since the start of October.

U.S. consumer confidence plunges to record low in October

BULLETIN: U.S. consumer confidence plunges to record low in October
10/28/2008 10:01:33 AM EDT

Grand Street

Chinatown, NYC, USA

Grand ST

Chinatown, NYC USA

A Library in NYC

Reading!

markets 10/24/2008

Friday, 10/24/2008

| Dow : 8378.95 down 312.30

| S & P : 876.77 down 31.34

| NASDAQ: 1552.03 down 51.88

| Bond (10Y): 3.68%, 102.53

MARKETS:
Stocks can't shake the blues
Wall Street gives up comeback attempt as global slowdown woes
dominate, capping a dismal week.