The DJIA (-142.96), S&P 500 (-17.50), and Nasdaq Composite (-27.32) closed much lower, aided by energy stocks (XLE -2.74 pct) getting hammered as crude futures ($WTIC -1.47 pct) dipped to 98.43.

Other sharply negative sectors were Cons. Discretionary (XLY -2.38 pct) and Utilities (XLU -2.20 pct). Only Cons. Staples (XLP +0.37 pct) settled higher to offset recent losses.

Nat Gas stocks ($XNG) dropped -2.25 pct, while Oil Services stocks ($OSX) were pulled down -2.82 pct. The REITs ($DJR -2.22 pct) were also down.

On the strength of a rally in $GOLD (+11.40/oz +1.22 pct) to $949.20, the goldminers ($XAU +0.53 pct to 190.56) were strong.

On the econ front, the Philadelphia Fed index, which measures manufacturing activity in the region, weakened sharply to a contractive minus -24 reading. The Labor Department reported jobless claims fell 9,000 to 349,000 in the week ended Feb. 16, while the previous week was revised up by 10,000 claims to 358,000.

After the awful manufacturing data was released, the US Treasuries saw a big flight-to-safety bid. The long-term US Bonds ($USD) lifted (+1.16 pct) to 117.25. Yields dropped on the 30-year ($TYX -1.96 pct to 4.553), on the 10-year ($TNX -3.40 pct to 3.784), on the 5-year ($FVX -6.21 pct to 2.807 pct) and on the short T-Bills ($IRX -1.61 pct to 2.14 pct).

On the corporate earnings front, JC Penney (JCP) reported a -9.9 pct drop in Q4 net earnings to $430 million vs $477 million a year ago, which reflects a weakening consumer environment.

On the deals front, Reed Elsevier (RUK, ENL) plans to divest its business information unit and agreed to an acquisition of ChoicePoint Inc. (CPS) for GBP1.2 billion.

European shares rose on earnings news, closing higher for the FTSE (+0.65 pct to 5932.2), the CAC (+0.96 pct to 4858.9) and DAX to 6904.9. Earlier in the day, the Asia-Pacific markets closed broadly higher.

The $USD lost considerable ground (-0.70 pct) to 75.59, while all the other major currencies gained on the session, which reflects the booming precious metals prices. The Yen, Euro, Pound and Loonie were up +0.74 pct, +0.75 pct, +0.96 pct and +0.19 pct respectively. The Euro closed at 1.4817 to the USD, and the Loonie at 98.90.

Early this morning (7:15am ET), the Platinum and Palladium spot prices are getting hammered: plat is down -30 -1.38 pct, while pall is down -23 -4.47 pct from midnight. Spot gold and silver are down less, to 945.0 and 17.8725.

The FTSE, CAC and DAX are trading at 7:15am ET at 5928.3 (flat), 4840.6 (-0.38 pct) and 6819.6 (-1.24 pct). Traders are awaiting news on Lehman Bros, Merrill Lynch, and MBIA.

The March Euro is at 1.4824 (down from 1.4827 an hour ago), the April Crude at 99.35, up from 98.35 an hour ago, and the DJIA futures down -19 from midnight to 12302, but an hour ago had been up +4.

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Comments & Outlook

This is an interesting story on (Cara 100) Starbucks (SBUX) that was released shortly before the company announced staff lay-offs and a restructuring.

My take on it is that Chairman and CEO is the right person driving the company, and I’m happy he’s back. I will not be pleased to see him roasting his beans on Financial Entertainment TV. He should send his CFO to CNBC and keep at the job of running his company for the stakeholders.

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Links & Charts

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International Economics Review

US Economic Calendar.

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Knobias Cara100 Tables

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Cara 100 Daily RSI-7 Charts

At least one RSI value >70:

Ticker	Last	RSI-7M	RSI-7W	RSI-7D	Zone
PBR	118.20	79.39	66.43	61.78
ABX	50.46	78.88	63.01	59.98
ATVI	26.85	78.44	58.51	52.29
VIP	38.15	77.11	60.09	68.80
GG	40.35	76.19	67.54	75.63
IBKR	34.60	71.72	68.58	62.04
RIMM	106.69	70.41	57.30	74.60
VCP	33.58	69.67	69.39	78.52
RIO	34.79	68.49	62.49	76.37
MICC	111.16	68.19	57.45	76.88
GGB	30.44	67.67	62.51	82.12
NTES	20.87	62.15	67.26	86.28
BBD	28.67	60.15	51.05	72.34

At least one RSI value <30:

Ticker	Last	RSI-7M	RSI-7W	RSI-7D	Zone
UBS	32.68	14.15	13.62	24.82	Accumulation Zone (for 5 days)
SBUX	17.83	15.06	24.75	33.41
BBBY	28.30	16.27	42.05	37.78
BC	16.39	21.31	35.54	32.64
HBC	73.11	22.70	24.10	47.52	Buy alert (trig. 7 days ago [on 2008-02-12 at $72.71, +0.55% chg], after a 4 day AZ)
KSS	44.59	23.12	44.88	48.08
SNDK	25.84	24.28	24.91	45.94
DELL	19.27	24.87	28.73	39.83
KB	61.75	25.99	30.72	39.62
LLTC	27.26	28.38	32.61	47.49
GOL	17.59	28.40	30.03	29.04
BMY	22.76	29.61	25.55	35.59
BDK	67.05	29.69	36.26	36.91
CSCO	23.19	30.76	27.69	40.90
WFMI	36.54	34.20	36.95	26.01
GS	175.17	37.09	27.39	32.18
GE	33.69	37.12	29.34	39.01
GRMN	62.72	39.96	29.48	35.19
GOOG	502.86	43.19	28.23	31.02
ORCL	18.89	44.58	26.21	35.26
WBK	104.45	44.64	24.77	28.44
ABB	23.48	55.39	29.69	43.86
TEF	84.67	59.08	29.59	47.28

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International Equity Markets Review

Europe

Here is the latest session data for the bourses of Europe.

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Here is the latest session data for the London stock exchange FTSE.

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Here is the latest session data for the German DAX.

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Here is the latest session data for the French CAC 40.

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Here is the latest session data for the Milan Italy stock exchange MIBTEL.

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Here is the latest session data for the Swiss market index.

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Asia-Pacific

Here is the latest session data for the Asia-Pacific stock exchanges.

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Here is the latest chart for the Japanese Nikkei 225 index.

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Here is the latest chart for the Singapore index .

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Here is the latest chart for the Shanghai Composite index .

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Here is the latest chart for the Hong Kong Hang Seng index .

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Here is the latest chart for the India BSE 30 index .

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Here is the latest chart for the Australian All Ordinaries index .

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US Equity Markets Review

DJIA (interactive) chart

NASDAQ Composite (interactive) chart

Table 14: Dow 30 List

You can do this table yourself by entering the following string into the Summaries window at www.billcara2.com and then clicking on the link for Performance.

AA AIG AXP BA C CAT DD DIS GE GM HD HON HPQ IBM INTC JNJ JPM KO MCD MMM MO MRK MSFT PFE PG T UTX VZ WMT XOM

Here are the links to interactive Dow charts from Billcara2.com that I broke into groups of ten, which you can add technical indicators for as well. (list one) (list two) (list three)

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The Americas

Here is the latest session data for the exchanges of the Americas.

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Here is the latest chart for the Brazilian Bovespa stock exchange in Sao Paulo.

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Here is the latest session data for the Toronto Stock Exchange composite index.

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Sector ETF Summary for the US equity market

The tables I show in this section are for ten (GICS) Sector Index Funds (ETF's) only, but they cover the full spectrum of the US equity market.

Table 1: Cara ETF List

You can do this table yourself by entering the following string into the Summary window at Billcara2.com and then clicking on the link for Performance. XLE XLB XLI XLY XLP IYH XLF SMH IYZ XLU XLK SPY . You can also add more ETF’s – up to 30 in total.

For a list of components to any ETF, go to the AMEX.com web site, and click on ETF's.

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10 (energy: XLE)

Table 2: Senior oil & gas equities

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15 (basic materials: XLB)

Table 3: Senior metals and steel equities

Table 12: Senior gold equities

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20 (industrial: XLI)

Table 4: Senior capital goods makers and transportation

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25 (consumer discretionary: XLY)

Table 5: Senior consumer discretionary equities

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30 (consumer staples: XLP)

Table 6: Senior consumer staples equities

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35 (healthcare: IYH)

Table 7: Senior healthcare equities

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40 (financial: XLF)

Table 8: Senior financial company equities

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45 (technology, semiconductor: SMH)

Table 9: Senior technology equities

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50 (telecom: IYZ)

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55 (utilities: XLU)

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International Equity Market USD-denominated ETF Review

Table 13: International equities perspective

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Japanese equity market ETF: EWJ

Here is the Japanese (EWJ) equity market ETF Daily data charts:

Interactive EWJ Daily data:

Interactive EWJ Weekly data:

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U.K. equity market ETF

Here is the United Kingdom (EWU) equity market ETF Daily data charts:

Interactive EWU Daily data:

EWU Daily data:

Interactive EWU Weekly data:

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Canada's equity market

Here is the Canadian (EWC) equity market ETF Daily data charts:

Interactive EWC Daily data:

Interactive EWC Weekly data:

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Bonds & Yields Review

Table 10: Yahoo Finance U.S. Treasury Debt, Municipal and Corporate Bond Yields

US Treasury Bonds

Maturity	Yield	Yesterday	Last Week	Last Month
3 Month	2.11	2.15	2.19	2.16
6 Month	2.02	2.08	2.02	2.29
2 Year	1.96	2.13	1.89	2.00
3 Year	2.00	2.14	1.92	1.95
5 Year	2.79	2.98	2.76	2.57
10 Year	3.77	3.89	3.80	3.44
30 Year	4.54	4.61	4.62	4.20

Municipal Bonds

Maturity	Yield	Yesterday	Last Week	Last Month
2yr AA	2.43	2.40	2.26	2.24
2yr AAA	2.39	2.38	2.26	2.36
2yr A	2.56	2.49	2.36	2.48
5yr AAA	2.85	2.84	2.78	2.69
5yr AA	2.88	2.83	2.68	2.60
5yr A	3.04	3.03	3.07	2.97
10yr AAA	3.58	3.50	3.47	3.21
10yr AA	3.50	3.63	3.49	3.18
10yr A	3.75	3.89	3.70	3.44
20yr AAA	4.42	4.41	4.41	4.13
20yr AA	4.74	4.43	4.44	4.27
20yr A	4.90	4.93	4.43	4.08

Corporate Bonds

Maturity	Yield	Yesterday	Last Week	Last Month
2yr AA	3.35	3.55	3.32	3.28
2yr A	3.37	3.36	3.39	3.58
5yr AAA	3.91	4.14	4.04	4.02
5yr AA	4.22	4.40	4.09	4.16
5yr A	4.56	4.76	4.45	4.35
10yr AAA	5.23	5.38	5.18	4.78
10yr AA	5.40	5.55	5.40	5.23
10yr A	5.86	5.90	5.68	5.32
20yr AAA	5.73	5.78	5.72	5.53
20yr AA	6.31	6.40	6.10	5.65
20yr A	6.31	6.36	6.30	6.02

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Here is the $USB 30-year Treasury Bond chart.

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US Bond Funds -- Interactive Daily Data Charts

SHY Daily data series chart:

IEF Daily data series chart:

TLT Daily data series chart:

AGG Daily data series chart:

LQD Daily data series chart:

TIP Daily data series chart:

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Table 11: Interest-sensitive securities

Consumer Finance -USA -- Interactive Daily Data Charts

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Commodities Review

$CRB Index

Open Futures Contracts

Interactive Chart of Daily CRB Commodities Index:

Interactive Chart of Weekly CRB Commodities Index:

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Oil Review

Here is the e-miNY Mar-08 Crude Oil chart.

Interactive Chart of Daily Crude Oil:

Interactive Chart of Weekly Crude Oil:

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Gold & Precious Metals Review

Spot gold chart for the week

Interactive Chart of Daily Gold EOD Continuous Contract Index:

Interactive Chart of Weekly Gold EOD Continuous Contract Index:

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Spot silver chart for the week

Interactive daily data

Interactive Chart of Daily Silver EOD Continuous Contract Index:

Interactive chart of the Silver Bullion index.

Interactive Chart of Weekly Silver EOD Continuous Contract Index:

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Spot platinum chart for the past three days

Interactive Chart of Daily Platinum EOD Continuous Contract Index:

Interactive Chart of Weekly Platinum EOD Continuous Contract Index:

Interactive chart of the Platinum metal index.

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Spot palladium chart for the week

Interactive Chart of Daily Palladium EOD Continuous Contract Index:

Interactive Chart of Weekly Palladium EOD Continuous Contract Index:

Interactive chart of the Palladium metal index.

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Interactive Chart of Weekly Copper EOD Continuous Contract Index:

Interactive Chart of Daily Copper EOD Continuous Contract Index:

Interactive chart of the Copper metal index.

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Table 12: Senior gold equities

To watch the moves in precious metal miners, you will have to monitor the individual stock charts, preferably in real-time, as follows:

NEM ABX AU GFI GG HMY AUY KGC BVN
Interactive Daily data
Interactive Weekly data

MDG LIHRY AEM BGO IAG EGO RGLD GOLD CDE GRS
Interactive Daily data
Interactive Weekly data

CBJ SSRI SIL NG KRY UXG GRZ TSE_HRG TSE_GUY TSE_AGI
Interactive Daily data
Interactive Weekly data

NXG GSS MNG DROOY MFN RNO RANGY MRB CLG
Interactive Daily data
Interactive Weekly data

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Here are the key Silver miners and the SLV ETF:

SLV SIL CDE HL PAAS SSRI SLW MGN

Interactive Daily data
Interactive Weekly data

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Here are the Weekly and Daily Data charts of the indexes:

Interactive Chart of Daily U.S. Goldminers Index:

Weekly U.S. Goldminers Index:

Interactive Chart of Weekly U.S. Goldminers Index:

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The U.S. goldminer share trust ETF trades under the ticker symbol GDX.

Here are the U.S. Goldminer ETF (GDX) index Weekly and Daily data charts:

GDX Daily data:

GDX Weekly data:

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The Toronto Exchange-listed goldminer iUnits S&P/TSX Capped Gold Index ETF trades under the ticker symbol TSE:XGD. Yes, just like GDX on the AMEX, you can trade XGD on Toronto.

Here are the Weekly and Daily data charts for the TSX Goldshares (XGD) index:

Interactive Chart of XGD Daily data:

Interactive Chart of XGD Weekly data:

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Forex Review

Here is the chart of the week's trading in the $USD.

Interactive Chart of Daily U.S. Dollar Index:

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Interactive Chart of Daily Euro Dollar Index, priced in USD:

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Daily British Pound Index:

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Daily Japanese Yen Index:

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Daily Canadian Dollar Index:

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Wrap-up

Posted by Posted by Bill Cara on February 22, 2008 07:25:05 AM | Category: Daily Report