Capital Senior Living -- CSU -- added

I know senior living facilities will be a growth industry in the future but I added Capital Senior Living (CSU) to the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio because it is moving now.

Capital Senior Living Corporation (CSU) is one of the largest providers of senior living services in the United States. The Company currently owns interests in and/or operates 77 communities with a capacity of approximately 11,000 residents, including 15 communities that it manages for third parties. The Company also operates one home health care agency.  Annual sales are over $211 million dollars.  This is becoming a big business. Technical Factors: 100% Barchart technical buy signal Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal 10 new highs and up 73.16% in the last month Relative Strength Index 88.12% and rising Trades around 9.91 with a 50 day moving average of 6.20 Fundamental Factors: Wall Street brokerage analysts at Stifel Nicolas have a strong buy recommendation on this one Sales are projected to increase by 14.30% this year and 4.70% next year Earnings are estimated to jump by 57.90% this year, 56.70% next year and continue at 16.30% for the next 5 years Investor Sentiment: There is a growing interest in this sector not only as a life style but also as an investment The CAPS members on Motley Fool vote 42 to 11 that this is a company that can beat the market The more experienced All Stars agree by a vote of 12 to 4 This industry in general and this stock in particular deserves your attention. Jim Van Meerten is an analyst for  Marketocracy Capital Management.  He shares his knowledge and experience from over 40 years of investing in stocks, mutual funds and ETFs on Barchart.com  in his daily blog -- Barchart Portfolio Blogs. Through Marketocracy Capital Management  you can have a Separately Managed Account that mirrors his Barchart Van Meerten New High model portfolio.

Kongzhong -- KONG -- added

This morning I added Kongzhong (KONG) to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for very positive price movement. This is one Chinese ADR that you should put on your watch list.

I know many investors are investing in Chinese ETF's but I think you have a better opportunity if you invest in individual Chinese ADRs selectively rather than Chinese baskets of stocks.

Kongzhong (KONG) is the leading provider of 2.5G wireless interactive entertainment, media and community services in terms of revenue to customers of China Mobile.

Technical Factors:

• 96% Barchart technical buy signal
• 11 new highs and up 39.27% in the last month
• Relative Strength Index is 81.09% and rising
• Trades around 10.07 with a 50 day moving average of 7.51

Fundamental Factors:

• Wall Street brokerage analysts have published 1 strong buy and 2 hold recommendations
• Sales are projected to increase by 16.90% this year and 16.60% next year
• Earnings are estimated to increase by 62.10% this year, 27.70% next year and 15.00% annually for the next 5 years

Investor Sentiment:

• The general investing public is looking for Chinese ADRs and have found this one
• The CAPS members on Motley Fool vote 988 to 50 that this stock will beat the market
• The more experienced All Stars agree 328 to 11

For those of you that want to be in BRIC stocks and are ready to move beyond ETFs then selecting individual ADRs is your next logical step,

Jim Van Meerten is an analyst for  Marketocracy Capital Management.  He shares his knowledge and experience from over 40 years of investing in stocks, mutual funds and ETFs on Barchart.com  in his daily blog -- Barchart Portfolio Blogs.

Through Marketocracy Capital Management  you can have a Separately Managed Account that mirrors his Barchart Van Meerten New High model portfolio.

Barchart Morning Call 3/18

Barchart Morning Call

Barchart.com - 2 mins ago

Overnight Developments

• Global stocks are trading mostly higher with the European Euro Stoxx 50 index down -0.11% and June S&Ps up +9.60 points. The yen plunged and most world stock markets rose after the G-7 announced coordinated intervention in the currency markets for the first time since 2000 in order to slow yen strength that threatens to hamper Japan's recovery. G-7 finance chiefs said in a joint statement after a conference call they will "provide any needed cooperation" with Japan and "we will monitor exchange markets closely and will cooperate as appropriate." Stock gains were limited however, after China announced it would raise banks' reserve requirements for the third time this year. Crude oil prices jumped to a 1-week high after the United Nations Security Council voted to establish a no-fly zone over Libya and demanded a cease-fire with rebels. Feb UK nationwide consumer confidence plunged 10 points to 38, the lowest since records began n 2004, as Britons grew more pessimistic about the sustainability of the economic recovery and the outlook for jobs.
• The Asian stock markets today closed mostly higher with Japan up +2.72%, Hong Kong +0.07%, China +0.58%, Taiwan +1.35%, Australia +1.56%, Singapore -0.24%, South Korea +1.00%, India -1.49%. Asian stock markets climbed as concern eased about the spread of radiation from Japan's crippled power plant and after G-7 leaders said their central banks will jointly intervene in foreign-exchange markets to weaken the yen. The Sankei newspaper reported that Japan's government may sell more than 10 trillion yen ($122 billion) of reconstruction debt, all of which the BOJ may buy. The BOJ today added 4 trillion yen to the financial system, bringing its emergency fund injections this week to 38 trillion yen. After the Asian markets closed, China raised banks reserve requirements for the third time this year after inflation and industrial output exceeded forecasts in Feb. The PBOC announced a 50 bp increase in reserve ratios to 20.0% from March 25 for the nation's biggest banks and said it may impose extra requirements on individual lenders as part of efforts to rein in liquidity.

Overnight U.S. Stock News

• June S&Ps this morning are trading up +9.60 points . The US stock market yesterday rallied right from the start and closed higher on strong economic data along with speculation that Japan will contain its nuclear crisis: Dow Jones +1.39%, S&P 500 +1.34%, Nasdaq Composite +0.73%. Bullish factors for stocks included (1) the larger-than-expected decline in weekly initial US unemployment claims (-16,000 to 385,000 versus expectations of -10,000 to 387,000), (2) the unexpected increase in the Mar Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index which expanded at its fastest pace in 27 years (+7.5 to 43.4 versus expectations of -5.9 to 30.0), (3) the action by Tokyo Electric Power to fix power cables on its crippled power plant to supply power to the reactor coolant system, which reduced market concerns that the Japanese nuclear crisis will worsen, and (4) the slump in the dollar that led to a broad-based rally in commodities which boosted energy and commodity producers.
• Bearish factors included (1) the larger-than-expected increase in Feb CPI (+0.5% m/m and +2.1% y/y versus expectations of +0.4% m/m and +2.0% y/y, (2) the unexpected decline in Feb industrial production (-0.1 versus expectations of +0.6%), and (3) the unexpected drop in Feb capacity utilization (-0.1 to 76.3% versus expectations of +0.4 to 76.5%).
• General Electric (GE), which has lost more than 4% since Japan's earthquake struck on Mar 11, climbed 1.4% in pre-market trading as it is in talks to sell nuclear reactors to India.
• Nike (NKE) slumped 4.8% in European trading reported Q3 profit of $1.08 a share, below analysts' estimates of $1.12 a share and the company's first miss in 19 straight quarters.

Today's Market Focus

• June 10-year T-notes this morning are trading down -3.5 ticks. T-note prices yesterday ratcheted lower throughout the day and finished with moderate losses on strong economic data and reduced safe-haven demand: TYM11 -10, FVM11 -6.7, EDU11 +0.5. Bearish factors included (1) the larger-than-expected decline in weekly initial US unemployment claims (-16,000 to 385,000 versus expectations of -10,000 to 387,000), (2) the larger-than-expected increase in Feb CPI (+0.5% m/m and +2.1% y/y versus expectations of +0.4% m/m and +2.0% y/y, (3) the unexpected increase in the Mar Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index which expanded at its fastest pace in 27 years (+7.5 to 43.4 versus expectations of -5.9 to 30.0), and (4) reduced safe-haven demand for Treasuries after the stock market rallied. Bullish factors included (1) the unexpected decline in Feb industrial production (-0.1 versus expectations of +0.6%), (2) the unexpected drop in Feb capacity utilization (-0.1 to 76.3% versus expectations of +0.4 to 76.5%), and (3) the Fed's action to purchase $6.989 billion of Treasuries as part of its QE 2 asset-purchase program.
• The dollar index this morning is weaker with the dollar/yen +2.55 yen and the euro/dollar +1.09 cents. The yen plunged in overnight trade after the G-7 central agreed to sell the yen in currency markets in coordinated intervention. The dollar index yesterday sank to a 4-1/4 month low and finished lower as the yen surged on speculation there will be no currency intervention before Friday's G-7 meeting: Dollar Index -0.640, USDJPY -0.694, EURUSD +0.01223. Bearish factors included (1) strength in the yen which rallied to a new post WWII high against the dollar of 76.36 as Japan's quake crisis prompted increased safe-haven demand for yen along with speculation that insurers will repatriate dollar and euro assets back to yen to pay for earthquake damages and reconstruction, and (2) reduced safe-haven demand for the dollar as the stock market rallied. Bullish factors included (1) the action by the G-7 nations to call for an emergency meeting on Friday, which may lead to some form of coordinated intervention to curb the yen’s gains, and (2) stronger-than-expected US economic data on weekly jobless claims and the Mar Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index, which signals economic strength and is positive for the dollar.
• April crude oil prices this morning are trading up +66 cents a barrel and April gasoline is +1.98 cents per gallon. Crude oil surged over $2.00 a barrel in overnight trade on news the UN had passed a resolution for a no-fly zone over Libya, but prices fell back after China raised banks' reserve requirements. Crude oil and gasoline prices yesterday moved sharply higher on concern the civil unrest in North Africa and the Middle East will spread and reduce crude shipments from the region: CLJ11 +$3.44, RBJ11 +10.69. Bullish factors included (1) concern the escalation of violence in Bahrain will spread to Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude-exporting country, (2) the plunge in the dollar index to a 4-1/4 month low, which encourages investment demand in commodities, and (3) stronger-than-expected US economic data on weekly jobless claims and the Mar Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index, which signals economic strength that may support increased energy demand and consumption. Bearish factors include (1) the unexpected declines in Feb US industrial production and capacity utilization which signals reduced energy consumption, and (2) heightened concern that Japan's quake crisis may push its economy into recession which would slash global economic growth and energy demand.

Today's U.S. Earnings Reports Earnings reports (confirmed releases, sorted by mkt cap) DRYS-DryShips (BEST earnings consensus $0.25), PERY-Perry Ellis International (0.66), MED-Medifast (0.32).
Global Financial Calendar

Friday 3/18/11
United States
n/a	No economic reports or speaking events are scheduled.
Japan
0100 ET	Revised Jan Japan coincident index CI, previous 106.2. Revised leading index CI, previous 101.9.
Germany
0300 ET	Feb German producer prices expected +0.6% m/m and +6.4% y/y, Jan +1.2% m/m and +5.7% y/y.
France
0345 ET	Revised Q4 French wages, previous +0.2% q/q.
Euro-Zone
0600 ET	Jan Euro-Zone trade balance, Dec –0.5 billion euros.
Canada
0700 ET	Feb Canada CPI expected +0.4% m/m and +2.3% y/y, Jan +0.3% m/m and +2.3% y/y.
0700 ET	Feb Canada CPI core expected +0.4% m/ma and +1.2% y/y, Jan unchanged m/m and +1.4% y/y.

Barchart.com provides Financial Quotes, Charts and Technical Analysis for Stock and Commodity Traders.

Encana -- ECA -- Barchart Chart of the Day

Barchart.com's Chart of the Day - Encana Corp (ECA)

Barchart Research Team - Barchart.com - Thu Mar 17, 9:08PM CDT

Related Stocks

 ECA - Encana Corp.

Sym	Last	Chg	Pct
ECA	33.49	+1.07	+3.30%

The "Chart of the Day" is Encana Corp (ECA), which showed up on Thursday's list of stocks that had a new "Buy" signal from the Barchart "TrendSpotter" trading system. Encana on Thursday rallied by 3.30% and posted a new 9-month high. Encana, as a major natural gas company, is seeing strength in its stock on the Japanese nuclear disaster and the likelihood of a slow down or halt in nuclear energy and an increased reliance on natural gas as a more important energy source. Encana Corp, with a market cap of $22 billion, is one of the world's largest independent natural gas producers and gas storage operators.



How we found the Chart of the Day:
We found the "Chart of the Day" by scanning the Barchart "Trading Signals" page. That page provides a summary of changes in the Barchart signals. We then clicked on the TrendSpotter "Buy" category to obtain a list of all the stocks for which the Barchart TrendSpotter trading system has just turned to a buy. We then clicked on the "Today's Opinion" column header in order to sort the list with the strongest stocks on top. Further information is available at Barchart Signals Guide help page and at TrendSpotter help page.
Barchart's Opinion trading systems are all a Buy and Barchart's daily TrendSpotter trading system is a "Buy." Please note that the Barchart Opinion indicators are updated live during the session every 10 minutes and can therefore change during the day as the market fluctuates. The indicator numbers shown below therefore may not match what you see live on the Barchart.com web site when you read this report.

• TrendSpotter: Buy
• Short-Term Indicators: 100% Buy
• Medium-Term Indicators: 100% Buy
• Long-Term Indicators: 100% Buy
• Overall Average 100% Buy

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Barchart links for further information:

Quotes and Charts
Quote
Detailed Quote
Chart

Technical Analysis
Technicals Summary
Trader's Cheat Sheet™

Barchart Opinions
Barchart Opinion
Barchart Snapshot
Trading Strategies

Company Info
Company Profile
Key Statistics
Ratios
Income Statement-Quarterly
Income Statement-Annual
Balance Sheet-Current
Balance Sheet-Annual

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Chart of the Day Archive
View Past Chart of the Day Reports

American Capital Agency Group -- AGNC -- added

This morning I added American Capital Agency Group (AGNC) to the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio.  For those of you not familiar with the requirements to be included in this momentum portfolio a stock must trade over 100K share per day, sell for above 1 dollar, hit new highs in at least 50% of the last 20 trading sessions, have a Barchart short term technical buy signal of at least 80% and also have positive support from both the professional and amateur investing community.  Let's look at this stock,

American Capital Agency Group (AGNC)  is a newly-organized Delaware corporation formed to invest exclusively in single-family residential mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or a U.S. Government-sponsored entity. The Company will be externally managed and advised by American Capital Agency Management, LLC, a subsidiary of a wholly-owned portfolio company of American Capital. The Company will elect to be taxed, and intends to qualify, as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes.

Technical Factors:

• 80% Barchart short term technical buy signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) buy signal
• 96% Barchart overall buy signal
• 14 new highs and up 3.51% in the last month
• Relative Strength Index 72.02% and rising
• Trades around 30.39 with a 50 day moving average of 29.20

Fundamental Factors:

• Wall Street brokerage analysts have released 8 buy and 7 hold recommendation on this company
• Revenue is  projected to increase by 105.30% this year and 109.70% next year

Investor Sentiment:

• The CAPS members on Motley Fool vote 492 to 26 that this stock will beat the market
• The more experienced All Stars agree with a vote of 129 to 10

One general comment:  A stock is not added to the portfolio just because its popular.  The first and biggest requirement is current and positive momentum.   Next those stocks that are not getting positive support from both the professional and general investors are eliminated.  The stocks  remaining are then considered.

This second cut is a realization that a stock enjoying positive momentum will not continue upward unless it continues to have investor support and positive press.

Jim Van Meerten is an analyst for  Marketocracy Capital Management.  He shares his knowledge and experience from over 40 years of investing in stocks, mutual funds and ETFs on Barchart.com  in his daily blog -- Barchart Portfolio Blogs.

Through Marketocracy Capital Management  you can have a Separately Managed Account that mirrors his Barchart Van Meerten New High model portfolio.

VeriFone Systems -- PAY-- Barchart Chart of the Day

Barchart.coms Chart of the Day - VeriFone Systems (PAY)

Barchart Research Team - Barchart.com - Wed Mar 16, 7:15PM CDT

Related Stocks

 PAY - Verifone Systems

Sym	Last	Chg	Pct
PAY	52.25	+0.79	+1.54%

The "Chart of the Day" is VeriFone Systems (PAY), which showed up on Wednesday's Barchart "All Time High" list with a 1.54% rally to a high of $52.77. TrendSpotter has been Long on VeriFone since Feb 7 at $44.21. In recent news on the stock, Bloomberg reported on March 15 that Google (GOOG) will begin testing within four months its mobile payment service that involves Google paying for thousands of VeriFone merchant cash-register systems that are equipped to accept Google's payment system. VeriFone, with a market cap of $4.2 billion, is a global leader in secure electronic payment technologies.



How we found the Chart of the Day:
We found the "Chart of the Day" by scanning the Barchart "All Time High" list. In order to get to that list, we first clicked on the Stocks menu item on the Barchart home page, then on the "All Time Highs" menu item on the left menu bar. We then sorted the list by percentage gainers by clicking on the "Percent" column title. A stock that has posted a new All-Time high is typically showing strong upside momentum.
Barchart's Opinion trading systems are mostly a Buy and Barchart's daily TrendSpotter trading system is a "Buy." Please note that the Barchart Opinion indicators are updated live during the session every 10 minutes and can therefore change during the day as the market fluctuates. The indicator numbers shown below therefore may not match what you see live on the Barchart.com web site when you read this report.

• TrendSpotter: Buy
• Short-Term Indicators: 80% Buy
• Medium-Term Indicators: 75% Buy
• Long-Term Indicators: 100% Buy
• Overall Average 88% Buy

---

Barchart links for further information:

Quotes and Charts
Quote
Detailed Quote
Chart

Technical Analysis
Technicals Summary
Trader's Cheat Sheet™

Barchart Opinions
Barchart Opinion
Barchart Snapshot
Trading Strategies

Company Info
Company Profile
Key Statistics
Ratios
Income Statement-Quarterly
Income Statement-Annual
Balance Sheet-Current
Balance Sheet-Annual

---

Chart of the Day Archive
View Past Chart of the Day Reports

Barchart Morning Call 3/17

Barchart Morning Call

Barchart.com - 31 mins ago

Overnight Developments

• Global stocks are trading mixed with the European Euro Stoxx 50 index up +0.71% and June S&Ps up +9.30 points. The dollar is getting battered with the euro climbing to a 4-1/4 month high and the Japanese yen soaring to a post WWII high of 76.36. The G-7 nations will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss the financial markets and the Japanese economy, which may indicate possible coordinated intervention in currency markets to curb the yen's gains. Treasuries are little changed while crude oil is up over $1 a barrel as fighting intensifies in Libya. More than 300 workers are attempting to prevent a meltdown and spread of radiation at the crippled Fukushima power plant today, an increase from a group of 50 engineers yesterday. Insurance stocks are leading a rally of European and US shares after UBS AG said the sector has become "unjustifiably oversold" since the Japan earthquake. European stocks were also boosted after Spain sold 4.1 billion euros of 10-year and 30-year bonds today with the bid-to-cover ratio for the 10-year debt at 1.81, compared with 1.54 for last month's auction, a sign of strong demand.
• The Asian stock markets today closed mostly lower with Japan down -1.44%, Hong Kong -1.83%, China -1.57%, Taiwan -0.50%, Australia -0.06%, Singapore -0.95%, South Korea +0.14%, India -1.14%. Asian stocks fell as workers were sent to connect power to damaged cooling systems of the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi power station and Japanese exporters sold-off as the yen surged to a post WWII high. The BOJ added 6 trillion yen to the financial system in one-day operations today, bringing total emergency injections this week to 34 trillion yen. The United Nations' nuclear agency plans an emergency meeting to discuss the nuclear crisis as fear and uncertainty have gripped the financial markets. India's central bank (RBI) raised its repurchase rate by 25 bp to 6.75% and hiked the reverse repurchase rate by 25 bp to 5.75% in an attempt to bring soaring inflation under control. The RBI has now increased interest rates for the eighth time in a year after raising its inflation forecast twice in 3 months. India's wholesale-price inflation quickened to 8.31% in Feb and the RBI today raised its March-end inflation forecast to 8% from 7%.

Overnight U.S. Stock News

• June S&Ps this morning are trading up +9.30 points. The US stock market yesterday finished sharply lower on concern Japan's nuclear crisis will worsen and after US housing starts and building permits plunged in Feb: Dow Jones -2.04%, S&P 500 -1.95%, Nasdaq Composite -1.89%. The Dow fell to a 2-1/4 month low, the S&P 500 posted a 2-1/2 month low and the Nasdaq slumped to a 3-1/4 month low. Bearish factors for stocks included (1) concern the condition of Japan's crippled nuclear reactor is worsening after the International Atomic Energy Agency said four nuclear units in Japan have core damage and as the EU Energy Commissioner warned of a "major disaster," (2) a sell-off in homebuilders after the weaker-than-expected Feb US housing starts which fell to their lowest level in 1-3/4 years (-22.5% to 479,000 versus expectations of -4.9% to 567,000), (3) the unexpected plunge in Feb US building permits which fell to their lowest level since records began in 1960 (-8.2% to 517,000 versus expectations of +1.2% to 570,000), (4) the larger-than-expected increase in Feb PPI (+1.6% m/m and +5.6% y/y versus expectations of +0.7% m/m and +4.7% y/y), and (5) concern the escalation of violence in Bahrain will spread to Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude-exporting country, after Bahrain declared a 3-month state of emergency as anti-government protests intensified.
• Bullish factors included (1) early carry-over strength from a rally in Japanese stocks which recovered from a 2-day plunge, and (2) the decline ion the 10-year T-note yield to a 3-1/4 month low of 3.145%.
• Lockheed Martin (LMT) may be active to the upside today after BofA Merril Lynch raised its rating on the company to "neutral" from "underperform."
• Guess? (GES) slid 5.5% in pre-market trading after the compnay late yesterday forecast Q1 earnings of no more than 44 cents a share, well below analysts' estimates of 62 cents.

Today's Market Focus

• June 10-year T-notes this morning are trading down -3.5 ticks. T-note prices yesterday settled higher on increased safe-haven demand from the Japanese quake crisis and escalation of Middle East violence along with weakness in Feb US housing starts: TYM11 +29, FVM11 +17.5, EDU11 -1.0. The yield on the 10-year T-note tumbled to a 3-1/4 month low of 3.145%. Bullish factors included (1) a surge in safe-haven demand for Treasuries after conditions at Japan's crippled nuclear reactor deteriorated and the EU Energy Commissioner warned of a "major disaster," (2) a flight-to-safety into Treasuries as violence escalated in Bahrain, which declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, (3) the weaker-than-expected Feb US housing starts which fell to their lowest level in 1-3/4 years (-22.5% to 479,000 versus expectations of -4.9% to 567,000), and (4) the unexpected plunge in Feb US building permits which fell to their lowest level since records began in 1960 (-8.2% to 517,000 versus expectations of +1.2% to 570,000). Bearish factors included (1) the larger-than-expected increase in Feb PPI (+1.6% m/m and +5.6% y/y versus expectations of +0.7% m/m and +4.7% y/y), and (2) early weakness in Treasuries on reduced safe-haven demand after the Japanese stock market rallied for the first time in 3 days.
• The dollar index this morning is weaker and trading at a 4-1/4 month low with the dollar/yen -1.18 yen and the euro/dollar +1.20 cents. The yen soared in overnight trade and posted a new post WWII high of 76.36 per dollar. The dollar index yesterday settled slightly lower as euro weakness from Moody's downgrade of Portugal's credit rating was offset by a rally in the yen to a new post-WWII high: Dollar Index -0.049, USDJPY -1.128, EURUSD -0.00999. Bearish factors included (1) strength in the yen which rallied to a new post WWII high against the dollar of 76.36 on speculation that insurers will repatriate dollar and euro assets back to yen to pay for earthquake damages along with strong demand for yen by banks after the yen libor rate rose 38 bp to 0.491%, a 2-year high, and (2) the 2.4% increase in Feb Euro-Zone CPI, a 2-1/4 year high, along with the larger-than-expected rise in Q4 Euro-Zone labour costs, which is euro positive as the data will keep the pressure on the ECB to raise interest rates. Bullish factors included (1) euro weakness after Moody's Investors Service cut Portugal's long-term credit rating 2 levels to A3 from A1 and kept a negative outlook, which implies further downgrades in the future, and (2) the action by the BOJ to add 5 trillion yen into the financial system on top of the 28 trillion yen already injected into the system since Mar 14, which is yen negative.
• April crude oil prices this morning are trading up +$1.78 a barrel and April gasoline is +4.03 cents per gallon. Crude oil and gasoline prices yesterday recovered from early weakness on concern that escalating violence in Bahrain will spill over into Saudi Arabia: CLJ11 +$0.80, RBJ11 +4.08. Bullish factors included (1) concern the escalation of violence in Bahrain will spread to Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude-exporting country, after Bahrain declared a 3-month state of emergency as a month of anti-government protests intensified, and (2) the larger-than-expected declines in weekly DOE gasoline and distillate inventories (gasoline -4.17 million bbl versus expectations of -2.0 million bbl and distillates -2.60 million bbl versus expectations of -1.5 million bbl). Bearish factors include (1) strength in the dollar, which discourages investment demand in commodities, and (2) comments from the EU Energy Commissioner who said that Japan's crippled nuclear power plant risks provoking a "major disaster," which sent the prices of most commodities tumbling.

Today's U.S. Earnings Reports Earnings reports (confirmed releases, sorted by mkt cap) NKE-Nike (BEST earnings consensus $1.13), FDX-FedEx (0.82), ROST-Ross Stores (1.38), LULU-Lululemon Athletica (0.57), IHS-IHS Inc. (0.74), ATU-Actuant (0.30), LDK-LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (0.94), MLHR-Herman Miller (0.29), CATO-Cato Corp. (0.26), HSOL-Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd. (0.45), CRA-Celera (-0.05).
Global Financial Calendar

Thursday 3/17/11
United States
0830 ET	Weekly initial unemployment claims expected -10,000 to 387,000, previous +26,000 to 397,000. Weekly continuing claims expected ?21,000 to 3.750 million, previous 20,000 to 3.771 million.
0830 ET	Feb CPI expected +0.4% m/m and +2.0% y/y, Jan +0.4% m/m and +1.6% y/y. Feb CPI ex food & energy expected +0.1% m/m and +1.0% y/y, Jan +0.2% m/m and +1.0% y/y.
0915 ET	Feb industrial production expected +0.6%, Jan ?0.1%. Feb capacity utilization expected +0.4 to 76.5%, Jan ?0.1 to 76.1%.
1000 ET	Feb leading indicators expected +1.0%, Jan +0.1%.
1000 ET	Mar Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index expected ?5.9 to 30.0, Feb +16.6 to 35.9.
1100 ET	Treasury announces amount of 10-year TIPS to be auctioned Mar 24.
1500 ET	Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner attends meeting of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) at the Treasury Department.
1630 ET	Weekly money supply report and Fed balance sheet.
Euro-Zone
0600 ET	Jan Euro-Zone construction output, Dec ?1.8% m/m and ?12.0% y/y.
Canada
0830 ET	Jan Canada wholesale sales, Dec +0.8% m/m.
United Kingdom
2001 ET	Feb UK nationwide consumer confidence expected unchanged at 47, Jan ?7 to 47.
Japan
1950 ET	BOJ releases Feb 16-17 board meeting minutes.

Barchart.com provides Financial Quotes, Charts and Technical Analysis for Stock and Commodity Traders.

Wells-Gardner Electronics -- WGA -- sell signal

This morning I deleted Well-Gardner Electronics (WGA) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price trends.

• 100% Barchart short term technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter(tm) sell signal
• Below 20 and 50 day moving average
• 26.60% off recent high
• Relative Strength Index 39.50% and falling

Sutron Sell signals

This moring I deleted Sutron (STRN) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price trends.

• 60% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 14.24% off its recent high
• Relative strength Index 29.92% and falling

Pernix Therapeutics sell signals

This morning I deleted Pernix Therapeutics (PTX) formerly Golf Trust of America form the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price trends.

• 40% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 21.89% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 40.74% and falling

Boise -- BZ -- sell signals

This morning I deleted Boise (BZ) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price trends

• 40% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 10.94% off its recent high
• Relative strength Index 40.67% and falling

Oneok Partners LP sell signals

This morning I deleted Oneok Partners LP (OKS) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for negative price trends.

• 60% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages
• 6.29% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 30.20% and falling

Costco Wholesale sell signal

This morning I'm deleting Costco Wholesale (COST) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for negative price trends.

• 40% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below its 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 5.19% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 42.13% and falling

Aegon NV sell signals

This morning I'm deleting Aegon NV (AEG) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for negative price trends.

• 60% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 9.71% off its recent high
• Relative strength Index 39.64% and falling

Pharmerica sell signals

This morning I deleted Pharmaerica (PMC) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price trends,

• 80% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages
• 14.60% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 39.31% and falling

Dot Hill Systems sell signals

This morning I deleted Dot Hill Systems (HILL) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price trends.

• 60% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20 & 50 day moving average
• 38.34% off recent high
• Relative Strength Index 32.40% and falling

Hess Sell signals

This morning I deleted Hess Corp (HES) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price trends.

• 40% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below its 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 9.93% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 40.51% and falling

Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Trust sell signals

This morning I deleted Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Trust (TRE) from the Barchart Van Meerten Speculative portfolio for negative price trends.

• 80% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signals
• 19.08% off its recent high
• Below its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages
• Relative strength Index 64.56% and falling

Richie Bros. Auctioneers sell signals

This morning I deleted Richie Bros. Auctioneers (RBA) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for negative price trends.

• 20% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter sell signal
• Below 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 7.17% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 41.22% and falling

Global Payments sell signal

This morning I deleted Global Payments (GPN) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for negative price trends.

• 40% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signals
• Below 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 7.43% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 38.40% and falling

Verizon Communications sell signals

This morning I deleted Verizon Communications (VZ) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for negative price trends.

• 60% Barchart sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 7.13% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 36.92% and falling

Suburban Propane sell signals

This morning I deleted Suburban Propane (SPH) from the Barchart Van Meerten  New High portfolio for negative price trends.

• 60% Barchart technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages
• 9.83% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 9.83% and falling

Cimatron -- CIMT -- sell signals

This morning I deleted Cimatron (CIMT) from the Barchart Van Meerten New High portfolio for negative price trends.

• 60% Barchart short term technical sell signal
• Trend Spotter (tm) sell signal
• Below 20 and 50 day moving averages
• 34.71% off its recent high
• Relative Strength Index 34.66% and falling

Goodyear -- Barchart Chart of the Day 3/15

Barchart.com's Chart of the Day - Goodyear Tire & Rubber (GT)

Barchart Research Team - Barchart.com - Mon Mar 14, 7:37PM CDT

Related Stocks

 GT - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Sym	Last	Chg	Pct
GT	14.53	-0.54	-3.58%

The "Chart of the Day" is Goodyear Tire & Rubber (GT), which showed up on Monday's Barchart "NYSE 12-month High" list. Goodyear on Monday rallied by 0.60% and posted a new 14-month high of $15.45. TrendSpotter has been long Goodyear since Jan 26 at $12.50. In recent news on the stock, Morgan Stanley last Friday raised its rating on Goodyear to Overweight from Underweight, raised the target to $20 from $13, and named Goodyear as a long Research Tactical Idea. Goodyear, with a market cap of $3.4 billion, is one of the world's largest tire companies.


How we found the Chart of the Day:
We found the "Chart of the Day" by scanning the Barchart "New Highs/Lows" page. Then we clicked on the entry for NYSE 12-month highs. A new 12-month high is a popular sign of upside momentum. We then clicked on the "12-Month # Highs" column heading twice in order to sort the list in ascending order. Stocks with the fewest number of 12-month highs over the past 12 months are stocks that have only recently broken out to a new 12-month high and may have better upside potential then stocks that have already rallied sharply and have posted many new 12-month highs.
Barchart's Opinion trading systems are mostly a Buy and Barchart's daily TrendSpotter trading system is a "Buy." Please note that the Barchart Opinion indicators are updated live during the session every 10 minutes and can therefore change during the day as the market fluctuates. The indicator numbers shown below therefore may not match what you see live on the Barchart.com web site when you read this report.

• TrendSpotter: Buy
• Short-Term Indicators: 80% Buy
• Medium-Term Indicators: 100% Buy
• Long-Term Indicators: 100% Buy
• Overall Average 96% Buy

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Chart of the Day Archive
View Past Chart of the Day Reports

Barchart Morning Call 3/15

Barchart Morning Call

Barchart.com - 2 hrs 4 mins ago

Overnight Developments

• Global stocks are trading sharply lower with the European Euro Stoxx 50 index down -2.63% and June S&Ps down -28.80 points. The dollar rose and Treasuries surged to a 3-1/4 month high on increased safe-haven demand, while commodities tumbled, with crude oil cascading down to a 2-week low, on concern a nuclear disaster is unfolding in Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Kan said "there is still a very high risk of further radioactive material escaping" after a third blast at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant today sent radiation levels soaring to 8 times permitted levels outside the facility. European utility stocks plummeted on concern government officials will close existing nuclear power plants in Europe, while the euro fell against the dollar after as an unexpected decline in German investor confidence pressured stock prices further. The March German ZEW investor confidence fell -1.6 to 14.1, weaker than expectations of +0.1 to 15.8 and its first decline since October.
• The Asian stock markets today closed lower as Japan sank -10.55%, Hong Kong -2.86%, China -1.81%, Taiwan -3.35%, Australia -2.11%,Singapore -2.80%, South Korea -2.46%, India -1.47%. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Index posted its biggest 2-day drop since 1987 as the stock index collapsed to a 1-3/4 year low. Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s stricken nuclear power plant was hit by 2 more explosions today as workers struggle to avert a meltdown that may lead to more radiation leaks in the wake of the Mar 11 earthquake. Credit-default swaps on Japan's government debt soared 25.8 bp to a record 122.3 as concerns rise about Japan's finances in regard to reconstruction from the earthquake. Tokyo Electric Power, Asia's biggest power generator, sank the daily 25% limit while Sony, Japan's biggest exporter of consumer electronics tumbled 13% after the company halted production at some factories. The BOJ injected an additional 8 trillion yen to the financial system today on top of the record 15 trillion yen the central bank pumped into money markets yesterday as it attempts to stabilize financial markets.

Overnight U.S. Stock News

• June S&Ps this morning are trading sharply lower by -28.80 points as the risk of radiation leaks in Japan increases. The US stock market yesterday tumbled on uncertainty over how much damage Japan's worst earthquake on record will do to the global economy: Dow Jones -0.43%, S&P 500 -0.60%, Nasdaq Composite -0.54%. The Dow, S&P 500 and the Nasdaq all posted 1-1/2 month lows. Bearish factors for stocks included (1) concern that earthquake damage to Japan, the world's third-largest economy, will hurt global economic growth, (2) a slump on commodity and energy producers as commodity prices moved lower on demand concerns, (3) weakness in communications stocks after Oppenheimner & Co predicted that the communications-equipment industry may be hurt by the Japanese earthquake as supplies from Japanese component makers are cut and network spending drops in the near term, and (4) a decline in insurance stocks after AIR Worldwide said the insurance industry may face claims of as much as 2.8 trillion yen ($34 billion) from the Japanese earthquake, although estimates don't include damage caused by the tsunami that followed the quake, which could make claims costs much higher.
• Bullish factors included (1) the fall in crude oil prices to a 2-week low, which eases concern that rising energy prices will derail the economy, (2) reduced concerns over the European sovereign-debt crisis after credit default swaps on European sovereign debt declined when European leaders over the weekend agreed on a retooled bailout plan for Europe's most indebted nations, which prompted a rally in European bank stocks after JPMorgan Chase raised its recommendation for European banks to "overweight" from "neutral," and (3) strength in solar stocks on speculation that renewable energy plants will win favor from global governments after explosions at 2 Japanese nuclear plants undercut confidence in nuclear power.
• General Electric (GE), which is in talks to sell nuclear reactors to India, lost 7.9% in pre-market trading on top of the 2.2% the stock lost yesterday.
• Exelon (EXC), owner of the largest group of US nuclear power plants, tumbled 2.8% in pre-market trading as nuclear power stocks globally come under pressure due to nuclear concerns in Japan.

Today's Market Focus

• June 10-year T-notes this morning are trading up +24.5 ticks a a 3-1/4 month high as investors flock to the safety of Treasuries as global stocks plunge. T-note prices yesterday rallied to a 3-1/4 month high and closed higher on increased safe-haven demand as global equity markets tumbled: TYM11 +16, FVM11 +12.2, EDU11 +1.5. The yield on the 10-year T-note slipped to a 1-1/2 month low of 3.327%. Bullish factors included (1) increased safe-haven demand for Treasuries after world equity markets sold-off on concern that earthquake damage to Japan, the world's third-largest economy, will limit global economic growth, and (2) the Fed's action to purchase $7.56 billion of Treasuries as part of its QE2 asset-purchase program. Bearish factors included (1) speculation that Japanese insurance companies will sell their holdings of long-term US Treasuries to pay claims for earthquake damage, and (2) reduced safe-haven demand for Treasuries after credit default swaps on European sovereign debt declined when European leaders over the weekend agreed on a retooled bailout plan for Europe's most indebted nations, which eased concern the countries will be default on their debts.
• The dollar index this morning is stronger with the dollar/yen -0.26 yen and the euro/dollar -1.10 cents. The dollar index yesterday weakened for a second day after European Union leaders agreed over the weekend to expand the scope of their rescue fund in an attempt to quell the European debt crisis: Dollar Index -0.427, USDJPY -0.259, EURUSD +0.00894. Bearish factors included (1) strength in the euro after EU leaders over the weekend agreed to expand the scope of their rescue fund and allow officials to buy debt in primary markets, while also cutting the cost of bailout loans to Greece by extending the repayment period of Greek loans to 7-1/2 years from 3 years, and (2) early strength in the yen which rallied to a 4-monh high against the dollar on speculation Japanese domestic investors will repatriate yen back to Japan to pay for earthquake and tsunami damages. Bullish factors included (1) weakness in the yen which retreated from a 4-month high after the BOJ pumped a record 15 trillion yen ($183 billion) into money markets and doubled the size of its asset-purchase program in an attempt to stabilize financial markets which were hammered following the Japanese earthquake, and (2) increased safe-haven demand for the dollar after global equity markets tumbled.
• April crude oil prices this morning are trading down -$2.84 a barrel and April gasoline is -10.51 cents per gallon, both at fresh 2-week lows. Crude oil and gasoline prices yesterday fell to 2-week lows on speculation energy demand from Japan, the world's third-biggest economy, may decline after the strongest earthquake on record devastated its economy, but crude prices recovered their losses and finished mixed after Saudi Arabian troops entered Bahrain: CLJ11 +$0.03, RBJ11 -2.74. Bearish factors include (1) calculations from Japan's Petroleum Association that said last Friday's earthquake shut 29% of the country's domestic refining capacity, which signals reduced crude demand, (2) speculation that Japanese crude oil imports will drop as ports damaged by the quake and tsunami must be fixed before they can accept crude supplies, and (3) the tumble in global equity markets, which undercuts confidence in the global recovery and energy demand. Bullish factors included (1) the weaker dollar, and (2) the action by the Gulf Cooperation Council to send troops to Bahrain to protect "vital" oil installations, which fuels concern those violent protests in North Africa and the Middle East may be spreading to other oil-producing countries in the region.

Today's U.S. Earnings Reports Earnings reports (confirmed releases, sorted by mkt cap) FDS-Factset Research Systems (BEST earnings consensus $0.87), WSM-Williams-Sonoma (0.98), DSW-DSW Inc. (0.43), PANL-Universal Display (-0.08), VRA-Vera Bradley (0.28), CRZO-Carrizo Oil & Gas (0.32), AIR-AAR Corp.(0.42), REN-Resolute Energy (0.07), ATPG-ATP Oil & Gas (-0.56), RUE-Rue21 (0.43), BPZ-BPZ Resources (-0.05), BWS-Brown Shoe (0.16).
Global Financial Calendar

Tuesday 3/15/11
United States
0745 ET	ICSC (Int?l Council of Shopping Centers) weekly retailer sales.
0830 ET	Mar Empire manufacturing index expected +1.0 to 16.4, Feb +3.5 to 15.4.
0830 ET	Feb import price index expected +0.9% m/m and +6.3% y/y, Jan +1.5% m/m and +5.3% y/y.
0855 ET	Redbook weekly retailer sales.
0900 ET	Jan net long-term TIC flows expected +$55.0 billion, Dec +$65.9 billion.
0900 ET	FOMC begins 1-day monetary policy meeting.
1000 ET	Mar NAHB housing market index expected +0.1 to 17, Feb unchanged at 16.
1000 ET	Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies to Senate Banking Committee on housing finance.
1130 ET	Weekly 4-week T-bill auction.
1415 ET	FOMC announces interest rate decision (expected no change to the 0.00% to 0.25% fed funds rate).
Japan
0200 ET	Revised Feb Japan machine tool orders, previous +73.7% y/y.
1950 ET	Q1 Japan BSI large all industry business condition, Q4 was ?5.0.
1950 ET	Q1 Japan BSI large manufacturing business condition, Q4 was ?8.0.
France
0230 ET	Feb French CPI (EU harmonized) expected +0.6% m/m and +1.9% y/y, Jan ?0.3% m/m and +1.9% y/y.
United Kingdom
0530 ET	Jan UK DCLG house prices expected +2.3% y/y, Dec +3.8% y/y.
Euro-Zone
0400 ET	EU finance ministers meet in Brussels.
0600 ET	Q4 Euro-Zone employment, Q3 unchanged q/q and ?0.2% y/y.
Germany
0600 ET	Mar German ZEW survey economic sentiment expected +0.1 to 15.8, Feb +0.3 to 15.7.
Canada
0830 ET	Q4 Canada labor productivity expected +0.2% q/q, Q3 +0.1% q/q.

Barchart.com provides Financial Quotes, Charts and Technical Analysis for Stock and Commodity Traders.

Barchart Morning Call 3/14

Barchart Morning Call

Barchart.com - 42 mins ago

Overnight Developments

• Global stocks are trading mostly lower with the European Euro Stoxx 50 index down -0.32% and June S&Ps down -6.0 points. Crude oil sank to a 1-1/2 week low on speculation the worst earthquake in Japan's history will hurt growth and reduce fuel demand in the world's third-largest economy. The euro strengthened against the dollar and default swaps on European sovereign debt declined after European leaders over the weekend agreed to expand the scope of their rescue fund, allowing officials to buy debt in primary markets, while also cutting the cost of bailout loans to Greece by extending the repayment period of Greek loans to 7-1/2 years from 3 years. A final agreement is slated for a summit on Mar 24-25. European bank stocks rallied sharply on news of the agreement, with JPMorgan Chase raising its recommendation for European banks to "overweight" from "neutral." Gains in European stocks were limited as insurers fell for a second day after AIR Worldwide said the insurance industry may face claims of as much as 2.8 trillion yen ($34 billion) from the Japanese earthquake, although estimates don't include damage caused by the tsunami that followed the quake. European utility companies also weakened on concern explosions at two reactors in Japan may persuade Germany to backtrack on extending the life of atomic plants after German Chancellor Merkel had extended the lives of Germany's 17 nuclear power plants by an average of 12 years in 2010
• The Asian stock markets today closed mostly lower with Japan down -6.18%, Hong Kong +0.41%, China +0.48%, Taiwan -0.56%, Australia -0.40%, Singapore -0.41%, South Korea +1.50%, India +1.46%. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Index plunged to a 4-1/4 month low as the extent of Japan's earthquake damage is unknown and its rebuilding costs are likely to be astronomical. The yen weakened and fell back from a 4-month high against the dollar after the BOJ pumped a record 15 trillion yen ($183 billion) into money markets today and doubled the size of its asset-purchase program in an attempt to assure financial stability amid a plunge in stocks and surge in credit risk. BOJ Governor Shirakawa said cash injections would continue as needed and it is "crucial" the central bank stabilizes money markets; a signal it will take additional steps in coming days. Manufacturers from Sony to Toyota closed plants today, with Sony halting operation at 10 factories and 2 research centers, while Toyota said it would close all 12 of it Japanese factories through Mar 16.

Overnight U.S. Stock News

• June S&Ps this morning are trading down -6.90 points . The US stock market last Friday opened lower on carry-over weakness from a slump in Asian markets after Japan's worst earthquake on record but recovered their losses and moved higher on strong Feb US retail sales and as crude oil prices slumped for a third day: Dow Jones +0.50%, S&P 500 +0.71%, Nasdaq Composite +0.54%. The Dow, S&P 500 and the Nasdaq all posted 1-1/4 month lows but erased their losses and closed higher. Bullish factors for stocks included (1) strong Feb US retail sales which posted their biggest increase in 4 months (Feb +1.0% and +0.7% less autos) along with the upward revision to Jan retail sales (+0.7% and +0.6% less autos, stronger than the previously reported +0.3% and +0.3% less autos), (2) the larger-than-expected increase in Jan business inventories (+0.9% versus expectations of +0.8%) along with the upward revision to Dec (+1.1% versus the previously reported +0.8%), as companies increased production to keep up with demand, and (3) the slump in crude oil prices for a third day, which eases concern that rising energy prices will derail the economy.
• Bearish factors included (1) the early decline in stock prices on carry-over weakness from a plunge in global stock markets on concern that Japan's worst earthquake on record may derail its economy, the world's third largest, (2) a slump in insurance companies on concern the Japanese quake will undercut their earnings as they pay out damage claims, and (3) the larger-than-expected decline in Mar US University of Michigan consumer confidence which fell to a 5-month low (-9.3 to 68.2 versus expectations of -1.0 to 76.5).
• General Electric (GE) fell 2.3% in pre-market trading after failues at Japanese nuclear plants prompted US lawmakers to review atomic energy plans.
• Exxon Mobil (XOM) slid 1.4% in pre-market trading as the price of crude oil tumbled to a 1-1/2 week low in overnight trade.

Today's Market Focus

• June 10-year T-notes this morning are trading unchanged. T-note prices last Friday surged to a 3-month high immediately following news of the Japanese earthquake on safe-haven buying but relinquished most of their gains on strong US retail sales data and reduced safe-haven demand after the stock market erased its losses and closed higher: TYM11 +2, FVM11 +2.7, EDU11 unchanged. Bullish factors included (1) early safe-haven demand for Treasuries after the strongest earthquake in a century hit Japan, although those gains evaporated on speculation that many insurance companies may sell Treasuries to help pay for claims, and (2) the larger-than-expected decline in Mar US University of Michigan consumer confidence which fell to a 5-month low (-9.3 to 68.2 versus expectations of -1.0 to 76.5). Bearish factors included (1) strong Feb US retail sales which posted their biggest increase in 4 months (Feb +1.0% and +0.7% less autos) along with the upward revision to Jan retail sales (+0.7% and +0.6% less autos, stronger than the previously reported +0.3% and +0.3% less autos), and (2) reduced safe-haven demand for Treasuries after the stock market recovered from early sharp losses and moved higher.
• The dollar index this morning is weaker with the dollar/yen +0.17 yen and the euro/dollar +0.60 cents. The dollar index last Friday retreated from a 1-1/2 week high and closed lower as the euro strengthened from hawkish ECB comments and the yen strengthened on safe-haven demand following Japan's earthquake and on speculation companies will repatriate yen back to Japan to pay for quake damages: Dollar Index -0.500, USDJPY +1.088, EURUSD +0.01054. Bearish factors included (1) hawkish comments from ECB Council member Bini Smaghi who said new inflation forecasts "are based on market prices" and the ECB rate policy must adapt to increasing inflation pressures, which suggests he favors an immediate rate hike by the ECB, and (2) strength in the yen on increased safe-haven demand following the Japanese earthquake along with speculation that insurance companies will buy the yen to pay for damages from the 8.9-magnitude quake. Bullish factors included (1) strength in Feb US retail sales which gained the most in four months, and (2) infighting between EU leaders on how to fix the European sovereign-debt crisis, which is negative for the euro, after Irish Prime Minister Kenny rebuffed German Chancellor Merkel's conditions on easing bailout terms.
• April crude oil prices this morning are trading down -$1.81 a barrel and April gasoline is -5.16 cents per gallon, both at 1-1/2 week lows on concern energy demand may be limited in Japan, the world's third-largest economy. Crude oil and gasoline prices last Friday settled lower but well above their worst levels after the strongest earthquake on record to hit Japan, the world's third-largest oil-consuming country, forced it to shut refineries: CLJ11 -$1.54, RBJ11 -3.19. Apr crude fell to a 1-week low. Bearish factors include (1) the action by Japan to close many of its refineries because of earthquake damage, which will temporarily reduce its crude demand, (2) the larger-than-expected decline in Mar US University of Michigan consumer confidence to a 5-month low, which may lead to reduced fuel demand as the economy struggles to recover, and (3) a lack of violence in Saudi Arabia after Saudi police set up checkpoints to discourage protesters from their "Day of Rage" protests. Bullish factors included (1) the weaker dollar, and (2) the statement from the IEA that crude exports from Libya fell "well below" 500,000 barrels a day as fighting intensified.

Today's U.S. Earnings Reports Earnings reports (confirmed releases, sorted by mkt cap) PNY-Piedmont Natural Gas (BEST earnings consensus $1.17), DOLE-Dole Food (0.17), GPOR-Gulfport Energy (0.30), EBIX-Ebix (0.33), SSW-Seaspan (0.32), GEOY-GeoEye (0.36), IRET-Investors Real Estate Trust (0.02), CHDN-Churchill Downs (-0.09), HEK-Heckmann (0.03), TNDM-Neutral Tandem (.29).
Global Financial Calendar

Monday 3/14/11
United States
1130 ET	Weekly 3-mo and 6-mo T-bill auctions.
Japan
0030 ET	Revised Jan Japan industrial production, previous +2.4% m/m and +4.7% y/y.
0030 ET	Revised Jan Japan capacity utilization, previous +3.0% m/m.
0100 ET	Feb Japan consumer confidence households expected +0.4 to 41.5, Jan +1.0 to 41.1.
Euro-Zone
0600 ET	Jan Euro-Zone industrial production expected +0.3% m/m and +6.4% y/y, Dec +0.2% m/m and +8.8% y/y.
1200 ET	EU finance ministers meet in Brussels.
Canada
0830 ET	Q4 Canada capacity utilization rate expected +0.9 to 79.0%, Q3 +1.2 to 78.1%.

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