THE "DAILY BREAD" FOR THE MARKET

Daily Morning Insights on the Market

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MARKET SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9903.04 = -98.95

NASDAQ: 1805.20 = -38.17

S & P 500: 1104.18 = -12.30

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed lower on new "fuzzy" corporate accounting fears. The NASDAQ, which slumped all day, had a moderate trading volume of over 1.624 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.346 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Abatix, Alto Palermo SA, Amgen, Astec Industries, Badger Paper, BF Enterprises, Carreker Corp, Computer Technology, Corimon CA, Cygnus, Delta Petroleum, Dot Hill Systems, eCollege.Com, Enron, Foster Wheeler, Four Seasons, Halliburton, Harmony Gold, ICIC Ltd, ICIC Bank Ltd, Internet Commerce, Katy Industries, Metro International, Midway Games, Nextel Communications, Northwestern Corp, NRG Energy, PayPal, Penn Virginia Corp, Pfizer, Qwest Communications International, Redhook Ale, Sigma Design, Smedvig ASA, Spire Corp, Taylor Devices, Thomas Nelson, Tidewater, Tyco International, Tyson Foods, Value City Department Stores, Walter Industries, and Weatherford Industries.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that, its NAHB Housing Market Index declined 2 points to 58 in December, due to a decline in Traffic of Prospective Buyers, which declined 4 points to 46.

• The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey for February declined to 90.9, due mostly to Enron and corporate accounting concerns.

• The US Producer Price Index (PPI), a good measure of producer inflation, rose 0.1% in January. The Core PPI declined 0.1%.

• US Industrial Production declined 0.1% in January, in line with what economists were expecting. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Oil prices closed above the $21/barrel mark as US accusations against Iran and Iraq in supporting terrorism continue.

• Nvidia lost 7.74% today after stating late yesterday that the SEC is probing its accounting practices.

• IBM lost 4.63% after a New York Times article accused the company of using its business sales proceeds to lower operating costs, without informing the public.

• IPO Today: Paypal, the online payments handling system most favored by online Auctioneers, gained 54.54% above its offering price. Incidentally, this is the first internet related IPO in over 16 months (if you exclude LoudCloud).

• Halliburton gained 10.98% after a court granted an Asbestos claims stay. Asbestos related shares gained. UBS Warburg and Salomon Smith Barney upgraded Halliburton.

• Computer Technology gained 2.85% after SoundView and First Albany upgraded it to a "strong buy" and "buy" respectively.

• Carreker gained 17.89% after raising its fiscal Q4 outlook.

• Cygnus gained 16.06% after CIBC World Markets initiated coverage of it with a "strong buy" recommendation.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Carnival Cruise Line lost 3.14% despite P&O Princess Cruise shareholders favored its takeover bid as opposed to the merger of equals with Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean lost 4.57% on the news.

• Tyson Foods gained 0.48% after Stephens initiated coverage with a "buy" recommendation.

• Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless both closed lower after announcing job cuts totaling 4,000. Verizon Wireless plans to lay off 1,000 workers, while Sprint PCS plans to close some of its call centers.

• Northwestern Corp. gained 0.70% after announcing that it has completed the $1.1 billion acquisition of Montana Power.

• NRG Energy gained 13.80% after agreeing to consider an offer to take it private by its parent company, Xcel Energy. Xcel Energy closed lower.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron Executive Sherron Watkins, who warned Enron Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay in an October 30th. memo about the company needing to "come clean" from money losing partnerships, testified today that Kenneth Lay was duped by former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling, Andrew Fastow, Andersen, and law firm Vinson & Elkins into thinking the company wasn't in serious problems.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet and technology shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

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MARKET SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 10001.99 = +12.32

NASDAQ: 1843.37 = -15.79

S & P 500: 1116.47 = -2.03

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed mixed as the Dow closed above the 1000 mark. The NASDAQ, which slumped in the last 2 hours of trading, had a moderate trading volume of over 1.675 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.267 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Acclaim, Advanced Marketing Services, AK Steel, Allied Waste, Alpha Technology Group, Amazon.Com, American Express, American Realty Investors, AMN Healthcare Services, Anadarko Petroleum, Annuity & Life RE Holdings Ltd, AOL Time Warner, AT&T Wireless, Atlantic Data Services, Banco LatinoAmericano SA, Bea Systems, Benthos, Biosite, Brocade Communications, Calpine, Centillum Communications, CFC International, ChevronTexaco, Choice One Communications, Citigroup, Deltek Systems, Dick Clark Productions, EMC Corp, ExxonMobil, Flextronics International, i2 Technologies, ICIC Ltd, Intramed America, Intuit, Jewett-Cameron, Katy Industries, KLA-Tencor, Kookmin Bank, Korea Equity Fund, Metro International SA, Microwave Filter Company, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Nam Tai Electronics, Nvidia, Occidental Petroleum, Oceaneering International, Office Depot, Omega Protein, Oracle, Oractec Interactive, Orbital Sciences, Outback Steakhouse, Penton Media, Phillips Petroleum, Private Business, Quantas Services, Rocky Shoes, Royal Dutch Petroleum, Siebel Systems, Smedvig ASA, Taiwan Semiconductor, Target Stores, TMP Worldwide, Transgene SA, Value City Department Stores, Verisign, Veritas DGC, Veritas Software, Wal-Mart, and Xilinx.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Business Inventories declined 0.4% in December, as the Inventory-to-Sales ratio stayed at 1.39 for the 3rd. straight month.

• US Jobless Claims for weekending February 9th. declined 8,000 to 373,000. The 4-week moving average declined 5,500 to 376,000.

• US Import Prices rose 0.4% in January, due primarily to higher oil prices. US Export Prices declined 0.1%, due primarily to a weaker global economy. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Oil prices and stocks gained today too.

• Outback Steakhouse gained 3.45% on news that Warren Buffett has bought 1.87 million shares in the company.

• Intel lost 0.12% on market rumors that it is facing price pressures on its Pentium P4™.

• Qwest Communications International lost 12.81% after Standard & Poor's downgraded its senior secured notes to "BBB" high junk status yesterday. Today, Fitch also downgraded its senior notes to "BBB". Today, Qwest tapped $1 billion of its $4 billion credit line after having a tough time to raise about $800 million in commercial paper.

• AK Steel gained 0.68% after Merrill Lynch upgraded it to a "strong buy".

• Centillum Communications gained 12.49% after Frost Securities upgraded it to a "strong buy".

• Network Appliance lost 2.95% after USB Piper Jaffray's Ashok Kumar downgraded it to "market perform".

• Microsoft lost 0.23% despite announcing that it now owns 15.4% of USA Networks, after selling its stake in Expedia to USA Networks. Expedia and USA Networks all closed lower.

• Brocade Communications lost 7.27% today on dismal earnings report late yesterday.

• Oratec Interactive gained after UK medical devices maker rival, Smith & Nephew Plc, agreed to acquire it for $310 million.

• Incyte Genomics lost 20.49% after DB Alex Brown downgraded it to a "market perform".

• Hewlett Packard lost 0.48% today not because of its earnings report yesterday, but PC makers generally closed lower today as the market awaits results from Dell in after hours.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Polycom lost 12.71% despite clarifying the SEC letter it received about its PictureTel acquisition. Thomas Weisel upgraded the stock to a "strong buy" and raised its price target to $48/share.

• American Express gained 1.68% after JP Morgan upgraded it to a "buy".

• Dick Clark Productions gained 30.83% after an investor group headed by Mosaic Media and CDP Capital Communications agreed to acquire it for $140 million.

• The Gap lost 4.12% after Moody's Investor Services downgraded its senior unsecured notes to "Ba2" junk status and its Commercial Paper to "not Prime". Standard & Poor's also cut it to "BB-Plus" junk status. The Gap secured $1.3 billion in bank credit to cover its $1.3 billion facility due June of this year, and a $150 million facility due June of 2005.

• AFTER CLOSE: Dell is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 17 cents a share, in line with First Call estimates, on revenue of $8.1 billion.

• AFTER CLOSE: Analog Devices is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q1 earnings that met First Call estimates. Analog Devices sees fiscal Q2 slightly missing estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: Nvidia is losing in after hours trading despite  reporting fiscal Q4 pro forma earnings that rose 134% to 43 cents a share, 9 cents a share better than First Call estimates, while revenue rose 129% over the year to $499.9 million. On the downside, Nvidia announced that the SEC is investigating its accounting practices in Q4 2000 all the way to Q3 2001.

• AFTER CLOSE: Agile Software is still losing in after hours trading after reporting a fiscal Q3 loss of 14 cents a share, 1 cent a share less loss than Wall Street expected. Agile Software reiterated its Q4 2002 outlook.

• AFTER CLOSE: Ingram Micro is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 10 cents a share, 2 cents a share better than First Call estimates, on sales of $6.14 billion.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron Executive Sherron Watkins, who warned Enron Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay in an October 30th. memo about the company needing to "come clean" from money losing partnerships, testified today that Kenneth Lay was duped by former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling, Andrew Fastow, Andersen, and law firm Vinson & Elkins into thinking the company wasn't in serious problems.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet and technology shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

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MARKET SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9989.67 = +125.93

NASDAQ: 1859.16 = +24.95

S & P 500: 1118.51 = +11.01

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed higher on strong retail sales data. The NASDAQ, which was up all day, had a moderate trading volume of over 1.600 billion, while the NYSE had a volume of over 1.195 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Ace Ltd, Advanced Energy Industries, Allscripts Health, Amazon.Com, AMD, American Express, Apple Computer, Applebee's International, Applied Materials, Ask Jeeves, AT&T, Bea Systems, Belo Corp, Boeing Co, Bristol Myers Squibb, Broadcom, Brocade Communications, Caminus Corp, CanTV, CEC Entertainment, ChevronTexaco, Clear Channel Communications, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Comcast, Compaq, Computer Associates, Computer Task, CSK Corp, DaimlerChrysler AG, Dell, eBay, EMC Corp, Emmis Communications, Entravision Communications, E.W. Scripps, ExxonMobil, Ford Motor Co, GameSpot, Gannett, Gateway, GE, GM, Gulf Island Fabrication, Hewlett Packard, Hispanic Broadcasting, Home Depot, HTE inc, Hughes Electronics, Hypercom, i2 Technologies, IBM, Instrumentarium, Intel, Jack in the Box, Johnson & Johnson, KLA-Tencor, Lanoptics Ltd, LastMinute.Com, Micron Tech, Microsoft, NCO Group, Network Appliance, New York Times, Novellus Systems, Numerical Technologies, Office Depot, Optika, Overture Services, Pediatric Services of America, Penton Media, Perot Systems, Pfizer, Pxre Group Ltd, Radio One, Rambus, Siebel Systems, Silverline Technology, Sirius Satellite Radio, Spanish Broadcasting, Staples, Sulzer Medica, Sun Microsystems, Sycamore Network, Teradyne, Texas Instruments, TicketMaster.Com, Tickets.Com, Trenwick Group, Tribune, Univision Communications, Unova, US Vision, Value City Department Stores, Ventiv Health, Viacom, Xilinx, XM Satellite Radio, Yahoo!, and Young Broadcasting.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported that for weekending February 8th, its MBA Mortgage Applications Survey Index rose 2.5% to 581.7. The Purchase Index declined to 314.7. The Refinance Index rose to 2134.9. The 30-year Fixed Rate Mortgage declined to 6.81%.

• MARTS reported that US Retail Sales declined only 0.2% in January. Excluding Autos, retail sales rose a strong 1.2% from the month before, and 2.5% over the year.

• The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that for week ending February 8th, US Crude Oil inventories rose 2.5 million barrels, while Distillates rose 200,000 barrels in the same period. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Office Depot gained 14.21% after reporting a 2001 profit and raising its 2002 outlook.

• Qwest Communications International lost 6.73% and took telecommunications shares lower after a Wall Street Journal article questioned its accounting practices as not meeting GAAP standards in the last 2 years. Qwest denied the charges.

• Johnson & Johnson gained 1.38% and took drug shares higher after its board approved a $5 billion stock repurchase plan.

• Network Appliance gained 17.57% after reporting fiscal Q3 earnings that beat Wall Street. Network Appliance also raised its outlook.

• Retail stocks gained on the good retail sales data.

• Viacom gained 0.16% and helped media shares higher after reporting a fiscal Q4 loss of 8 cents/share, 3 cents/share less than Wall Street expected, while revenue declined 5% to $6.04 billion. Viacom also announced that it is acquiring Los Angeles TV station, KCAL from Young Broadcasting for $650 million in cash. Lehman Brothers analyst Staurt Linde thinks the company is showing signs of turning around. Young Broadcasting gained 11.27% on the news.

• News Corp lost 4.97% as the market responded lukewarm to its earnings report late Tuesday.

• Oil stocks continued their gains today too.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• General Motors (GM) gained 4.34% and helped automakers to close higher after Merrill Lynch made known in a research note that it expects the giant auto maker to show a profit instead of the loss expected. GM also announced that it is idling 139 jobs for a month at its engineering center.

• IPO Today: GameStop, a game retailer, closed 11.67% above its offering price.

• Overture Services gained 18.98% and helped internet stocks to gain after reporting some spectacular results yesterday, and raised its outlook too.

• Applied Materials and Sycamore Networks rallied today due to their earnings reports yesterday.

• Entravision Communications gained 21.17% and also helped media shares to close higher after reporting a strong fiscal Q4. Thomas Weisel upgraded the stock to a "buy".

• AFTER CLOSE: Hewlett Packard is still gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q1 earnings of 29 cents a share on revenue of $11.4 billion, which all beat First Call estimates. Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina took the opportunity to push for the Hewlett Packard/Compaq merger.

• AFTER CLOSE: Intuit is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q2 earnings of 61 cents a share, well above the 4 cents a share First Call estimated. Revenue beat Wall Street estimates and came in at $547.2 million. Intuit raised its fiscal 2002 outlook.

• AFTER CLOSE: Brocade Communications is losing in after hours trading after  reporting fiscal Q1 earnings of 5 cents a share, in line with First Call estimates, on revenue of $123.1 million.

• AFTER CLOSE: Applebee's International is losing in after hours trading after reporting a fiscal Q4 earnings of 45 cents a share, which was 1 cent a share better than Wall Street expected, as revenue rose over the year to $188 million.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron Executive Sherron Watkins, who warned Enron Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay in an October 30th. memo about the company needing to "come clean" from money losing partnerships, is testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In a separate development, Kenneth Lay's Aspen Colorado home was sold for $10 million. The 3,015 square feet home sat on 3 acres on the Roaring Fork River.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet and technology shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

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MARKET SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9863.74 = -21.04

NASDAQ: 1834.21 = -12.45

S & P 500: 1107.50 = -4.44

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed lower as Nortel Networks re-ignited "fuzzy" accounting fears. The NASDAQ, whose rally lost steam in the last 30 minutes of trading, had a moderate trading volume of over 1.620 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.101 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Actrate Financial, Ambassador International, AMD, Amgen, Andersen Group, Aon Corp, Arqule, Blockbuster Entertainment, Boeing Co, Borland Software, Bristol Myers Squibb, Central European Distribution, Concord EFS, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Culp, Dell, Dynacq International, Echelon, Elan Corp, Enesco Group, EOTT Energy LP, Exact Sciences, F5 Networks, FindWhat.Com, Giant Industries, Gottschalks, Idec Pharmaceuticals, Image Sensing, Imclone Systems, Immunogen, Jabil Circuits, Jmar Technology, Liberty Media, Maritrans, Merck & Co, Metlife, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, MSC Software, Neopharmaceuticals, Netscreen Technology, Nipsco Capital Markets, Overture Services, Palm, Perot Systems, Pfizer, Pre-paid Legal, Primedia, S1 Corp, Safenet, Schering-Plough, Siebel Systems, Solectron, Sprint FON Group, Sycamore Network, Transkaryotic Therapies, United Therapeutics, US Airways, Verisign, Watson Wyatt, and Wellpoint Health Networks.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• The Richmond Fed Manufacturing Survey came in at 4.00 in January, due mostly to improvements in New Orders, Shipments, and the Average Workweek indices for the Federal Reserve District. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Imclone Systems gained 4.87% and helped biotechnology stocks to close higher after rejecting Bristol Myers Squibb's demand for a bigger profit margin for the Cancer drug, Erbitux™. Drug related shares closed higher too.

• Idec Pharmaceuticals also contributed to the rally in the biotechnology/biopharmaceutical stocks after Lehman Brothers upgraded it to a "strong buy" on expectations that the FDA will approve its Cancer drug, Zevalin™.

• Blockbuster gained 8.80% after reporting fiscal Q4 losses that were lower, as revenue rose.

• Nortel Networks lost 6.14% today after announcing the resignation of its CFO for trading stock after the "trading window" has passed.

• Echelon gained 14.52% after announcing that Fuji Electric will handle the sell of its technology in Japan.

• Jabil Circuits gained 3.16% after Thomas Weisel upgraded it to a "strong buy" recommendation.

• Lockheed Martin lost 1.94% despite announcing that it has won a $2.7 billion contract to supply the US Air Force with 13 F-22 Raptors in 2004. Boeing will be a joint contractor on the project, while United Technologies' Pratt & Whitney will supply the engines.

• Jmar Technology gained 19.71% after announcing a $34.5 million semiconductor processing contract.

• Wellpoint Health Networks gained 2.14% today after reporting strong earnings yesterday.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Netscreen gained 13.15% on a Wachovia upgrade to a "strong buy".

• Overture Services gained 27.17% after announcing that its relationship with Microsoft's MSN™ will continue until 2003. Goldman Sachs upgraded Overture to its "Recommended List".

• Borland Software gained 4.28% after reiterating its fiscal 2002 earnings outlook.

• Perot Systems gained 2.76% after reporting fiscal Q4 figures that met, and raised its fiscal Q1 outlook.

• Aon Corp. gained 2.81% after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates, as revenue rose 7.3% over the year to $2.1 billion.

• Metlife gained 2.71% after reporting fiscal Q4 results that beat estimates by 1 cent a share.

• AFTER CLOSE: Overture Services is still gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 35 cents a share, a whopping 20 cents a share better than First Call estimates, as sales came in at $101.2 million, which beat its own estimate by $25.2 million. Overture also raised its outlook.

• AFTER CLOSE: Applied Materials is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q1 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates, while revenue came in at $1 billion, which missed.

• AFTER CLOSE: News Corp reported fiscal Q2 pro forma earnings that beat First Call estimates by 1 cent a share.

• AFTER CLOSE: Sycamore Networks is losing in after hours trading after reporting a fiscal Q4 pro forma loss of 11 cents a share, which was 1 cent a share less losses than Wall Street expected, but revenue declined to $21.8 million, well lower than last year's levels.

• AFTER CLOSE S1 Corp. is losing in after hours trading after reporting a Fiscal Q4 pro forma loss of 30 cents a share, 9 cents a share less than Wall Street estimated. Revenue rose 31% to $78.6 million.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay appeared before the US Senate Commerce Committee but answered no questions after his attorneys advised him to take the 5th Amendment. Also testifying today was William Powers, an Enron Board Member and Law Professor at the University of Texas Law School, who reiterated his claims that Kenneth Lay, the CEO before him and all other Enron executives were involved in the partnership schemes designed to hide losses and enrich themselves.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

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MARKET SUMMARY FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 11TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9884.78 = +140.54

NASDAQ: 1846.66 = +27.78

S & P 500: 1111.93 = +15.71

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed higher today again on hopes of a quick economic recovery. The NASDAQ, which rallied most of the day, had a moderate trading volume of over 1.565 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.139 billion shares traded. Gainers included: 3M, Agere Systems, American Home Products (AHP), Airnet Systems, Anadarko Petroleum, AOL Time Warner, Applied Materials, Berry Petroleum, Boeing Co, Bristol Myers Squibb, Broadcom, Brocade Communications, BT Group Plc, Calpine Corp, ChevronTexaco, Ciena Corp, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, CMGI, Comtech Telecommunications, Cooper Tire & Rubber, Corning, Danka Business, Dell, Deutsche Telekom AG, Disney, Dupont, Elan Corp, Eli Lilly & Co, EMC Corp, Ericsson, ExxonMobil, Fairchild Semiconductor, Flour Corp, France Telecom SA, G-III Apparel, GE, Global Sources, GSI Lumonics, Halliburton, Handspring, Harris Interactive, Hercules Corp, Imagistics International, Imclone, Instinet Group, Intel, International Paper, JC Penney, JDS Uniphase, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Juniper Networks, Leap Wireless, Lucent Technologies, McDermott International, Micrel Corp, Micron Tech, Microsoft, Motorola, M-Systems, National Semiconductor, Network Appliance, Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Ltd, Noble Drilling, Nortel Networks, Occidental Petroleum, Oracle, Palm, Pfizer, Philips Petroleum, Phillips-Van Heusen, Qualcomm, Quanta Services, Register.Com, Regus Plc, Research in Motion, Revlon, Royal Dutch Petroleum, Schering-Plough, Sepracor, Siebel Systems, Skeechers USA, Solectron, Sprint PCS Group, Sun Microsystems, Taiwan Semiconductor, Taser International, Texas Instruments, Toymax International, Transkaryotic Therapies, Triquint Semiconductor, Tyco International, United Therapeutics, US Airways, Verity, Vitesse Semiconductor, Vitria Technology, Vivendi Universal SA, Wal-Mart, and Wellpoint Health Networks.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• Kansa City Fed Manufacturing Survey rose 6% in January.

• Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President and FOMC member, Cathy Minehan expressed in a speech in Providence Rhode Island that the Enron implosion and the corporate accounting problems will likely make the economic recovery a little slower. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Oil shares gained as oil prices rose.

• Semiconductor shares performed well after CS First Boston upgraded Micrel and National Semiconductor.

• Asbestos related shares gained after a favorable ruling for McDermott International in an Asbestos case.

• Newmont Mining lost 5.96% and took gold shares lower after Prudential Securities downgraded it to a "sell" and lowered its price target to $10/share. Newmont closed at $23.51/share.

• Toymax International gained 38.69% after Jakks Pacific offered $54 million in cash and stock to acquire it. Jakks lost 2.93%.

• Telecommunications stocks closed lower after Standard & Poor's™ cut Worldcom's rating to a "negative", and Qwest Communications International reported that the SEC has given it a subpoena relating to Global Crossing.

• Deutsche Telekom of Germany led foreign telecommunications shares higher with a 4.73% gain after Morgan Stanley Dean Witter upgraded it.

• Vivendi-Universal gained 3.65% after its CEO Jean-Marie Messier made known that the company has no hidden items on its balance sheets.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Cisco and Ciena gained 5.55% and 10.68% respectively after wining major supply contracts with AT&T. AT&T closed lower.

• United Therapeutics gained 17.58% after its Pulmonary Hypertension drug, Remodulin™, received a conditional approval from the FDA.

• Handspring gained 33.79% after beginning the US shipment of its Treo™ handheld device. Rival Palm also gained on the news.

• Schering-Plough gained 5.67% and lifted drug stocks after the FDA allowed the expanded use of its allergy medicine, Clarinex™, the successor to its Claritin™.

• AFTER CLOSE: Instinet Group is still gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 14 cents a share, which met First Call estimates, but revenue came in at $350.3 million, which missed.

• AFTER CLOSE: Tricon Global Restaurants is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of $1.08 a share, which was above Wall Street estimates. Tricon also raised its fiscal 2002 earnings outlook.

• AFTER CLOSE: Transkaryotic Therapies is losing in after hours trading after reporting a fiscal Q4 loss that was worst than Wall Street expected.

• AFTER CLOSE Wellpoint Health Networks reported fiscal Q4 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: Nortel Networks is losing in after hours trading after announcing the resignation of its CFO for making share trades outside the allocated "trading window".

• Enron Drama: Three companies associated with Enron today announced that Andersen resigned as their outside auditor: Northern Border Partners LP, a company owned by Enron subsidiaries Pan Border Gas Company, and Northern Plains natural Gas Company; EOTT Energy Partners LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enron that handled crude oil marketing and transportation; Portland General Electric, also a wholly owned subsidiary of Enron.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: All stocks are in play, especially technology and Internet shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

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DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9744.24 = +118.80

NASDAQ: 1818.88 = +36.77

S & P 500: 1096.22 = +16.05

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed higher today after 5 straight losses. The NASDAQ, which rallied in the last One and a half hours of trading, had a heavy trading volume of over 1.789 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.368 billion shares traded. Gainers included: 3M, AIG, Akamai Technologies, Amazon.Com, AMD, AOL Time Warner, Applica, Applied Materials, Ask Jeeves, AT&T, AT&T Wireless, Avaya, AVI Biopharmaceuticals, Bear Stearns, Boyd Gaming, Broadcom, Brocade Communications, Calpine Corp, Celanese, Ciena Corp, Citigroup, Computer Technology, Corning, Critical Path, Crown Cork & Seal, Cyclink, Dell, Dillard, Dimon, Disney, Dynex Capital, ECI Telecom, Elan Corp, EMC Corp, Emulex, Ericsson, FindWhat.Com, GE, Goldman Sachs, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, GRIC Communications, Inktomi, Intel, Intelidata Technology, JDS Uniphase, Joann Stores, John H Harland, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Juniper Networks, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Kforce, KLA-Tencor, Labor Ready, Lifecore Biomedical, LookSmart Ltd, Lucent Technologies, Metalclad, Metris Companies, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Motorola, MPS Group, Nextel Communications, Nortel Networks, Oracle, Pfizer, Prestige Bancorp, Qwest Communications International, Raytel Medical, Sentigen Holdings, Siebel Systems, Sprint FON Group, Sprint PCS Group, Sun Microsystems, Texas Instruments, Toymax International, Track Data, Triquint Semiconductor, Triton PCS Holdings, Tyco International, Vaxgen, Verisign, Veritas Software, Watchguard Technologies, WGNB Corp, Worldcom Group, Xilinx, and Yahoo!

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Wholesale Trade declined 0.4% in December, while Inventories declined 0.8%. The Inventory-to-Sales ratio came in at 1.29. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Irish drug company Elan Corp. gained 9.71% despite announcing that its accounting practices are under investigation by the SEC.

• Track Data gained 15.61% after completing a One million share buyback.

• Triquint Semiconductor gained 7.59% and helped the sector to rally after reporting stellar results late Thursday.

• EDS lost 2.54% today, despite reporting fiscal Q4 figures late Thursday that beat Wall Street estimates. CS First Boston downgraded EDS to a "buy".

• AIG gained 4.06% after Merrill Lynch upgraded it to a "strong buy" recommendation.

• Internet directories didn't do bad today.

• Gold shares closed lower on profit taking as gold prices closed higher today too.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Raytel Medical gained 26.69% on news that Swiss based SHL Telemedicine is paying $31.1 million in cash, and $20 in debt and liabilities to acquire it.

• Providian Financial gained 20.23% despite reporting fiscal Q4 figures that missed. Merrill Lynch upgraded Providian to a "buy".

• Watchguard Technologies gained 16.89% on news that it is acquiring high performance security systems company, RapidStream, for $48 million.

• Merrill Lynch gained 6.09% and took brokerage shares higher after CS First Boston upgraded it to a "strong buy".

• Goodyear Tire & Rubber gained 9.63% despite reporting fiscal Q4 results that missed.

• 3M gained 1.55% after announcing the phasing out of 500 positions.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron CEO & Chairman Kenneth Lay is to appear before a congressional committee on Tuesday. The committee claims to have strong evidence of illegal activities that led to the behemoth's collapse. On Saturday, Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Pat Wood, to resign. Commissioners Pat Wood and Nora Brownell, were recommended to the FERC by Kenneth Lay. Kenneth Lay first recommended Pat Wood to the Texas Public Utilities Commission to then Texas Governor-elect, George W. Bush. The FERC regulates interstate energy and gas rates.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: All stocks are in play, especially technology and Internet shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D624--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9625.44 = -27.95

NASDAQ: 1782.11 = -30.60

S & P 500: 1080.17 = -3.34

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed lower for the 5th day in a row. The NASDAQ, which slumped in the last hour of trading, had a very heavy trading volume of over 1.999 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.421 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Agco, Agere Systems, Alamosa Holdings, Amerus Group, Ann Taylor Stores, AOL Time Warner, AT&T, AT&T Wireless, BBVA Banco Frances SA, Bonton Stores, Braun Consulting, Bristol Myers Squibb, Caliper Technologies, Calpine Corp, Capstone Turbine, Cendant, Cepheid, Ciena Corp, Citigroup, Cornell Companies, Crown Castle, Datastream Systems, Disney, EarthLink, Epicor Software, First Southern Bancshares, Ford Motor Co, Foster Wheeler, GE, Getty Image, Gildan Activewear, Household International, Hycor Biomedical, ICT Group, Intrado, JDS Uniphase, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Kohl's, Liberty Homes, Mantech International, MCI Capital, Mirant Corp, MITS Tokyo Financial, Motorola, Noruma Holdings, Novatel, Overture Services, Placer Dome, Providian Financial, Schering-Plough, Special Metals, Sprint FON Group, Sprint PCS Group, TB Woods Corp, Tickets.Com, Triquint Semiconductor, Tyco International, Univision Communications, Verisign, Veritas Software, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Vishay Intertechnology, Universal Auto, US Airways, Wabash National, Western Wire, and Worldcom Group.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US January Chain Store Sales rose a strong 5.2%.

• US Jobless Claims for the weekending February 2nd. declined 15,000 to 376,000. The 4 week moving average declined 5750 to 380,500.

• US Consumer Credit for December declined $5.1 billion. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Ann Taylor gained 7.51% after announcing that its 2002 results will beat Wall Street estimates. Ann Taylor also announced the opening of 45 new stores.

• Overture Services gained 26.40% after announcing that its results will "substantially exceed" Wall Street estimates, despite losing EarthLink as an account. EarthLink closed higher today.

• Bond yields rose (and prices declined) as investors try to return back into equities.

• Worldom Group gained 12.41% after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 13 cents a share on revenue that rose 7% to $5.3 billion - which all still missed Wall Street estimates, but not as bad as most feared.

• Tyco International gained 8.22% after announcing 1,000 job cuts at its Tyco Telecommunications unit (formerly known as TyCom). Tyco's CEO also admitted that some mistakes were made in the acquisition of CIT, now known as Tyco Capital.

• GE gained after expressing interest in acquiring Tyco Capital.

• Internet portal Ask Jeeves lost 46.55% despite reporting fiscal Q4 pro forma loss of 9 cents a share, 8 cents a share less than Wall Street estimates. Ask Jeeves also announced that it is buying out its partners in Ask Jeeves UK, and phase out its Ask Jeeves International unit by combining it to its existing structure. Ask Jeeves expects a bigger loss in fiscal Q1 2002.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Abercrombie & Fitch lost 0.04% after reporting that, its fiscal Q4 sales will be lower than Wall Street estimates, but earnings will beat targets.

• Cisco Systems lost 8.33% and took networking stocks down after Wall Street failed to be impressed by its earnings and outlook reported late yesterday.

• Caliper technologies gained 2.53% today after reporting sound earnings late yesterday.

• IPO Today: Defense related company Mantech International gained 13.81% above its offering price.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling testified to a House of Representatives Committee that he didn't know of any illegal partnership deals at Enron, and he taught Enron collapsed due to a financial crunch. Meanwhile, Andrew Fastow, the CFO behind the illegal partnerships accusations, took the 5th. amendment on his rights not to incriminate himself.

• AFTER CLOSE: Capstone Turbine is still gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 loss of 16 cents a share, 1 cent a share wider loss than First Call estimates. Revenue came in 30% higher at $10.1 million, which beat estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: Pixar Animation Studios is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 25 cents a share.

• AFTER CLOSE: Triquint Semiconductor is still gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 25 cents a share, 7 cents a share better than First Call estimates, as revenue came in at $26.1 million, which also beat estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: Vertex Pharmaceuticals is unchanged in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 loss that was 4 cents a share less than First Call estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: Mohawk Industries is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of $1.11 a share, as revenue rose to $895.8 million - which all were above estimates.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: All stocks are in play, especially technology and Internet shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D623--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9653.39 = -32.04

NASDAQ: 1812.71 = -25.81

S & P 500: 1083.51 = -6.51

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed lower for the 4th day in a row as accounting fears started by the Enron implosion continue to hunt the market. The NASDAQ, which slumped at the opening bell, had a very very heavy trading volume of over 2.105 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.670 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Able Energy, ACLN Ltd, Akamai Technologies, Aksys Ltd, America Movil SA, AOL Time Warner, Applied Materials, ASE Test Ltd, AT&T Capital, AT&T Wireless, At Road, Broadcom, CBES Bancorp, Ciena Corp, Cisco Systems, ClickSoftware, Coca Cola Company, Corning, CSS Industries, Crown Pacific, Cyberonics, Cymer, Dawson Geophysical, Dell, Digex, Digital Record, eBay, Edwards Lifesciences, Elan Corp, Entrasys Networks, Epimmune, Epiphany, eUniverse Networks, First Southern Bancshares, Ford Motor Co, Frisby Technology, Gateway, GE, Grant Prideco, Griffon Corp, IGate Capital, Investors Title Company, JDS Uniphase, Jones Apparel, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Juniper Networks, KLA-Tencor, Lionbridge Technology, Lucent Technologies, Maxco, Mazel Stores, Medi-Hut, Micron Tech, Motorola, Net Perceptions, Nextel Communications, Nextel Partners, Oni Systems, Oracle, Orbital Sciences, Orthovita, Perez Companc SA, PerfectData, Rag Shops, Rite Aid, Satyam Computer, Siderca SAIC, Strategic Distribution, Toymax International, Tyco International, Univision Communications, Wabash National, and Yahoo!

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Productivity rose 3.4% in Q4 2001, as Hourly Compensation rose 2.3%, while Unit Labor Costs declined 1.1% in the same period. Average Hours worked also declined. US productivity grew only 1.8% for all of 2001, its lowest yearly growth since 1995.

• The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported that its MBA Mortgage Applications Survey Index for week ending February 1st. rose 5.3% to 567.3. The Purchase Index rose to 340.9. The Refinance Index rose to 1884.2. The 30-year Fixed Mortgage Rate declined to 6.85%.

• The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that, US crude oil inventory for week ending February 1st. rose 2.4 million barrels, while Distillates declined 1.5 million barrels. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Tyco International gained 12.21% after announcing that it will miss full year earnings outlook due to recent accounting rumors, weakening business, etc. Tyco also stated that its accounting practices are "sound and appropriate".

• Overture Services lost 41.09% after announcing that it has lost a key partner. Word is that the partner is EarthLink, which signed an expanded deal with Google™ today. EarthLink closed lower.

• Gold shares closed lower due to profit taking, as gold prices hit the $305/ounce mark.

• Sun Microsystems lost 5.62% despite releasing a stand alone storage system that is supposed to rival those of EMC Corp. The new storage system is to cost about $1 million, and Sun expects to ship about 500 by June.

• Nextel Communications gained 19.21% today after reporting higher subscriber numbers and raising its 2002 outlook yesterday.

• Comcast lost 7.10% after reporting a fiscal Q4 loss due to spending $140 million to migrate Excite@Home high speed internet access customers to its own network.

• Cymer gained 15.72% after Needham & Co, and Merrill Lynch upgraded it to a "strong buy" and "buy" respectively.

• Accounting fears and the so-called "Eronitis" virus continues, as Worldom led telecommunications stocks lower on fears, the telecom giant might have some unhappy surprises when it reports numbers on Thursday.

• Calpine lost 22.29% on news that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) informed the California based energy company on December 20th. that it was reveiwing its disclosure practices.

• Verisign lost 9.53% as questions arose about its accounting practices when involving minority investments.

• Jones Apparel gained 1.90% after Merrill Lynch and AG Edwards upgraded it to "strong buy" and "buy" respectively.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Pepsico lost 3.37% despite reporting quarterly profits that beat Wall Street and rose by 16%. Pepsico however, stated that its Gatorade™ sports drink is facing some stiff competition from Coca Cola's Powerade™. Coca Cola gained 1.64% on the news.

• On Semiconductor and Webex lost 17.93% and 29.37% respectively today as Wall Street wasn't impressed with their earnings reports late yesterday.

• Gateway gained 8.82% after its Founder and CEO Ted Waite stated at the Goldman Sachs technology conference that, the computer maker might show losses a couple of quarters, but will still have over $1 billion in cash at the end of the year.

• Epiphany gained 5.19% after SunTrust Robinson Humphrey upgraded it to a "buy".

• Cisco Systems gained 0.59% after leaked corporate memo forced the company to admit that its results, which were to be released at the close of the day, will beat Wall Street estimates (results are shown below).

• Micron Technology gained 6.50% after raising its offer price for South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor to $4 billion, on conditions that Hynix's creditors will invest $1.15 billion more into the company before it will acquire it - Micron Technology used the same tactic to acquire the memory chip business of Texas Instruments.

• Ask Jeeves lost 1.69% after moving its earnings announcement schedule from today to tomorrow morning.

• Enron Drama: It was learned today that a lawyer hired by Enron immediately questioned the partnership practices of the company, and complained about them, but to no avail. Separately, Enron refused a subpoena to appear before the California Senate, and could face contempt charges.

• AFTER CLOSE: Cisco Systems is losing in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q3 earnings of 9 cents a share, 4 cents a share better than First Call estimates. Revenue came in at $4.8 billion, which also beat estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: Caliper Technologies is unchanged in after hours trading after reporting that its fiscal Q4 losses of 33 cents a share, 1 cent a share less losses than First Call estimated, while revenue rose over the year to $7.9 million.

• AFTER CLOSE: Digex is still gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 loss that was 14 cents a share less than First Call estimates, as revenue rose $5.3 million to $55.2 million, which also beat estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: Cyberonics is unchanged in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q3 earnings that beat First Call estimates.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: All stocks are in play, especially technology and Internet shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D622--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9685.43 = -1.66

NASDAQ: 1838.52 = -17.01

S & P 500: 1090.02 = -4.42

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed lower as accounting fears started by the Enron implosion continue to hunt the market. The NASDAQ, which struggled most of the day, but gave up in the last hour after the Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle confirmed that the economic stimulus package may have a rough time in the Senate, had a very heavy trading volume of over 2.092 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.768 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Actionpoint, Aksys Ltd, American Medical Security Group, Amgen, Anglo American Plc, AngloGold Ltd, Antares Pharmaceuticals, Applied Materials, Ariba, ASA Ltd, Ashanti Goldfields Co. Ltd, Ask Jeeves, Barrick Gold, Biosource International, Bluegreen, Chico's FAS, Tower Auto, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Click Commerce, CNA Surety, CNET Networks, Computer Sciences Corp (CSC), Corillian, Cox Radio, Disney, Dynacq International, Eli Lilly & Co, EMC Corp, Emmis Broadcasting, Energy Partners, Entrust, eUniverse Networks, Fiberstarts, Fidelity National Information Solutions, Fila Holdings SpA, Firstwave Technology, Friedman's, GE, Glamis Gold, Goldcorp, Gold Fields Ltd, Harmony Gold, Hillenbrand Industries, Humana, Infonow, Interep National Radio Sales, Intimate Brands, J2 Global Communications, Luby's, Manufacturers Services, McGraw-Hill Companies, Mediabay, Meridian Gold, Microsoft, Moody's, MPS Group, Newmont Mining, One Price Clothing, Oregon Steel, Pan American Silver, Placer Dome, Qwest Communications International, RandGold, Rowe Companies, Saga Communications, Scholastic Corp, ScreamingMedia, Sense Technology, SLI inc, Smithfield Foods, Sunoco Logistics, Texas Instruments, Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Univision Communications, Vineyard National Bancorp, and Yahoo!

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Factory Orders rose 1.2% in December, in line with economists' estimates.

• The Institute of Supply Management (ISM), formerly known as the NAPM, reported that its Non-manufacturing Business Activity Index declined by 50 basis points (0.50%) to 49.6% - any point below 50% is a contraction. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Gold shares and prices continued their stellar gains today too.

• Bond prices finally eased as the yield gained.

• Sprint PCS lost 20.13% today after reporting dismal results yesterday, and lowering its fiscal Q1 outlook.

• Ciena lost 11.07% after issuing a warning that its quarterly losses will be wider than Wall Street estimated.

• GE gained 3.46% after reiterating that its fiscal Q1 results will meet Wall Street estimates. Commenting about the witch hunt that is sweeping major conglomerates with complex accounting practices, GE made it clear that its financial controls are "second to none".

• Accounting fears and the so-called "Eronitis" virus continues to hit wall street hard, as evidenced in the huge capital flows to "safe havens" like Gold.

• Spanish broadcaster Univision Communications gained 4.26% after Merrill Lynch upgraded it to a "strong buy".

• ScreamingMedia gained 4.71% after reporting a fiscal Q4 pro forma loss of 4 cents a share on revenue of $9.4 million, all better than Wall Street estimates. Former Apple chief, John Sculley, has also been named to ScreamingMedia's board.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Antares Pharmaceuticals gained 26.04% after announcing that it has signed an evaluation deal with Eli Lilly for the possible use of its needle-free drug delivery technology. Eli Lilly & Co. gained 0.87%.

• IPO Today: Sunoco Logistics, an oil services company, closed 9.14% above its offering price.

• Hillenbrand Industries gained 7.74% after reporting a strong quarterly result and increased its dividend payout, despite a decline in revenue.

• American Medical Security Group gained 8.97% after reporting strong fiscal Q4 earnings, and raising its 2002 outlook.

• Worldcom and other telecommunications related stocks closed lower as the bankruptcy of Global Crossing and McLeodUSA continue to hunt them. The investigations surrounding Global Crossing's accounting practices haven't helped either.

• The Limited lost 5.46% after announcing late yesterday its intention to acquire the remaining 16% of Intimate Brands it doesn't already own. Intimate Brands gained 2.86%.

• Enron's drama continued today after the lawyer of its former CEO & Chairman, Kenneth Lay, announced his client will appear before a congressional committee.

• AFTER CLOSE: Maxim Integrated Products is still losing despite reporting fiscal Q2 earnings that met Wall Street estimates, while revenue beat estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: New Focus is still losing in after hours trading after reporting that its fiscal Q1 losses will be bigger than forecasted.

• AFTER CLOSE: Webex is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings that was 1 cent a share better than First Call estimates, as revenue rose a whopping 131% to $25.9 million.

• AFTER CLOSE: Net Perceptions reported fiscal Q4 pro forma loss of 8 cents a share, well better than the 13 cents a share losses First Call was estimating.

• AFTER CLOSE: On Semiconductor is still losing in after hours trading despite reporting fiscal Q4 results that beat First Call estimates.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: All stocks are in play, especially technology and Internet shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D621--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 4TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 9687.09 = -220.17

NASDAQ: 1855.53 = -55.71

S & P 500: 1094.44 = -27.76

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed lower as accounting fears started by the Enron implosion continue to hunt the market. The NASDAQ, which dived from the opening bell, had a heavy trading volume of over 1.779 billion, while the Dow had a volume of over 1.421 billion shares traded. Gainers included: 3DLabs, Actuant Corp, Aluminum China, AngloGold Ltd, Applied Materials, ASA Ltd, Ashanti Goldfields Co. Ltd, Barrick Gold, Buenaventura SA, Carriage Services, Carrington Lab, Cavalier Homes, Childtimes Learning, Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Compaq, Crayfish Co. Ltd, Crompton, Daily Journal, Dell, Durban Roodepoort Deep, Easylink Services, Edo Corp, ePresence, Ericsson, Esco Technology, Finish Line, Florida Rock Industries, Foster Wheeler, Glamis Gold, Goldcorp, Harmony Gold, Hawk Corp, Hawker Pacific, Hewlett Packard, Hunt Corp, Immtech International, Infineon Technologies AG, Intraware, KLA-Tencor, Lockheed Martin, McClain Industries, Meridian Gold, Newmont Mining, Northrop Grumman, Placer Dome, Playtex Products, Private Business, QSC AG, Right Management, Royal Gold, Sensytech, SonomaWest Holdings, Sulzer Medica, Sun Microsystems, Wesco Ltd, Willbros Group, and Zemex.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI), a good measure of the national economy, rose to -1.1% in December, well better than the November level of -1.44%.

• US Vehicle Sales in January came in at 15.8 million units sold, which beat estimates.

• Semiconductor Billings declined 4% in December. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• AngloGold gained 3.82% and pushed gold prices and shares higher after announcing last week that it will cut its gold hedge by 6 million ounces to 10 million. Gold prices closed at $298/ounce.

• Bond prices rose (and yield declined) as funds left equity markets in search of safer havens as "fuzzy" accounting and the Enron drama continues.

• Elan Corp lost 50.42% after warning about its revenue growth this year.

• Tyco International lost 16.08% after announcing that it made 700 acquisitions worth $8 billion that was never announced to the public! In a separate development, Standard & Poor's cut the credit ratings of several Tyco units, and explained that they are satisfied with the company's explanations on its accounting system.

• Entrasys Networks lost 61.11% after warning that its quarterly revenue will miss, and it is under investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

• Amazon lost 8.74% after the Wall Street Journal report in its "Heard on the Street" column on Monday that, the online retailing giant might have less liquidity than investors think. Amazon denied the claim.

• Priceline.Com lost 23.58% after reporting fiscal Q4 losses that were below Wall Street estimates, but lowered its fiscal Q1 outlook.

• Cephalon lost 13.35% on concerns about its joint ventures accounting practices.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Hewlett Packard gained 0.18% after announcing that it will beat fiscal Q1 outlook. Hewlett Packard also took the opportunity to push for the Compaq merger. Compaq gained on the news.

• Ciena lost 15.67% after ABN AMRO downgraded it to a "hold".

• Micron Technology lost 1.29% after the Financial Times reported that the company raised its offer for South Korean based Hynix Semiconductor after learning that Germany's Infineon Technologies is also in talks with Hynix. Infineon gained 0.47% on the news.

• Chip equipment stocks gained after Goldman Sachs raised the sector to a "market overweight".

• Worldcom and other telecommunications related stocks closed lower as the bankruptcy of Global Crossing and McLeodUSA continue to hunt them. The investigations surrounding Global Crossing's accounting practices haven't helped either.

• Enron's drama continued today after Kenneth Lay stepped down from the Board, and congressional committees can't seem to find him to serve subpoenas to him.

• AFTER CLOSE: The Limited is unchanged in after hours trading after announcing that it will pay a 6.1% premium for the remaining 16% of Intimate Brands it doesn't own.

• AFTER CLOSE: Sprint PCS Group is still losing in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 loss that was 1 cent a share wider than First Call estimates, but revenue rose to $2.76 billion. Subscriber numbers were also dismal, as the 4th largest US mobile phone operator lowered its fiscal Q1 guidance.

• AFTER CLOSE: Sprint FON Group is gaining in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 31 cents a share, 1 cent a share better than First Call estimates.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: All stocks are in play, especially technology and Internet shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.