Stock Market for Dummies

Daily Market Commentary for July 31, 2008 from Millennium-Traders.Com

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that, the economic crisis, is far from over. Government officials are talking more of a 'second' economic stimulus package and it hasn't been that long since the first one was put into play. (read more)

Hot Stock picks on the move today for day trading: MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) and AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE: AKS). MasterCard stock price got smashed after releasing second quarter earnings which consisted of a $747 million loss on a $1 billion after-tax charge related to a settlement of antitrust litigation with American Express Corporation (NYSE: AXP). MasterCard had a trading range of over twenty-two points during the trading session and posted a loss at the closing bell of over twenty-six and a half points. Day traders posted hefty profits day trading MasterCard during the trading day. AK Steel was a heavy mover just after the noon time hour when rumor came out of a possible bid for the company began to circulate. Day traders reaped hefty profits on the long play of AK Steel when it surged from below $56 to over $64 over a short period of time. AK Steel had a trading range during the trading day of over twelve points. At the closing bell, the company was higher by just over four points.

At the NYSE closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange, here is how the major world indices and major U.S. stock indices ended the session on the world market as well as the emerging markets including the stock market closing bell price:
DOW (Dow Jones Industrial Average) triple digit loss of 207.13 points on the day to end the trading session at 11,376.56
NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) triple digit loss of 126.67 points to end the trading session at 8,438.64
NASDAQ loss of 4.17 points to end the trading session at 2,325.55
S&P 500 loss of 16.79 points to end the trading session at 1,267.47
FTSE All-World excluding - U.S. loss of 0.90 points to end the trading session at 226.22
FTSE RAFI 1000 loss of 40.69 points to end the trading session at 4,987.65
BEL 20 (BEL20) loss of 35.87 points to end the trading session at 2,994.38
CAC 40 (CAC40) loss of 8.19 points to end the trading session at 4,392.36
FTSE100 (UKX100) loss of 8.8 points to end the trading session at 5,411.90
NIKKEI 225 (NIK/O) gain of 9.02 points on the day to end the trading session at 13,376.81

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) stock market indicators for the day:
Advanced stock prices 1,212; declined stock prices 1,968; unchanged stock prices 98; stock prices hitting new highs 36 and stock prices hitting new lows 68.
NYSE quotes for volatile stocks and market trends, as well as stock quotes, stock prices and stock symbols of Day Trading Stock Picks on the New York Stock Exchange stock market for Day Trading online and active Day Trading for those who are or would like to be Day Trading for a living: Visa Incorporated (NYSE: V) stock price shed 5.39 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $93.60, low on the trading session $71.49 for a closing stock price at $73.06; Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) stock price gained 4.34 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $49.55, low on the trading session $46.64 for a closing stock price at $49.47; Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) stock price shed 3.00 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $59.34, low on the trading session $56.52 for a closing stock price at $57.22; Flowserve Corporation (NYSE: FLS) stock price shed 1.75 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $145.45, low on the trading session $127.40 for a closing stock price at $133.34; AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE: AKS) stock price gained 4.15 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $66.47, low on the trading session $54.38 for a closing stock price at $63.50; Cleveland-Cliffs Incorporated (NYSE: CLF) stock price shed 7.59 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $115.00, low on the trading session $104.80 for a closing stock price at $108.41; Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Corporation (NYSE: FCX) stock price shed 4.64 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $101.00, low on the trading session $96.71 for a closing stock price at $96.75; Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE: PH) stock price shed 6.36 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $64.41, low on the trading session $61.27 for a closing stock price at $61.68; Walter Industries Incorporated (NYSE: WLT) stock price shed 1.08 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $107.92, low on the trading session $100.59 for a closing stock price at $104.87; CF Holdings Incorporated (NYSE: CF) stock price shed 3.15 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $168.13, low on the trading session $161.86 for a closing stock price at $163.46; CME Group Incorporated (NYSE: CME) stock price shed 13.44 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $375.00, low on the trading session $356.19 for a closing stock price at $359.85; ULTRASHORT Financial Corporation (NYSE: SKF) stock price gained 2.41 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $124.15, low on the trading session $117.59 for a closing stock price at $121.57; XTO Energy Incorporated (NYSE: XTO) stock price shed 1.66 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $49.29, low on the trading session $46.82 for a closing stock price at $47.23; Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) stock price shed 2.98 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $102.88, low on the trading session $98.00 for a closing stock price at $98.92; United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) stock price shed 6.49 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $165.96, low on the trading session $156.66 for a closing stock price at $160.36; MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) stock price shed 26.58 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $259.00, low on the trading session $237.48 for a closing stock price at $244.15; CONSOL Energy Incorporated (NYSE: CNX) stock price shed 14.11 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $83.17, low on the trading session $73.75 for a closing stock price at $74.39.

National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) stock market indicators today:
Advanced stock prices 1,348; declined stock prices 1,552; unchanged stock prices 134; stock prices hitting new highs 40; stock prices hitting new lows 81.
NASDAQ quotes, volatile stocks and market trends, as well as stock quotes, stock prices and stock symbols of Day Trading Stock Picks on the NASDAQ stock market for Day Trading online and active Day Trading for those who are or would like to be Day Trading for a living: ImClone Systems Incorporated (NasdaqGS: IMCL) stock price gained 17.36 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $65.00, low on the trading session $63.33 for a closing stock price at $63.80; Bare Escentuals Incorporated (NasdaqGS: BARE) stock price shed 5.38 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $12.59, low on the trading session $11.40 for a closing stock price at $11.54; Akamai Technologies Incorporated (NasdaqGS: AKAM) stock price shed 8.10 points on the trading session, high on the trading session $25.50, low on the trading session $22.69 for a closing stock price at $23.34; First Solar Incorporated (NasdaqGS: FSLR) stock price had no change on the trading session, high on the trading session $301.30, low on the trading session $284.18 for a closing stock price at $285.00.

Market trends on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and stock market indicators for today:
Advanced stock prices 554; declined stock prices 617; unchanged stock prices 103; stock prices hitting new highs 21; stock prices hitting new lows 30.

Chicago Board of Trade Futures Market activity for the day, at time of this posting for September 2008 Contracts:
E-mini S&P 500 (ES) end of day price 1,266.50, change -18.25
E-mini NASDAQ-100 (NQ) end of day price 1,854.75, change -1.50
E-mini S&P SmallCap 600 (SMP) end of day price 372.20, change -1.80
$5 DJIA (YM) end of day price 11,354, change -226

World Currencies for the Forex Market, for Forex Trading by active Forex Traders, at time of this posting:
Euro 0.6411 to U.S. Dollars 1.5598
Japanese Yen 107.87 to U.S. Dollars 0.0093
British Pound 0.5045 to U.S. Dollars 1.9823
Canadian Dollar 1.0232 to U.S. Dollars 0.9773
Swiss Franc 1.0475 to U.S. Dollars 0.9547

Commodity Markets:
Energy Sector: Light Crude (NYMEX: NYM) shed $2.69 on the day for a closing price of $124.08 a barrel ($US per barrel)
Heating Oil (NYMEX: NYM) shed $0.09 on the day for a closing price of $3.46 a gallon ($US per gallon)
Natural Gas (NYMEX: NYM) shed $0.13 on the day for a closing price of $9.12 per million BTU ($US per mmbtu.)
Unleaded Gas (NYMEX: NYM) shed $0.07 on the day for a closing price of $3.07 a gallon ($US per gallon)

Metals Markets:
Gold Market Price (COMEX: CMX) gained $10.40 on the day for a closing price of $922.70 ($US per Troy ounce)
Silver (COMEX: CMX) gained $0.33 on the day for a closing price of $17.79 ($US per Troy ounce)
Platinum (NYMEX: NYM) gained $23.80 on the day for a closing price of $1,761.90 ($US per Troy ounce)
Copper (COMEX: CMX) gained $0.02 on the day for a closing price of $3.66 ($US per pound)

Livestock and Meat Markets (cents per lb.):
Lean Hogs (Chicago Mercantile Exchange: CME) gained 1.80 on the day for a closing price of 74.35
Pork Bellies (Chicago Mercantile Exchange: CME) shed 1.50 on the day for a closing price of 68.50
Live Cattle (Chicago Mercantile Exchange: CME) gained 0.15 on the day for a closing price of 106.30
Feeder Cattle (Chicago Mercantile Exchange: CME) gained 1.68 on the day for a closing price of 115.33

Other Commodities (cents per bushel):
Corn (Chicago Board of Trade: CBT) shed 13.75 on the day for a closing price of 607.50
Soybeans (Chicago Board of Trade: CBT) shed 1.00 on the day for a closing price of 1,404.00

Bond Market:
2 year bond gained 8/32 on the day for a closing price of 100 15/32 with a Yield of 2.50, Yield Change -0.13
5 year bond gained 21/32 on the day for a closing price of 100 21/32 with a Yield of 3.22, Yield Change -0.14
10 year bond gained 27/32 on the day for a closing price of 99 20/32 with a Yield of 3.94, Yield Change -0.11
30 year bond shed 1 5/32 on the day for a closing price of 96 26/32 with a Yield of 4.57, Yield Change -0.07

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