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Oops! How did this thread get here... hehe... I posted it in the SPC thread... :)

Low volume?

Please don't be mistaken about this volume issue.

Low volume will render all the TA machine's indicators (software) 'impotent', but that doesn't mean low volume is not volume. For instance, as long as there's trading (people buying and selling) in a stock, why do you bother whether the volume is 'high' or 'low' by your personal artificial definition?.

As long as a stock goes up, you can make money by buying it, regardless of volume size. In fact, the best profits can also be made in certain periods of low volume.

If you are so disillusioned and inflexible, you will miss a lot of good profits.

billywows, are u vested in the US mkts??

US STOCKS-2006 set to deliver double-digit gains

http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/061229/3/45pjk.html

Dow up up 17 points and Nasdaq up 10 points now.
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MARKET SNAPSHOT

U.S. stocks higher at the open; Apple rallies

Investors cheer latest news in Apple stock-options saga

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch

Last Update: 10:01 AM ET Dec 29, 2006

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Friday, with the few investors present for the final trading session of 2006 cheering the latest development in the Apple Computer Inc. stock-options saga and prospects that Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. is close to making a deal to sell Putnam Investments.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 13 points to 12,514.

AT&T Inc. helped support the blue-chip average, rising 1.3% at the open.

The company late Thursday offered additional concessions to regulators to approve its $85 billion acquisition of BellSouth Corp.. If the deal goes through, it will be the largest telecommunications merger in U.S. history.

The S&P 500 rose 0.6 points to 1,425 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 7 points at 2,433.

Shares of Apple Computer jumped 4.4% to $84.45 at the open, after the company said chief executive Steve Jobs was aware of favorable stock-option grant dates but didn't personally benefit from it.

Apple said a special committee of its board also found no evidence of misconduct by current Apple management.

"Usually this day of the year is very uneventful," said Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak. "There's no new news, except Apple's news. I am not expecting much to happen as people square their books and do some window-dressing."

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 13 points to 12,514.

AT&T Inc. helped support the blue-chip average, rising 1.3% at the open.

The company late Thursday offered additional concessions to regulators to approve its $85 billion acquisition of BellSouth Corp.. If the deal goes through, it will be the largest telecommunications merger in U.S. history.

The S&P 500 rose 0.6 points to 1,425 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 7 points at 2,433.

Shares of Apple Computer jumped 4.4% to $84.45 at the open, after the company said chief executive Steve Jobs was aware of favorable stock-option grant dates but didn't personally benefit from it.

Apple said a special committee of its board also found no evidence of misconduct by current Apple management.

"Usually this day of the year is very uneventful," said Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak. "There's no new news, except Apple's news. I am not expecting much to happen as people square their books and do some window-dressing."

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US market swing up liao but FLAT ... Dow up up 11 points and Nasdaq up 6 points now.

Opening bells liao! US's last day of trading .... Dow down 11 points and Nasdaq down 1 point now.

9:27hrs: NYSE closed Tuesday for Gerald Ford day of mourning.

Fed to be closed Tuesday for Ford mourning

By Robert Schroeder

Last Update: 9:15 AM ET Dec 29, 2006

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Federal Reserve Board will be closed on Tuesday to mark a day of mourning for former President Gerald Ford, the Fed said late Thursday.

Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee's Dec. 12 meeting will be released Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. Eastern time instead of of Jan. 2. The Fed's 12 regional reserve banks, however, will be open normal business hours on Tuesday.

Most other U.S. government offices and agencies will also be closed on Tuesday, as will the Nasdaq Stock Market. The New York Stock Exchange will make an announcement later Friday about its operating plans, a spokesman said Friday morning.

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No catalyst in sight tonite in US .... Nasdaq will be closed on 02nd January for Ex President Ford's funeral.

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MARKET SNAPSHOT

U.S. stocks to post mild gains at opening

More news unfolds about Apple's stock options; share moves higher

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch

Last Update: 9:04 AM ET Dec 29, 2006

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - U.S. stocks are headed for a slightly higher opening Friday, the final trading session of 2006, as investors keep an eye on the latest developments with Apple Computer's stock-options problem and the prospect of Marsh & McLennan making a deal to sell Putnam Investments.

The futures contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average last was up 5 points at 12,579.

Futures contracts for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 were up 1.20 point at 1,435 and up 4 points at 1,778.

On Thursday stocks closed mildly lower after the Dow Jones industrials managed to set a new intraday high, as the brunt of selling pressure seen earlier in the day disappeared. The new high for the Dow was 12,529.

Investors will occupy themselves with end-of-the-year details on Friday and price action is likely to be restrained.

"Usually this day of the year is very uneventful," said Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak. "There's no new news, except Apple's news. I am not expecting much to happen as people square their books and do some window-dressing."

There are no major official economic reports to lend direction to Friday's price action, but investors will be eager for the latest weekly natural gas inventory numbers, which are due at 10.30 a.m.

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The futures contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average last was up 5 points at 12,579.

Futures contracts for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 were up 1.20 point at 1,435 and up 4 points at 1,778.

On Thursday stocks closed mildly lower after the Dow Jones industrials managed to set a new intraday high, as the brunt of selling pressure seen earlier in the day disappeared. The new high for the Dow was 12,529.

Investors will occupy themselves with end-of-the-year details on Friday and price action is likely to be restrained.

"Usually this day of the year is very uneventful," said Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak. "There's no new news, except Apple's news. I am not expecting much to happen as people square their books and do some window-dressing."

There are no major official economic reports to lend direction to Friday's price action, but investors will be eager for the latest weekly natural gas inventory numbers, which are due at 10.30 a.m.

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Which is not too bad... hope tonight is positive.

Dow end up flat last night.... only down 9 points.

Like that also can .... Positive data = Scare of Fed! Dow down 17 points and Nasdaq down 7 points now. Time-off .... Zzzzzz!

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MARKET SNAPSHOT

U.S. stocks lower as investors take in data

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch

Last Update: 10:55 AM ET Dec 28, 2006

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks were lower Thursday, as investors stepped back from a two-day rally and took in monthly factory, consumer confidence and housing reports that all depicted the economy in a stronger-than-expected light.

The robust reports, in theory, support equities. But, they also stoked "some concern that the economy could be getting a little ahead of itself," said Robert Pavlik, portfolio manager at Oaktree Asset Management.

"The concern is now shifting the other way," Pavlik said. "After disappointing holiday sales results, people had been expecting that the Fed will have to cut rates in early 2007. But now the concern is that the Fed may have to stay on hold on rates and this could impact earnings and margins. "

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Dow & Nasdaq playing see saw ....

Dow Nasdaq

ECONOMIC REPORT

Existing-home sales rise 0.6% to 6.28 mln units

Median sales prices down 3.1% in past year

By Robert Schroeder, MarketWatch

Last Update: 10:05 AM ET Dec 28, 2006

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Sales of U.S. existing homes rose 0.6% in November, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.28 million, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.

Inventories of unsold homes fell 1%, to 3.82 million, representing a 7.3-month supply.

The increase was unexpected. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch were expecting a drop to 6.20 million units.

"We've entered a more sustainable period of home sales now, and we expect greater support for prices over time as inventory levels are eventually drawn down," said David Lereah, chief economist for the realtors group.

Sales are down 10.7% in the past year.

The median sales price fell, year on year, by 3.1% to $218,000.

Sales of single-family homes rose 0.2% to a 5.52 million annual pace. Single-family-home sales are down 10.2% in the past year.

Condominium-unit sales rose 3.1% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 757,000. Condo sales are down 13.6% in the past year, while median prices are unchanged at $224,600.

Last month's sales rose 0.6% in the Northeast, 0.8% in the West and were unchanged in the Midwest, the NAR's data showed. Sales fell 1.6% in the South.

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More shiok data!

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10:01US: Dec Chicago PMI 52.4 vs 49.9 in Nov

Yeah .... Shiok!

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U.S. consumer confidence rises unexpectedly in December

By Jeffry Bartash

Last Update: 10:00 AM ET Dec 28, 2006

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. consumer confidence rose in December amid an improved job market and more optimism about the economy, the Conference Board said Thursday. The private research group said its consumer confidence index climbed to 109.0 in December from a revised 105.3 in November. Economists were expecting a decline to about 101.9 from the previously reported 102.9.

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10:00U.S. Nov. existing-home median sales price falls 3.1% y-o-y

10:00U.S. existing-home sales down 10.7% year-over-year

10:00U.S. existing-home inventory 7.3 months

10:00U.S. Nov. existing-home sales rise 0.6% to 6.28 mln

Dow down 17 points and Nasdaq down 9 points now.... 5 minutes to showtime at 11pm!

Opening bells liao for second last trading day for Year 2006!!! Dow down 7 points and Nasdaq down 5 points now.... Can't wait till 11pm for the various data to be out!

But I vote for you lah... haha... :)

Heehee! This is a free forum la, iPunter .... Hi Daemon, you can check out http://www.marketwatch.com for these US details.

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MARKET SNAPSHOT

U.S. stocks to break from rally at opening

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch

Last Update: 9:11 AM ET Dec 28, 2006

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - U.S. stocks are likely to sputter at Thursday's opening, as investors step back from a boisterous two-day rally that drove the Dow Jones Industrial Average above the 12,500 mark, with new questions about Apple Computer Inc.'s stock options program in view.

The futures contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average last was down 1 point at 12,586.

Futures contracts for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite were down 0.50 point at 1,436.60 and down 2.2 points at 1,777.

On Wednesday the Dow reached its first intraday and closing levels above 12,500, after unexpectedly robust housing sales data cheered investors into making last-minute additions to their 2006 portfolios.

The market is unlikely to extend the gains at Wednesday's opening, but gains are possible later in the day or on Friday, the final trading day of the year, if new data lift investors' spirits, according to Marc Pado, U.S. market strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald.

"We haven't had much data out this week, but today's numbers should inspire the market," he said.

There was limited market reaction to news that weekly jobless claims rose by 1,000 to 317,000 in the week to Dec. 23. Continuing jobless claims hit their highest level in nearly a year.

Three more reports are on the way at 10 a.m. Eastern. (2300hrs S'pore)

Existing home sales figures for November will be studied carefully to see if they echo the new home sales report in suggesting the real estate sector may be stronger than previously thought. The MarketWatch forecast, based on a survey of economists, is for 6.20 million homes sold, which would mark a decrease from 6.24 million home sales in October.

The Chicago purchasing managers report for this month is expecting to show an improvement to 50.9% from 49.9%. Signs of stronger factory activity would be a relief to investors, following concerns earlier in the month about the shrinking manufacturing sector.

The Consumer Confidence report for December is forecast by MarketWatch to have a headline reading of 101.9, which would be down from 102.9 in November.

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