No matter how bad things get, folks are still shelling out big bucks for iPhones and Androids. Crazy? Maybe. An opportunity? You bet! Once again, I must start this column with a confession: The entire recession just might be my fault. At least that’s the impression I get from friends, family and co-workers. Oh, ...

Last week the Labor Department reported an unemployment rate above 10% for the first time since the early-1980s.  The market seemed unconcerned, closing with a gain on the day the numbers came out.  Plenty of people seem to think the worst is behind us.[More...]

US Market Key Risers and Fallers for Tuesday 3rd November S&P 500 - Risers Black Decker Corp. (BDK) $62.00 +30.97% Burlingtn N Sante Fe (BNI) $97.00 +27.51% American International Group Inc. (AIG) $39.22 +14.31% Stanley Works The (SWK) $49.69 +10.06% GANNETT CO INC (GCI) $10.54 +7.99% Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) $59.41 +7.90% S&P 500 - Fallers Novellus Systems Inc. (NVLS) $19.65 -5.42% Vulcan Materials Co (VMC) $45.06 -4.37% Kla-Tencor Corp. ! (KLAC) $31.51 -4.10% Sandisk Corp. (SNDK) $20.04 -3.95% Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) $11.89 -3.31% Rockwell Collins Inc. (COL) $49.24 -3.03% Dow Jones I.A - Risers Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $56.46 +1.75% Alcoa Inc.[More...]

In my latest two blog posts Monday and Wednesday, I listed some stocks which I would be willing to go long by selling the puts right before the stock reported earnings. Keep in mind these are companies which I believed would have a positive reaction to the earnings, however if the stock moved sideways on the number this strategy would still likely return a gain the following day.[More...]

Asian shares were mostly higher Monday with S.Korean shares helped by upbeat economics.Bank failures in US exceed 100 for this year, most closings since 1992.China's September coal imports increase 7% from August as economy recoversOil prices slipped to near $80 a barrel in AsiaDollar falls versus Euro as recovery signs, stock gains sap safety demand.Japan to punish BNP Paribas's unit over convertible bond, share price manipulation.Japan's PM Hatoyama says recovery 'unpredictable,’ unemployment may worsen.S Korea's Q3 GDP rises 2.9% - fastest quarterly pace in more than seven years.SEC considering filing securities fraud charges against ICAP's US subsidiary.[More...]