-Executive Summary-

• The markets regained their footing today with Strong Moves Higher.  See more below.
• The Stock Market Companion re-initiated investments in both Ford Motor Co. (Ticker: F) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) – See more below.

This Stock Market Companion 15MinuteStocks Market Update is a powerful tool designed to help you make money in the stock market.  It’s web-based – available wherever and whenever you are.  It is your essential link to the markets, delivers a broad to narrow summary of important market and company specific conditions and events, and prepares you to be ready for actionable ideas.  We show you when/where we put our own money to work… and when/where we take our profits/losses.  Please see our short (2 minute) website videos for more information.

– Markets “At a Glance” –

(Please scroll down to the end of the report to see your favorite benchmarks – Dollar, Oil, Gold … closing prices and daily direction.)

– Market Trends –

*Summary of terms from Trader Vic II-Principles of Professional Speculation (pg. 140-141)
*_________* Represents a change in trend rating.

– Market Perspectives –

For your added perspective, we’ve included these two different views of the broader market –

1. SMC SP-500 ETF Daily Chart (Click to open helpful chart in a separate browser window).

2. SMC SP-500 Weekly Chart (Spanning back through 2007)

– Today’s Highlights –

The big money waited through the holidays to put some money to work today.  They too were waiting to see who would take their profits.  They too didn’t want to make purchases and find their purchases fueling another big fish’s appetite for profits AND possibly tarnish their performance numbers for 2010.   For at least today, that’s all behind us.

The BIG news today was Bank of America’s settlement with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac concerning residential loans that were perhaps inappropriately initiated and then sold to Fannie and Freddie.  The settlement amount of approx. $2.8 billion was FAR LESS THAN WAS FEARED.

Here is a good summary article to the subject.  When reading this article, when the acronym “GSE” is presented, insert the words Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order for it to make sense. They are “government-sponsored enterprises” or GSE’s.

There was also broad-based buying taking place across the market.  We are not the only ones who believe that the underlying actions of the U.S. Federal Reserve will – over time – squeeze money from bonds and cash into stocks.  Of course the liquidity of the stock market carries the specter of risk associated with any geo-political event or natural disaster.

The U.S. dollar increased modestly in value, but looks susceptible to further weakness at this point.

– Story-Stock Investing –

Early today we sent out TWO SMC Intra-Day Alerts – identifying our actions in the marketplace relative to Ford Motor Co. (Ticker: F) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) stock –

Dear Subscriber-Friend –

At the SMC, we are re-establishing an investment in Ford Motor Co. (Ticker: F) as sellers have had time to take their profits over the last 1.5 months and renewed buying interest this morning has pushed the stock above $17/share.  More later.

Our entry this morning was  $17.09/share.  Reasonable stop is for us at the SMC the mid-December low of $16.35/share.
For your protection and our own, we would like to remind everyone that this is not an investment recommendation for any particular individual.  We cannot possibly know the risk tolerance and investment suitability of such investments for any particular subscriber. Successful investors know their own objectives, purposes, and risks associated with any investment – whether in real estate, stocks, or other investments.  Each investor is on their own.

We are simply reporting the SMC actions in the market place.

Your – Stock Market Companion

Dear Subscriber-Friend –

At the SMC, we are also initiating a small investment in Apple Inc. (AAPL) here at $327.78.   A reasonable stop for us at the SMC is at $320/share.

For your protection and our own, we would like to remind everyone that this is not an investment recommendation for any particular individual.  We cannot possibly know the risk tolerance and investment suitability of such investments for any particular subscriber. Successful investors know their own objectives, purposes, and risks associated with any investment – whether in real estate, stocks, or other investments.  Each investor is on their own.

We are simply reporting the SMC actions in the market place.

Your – Stock Market Companion

Both Ford and Apple stocks have exhibited nice lateral consolidations and are moving higher today on significant volume.

Here are the Stock Market Companion daily charts of each of the stocks.  Click on them and a separate browser window will expand to show the charts.

SMC Daily Chart of Ford Motor Co.

SMC Daily Chart of Apple Inc.

Late yesterday evening – when things were quiet –  I went over to the local Best Buy store in order to see if I could find someone who knew what they were talking about concerning Zagg products.  I found one.  He was careful how he spoke, but was clearly impressed with the Zagg product and how it is selling.  The Zagg Inc. (Ticker: ZAGG) chart is looking still constructive.  A move back above $8.30/share that appears sustainable may get us back in.

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Please remember – at the Stock Market Companion we do not and cannot give individual investment advice. According to the State of Washington RCW 21.20.005 the Stock Market Companion is not a Registered Financial Advisor and we do not render any advice on the basis of the specific investment situation of a particular individual. This information is for a wide readership and is not intended for any particular individual,  and under no circumstances should our SMC Intraday Update, SMC 15MinuteStocks Market Update or Watchlist be considered an investment recommendation or plan for any specific individual.  By accessing this material, you agree that the Stock Market Companion will not be held liable for any actions taken by a subscriber or other parties.  Please seek the counsel of a broker or other licensed investment professional for accurate pricing and concerning the suitability of all investments that you may be considering. Disclosure : Please understand that the Stock Market Companion may hold positions in the above mentioned securities.  Based on market related or personal events these positions may change without notice.

– Stock Market Companion – Current Holdings –

– Stock Market Companion – Performance –

Please click on this chart to see the Stock Market Companion 15MinuteStocks stock performance versus the SP-500.  It will open in a separate browser window.
* Gains (losses) do not include brokerage fees.   Our returns are very strong … BUT …  WE have to remind everyone just like all other financial sites in America – Past Performance is No Guarantee of Future Returns.  Unlike others however, our objective is to teach you to be able to make these types of strong returns On Your Own.

All of the investments – stocks, entries, and exits are listed on our Stock Market Companion Watchlist at the bottom of the spreadsheet, in the section labelled Former Holdings.

– Benchmarks “At a Glance” –

Data Source : Financial Visualizations Inc.

Signing-Off for Today,

Your -Stock Market Companion

** Stock Market Companion Disclaimer **

The Stock Market Companion (SMC) Market Update and Watchlist are published documents to subscribers that show how we (SMC) are viewing the markets and what we are watching, investing in or selling today.  This information is for a wide readership and is not intended for any particular individual,  and under no circumstances should this Market Update or Watchlist be considered an investment recommendation or plan for any specific individual.  By accessing this material, you agree that the Stock Market Companion will not be held liable for any actions taken by a subscriber or other parties.  You understand that the Stock Market Companion holds positions in the above mentioned securities.  Based on market related or personal events these positions may change without notice.

Furthermore, the Stock Market Companion, Inc. is a content provider and publisher and not a registered broker-dealer or licensed investment professional.  Our intent is to publish very accurate market information for an audience of subscribers (1000+ subscribers).  By accessing the Stock Market Companion website and/or using the Stock Market Companion products and services such as this Market Update and accompanying Watchlist, you understand and agree that the material provided in the Stock Market Companion products and services is for informational and educational purposes only, and that no mention of a particular security in a Stock Market Companion product or service constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that or any other security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.  To the extent any of the information contained in any Stock Market Companion product or service may be deemed to be investment advice, such information is impersonal and not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person.  Before selling or buying any stock or other investment you should consult with a qualified broker or other financial professional to verify pricing information and to solicit advice as to the appropriateness of a given transaction or investment.