-Executive Summary-

• The markets squeaked further higher.  Uncertainty still prevails.  Please see our comments below on what we are thinking.
• Yesterday, Zagg Inc.’s products were introduced on Oprah! See below…
• Today, YRC Worldwide’s earnings were released … the numbers look o.k., but sellers emerged… See below….
• Here is a link to our second Stock Market Companion Video Update where we cover 3 points about investing that we hope you will find useful … If you leave a comment in the comment section under the video our search rankings will improve.   This will help us until … Oprah gives us a call 🙂  Once again, a big thanks to Jamie and Matt at OTM Productions for their great video work.

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, therefore 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 this chart of the broader market (Successful stock investors develop and start with a minds-eye view of the broader market and keep it clear) –

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

– Today’s Highlights –

The big news today relates to the U.S. Non-farm Payroll Report released today from the U.S. government’s own Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Here’s the summary data on the web and here are a few take-aways –

1. The payroll additions of +36,000 is a major disappointment and confirms that there needs to be much more done to make it easy and worthwhile for company’s to add labor, without punching operations costs up through the roof.  For many reasons, the US government (read: Congress) just doesn’t get it.  They would be a whole lot farther ahead if they simply modeled what the Irish Development Authority has done to increase employment in Ireland over the last 15 years with tremendous success.

2. Somehow the U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.4% to 9.0%.  No one believes this number.  Simply ignore it.

The U.S. dollar jumped higher after selling off quite a bit over the last few weeks.  Oil sold off almost $3/barrel today.

– Story-Stock Investing –

YRC Worldwide (YRCW) jumped over +15% higher this morning after announcing strong earnings.  The stock rose up to $5.28/share and was looking buff.  We were very close to purchasing some and sending out an SMC Intra-Day Alert, but decided to wait a bit.  We’re glad we did.  Sellers emerged to push the stock all the way back down to $4.49/share.  It may be that large investors were not so excited with the stock once the one-time tax settlement number of +52 million was backed-out of today’s earnings numbers.  Without this one-time benefit YRC Worldwide would have printed a -61 cent loss/share instead of the 0.49 cents/share positive earnings reported.   Taking the stock down were also sellers who had speculated in a pop in the stock.  They were rewarded – but only if they took their money in the first hour of the morning.

Here’s a Barron’s summary on the earnings, which is a quick and easy read. YRC Worldwide closed at $4.48/share = UP +1.8% on yesterday’s close.  We simply need to keep an eye on this one to see if large investors become interested.  A push back above $5/share would change the tenor in the stock considerably.

Meanwhile, Zagg Inc’s “ZAGGMATE” product was profiled on … You’ll never believe it …yesterday’s Oprah Show!  Man – Can marketing get better than that?  The stock gapped up to $10.41/share this morning and also – like YRCW – encountered strong sellers that pushed the stock back down to $9.46/share or -4.34% compared to yesterday’s close.  Still, the ZAGG stock is above our $9/share “line in the sand”.  In spite of today’s rough handling by sellers, we’re going to do what we always do … keep an eye on it for signs of improvement.

Today we posted our second Stock Market Companion Video Update … We cover 3 points to consider that we think you will find interesting… Check out this video when you have a chance and take a second to leave a comment if you like it on the comment section just below the video screen on YouTube.  Comments help give our videos a higher placement for those searching for stock investment information.   This may be the best way for us to advertise … until Oprah gives us a call 🙂

Have a great weekend.

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

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.