-Executive Summary-

• The markets closed mixed.   Technology stocks were noticeably weak, including Apple, Inc.  See below.
• The SMC was stopped-out of our Nvidia, Inc. (Ticker: NVDA) investment at $17.54.  While disappointing, we take comfort in knowing that we followed through correctly on our processes.  See more below.
• Shares of Bank of Ireland (IRE) roared higher again today.  There isn’t much to gauge an entry on yet.  See below.
• Here’s our SECOND Stock Market Companion Customer Testimony video.
  

– Stock Market Companion – Current Holdings –

If the above “Current Holdings” table is empty it means that we are not holding ANY stocks at this time and that we are therefore 100% in cash.

– 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 –

There isn’t much to report today about key catalysts for the market.  What we are seeing is broad weakness in technology stocks, related to perceptions that the PC market is running soft.

Oil (WTI) prices are firmly above $108/barrel.

Let’s proceed to our Story Stock Investing section where we explore individual stock investing opportunities, observations, and insights.

– Story-Stock Investing –

Let’s start with what we are disappointed about = Nvidia Corp. (Ticker: NVDA).  We were stopped out today of our holding at $17.54.  Not good, but not a disaster either.  Here’s what we did right –

• We kept our eye out for the first reasonable opportunity for a bounce on a leading stock – AFTER – it’s first very significant pullback.
• We timed our entry well and gave ourselves a narrow window to get on board.
• The stock received at least one upgrade AFTER our entry.
• Shares initially performed very strongly.
• Weakness in the broader technology space caused us to re-evaluate our position – so we placed our stop higher, and avoided getting stopped out of the first move below $18.00 (the shares bounced up to $18.20 after taking out the initial stops at $17.99/share on Friday)
• We exercised discipline to exit the stock today.

We don’t like it, but we’re moving on.

Dell, Inc. also is behaving poorly at the moment.  We hope that everyone knows our SMC plan on this one as well.  If you don’t, please  simply go to Friday’s 15MinuteStocks Market Update and review the Story Stock Investing section.

Remember, these actions may not at all mirror your own convictions, purposes, or actions in the marketplace.  Some may justifiably wait to see what NVDA does at its strong support line of $16.90/share, others may not have purchased shares, others may hold the shares and may have a much longer time frame in mind.

Now – let’s cover what looks better …

We purchased shares of Ford Motor Co. (Ticker: F) stock after Friday’s release of their excellent sales figures.  Our entry was $15.35/share.  Today’s move in the stock to $15.55, places our initial entry in the green.  Ford Motor Co. received a nice upgrade today from Credit Suisse.

Stock Market Companion holding China Shen Zhou Mining, Inc. (SHZ), moved a bit higher, in step with the favorable performance of Molycorp, Inc. (MCP) – a leader in the “rare earth” material stocks.   We’ll simply see how SHZ performs in the days ahead.  We would like to have seen “momentum traders” come in and push SHZ higher today as it closed in on $5.18/share.  Most serious investors following the materials space know that SHZ is heavily sold short (shorts are investor’s who have borrowed shares and sold them “higher” with the intent of buying them back at a lower price) and with its “micro of micro” share float (Float = number of shares available to the investing public) of 7 million shares, can be pushed higher (or lower) at a moment’s notice.

The shares of Bank of Ireland (Ticker: IRE) roared higher today, closing in on the $2.52/share area.  Our best entries are when a stock has roared higher and THEN built a nice lateral consolidation, giving initial participants time to take their profits before we engage the stock.

Here’s a Stock Market Companion Daily Chart of the Bank of Ireland (IRE) that shows where the stock is today and shows EXACTLY what we are looking for in an ideal situation.

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 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 council of a broker or other licensed investment professional for accurate pricing and concerning the suitability of all investments that you may be considering. Disclosure : 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.

– 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.