-Executive Summary-

• The markets closed lower today – but only modestly so.  With a few exceptions, market participants are showing little real appetite for stocks at this time, although prices are remaining FIRM.  In other words, market participants are not so interested in stocks that they are stepping-over each other to bid them higher.
• At the SMC we purchased shares in China Shen Zhou Mining, Inc. (Ticker: SHZ) on its move higher above $5.20 after 15:00 EST today – following through on our SMC Alert guideline that we set for ourselves and transmitted earlier in the day.  See below.
• The European Central Bank (ECB) RAISED lending rates for the first time since the financial crisis began in mid-2008.  Their rate is +1.25% our U.S. federal funds rate = 0 – 0.25% … currently 0.09%.   You can see why the euro has been strong against the U.S. dollar.
• Here’s our SECOND Stock Market Companion Customer Testimony video.
  

– Stock Market Companion – Current Holdings –

Nr.	Co.	Ticker	Action	Entry Date	Current Gain (Loss)
1	Nexxus Lighting	NEXS	Holding	3/18/2011	-23%
2	Dell Inc.	DELL	Holding	3/21/2011	-1%
3	Cisco Inc.	CSCO	Holding	4/6/2011	+0%
4	Ford Motor Co.	F	Holding	4/1/2011	+1%
5	China Shen Zhou Mining	SHZ	Purchased Today	4/7/2011	+3.8%

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	Price (Today’s Close)	Unit of Measure	Today’s Direction
SP-500	1,333.51	Index	Flat = -2.03 points
DOW-30	12,409.49	Index	Down = -17.26 points
NASDAQ	2,799.82	Index	Flat = -3.68 points
NASDAQ 100	2,332.88	Index	Flat = +0.54 points

– Market Trends –

Trend	SP-500	DJ-30	NASDAQ	NASDAQ 100
Short Term	Flat	Flat	Flat	Flat
Intermediate	UP	UP	UP	UP
Long Term	Lateral	Lateral	Lateral	Lateral

*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 –

Several key events today to keep in mind –

1. It’s Thursday, so the count for last week’s U.S. initial jobless benefits claims was released.  The number came in again below 400,000 and continues what appears to be downward trend.  This is good news.  Click here for more info.

2. The European Central Bank (ECB) INCREASED lending rates for the first time since the financial crisis began in 1998.  Their lending rate is now +1.25%, whereas our federal funds rate in the U.S. is being held at between 0 – 0.25% and is currently running at 0.09%.   The euro has been strong relative to the U.S. dollar in anticipation of today’s rate increase.

3. An aftershock or second earthquake off the coast of Japan was expected to cause another tsunami – this time 1 meter high.  The U.S. equities markets sold off, but then recovered.

4. The barrel price of oil (WTI) reached over $110/barrel this afternoon – for the first time in 2.5 years.

5. Some U.S. retailers like Costco, Nordstroms and Zumiez posted excellent numbers for March.  Others – like Target, didn’t.  With the price of oil reaching higher, investors did NOT greet this news with strong enthusiasm.

– Story-Stock Investing –

As evidenced by Texas Instruments’ approx. +80% premium to be paid for National Semi-Conductor, Inc. this last Monday – and the market’s shrugging-off of the news, market participants are simply not aggressively bidding-up stocks at this time.

We sent out this SMC Intra-Day Alert today concerning China Shen Zhou Mining, Inc. (SHZ).   We are not discouraged about letting go a stock and then getting back on board.  We’ve experienced too many times where it has been wise to step to the sidelines and wait for the right entry, rather than sit and hold a stock through difficult market conditions.

What does discourage us is letting go a stock, and then NOT getting back on board, ignoring it, or talking ourselves out of it some time in the future when it is behaving markedly better.  Per our Alert, “SHZ” did FINALLY hold above $5.20/share after 3:00 pm EST, and we bought some at $5.20 at 15:18 PM EST.

Here’s our Alert from today –

Dear Subscriber-Friend –

We will purchase some shares of SHZ if it punches above $5.20 … and stays above it for longer than a few minutes…

Please note, SHZ (China Shen Zhou Mining) IS NOT like Cisco Systems, Inc., which is going to likely be here in 5 years and beyond and investors can buy as many shares as they want and not push the price around.

If Cisco is truly able to turn it’s ship around and head back into the open seas in a competitive manner that leads to increased profitability, then institutional investors of all kinds will want to bulk-up on the shares. Individual investors who are watchful for such developments will also wisely bulk-up at that time too.

SHZ on the other hand is a gnat-sized company, shrouded in mystery and controversy, and loaded with risks. We believe that the short sellers have over-played their hand – IF the company has indeed been forthright in its communication and reporting.

Stop will be then at $4.50

We aren’t interested in buying above $5.35/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

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” –

US Dollar	1.4305 USD = 1 Euro	USD / EUR	Dollar = Down a bit.
Gold	$1,459.30	Ounce	Gold =UP at all time high’s.
Oil	$110.39	Barrel (West Texas Crude)	Oil = UP
30 Yr. Fixed Mortgage	4.79%	Percent	Flat
10 Yr. Bond Yield	3.55	Percent	UP
1 Yr. CD	1.16	Percent	Flat

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.