-Executive Summary-

• Strong market performance today in the aftermath of yesterday’s Intel, Corp. (Ticker: INTC) and this morning’s response to Apple, Corp. (AAPL) excellent quarterly earnings results.
• The markets are up against January highs.  Financial firms are NOT out in front as we would like.  Some strong earnings are being rewarded with gap-ups from recent lows (Intel), while others are being given the deaf ear (GE) and still others are being shown the exit (Wells Fargo Co.).
• Tomorrow the markets are closed in observance of Good Friday.  Your next Stock Market Companion 15Minute Market Update will be published on Monday, after the markets close.
• Stock Market Companion Watchlist stock Amarin Corp. PLC (AMRN) is looking like it may want to burst higher.  It’s launched +90% on Monday.  Caution is called for, but also perhaps participation.
• Here is a video interview of a father and son using the Stock Market Companion successfully together – as a teaching and investing tool.
  

– Stock Market Companion – Current Holdings –

Nr.	Co.	Ticker	Action	Entry Date	Current Gain (Loss)
1	Nexxus Lighting	NEXS	Miniscule Holding	3/18/2011	-23%
2	Dell Inc.	DELL	Holding	3/21/2011	+2%
3	Ford Motor Co.	F	Holding	4/1/2011	+1%

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	1,337.38	Index	UP = +7.02 points
DOW-30	12,505.99	Index	UP = +52.45 points
NASDAQ	2,820.16	Index	UP =+17.65 points
NASDAQ 100	2,377.30	Index	UP = +19.54 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 –

Here is the reality of it all – The markets are in unchartered waters.  We need to be careful, but at the same time MOVE on opportunities that come along.

The markets are in unchartered territory exclusively because of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing II which has acted as a very strong stimulant to the economy, to the degree that the markets have never experienced before.  The Fed initiated this program last fall, and the end of it is scheduled for the end of June.   At the Stock Market Companion, last year  we ANTICIPATED and were prepared for turbulence that would come at the conclusion of the 1st time home-buyers tax credit, which also roughly coincided with the 1 yr+ anniversary of the rally off the March 2009 bottoms.  We were out of the market by the end of April, having stuck around only long enough to see if Ford Motor Co. (Ticker: F) would get a final vault higher due to the feverish pitch of the then Toyota troubles.  We returned to the market in mid-July for a sprint higher in YRC Worldwide (+110%) and Arena Pharmaceuticals (+90%).

We are currently in the market because we have identified stocks that have strong upside potential and because of the markets strong resilience in the face of formidable negative news = violence in the Arab world, which at face value may have threatened oil supplies and then the terrible tsunami in Japan and devastating aftermath.  The markets hardly blinked.

Today initial jobless claims data for last week moved back ABOVE the 400,000 line.  Up until this week, we had entered into a steady downtrend on initial jobless claims which was having a positive influence on the markets.  Today, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia released its survey of manufacturers around the Philadelphia area from March which showed a rather dramatic SLOW-DOWN in current activity.

Last night, Apple, Inc. (Ticker: AAPL) reported excellent quarterly results, but the shares were only up +2.3% and are only back in the middle of their 4 month trading range at around $350/share.  That’s not strong performance for the shares of a company that has redefined two major product categories.  Yesterday, shares of Intel Corp. (Ticker: INTC) were up over +7% also on excellent earnings, but these shares are still in the lower part of their recent trading range.  Intel is still below our sell point in February, yet has had quarter after quarter of record sales and profits.

– Story-Stock Investing –

Shares of Intel, Corp. (Ticker: INTC) held on today – but did not propel higher.  Stock Market Companion holdings Ford Motor Co. (F) and Dell, Inc. (DELL) moved nicely higher.

We want more.  But we can’t force it.

Amarin Corp. PLC (AMRN) moved up higher, closing just below the $17/share line.  Ideally this would happen several days from now, AFTER existing shareholders had plenty of time to take their profits.  This stock is up from $8/share in a matter of a week, so we are understandably cautious.

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	1.4553 USD = 1 Euro	USD / EUR	Dollar = Flat, but at month long lows.
Gold	$1,503.80	Ounce	Gold = Up at High’s Again.
Oil	$112.35	Barrel (West Texas Crude)	Oil = UP
30 Yr. Fixed Mortgage	4.85%	Percent	Flat
10 Yr. Bond Yield	3.4	Percent	Flat
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.