-Executive Summary-

• In the absence of bigger news, overseas observance of “Easter-Monday” kept volumes low on our U.S. markets.  The DOW (DJ-30) pulled back modestly and the broader market, which we measure using the S&P 500, was relatively FLAT.
• At the SMC, we re-initiated our Cisco Systems, Inc. (Ticker: CSCO $17.10) investment and transmitted an SMC Intra-Day Alert.  Please see more below.
• SMC Watchlist stocks – Acme Packet Inc. (APKT) and EBAY (EBAY) have our attention.
• The broader market is up near multi-year highs (but still well below 2007 highs) and the end of the Federal Reserve’s Quantitative Easing II is approaching at the end of June.  The market is in a confirmed Intermediate Term UPTREND with turbulence ahead.  Over the last two + months the market has been in a lateral consolidation (flat).  We believe that there is room for growth stories to emerge and certain stocks to do well – but the choices are narrow.  A rising tide is NOT present that is “lifting all boats”.
• 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	+3%
3	Ford Motor Co.	F	Holding	4/1/2011	+1%
4	Cisco Systems, Inc.	CSCO	Purchased Today	4/25/2011	+/- 0%

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	1,335.25	Index	Flat = -2.13 points
DOW-30	12,505.99	Index	Down = -26.11 points
NASDAQ	2,825.88	Index	Flat =+5.72 points
NASDAQ 100	2,383.72	Index	Flat = +6.42 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 –

“Easter Monday” is a term known outside of America and the markets are closed in those countries that celebrate it.  As such, – in the absence of anything bigger happening – there were few reference points and very little volume in U.S. markets today.

– Story-Stock Investing –

Our U.S. markets were pulling back a bit this morning.  While the markets were down, stocks like Intel, Corp. (Ticker: INTC) and Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) were pressing higher.  This type of action – stocks UP on a quiet, DOWN day for the markets – are sometimes subtle clues of some underlying accumulation by larger market participants.

Intel made the larger move today and is pushing back UP towards the important $22.28 high set LAST July 13, 2010.  Since then, shares of INTC have traveled down (sometimes on rather frightful HUGE volume) and around in a broad lateral consolidation between approx. $19.30/share and $22.21/share.  We are particularly attentive now as INTC shares again close-in on $22.28.   Last year, Texas Instruments was behaving similarly.  When it broke out to the upside above previous resistance at approx. $27/share, it roared on for a +30% move higher.  That’s a strong move for a large-cap technology stock.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) has been a punching bag for institutional investors.  The stock has sold off from last April 2010 highs of $27.70 down to last weeks dismal  $16.61.  That’s a -40% drop over approximately 1 year.  Investors are taking note.  An overseas investor friend of ours was asking us about it last Thursday.

We purchased Cisco shares today and sent out this SMC Intra-Day Alert –

Dear Subscriber-Friend –

We purchased a modest holding of Cisco Systems, Inc. at $16.98 this morning.  We like the stock here in the $16.80 to $17.20 area, with a solid “backstop” for a stop at $16.48.

We believe that this company is in the early phases of re-building itself.  More later.

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 on the watch.

Your – Stock Market Companion

Cisco Systems’ CEO John Chambers and senior management know what they need to do.  It is now a question if they have the will to get it done and if the market that will continue to provide them the margins that they are accustomed to.  We are now willing to again put our money to work here.  We may give this one more room than $16.48 for our stop.

On Friday, we mentioned this about Amarin Corp … 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.

This morning at the open – in classic style – the Amarin shares (AMRN) gapped-up higher and were sitting 5o cents above Friday’s close, beckoning investors to move in.  We didn’t get lured in and the shares knifed back downward into the low $16/share range.  The shares dropped -8% during the day as profit takers from last weeks’ +90% move in the stock continued to come forward for their piece of the pie.  We are watchful.

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	1.4554 USD = 1 Euro	USD / EUR	Dollar = Flat, but at month long lows.
Gold	$1,505.90	Ounce	Gold = Up at High’s Again.
Oil	$111.78	Barrel (West Texas Crude)	Oil = Flat to down a bit.
30 Yr. Fixed Mortgage	4.85%	Percent	Flat
10 Yr. Bond Yield	3.36	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.