Thursday, April 20, 2006

Friday Watch

Late-Night Headlines
Bloomberg:
- Hong Kong’s stock market has replaced Canada’s as the world’s sixth biggest, as more Chinese companies such as China Construction Bank carried out initial public offerings in the city.
- General Motors Corp.(GM) said its China affiliate more than doubled its profit in the period, helping the world’s largest carmaker improve its performance.

Business Week:
- The shares of Sprint Nextel Corp.(S) are cheap and may produce an annual return of 27% for the next three years, citing Ivan Krsticevic, senior portfolio manager at Elliott Management.

Late Buy/Sell Recommendations
Goldman Sachs:
- Raised AUO to Neutral from Underperform.

Night Trading
Asian Indices are -.50% to +.50% on average.
S&P 500 indicated +.08%.
NASDAQ 100 indicated +.24%.

Morning Preview
US AM Market Call
NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator/Heat Map
Pre-market Commentary
Before the Bell CNBC Video(bottom right)
Global Commentary
Asian Indices
European Indices
Top 20 Business Stories
In Play
Bond Ticker
Daily Stock Events
Macro Calls
Rasmussen Consumer/Investor Daily Indices
CNBC Guest Schedule

Earnings of Note
Company/EPS Estimate
- (MMM)/1.14
- (ACI)/.58
- (BSG)/.17
- (F)/.25
- (FO)/1.02
- (GDT)/.33
- (IR)/.72
- (MYG)/-.02
- (MCD)/.49
- (RSH)/.17
- (RCL)/.48
- (SLB)/.54
- (PCU)/3.07
- (WYE)/.73

Upcoming Splits
- (CW) 2-for-1

Economic Releases
- None of note.

BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are mostly higher, boosted by technology stocks in the region. I expect US equities to open mixed and to rally modestly into the afternoon. The Portfolio is 75% net long heading into the day.

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