johnhan: October 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

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| Dow : 9325.01 up 144.32 | S & P : 968.75 up 14.66 |
| NASDAQ: 1720.95 up 22.43 | Bond (10Y): 3.96%, 100.34
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MARKETS:
Strong end to a brutal month
Investors muster gains at the end of one of the worst months in Wall
Street history. Good news: Stocks rally this week.

NUMERS IN OBAMA'S FAVOR...

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:01:43 -0400
NUMBERS IN OBAMA'S FAVOR GOING INTO FINAL WEEKEND

Going into the final weekend of 2008's long, arduous campaign, it
appears that Democrat Sen. Barack Obama will beat his Republican
opponent Sen. John McCain
_________________________________________________________
ECONOMIC REPORT: BIGGEST DROP IN CONSUMER SPENDING IN 4 YEARS IN SEPT.

Reluctance on the part of consumers to shop for big-ticket items like
cars led U.S. consumer spending in September to its biggest drop in
over four years.

October set a slew of trading records, mostly bad

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:01:43 -0400
October set a slew of trading records, mostly bad
U.S. STOCKS FINISH WITH SOLID WEEKLY GAINS, BUT SLIDE ON MONTH

U.S. stocks advance for a second day to tally solid weekly gains but
post the worst month in decades, as investors bypass generally bleak
economic data to focus on improvement in the troubled credit markets.

NUMBERS IN OBAMA'S FAVOR GOING INTO FINAL WEEKEND

Going into the final weekend of 2008's long, arduous campaign, it
appears that Democrat Sen. Barack Obama will beat his Republican
opponent Sen. John McCain by as much as a 2-to-1 margin in electoral
votes.

THE FED: BERNANKE TURNS OVER 'ALTERNATIVE FORMS' FOR FANNIE, FREDDIE

The Federal Reserve chairman launches public debate over what the
government should do with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac once the
financial-market crisis is over
.
ECONOMIC REPORT: BIGGEST DROP IN CONSUMER SPENDING IN 4 YEARS IN SEPT.

Reluctance on the part of consumers to shop for big-ticket items like
cars led U.S. consumer spending in September to its biggest drop in
over four years.

Stocks treated to an up week, with the Dow 157 points higher..

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:04:04 -0400

Stocks treated to an up week, with the Dow 157 points higher at the
day's close, ending a brutal month on Wall Street.

Energy: Five oil majors ring up $45 billion in profit, setting records

Date: 31 OCT 2008 19:32:26 GMT
Five oil majors ring up $45 billion in profit, setting records

The five Western oil majors ring up a combined $45 billion in
third-quarter profits, heading into a recession with a bigger cash
cushion than most industries, but still facing uncertainty and fears
of leaner times ahead.

Home-value declines crimp consumers more...

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:27:10 -0400
Home-value declines crimp consumers more than portfolio losses

Consumers react more to changes in their home values than changes in
their investment portfolios, according to a recent study.

In fact, real estate economists at UCLA and the University of Southern
California found that a 10% decline in housing wealth from the 2005
highs would result in a $105 billion, or 1.2%, drop in personal
consumption expenditures.That 10% decline in home values translates to
roughly a 1 percentage-point
reduction in real GDP growth, researchers said.

Crude finishes October down 32.6%, worst monthly drop on record

Crude finishes October down 32.6%, worst monthly drop on record
10/31/2008 3:00:30 PM EDT

Oil prices jumped at the end of the session, closing up $1.85 to $67.81, after spending most of the day in negative territory.

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:58:04 -0400

Oil prices jumped at the end of the session, closing up $1.85 to
$67.81, after spending most of the day in negative territory.

Energy: October set a slew of trading records, mostly bad

Date: 31 OCT 2008 17:30:39 GMT

October set a slew of trading records, mostly bad

Dow industrials up 200 points

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:35:45 -040

Dow industrials up 200 points
10/31/2008 1:33:49 PM EDT

Stocks shed losses to tilt higher, with financials pacing gains

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:01:26 -0400
Stocks shed losses to tilt higher, with financials pacing gains

U.S. stocks on Friday wavered mainly lower, on track for their worst
month in 28 years, as generally bleak economic data showed consumers
spending less and Electronic Arts Inc. joining the list of companies
cutting forecasts and employees.

BANK OF JAPAN CUTS RATES TO 0.3% IN SPLIT DECISION

The Bank of Japan's policy board decides to cut its base lending rate
to 0.3% from 0.5%, abandoning its goal of normalizing interest rates
as it injects stimulus into the No. 2 global economy in an effort to
head off recession.

ECONOMIC REPORT: BIGGEST DROP IN CONSUMER SPENDING IN 4 YEARS IN SEPT.

Reluctance on the part of consumers to shop for big-ticket items like
cars led U.S. consumer spending in September to its biggest drop in
over four years.

BARCLAYS TO RAISE UP TO $11.9 BILLION

Barclays strikes a deal to raise up to 7.3 billion pounds ($11.9
billion) in fresh capital as the U.K. lender signals its preference
for cash from Middle Eastern royal families to the British government.

FUTURES MOVERS: OIL FALLS ON DEMAND CONCERNS, SET FOR BIGGEST MONTHLY LOSS EVER

Crude-oil futures headed lower for a second day
Friday, poised to suffer the biggest monthly loss ever in New York as
weak U.S.economic data fed concerns that a slowdown in global economic
growth will continue to reduce oil demand.

Energy: Public Service, Progress fall on earnings shortfalls

Date: 31 OCT 2008 15:08:14 GMT

Shares of Public Service Enterprise Group and Progress Energy both
fall after the utilities report third-quarter earnings that fall short
of estimates.

Energy: Sector finishes out scary month in the red

Date: 31 OCT 2008 14:25:59 GMT

Energy stocks began the last trading day of a historically bad month
for equities by posting more losses as oil prices retreated and retail
gasoline prices fell to $2.50 a gallon Friday.

Energy: Chevron earnings more than double to $8 billion

Date: 31 OCT 2008 13:54:47 GMT

Chevron Corp. said Friday its third-quarter profit more than doubled
to nearly $8 billion, built on the summer's record run of triple-digit
crude oil prices.

Energy: Chesapeake profit jumps on $3 billion hedging gain

Date: 31 OCT 2008 13:51:35 GM

Chesapeake Energy Corp., the nation's biggest natural gas company,
posted a huge jump in third-quarter profit Thursday, most of it tied
to derivatives gains totaling nearly $3 billion.

Energy: Oil falls on demand concerns; poised for biggest monthly loss

Date: 31 OCT 2008 13:13:35 GMT

Crude-oil futures fell Friday for a second session, poised for the
biggest monthly loss since futures started trading in New York in
1983, on continued concerns that a slowdown in global economic growth
will reduce oil demand.

Government reports that consumer spending fell in September - another sign of weakness in the economy.

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:33:03 -0400

Government reports that consumer spending fell in September - another
sign of weakness in the economy.

nergy: Chevron, Aon, Burger King and Barclays in focus

Date: 31 OCT 2008 12:42:33 GMT

Chevron, Aon, Burger King and Barclays in focus

U.S. stock futures pointed to a gloomy end to a dismal October, the
worst month for stocks in 21 years.

Energy: AEP's third-quarter net profit falls 9% on unfavorable weather

Date: 31 OCT 2008 12:17:03 GMT

AEP's third-quarter net profit falls 9% on unfavorable weather

American Electric Power's third-quarter net income falls 9% on
unfavorable weather and increased fuel costs, as the power giant
signals plans to beef up its pocket book in the face of a weaker
economy.

Energy: Happy days for gasoline consumers and retailers alike

Date: 31 OCT 2008 11:35:24 GMT

Commodities Corner:

Consumers tend to notice that gasoline prices drop much more slowly
than they rise, but that's not necessarily price gouging at play -- at
least not on the retail end.

Energy: U.S. stock futures drop ahead of data wave; EA slumps

Date: 31 OCT 2008 09:54:25 GMT

U.S. stock futures drop ahead of data wave; EA slumps

The volatile action in U.S. stocks looked set to continue Friday, with
stock futures falling ahead of another round of likely gloomy economic
data and as video games maker Electronic Arts cut its profit forecast.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Energy: Stocks in focus for Friday

Date: 30 OCT 2008 22:54:13 GMT
Stocks to Watch - Stocks in focus for Friday

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in
Friday's session are Chevron, NYSE Euronext, Burger King and American
Axle.

Energy: Chesapeake Energy profit soars on derivatives gain

Date: 30 OCT 2008 22:26:51 GMT

Chesapeake Energy profit soars on derivatives gain

Chesapeake Energy Corp., the nation's biggest natural gas company,
posts a huge jump in third-quarter profit, most of it tied to
derivatives gains totaling nearly $3 billion.

Markets Thursday, 10/30/2008

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:31:03 -0400

MARKETS:
Stocks get a boost
Wall Street advances after Fed, other central banks cut rates, lending
improves and GDP shrinks at a slower-than-expected pace.

Energy: Dominion profit falls on lack of one-time gains

Date: 30 OCT 2008 20:46:13 GMT

Dominion profit falls on lack of one-time gains

Dominion Resources Inc. reports its third-quarter earnings fell nearly
79% from a year ago when the company posted a one-time benefit.

Banks over the last week borrowed a record $112 billion a day on average under the Fed's emergency lending program.

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:40:21 -0400

Banks over the last week borrowed a record $112 billion a day on
average under the Fed's emergency lending program.

Markets rally late in day, with Dow up 193 points at the close, as investors cheer interest-rate cuts and easing of credit markets.

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:02:20 -0400

Markets rally late in day, with Dow up 193 points at the close, as
investors cheer interest-rate cuts and easing of credit markets.

Oil prices settle $1.54 lower, at $65.96, as fears grow that a global economic slowdown will cut energy demand.

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:57:03 -0400

Oil prices settle $1.54 lower, at $65.96, as fears grow that a global
economic slowdown will cut energy demand.

Energy: Exxon Mobil eyes slowdown, but keeps U.S. refineries running

Date: 30 OCT 2008 18:34:04 GMT

Exxon Mobil eyes slowdown, but keeps U.S. refineries running

Exxon Mobil says the world's demand for fossil fuel isn't slowing down
enough for it to cut production at its U.S. refineries.

Stocks climb after economy shrinks less than forecast

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:01:21 -0400
Stocks climb after economy shrinks less than forecast

U.S. stocks climb, but remain off session highs, after the government reports

the economy shrank less than forecast and on hopes interest-rate cuts
by central banks around the world will curb the global economic
slowdown.

ECONOMIC REPORT: GDP FALLS 0.3% IN THIRD QUARTER ON DIVE IN SPENDING

The U.S. economy contracted at a 0.3% annualized rate in the third
quarter, as consumer spending declined at the fastest rate in 28
years, the Commerce Department estimates.

EXXON MOBIL'S PROFIT APPROACHES $15 BILLION, SETTING NEW RECORD

Exxon Mobil's third-quarter net income rises 58% to a new record of
nearly $15 billion, but the results are likely to mark a swan song for
groundbreaking profits tied to this past summer's triple-digit prices
for crude oil.

BORROWING COSTS EASE AFTER FED RATE CUT, LIQUIDITY MOVES

Credit-market conditions show further signs of improvement, responding
to the Federal Reserve's decision to slash a key U.S. interest rate to
1% along with central banks' moves to further flood money markets with
dollars.

MOTOROLA POSTS LOSS AND DELAYS SPINOFF OF HANDSET BIZ

Motorola Inc. on Thursday swung to a loss in the third quarter and
said it would delay the spin-off of its faltering wireless-phone
business beyond 2009.

Energy: BJ Services profit clipped by storms; trims outlook

Date: 30 OCT 2008 14:59:49 GMT

Headline: BJ Services profit clipped by storms; trims outlook

Oilfield contractor BJ Services Inc., its Gulf of Mexico operations
clobbered twice by hurricanes this summer, reports an 11% drop in its
fiscal 2008 fourth-quarter profit.

Energy: Apache Corp.'s quarterly net rises 94%

Date: 30 OCT 2008 14:20:12 GMT
Industry: Energy

Apache Corp.'s quarterly net rises 94%

Results show Apache Corp.'s third-quarter net income rising 94%,
giving shares of the oil and natural gas producer a modest early lift.

Energy: Broad market, crude prices lift sector as Exxon, Shell lag

Date: 30 OCT 2008 14:03:01 GMT

Headline: Energy Stocks - Broad market, crude prices lift sector as
Exxon, Shell lag
---------------------------------------
Natural gas and oil service shares led gains in the energy sector on
Thursday as investors shrugged off a record quarter from Exxon Mobil
and moved up with both the broad market and commodity prices.

Breaking News: Economy shrank in Q3

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:49:43 -0500

WASHINGTON - Gross domestic product shrank at a 0.3% annual rate in
the third quarter, the worst showing since third quarter 2001, when
the nation was last in recession.

Energy: Exxon Mobil's profit approaches $15 billion, setting new record

Date: 30 OCT 2008 12:54:46 GMT

Headline: Exxon Mobil's profit approaches $15 billion, setting new record
10/30/2008 8:54:00 AM ET

Dow soars more than 200 points in first few minutes of trading as Exxon reports record-breaking earnings.

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:33:03 -0400

Dow soars more than 200 points in first few minutes of trading as
Exxon reports record-breaking earnings.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Energy: Stocks in focus for Thursday

Industry: Energy

Headline: Stocks to Watch - Stocks in focus for Thursday

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in
Thursday's session are Exxon Mobil, Motorola, Sun Microsystems, and
CBS.

Markets Wednesday, 10/29/2008

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:31:04 -0400
| Dow : 8990.96 down 74.16 | S & P : 930.09 down 10.42 |
| NASDAQ: 1657.21 up 7.74 | Bond (10Y): 3.85%, 101.16 |
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MARKETS:
Stocks succumb to bleak Fed outlook
Wall Street erases most of the session's gains that followed the
Federal Reserve's interest-rate cut.

Dow jumps 250 points, after seesawing initially, following the Fed's announcement of a half-point rate cut.

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:25:20 -0400

Dow jumps 250 points, after seesawing initially, following the Fed's
announcement of a half-point rate cut.

Breaking News: Fed orders half-point rate cut

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:23:48 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve has slashed its federal funds
rate by half a percentage point to 1% to combat the financial crisis.

General Motors says its global sales are down 11% in the fourth quarter...

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:53:03 -0400

General Motors says its global sales are down 11% in the fourth
quarter, faster than the year-to-date decline.

More companies may ax 401(k) match

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:31:42 -0500

More companies may end 401(k) match

More News

Most Asian markets extend gains after U.S. rally

Pakistan earthquake kills at least 150, leaves 15,000 homeless

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Rally fuels surge in tech stocks as Nvidia, Adobe lead gains

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:00:11 -0400

Technology stocks stage a late rally led by Nvidia Corp., Adobe,
Amazon.com and Cisco Systems as the broader market soars.

Markets Tuesday, 10/28/2008

Tuesday, 10/28/2008

| Dow : 9065.12 up 889.35 | S & P : 940.51 up 91.59 |

| NASDAQ: 1649.47 up 143.57 | Bond (10Y): 3.77%, 101.78

MARKETS:
Dow's 2nd best day ever
The Dow jumps as much as 906 points as investors use 5-year lows as an
opportunity to get back into stocks.

U.S. consumer confidence plunges on financial crisis

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:01:42 -0400

U.S. consumer confidence plunges on financial crisis

Wounded by the financial crisis, U.S. consumer confidence plunges in
October, reaching an all-time low in the series' 41-year existence,
the Conference Board reports.

VW SHORTS SCRAMBLE FOR EXITS AS MARKET CAP SWELLS

Short sellers of Volkswagen scramble for the exits, briefly making the
European auto maker the world's largest company by market
capitalization and raising worries about the banks that sold Porsche
Automobil Holding the options to build its stake in the Beetle maker.

OUTSIDE THE BOX: HAVE INVESTORS PANICKED AND CAPITULATED?

Is it time to buy stock? Ever since mid-September, we have read that
the bottom is in because investors have "panicked" and "capitulated."
But market history. does not support this widespread view.

Breaking News: Dow soars more than 800 points

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:05:49 -0500

NEW YORK (AP) - The Dow Jones industrial average jumped more than 800
points Tuesday as bargain hunters, buying in anticipation of a Federal
Reserve rate cut, grabbed stocks that have been pounded lower in
recent sessions. All the major indexes were up at least 9%.