Stocks Turn Positive To End The Week With SunTrust (STI) And US Steel (X) , Positive Stocks

Dec. 17, 2010 - PRLog -- Stocks picked up steam in afternoon trading, and heading into the final hour the Dow is flat while the Nasdaq is up 0.4% and the S&P 500 is up 0.2%. With the holidays approaching, trading volumes are on the decline, which could lead to added volatility as the year ends. However, with the market mostly up for the year, there will be fewer tax-loss sales than usual this December, so the market will have less downward pressure on it than usual. This could lead to some interesting rallies as the year winds down. Oracle (ORCL) is up 5%. SunTrust Banks (STI) is up 4%. Medtronic (MDT) and US Steel (X) are up 3%. Advance Auto Parts (AAP) and Xilinx (XLNX) are down 2%. The Put/Call Volume Ratio is at 0.79 while the Put/Call Open Interest Ratio is at 0.92. [InvestorsKeyhole, various news and data sources]

Click symbol for more news on: ORCL,STI,MDT,X,AAP,XLNX

http://www.apositiverevolution.com

U.S. stocks closed mixed on Friday as more improvements in the U.S economy helped lessen euro zone debt concerns.  
U.S. stocks wavered and closed mixed on Friday as the market turned directionless in the midst of more improvements in the U.S. economy and euro zone debt concerns.

Following the release of a slew of positive data in retail sales, factory output and housing starts, the Conference Board said on Friday its index of leading economic indicators rose 1.1 percent in November, the biggest rise since March and the fifth straight monthly gain.

The House passed an 850-billion-dollar tax cut package late Thursday night which extends Bush-era tax cuts for another two years. Expectation that consumer spending would increase lifted equities.

However, Moody's Investors Service slashed Ireland's credit ratings by five notches to Baa1 from Aa2 and warned further downgrades could follow if this debt-burdened euro zone country was unable to stabilize its debt situation. Increasing concerns over European debt hurt market sentiment.

At closing, the Dow Jones industrial average slipped 7.34 points, or 0.06 percent, to 11,491.91. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1.04 points, or 0.08 percent, to 1,243.91, while the Nasdaq was up 5.66 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,642.97.

# # #

We document positive individuals and positive organizations both private and public. The heart of our mission is reaching out to area youth and share with them opportunities. www.apositiverevolution.com www.positiverevolution.org www.positivestocks.com