Stock Market Blog -Apr 15th

The market tumbled the most this week, since the rally began last December. AAPL, a strong market leader, was also down this week. GOOG dropped after reporting earnings and a stock split. Market concerns were focused on China slowing down, and problems in Europe resurfacing again. Copper prices have been falling this entire month, while Bonds have been on the rise. Natural Gas dropped below $2.00!

New all time highs:  CRM, CSTR, DISCA, DLTR, MO, MNST, ORLY, SBUX, TSCO, MA, V, YUM,
All time lows:  UNG
Pops: AOL, CSTR
Drops: BBY, GOOG, NOK, SNE

Next week: Economic reports
Earnings season gets in full swing next week. Among the companies reporting are:

Mon: C
Tue:  IBM, INTC, ISRG, GS, JNJ, KO, YHOO
Wed: AXP, YUM
Thu:  BAC, CMG, DD, MS, MSFT, VZ
Fri:  GE, HON, MCD

Market Commentary

Earnings will drive market direction next week, along with events in the Euro zone. We could be in for some more selling, maybe down to the 1350 or 1340 level on the S&P 500.

This week's charts:
Weekly Unemployment claims
S&P 500 -has the correction started?

  UNG -no mercy! (Naural Gas ETF)

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Oil prices were flat, closing near $102.12
Natural Gas is still dropping, closing near $1.98
Gold was up, closing near $1652
30 year Bond futures were up, closing near $141.56
The US Dollar was flat, closing near 80.27

NEWS:
Stocks: Investors brace for volatility
Key Earnings Reports Next Week
Does Another Cruel Summer Lie Ahead For Stocks?
Google Shareholders Were Always Second Class: Analyst
Netflix’s Woes Go Deeper Than Headlines
Best Buy Plans to Close Another 42 Stores
Flood of foreclosures to hit the housing market

Global Market Outlook: The Pain In Spain Is Too Big To Be Contained
Sony plans to cut 10,000 jobs, reduce TV models
G20 Meets as Global Economy Hits Rough Patch
China loosens currency controls on the yuan