The Labor Department reported that the Unemployment Rate remained at 9.1% in September. Meanwhile the economy added 103,000 jobs, which was better than expected, but below levels of enough job creation to avoid a double-dip recession. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded up from 11,123.33 to 11,232.05 versus its five-week modified moving average at 11,249. After Fitch downgraded Italy and Spain the Dow swooned to 11,051.13. The Dow rebounded back above 11,200 in the final half hour of trading. The NASDAQ traded down from 2509.61 to 2492.26 then up to 2512.14 versus its five-week modified moving average at 2520. The low after the Fitch downgrade was 2468.60, but the NASDAQ rebounded back above 2500 in the final half hour of trading.
Asian stocks moved higher on Friday with the Nikkei 225 up 0.98% to 8,606 and the Hang Seng higher by 3.11% to 17,707. European stocks drifted higher on Friday. The FTSE 100 gained 0.23% to 5,303 with the DAX up 0.54% to 5,677 and the CAC 40 higher by 0.66% to 3,096. The yield on the 10-Year US Treasury rose from 1.971 percent to 2.118 moving further away from its September 23rd all time low at 1.671 percent. Gold declined from $1668.0 the Troy ounce to $1627.6 on Friday. Crude oil traded back and forth between $81.36 and $84.00 on Friday with a weekly close below its 200-week simple moving average at $83.58. The euro versus the dollar declined to 1.3406 then rallied to 1.3523 before declining to 1.3364 on a Fitch downgrade of Italy and Spain.
Energy
Bank of America-Merrill Lynch launches Yingli Green Energy (YGE) with a Buy and assigning Underperforms on LDK Solar (LDK), JA Solar (JASO), and SunPower (SPWRA). Chesapeake Energy (CHK) is moved to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo. In afternoon trading: Shares of Trina Solar (TSL) are down about 13.25%. Shares of Canadian Solar (CSIQ) are down about 9.5%. Shares of Yingli Green Energy are down about 8.75%. Shares of Patriot Coal (PCX) are down about 8.25%. Shares of Suntech Power (STP) are down about 7.75%. Shares of First Solar (FSLR) are down about 7%.
Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) was trading at $60.90 at 4:00 PM on Friday, down 1.23% on the day – down 10.77% year-to-date.
Materials
In afternoon trading: Shares of Tronox (TROX) are up about 15.25%. Shares of Georgia Gulf (GGC) are down about 6.75%. Shares of Noranda Aluminum (NOR) are down about 6.5%. Shares of Jaguar Mining (JAG) are down about 6.25%. Actives: Shares of Alcoa (AA) are down about 2%. Shares of Freeport McMoran (FCX) are down about 2.9%. Shares of Vale (VALE) are down about 2.5%. Shares of Dow Chemical (DOW) are down about 2.9%. Shares of Cemex (CX) are down about 3.8%. Shares of Yamana Gold (AUY) are down about 1.8%.
The Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) was trading at $31.12 at 4:00 PM on Friday, down 1.52% on the day – down 18.98% year-to-date.
Industrials
Southwest Airlines (LUV) is a new Neutral and $16 price objective at Sterne Agee. US Airways Group (LCC) is also a Neutral with a $12 target. Its Buys are JetBlue Airways (JBLU) – $10 target, AMR Corp (AMR) – $6 target, Delta Air Lines (DAL) – $18 target, and newly merged United Continental Holdings (UAL) – $38 target. Nielsen (NLSN) is initiated with an Outperform at Raymond James. In afternoon trading: Shares of Broadwind Energy (BWEN) are down about 11%. Shares of SatCon Tech (SATC) are down about 7.8%. Shares of Republic Airways (RJET) are down about 6.75%. Shares of DryShips (DRYS) are down about 6.75%. Shares of Box Ships (TEU) are up about 9%. Shares of A-Power Energy (APWR) are up about 7%.
The Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) was trading at $30.34 at 4:00 PM on Friday, down 0.23% on the day – down 12.99% year-to-date.
Consumer Discretionary
Gannett (GCI) Chairman and CEO Craig Dubow has resigned due to health issues, with company President and COO Gracia Martore becoming CEO. JP Morgan rolls out Overweight coverage on Walt Disney (DIS), Time Warner (TWX), and Viacom (VIA.B). It has a new Neutral on Discovery Communications (DISCA). Wynn Resorts (WYNN) is upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse. Zumiez (ZUMZ) is upgraded to Equal Weight at Barclays. Collective Brands (PSS) is upgraded to Positive from Neutral at Susquehanna. Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) is now Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan. In afternoon trading: Shares of OfficeMax (OMX) are down about 7.75%. Shares of Smith & Wesson (SWHC) are up about 7.5%.
The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) was trading at $36.35 at 4:00 PM on Friday, down slightly on the day – down 2.83% year-to-date.
Consumer Staples
Dean Foods (DF) is upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein. In afternoon trading: Shares of AgFeed (FEED) are up about 18.5%. Shares of Coffee Holding (JVA) are up about 8.25%. Shares of PriceSmart (PSMT) are up about 6.75%. Shares of Imperial Sugar (IPSU) are down about 8.25%. Shares of Rite Aid (RAD) are down about 7.75%. Shares of Central European Distribution (CEDC) are down about 6.75%. Shares of The Pantry (PTRY) are down about 6.5%. Shares of Pilgrim’s Pride (PPC) are down about 6%.
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) was trading at $30.07 at 4:00 PM on Friday, up 0.57% on the day – up 2.59% year-to-date.
Healthcare
Cardinal Health (CAH) is upgraded to Positive from Neutral at Susquehanna. Illumina (ILMN) is downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Macquarie. In afternoon trading: Shares of Illumina are down about 31.75%. Shares of Pacific Biosciences (PACB) are down about 13.25%. Shares of Complete Genetics (GNOM) are down about 9.5%. Shares of PerkinElmer (PKI) are down about 7.5%. Shares of Mettler Toledo (MTD) are down about 7.5%. Shares of Amedisys (AMED) are down about 7%.
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) was trading at $31.90 at 4:00 PM on Friday, down slightly on the day – up 1.27% year-to-date.
Financials
Moody’s has downgraded 12 U.K. financial institutions, citing the lowering or removal of government support. The agency cut Lloyds TSB (LYG) and Santander U.K. (STD) by a notch, and RBS (RBS) by two notches. S&P has downgraded the core components of Dexia (DXBGF) by a notch to A-/A-2, citing the company’s problems in obtaining financing and its need for more collateral. Shares in Bank of America (BAC), Morgan Stanley (MS) and other major banks rose yesterday after Timothy Geithner told the Senate Banking Committee that there is “absolutely” no chance that another U.S. financial institution would fail. New Holds at Deutsche Bank include Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Fiserv (FISV), Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), Paychex (PAYX), VeriFone Systems (PAY), and Western Union (WU). It begins Buys on Accenture (ACN), Global Payments (GPN), and Green Dot (GDOT). Visa (V) and MasterCard (MA) are both begun with a Buy at Deutsche Bank. Invesco (IVZ) is boosted to Buy from Neutral at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch. AvalonBay (AVB) and BRE Properties (BRE) both get Buy-from-Hold boosts at Deutsche Bank. Legg Mason (LM) is lowered to Underperform from Neutral at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch. IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) is moved to Market Perform from Outperform at Keefe Bruyette.
The Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) was trading at $11.83 at 4:00 PM on Friday, down 3.59% on the day – down 25.83% year-to-date.
Information Technology
Oracle (ORCL) has agreed to pay $199.5M to settle a lawsuit accusing it of overcharging the U.S. government for nine years. Samsung Electronics (SSNLF), the world’s second-largest maker of mobile phones, has estimated that its Q3 2011 operating profit fell to 4.2T won ($3.6B) from 4.86T won a year earlier but beat forecasts of over 3.7T won. An outpouring of emotion following the death of Steve Jobs on Wednesday could shape demand for Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone 4S, which today became available for preorders in the U.S., U.K. and several other major countries. Activision Blizzard (ATVI) is initiated with a Outperform and $15 target at brokers Robert W. Baird. Gamestop (GME) is an Outperform, and Neutrals are assigned on Electronic Arts (ERTS) and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO). New Holds at Deutsche Bank include Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Fiserv (FISV), Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), Paychex (PAYX), VeriFone Systems (PAY), and Western Union (WU). It begins Buys on Accenture (ACN), Global Payments (GPN), and Green Dot (GDOT). Visa (V) and MasterCard (MA) are both begun with a Buy at Deutsche Bank. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch launches Yingli Green Energy (YGE) with a Buy and assigning Underperforms on LDK Solar (LDK), JA Solar (JASO), and SunPower (SPWRA). Finisar (FNSR) is a new Outperform at Morgan Keegan. Wipro (WIT) is a new Underweight at Barclays. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is upgraded to Perform from Underperform at Oppenheimer. Harris (HRS) is now Hold from Buy at The Benchmark Company with a target of $38. In afternoon trading: Shares of JA Solar are down about 10.25%.
The Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) was trading at $24.30 at 4:00 PM on Friday, down 0.37% on the day – down 3.53% year-to-date.
Telecommunications Services
In afternoon trading: Shares of Clearwire (CLWR) are down about 31.75% after partner Sprint Nextel (S) said it planned to shift its customers away from Clearwire’s current technology. Shares of Sprint Nextel are down about 12.5%. Shares of Leap Wireless (LEAP) are down about 7.75%. Shares of MetroPCS (PCS) are down about 7%. Shares of China Mobile (CHL) are down about 5.25%. Actives: Shares of Level 3 Communications (LVLT) are up about 3.1%. Shares of AT&T (T) are up slightly, while shares of Verizon (VZ) are up about 0.9%.
The NASDAQ Telecommunications Index (IXTC) was trading at $186.50 at 4:00 PM on Friday, down 1.26% on the day – down 17.25% year-to-date.
Utilities
ONEOK (OKE) is upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup. Veolia Environnement SA (VE) is downgraded to Sell from Neutral at UBS. ITC Holdings (ITC) is downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank. In afternoon trading: Shares of Dynegy (DYN) are down about 8.5%. Actives: Shares of Duke Energy (DUK) are up about 0.4%. Shares of Genon Energy (GEN) are up about 0.6%. Shares of Exelon (EXC) are up about 1.5%. Shares of AES Corp (AES) are down about 2%. Shares of PPL Corp (PPL) are up about 0.3%. Shares of Southern (SO) are up slightly.
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) was trading at $33.40 at 4:00 PM on Friday, up 0.42% on the day – up 6.57% year-to-date.
STOCKS: YGE, LDK, JASO, SPWRA, CHK, TSL, CSIQ, PCX, STP, FSLR, TROX, GGC, NOR, JAG, AA, FCX, VALE, DOW, CX, AUY, LUV, LCC, JBLU, AMR, DAL, UAL, NLSN, BWEN, SATC, RJET, DRYS, TEU, APWR, GCI, DIS, TWX, VIA.B, DISCA, WYNN, ZUMZ, PSS, SNI, OMX, SWHC, DF, FEED, JVA, PSMT, IPSU, RAD, CEDC, PTRY, PPC, CAH, ILMN, PACB, GNOM, PKI, MTD, AMED, LYG, STD, RBS, DXBGF, BAC, MS, ADP, FISV, FIS, PAYX, PAY, WU, CAN, GPN, GDOT, V, MA, IVZ, AVB, BRE, LM, ICE, ORCL, SSNLF, AAPL, ATVI, GME, ERTS, TTWO, FNSR, WIT, AMD, HRS, CLWR, S, LEAP, PCS, CHL, LVLT, T, VZ, OKE, VE, ITC, DYN, DUK, GEN, EXC, AES, PPL, SO
