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For all practical purposes, today was a win when you consider how Hurricane Gustav's threat to the oil infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico is looking like a real scare. The August 5 FOMC Minutes showed very little chance that rate hikes are imminent, but they showed a clueless Fed.

Surprisingly, there was a slight improvement in consumer confidence, and new home sales in July rose slightly on falling prices. Below are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11,413.11 (+26.86)
NASDAQ 2,361.97 (-3.62)
S&P 500 1,271.39 (+4.55)
10YR T-NOTE 3.784% (-0.007%)
52-week lows
Top Analyst Calls

Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC) rose 6% to $61.54 after the company said that it was going to buy back up to $5 billion common stock, or 18% of the company, out to August 2011. The company is also increasing its capital spending plan for 2009 and beyond.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) rose more than 10% to $15.65 after the close because Jim Cramer called this one as having government backing since Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband invested $50,000 to $100,000 in this stock in 2007.

Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) traded higher by more than 6% to $28.18 after announcing that it was going to buy back up to $1 billion in common stock after its $1 billion buy-back plan from November 2007 has already been utilized.

Trading today was an obvious broad-based sell off in the equity markets. But looking for a main theme or a major culprit was not so easy as we are in the quietest non-Christmas week of the year. Existing home sales did post a modest rise, but the prices paid were worse and dropping still.

Below are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11,386.25 (-241.81)
NASDAQ 2,365.59 (-49.12)
S&P 500 1,266.85 (-25.35)
52-WEEK LOWS
Top Analyst Calls

American International Group (NYSE: AIG) was a disaster today following Fitch putting the insurance giant on review for possible downgrades to the bond ratings. Shares closed down over 5% at $18.78 on active volume at 45 million shares.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT) was the big loser in merger-land today. The company missed earnings estimates and also was notified that the proposed buyer was not going to honor the $11.40 price. Shares closed down over 7% at $8.01, but that was much better than the lows and indications of the day.

As politicians and Obama talked up the need for mortgage GSE's (with an undefined structure), shares of Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) rose 17% to $3.29.

It seemed that our streak of gains wasn't even going to make it two days, but this afternoon buyers were able to come to the rescue. A more than $5 rise in oil was much better tolerated than in weeks past as geopolitical concerns are rising because of US-Russia tensions.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11,428.50 (+11.07)
S&P500 1,277.53 (+2.99)
NASDAQ 2,380.38 (-8.70)
10YR T-Note 3.838% (+0.039%)
52-week lows
Top Analyst Upgrades
Top Analyst downgrades

Barry Diller's IAC/Interactive (NASDAQ: IACID) finally completed its spin-offs into five operating units and completed its effective reverse splits. According to the data, the shares were up 8% at $16.60 in today's final minutes. Here is a full breakdown of the new companies with tickers and operations.

Today started out as though we were going to break the losing streak. After a mixed trading day we markets indeed ended up higher to gain ground rather than posting a third day of triple-digit losses. Oil started out higher this morning, getting back over $116 per barrel before coming back down slightly.

Below are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11,482.33 (+69.78)
S&P500 1274.81 (+8.12)
NASDAQ 2,389.85 (+5.49)
10YR T-Note 3.799% (-0.043%)
52-Week Lows
Top Analyst Upgrades
Top Analyst Downgrades

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) came out with strong earnings last night and guided inline to higher without the EDS integration. Shares were up almost 6% at $46.29 at the end of the day. This name alone is probably responsible for more cheers than any today as 32 million shares changed hands.

Today felt like a mini-me version of yesterday's 180-point DJIA sell-off. Again, thin volume persisted. Perhaps the oil traders got an upper hand on some weather forecasting models, putting Tropical Storm Fay back into the Gulf of Mexico with a very promising 25% chance of happening. This would put the oil infrastructure at risk. A super-high PPI report put wholesale inflation up 1.2% (double estimates) at the highest level since late 2006.

Below are the unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11,348.47 (-130.92)
S&P500 1,266.86 (-11.74)
NASDAQ 2,383.52 (-33.46)
10YR T-Note 3.842% (+0.026%)
52-WEEK LOWS
Top Analyst Calls

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) showed a 24% decline in earnings with results at $0.71 EPS on a 5.4% drop in revenues to $21 billion. Estimates were $0.61 EPS and $20.6 billion. The home repair supplies and hardware retail beast shares were actually down almost 4% at $25.95 in today's final minutes after the sellers overpowered the bulls at the open.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH) felt the wrath of traders after reports that it would also sell a stake in its Neuberger Berman money management unit and on reports that CEO Dick Fuld was passing down some responsibilities to his #2. Shares were down 13% in today's final minutes.

Another low volume August trading day is behind us. Markets in the US responded rather well to economic data but falling oil prices and gold prices are beginning to take over in importance. Oil was down again and gold followed suit. There was generally still a mixed market most of the day. After what we have been seeing for longer than many care to remember we'd consider a mixed day a partial win. Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

• DJIA 11,659.90 +43.97 (0.38%)
  
• S&P500 1,298.19 +5.26 (0.41%)
• NASDAQ 2,452.52 -1.15 (-0.05%)
• 10YR T-Note 3.852% (-0.04%)
• 52-WEEK LOWS
• Top Analyst Upgrades
• Top Analyst Downgrades

Mentor Graphics (NASDAQ: MENT) was down 25% at $10.41 in today's final minutes. Its buyout has fallen through. The cause: financing issues. Go figure.

If you are involved in the market right now and watch the volatility with swings up and down, it might be easy to forget that trading volume is very thin and that moves can be exaggerated easily. Today's numbers, with a recession in Europe and stagflation rising in the U.S., were discounted by traders looking ahead and interpreting data out on the calendar. The good news in housing is that existing houses are finally moving, but the bad news is that they are selling under replacement cost.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11615.93 (+82.97)
S&P500 1292.93 (+7.10)
NASDAQ 2453.67 (+25.05)
10 YR T-Note 3.892% (-0.055%)
52-Week Lows

Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) is a bit of a mystery. This had very unusual call option buying seen in the stock, yet shares were down marginally on the day by less than 1% at $31.96 before the closing bell. This stock has been the subject of rumors before, so anything is possible.

Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) was a winner today. Shares were up 10% at $21.20 right before the close on reports that it was cutting 1,000 newspaper jobs or about 3% of its workforce.

Hansen Natural Corp. (NASDAQ: HANS) was a huge winner after Nelson Peltz' Trian Funds disclosed an ownership stake. Shares were up over 10% at $29.79 in the final minutes of the trading day, and this is up almost 40% even after poor earnings recently.

PMI Group Inc. (NYSE: PMI) was a big winner today after the company sold off Australian operations for $920 million in a capital raising effort. Shares were up almost 60% at $4.45 in the final minutes before the close.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (NYSE: MSO) shares were up almost 8% at $8.80 right before the close after Jim Cramer interviewed Martha Stewart herself and said the stock is cheap at $8.00.

Today was another very volatile day with stocks posting triple-digit DJIA losses. Shares opened and traded lower, then recovered sharply before falling back down at the end of the day. Oil and commodities rose. Oil was up over $3.00 to over the $116 a barrel mark on soft inventory levels and reports Russia is seizing a Georgian pipeline. With gold rising almost $17.00 and the dollar falling, it almost felt like the commodity trades were coming back on. There was a drop in import prices, but that wasn't enough to keep the bears from roaring today.

Here are Wednesday's unofficial closing bell numbers:

DJIA 11,536.22 (-106.25)
S&P500 1,288.87 (-3.72)
NASDAQ 2,428.62 (-1.99)
10YR T-Bond 3.947% (+0.029%)
52-WEEK LOWS
ANALYSTS UPGRADES & DOWNGRADES

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) saw shares down marginally today as the stock was down 0.8% at $498.53 in the final minutes before the close. Jim Cramer interviewed Google's CEO & Chairman on CNBC today and he brought back that $750 Target.

This post is one in a series on prominent company nicknames. See all 25, and share your thoughts and memories about Golden Slacks below in the comments.

There are many corporate nicknames that are used to either make fun of, shorten, or parody certain company names. But the nickname of "Golden Slacks" for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) is perhaps the most appropriately assigned nickname in all of corporate America.

With the exception of a few years, and with the exception of 2007/2008 woes, investment bankers and brokers and traders on Wall Street have done far better financially than most jobs on Main Street. Goldman Sachs bankers are thought of as being the highest paid on Wall Street.

There are bucket shops, small single-office brokerage firms, small regional firms, larger second-tier brokerage and investment banking firms, and the prized bulge-bracket firms. Goldman Sachs defines the bulge-bracket firm on an exponential basis, although in some ways it is almost like a club. You can't just walk into an office with a few grand to open an account. Goldman may not have official minimums, but the thought has prevailed that if you don't have at least $5 million at the firm then you shouldn't expect your broker to call you.

Today was somewhat tiring -- there was no real direction and the media was competing for any broad stories with meat to them. Selling picked up at the end of the day and broke a three-day run. The US trade deficit came in narrower than expected and oil prices came down another $1.00+ to well under $114 per barrel. While there was more negative news in financial stocks, today's drumming may have been more analyst driven than on other days where large drops were seen. As you will see, bond yields came down sharply today.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11,642.47 (-1.19%)
S&P500 1,289.59 (-1.20%)
NASDAQ 2.430.61 (-0.38%)
10 YR T-Note 3.918% (-0.08%)
Top Analyst Upgrades
Top Analyst Downgrades

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) rose on two separate analyst calls. It was started as "Outperform" in news coverage at Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers also reiterated an "Outperform" rating. Shares were up almost 25 at $176.48 in today's final minutes.

Capstone Turbine Corp. (NASDAQ: CPST) managed to rack up gains despite fears over cautious earnings. The company had a single order that accounted for this and racked up another gain to its backlog. Shares were up 7.5% at $2.61 in today's final minutes. Here are the Q&A comments from the conference call.

Today was a volatile day in the markets as stocks started out flat to slightly positive early on, went negative, but then came back throughout the day. Traders had no real economic numbers, but oil trading under $115 and gold down another 3% has traders cheering beyond any lagging economic numbers.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA: 11,782.35
S&P500: 2,439.95
NASDAQ: 1,305.31
10YR T-Note 4.008% (+0.058%)
Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades
Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) rose sharply in today's final minutes. An analyst at Citigroup noted that the company could sell as many as 380,000 units of its Kindle e-book reader this year, which could in turn increase its Audible subscriptions and could raise its e-book sales. Shares were up over 9% at $87.86 in today's final minutes.

Boy, two 300-point rallies in one week. Oil's tank and some rectification in the financials in ARS issues were the breeding ground for a huge market day. Even a Russian military action in Georgia failed to kill the bulls.

Here are the unofficial closing bell levels:

DJIA 11,734.32 (+302.89; 2.65%)
S&P 500 1,296.31 (+30.25; 2.39%)
Nasdaq 2,414.10 (+58.37; 2.48%)
10-Yr Bond 3.95% (+0.015%)
52-Week lows
Analyst downgrades
Analyst upgrades

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) rose after Credit Suisse started it with an Outperform rating in new coverage in the sector as the firm believes the industry will continue to head its way thanks to its computers and iPhones. Shares closed up 3.6% at $169.55.

The bear came back today after a long nap. Financial stocks led the DJIA lower today on three key pieces of news, not at all tied to each. Some may call today profit taking, some might be disappointed that the ECB and UK didn't give any concessions on overnight interest rates. Oil was up over $1.00 and back over the $120 mark. But no matter how you call the day, it looked like another day of Chinese Water Torture in another bear market.

Below are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
D.J.I.A. 11,431.19 -224.88 -1.93%
NASDAQ 2,355.73 -22.64 -0.95%
S&P 500 1,266.14 -23.05 -1.79%
10YR T-Bond 3.935% -0.113%
52-Week Lows
Top Analyst Upgrades
Top Analyst Downgrades

American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) was another huge loser after Moody's put the credit card operation debt on negative credit watch. As that affects some $89 Billion in securities and deposits, you know this makes people nervous even if the debt ratings agencies have proven to be as worthless as gold to a dead man. Shares were down almost 5% at $36.06 in today's final minutes.

Despite the fact that the markets were lower much of the day, they eventually managed to on the session higher. This was a win considering that profit takers and short sellers weren't able to hammer down the market after such large gains Tuesday. Oil fell again to levels under $119.00.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

DJIA 11,655.42 (+39.65)
S&P 500 1,289.38 (+4.50)
NASDAQ 2,377.87 (+28.04)
10YR T-BOND 4.048% +0.0410
Top Upgrades & Downgrades

EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC) shares were down under 1% right before the close today, although they had been down 5% after some rumors that Cisco was interested in the company were put to sleep.

Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is continuing to see options speculation build in the stock. Shares were mostly flat today, but options volume was huge again and is up 10% in seven trading sessions.

Today's markets started out strong and got stronger.

If you were a conspiracy theorist you might even make a crack noting that Wall Street had already seen the dovish FOMC comments which signaled that rate hikes are not a certainty until after the election. Throw in a substantial drop in oil to new recent lows of under $119.00 per barrel, and the rest is all gravy.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
D.J.I.A. 11,615 (+331)
S&P500 1,283.28 (+34)
NASDAQ 2,347.36 (+62)
10YR T-NOTE 4.007% (+0.035%)
52-Week Lows
Top Analyst Downgrades
Top Analyst Upgrades

Archer-Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) saw shares down over 5% in today's final minutes. Despite the stock being close to new fresh lows, traders were very unenthusiastic after the company missed earnings expectations.