Where Traders Took Profits Today

The June
S&P futures

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looked as if it would fall for the first day in three after analysts
said Microsoft’s
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profit will lag forecasts and Lucent
Technologies
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and Nokia
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cut sales projections.

Computer-related and telecommunications stocks accounted for all of the index’s
decline in early trade as some investors said their earnings will take longer
than expected to rebound. But by the end of the trading day the S&P futures had
rallied to a .500 gain to close at 1169.500.

The June Nasdaq 100 Index
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had its
biggest loss in more than two weeks. The Microsoft and telecommunications
news broad sided the Nasdaq 100 futures and they never went positive on the day.
NDM2 closed at 1534.000 down 22.00.

The June Dow Jones Industrial Average futures
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rose 54.00 to
10,657. IBM
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climbed, accounting for
all of the gain, after the largest computer maker eased investor concern over
its accounting practices.

Crude oil and refined products futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange
traded mixed today. Today’s trading comes ahead of the weekly inventory data
that is expected to show supportive draws in the nation’s inventories.

After rising sharply for two weeks on a quickly
improving U.S. economy, the oil complex opened sharply lower Tuesday as traders
scrambled to take profits. April crude oil
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dropped .11 to end
at 24.20 a barrel. April unleaded gasoline
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fell .56 to
78.54. Ending positive on the day were April heating oil
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up
.04 to 63.49 and April natural gas
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was up .01 to 3.03.

May soybeans
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were attempting to test Friday’s high, but
ended up closing below Monday’s close. May soybeans ended closing at 463.25 down
1.500 per bushel. May wheat
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is pulling back from its
lows. Wheat for May delivery rallied 2.25 to close at 276.25. May corn
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broke above its resistance of 210 and had a high of 212 before
settling at 210.500 up 1.00.

May gold
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rallied higher today closing up 2.50 or .86% to
end at $293.80. May silver
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was also stronger today closing at
449.800 up 1.30 and May copper closed at 74.15 down .45.