Bad News Bernanke Derails Markets

Stocks plummeted today, after Fed chief Bernanke said the U.S. Fed’s
projections for 2008 had moved lower than earlier anticipated. Many traders took
Bernanke’s comments as a market-wide downgrade, indicating more tough times to
come, in addition to lower prices.

Freddie Mac
(
FRE |
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PowerRating)
fell over 2% after the company said it would
change mortgage insurance rules to allow insurers to retain more capital (full
story
).

Comcast
(
CMCSA |
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PowerRating)
rallied over 7% after the company reported a 54%
increase in Q4 profit.

Marriott
(
MAR |
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shares rallied 2% despite missing estimate
expectations.

UBS AG
(
UBS |
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News |
PowerRating)
fell 7% after the company announced it still has
significant exposure to the U.S. mortgage market.

Crude oil futures rose more than 2% today as traders bought oil on positive
expectations for the U.S. economy. Gold futures were moderately higher, in line
with rising crude futures.

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Market Snapshot

Dow


-175.58
12376.66

NASDAQ


-41.39
2332.54

S&P 500


-18.37
1348.84

Strongest/Weakest Industry Groups

Strongest Industries

% Change

Weakest Industries

% Change
Rubber
+6.36%

Telecommunications

-4.12%

Entertainment

+0.98%
Airlines

-3.99%
Oil and
Gas Equipment

+0.54%
Retail
Apparel

-3.24%

Economic
News

Retail sales grew by 0.3% last
month, more than expected.