Is Taser Finished?
Stocks are virtually flat after a somewhat
disappointing economic report. Nonfarm payrolls for December rose
157,000, slightly less than expected. November data was revised up to 137K from
112K. Unemployment was 5.4%, in line. In 2004, unemployment fell from 5.7% to
5/4% with 2.2 million jobs added. Of note, 76,000 manufacturing jobs were added
last year, the first gain since 1997. 2004 was also the best year for job
creation since 1999.
The dollar made a six-week high against the euro.
Boeing
(
BA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) sees a rise on sales in 2005 on increasing demand. The
company built 272 planes in 2004, and plan to make 320 in 2005.
Taser
(
TASDR |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) has received an informal inquiry from the SEC on
safety statements and a recent sale. The stock is down 18%.
Competition is looming for Taser: rivals Stinger Systems
(
STIY |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) and Law
Enforcement Associates
(
LENF |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) are planning to introduce stun guns.
Strong sectors are: Semis
(
SOX.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) +1.57%, Airlines
(
XAL.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
+0.92%, Internet
(
GIN.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) +1.45%.
Weak sectors are: Oil Services
(
OSX.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) -1.42%, Oil
(
XOI.X |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
-0.50%.
| Dow | +1.61 | 10,624.49 |
| S&P 500 | +1.25 | 1189.14 |
| Nasdaq | +7.56 | 2,097.56 |
The dollar is +0.54 at
83.69
Crude Oil is +0.09 at
45.65
Gold is -3.90 to 418.50
1.36 billion on the Nasdaq.
Market breadth is negative.
| NYSE | Issues | |
| Advancing | 1577 | Up Vol 481 |
| Declining | 1623 | Down Vol 467 |
| 1.02 | 1.02 | |
| Nasdaq |
||
| Advancing | 1359 | Up Vol 992 |
| Declining | 1652 | Down Vol 536 |
| 1.21 | 1.85 |
Stocks in the News
UTStarcom (UTSI)
guided much lower.
Gamestop
(
GME |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) lowered its Q4 forecast.
Wellpoint
(
WLP |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) guided lower.
Doubleclick
(
DCLK |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) raised its Q4 outlook.
Formfactor
(
FORM |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) lowered its Q4 outlook.
Brice Wightman