Is The Semiconductor Recovery Topping Out?

Stocks are higher on
expiration Friday

as crude hit a record $49.40 on Iraqi violence and increased demand from China
and India. General Motors
(
GM |
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said that some car
dealerships are cutting back orders on 2005 vehicles. On its second day of
trading, Google
(
GOOG |
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is trading up 2.19 at 102.53.

The semiconductor book-to-bill ratio was 1.05, down from 1.07 in
June and 1.10 in May, and might suggest that the industry’s recovery may be
reaching a peak.

Dow +20.05 10061.52
S&P 500 +2.87 1094.11
Nasdaq +6.945 1826.83

Strong today are: Airlines
(
XAL.X |
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+3.10%, Gold
(
XAU.X |
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+1.95%, Internet
(
GIN.X |
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+1.31%.

Weak are: Semis
(
SOX.X |
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-0.09%, Computer Technology
(
XCI.X |
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-0.20%.

10-year Notes are -040 at 112 245

The dollar
is +0.25 at 88.04

Gold is +5.50 at 413.11

Crude Oil is +0.16 at
47.80

Volume is 531 million on
the NYSE and 624 million on the Nasdaq.

Market breadth is positive.

NYSE Issues
Advancing 1994 Up Vol 341
Declining 1068 Down Vol 139
Ratio 1.86 2.45
Nasdaq
Advancing 1757 Up Vol 385
Declining 1052 Down Vol 195
Ratio 1.67 1.97

Stocks in the News

Cyberonics
(
CYBX |
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is higher after Advanced Neuromodulations
Systems

(
ANSI |
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bought an equity stake in the company and opened
discussions about combining the companies.

Fannie Mae’s
(
FNM |
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accounting practices
are being investigated; the company received a subpeona by its regulator.

Ceradyne
(
CRDN |
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is higher after it won a
$461 Army contract.

Autodesk
(
ADSK |
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reported higher
quarterly profit and guided higher.   

Blockbuster
(
BBI |
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declared a special $5
ash dividend, payable September  3 to holders of record August 27.

Marvel Technology
(
MRVL |
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forecast lower revenue growth for Q3.

Brice Wightman