Microsoft Raises Bid on Yahoo, Dollar Makes Gains

Dollar bulls rejoice as week ends with additional Dollar gains, Stock Indexes close up across the board with DJIA +48.2, SP 500 adding +4.56 and Nasdaq -3.72.

Microsoft
(
MSFT |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
is considering raising it’s offer for Yahoo
(
YHOO |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
to more than 31.00 per share to secure greater investor support.

Countrywide Financial
(
CFC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
– Credit rating was cut to junk by Standard & Poors, shares drop to 6.015.

Fidelity Magellan Fund
(
FMAGX |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
Buys financial stocks including Bank of America
(
BAC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
and JP Morgan
(
JPM |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
.  This led to the biggest monthly gain in 5 years for the 39 billion dollar fund.  Fund manager Harry Lange seems to be calling the bottom in financials based on his recent moves.

Cabella’s Inc [CAB|CAB]- The sporting goods retailer added another .83 to 15.03 after 1st quarter profits rose greater than expectations.

Symantec
(
SYMC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
climbed to its highest levels in 5-years to 19.34 after announcing a tripling of 4th quarter profits.

Market Snapshot

Dow

+48.2 13058.20

NASDAQ

-3.72 2476.99

S&P 500

+4.56 1413.90

Economic
News

Average Workweek (Apr): Actual 33.7, Consensus 33.7

Hourly Earnings (Apr): 0.1%, Consensus 0.3%

Nonfarm payrolls (Apr): Actual -20K, Consensus -75K

Unemployment Rate (Apr): Actual- 5.0%, Concensus 5.2%

Factory Orders (Mar): Actual- 1.4%, Consensus- 0.2%