Stocks Inch Higher Despite More Write-Downs

Stocks are modestly higher on Wednesday, after yesterday’s strong rally. Markets rose in Asia overnight and across Europe this morning, but a jump in the price of crude oil has been a drag during the U.S. session.

Ben Bernanke announced a new communications strategy for the Federal Reserve that will provide more frequent and clearer messages to Wall Street and the public.

United Auto Workers members ratified a four-year contract with Ford
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(read more).

Bear Stearns
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announced that it expects to write-down $1.2 billion in Q4, which would result in the company reporting a new loss (read more).

HSBC Holdings
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said Q3 profits will be higher than a year ago despite the company having to take a $3.4 billion write-down (read more).

Shares of E*TRADE Financial
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are surging (+18.6%) as traders speculate the company could be a takeover target in the wake of its recent decline.

Market Snapshot

Dow

43.74 13350.83

NASDAQ

5.16 2678.81

S&P 500

7.73 1488.78

  NYSE NASDAQ

Volume

720,062,210 1,133,221,941

Up Volume

440,569,210 645,848,917

Down Volume

270,277,000 645,848,917

Advances

1801 1343

Declines

1363 1459

New Highs

32 33

New Lows

99 86

Strongest/Weakest Industry Groups

Strongest Industries

% Change

Weakest Industries

% Change
Copper
+3.66%
Toy & Hobby Stores
-3.81%
Surety & Title Insurance
+3.13%
Rental & Leasing Services
-3.14%
Heavy Construction
+2.88%
Jewelry Stores
-3.01%


Economic
News

Retail Sales (Oct): Actual 0.2%, Consensus 0.2%

PPI (Oct): Actual 0.1%, Consensus 0.3%

Business Inventories (Sep): Actual 0.4%, Consensus 0.4%