Stocks Rally Back to Close Higher

After some early weakness, the major indices were able to make a sustained
move into positive territory. 

Strength in the Dow was led by Alcoa
(
AA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating), which gained 6% in today’s
session.  Other notable leaders were Intel
(
INTC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) and Boeing
(
BA |
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Chart |
News |
PowerRating),
gaining 2% and 1.5%.

Helping to push the NASDAQ higher today was Apple
(
AAPL |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating), which gained
nearly 5%.  Momentum from its new iPhone continues to move the stock
higher.

Crude for February delivery closed down
$1.62 at $54.02 a barrel, ending the session at its lowest closing level since
June of 2005.  Gold futures for February deliver fell $1.60 to close at
$613.40 in today’s session.

Stocks on the Move

Sears Holdings
(
SHLD |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) Sales Slip In November, December; Forecasts
FY07 EPS Above Street Expectations (full
story).  SHLD shares rise by 3.7%.

Eastman Kodak
(
EK |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) To Sell Health Group To Onex For Up To $2.55 Bln;
Sale Allows Focus On Consumer & Professional Imaging And Graphic Communications
Industry (full
story).  EK shares lost 1.4%.

Alcoa
(
AA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) Q4 Profit Jumps 60% (full
story).  AA shares jump by 6%.

US Airways
(
LCC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) Lifts Offer For Delta Air Lines To $10.2 Bln (full
story).  LCC shares rise 1.8%.

Chevron
(
CVX |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) Says Lower Commodity Prices, Margins And Capacity
Utilization Will Impact Q4 Results (full
story).  CVX shares fall by 1.7%.

Tiffany
(
TIF |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) Holiday Comp. Up 7%, Lifts FY06 EPS Forecast In Line
Or Above Street View; Guides FY07 (full
story).  TIF shares fall by 2.3%.

For more stories as they happen, go to our
Breaking News section.

Market Snapshot

Strongest/Weakest Sectors

Economic News

The Energy Department’s report showed that
crude oil inventories fell by 5 million barrels after falling by 1.3 million
barrels in the previous week. At the same time, gasoline inventories rose by 3.8
million barrels, while distillate fuel inventories rose by 5.4 million barrels.

Wholesale Inventories +1.3% vs +0.5% consensus

Trade Balance -$58.2 bln vs -$59.5 bln consensus

Darren Wong
darrenw@tradingmarkets.com

P.S.

Click here to use PowerRatings to identify stocks that could potentially
move higher in the next few days.