Why Is The SEC Investigating KKD?

Stocks are
higher after positive economic reports and a pullback in oil.

The Ministry of Justice lifted a previously imposed ban on Yukos’ property
transactions Yukos produces 1.7 million bpd. Oil giant Exxon Mobil
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reported earnings that rose 39% to $5.79 billion with a 24% rise in revenue on
high oil prices and demand. Its daily crude oil output rose to 4% with daily
average oil and gas production at 4.08 million barrels.

TXU Corp
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reported a loss of $600 million on one-time charges that exceed $1
billion that related to share buyback and restructuring transactions. The
company upped its earnings outlook to $2.60 a share as its operating revenue
rose 6.8% to $2.3 billion for the quarter. Aetna
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rose after
posting earnings of $286 million with revenue rising 9% to $4.9 billion.

The SEC is investigating
Krispy Kreme’s

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franchise repurchases; shares fell 10%.

Dow +35.66 10152.88
S&P 500 +6.77 1102.14
Nasdaq +22.13 1880.34

Strong today are: Airlines
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+3.05%, Healthcare
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  +2.71%, Semis
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+2.44%, Networking
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+2.38%.

Weak today are: Oil Services

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-0.57%, Biotechs 
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-0.20%.

Economic news releases today
include Employment cost index that rose by 0.9%, initial claims higher at 345K,
and help wanted index at 38.

10-year Notes are +15 at
109 280

The dollar
is -0.04 at 89.90

Gold is +0.40 at 390.80

Crude Oil is -0.68 at
42.23

Volume is 666 million on
the NYSE, and 778 million on the Nasdaq.

Market breadth is positive

NYSE Issues
Advancing 1949 Up Vol 369
Declining 1085 Down Vol 203
Ratio 1.79 1.82
Nasdaq
Advancing 1711 Up Vol 513
Declining 1154 Down Vol 152
Ratio 1.48 3.38

Top Dow stocks are:

Intel
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,
+2.76%, Hewlett Packard
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+1.43%  Citigroup
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+1.33%
Du Pont

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+1.30%.

Stocks in the news:

Georgia-Pacific
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reported
earnings of $220 million with revenue up 6.2% to $5.19 billion.

Raytheon
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posted a net loss of $108 million
with sales up 11% to $4.9 billion. Its  government and defense production
backlog exceed $29.5 billion.

Taro Pharmaceutical
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tanked after missing earnings forecasts by a wide margin, with a loss of $8.9
million vs. estimates of 44 cents a share by Thomson First Call.

General Motors
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fell after receiving downgrades
from Lehman Brother and Goldman Sachs.

Brice Wightman

bricew@tradingmarkets.com