Better-than-expected reports on retail sales and consumer sentiment lifted big blue chip stocks, but gains were limited by weakness in technology. Shares of National Semiconductor (NSM) fell Friday, a day after the chip company posted a higher quarterly profit, but also continued to worry analysts about its revenue-growth potential. Yahoo gained after Kaufman Bros. upgraded the Internet giant to buy.The chip sector did get some upbeat news from Gartner Inc., which reported that, while worldwide spending on semiconductor equipment is poised to fall 42.6% this year, it is expected to grow 45.3% in 2010. QQQQ implied volatility slipped further to 52-week lows as large traders continued to dump protective puts. Bullish sentiment prevails.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Showed weakness
Better-than-expected reports on retail sales and consumer sentiment lifted big blue chip stocks, but gains were limited by weakness in technology. Shares of National Semiconductor (NSM) fell Friday, a day after the chip company posted a higher quarterly profit, but also continued to worry analysts about its revenue-growth potential. Yahoo gained after Kaufman Bros. upgraded the Internet giant to buy.The chip sector did get some upbeat news from Gartner Inc., which reported that, while worldwide spending on semiconductor equipment is poised to fall 42.6% this year, it is expected to grow 45.3% in 2010. QQQQ implied volatility slipped further to 52-week lows as large traders continued to dump protective puts. Bullish sentiment prevails.
