Wall Street Addict

Falling markets in Europe and Asia led to an early selloff in the U.S., with disappointing retail sales data and credit worries setting the tone. However, an afternoon rally erased the losses and stocks closed higher.
The Dow rose +35.50, the Nasdaq Composite +19.74, and the S&P 500 +6.71.
Here are 7 stocks to watch...
The Wall Street Journal reported Bear Stearns (NYSE:BSC) is "facing increasingly tough trading conditions." BSC was the biggest decliner in the S&P 500, falling nearly 8%. BSC's Short Term PowerRating is 7.
Aspect Medical Systems (NasdaqGS:ASPM) plunged more than 45% after a report in the New England Journal of Medicine said the company devices were ineffective.
Humana (NYSE:HUM) gained more than 10%, after losing nearly 14% yesterday. HUM's Short Term PowerRating is 8.
After the close, Aeropostale (NYSE:ARO) beat earnings estimates by $0.05. ARO's Short Term PowerRating is 5.
Before the market open, AnnTaylor Stores (NYSE:ANN) is expected to reports earnings of $0.20. ANN's Short Term PowerRating is 4.
Electronic Arts went hostile in its takeover bid for Take Two Interactive Software (NasdaqGS:TTWO), offering shareholders $26 per share. TTWO's Short Term PowerRating is 8.
Do you think Electronic Arts (NasdaqGS:ERTS) will close up or down on Friday? ERTS' Short Term PowerRating is 4. Go to TradingMarkets.com to play our Up or Down Daily Stock Contest for the chance to win $1000 every month by predicting the direction of a stock.

Labels: ANN, ARO, ASPM, BSC, ERTS, HUM, Stocks to Watch, TTWO

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Friday from TradingMarkets.com:
Countrywide Financial (NYSE:CFC - News) rallied 47% on reports that Bank of America (NYSE:BAC - News) is in advanced talks to buy the biggest U.S. mortgage lender. CFC's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7, and BAC's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
AnnTaylor (NYSE:ANN - News) fell 15% after reporting a drop in same-store sales for the holiday season and cutting its earnings forecast. ANN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7.
IHS (NYSE:IHS - News) beat earnings expectations on Thursday afternoon, reporting $0.47 EPS over a consensus of $0.43 EPS. IHS's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7.
Shuffle Master (NasdaqGS:SHFL - News) matched earnings expectations on Thursday afternoon with $0.10 EPS. SHFL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Synnex (NYSE:SNX - News) also beat earnings estimates, reporting $0.61 EPS over $0.53 EPS. SNX's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Infosys (NasdaqGS:INFY - News) reports earnings on Friday before the market opens, with traders looking for $0.51 EPS. INFY's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: ANN, BAC, CFC, Countrywide Financial, IHS, INFY, SHFL, SNX, Stocks to Watch

The nation's consumers, uninspired by this season's fashions and rattled by high gas prices and the weak housing market, shopped gingerly last month, extending the misery of retailers who have struggled with a spending slowdown since February.
As merchants reported their June sales results Thursday, the disappointments cut across many segments of the industry including Macy's Inc., AnnTaylor Stores Corp. and trendy apparel chain Bebe Stores Inc. One notable exception was Wal-Mart Stores Inc., whose renewed emphasis on low prices helped drive sales gains above analysts' expectations. Meanwhile, Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a 6 percent gain in same-store sales, in line with the 6.1 percent estimate.
Macy's suffered a 2.7 percent drop in same-stores sales, worse than the 0.8 percent decline expected.
J.C. Penney Co. Inc. had a 1.5 percent decline in same-store sales in its department store business, less than the 3.6 percent analysts expected. The retailer said sales picked up toward the end of the month, reflecting a strong initial response to back-to-school merchandise.
Limited Brands had a 3.0 percent gain, slightly better than the 2.9 percent forecast.
AnnTaylor suffered an 8.4 percent drop in same-store sales, dragged down by its lower-priced Loft division. Analysts expected a 4.7 percent decline.
Among teen retailers, Bebe posted a 5.4 percent drop in same-store sales, worse than the 2.2 percent projected decline. But Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. posted a 4.5 percent same-store sales increase, better than the 3.2 percent estimate.
Source: Anne D'Innocenzio, AP Business Writer

Labels: ANN, BEBE, COST, JCP, M, PSUN, WMT