Bullish Blog

As crude falls, motorists may start to see pump prices decline. Stocks finish modestly higher, and Amazon.com jumps on strong earnings. Higher energy costs will shrink Costco profits. AT&T and Pfizer earnings cheer investors; Boeing disappoints.

Reuters - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index tumbled for a second session in a row on Wednesday, knocked 130 points lower as resource issues fell along with commodity prices.

AP - Stocks advanced for the second straight session Wednesday as another decline in oil prices and several upbeat profit reports eased some of Wall Street's concerns about the economy.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rallied on Wednesday, led by the banking and auto sectors, after an overnight rally on Wall Street helped by falling oil prices that also lifted Asian share prices.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Wednesday as financial shares climbed on optimism about a rescue plan for mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and as the price of oil fell.

Reuters - (Reuters) Both Dow Jones futures and S&P 500 futures were up 0.55 percent at 0945 GMT (5:45 a.m. EDT), while Nasdaq futures were 71 percent higher.

When stock prices fall, dividend yields can climb to very attractive levels. In today's painful market, you can get 8%, 10% or more in fairly easy money.

Using CAPS to help me find Lufkin was a big reason why I was able to beat the market over the past 6 months.

To summarize my core principles: Keep a proper portfolio balance, use discretion in short-selling -- and leave your emotions out of your trading decisions.

The big rally in financial stocks may be partly due to short-covering. But it also looks like it may have some strength. I'm putting in stops to lock in profits on two stocks.