Bullish Blog

AP - Stocks finished largely flat Thursday after a weak reading of the nation's gross domestic product muted Wall Street's enthusiasm over a new spate of acquisitions. Technology stocks fared better than most, however.

The S&P 500's all-time high close Wednesday is a vote on the health of the economy and a powerful signal that of the strength of energy, raw materials and related stocks.

China's consumer class is booming. But now that shoppers are learning how to spend their yuan, companies need to figure out how to sell to them.

Investor's Business Daily - 1 China's leading stock index tumbled 6.5% after Beijing tripled a tax on stock trading to cool its booming market. Investors have been skittish on China since ex-Fed chief Alan Greenspan warned that its bubble could bust. But unlike in Feb., when a Shanghai swoon sparked a worldwide selloff, U.S. stocks rallied.

Investor's Business Daily - Government efforts to cool soaring Chinese stocks sparked heavy selling in Shanghai on Wednesday. But unlike three months ago, global markets took the drop in stride.

Investor's Business Daily - Investors sharply increased purchase of stock funds in April, with their appetite remaining bigger for foreign funds than U.S. funds.

AP - Wall Street shot higher Wednesday, sending the Standard & Poor's 500 index to its first record close in more than seven years, as investors grew more confident the Federal Reserve might cut interest rates in the second half of 2007. The Dow Jones industrials also reached a new high close.

The Dow and the S&P 500 set new highs as traders expect the Federal Reserve to cut rates this year -- ahead of an economic pickup in 2008. Markets weather a 6.5% decline in China's stock market.

FT.com - US stocks were mixed on Wednesday as investors sat on the sidelines and waited for a cocktail of potentially potent economic data due on Friday.

FT.com - European stocks ended lower Wednesday but well above early lows struck in response to tumbling Chinese equities after the country's government lifted the rate of tax paid on share transactions.