Bullish Blog

AP - European and U.S. markets plunged Friday after economic data showed the U.S. economy shrank in the fourth quarter at the fastest pace in over a quarter century.

These are big, well-positioned companies that pay dividends, even though their stocks have fallen (whose haven’t?). And the longer-term view you take, the better they look.

Investor’s Business Daily - In a notable reversal, investors stuffed $9.05 billion into stock funds in January, despite the market falling. The S&P 500 lost 8.57%.

AP - For once, it wasn’t the troubled banks leading the stock market to a loss on Thursday.

AFP - London stocks finished strongly up Thursday as investors took advantage of restructuring in the the financial sector.

Reuters - Stocks fell in volatile trading on Thursday as investors sold off shares of healthcare companies such as Merck & Co on worries that U.S. President Barack Obama’s budget proposal will strangle profits.

AP - This time, health care stocks bore the brunt of investors’ wrath.

AP - Stock exchange operator Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. said Thursday its fourth-quarter profit plunged 53 percent primarily because of asset impairment charges and losses on foreign-currency contracts.

AFP - European stocks rallied Thursday on bargain-hunting, with the focus on the financial sector as traders digested a record loss at Royal Bank of Scotland which was less than feared.

The administration’s $3.6 trillion spending outline slams health insurance and Sallie Mae shares but boosts bank stocks. Fannie Mae says it needs $15.2 billion in new aid. Investors like Dell earnings. With a $9.6 billion quarterly loss, GM says it needs more help.