It was a pleasant opening today for the market with positive results and market activity from Europe, as well as generally positive domestic economic reports this morning.  In particular, pending home sales were up 1.5% versus an expected 0.1% and last month’s -1.0%.  Personal spending was a little better-than-expected while personal income was but a tad less-than-expected and lower than last month.  The week will be fairly full as companies continue to r Read more about What the Market Wants: Risk-on

“Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time.” -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Eurozone has been sinking into a steady and extended recession, and if there is some reason for that trend to reverse itself in the near future, it isn’t an obvious one at the moment. Read more about ETF Periscope: Is the Eurozone About to Shake Up Wall Street Again?

Despite an environment of uninspiring economic reports, stocks have regained their footing once again. Last week, bulls found that they simply couldn’t ignore the Boston bombing like all the other worrisome news, but the quick capture of the perpetrators has removed the domestic terrorism cloud. Read more about Sector Detector: Stocks may stumble but will not fall

Today’s market opened up a tad on positive action from Asian and European markets; however, the pangs of last week’s painful performance took hold and the S&P 500 fell as much as 0.7%.  Earnings and revenues for Caterpillar (CAT) were below estimates causing investors to recall flat to poor results from General Electric (GE), International Business Machines (IBM) and McDonalds (MCD) on Friday.  Then, shortly into today’s session, Existing Home Sales o Read more about What the Market Wants: Half-full or Half-empty?

“All generalizations are false, including this one.” -- Mark Twain

For those investors who may have been feeling a tad complacent due to the recent record highs of several of the major indices, last week probably served as a reminder that high volatility is always just a shout away from knocking the market down a notch or three. Read more about ETF Periscope: Is “Sell In May” Already Circled On Wall Street’s Calendar?

Market timing is tough duty. Even as stocks have risen inexorably and we all knew it couldn’t go up in a straight line, still picking tops is hard. You can be wrong for a long time, and either lose your shirt shorting the market, or miss out on big gains by staying out. Read more about Sector Detector: Stocks succumb to the “new news”

Editor’s note:  Overshadowing the turbulent market today were the two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Our hearts go out to those injured, and the families of those killed.

China reported GDP at 7.7% year-over-year for the first quarter versus an expected 8%— and the markets toppled.  All Asian markets had a bad day; all European markets had a bad day; and all domestic markets opened sharply down.  Gold fell over 8% already.

How’s that for a Monday eye-opener? Read more about What the Market Wants: Bad News in China Begins an Interesting Week for Investors

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” -- Winston Churchill

For the moment, investors continue to see any signs of a sharp market drop as a clear buying opportunity, rather than as a time to panic and exit the market.

In other words, greed currently trumps fear on Wall Street.

Is this a perfect time for a contrarian play or what? Read more about ETF Periscope: Gold Gets Smacked Down as Wall Street Continues to Soar

Hedge-fund Jana enters position in 2013 Baker's Dozen pick Ashland, Inc. (ASH) citing undervalued shares.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324240804578417061007036292.html?ru=yahoo&mod=yahoo_hs Read more about Jana Takes 7.4% Stake in Ashland

J.C. Penney is a "Chaotic" Stock, But Can it Be Saved?

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/13/04/3490965/j-c-penney-is-a-chaotic-stock-but-can-it-be-saved#ixzz2QGCMhv97 Read more about J.C. Penney is a "Chaotic" Stock, But Can it Be Saved?