Sabrient's Baker's Dozen 2013 is up 37.24% since January 11, 2013.  The top 5 performers are EPL +80.10%, GNW +71.27%,  JAZZ +53.61%, STX +50.32%, and OCN +47.91%.  All 13 stocks are positive; 12 have double-digit gains, and the only single-digit performer, ASH, is doing fine at +8.09%.Baker's Dozen 2013 up 37.24% YTD.

You can track the Baker's Dozen performance here

You know by now that the Fed last week opted not to begin tapering its quantitative easing (i.e., buying of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities), primarily for two reasons, I believe. First, rapidly rising long-term interest rates were already starting to hurt the recovering housing market (and the resulting wealth effect).

Did you buy a market index call option in advance of the FOMC announcement on Wednesday? Maybe a straddle? Or did you at least hold pat on long positions knowing that you held an implicit “Fed put” against any meaningful downside? It seems like many investors did one of these, as markets have been strong in advance of today’s announcement.

Needless to say, the news headlines have been dominated by the ongoing saga of President Obama posturing against Syrian dictator Assad and his chemical weapons arsenal. Who’d have thought that Russia would emerge as the cool head in the mix? They must be basking in the limelight -- an unfamiliar role for them.

I am not going to mention the nickname for the dominant issue of the day, since you are probably on the verge of screaming if you here it again (hint: initials are F.C.). But, unfortunately, we all remain hostage to the relentless political posturing of our elected officials during these critical budget negotiations. Not that we haven’t asked for it.

Apple. Need I say more?

Let the Earnings Season Begin

by David Brown, Chief Market Strategist, Sabrient Systems