THE "DAILY BREAD" FOR THE MARKET

Daily Morning Insights on the Market

<---D640--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR MONDAY MARCH 4TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 10586.82 = +217.96

NASDAQ: 1859.32 = +56.58

S & P 500: 1153.84 = +22.06

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed higher as good economic data resurrected hopes of a quick economic recovery. The NASDAQ, which was up all day, had a very heavy trading volume of over 1.906 billion, while the NYSE had a volume of over 1.430 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Ade Corp, Advantest, Agile Software, Akamai Technologies, Amazon.Com, American Express, AMR Corp, AOL Time Warner, Applied Materials, Ariba, Ask Jeeves, AT&T, Ballard Power Systems, Bank of America, Bea Systems, Best Buy, Black & Decker, Boeing & Co, Broadcom, Brocade Communications, Calpine, Capital One Financial, Celestica, Ciena Corp, Cholestech Corp, Circuit City, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, CNET Networks, Compaq, Computer Associates, Continental Airlines, Corning, Corvis Corp, CVS Corp, DaimlerChrysler AG, Dell, Delta Air, Digital River, eBay, Elan Corp, EMC Corp, Ericsson, E*Trade Group, eUniverse Network, ExxonMobil, Flextronics, Ford Motor Co, FreeMarket, The Gap, GE, General Motors (GM), Home Entertainment Group, Household International, i2 Technologies, IBM, Inktomi, Inrange Technologies, Intel, Intershop Communications, Jabil Circuits, JDS Uniphase, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Juniper Networks, KLA-Tencor, Lucent Technologies, Manugistics Group, MarketWatch.Com, Metris Companies, Micron Tech, Microsoft, Mirant Corp, Network Appliance, Newell Rubbermaid, Nokia, Nortel Networks, One Price Clothing, Orbital Sciences, Overture Services, Pacific Sunwear of California, Pearson Plc, Perkinelmer, PLX Technologies, Providian Financial, Qualcomm, Qwest Communications International, RealNetworks, Retek, Rite Aid, Salton, Sanmina-SCI, Scania AB, Scientific Atlanta, Siebel Systems, Solectron, Southwest Airlines, Sprint PCS Group, Symbol Technology, Texas Instruments, Tweeter Home Entertainment, Tyco International, UAL Corp, United Microelectronics, Unova, Walgreen, Wal-Mart, Webex, Wesco International, Western Digital, Worldcom Group, and Yahoo!

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Vehicle Sales came in at 16.7 million in February, the strongest level in 3 months, but lower than February the year before. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Oracle lost 14.51% today after warning on Friday.

• Microsoft gained today despite a request by the 9 government prosecutors Microsoft should offer a stripped down version of its Windows™ Operating System, and no other versions should be allowed.

• Manugistics Group gained 20.80% after lowering its fiscal Q4 losses again. Rival supply chain software developers also gained on the news.

• Orbital Sciences gained 14.12% after wining a $900 million subcontract from Boeing to build the booster rockets for the missile defense shield.

• Boeing gained 2.70% after wining a $425 million contract to test the second booster for the missile defense shield.

• Home Depot and Lowe's closed lower after UBS Warburg analyst Aram Robinson downgraded them to a "buy".

• Automobile shares gained today on the strong vehicle sales data. JP Morgan also upgraded General Motors (GM) to a "buy".

• Airline shares performed very well today, thanks to their travel discounts, which are seen passengers flying again.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Newell Rubbermaid gained 2.02% after announcing that it will pay $419 million in cash and assume debts for the remaining 50.5% of American Tool Company it doesn't already own.

• JC Penney lost 1.80% after JP Morgan downgraded it to a "market perform".

• Contract Electronics Manufacturers (CEMs) gained today on the strong manufacturing data released last week.

• Walgreen gained 1.01% after reporting that its February same-store-sales rose a better than expected 12%.

• Sun Microsystems lost 2.91% as analysts expect the worst from its mid quarter update due Thursday.

• AFTER CLOSE: Standard & Poor's announced that it is putting scientific instruments maker, Perkinelmer, on a "credit watch".

• AFTER CLOSE: Pacific Sunwear of California is losing in after hours trading after reporting earnings that disappointed.

• AFTER CLOSE: Ballard Power Systems is losing in after hours trading after reporting a bigger than expected loss, due mostly to Research & Development spending.

• Enron Drama: .

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet and technology shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D639--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY MARCH 1ST. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 10368.86 = +262.73

NASDAQ: 1802.74 = +71.25

S & P 500: 1131.78 = +25.05

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed higher as good economic data resurrected hopes of a quick economic recovery. The NASDAQ, which was up all day, had a very heavy trading volume of over 1.906 billion, while the NYSE had a volume of over 1.430 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Akamai Technologies, Alcoa, Amazon.Com, AMD, Amkor technology, Analog Devices, Andrx, AOL Time Warner, Applied Materials, Ask Jeeves, AT&T, Boyds Collections, Broadcom, Brocade Communications, Catalyst Semiconductor, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, CNET Networks, Compaq, Cypress Semiconductor, DaimlerChrysler AG, Dell, eBay, EMC Corp, ExxonMobil, Fairchild Semiconductor, Federated Department Stores, FindWhat.Com, Ford Motor Co, Forgent Networks, The Gap, GE, General Motors (GM), Hewlett Packard, IBM, ICIC Ltd, ICIC Bank Ltd, Imclone Systems, Inktomi, International Rectifier, Interpublic Group, JDS Uniphase, Jeffersonville Bancorp, Juniper Networks, Kenneth Cole Productions, KLA-Tencor, Lucent Technologies, MarketWatch.Com, Marvel Technology, Maxwell Technology, Micron Tech, Microsoft, Mothers Work, Mykrolis Corp, NASSDA, National Semiconductor, Network Appliance, Nextel Communications, Nokia, Nortel Networks, Novatel, Novell, Novellus Systems, Overture Services, PayPal, Peoplesoft, Pfizer, Primedia, Qualcomm, Retek, Riverstone Networks, Sandisk, Seachange International, Siebel Systems, Silicon Labs, Sorrento Networks, Sprint FON Group, Sun Microsystems, Teradyne, Texas Instruments, TheStreet.Com, Universal Access Global, Wesco International, Worldcom Group, and Yahoo!

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Construction Spending rose 1.5% in January.

• The Institute for Supply Management (ISM), formerly known as the NAPM, reported that its ISM Index rose to 54.7% in February - any point above 50% is an expansion.

• The University of Michigan reported that its Consumer Sentiment Survey declined to 90.7 in February.

• US Personal Income rose 0.4% in January, due mostly to increases in transfer payments like unemployment, social security, etc. Salaries and Wages declined for the period. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Micron Technology gained 12.88% on news that its Hynix acquisition will be wrapped up as early as the middle of March. Thomas Weisel also raised its earnings outlook on the stock due to rising DRAM prices.

• Novellus Systems gained 14.02% after giving some upbeat comments about the chip sector, and raising its fiscal Q1 bookings outlook. This news, coupled with the Micron Tech news rallied chip related stocks.

• Federated Department Stores gained 3.34% after Goldman Sachs added it to its "US Recommended List".

• Yahoo! gained 14.87% and helped internet shares to close higher after Soundview Tech upgraded it to a "strong buy".

• Advertising giant Interpublic Group gained 13.97% after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings on Thursday that met Wall Street estimates, and also announced an increase in its customer base.

• Cisco Systems gained 5.12% despite the lowering of its fiscal 2002 and 2003 earnings estimates by JP Morgan H&Q.

• Kenneth Cole Productions gained 15.53% after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Hewlett Packard gained as talks are already that Carly Fiorina will be replaced by the former boss if the Compaq deal doesn't succeed.

• Primedia gained 16.60% after announcing that it is folding its Teen™ monthly magazine, and concentrate more on its Seventeen™ magazine.

• Sprint FON Group gained 6.10% after securing a $1 billion loan commitment from Citibank NA and Deutsche Bank AG.

• Juniper Networks gained 5.47% despite a Pacific Growth Equities downgrade to "market perform".

• Marvel Technology gained 15.31% after reporting fiscal Q1 late Thursday that beat Wall Street estimates. CIBC World Markets, JP Morgan H&Q, and Merrill Lynch al, upgraded the stock today.

• AFTER CLOSE: Oracle continued its losses in after hours trading after lowering its fiscal Q3 outlook.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling testified before the Senate today and stated that he has nothing to hide and that he served Enron faithfully. Former Enron Vice president Sherron Watkins however, stood by her claim, and made known that Mr. Skilling can be intimidating, and that she was highly frustrated that Kenneth Lay allowed a window of opportunity to pass without solving the company's problems. The Senators jabbed Skilling on his selective memory an his Sergeant Shultz defense, in reference to the Hogan's Heroes character that never knew nothing!!.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet and technology shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D638--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 10106.13 = -21.45

NASDAQ: 1731.47 = -20.39

S & P 500: 1106.73 = -3.15

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed lower today. The NASDAQ, which slumped most of the day, had a very heavy trading volume of over 1.935 billion, while the NYSE had a volume of over 1.348 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Active IQ Technology, Akorn, Analysts International, AOL Time Warner, Aptimus, AT&T, Aztar Corp, Benton Oil, Boston Life Sciences, Brown Shoe Co, Camtek Ltd, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Compucon Systems, CTC Communications, Digital Records, Entremed, Esterline Technology, Evergreen Solar, ExxonMobil, Frontline Ltd, Hewlett Packard, Hoenig Group, Home Products International, KMG Chemicals, Landry's Restaurants, Lucent Technologies, Lucille Farms, Men's Wearhouse, Mississippi Chemical, Mykrolis Corp, Nextel Communications, Nokia, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Nu Skin Entertainment, Oracle, Pall Corp, Palm, Quinsar SA, Reliability, Rite Aid, SBC Communications, Skillsoft, Sprint PCS Group, Staff Leasing, Trenwick Group, Veritas Software, and Vintage Petroleum.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Agricultural Prices rose 4.2% in February, due mostly to the stellar performance of commercial vegetables.

• The Conference Board reported that its Help Wanted Index, a good measure of blue collar employee demand, held steady at 47 in January.

• The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI), a good measure of economic activity in the country, improved to -0.86%.

• Chicago Purchasing Managers Institute (PMI) reported that, its Chicago PMI rose to 53.1% in February - any point above 50% shows an expansion.

• The US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Q4 of 2001 was revised higher to a growth of 1.4%.

• US Jobless Claims for weekending February 23rd. rose 17,000 to 378,000. The 4-week moving average declined 3,000 to 373,250. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Entremed gained 13.57% after its Melanoma drug, Endostatin™, was given Orphan status by the FDA.

• Altera lost 4.60% today despite reiterating its outlook late yesterday.

• Digital Records gained 18.18% after reporting $4.8 million worth of new orders.

• Disney lost 5.15% after Goldman Sachs analyst, Richard Greenfield, lowered his fiscal Q2 earnings outlook on the media giant by 25% below First Call estimates.

• SBC Communications gained 0.11% despite the decision by California regulators that its Pacific Bell unit needs to cut back the fee it charges rivals for using its local network.

• Tiffany & Co lost 6.34% despite reporting fiscal Q4 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates by 2 cents a share.

• Noven Pharmaceuticals gained 14.76% today too after stating yesterday that it will Wall Street's fiscal Q4 estimates, and raised its fiscal Q1 outlook too.

• Lockheed Martin lost 0.69% despite wining a $12.7 billion contract to provide support services for the F-16 fighter aircraft that is used by 16 other countries.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Hewlett Packard gained 0.45% as battle for the heart continues. Today, board member and son of a co-founder, Walter Hewlett released pay documents today that show that if the merger were to succeed, Carly Fiorina and Compaq CEO, Michael Capellas, will rake in $117.4 million in salaries, bonus, and stock options in just 2 years. Compaq closed lower.

• Target closed 4.56% lower despite reporting fiscal Q4 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates by 1 cent/share, while revenue rose 7.4% to $13.2 billion.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling testified before the Senate today and stated that he has nothing to hide and that he served Enron faithfully. Former Enron Vice president Sherron Watkins however, stood by her claim, and made known that Mr. Skilling can be intimidating, and that she was highly frustrated that Kenneth Lay allowed a window of opportunity to pass without solving the company's problems. The Senators jabbed Skilling on his selective memory an his Sergeant Shultz defense, in reference to the Hogan's Heroes character that never knew nothing!!.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet and technology shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D637--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 27TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 10127.58 = +12.32

NASDAQ: 1751.88 = -14.98

S & P 500: 1109.89 = +0.51

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed mixed as the Dow gained on Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan's congressional testimony. The NASDAQ, which slumped in the last 2.5 hours, had a very heavy trading volume of over 1.823 billion, while the NYSE had a volume of over 1.378 billion shares traded. Gainers included: ABB Ltd, Active IQ Technology, Allegiance Telecom, Allied Holdings, American Country Holdings, Amerigon, AOL Time Warner, Ariba, Ask Jeeves, Astec Industries, AT&T, Axcess, Banknorth Group, Baxter International, Blue Squared-Israel, Bristol Myers Squibb, Catapult Communications, Cendant Corp, Chipmos technology, Citigroup, Coach Corp, Cone Mills, DrugStore.Com, Dura Automotive Systems, Ericsson, eUniverse Network, Exploration Company of Delaware, ExxonMobil, FindWhat.Com, First Indiana, Flextronics, Frisco Bay Industries, Fusion Medical, GE, Hanover Compressor, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Imclone Systems, Integrated Defense Technologies, Ipswich Bancshares, JLG Industries, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Korn/Ferry International, Liberty Media, LoudCloud, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, Nextel Communications, Nortel Networks, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Orckit Communications, Overture Services, Palm, Papa John's International, PayPal, Pfizer, Pioneer Corp, Playboy Entertainment, Quinsar SA, Rite Aid, Silicon Graphics, Smedvig ASA Sonus Networks, Star Gas partners, Startek, Sunrise Assisted Living, TheStreet.Com, TJX Corp, Tyco International, Wal-Mart, Worldcom Group, Xenova Group Plc, Zoltek Communications, and Zonagen.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Durable Goods Orders rose a better-than-expected 2.6% in January, thanks to a strong Airplanes (21.6%), Semiconductor (14.2%), Transportation Equipment (5.9%), and cars (4.3%) orders.

• US New Home Sales declined an unexpected 14.8% to 823,000 in January, its largest monthly decline since January 1994.

• The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that for week ending February 22nd, US crude oil inventory declined 2.5 million barrels, while Distillates declined 3.0 million barrels.

• The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported that for week ending February 22nd, its MBA Mortgage Applications Survey Index rose 3.9% to 551.1. The Purchase Index rose to 315.5. The Refinance Index declined to 1921.6. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage declined to 6.19%.

• The Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan stated at his semi-annual congressional testimony that.....Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Gateway lost 6.08% and took some of the PC makers down after stating that it expects 2002 losses of between $200 million to $250 million on revenue of $4.5 billion to $5 billion. Gateway however, expects to show a profit in 2003.

• Cisco Systems lost 8.13% and took technology stocks lower after Wachovia Securities cut its fiscal Q2 outlook on the stock, and also lowered its 2002 and 2003 earnings outlook.

• Ariba gained 16.05% after JP Morgan Chase upgraded it to a "buy".

• Imclone Systems gained 32.28% on hopes that the FDA will approve its Cancer drug, Erbitux™.

• Astec Industries gained 16.28% after reporting fiscal Q4 losses that met Wall Street estimates, but expects a fiscal Q1 profit.

• Gap lost 8.49% after analysts snub its Q4 earnings results late yesterday, and its plans to issue about $1 billion in convertible debt. Moody's Investor Services downgraded its debt to high yield (junk) status.

• Ipswich Bancshares gained 52.45% after agreeing to be acquired by Banknorth Group for $41.1 million in cash and shares. Banknorth group gained 0.21%.

• Decartes Systems Group lost 13.94% after reporting fiscal Q4 loss that was 1 cent a share less than Wall Street estimates, but warned of even bigger losses in fiscal Q1.

• IPO Today: Integrated Defense Technologies, an electronics combat systems maker, closed 13.64% above its offering price.

• Ask Jeeves gained 31.86% after signing SunTrust to its Jeeves Solutions™, its question and answer customer relationship management solutions system.

• ExxonMobil gained after wining a $398 million fuel supply contract with the US Department of Defense.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Online financial portal TheStreet.Com gained 17.78% after its founder, James Cramer, acquired 25,000 more shares to bring his total holdings to around 3.4 million shares.

• Pizza company Papa John's International gained 11.61% after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings that met Wall Street estimates, and also raised its 2002 outlook.

• Noven Pharmaceuticals gained 9.04% after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates, and raised its fiscal Q1 outlook.

• Fusion Medical gained 17.71% after Baxter International agreed to acquire it for $157 million in stock. Baxter International gained 2.20%.

• AFTER CLOSE: Agilent Technologies is losing in after hours trading on news that its COO, Alain Couder, is resigning to accept a CEO position at another company.

• AFTER CLOSE: Altera is gaining in after hours trading after reiterating its fiscal Q1 outlook.

• AFTER CLOSE: Longs Drugs is still losing in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 earnings of 58 cents a share, as sales rose to $1.2 billion. Long's CEO, Steve Roath resigned, and will be replaced by Harold Somerset as President & CEO. Longs Drugs also announced the restructuring of its board.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling testified before the Senate today and stated that he has nothing to hide and that he served Enron faithfully. Former Enron Vice president Sherron Watkins however, stood by her claim, and made known that Mr. Skilling can be intimidating, and that she was highly frustrated that Kenneth Lay allowed a window of opportunity to pass without solving the company's problems. The Senators jabbed Skilling on his selective memory an his Sergeant Shultz defense, in reference to the Hogan's Heroes character that never knew nothing!!.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet and technology shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D636--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 26TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 10115.26 = -30.45

NASDAQ: 1766.86 = -3.02

S & P 500: 1109.38 = -0.06

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed lower today due discouraging consumer confidence data. The NASDAQ, which was up and down all day, had a moderately heavy trading volume of over 1.669 billion, while the NYSE had a volume of over 1.291 billion shares traded. Gainers included: Abgenix, Actrade Financial, AES Corp, Amazon.Com, American Tower, Americredit, Ampal-American Israel, Avaya, AVI Biopharmaceuticals, Bam Entertainment, Broadcom, Brocade Communications, Calpine, Carlton Communications Plc, Carreker, Chipmos Technology, Chippac, Chordiant Software, Classica Group, Clean Harbors, Citigroup, Computer Associates, Computer Technology, Daily Journal, Dell, Federated Department Stores, Ford Motor Co, Gap, Hanover Compressor, Hawker Pacific, Hewlett Packard, Hovnanian Enterprises, Juniper Networks, KLA-Tencor, Lion Biosciences, Lucent Technologies, McAfee.Com, Medi-Hut, Metris Companies, Midway Games, Milacron, Neoforma, Nortek, Nvidia, Oracle, Overture Services, Peoplesoft, Peregrine Systems, Pfizer, Pier 1 Imports, Rambus, Redback Networks, Sonus Networks, Sprint PCS Group, Starbucks, Star Gas Partners, Startek, Sun Microsystems, Symbol Technologies, Toll Brothers, Trex, Tyco International, United Online, United Rental, Wal-Mart, Waste Management International, Williams Companies, Worldcom Group, Xcel Energy, and Xilinx.

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• The Conference Board reported that the US Consumer Confidence unexpectedly declined to 94.1 in February. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• Rambus gained 23.67% after unveiling today its RIMM 4200™, the world's highest bandwidth chip.

• Federated Department Stores gained 6.77% after announcing poor fiscal Q4 sales and a loss of $447 million, but raised its fiscal 2002 outlook.

• United Online gained 12.05% after partnering with Comcast Communications to provide high speed low cost internet access on Comcast's cable systems.

• Peregrine Systems gained 23.66% after DB Alex Brown upgraded it to a "strong buy" recommendation.

• Computer Associates rallied 10.20% today as analysts feel the stock is oversold.

• Pier 1 Imports gained 10.42% after stating that its fiscal Q4 results will beat Wall Street estimates.

• Toll Brothers gained 7.55% after reporting fiscal Q1 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates, and also stated that its fiscal 2002 and 2003 results will also beat.

• Home Depot lost 1.08% despite reporting fiscal Q4 earnings that rose 53%, thanks to the booming housing sector. Most analysts however, feel the stock is too expensive.

• Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.

• Hewlett Packard gained 0.15% despite statements from fund manager Brandes Investment Partners, which owns 1.3% of the company, that it will vote against the Compaq merger. Compaq closed lower on the news.

• Honeywell International lost 0.93% despite reporting that it has won an 8-year $1.1 billion contract with the US Army to upgrade the engines on its Chinook Helicopters.

• Waste Management International gained 2.06% after reporting earnings that were 4 times higher than the year ago. Waste Management however, took a $16 million charge relating to business with Enron.

• Starbucks gained 0.72% after stating that it will meet fiscal 2002 figures, and plans to enter the Latin American market with a Mexican store.

• AFTER CLOSE: The Gap is losing in after hours trading after reporting a fiscal Q4 net loss of $34 million, which met Wall Street estimates.

• AFTER CLOSE: MGM Grand is unchanged in after hours trading after announcing that its fiscal Q1 losses will be bigger than estimated.

• AFTER CLOSE: Clear Channel is still losing in after hours trading after reporting fiscal Q4 losses of 61 cents a share, and expects to take between $15 billion to $25 billion charge due to the introduction of a new accounting system.

• AFTER CLOSE: Abgenix is losing in after hours trading after announcing plans to issue $250 million worth of convertible debt.

• Enron Drama: Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling testified before the Senate today and stated that he has nothing to hide and that he served Enron faithfully. Former Enron Vice president Sherron Watkins however, stood by her claim, and made known that Mr. Skilling can be intimidating, and that she was highly frustrated that Kenneth Lay allowed a window of opportunity to pass without solving the company's problems. The Senators jabbed Skilling on his selective memory an his Sergeant Shultz defense, in reference to the Hogan's Heroes character that never knew nothing!!.

• ANOTHER ADDITION: We now have services for Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK & Ireland, and United States. We will continue our qualitative, informative, and useful content policies at all our portals. Thank you for your support.

• JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS: Due to the immense popularity this column has received recently, and the willingness of our guests to communicate with each other, we have expanded our message boards so as to serve you better. Please check out (and post on) our NEW expanded message boards here

PICKS FOR THE NEXT MARKET DAY

REASONS BEHIND THE PICKS

STOCKS TO WATCH NEXT MARKET DAY: Internet and technology shares. Check out our Quarterly forecasts for other picks.

Visit our Monthly Stock Picks and Guidance page to read our portfolio picks/recommendations.

<---D635--->

MARKET SUMMARY FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 25TH. 2002

DOW INDUSTRIAL: 10145.71 = +177.56

NASDAQ: 1769.88 = +45.34

S & P 500: 1109.43 = +19.60

MOST ACTIVE STOCKS & SECTORS

The markets closed higher again today. The NASDAQ, which rallied all day on good housing data, had a moderately heavy trading volume of over 1.667 billion, while the NYSE had a volume of over 1.326 billion shares traded. Gainers included: 3Com, AES Corp, Airborne, Akamai Technologies, Amazon.Com, Applied Materials, AT&T, AT&T Wireless, Broadcom, Brocade Communications, Caterpillar, Centennial Communications, ChevronTexaco, Chipmos Technology, Ciena Corp, Circuit City, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Clean Harbors, CNET Networks, Coca Cola, Colt Telecom Group Plc, Compaq, Dell, eBay, Elxsi Corp, EMC Corp, Ericsson, ExxonMobil, Flextronics, Ford Motor Co, FTD.Com, FTI Consulting, GE, General Motors, Grant Prideco, Hanover Compressor, Hewlett Packard, Home Depot, Identix, Inktomi, Intel, Interwoven, JDS Uniphase, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Juniper Networks, Kelly Services, KLA-Tencor, KPNQwest NV, Level 3 Communications, Lowes Cos, Maxus Realty Trust, Microsoft, Millicom International, Motorola, Nextel Communications, Nokia, Ntelos, Nvidia, Oracle, Overture Services, Palm, Piccadily Cafeteria, Pinnacle Entertainment, PMC-Sierra, Qualcomm, RealNetworks, Revlon, Satcom Technology, Siebel Systems, Smtek, Solutia, Spirent Plc, Sprint PCS Group, Staff Leasing, Steak n Shake, Sun Microsystems, SWS Group, Systems Technology, Teradyne Corp, Terex Corp, Tickets.Com, Tyco International, US Energy, Viacom, Vintage Petroleum, Wal-Mart, Weatherford International, Williams-Sonoma, Worldcom Group, Xilinx, Xerox Corp, and Yahoo!

MAIN REASONS FOR ACTIVITY

• US Existing Home Sales rose to 6.04 million, the highest level ever, and first time above the 6 million units mark. Visit our Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Analysis page to read more, also visit our expanded message boards to discuss this topic or any other business topic by clicking here.

• General Motors (GM) gained 4.46% after raising its fiscal Q1 and all of 2002 earnings and output outlook.

• Lowes Companies gained 3.13% after reporting fiscal Q1 earnings that beat Wall Street estimates, and raised its 2002 outlook.

• Terex gained 15.32% after Bear Stearns upgraded it to a "buy".

• Sun Microsystems gained 9.91% after Banc of America Securities upgraded it to a "buy" recommendation.

• Qualcomm gained 9.82% and helped chip makers to close higher after reporting a better than expected demand for its mobile phone chips.

• Tyco International gained 7.27% after a US Court dismissed a 1999 and 2000 shareholder lawsuits about inflated profits.

• Williams Communications Group lost 56.86% after stating that it is considering bankruptcy.

• Viacom gained 4.37% after Bernstein upgraded it to a "market outperform".