Market closes lower, but mixed...

Even though the averages were lower, there were some pockets of strength out there.

Dow -61 to 11983
Nas -11 to 2686
S&P -7 to 1253

A few stocks outperformed:

Wellcare +1.10 to 54.89
Allscripts +1.22 to 20.79
Green Mountain Coffee +3.77 to 70.67
US Steel +1.37 to 27.92
Cree +2.69 to 30.57
FFive Networks +2.68 to 109.62
Starbucks +2.79 to 44.19
Universal Display +7.56 to 51.97
Groupon +6.11 to 26.11
Ulta Salon & Cosmetics +2.98 to 74.24

Should be another interesting weekend.  Have a good one!!!

Starbucks hits new highs...

Starbucks (SBUX) is hitting new highs as the coffee chain reported third-quarter earnings that squeaked by Wall Street views while revenue cleared estimates by a healthy margin.

Starbucks also raised its dividend 31% and approved a 20 million share buyback program. The stock had formed a three-weeks tight pattern after retaking a 39.49 buy point in a cup-with-handle base. The stock triggered the 8% sell rule following its initial move above that buy point.

The stock is up 1.47 to 43.98 today:

Here's a new stock to watch...

Fusion-io (FIO +7.4%) shares spike after CEO David Flynn tells CNBC the "surface hasn't even been scratched" in market penetration for the company's "revolutionizing" data storage, adding that Facebook and Apple (APPL) are part of its diversified customer base. This week, FIO reported quarterly results that beat estimates and raised its full-year revenue outlook.


Here's the chart since the stock went public back in June:

Jeffries discloses European positions...

Jefferies (JEF +0.7%) rises slightly after fully disclosing its exposure to PIIGS sovereign debt; the company claims it has a net long cash position of just $91M, and a $100M short futures position. The bulk of Jefferies long and short investments in the space involve Italian debt. However, shares are still down 18% on the week.

EU Debt crisis news...

While you were at lunch, the EU debt crisis was again solved after a top PASOK MP turns around and indicates he will vote "yes" in a confidence measure for PM Papandreou. A positive outcome means the stage is set for a coalition government to be formed as early as Monday, with snap elections avoided. The euro jumps 50 pips to $1.379. The DJIA sheds 75 points of its loss.

October Fund Flows...

October fund-flow data shows investors around the world re-embraced risk in a big way; emerging markets saw $3.5B worth of inflows, while money-market funds saw outflows of $25B. Nonetheless, investors continued to be partial to precious metals, which saw inflows of $493M.

Stocks lower on European concerns...

Well, I was hoping we were breaking away from the reliance on the European markets, but I guess not...at least not yet.

Dow -148
Nas -26
S&P -15

Groupon is currenlty up 9.25 to 29.25...the stock was priced at 20.00 on its IPO.

S&P may downgrade Sony...

S&P places Sony (SNE -2.8%) on a credit watch for a possible downgrade after the bleeding (I, II) continues at the company. "The likelihood of Sony’s weak earnings persisting has increased as there are no signs of a halt to the deterioration in the earnings of the company’s core flat-panel TV business."

Europe closes lower...

European shares close sharply lower for the day and the week, giving back some of the major gains of the past month. Stoxx 50 -2.4% for the day, -3.9% for the week. Germany -2.6%, France -2.1%, Italy -2.5%, Spain -1.4%, U.K. -0.2%. Euro -0.6% at $1.3745.

BAC to issue more stock...

Bank of America’s (BAC) plan to issue common stock to raise funds probably will dilute shareholders, but the bigger issue may be a loss of credibility. The move "would have no material impact on long-term EPS," Mike Mayo says, but it "reflects poorly on management who were previously adamant that BAC did not need to raise any additional common capital."

BAC is trading down 0.31 to 6.60

Valero buyout rumors are out there...

Shares of Valero Energy (VLO) move higher on renewed speculation that the company is a target for a takeover. Volatility has surged in the stock over the past week on rumors of a bidding war building amongst its bigger rivals.

Today's Upgrades and Downgrades...

These are some of Friday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls.

Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) Raised to Outperform at Wedbush.

Chico’s FAS Inc. (NYSE: CHS) Cut to Neutral at Citigroup.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) Raised to Outperform as Bull of the Day at Zacks.

Energy Recovery Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII) Started as Neutral at Credit Suisse.

PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE: PPG) named as Value stock of the Day at Zacks.

Plexus Corporation (NASDAQ: PLXS) named Bear of the Day at Zacks.

Randgold Resources Limited (NASDAQ: GOLD) Cut to Hold at Canaccord Genuity.

Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD) Cut to Sector Perform at National Bank.

SandRidge Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SD) Cut to Hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Stanley Black & Decker Inc. (NYSE: SWK) Raised to Buy at Argus.

SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA) Cut to Underperform at Macquarie.

Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) Cut to Underperform at Macquarie.

Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) Cut to Neutral at Macquarie.

Vical Inc. (NASDAQ: VICL) Started as Outperform with $7 target at Credit Suisse.

VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) Started as Outperform with $15 target at Credit Suisse.

YRC Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ: YRCW) Raised to Hold fro Sell at Stifel Nicolaus.

11:45 am update....

Stocks are lower this morning as traders turned bearish after the jobs release earlier.  There are some pockets of strength though....but most of those are individual stories.

Dow -148
Nas -28
S&P -17 to 1244

CREE pops on China news...

Shares of LED lighting leader Cree (CREE +6.3%) pop on an AP report that China will phase out incandescent light bulbs within five years. China will ban imports and sales of 100-watt and higher incandescent bulbs from Oct. 1, 2012, the country's main planning agency said.

Chesapeak blows out estimates...

Chesapeake Energy (CHK): Q3 EPS of $0.72 beats by $0.06. Revenue of $4B (+54% Y/Y) beats by $860M.

Q3 blows out estimates on all fronts as the company reports a 54% jump in revenue Y/Y, primarily due to windfall profits from hedging operations and a 9% jump in liquids production. Separately, the company says it's selling a 25% stake in a portion of its Utica Shale play - 650K net acres - in a joint venture to undisclosed buyers for $3.4B.

Non Farm Payrolls number out...

Stock index futures show little reaction as the Non Farm Payrolls report comes in close to inline, but sees previous months' jobs revised higher by 55K. S&P 500 flat after being down 3/4 of a percent before the report.

Groupon comes public at $20...

Groupon (GRPN) officially hits the NASDAQ screen, quoted at $20.00, valuing the company at $12.65B. This is the largest IPO since Google.

BI's cheat sheet on the Groupon (GRPN) IPO declares the controversial daily deals giant "a real business" that "will likely be nicely profitable" long-term, but also calls its valuation "very expensive," and raises concerns about decelerating growth and possible corporate governance issues.

New Nook tablet due out on Monday...

Barnes & Noble's (BKS) new Nook tablet debuts Monday with a $249 price tag - marking a $50 premium over Amazon's (AMZN) much-anticipated Kindle Fire. With both devices running off of Google's Android OS and offering users similar basic features, Barnes & Noble will have to drill home to customers the faster processor and increased memory is worth the extra $50 in order to land its e-reader on holiday shopping lists.

Good morning...

US stock index futures are pointing to a lower open on Wall Street Friday as the euro zone debt crisis dominated a meeting of world leaders at the G20 Summit in France and investors nervously awaited critical non-farm payrolls data for signs of economic recovery.

Greece also dominated the thoughts of world leaders as Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou faces a confidence vote in Parliament later today that could determine whether his country will stay in the euro zone or leave the single currency and default on its debts.