FDIC keeps Insured level at $250K

Deposit insurance gets permanent increase – reconciliation conference members on Tues agreed to permanently increase deposit insurance for bank customers (from $100K to $250K); the move was unexpected. 

This move could hurt stocks....

PIMCO likes stocks...

PIMCO’s Gross says his firm is moving into equities - "We are making a move into equities...we are recognizing the global market place is not just bond related,"; Gross says equities look attractive - "Corporate equities, however, in terms of valuation are selling at very low (price-earnings) ratios.”

S&P Rebalancing this Friday...

S&P rebalance - The quarterly share rebalance for the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, S&P SmallCap 600 Indices will take place at the close of business Friday, June 18, 2010.

BP Update....

BP Plc. (BP). The oil major said on Monday the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had already cost it $1.6 billion and that it would begin operating an additional mechanism to capture more crude from the leaking well in the coming days.

Blockbuster moves closer to Bankruptcy...

Blockbuster (BBI). The movie rental chain is in talks with bondholders to get a $150 million debtor-in-possession loan, a sign it could be closer to seeking Chapter 11 protection, the WSJ reported on Friday.

Apple - HTC battle heats up....

Apple Inc. (AAPL). A U.S. trade panel will investigate allegations made by HTC Corp that the company infringes its technology, as HTC seeks to win a ban on the U.S. sale of iPhones, iPads and iPods.

Avandia exposes patients to greater health risks...

GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (GSK). The drugmaker’s Avandia diabetes drug exposed patients to greater health risks including heart attacks, and even death, the WSJ said on Friday, citing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientist's study.

They keep trying to knock Apple down...

Apple Inc. (AAPL). The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe into a security breach of Apple’s iPad that exposed personal information of AT&T Inc (T) customers, including those of several high-ranking government officials.

Thursday's Market Breadth....Decisively Positive..

10 am update

At 10:10 am:

Dow +19
Nas -7
S&P +1.66

This is a key day as we need to stop this recent slide.  We are way overdone, but as of yet, no investors are willing to step in and Buy.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades...

Altera Corp. (ALTR) price target cut to $26.60 from $31.70; rating outperform at Macquarie


• Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) price target cut to $150 from $155 at BofA Merrill

• Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI) price target cut to $47 from $61; rating cut to market perform from outperform at FBR

• Diamond Offshore Drilling (DO) rating cut to sell from neutral at Goldman Sachs

• eBay Inc. (EBAY) price target cut to $27 from $28 at BofA Merrill

• Ensco Plc. (ESV) price target cut to $55 from $63 at FBR

• Expedia Inc. (EXPE) price target cut to $29 from $30 at BofA Merrill

• Google Inc. (GOOG) price target cut to $630 from $685 at BofA Merrill

• Halliburton Co. (HAL) price target to $38 from $44 at FBR

• Nabors Industries (NBR) rating raised to buy from neutral at Goldman Sachs

• Noble Corp. (NE) rating cut to neutral from buy at Goldman Sachs

• Rowan Companies Inc. (RDC) price target cut to $24 from $26 at FBR

• Schlumberger (SLB) price target cut to $85 from $96 at FBR

• Yahoo (YHOO) price target cut to $20 from $21 at BofA Merrill

NY & Co. trims forcasts...

New York & Co. Inc. (NWY). The women's apparel chain on Monday widened its second-quarter loss outlook and also said it now expects about flat same-store sales for the second-quarter, compared with a rise in comparable-store sales it forecast last month.

First Solar responds to high demand in Europe...

First Solar Inc. (FSLR). The world's lowest-cost photovoltaic solar manufacturer on Tuesday said it plans to double production capacity at its German plant in Frankfurt an der Oder, to cater to strong European demand. The company said it is in advanced talks with German authorities to obtain the regulatory permits and financial framework for the expansion.

Earnings Expected Today....

• Bob Evans Farms Inc. (BOBE). Expected to report Q4 earnings of 63 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S

• Pall Corp. (PLL). Expected to report Q3 earnings of 50 cents a share

• Take Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO). Expected to report Q2 earnings of 27cents a share

• Talbots Inc. (TLB). Expected to report Q1 earnings of 16 cents a share

• Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN). Expected to report Q2 earnings of 61 cents a share

US Dollar ETF....

The other place to hide...

Here's a nice chart....Natural Gas...

This makes alot of sense as there will undoubtedly be a push toward "cleaner" fuels after the Gulf dissaster. 

You know it's a bad market when....

No real surprises, as Apple's (AAPL -0.9%) new iPhone 4, introduced today, boasts a thinner design with 100 new features, including video chat, a front-facing camera and better battery life. Steve Jobs: "Beyond a doubt, the most precise thing and one of the most beautiful things we’ve ever made."

Market Breadth is getting ugly, however Volume has been low compared to recent past.  This means there are clearly no buyers around.

I don't like Mondays....

Market recap: Stock losses accelerated after a new report showed continued weakness in borrowing among U.S. consumers. It was all the excuse needed in this shaky market to send shares reeling to session lows. Decliners routed advancers on the NYSE by about four to one.

At the close:

Dow -1.16% to 9816.
S&P -1.35% to 1050.
Nasdaq -2.04% to 2174.

Wellpoint has been rising on takeover speculation.  It may be tough for it to move much as it has alot of overhead reisitance to break thru.