Stocks Pull Back a Bit After Prior Day's Big Jump

[Appaholic]

Stocks retreat slightly in early trading following big jump a day earlier
Obama a little dumber today
TMAn & AZ apply brakes at edge in throes of giddy laughter

NEW YORK (AP) -- Investors are taking a breather after a surge in stocks that sent the Dow Jones industrials above the 9,000 mark for the first time since January.

Stocks are slightly lower in early trading Friday, as disappointing earnings news from companies like Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. weigh on the market.

Microsoft shares dropped more than 7 percent after the tech giant said late Thursday its revenue fell short of analysts' expectations. Amazon.com also reported weaker-than-expected sales, and its shares fell more than 6 percent in early trading.

The reports underscore the prevailing theme of earnings season thus far: Companies have been able to report better-than-expected earnings in large part because of aggressive cost-cutting measures, not stronger sales. Revenue at some companies is still sagging as consumers forgo spending to shore up their savings amid the ongoing recession.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-op ... et=&ccode=

[Col Hogan]

Like Obama was a little smarter Thursday after the market closed.....

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Appa's an equal opportunity guy. I love that one day it's the Repubs in the barrel and the next day it's the Dems.


Appa, I love you.

[AZGrizFan]

Stocks retreat slightly in early trading following big jump a day earlier
Obama a little dumber today
TMAn & AZ apply brakes at edge in throes of giddy laughter

NEW YORK (AP) -- Investors are taking a breather after a surge in stocks that sent the Dow Jones industrials above the 9,000 mark for the first time since January.

Stocks are slightly lower in early trading Friday, as disappointing earnings news from companies like Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. weigh on the market.

Microsoft shares dropped more than 7 percent after the tech giant said late Thursday its revenue fell short of analysts' expectations. Amazon.com also reported weaker-than-expected sales, and its shares fell more than 6 percent in early trading.

The reports underscore the prevailing theme of earnings season thus far: Companies have been able to report better-than-expected earnings in large part because of aggressive cost-cutting measures, not stronger sales. Revenue at some companies is still sagging as consumers forgo spending to shore up their savings amid the ongoing recession.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-op ... et=&ccode=

Whew.