Its always been difficult to figure out how to read the stock market as you never know from one day to the next, what the market is going to bring you as a trader. Trading activity was not only spunky during the morning trading session but the active trading followed through into the afternoon. Day traders were able to capitalize on the afternoon trading session, something that has provided slim pickins as of late. Many traders were heard to be almost rejoicing in the action during the afternoon, raking in the change on both the long and short selling end of the market. During most of the trading session stocks and major U.S. indices were held firmly controlled by the Bears. Into the final hour, the DOW perked up, kicked up a little dust and ended the day positive along with the NYSE which posted a very slight gain. The NASDAQ fell short and ended the day with a slight loss. Selling pressure was clearly evident today. There were increased talks today of a possible bankruptcy filing by General Motors (GM). Ford Motor (F) announced late Monday the will sell 300 Million shares of stock to assist in improving their capital position as well as to pay off health care obligations to the United Auto Workers Union. Financial stocks continued to take their hits on the day with dilution of holdings by Wells Fargo (WFC), BB&T (BBT) as well as Bank of America (BAC).

The street heard from former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan who commented that a bottom in the housing market is near. At a conference on Monday, reining Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke commented, "If it helps reduce uncertainty among investors regarding future losses and capital needs and thereby improves the banking system's access to private capital, one of the key objectives of the program will have been achieved." Bernanke said, "Initial indications are encouraging."

For the first time in history, Microsoft (MSFT) raised $3.75 billion in a bond offer. The action is an effort to fund a $40 billion share buyback. They also have plans to take advantage of the weak economy and opportunities presented to purchase smaller and midsize companies.

Energy Information Administration (EIA) released crude and gasoline data: U.S. Crude to Average $51.70/Bbl in 2009; 2009 LNG Imports seen at 500 Bcf, up from 350 Bcf in 2008; Oil Prices Increases also muted by high inventories; Oil Price Increases to be 'Muted' by OPEC surplus capacity; U.S. gasoline prices seen stable above $2/gal in 2009, 2010; 2010 marketed natural gas production seen down 2.8%; 2009 marketed natural gas production seen down 1%; U.S. 2009 oil use seen at 18.85m b/d, down2.9% versus year earlier; U.S. gasoline to average $2.21/gal in summer; U.S. 2009 oil use revised down 140,000 b/d versus April; U.S. coal production seen dropping 4.9% in 2009; forecast below market prices on cloudy economic outlook; U.S. 3Q oil use seen at 18.79m b/d, down 50,000 b/d versus 3Q 2008; U.S. electricity demand seen dropping 0.8% in 2009; 2009 total U.S. natural gas consumption seen falling 1.9%; U.S. 3Q oil use revised down 60,000 B/D versus April; U.S. 2Q oil use seen at 18.64m b/d, down 5.3% versus year ago; 2010 oil forecast $5.17/bbl lower than April outlook; U.S. 2Q oil use revised down 260,000 B/D versus April forecast; forecasts 2010 us oil price of $57.75/bbl; sees U.S. Crude at $55/Bbl in 3Q 2009; lowers 2009 U.S. crude oil forecast 94 cents/bbl; U.S. crude to average $51.70/bbl in 2009; world 2Q oil use revised down 440,000 b/d versus April outlook; world 2009 oil use down 420,000 b/d versus April forecast; world 2Q 2009 oil use seen at 82.68m b/d versus 86.07m b/d; world 2Q 2008 oil use revised up 910,000 b/d versus April; world 2Q oil use seen down 3.4m b/d versus revised year ago; China 2Q oil use seen down 1.2% versus revised year earlier; China 2Q 2008 oil use revised up 200,000 b/d versus April.

Economic data released today:

ICSC-Goldman Store Sales:
U.S. ICSC/Goldman Sachs Chain Store Sales rose 0.5% on the year; U.S. ICSC/Goldman Sachs Chain Store Sales rose 0.3% for week of May 9.

International Trade:
U.S. March Trade Deficit came in at $27.58B compared to consensus of Deficit $29.7B; U.S. February Trade Balance revised to Deficit of $26.13B from Deficit $25.97B; U.S. March Exports $123.62B fell 2.4%; U.S. March Imports $151.20B fell 1.0%.

Redbook:
U.S. Retail Sales for week ending May 9 rose 0.3% versus a year ago; U.S. Retail Sales for first week of May rose 0.3% versus May a year ago: U.S. Retail Sales for first week of May rose 0.1% versus April.

At the NYSE closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange, here is how the major world indices and major U.S. stock indices ended the trading session on the world markets as well as the emerging markets including the stock market closing bell price:
DOW (Dow Jones Industrial Average) gain 50.34 points, EOD 8,469.11
NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) gain 9.84 points, EOD 5,859.14
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) loss 15.32 points, EOD 1,715.92
S&P 500 (SPX) loss 0.89 points, EOD 908.35
BEL 20 (BEL20) loss 36.23 points, EOD 2,049.45
CAC 40 (CAC40) loss 17.57 points, EOD 3,231.10
FTSE100 (UKX100) loss 9.96 points, EOD 4,425.54
NIKKEI 225 (NIK/O) triple digit loss 153.37 points, EOD 9,298.61

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) stock market indicators for the trading session today:
Advanced stock prices 1,102, declined stock prices 1,560, unchanged stock prices 509, stock prices hitting new highs 1 and stock prices hitting new lows 15. NYSE quotes for volatile stocks and market trends, as well as stock quotes, stock prices and stock symbols of Day Trading Stock Picks on the New York Stock Exchange stock market for Day Trading online and active Day Trading for those who are or would like to be Day Trading for a living: RTP: shed15.23 points, HOD $179.16, LOD $161.27, EOD $166.20; NKE: shed 2.19 points, HOD $52.85, LOD $50.24, EOD $50.95; GS: shed 0.37 points, HOD $138.40, LOD $132.21, EOD $135.41; SLG: gain 1.38 points, HOD $23.60, LOD $21.81, EOD $23.40; SKF: gain 1.62 points, HOD $46.94, LOD $41.85, EOD $44.48; NFP: shed 2.27 points, HOD $7.70, LOD $5.50, EOD $5.91; CME: gain 16.95 points, HOD $262.45, LOD $242, EOD $258.48; POT: gain 5.91 points, HOD $102.78, LOD $96.31, EOD $100.87.

National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) stock market indicators for the trading session today:
Advanced stock prices 1,009, declined stock prices 1,794 unchanged stock prices 104, stock prices hitting new highs 27 and stock prices hitting new lows 8. NASDAQ quotes, volatile stocks and market trends, as well as stock quotes, stock prices and stock symbols of Day Trading Stock Picks on the NASDAQ stock market for Day Trading online and active Day Trading for those who are or would like to be Day Trading for a living: STEC: gain 3.21 points, HOD $14.04, LOD $13, EOD $13.60; CTRP: gain 4.79 points, HOD $43.51, LOD $37.43, EOD $37.60; FSLR: shed 2.73 points, HOD $197.25, LOD $188.78, EOD $190.90.

Market trends on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and stock market indicators for the trading session today:
Advanced stock prices 278, declined stock prices 234, unchanged stock prices 85, stock prices hitting new highs 8 and stock prices hitting new lows 3.

Chicago Board of Trade Futures Market for the day, at time of this posting:
E-mini S&P 500 (ES) June 09: EOD 907.25; Change -1.75
E-mini NASDAQ-100 (NQ) June 09: EOD 1,385.50; Change -11.25
E-mini DOW $5 (YM) June 09: EOD 8,432; Change 28
E-mini S&P MidCap 400 (MF) June 09: EOD 567.20; Change 0
Nikkei 225 (Yen) June 09; EOD 9,330; Change 0

World Currencies for the Forex Market, for Forex Trading by active Forex Traders, at time of this posting:
Euro 0.7333 to U.S. Dollars 1.3637
Japanese Yen 96.48 to U.S. Dollars 0.0104
British Pound 0.6552 to U.S. Dollars 1.5262
Canadian Dollar 1.1624 to U.S. Dollars 0.8603
Swiss Franc 1.1062 to U.S. Dollars 0.904

COMMODITY MARKETS:

Energy Sector - Nymex:
Light Crude (June 09) gain $0.35, EOD $58.75 per barrel ($US per barrel)
Heating Oil (June 09) gain $0.01, EOD $1.51 a gallon ($US per gallon)
Natural Gas (June 09) gain $0.15, EOD $4.49 per million BTU ($US per mmbtu.)
Unleaded Gas (May 09) shed $0.01, EOD $1.67 a gallon ($US per gallon)

Metals Markets - Comex:
Gold (June 09) gain $10.40, EOD $923.90 ($US per Troy ounce)
Silver (July 09) gain $0.31, EOD $14.22 ($US per Troy ounce)
Platinum (July 09) gain $11.40, EOD $1,132.10 ($US per Troy ounce)
Copper (July 09) no change, EOD $2.09 ($US per pound)

Livestock and Meat Markets - Chicago Mercantile Exchange (cents per lb.):
Lean Hogs (June 09) gain 1.15, EOD 68.93
Pork Bellies (July 09) shed 0.50 EOD 78.55
Live Cattle (June 09) shed 0.33, EOD 83.55
Feeder Cattle (August 09) shed 0.15, EOD 101.45

Other Commodities - Chicago Board of Trade (cents per bushel):
Corn (July 09) gain 6.25, EOD 427.50
Soybeans (July 09) gain 1.50, EOD 1,117.50

BOND MARKET:

2 year EOD 99 30/32, change 0, Yield 0.89, Yield change -0.08
5 year EOD 99 11/32, change 2/32, Yield 2.01, Yield change -0.01
10 year EOD 99 18/32, change 0, Yield 3.17, Yield change 0
30 year EOD 101 16/32, change 13/32, Yield  4.16, change -0.02