Daily Market Commentary for April 18, 2008 from Millennium-Traders.Com

The DOW surged higher today to post another nice triple digit gain, something we've seen more than once, over the past week. The DOW successfully ended the trading session above its intraday high hit in February which may be a sign of better times ahead for the markets. (Read More)

At the closing bell on the Stock Exchange, here is how the major world indices and major U.S. indices ended the session on the U.S. Markets:

DOW (Dow Jones Industrial Average) triple digit gain of 229.03 points on the day to end the session at 12,849.52

NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) triple digit gain of 136.43 points to end the session at 9,310.24

NASDAQ gain of 61.14 points for a close at 2,402.97

S&P 500 gain of 24.79 points for a close at 1,390.35

FTSE All-World ex-U.S. gain of 2.55 points to close at 249.74

FTSE RAFI 1000 gain of 78.33 points to close at 5,594.35

BEL 20 gain of 73.32 points on the day to end the session at 3,933.38

CAC 40 gain of 99.55 points on the day to end the session at 4,961.69

FTSE100 gain of 76.1 points on the day to end the session at 6,056.50

NIKKEI 225 gain of 78.2 points on the day to end the session at 13,476.50

News on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today: advanced stocks 2,427; declined stocks 710; unchanged stocks 90; stocks hitting new highs 128; stocks hitting new lows 17. Daily Trading Range and end of day trading results for volatile NYSE stocks traded by active Day Traders today: UltraShort Financials ProShares (SKF) shed 2.50 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $103.29, low on the trading day $98.38, for a closing price at $102.75; Mosaic Corporation (MOS) gained 1.37 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $137.24, low on the trading day $131.31, for a closing price at $135.25; Mastercard Incorporated (MA) gained 2.21 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $239.22, low on the trading day $232.00, for a closing price at $233.71; Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated (GS) gained 7.83 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $183.03, low on the trading day $176.91, for a closing price at $179.93; Cleveland-Cliffs Incorporated (CLF) gained 5.26 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $164.73, low on the trading day $156.01, for a closing price at $163.31; Oil Services HOLDRs (OIH) gained 9.50 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $208.80, low on the trading day $197.22, for a closing price at $208.80; Horizon Lines, Incorporated (HRZ) shed 0.45 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $15.25, low on the trading day $12.38, for a closing price at $14.25; Amcol International Corporation (ACO) shed 3.17 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $30.11, low on the trading day $25.59, for a closing price at $29.83; Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) shed 3.63 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $74.10, low on the trading day $71.16, for a closing price at $72.17; Petroleo Brasileiro (NYSE: PBR) had no change on the trading day, high on the trading day $126.64, low on the trading day $122.90, for a closing price at $125.49; Agrium Incorporated (NYSE: AGU) gained 1.83 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $89.04, low on the trading day $85.28, for a closing price at $88.04; Transocean, Incorporated (NYSE: RIG) gained 5.66 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $160.02, low on the trading day $152.10, for a closing price at $158.69; Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Incorporated (NYSE: POT) gained 10.12 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $204.67, low on the trading day $192.70, for a closing price at $204.67.

News on the NASDAQ today: advanced stocks 2,146; declined stocks 834; unchanged stocks 109; stocks hitting new highs 54; stocks hitting new lows 58. Trading range and end of day trading results for volatile NASDAQ stocks traded by active Day Traders today: First Solar, Incorporated (FSLR) shed 1.86 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $294.60, low on the trading day $283.76, for a closing price at $285.50; GFI Group Incorporated (GFIG) shed 3.64 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $15.94, low on the trading day $11.32, for a closing price at $12.01; Pan American Silver Corporation (PAAS) shed 2.10 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $39.79, low on the trading day $37.86, for a closing price at $38.43; HMS Holdings Corporation (HMSY) shed 1.28 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $26.99, low on the trading day $22.15, for a closing price at $24.79; Intuitive Surgical, Incorporated (NasdaqGS: ISRG) shed 59.96 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $311.95, low on the trading day $285.20, closing price $288.54; Baidu.com, Incorporated (NasdaqGS: BIDU) gained 30.25 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $342.86, low on the trading day $331.20, closing price $340.00; Google Incorporated (NasdaqGS: GOOG) gained 90.41 points on the trading day, high on the trading day $547.70, low on the trading day $524.77, closing price $539.95.

News on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) today: advanced stocks 787; declined stocks 434; unchanged stocks 98; stocks hitting new highs 33; stocks hitting new lows 23.

Commodities Markets
Energy Sector:
Light Crude (NYM) gained $1.83 on the day to close at $117.00 a barrel ($US per bbl.); Heating Oil (NYM) gained $0.03 on the day to close at $3.26 a gallon ($US per gal.); Natural Gas (NYM) gained $0.22 on the day to close at $10.71 per million BTU ($US per mmbtu.); Unleaded Gas (NYM) gained $0.03 on the day to close at $2.99 a gallon ($US per gal.).

Metals Markets:
Gold (CMX) shed $27.70 to close at $915.20 ($US per Troy oz.); Silver (CMX) shed $0.49 to close at $17.82 ($US per Troy oz.); Platinum (NYM) gained $9.80 to close at $2,071.30 ($US per Troy oz.) and Copper (CMX) shed $0.02 to close at $3.89 ($US per lb.).

Livestock and Meat Markets (cents per lb.):
Lean Hogs (CME) gained 1.40 to close at 74.35; Pork Bellies (CME) gained 1.15 to close at 77.95; Live Cattle (CME) shed 0.33 to close at 92.33; Feeder Cattle (CME) shed 0.05 to close at 108.50.

Other Commodities (cents per bu.):
Corn (CBT) shed 4.00 to close the session at 613.00 and Soybeans (CBT) gained 10.50 to close the session at 1,377.00.

Bonds were higher across the board today:
2 year bond shed 3/32 at 99 7/32 with a Yield of 2.15, Yield Change +0.05; 5 year bond shed 3/32 to close at 98 3/32 with a Yield of 2.91, Yield Change +0.02; 10 year bond gained 1/32 to close at 98 4/32 with a Yield of 3.72, Yield Change 0.01; the 30 year bond gained 5/32 to close at 97 24/32 on the day with a Yield of 4.51, Yield Change 0.01.

The e-mini Dow $5 ended the commodity session today at 12,832 with a gain of 174 points on the trading session. Futures Traders should review workshops available at the CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade). Educational in-person seminars schedules available on the CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) website.

The end of day results for the CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) which is comprised of the total Exchange Volume for Futures and Options (EVFO) including Electronic, Open Auction, Cash Exchange, Wholesale and Cleared Only ended the day at 3,850,672; Open Interest for Futures gained 18,710 points to close at 9,526,121; the Open Interest for Options gained 58,516 points to close at 9,342,086 and the Cleared Only gained 90 points to close at 30,160 for a total Open Interest on the day of 18,898,367 for a total Change on the day with a gain of 77,316 points.

At the close of the week, performance results for our Moderators:

Stocks Trading Room:
Jeannie - $4,051
Barry - $10,844
Marty - $8,985
Sam - $3,368

Futures Trading Room:
JT - $4,147.50

Forex Trading Room:
JT - $21,750

Daily Swing Trades:
Barry - $7,770

Weekly Swing Trades:
Jeannie - $1,450

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