Stocks Stay Mixed as Dollar Rises and Unemployment Claims Fall (DELL, CML)

Another day goes by as stocks are unable to add meaningful gains. Encouraging economic news came as unemployment claims saw a drop, and US household wealth rose in the third quarter. But stocks couldn’t move forward, partially due to the rise in the dollar. Investors loaded up on bank stocks as the financial sector has gained 14% in the last month. In corporate news, Dell (DELL) confirmed rumors of a potential Compellent Technologies buyout (CML). Healthy Choice food make ConAgra Foods (CAG) trimmed their 2011 outlook, again, as it struggles to cope with rising commodity prices.

Word on the Street

• Stocks are able to end mixed again despite the dollar rise on news of a drop in unemployment claims.
• Dell (DELL) has confirmed it is in buyout talks with Compellent Technologies (CML), sending shares of the data storage company sliding.
• The Obama administration has awarded California with another $600 million in funds to support high speed trains.
• US household worth increased in the third quarter by a total of $1.3 trillion.
• Chinese online television company Youku sees shares soar it’s first two days on the public exchanges.
• ConAgra Foods (CAG) cuts it’s 2011 outlook again as it struggles to gain shoppers and deal with rising commodity prices.
• Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg joins other billionaires in pledge to donate half of net worth of his lifetime.
• What’s causing women’s retailer Talbots, Inc’s (TLB) steep decline in earnings and share price?
  

Interesting Tidbits

• Don’t be afraid to fall into the deep end – here are five ways failure can help improve your career.
• To be successful you need to know what you’re consumers are thinking – read one of these 10 books to get inside you’re customers’ heads’.
• New year, new career? Here are the 50 best for 2011.

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