The Nasdaq fell from grace Friday following some disappointing earnings from a couple of tech bellwethers. Tech shares were able to cut some losses towards the end of the session, but not nearly enough. That combined with weak consumer confidence #s from the University of Michigan was enough reason for investors to take a break from writing buy orders. If we really take a hard look at the earnings that sparked this week's rally we can easily see that the reports were missing a whole lot of beef so to speak. Topline growth has been light but corporate America has done a good job cutting costs. Today, Ericsson and Fortune Brands both delivered disappointing second quarter profits. Oil prices ticked up by 89 cents and gasoline prices also climbed. Treasury prices slipped, raising the yield on the benchmark 10-year note to 3.66%.

The almighty Microsoft is starting to feel the pressure . Google can't take credit for all of Microsoft's losses just yet, but this brawl is far from over. The good news is that this is one battle that will benefit consumers in more than one way . It appears that Google had dodged Microsoft's latest attempt and won this round. Microsoft may be able to knock out Yahoo, but it will have to work a little harder to one up Google. Well maybe not .

Hey Bill, Microsoft needs you. That's right he is busy doing other things . Maybe the fact that this is considered Microsoft worst fiscal quarter in history will get somebody's attention. Looks like Microsoft is stepping on some more toes .

Are Microsoft and Yahoo at it Again?

It seems like only yesterday that Amazon was making headlines for purchasing Zappos . Oh wait a minute it was just yesterday. Now that Amazon and Zappos are sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G, the company has another issue to deal with. Maybe the CEO should spend more time explaining these disappointing second-quarter results or alleviating the financial mystery that surrounds the Kindle and less time apologizing for other stupid mistakes . Consumers may offer some forgiveness following this announcement .

Is Amazon really good for buying and selling products ?

Broadcom joined the club and also delivered some less than impressive second-quarter results.

Video – Has the Tech Rally Come to an End?

Latest Buzz on the Economy

As consumers continue to scrape pennies together, minimum wage workers released a sigh of relief when they found out their pay checks would receive a small boost . Actually, some workers may end up in the unemployed or underemployed line as businesses try to counteract the mandatory raise. Overall, waiters will end up with the short end of the stick , so they should be the ones complaining the most. Some employers are supporting the increase while other parties such as the National Small Business Association are less than thrilled about it. The small businesses complaining about the raise in minimum wage should consider moving to Virginia since businesses are doing so well there.

Trading The Minimum Wage For Inflation – Can an increase in the minimum wage really send us back 30 years to the era of stagflation?

Minimum Wage Increase: Helps or Hurts?

The Down Side of Raised Wages

Just when the markets are shaping up, consumer sentiment starts to head in the opposite direction . Consumers are looking for jobs, jobs, and more jobs. So where are the jobs at? The good citizens of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania may have the right idea .

Welcome back to the hot seat Turbo Tax Timmy . Treasury Secretary Geithner was back on Capitol Hill today to defend the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Looks like we have another fight on our hand as Bernanke and Geithner go head to head regarding who gets the privilege of protecting you and I from the big banks.

Some More Juicy Tidbits

The Oracle of Omaha is confident that the American economy will bounce back . Yeah, we've heard this before. Most people are more concerned about when the economy will bounce back and not the fact that it will bounce back. Buffett is still convinced that now is the time to be investing in stocks. We're talking about someone that has made billions, so people should probably start listening. The Secret Millionaire Club may offer some tips for even the experienced trader.

Pump your brakes! You may not have to switch you wireless carrier to jump on the iPhone train. Even AT&T's CEO knows this.

The hype over subprime mortgages has died down, but there are still some popular explanations that have proven to be a pure myth. On close inspection, these explanations are not supported by empirical research.

The New "We're Not Starbucks" Starbucks on 15th Ave . Now that everyone knows that this is really a Starbucks, what exactly is the purpose of this?