Today was mostly a solid day until profit taking at the day's end took off some of the gains. Retail sales data was mixed to mostly poor, although the shares reacted as though the news was good as many retailers maintained or were at least close to earnings guidance. Today's equity volume was actually very light. As far as trying to figure out the huge internet merger, well that's just an obvious mess and one that all the parties will ultimately decide on.

Below was the unofficial close of major US index levels:

• DJIA 12,582.39 (+55.13; +0.44%)
• S&P 500 1,360.58 (+6.09;+0.45%)
• NASDAQ 2,351.70 (+29.58; +1.27%)
• 10YR-TBond 3.532% (+0.066%)
• 52-Week Lows.

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (NYSE: DD) saw a 1.2% gain to $49.64 after the company raised guidance for Q1 and issued cautious Q2 views.


The First Marblehead Corporation (NYSE: FMD) saw a 3% drop to $4.49 after the company announced it wouldn't tap a credit line. The good news is that this one looked like it was dead meat earlier in the day when shares traded even under $3.50.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) saw shares rise 3% to $22.08 after Banc of America raised the semiconductor sector today, including Intel.

Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) saw shares fall by more than 2% today after the march-end short interest from NASDAQ showed a substantial gain in short selling on the name.