A better than expected figure on weekly jobless claims failed to create any huge sentiment boost as many earnings were sold off and as investors may be taking profits. QE2-lite is also probably somewhat to blame. Stocks struggled for a directional bias today and whether the market closed red or black was down to the wire.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow Jones 11,113.95 -12.33 (-0.11%)
S&P 500 1,183.79 +1.34 (0.11%)
Nasdaq 2,507.37 +4.11 (0.16%)

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Eastman Kodak (EK) is having a picture-perfect trading session, at least at the time of this writing: shares of the company were up 12% to $4.45, with strong volume backing the move. I haven't been a fan of this name, but it is proving me wrong at the moment.

Earlier today, Eastman Kodak issued its third-quarter report. According to the Associated Press, the adjusted loss came out to 2 cents per share. The expectation was for a loss of 31 cents per share. That's a pretty big difference; I guess I can see why the market was so happy. In addition, the actual corporate press release touts the improved performance in cash flow.

Yesterday was a mixed day, and today was just a down day. Durable goods were a disappointment in negative territory. Earnings were mixed. The negative bias of the Fed's Beige Book coincides with the sell-off at 2:00 PM but this still just brings in the notion that there is going to be a slow recovery, rather than any massive double-dip recession.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow Jones 10,497.88 -39.81 (-0.38%)
S&P 500 1,106.13 -7.71 (-0.69%)
Nasdaq 2,264.56 -23.69 (-1.04%)

Do Hewlett Packard (HPQ) printers tell the truth or lie? Do they print out what is actually there or what we actually want to be there?

In fact, HP printers do not print out what they are given; they make the image deeper, darker and richer than it really is. I was a little surprised when I read that. When asked, HP admitted they improve the photos and they are giving the customers what they want.

Call it Christmas come early: Last week we learned that stocks posted an average gain of about 9% for March retail sales. We also learned consumer spending in the U.S. rose in March by the most in five months, and many economists are predicting continued spending acceleration as the economy adds more jobs and gets back into the groove.

Already we've seen some red hot runs in the retail sector in anticipation of the consumer's return. Several consumer-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been tearing things up on Wall Street lately -- lapping the broader market at least four times over!

There are lots of great individual retail stocks out there -- and no shortage of reasons to buy Walmart (WMT). But the fact is that blue chip retailers can often lag the broader sector, and small-cap retailers can sometimes be too volatile for many investors.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Aflac Inc. (AFL) higher Q1 earnings were better than analysts expected, due in part to a stronger yen.
• Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) Q3 EPS were the same as a year ago and revenue inched higher.
• BlackRock Inc. (BLK) higher Q1 earnings fell short of analysts' expectations due to acquisition-related charges.
• Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) posted record revenue in Q1 and swung to a profit from a year-ago loss.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (BKC) topped Wall Street's Q3 earnings estimate, but same-store sales fell.

I'm going to take a quick look at two companies that released earnings on Thursday. First up is Eastman Kodak (EK), but I'll tell you this: EK was anything but up. The stock closed off 16.9% by the end of the session. Volume was exceptionally high. But does this mean Kodak is a buy or a sell?

Back in January, Kodak rallied on its Q4 numbers; at that time, analysts and their projections were destroyed by the strong report. I, however, remained bearish on the company because of its turnaround status, preferring to focus on the risk of the situation instead of the forward-looking potential.

US Airways (LCC) rallied 10% to close at $7.55 on reports of merger talks with United Airlines (UAUA). LCC is expected to report Q1 EPS in late April. WTI Crude futures are recently up 1.01% to $86.25, according to Bloomberg. Overall option implied volatility is below its 26-week average of 89, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

UAL Corp (UAUA) rallied 6% to close at $20.23. UAUA overall option implied volatility of 60 is below its 26-week average of 79, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Three stocks with IV rise on April 8; Eastman Kodak (EK) +15%, Brodcade (BRCD) +4%, MGM-Mirage (MGM) +2% according to IVolatility.

Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Apple Inc. (AAPL) posted its highest quarterly revenue ever, easily beating estimates, as iPhone sales doubled.
• Boeing Co. (BA) swung to a larger-than-expected Q4 profit but guidance fell short of analysts' estimates.
• Chevron Corp. (CVX) fell short of analysts' earnings estimates for Q4, sending shares lower.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) shares rose after optimistic statements by the CEO ahead of Q2 results.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) shares surged after it beat Q4 expectations by a wide margin and cash flow improved.
• Ford Motor Co. (F) reported its first annual profit in four years due to cost-cutting and improved market share.
• Halliburton Co. (HAL) reported lower Q4 earnings but beat estimates by a penny, and revenue also fell.

Well, Eastman Kodak (EK) is having one picture-perfect trading session. At the time of this writing, shares of the photography concern, whose colleagues include Canon (CAJ) and Sony (SNE), were up over 16% on high volume. Yes, it's Kodak I'm talking about, the low-priced equity that many have written off as an investment idea. The reason for all the buying action? Fourth-quarter numbers. Were they that good?

Sales increased 6%. On a GAAP basis, Kodak made $1.36 per share from continuing operations. This compares to a loss of $3.40 per share booked in the year-ago period. According to Reuters, the non-GAAP number was $1.08 per share, beating the estimate of 18 cents by what is obviously a very wide margin.

The market held up well considering the news flow today. The jobless claims grew again and the retail sales were far from impressive. We had Obama publicly attacking the banks for more taxes, and even that didn't hurt the bank stocks. A well-received 30-Year Treasury auction helped with those who might spread fear about a bond market bubble as well.

Here are the unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,711.60 +30.83 (0.29%)
S&P 500 1,148.61 +2.93 (0.26%)
Nasdaq 2,318.01 +10.11 (0.44%)

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Eastman Kodak (EK) is grabbing headlines after the film firm filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), alleging that Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and Research In Motion Limited's (RIMM) BlackBerry camera phones infringe on Kodak's patents. Kodak is asking the ITC to block Apple and RIMM from importing the offending devices.

Additionally, the iconic photography company filed two suits against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. Kodak is claiming infringement of patents "related to digital cameras and certain computer processes."

Today was a day which could have gone either way. The data was light and the market is on hold for earnings. But Congressional inquiries today with top bank executives did not have an angry nor threatening tone as you have seen in other unrelated hearings of the past. This helped the financial sector and the market. The Fed's Beige Book also gave no end in sight for near-zero rates.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,680.77 +53.51 (0.50%)
S&P 500 1,145.68 +9.46 (0.83%)
Nasdaq 2,307.90 +25.59 (1.12%)

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Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK), which counts Sony (NYSE: SNE) and Canon (NYSE: CAJ) as related companies, continues its slide into fundamental hell. According to the third-quarter earnings release, sales declined a scary 26%, and a GAAP loss of 41 cents per share was reported. Last year at this time, Kodak produced positive income of 35 cents per share. According to Reuters, the adjusted loss of 23 cents per share was worse than analyst projections. Wall Street was hoping for something closer to a loss of 19 cents per share.

Don't you get the feeling management just doesn't know what to do? Kodak has become a conundrum of epic proportions. Just how is someone supposed to improve a situation that has gone so downhill?

Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company announced yesterday evening that it will offer $300 million of convertible senior notes due 2017 in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. Additionally, the private equity fund Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. will buy up to $400 million in notes due in 2017 in exchange for two seats on EK's board of directors. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on EK.

This morning, EK opened at $6.34. So far today the stock has hit a high of $6.34 and a low of $5.81. As of 12:15, EK is trading at $6.16, down 52 cents (-7.8%). The chart for EK looks bearish and S&P gives EK a negative 2 STARS (out of 5) sell ranking.