Shares of Baidu (BIDU) are pointed sharply higher in after-hours trading, with investors cheering the company's fourth-quarter earnings report. The Internet-search issue swung to a profit of $62.7 million, or $1.80 per American depositary share, while revenue jumped 40% to $184.7 million. Analysts were looking for a slimmer per-share profit of $1.69, according to Thomson Reuters.

Looking ahead, BIDU said it expects first-quarter revenue to range between $176 million and $181 million, compared to consensus expectations for revenue of $170 million. This upbeat forecast sent the stock surging to a gain of nearly 9% in electronic trading.

Yesterday Hasbro, Inc. (HAS) reported 2009 fourth quarter and full-year results.

For the fourth quarter 2009, the Company reported net revenues of $1.38 billion, an increase of $144.1 million or 12%, compared to $1.23 billion a year ago. 2009 fourth quarter revenues grew 7% excluding a $55.4 million positive impact of foreign exchange. The Company reported net earnings for the quarter of $165.6 million or $1.09 per diluted share, an increase of $72.0 million or 77%, compared to $93.6 million or $0.62 per diluted share in 2008.

The strong results in a bad year support my contention that today's stock market, even in these uncertain times, does have plenty of bargains.

Coventry Health Care (CVH - option chain) shares are rising Tuesday after the company reported a fourth-quarter profit of $109.08 million, or 74 cents per share, on revenue of $3.42 billion. Analysts had forecast a profit of 56 cents per share on revenue of $3.49 billion. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on CVH.

CVH opened this morning at $23.81. So far today the stock has hit a low of $22.83 and a high of $23.99. As of 11:40, CVH is trading at $23.22 up 78 cents (3.5%). The chart for CVH looks bullish bullish and S&P gives CVH a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

It was a big day for aerospace giant The Boeing Company (BA), which celebrated the inaugural flight of the biggest plane the company has ever built.

The plane, the Boeing 747-8, was originally planned to get off the ground over a year ago, but the delay did not dampen the mood at today's take off. Hundreds of employees and spectators on hand to watch the massive 253 foot jumbo jet take flight for the first time.

Hasbro (HAS - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported earnings this morning, posting a fourth-quarter profit of $165.56 million, or $1.09 per share, on revenue of $1.38 billion. Analysts had forecast a profit of 81 cents per share on revenue of $1.34 billion. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on HAS.

HAS opened this morning at $33.65. So far today the stock has hit a low of $33.53 and a high of $35.19. As of 11:40, HAS is trading at $34.99 up $4.18 (13.6%). The chart for HAS looks bullish and S&P gives HAS a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

One facet of the Obama administration's sweeping stimulus initiatives of which I have taken particular interest is its protracted effort to increase our national broadband access and capabilities. In pursuit of that end, The Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program (BTOP), which seeks to build and enhance broadband access in unserved and underserved regions of our country, has been provided with over $4.5 billion in Recovery Act funds.

I am pleased to report that amazingly, BTOP has already dispensed with much of the red tape that might normally bog down an effort of this magnitude. Large chunks of BTOP funds are beginning to be granted. In the short term, the benefit of this program may well be to create jobs. In the long term, these infrastructure improvements could possibly increase the profit bases of companies such as Verizon Communications (VZ), Sprint Nextel Corp. (S), AT&T (ATT) and a host of other digital communication and entertainment providers.

Gap (GPS - option chain) shares are rising today after the company said it expects to see Q4 EPS of 49 to 51 cents, well above analysts' estimates of 44 cents. GPS is also getting momentum from its January sales results. The retailer announced its same-store sales rose 5.0 percent in January, topping analysts' forecasts of a 4.4 percent gain. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on GPS.

GPS opened this morning at $19.57. So far today the stock has hit a low of $19.25 and a high of $20.00. As of 11:40, GPS is trading at $19.59 up 57 cents (3.0%). The chart for GPS looks neutral and S&P gives GPS a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Following today's market close, insurance giant Aflac Incorporated (AFL) posted better-than-expected numbers for its fourth quarter.

Headed into this afternoon's earnings release, Wall Street was looking to see Aflac post earnings of $1.15 per share. The actual earnings came in better than expected at $1.18 per share.

Continental Airlines (CAL - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced this morning that its January traffic rose 8.5 percent from January of 2009 to 6.98 billion revenue passenger miles. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on CAL.

CAL opened this morning at $19.77. So far today the stock has hit a low of $19.43 and a high of $19.97. As of 11:50, CAL is trading at $19.78 up 49 cents (2.5%). The chart for CAL looks bullish and S&P gives CAL a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

You've heard chatter (mostly hype) on some of the cable news networks that inflation is on rise.

Don't believe it: unit labor costs rose 0.5% in Q4, and just 1.5% for all of 2009 -- capping the smallest increase for wages and benefits on record, the U.S. Labor Department announced Friday. Unit labor costs rose a revised 0.4% in Q3.

In 2008, unit labor costs rose 2.6%. The department began record keeping for the wage/benefits metrics in 1982.

Cisco Systems (CSCO - option chain) shares are rising today after company CEO John Chambers said in an interview that tech companies often are among the first to see gains in a recovering economy as businesses upgrade their technology. This could be a good sign for the company, which is scheduled to report Q2 earnings on Wednesday evening. Analysts are looking for the company to post a profit of 35 cents per share on revenue of $9.4 billion, compared to a profit of 32 cents per share on revenue of $9.09 billion in the year-ago period. A good quarter announced last night by competitor Juniper Networks (JNPR) also bodes well for Cisco next week. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on CSCO.

Following Wednesday's market close, Netflix (NFLX) reported its fourth quarter numbers, and the stock soared 13% higher in after-hours trading when the company posted better-than-expected numbers for the quarter.

The company had a great quarter, with profit rising by an impressive 36%. While the fourth quarter earnings were dramatic, what really had the stock moving after hours was the upbeat forecast for 2010.

Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B - option chain) shares are are on the move today after Standard & Poor's announced that the stock will be added to its benchmark S&P 500 index, replacing Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI), which will be acquired by Berkshire. BRK.B will also be added to the S&P 100. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on BRK.B, which is now possible with the recent 50:1 stock split.

BRK.B opened this morning at $73.28. So far today the stock has hit a low of $70.82 and a high of $73.28. As of 12:00, BRK.B is trading at $71.08 up $3.09 (4.5%). The chart for BRK.B looks bullish.

Tuesday's upbeat data point: the International Monetary Fund is now forecasting that the global economy will grow 3.9% in 2010, up from the earlier forecast of 3.1% growth in October 2009.

The global economy grew a scant 1.3% in 2009, equivalent to a global recession -- the world's first since the end of World War II. The IMF also expects the global economy to growth 4.3% in 2011.

What's more, the IMF also raised its 2010 GDP growth forecast for the United States to 2.7%, up from the earlier 2.6% estimate. The U.S. economy contracted 0.3% in 2009, using the IMF's methodology and data. Meanwhile, the developed world is expected to growth 2.1%, in 2010, after an -0.7% contraction in 2009.

China's economy is expected to grow 10.0% in 2010, leading a 6.0% emerging market rebound. The IMF sees India growing 7.7%; Russia, 3.6%; Brazil, 4.7%; Mexico, 4.0%.

Yahoo, Inc. (YHOO) is trading higher in after hours trading today after posting earnings in line with analyst estimates.

Going into this afternoon's earnings report, Wall Street had been expecting to see the company show earnings of 11 cents per share, which Yahoo was able to match.