As goes the first day of trading, so goes the year. That is what many investors believe in one form or variation. Another expansion in manufacturing helped and bonds started out weak. The real culprit for gains was more gains in overseas stock markets followed by expectations for more positive gains in 2011. If you weight the DJIA components equally, I even have a formula that calls for the DJIA moving above 13,000 in 2011. That formula last year came within about 1% of the DJIA close in 2010.

Here are today's closing bells:

Dow Jones 11,670.75 +93.24 (0.81%)
S&P 500 1,271.87 +14.23 (1.13%)
Nasdaq 2,691.52 +38.65 (1.46%)

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Some of the stocks for investors to watch on Thursday include:

Limited Brands (LTD) reported its Q3 earnings at 18 cents per share, up from 5 cents a share in the year-ago period. The company's sales came in at $1.98 billion, up from $1.77 billion, in the year-ago quarter. LTD shares surged 5.11% to $33.50 in after-hours trading.

Wall Street expects Dell (DELL) to report its Q3 EPS at 33 cents. DELL shares gained 0.67% to $13.44 in the after-hours trading session.

Many stocks had large gains yet the markets were mixed throughout the day. Sometimes the market likes QE2 and sometimes it doesn't. Today is a day where the markets are struggling to to figure out what influence to follow. Gold was above $1400 and oil hit new recent highs, but both gave some back today as the market correlation between the dollar and other markets was not tick for tick.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow Jones 11,346.75 -60.09 (-0.53%)
S&P 500 1,213.40 -9.85 (-0.81%)
Nasdaq 2,562.98 -17.07 (-0.66%)

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Chevron (CVX) closed at $75.23. Crude oil futures are recently up 0.32% to $76.69, according to Bloomberg. CVX July put option implied volatility is at 27, December is at 31, above its 26-week average of 24, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) closed at $8.83. Natural Gas futures are recently up 0.04% to $5.187, according to Bloomberg. UNG overall option implied volatility of 50 is near its 26-week average, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

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

In investing, there's an adage that posits: The best investments are often the ones you don't make.

And isn't that the truth regarding natural gas, or at least the natural gas-based fund, United States Natural Gas Fund LP (UNG)?

They don't all work out. The United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG), which I first wrote about on July 13, 2009 at a price of $11.50, has been stopped out at $8.40.

What's more, UNG, as they say, 'has not let a stop loss get in the way of a good downtrend.' In this case, make that a horrible downtrend, as UNG traded at about $7.50 on Thursday.

Our first cold-weather stock isn't actually a stock; it's an exchange-traded fund (ETF). It is United States Natural Gas (UNG), an ETF designed to replicate the performance, net of expenses, of natural gas

The logic for UNG is simple. The colder it is outside, the more we need to heat our homes and offices, and most of us do this via natural gas. The increased demand for natural gas should translate into higher natural gas prices. Of course, sometimes this simple logic isn't quite that simple.

If you live practically anywhere east of the San Andreas Fault, you know about the deep freeze biting the nation. Temperatures in many areas of the country have been way below normal this winter, especially in the Midwest and East Coast, and unfortunately, many meteorologists think the 2010 cold front will bring plenty of chilly nights before it makes its welcome departure.

According to the 2010 Farmers' Almanac, this winter will likely see many more days with below-normal average temperatures. Not just in the Midwest and East Coast, but for about three-quarters of the nation. The fallout from these cold temps is a constriction of outdoor activity, more time indoors, increased use of heaters, and when you have to go outside, the need to bundle up.

It's a close call, but I'm reiterating my buy rating for the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG), first recommended on July 13, 2009, at a price of $11.50. Further, the buy call is nuanced, so attention is advised.

First, UNG, currently trading around $10.80, a low-cost way for the typical investor to invest in natural gas as a commodity, is a high-risk play: don't buy UNG if you're a moderate-risk or low-risk investor.

I'm issuing a Buy for the United States Natural Gas Fund (NYSE: UNG), but there are several qualifiers, so pay attention.

First, UNG, currently trading around $11.50, a low-cost way for the typical investor to invest in natural gas as a commodity, is a high-risk play. Don't Buy UNG if you're a moderate-risk of low-risk investor.

The United States Natural Gas Fund LP (NYSE: UNG) resumed issuing new shares Monday, ending a long drought for the exchange-traded fund (ETF). UNG, which tracks price changes in natural gas, hasn't issued new creation baskets (blocks of 10,000 units) since June, thanks in part to newly enacted position limits on the federal and exchange level.

While it's back to business as usual, traders should still proceed with caution when it comes to this commodity-based fund. UNG warned late Friday that its units are still trading at a premium to its net asset value (NAV), which could spell trouble for investors.

United States Natural Gas Fund (NYSE: UNG) closed at $11.75. The investment objective of UNG is for the changes in percentage terms of the unit's net asset value to reflect the changes in percentage terms of the price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana. Natural Gas futures are recently down .45% to 3.743 according to Bloomberg. UNG options were active on September 16 with of 222,361 contracts trading. UNG October option implied volatility of 66 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data.

Financial Select Sector (XLF) overall volatility at 39; 26-week average is 50 according to Track Data.

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

Today was one of those trading days where it felt as though a down-day was certain. A lack of earnings news after the fear of a trade-war with China loomed early on over a tire tariff being passed on. But the market steadied after a initial drop and slowly came back before turning positive in the afternoon session. This was one of those that felt as though the closing bell was again a coin toss right up to the close of the 4:00 bell. Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,624.61 +19.20 (0.20%)
S&P 500 1,049.06 +6.33 (0.61%)
Nasdaq 2,091.78 +10.88 (0.52%)

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What's the latest craze? The iPhone? Kindle? A super-lightweight notebook pc?

All of the above are eye-openers. But one could argue that the biggest craze is the natural gas exchanged-traded fund, the United States Natural Gas Fund (NYSE: UNG).

"After enduring one of the worst slumps on record, we're beginning to see a rebound in all major commodities market," says Lee Lowell, adding "But one commodity stands out in particular -- natural gas."

In Xcelerated Profits Report, he explains, "This could represent the best buying opportunity in several years." Here's his review of the United States Natural Gas Fund (NYSE: UNG).

"As it so often does, it's no surprise to see the energy market leading commodities higher over the past few weeks -- specifically, crude oil and natural gas.