High productivity all helped fuel the rally today, partly in hopes that this leads to more hiring in 2010. The lowest number of new jobless claims since January helped as well as the DJIA was floating right around the 10,000 mark at the closing bell.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,005.96 +203.82 (2.08%)
S&P 500 1,066.63 +20.13 (1.92%)
Nasdaq 2,105.32 +49.80 (2.42%)

Top Analyst Calls

Top Market Rumors

Late Thursday Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI) disclosed it had received a notice from the Nasdaq stock exchange on Tuesday that its share price has closed below $1 for 30 consecutive days, and is therefore not in compliance with the exchange rules. This means it could possibly be delisted.

Sirius has until March 15, 2010, to regain compliance with the minimum bid price rule, meaning its stock has to close at or above $1 for 10 consecutive business days.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) reported better-than-expected Q2 results, sending shares higher.
• Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) said it swung to a Q2 profit despite a dearth of leveraged buyouts.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) Q2 earnings declined but still topped estimates, sending shares higher.
• Coinstar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR) reported stellar Q2 results driven by its the popularity of RedBox.
• Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) posted solid Q4 earnings but said revenues were flat due to currency effects.
• Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) lower Q2 earnings beat expectations by a penny but revenue fell short.

Today, another jobs report was released ahead of tomorrow's unemployment data. The Bank of England kept rates steady but adopted a weaker currency policy and larger program that caused some more interest in gold.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,256.26 -24.71 (-0.27%)
S&P 500 997.08 -5.64 (-0.56%)
Nasdaq 1,9973.16 -19.81 (-1.00%)

Citizens of Boston, you heard some awful news this week. According to reports, rock institution WBCN 104.1 FM will no longer be filling the airwaves with its iconic brand of irreverent broadcasting. Instead, it will live on as a web domain. In its place will be WBMX, a station that was formerly at 98.5 in the FM universe. An all-sports format will take up WBMX's old home. Who can you thank for this? Send all complaints to CBS (NYSE: CBS), the station's owner.

Actually, before you compose a bunch of angry missives, please consider the state of terrestrial radio. Quite frankly, CBS doesn't have a choice. Between the lousy growth prospects for the medium, and the challenged status quo of the advertising market given the terrible global recession that continues to rip through the markets like a hideous beast, changes have to be made. Changes that you thought would never come.

Over the past five years, shares of what is now Sirius XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) have declined from a high of $9 per share to their current price of less than 50 cents per share. Granted, most of that hasn't been CEO Mel Karmazin's fault, and he was able to stave off bankruptcy by engineering an 11th-hour loan from Liberty Media.

But still, is that really a track record that entitles the CEO to a raise? Mr. Karmazin's salary went from $1.25 million to $1.5 million, but that isn't even the worst part. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that "He also gets options to purchase 120 million shares, which he can exercise at 43 cents a share."

Today was not just a strange day in the market. It was nearly baffling. At least it was a strange day if you were looking for the pullbacks to continue. The market was looking lower as the double-dip jobless numbers got worse than expected again, despite final Q1 GDP revisions being less-bad. The quarter-end coming up and the Russell re-balance may have some impact here.

Most of the gains continued throughout the morning into the early afternoon as investors got more confident over Ben Bernanke's testimony strength. Here were the unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 8,475.57 +175.71 (2.12%)
S&P 500 920.28 +19.34 (2.15%)
Nasdaq 1,829.43 +37.09 (2.07%)

Top 10 Analyst Calls

The radio business has been struggling lately, to say the least. Traditional, terrestrial radio hasn't found a way to successfully box out competition from Sirius XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI), internet streaming radio, iPods, and other sources.

Plus fewer people are in their cars driving to work lately, so the ratings numbers are down. Not to mention the monotonous nature of much of today's music (or maybe I'm just old . . . get off my lawn, you Jonas Brothers, you!)

It's no surprise, then, that the radio advertising business recently saw its worst quarter in history. The Radio Advertising Bureau said yesterday that combined national and local ad spending dropped 26% to $2.8 billion during the last quarter. Network radio dropped 13% to $238 million while off-air revenue receded 12% to $264 million.

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

• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) shares rose even though it reported a wider loss for the quarter.
• American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) posted better-than-expected Q1 results but warned of challenges.
• Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) reported a net loss and slumping revenues for the first quarter.
• Center Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: CLFC) was downgraded following its Q1 earnings report.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) posted lower Q3 earnings that still topped analysts estimates.

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) may get a bit of a lift this morning, as the company's corporate credit rating was raised by Standard & Poor's (S&P). The ratings agency upped SIRI's rating to "CCC+" from "CCC" and raised the issue-level ratings a notch. That said, S&P did keep SIRI's senior unsecured notes at "CCC-."

S&P analyst Hal Diamond attributed the move to "increased comfort with the company's near-term liquidity needs," following a loan from Liberty Media. Liberty loaned SIRI money in exchange for preferred stock, which is convertible into 40% of SIRI's common shares. This investment pushed significant debt maturities from 2009 to 2011.

Today was one of those strange Friday sessions where you just never felt stable. Interestingly enough, the 8.1% unemployment rate ended up moving the market up briefly, but only briefly. Most of the day was spent in red numbers with a rally that brought the markets back to a flat close.

The focus is still on what is coming out of Washington D.C. and just how long and how deep this recession is going to be.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
Dow 6,626.94 +32.50 (+0.49%)
S&P 500 683.39 +0.84 (+0.12%)
Nasdaq 1,293.85 -5.74 (-0.44%)
Top Analyst Calls

With Sirius XM Radio, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) shares hovering around 13 cents mid-morning, the pioneering and sole satellite radio company is probably savoring its investment this week by John Malone's Liberty Media Corp. (NYSE: LINTA).

What was the reason for today's sell-off? Well, the answer is the same as it has been too many days: A culmination of bad news, weak data, bankruptcies, worries about banks and institutions, and that this recession is going to go on much longer than what the market is hoping for.

You might see the same explanation tomorrow if there is another sell-off. And next week. It is the same one from January and the same one from most of last year. Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 7,554.28 -296.13 (-3.77%)
S&P 500 789.35 -37.49 (-4.53%)
Nasdaq 1,470.66 -63.70 (-4.15%)

10YR T-Note
Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades

Stern fans, breathe easy! In breaking news this morning, SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) and Liberty Media Corp. (NASDAQ: LMDIA) have reached a deal that will save the satellite radio company (for now) from the brink of bankruptcy.

Liberty will invest $530 million in SIRI, kicking off with a first phase: a senior secured loan worth $280 million, $250 million of which will be paid out today.

In response, Liberty will assume two spots on the SIRIUS XM board and receive 12.5 million shares of preferred stock, convertible into 40% of common SIRI shares.

SIRI CEO Mel Karmazin, told reporters, "Liberty's investment is an important validation of what SIRIUS XM has already achieved and a vote of confidence in what we will achieve..."

In pre-market trading, SIRI shares have jumped more than 80% to 19 cents per share.

Beth Gaston Moon works for WeSeed.com. The above comments are not intended as trading or investment advice.

U.S. stock markets were set to plunge at the open Tuesday morning as three issues weighed on investors' minds: The economic stimulus plan, the auto industry as well as hard-hit Eastern Europe: Before the bell: Stocks set to plunge on stimulus package, auto sector worries

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) and Chrysler LLC are expected to submit recovery plans to the government today to show how they can repay billions in loans and become viable. Of course, abysmal auto sales haven't been helping any company in the industry. Ex-Lazard banker Ron Bloom is expected to be named a key government adviser, according to The Wall Street Journal, and he is expected to be tough, demanding sacrifices by all involved, from auto workers and industry executives to shareholders and creditors. The AP reports that GM was making progress in concession talks with debtholders and the UAW. Also, GM Europe is considering shutting or selling as many as four European plants. GM shares are down 5.6% in premarket trading. GM shares declined over 12% an hour after the open.