Stocks are lower as the dollar rises and Wall Street digests a week of mixed economic reports

Overseas markets declined. European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said the ECB plans to start pulling back some of its stimulus programs as the economy begins to recover.

With little U.S. economic news to help sway the market Friday, the dollar is again pressuring stocks. A strengthening dollar drives down foreign demand for commodities, which are often traded in dollars. It also can depress U.S. exports which become more expensive as the dollar rises.

That can hurt the price of energy and materials stocks that are closely tied to commodities and companies with large operations overseas.

A disappointing earnings report from computer maker Dell Inc. is also weighing on the market. Dell said after the market closed Thursday that sales of its computers to big businesses remain sluggish. Its quarterly revenue and profit missed analysts’ expectations.

As

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Nov. 20, 2009 (Business Wire) — Gen2Media Corporation (OTCBB: GTWO), a full service video technology and production company, has been chosen by nine-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige to support her live performance at the American Music Awards. On Sunday November 22, the noted Queen of Hip-Hop Mary Blige, will present for the first time her new song “I Am” which is a history of Mary’s evolution from her original album “What’s the 411” through to today’s many successes. Gen2Media is building the digital visual imagery for Ms. Blige’s live performance at the ceremony by designing, producing and packaging Mary’s original, cutting-edge digital video content. Using its proprietary industry-leading technology, Gen2Media will integrate 3-D imaging, 2-D compositing and live video from the stage into a visually stunning floorshow.

Michael “Huggy” Carter, Ms. Blige’s Tour Manager notes, “Gen2Media always comes across with a technically dynamic show. We couldn’t

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At least something good has come out of the economic crisis; it blew off the purple robes that clothed economists and exposed their naked flanks. Still, they don’t deserve the beating they’re getting in the press – with snide remarks and sarcastic comments; they deserve better. A beating with sticks!

Even Alan Greenspan admitted he had “found a flaw” in his own thinking. We will have to imagine the giggles from the back of the room – if anyone had been awake. It was as if Stalin had confessed to being rude to his mother or Bernie Madoff copped a plea for shoplifting. The mea was fine, but the culpa didn’t seem to measure up to the facts. He, more than any living human being, was responsible for the biggest financial debacle in history; you’d hope he’d be a gentleman about it and hang himself.

Meanwhile, the queen of England visited

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Save the World Air, Inc. announced this morning that it has received positive feedback from several private parties who, in cooperation with the company, have installed the MagChargR™ on their vehicles, including boats, automobiles and RVs. MagChargR™ is a breakthrough product which enables the conventional engine to burn fuel more completely, unlocking an increase in horsepower and torque while saving in fuel costs.

“I was very excited to get a MagChargR from STWA for my 25′ Advantage performance boat. Anything that can boost gas mileage and HP while reducing emissions is a very good thing,” commented Mr. Robert Torbett, a realtor from Peoria, Arizona. “We had one little glitch on the installation relating to how the throttle body fits on the engine manifold, but STWA figured out a simple fix and I was then able to install the MagChargR on my boat in about 15 minutes. It was actually much easier

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Goldman earned more than $1 billion a month in the second quarter – much of it from scavenging on fixed income, currency and commodities deals created by the credit crisis.

About six months ago, Goldman itself was on its hands and knees looking to get a part of Hank Paulson’s $700 billion TARP fund. Back then, Goldman posed a “systematic risk” to the system. Handily, the firm’s former CEO happened to be Treasury Secretary. And Goldman was granted bank holding status and TARP rescue money lickety-split.

Back in the last depression, the Pecora Commission went straight for bankers’ gonads. Examples were set. Bigwigs were forced to resign. And landmark legislation was put in place (think Glass-Steagall) to keep the “banksters” in their place.

These days are different. Washington seems less keen to go after their pals on Wall Street or ask too many awkward questions. Instead, the pols are rejoicing in Goldman’s record

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As we all know, the depression is over. The stock market seems to think so… with the Dow up 32 more points on Friday… and apparently eager to go higher. Oil rose above $64. And gold is trading at $937 this morning.

Friday, two more banks – the Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and Citigroup (NYSE:C) – announced impressive results. Between them, they made $5.4 billion in the last quarter.

These follow announcements earlier in the week from JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) and Goldman (NYSE:GS). As reported in this space, Goldman set the pace by reporting that it has managed to earn more than $1 billion per month in the 2 nd quarter of this year. It said it did so by helping clients raise money… refinance… and restructure.

Goldman made so much money that it has set aside more than $11 billion so far this year in compensation for its

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TODAY: Obamarama begins with touchdown in Moscow today; the US President grants interview to opposition paper; Putin rebuffs suggestion he favors old ways; Obama trying divide and conquer on Medvedev and Putin?; missile defense may be a dealbreaker; Stalinism and Nazism comparedPutin has responded to Obama's suggestion he has 'one foot in the past', by saying, 'we stand firmly on our feet and always look into the future' and has reasserted that the US President's visit is awaited 'with very warm feelings'.  The Times suggests that Obama has made a 'mistake' in pitching Putin and Medvedev against each another, when the Prime Minister is really at the helm of the tandemocracy.  A commentator in the Moscow Times ...

span style="font-weight:bold;"The Guardian - Comment is free/spanbr /br /br /span style="font-style:italic;"The Russian PM should embrace his Abba-loving side – in a global downturn, his country needs all the kitsch it can handlebr /Comments (67)/spanbr /br /span style="font-weight:bold;"By Jason Corcoran /spanbr /br /Claims that Vladimir Putin is a secret Dancing Queen are causing a sensation in Moscow.br /br /The prime minister's press office has denied that the judo-loving, tiger-hunting all-action hero is a closet Abba fan, following a private concert given by the tribute band Björn Again. Putin's personal spokesman Dmitry Peskov also took the unusual step of writing to the Times to reiterate the point.br /br /But the Kremlin has been far too hasty in trying to suppress this story. Russians would warmly embrace their leader's softer musical side in a crucial year, as the capital prepares to host the ultimate celebration of kitsch for the very first time.br /br ...