U.S. stocks closed higher for the second consecutive day, helped by strength in shares of commodity-related companies even as major retailers said they remain cautious ahead of the holiday season.  At the end of a session that lacked conviction, major stock indexes managed to reach their fresh 13-month highs.  A smaller-than-anticipated rise in industrial production also weighed on sentiments.

Waning risk appetites sent gold prices up 20 cents to a fresh all-time high of $1,139.40.  Treasuries rose, pushing corresponding yields lower.  The yield on the benchmark 10-year note slipped to 3.33% from 3.34% late Monday.  Crude prices closed above $79 per barrel.  Copper prices rose to 14-months highs on expectations that China demand will remain robust.

A perpetual decline in the value of the dollar and record low interest rates in the US have driven stocks higher as investors, seeking higher return on their investments, have sought refuge in

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 18, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights NeurogesX (NGSX) as the Bull of the Day and Sears Holdings (SHLD) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Target Corporation (TGT), Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT) and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5506

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

NeurogesX (NGSX) received some very good news this week when the U.S. FDA approved Qutenza for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Management will now move forward with preparing for the commercial launch during the first half of 2010.

Securing reimbursement and hiring the sales force remain the next biggest hurdles for the company. However, with approval now complete and the financial position solid ($57 million in cash on hand),

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Target Corporation (TGT) recently reported better-than-expected third-quarter 2009 results. Net earnings for the quarter jumped 18.4% year-over-year to $436 million, on the heels of a 5.5% decline in credit card expenses, an 18.3% fall in net interest expense, and lower effective tax rate (36.1% in the quarter as against 41.7% in the prior-year quarter). Target’s quarterly earnings of 58 cents a share outdid the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 49 cents. Earnings for the quarter rose 18.6% year-over-year from 49 cents a share reported in the year-ago quarter. Total revenue for the quarter inched up by 1.1% to $15,276 million. Retail sales rose 1.4% to $14,789 million, but the revenue from the Credit Card segment fell 7.5% to $487 million. Despite the stronger-than-expected result, Target holds a cautious outlook about its fourth-quarter results. Realizing the fact that customers are reluctant to pay higher prices, Target announced ...

U.S. stocks surged to their 13-month highs Monday as a weaker dollar and a rebound in U.S. retail sales reinforced hopes that an economic recovery is indeed underway.  Stocks also got a boost after Fed chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated Fed’s intention to keep interest rates low for an extended period. 

Gold advanced 2% to fresh record highs; and the price of silver jumped 5.9%.  The initial gains in the equity prices followed strength in Asian markets yesterday.  Strength in Asia was partly helped by reports that said Japanese economy grew at its fastest pace in over two years, up 1.2% during the third quarter.  To add to the bullish mood in the region, leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation promised to keep the stimulus measures in place.

On Monday, the 30-stock Dow Jones industrial average rose 136.49 points, or 1.33%, to 10,406.96. The broad Standard & Poor's 500-stock

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This post is a guest contribution by Romeo Dator, co-manager of the China Region Fund (USCOX) of US Global Investors.

A year ago, nobody thought China could manage 8 percent GDP growth in 2009. With year-to-date growth coming in at 7.7 percent through the first three quarters and getting stronger, China is poised to break that 8 percent mark rather easily.

The success of the stimulus and the lofty economic numbers China has managed to produce amidst a global crisis has led many to claim China is the next great bubble.

We see five reasons China is not a bubble and believe that its prospects remain strong for at least the next 20 years.

1) Consumption continues to be strong China is transitioning to a consumption-based workforce. Retail sales rose 16.2 percent in nominal terms during October and have been accelerating. The retail sales figure isn’t a perfect proxy,

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By Don Miller Associate Editor Money Morning

U.S. retail sales rose unexpectedly in October as vehicle sales rebounded from a deep slump. However, non-auto sales rose less than forecast, suggesting consumers remain cautious as unemployment surges amid a “jobless recovery.”

Sales at the nation’s retail outlets increased 1.4%, the Commerce Department said today (Monday), much better than the 0.9% increase projected by the median estimate of 66 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. But September sales were revised downwards to a 2.3% decrease from the previous estimate of a 1.5% decline.

Aside from automobiles, other sales rose just 0.2%. That increase marked the third month in a row that sales rose, but failed to meet the 0.4% climb economists had predicted.

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Retail Sales increased by 1.4% in October to $347.5 billion annualized, better than the expected increase of 0.9%, following a 2.3% decrease the previous month, revised downward from a 1.5% decrease. Over the past year, retail sales volume has reduced by 1.7%. Sales in automobiles increased by 7.4%, allaying concerns that households would curtail expenditure after the effect of government incentives had ended. Retail Sales excluding autos had increased by 0.2% in October following a 0.4% increase in September. Over the past year, retail sales excluding autos have declined by 2.6%.

Business Inventories are expected today at 10:00 AM EST. Business inventories fell by 1.5% in August to $1,311.4 billion, and are down 13.3% from August 2008 levels. The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for August increased by 1% to $989.6 billion, seasonally adjusted, but is down 15.1% over the past year. The inventories/sales

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 16, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), Quality Systems Inc. (QSII), Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (MDRX) and Cerner Corp. (CERN).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Apple Opens New Store in New York

Apple Inc. (AAPL) will open its newest retail store with an 8,500 square feet retail space in New York tomorrow. The store will help Apple deliver more Macs, iPods and iPhones, taking advantage of the coming holiday

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This analysis is from Romeo Dator, co-manager of the China Region Fund (USCOX). A year ago, nobody thought China could manage 8 percent GDP growth in 2009. With year-to-date growth coming in at 7.7 percent through the first three quarters and getting stronger, China is poised to break that 8 percent mark rather easily. The success of the stimulus and the lofty economic numbers China has managed to produce amidst a global crisis has led many to claim China is the next great bubble. We see five reasons China is not a bubble and believe that its prospects remain strong for at least the next 20 years. 1) Consumption Continues to be Strong China is transitioning to a consumption-based workforce. Retail sales rose 16.2 percent in nominal terms during October and have been accelerating. The retail sales figure isnrsquo;t a perfect proxy, but it is the best available indicator of overall consumption because it does ...

The video clips below provide a handy summary of the reports expected on the economic, financial and corporate front around the globe during the week ahead.

US: Retail results, economy in focus Retailers including Home Depot and Target will report results and key economic data will include retail sales and industrial output. Meanwhile, nine speakers from the Federal Reserve will offer their views on the economy.

Europe: Air France-KLM report Airbus owner EADS reports quarterly results along with airline Air France-KLM. In the UK luxury-goods group Burberry will provide an update.

Asia: Obama tour, data in focus U.S. President Barack Obama will tour the region, making stops in Japan and China to start

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