World stocks edge up… Crude oil falls, trades just above $51 a barrel… U.S. dollar firmer, U.S. bonds rise

U.S. stocks were mostly higher in thin trade on Friday, as investors eyed retail sales on the first day of the shopping season after the Thanksgiving Day holiday, to gauge the extent of weakening consumer demand.

European and Asian shares were also higher, despite the attacks in Mumbai, India, while U.S. Treasury debt prices and the U.S. dollar both gained as investors continued to look for safe-havens as global economic growth slows.

“It’s a light volume day so you’re going to see some choppy trading, with so many people out,” said Robert Finkel, consumer trader at Stifel Nicolaus in Baltimore of the U.S. stock market.

“I’m watching how things go from a retail standpoint today - we’ve heard a lot of speculation about how bad it’s going to

U.S. stocks open slightly lower in thin holiday trade… Retailers fall on worry about weak “Black Friday” sales… Energy shares pressured as oil prices slip below $53

U.S. stocks slipped in thin holiday trade on Friday after a streak of gains as investors nervously eyed post-Thanksgiving sales to gauge how retailers will fare this holiday season, while worries about global demand hurt technology and energy shares.

Chevron (CVX) fell 1.9 percent tracking oil lower as OPEC gathered to discuss potential further supply cuts to combat falling demand. U.S. crude dropped below $53 a barrel.

Technology shares slid after signs of a downturn in global chip demand as STMicroelectronics cut its fourth-quarter outlook. Industry sources said Taiwan companies want to slash costs. The semiconductor index shed 1.1 percent.

The U.S. stock market was closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday and is trading for half the day

The following article is a reprint of my 26 August 2008 RealMoney column.

Since 2001, hospital stocks have been looking green around the gills. Shares of LifePoint (LPNT) , Universal Health Services (UHS) and Community Health (CYH) have pretty much gone nowhere. Tenet Healthcare (THC) and Health Management Associates (HMA) look even worse, having lost more than 50% of their value.

That may be about to change. As I have noted before, employment statistics show hospitals as being one of the few industries reporting significant hiring. Unfortunately, I believe the lean years have left analysts who are covering the stocks too shell-shocked to notice improving fundamentals.

Evidence of the high degree of skepticism can be found in a Forbes article published on Aug. 8, when LifePoint issued a positive earnings report and raised guidance. The article focused on declining admissions and fears that a sinking

The following article is a reprint of my 26 August 2008 RealMoney column.

Since 2001, hospital stocks have been looking green around the gills. Shares of LifePoint (LPNT) , Universal Health Services (UHS) and Community Health (CYH) have pretty much gone nowhere. Tenet Healthcare (THC) and Health Management Associates (HMA) look even worse, having lost more than 50% of their value.

That may be about to change. As I have noted before, employment statistics show hospitals as being one of the few industries reporting significant hiring. Unfortunately, I believe the lean years have left analysts who are covering the stocks too shell-shocked to notice improving fundamentals.

Evidence of the high degree of skepticism can be found in a Forbes article published on Aug. 8, when LifePoint issued a positive earnings report and raised guidance. The article focused on declining admissions and fears that a sinking

Large-Cap Food Stocks

“I have buy ratings on…Heinz Kelloggand General Mills. Clearly these stocks have run a lot recently.  It really comes down to your view on the economy more than anything else…In a defensive environment this is probably a good place to be.”

- Christopher Growe, Stifel Nicolaus Managing Director

Track his picks at:

http://trackthepros.com/categories.php?category_id=1187