Halftime Report for 3.15.2012

Suntrust is up over 9% in just a few trading days as it passes Fed Stress Tests. &P says that it is impossible that any economic improvement would bring back the AAA rating. U.S., U.K. AGREE TO EMERGENCY OIL STOCKS RELEASE, REUTERS SAYS
AAPL opens at $600.01 on strong opening-gap-ups and up over 5% from yesterday’s intra day lows. Yesterday, Apple saw strong, upward, call buying yesterday and the average trade size was considerably higher suggesting retail investors are jumping in as the professionals are covering. Parabolic moves always end with? Apple today announced the new iPad, the third generation, will arrive at Apple’s retail stores and the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com) on Friday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m.

Economic Data:
Initial Claims: 350K vs 356K
Empire Fed: New Orders 6.8 vs 9.7 Est.
Prices Paid explodes to 50.62, 25.88 previous. One of the largest increases on record.

By Greg Zimny