U.S. MARKET AVERAGES

Market finally halted its January run.

Broader averages declined as large and small cap and tech and industrial stocks declined on a day when market averages consolidated. Lower than expected November trade deficit and smaller than expected rise in jobless claim for the previous failed to excite buyers.

Volatility in energy prices continued as saber rattling with Iran was raised to a new high. Natural gas prices closed lower but oil traded above $65 at mid-day.

J.P. Morgan Chase fell 1.8% and Coca Cola fell less than 1% after both companies were downgraded by brokerage houses. DuPont continued its slide today and General Motors fell 4.1% on worries that the company dividend may be in jeopardy. Federated Department (FD: chart) is reported to plan Lord & Taylor division divesting.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Apple Computer (AAPL: chart) was upgraded to outperform from peer perform at Bear Stearns, citing an improved revenue and earnings growth rate, reduced risks for transition to Intel and an increased clarity into new product. Analyst Andrew Neff established a year-end stock price target of $105, and raised his 2006 earnings estimate to $2.53 a share from $2.12 and his 2007 forecast to $3.14 a share from $2.42, due to a less-than-expected seasonal decline iPod sales in the fiscal second quarter and an earlier-than-anticipated transition to Intel. Apple’s shares rose 39 cents.

Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P (AC: chart) and Alliance Capital Management L.P. said that Q4 earnings of Alliance Holding may approach or slightly exceed $1 per unit vs. earlier guidance of 75 cents to 90 cents per unit on higher base fee revenues attributable to strong investment performance and net inflows, and performance fees approximately 6 cents per unit above the high end of earlier expectations. The stock rose 3%.

France Telecom (FTE: chart) was downgraded by both Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs following the company''s warning on sales growth. The stock fell 2%.

D.R. Horton (DHI: chart) board approved a 10-cent a share increase in the homebuilder''s quarterly dividend. The dividend represents an 11.1% increase over the previous 9-cent cash payout. The company’s shares lost 2%.

ECONOMIC NEWS

Before the start of trading on Thursday, the Department of Commerce released its report on the U.S. trade deficit in the month of November. The report showed that the trade deficit narrowed more than economists had expected.

The Commerce Dept. said that the trade deficit narrowed to $64.2 billion in November from a revised $68.1 billion in October. Economists had expected the deficit to come in at $66.0 billion compared to the deficit of $68.9 billion originally reported for October.

The narrower trade deficit came as the value of exports rose while the value of imports fell. The report showed that exports rose 1.8 percent to $109.3 billion in November, while imports fell 1.1 percent to $173.5 billion.

The increase in the value of exports reflected a rise in exports of goods, particularly capital goods, consumer goods, and industrial supplies and materials. At the same time, imports of goods fell, reflecting decreases in imports of industrial supplies and materials and consumer goods.

Despite the decrease in November, the trade deficit for the first 11 months of 2005 came in at $661.8 billion compared to the annual record of $617.6 billion in 2004. Economists expect that the annual deficit for 2005 will top $700 billion.

Thursday morning, the Department of Labor released its report on initial jobless claims in the week ended January 7. The report showed that jobless claims increased compared to a significantly downwardly revised reading for the previous week.

The report showed the jobless claims rose to 309,000 from the previous week''s revised figure of 292,000. Economists had been expecting jobless claims to come in at 325,000 compared to the 318,000 originally reported for the previous week.

The Labor Department also said that 4-week moving average fell to 311,500 from the previous week''s revised average of 317,000. This marked the second consecutive decline for the moving average, which fell to a 5-month low.

The report also showed that continuing claims rose to 2.702 million in the week ended December 31 from the preceding week''s revised level of 2.690 million.