STARS:
S&P/TSX
11,620.46, up 348.20 (TSX)
Canada's benchmark stock index got off to a flying start in 2006, notching record highs in four consecutive winning sessions. At this rate, it should hit 7,545,371,513 points by the end of the year, give or take a billion.
Gold
$541.20 U.S., up $22.30 (GOLD)
Gold's the new oil. Except it's, like, gold-coloured and you can make jewellery out of it. With energy prices well off record highs, big things are expected of bullion in 2006. That would explain the sudden popularity of gold teeth on Bay Street.
$465.66 U.S., up $50.80 (GOOG-NASDAQ)
The search engine's stock is going to $550 this year, according to Bear Stearns analyst Robert Peck. Piper Jaffray's Safa Rashtchy sees it rising to $600. And Satan, who ultimately controls all financial markets, predicts it will hit $666.
DOGS:
Natural gas
$9.362 U.S., DOWN $1.863 ($U.S./ MM BTU)
A month ago, homeowners were tossing antique furniture and priceless family heirlooms into the fireplace to beat the soaring cost of natural gas. Now that the price is plunging amid mild winter weather, boy do they feel silly.
Wal-Mart
$45.88 U.S., down 92¢ (WMT-NYSE)
Shopping at Wal-Mart is a swell experience, except for all the stretchy pants and endless price-checks. But it's nothing compared with the pain investors are feeling after the discounter's tepid fourth-quarter profit forecast.
Lowe's
$64.70 U.S., down $1.96 (LOW-NYSE)
Can you say housing meltdown? Shares of the second-biggest U.S. home improvements chain are collapsing like a cheap roof, now that house sales are softening. This week, J.P. Morgan chase cut Lowe's to "neutral" from "overweight."
SOURCE: THOMSON DATASTREAM and WWW.GLOBEINVESTOR.COM / Note: Friday close and change from previous Friday.
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