TradingMarkets Mid-Day Movers

TradingMarkets just released a proprietary stock rating method called PowerRatings. This method ranks stocks 1-10 and the higher the rating, the greater the one-week historical gain has been.

PowerRatings were created by Cesar Alvarez, Director of Research for Connors Capital, LLC. Cesar looked back at more than 5.5 million trades between Jan 1, 1995 and Dec 1, 2005. The results are based on the average 5-day performance.

To find out more about PowerRatings click here.

Major indexes up fractionally; positive earnings from MCD and JNJ, combined with an ease on oil prices, lead to investor stability.

Both gold and oil futures eased off of recent highs, despite recent weakness in the dollar and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

McDonald's (MCD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) reported in-line earnings and announced a $1 billion stock buy-back.  MCD's stock rose 1.5% in morning trading.  MCD's (PowerRating).

Johnson&Johnson (JNJ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) beat earnings but reported a quarterly loss in sales.  JNJ dropped 1.9% in morning trading.  JNJ's (PowerRating).

Stocks On The Move

Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) Q4 May Pick Up Pace (full story).

DaimlerChrysler (DCX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) To Cut 20% G&A Jobs To Tighten Its Purse Strings (full story).

Lucent (LU | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) Q1 Slumps To Loss On Lower Sales (full story).

Health Management Associates (HMA | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) Q1 Profit Slips On Costs; Updates FY06 EPS Target (full story).

Northrop Grumman (NOC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) Q4 Profit Rises 22% On Segment Growth; Lifts FY06 EPS Target, Yet Cuts Revenue Outlook (full story).

Economic News

Get your stock's PowerRatings here.