Weekly Wrap

I've fallen and can't get up.

I've come up with the solution for the market blues. Don't get up. Just stay stay in bed and wait until it's all over. This brilliant idea came to me this past week as I was lounging in bed in San Francisco at 10 a.m. I turned the TV on... and the market day was half over! Those Californians have it made during bear markets. By lunch time, stock market trading has closed and they can get on with their day. So, my words of wisdom for this week are, "When experiencing a bear market, turn back your clocks, and pretend you are in California." (Psychologists around the world are calling for my head.)

Chick Cheryl and I went to a Gala dinner in San Francisco celebrating the financial education of women. Hosted by Financial Finesse, it was a great evening, and Cheryl was by far the hottest looking woman there in her black fur coat. Matter of fact, she was looking like a really skinny bear. Hmmmm... do you think she took my Going on a Bear Hunt article seriously?

Speaking of bear hunting, my father-in-law just stopped over, as I'm now in Minnesota for the weekend, and he informed me that the state's DNR department reported a record setting 406 bears taken home this past hunting season. The market is irritating a lot more people than I thought.

Some of the highlights of the past week:

Starbucks reported same store growth earnings for November, and again, the companies numbers were steaming. The Chicks list Starbucks as a candidate for our buy on Monday, December 4th. To check out the other potential companies, read our Chicks' Dozen compilation. For more information on Starbucks, read the Motley Fool's recent article.

PepsiCo (PEP) is back negotiating the purchase of Quaker Oats (OAT). After three potential suitors backed out on the buy, (Coca-Cola, Danone Group and Pepsi), it looks like Pepsi wants back in. Is Gatorade really that addicting?

Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals (HEPH) made an exciting announcement this past week. After a six day study of it's experimental drug HEP2100, it was found that it did indeed decrease the growth of breast cancer cells. It's stock jumped on the news.

One of the biggest bummers of the week (besides that ever-looming bear) happened in the personal computer industry. Gateway (GTW) announced that it would not meeting fourth quarter sales expectations and pulled Dell and Compaq down with it.

Looking at this past weeks numbers, I'm wishing there was some sort of panic button that we all could push when we've fallen and can't get up. At least we have the option of moving to California. Off to a beach party...

Chick Karin

Closing Market Numbers: