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Shares of Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) are trading up in after hours trading today after the company posted strong Q4 earnings numbers after the market close.

As we noted in our earnings preview, the company was expected to show earnings for the quarter of 21 cents per share on $2.39 billion in revenues. The actual numbers came in at 24 cents per share with revenues of $2.4 billion.

Last week, the number of people filing initial claims for state unemployment dropped by 20,000. As a result, benefits dropped to a seasonally adjusted 512,000. This drop in filings was the first in the past two weeks, and it is the lowest level of initial claims seen since early January.

That said, initial jobless claims have come in atop 500,000 for the past 51 weeks. In addition, the four-week average of claims dropped 3,000 to 523,700. This total is the lowest since the beginning of the year. Expectations called for initial jobless claims to drop to 520,000 last week, so it may be time to sound the rally bell.

Following today's market close, technology giant Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) had its chance to impress Wall Street with its fiscal first quarter results, and the company did not disappoint.

Going into this afternoon's earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see the company show earnings of 31 cents per share, but the company surprised to the upside by posting actual earnings of 36 cents per share for its fiscal first quarter. For the same period last year the company had earnings of 42 cents per share.

Yesterday it was announced very loudly that "my pal Warren" was going to acquire the 77.4% of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (NYSE: BNI) railroad, that Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) does not already own, for $100 per share, offering about a $24 premium to Mondays closing price.

Talk about putting your money where your mouth is -- yikes! Buffett has gone all in, betting the economy is healing, and silencing anyone that questioned his integrity or motives for cautious optimism saying it was all talk!

Penn National Gaming (NASDAQ: PENN - option chain) shares are rising today after voters in Ohio approved ballot measures to allow casinos in four cities in the state. PENN lobbied heavily in favor of the measure and will build two of the casinos, in Toledo and Columbus, which are scheduled to open in 2012. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on PENN.

PENN opened this morning at $27.49. So far today the stock has hit a low of $27.49 and a high of $28.88. As of 11:40, PENN is trading at $28.32 up $2.12 (8.1%). The chart for PENN looks bearish and S&P does not currently have a STARS rating for PENN.

American auto maker Ford Motor (NYSE: F) gave investors a reason to smile this morning when it posted a surprising $1 billion profit for its third quarter.

Going into this morning's earnings release, analysts had expected to see the Dearborn, Michigan-based auto manufacturer to lose 12 cents per share. But Ford had other ideas, posting a profit of 29 cents per share, or $997 million.

Bare Escentuals (NASDAQ: BARE - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported earnings last night after the close. Bare posted a third-quarter profit of $22.6 million, or 24 cents per share, topping analysts' estimates of 21 cents per share. This was a darling stock back in late 2006 and early 2007, but got crushed when the bear market fell apart and consumers were no longer interested in paying premium prices for cosmetics. However, the stock roared back recently as hopes for a strong recovery grow. If you think that the stock could regain its trendy status and won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on BARE.

BARE opened this morning at $13.38. So far today the stock has hit a low of $13.24 and a high of $14.54. As of 11:45, BARE is trading at $13.95 up $1.46 (11.7%). The chart for BARE looks neutral and S&P gives BARE a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

American Airlines (NYSE: AMR - option chain) shares are rising today along with most other major airlines this morning after the International Air Transport Association said international passenger demand rose 0.3% year-over-year in September, the first month of growth in the past year. AMR, Delta (NYSE: DAL), Continental (NYSE: CAL) and United (NASDAQ: UAUA) are all in the green between 2% and 3% so far today. If you think that AMR won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on the stock.

AMR opened this morning at $5.68. So far today the stock has hit a low of $5.55 and a high of $5.70. As of 11:50, AMR is trading at $5.57 up 13 cents(2.4%). The chart for AMR looks neutral and S&P gives AMR a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

It appears that the U.S. economy may finally be dragging itself out of the economic doldrums. At least, that is what the third-quarter Gross Domestic Product indicates. The GDP showed that the U.S. economy grew at a 3.5% annual pace in the third quarter, snapping a four-quarter contraction streak.

The growth is attributed to the massive government stimulus, which led to higher consumer spending. In addition, a reduction in inventories and robust government spending helped spur growth in the third quarter. But even excluding the influence of auto sales, production and inventories, the economy grew 1.9 percent last quarter.

When you spend $787 billion, there's a lot of pressure to show results. So, there's no surprise that success is being proclaimed across the country. States are saying that they've used the federal stimulus package money to create or save more than 388,000 jobs this year. Teachers, construction workers and other professions have realized the upside of stimulus cash according to reports from 33 states and Puerto Rico, with the remainder of the results being released on Friday.

Of course, the numbers "should be taken with a grain of salt," says Ethan Pollack of the Economic Policy Institute. The states were tasked to count the jobs created or protected, but the results have been of dubious accuracy. This doesn't mean the stats can't provide fodder to people on both sides of the aisle.

Columbia Business School's Frank Lichtenberg says the data shows a solid economic impact, and the Obama administration's Council of Economic Advisors believes the stimulus spending has taken care of between 600,000 and 1.1 million jobs.

And, there are those who disagree.

Dreamworks Animation (NYSE: DWA - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported a third-quarter profit of $19.61 million, or 23 cents per share, on revenue of $135.45 million, topping analysts' forecasts of 16 cents per share on revenue of $129.34 million. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on DWA.

DWA opened this morning at $33.46. So far today the stock has hit a low of $32.71 and a high of $33.78. As of 11:45, DWA is trading at $33.15 up $1.17 (3.7%). The chart for DWA looks bullish and S&P gives DWA a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

BP plc (NYSE: BP - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported earnings this morning, posting a third-quarter profit of $5.34 billion. Excluding one-time items, BP earned $4.98 billion, easily topping analysts' forecasts of $3.2 billion. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on BP.

BP opened this morning at $57.93. So far today the stock has hit a low of $57.41 and as of 12:00 is trading near its high on the session at $58.63 up $3.15 (5.7%). The chart for BP looks neutral and S&P gives BP a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Under these economic conditions, you take the good news where you can get it, and one such data point occurred in Nigeria.

A cease fire by Nigeria's oil rebels, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), went into effect on Sunday, following a meeting between Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua and MEND Leader Henry Okah, Bloomberg News reported.

There is no question that the recession took its tool on Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT). The company saw its stock plummet from mid 2008 through March of this year. Along the way the company was forced to layoff employees to help lower costs, but it announced today that it would be rehiring 550 of its laid off workers.

Chief Executive Officer Jim Owens announced the news and stated that the company was pleased that "signs of recovery in the global economy" is allowing it to bring back some employees.

Teradata (NYSE: TDC - option chain) shares are rising today after the stock received positive coverage in Barron's (subscription required) over the weekend. An analyst wrote in the magazine that the stock could rise by as much as 80 percent over the next two years, helped by the company's high cash reserves, good client roster, and technical advantages. This could be a good sign for TDC. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on TDC.

TDC opened this morning at $29.58. So far today the stock has hit a low of $29.11 and a high of $29.75. As of 11:25, TDC is trading at $29.36 up $1.03 (3.6%). The chart for TDC looks neutral and S&P gives TDC a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.