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Ratings changes on three stocks, one update and 10 stocks that are at good buy points.

As for the market, last week, we said that Wednesday’s huge distribution day was a shot across the market’s bow—while it didn’t break the overall bull market, we thought the next few days (or couple of weeks) would tell us whether that was more of a shakeout or the start of a topping phase.

The Emerging Markets Timer is doing just fine, as the iShares EM Fund has rebounded from its May 17–18 dip.

The major indexes pulled back late last week, then rallied Monday after Saudi Arabia and Russia said they would extend oil production cuts. Crude prices surged to their highest level in two weeks, and energy stocks led the market higher. Things cooled off again on Tuesday, as housing starts disappointed and the U.S. dollar fell to its lowest level since before the election.

Oftentimes after making a buy-write recommendation, I get questions on how I choose the strike to sell. So I thought I would go through my thought process with this trade.

An update on one of our stocks, and ratings changes on two others.

An update on one of our stocks, and a rating change on another.

Remain mostly bullish, but hold a little cash to respect the market’s growing divergences. Our market timing indicators are still mixed, though the long-term trend and growth stocks remain in good shape.

The market continues to perform well, with the market’s leading stocks outperforming the broad market indexes. These are good times, so enjoy them! But remember to guard against complacency; hundreds of earnings reports are about to flood Wall Street, and we’re sure that some leaders will fail, while others will soar. Thus, while the overall bull market shows no sign of ending, the next few weeks will be volatile. This week’s Top Ten contains another well-rounded batch of stocks, with a couple of biotech names highlighting the newfound strength in that sector. Another group that’s quietly improved has been the steel stocks, with Schnitzer Steel (SCHN) leading the way. The stock is in a mild pullback following a powerful breakout in recent weeks. We think it’s buyable around here.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
TKC (TKC)	0.00	19-23	-
ALNY (ALNY)	0.00	30-35	-
AUXL (AUXL)	0.00	21-23	-
CIEN (CIEN)	0.00	44-46	-
FSLR (FSLR)	0.00	125-135	-
HANS (HANS)	0.00	56-60	-
OVTI (OVTI)	0.00	22-24	-
QMAR (QMAR)	0.00	19-22	-
RIMM (RIMM)	0.00	106-114	-
SCHN (SCHN)	0.00	65-70	-

We’ve been writing that the recent straight-up move in leading stocks, combined with signs of speculation in early October, all happening right in front on earnings season, was a recipe for lower prices in the short-term. And voilà! Stocks got hit hard last week and early this morning, as the sellers gained traction. At this point, the major market trends are up, so we believe this correction will eventually lead to higher prices … but we’d still be a bit cautious in the short-term, as selling pressures usually don’t disappear after just one week. This week’s Top Ten contains a few earnings winners from last week (always good candidates for further upside), as well as a few new names. Our favorite of the week is New Oriental Education (EDU), a Chinese firm that gapped up on strong earnings last week, but has pulled back with the market in recent days. It’s a bit thinly traded, and thus jumpier, but we think buying a little here will work out.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
ANR (ANR)	0.00	24-26	-
AUO (AUO)	0.00	18 1/2 - 20	-
BIDU (BIDU)	0.00	310-320	-
EDU (EDU)	0.00	65-75	-
ISRG (ISRG)	0.00	260-272	-
LIFC (LIFC)	0.00	38-41	-
LULU (LULU)	0.00	45-55	-
MTL (MTL)	0.00	60-66	-
SA (SA)	0.00	32-36	-
SPWR (SPWR)	0.00	91-96	-

Last week’s sharp market break on huge volume brought down many leading stocks, and dropped the major indexes through key support. That means the intermediate-term market trend is now down, so you should be selling your losers and poor performers, holding on to plenty of cash, working on a watch list, and possibly making a few token buys here and there. Overall, we know the next bull move will bring many profit-making opportunities (they always do!), so your goal should be to get from here to there with as much of your capital (and confidence) as possible. This week’s Top Ten contains many interesting stories and solid charts, and buying a little on weakness is fine as long as you have cash stowed away. Our favorite of the week is LG Philips (LPL), a cyclical stock in a high-tech industry (LCD screens). Business is improving rapidly, and the stock’s huge-volume breakout means any retreat should be arrested just a little below today’s level.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
LPL (LPL)	0.00	25-27 1/2	-
NUVA (NUVA)	0.00	39-42	-
ONXX (ONXX)	0.00	50-55	-
PCLN (PCLN)	0.00	96-101	-
GFA (GFA)	0.00	33-37	-
GOLD (GOLD)	0.00	32-35	-
ANR (ANR)	0.00	22-25	-
BVN (BVN)	0.00	50-56	-
DNR (DNR)	0.00	51-55	-
FSLR (FSLR)	0.00	150-165	-

With the market in a defined downtrend, the odds are against the bulls; buying a bunch of stocks, even if they have tremendous Top Ten-type relative strength, will usually cost you money. Thus, you should be focusing on building your watch list of resilient stocks with top-notch growth stories; doing that today will prepare you to pounce once the market gives us a green light. This week’s (and last issue’s) Top Ten is a great place to begin building – you’ll find a wide array of stocks here, from different industries with different prospects. Many are familiar names, which we view as a good thing; big investors are still sitting tight with many leaders, giving them a shot at racing ahead once the bulls re-take control. Our favorite of the week is Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI), partly due to its chart (some recent high-volume buying suggests good support on any weakness) and partly due to the ongoing boom in oil and gas infrastructure.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
AG (AG)	0.00	54-57	-
BIDZ (BIDZ)	0.00	14-17	-
BUCY (BUCY)	0.00	80-84	-
CBI (CBI)	0.00	48-52	-
CNX (CNX)	0.00	52-55	-
FLS (FLS)	0.00	86-93	-
FSLR (FSLR)	0.00	190-210	-
MA (MA)	0.00	175-185	-
STP (STP)	0.00	60-65	-
UTHR (UTHR)	0.00	90-100	-

After reaching new highs this summer, the S&P 500 index has receded to price support around 2,120. That’s frustrating for investors because most good stocks will move somewhat in tandem with the S&P, so your stock portfolios have probably been a disappointment in recent weeks.

We’ve learned over many decades that it’s usually best to just go with the evidence in front of us—and today, that evidence remains slightly tilted to the bull side.

Several of our portfolios stocks are rising this week, so I want to reiterate some trading suggestions in case the stocks reach price targets before the next weekly update of Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor.

Shares of Aerohive (HIVE) plummeted at the open today but have come back relatively strong and are now down just 2%. I’m moving the stock from Hold to Sell today.

Yesterday’s sharp selloff turned Cabot’s intermediate-term market timing indicators negative, so it’s time to get a little more conservative.

The Emerging Markets Timer keeps flashing a green light, so we remain bullish. There are no changes in the portfolio tonight.

The Emerging Markets Timer has shifted to a warning signal, so we are turning more cautious and raising some cash. The markets have taken some of our stocks lower over the past few days, but the portfolio is in pretty good shape overall. Tonight we’re selling MercadoLibre (MELI) and Silicon Motion (SIMO), and putting Baozun (BZUN) and Line Corporation (LN) on Hold.

For the third time in less than a year, a portfolio stock has received a lucrative buyout offer. The board of directors of chemical company Chemtura (CHMT) unanimously agreed to accept a buyout offer from Lanxess AG in a deal valued at $2.5 billion.