05/09/2005

First Quarter Earnings

Hello:

So far, 437 companies in the S & P 500 index have reported earnings for the first quarter. Approximately 67% have reported earnings above analyst expectations, 14% have reported earnings in line with analyst expectations, and 19% have reported earnings below analyst expectations.

Today's Financial News Times reports that China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) will discuss the possibility of making a counter-offer to ChevronTexaco's bid for Unocal. (Well, selling off U.S. assets is one way to pay down U.S. debt.)

Feel free to share this newsletter with a friend. They will thank you and so will we!

Terri G. Millson, CIMC President

Ray Dicius, CSA, GEPC LPL Branch Manager