Stockhouse @ the Bell: Stocks pare losses on Obama mortgage plan

Today on Stockhouse

Your opinion matters. Submit an article to Stockhouse today at submissions@stockhouse.com. Submission guidelines can be found here.

Uranium stock opportunities for the short term: Part 2, from The Energy Report.

Chris Ciovacco discusses stock market's 'bad' breadth and charting the gold price.

Homebuilder puts roll out, says Jud Pyle.

Tesoro Corp. shares gush higher ahead of earnings, notes Schaeffer’s Research.

J.W. Cotton provides some stock picks with good insider buying.

Buzz on the Boards took a look at the Canasia Industries (TSX: V.CAJ, Stock Forum) and SLAM Exploration (TSX: V.SXL, Stock Forum) Bullboards.

Top Bullboards post:“Unfortunately, the entire market's focus is on the U.S. recovery plan. I still hold out hope that management can get something done here in terms of funding. I'm starting to think we have another down-leg to come in the markets in general.... DOW 6000, S&P 650.... Looks like the U.S. gov't / PPT/ FED are propping it up right now. Not good at all [sic]…” – From venturecop1 on the Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX: T.NCU, Stock Forum) Bullboard.

Top Bullboard: Cloudbreak Resources (TSX: V.CDB, Stock Forum) had one of the most posted Bullboards of the day.

Top blog:AngelEyes3 took a look at “two unloved PM companies” in the My Thoughts on Gold In Today’s Market blog Thursday.

For news about small stocks that made big moves in Thursday trading, please read the Stockhouse Canadian Small and Micro-cap Stock Report.

Word on Wall Street

"The stimulus bill looks like a little bit of a wet blanket," Randy Frederick, director of trading and derivatives at Charles Schwab told the Associated Press. "There is some concern that maybe this thing won't work as well as expected."

Today In The Markets

Markets shake off steep losses despite economic concerns, earnings news

DJIA	7,932.76	-6.77
NASDAQ	1,541.71	+11.21
S&P500	835.19	+1.45
S&P/TSX	8,778.78	+40.89
S&P/TSX Venture	915.87	+4.61

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TORONTO, NEW YORK (CP) - The Toronto stock market staged a late session turnaround to close higher as losses in financials and energy stocks moderated.

New York stock markets also greatly improved near the close after getting some possible good news about mortgages. Toronto's S&P/TSX composite index came back from a 147-point slide to gain 40.89 points to 8,778.78 as the market found relief from telecom and base metals stocks. Investors were also pleased with reports from a couple of big retailers. The TSX Venture Exchange gained 4.61 points to 915.87.

New York's Dow Jones industrials was off a slight 6.77 points to 7,932.76 after a report that the government plans to subsidize mortgage payments for troubled homeowners. The Dow had fallen nearly 250 points in earlier trading. The Nasdaq composite index gained 11.21 points to 1,541.71 and the S&P 500 index was ahead 1.45 points to 835.19.

Please click here for current U.S. and Canadian market summaries.

After-Hours News

McAfee Inc. (NYSE: MFE)
After Thursday's close, the security software maker said its fourth-quarter sales rose 19% to $424 million, above the Wall Street consensus estimate of $419 million. Net income came in at $45.4 million, or 29 cents a share, from $12.2 million, or seven cents a share, during the same period last year. Excluding special items, the company said earnings would have been 53 cents a share, matching the analyst forecast.

Admiral Bay Resources (TSX: V.ADB)
The emerging unconventional gas production company, after Thursday's closing bell, announced that it has reached its previously stated goal of 4 MMCFPD of gross sales from its Kansas projects, a result of recent development activity. The company has also completed the installation of three electric compressors and is adding new third-party gas production in its Shiloh project.