Stockhouse @ the Bell: Stocks up on Alcoa earnings

Today on Stockhouse

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

Ticker Trax’s Thom Calandra provides some buzz for resource investors, including alloy metals and gold juniors.

And, Marc Davis of BNWnews.ca explains how he expects vanadium to revolutionize green energy.

Top Bullboards post: “Cornerstone is a company that backs up their statements with actions. Additionally, they keep their shareholders informed and return calls. Communication speaks to the success of any company or organization. As we all know, CGP has some very promising properties. I feel very good about each one and further more I believe that it is only a matter of time before one or more of their projects will reward those of us who have remained as loyal shareholders.” From wordsout on the Cornerstone Capital Resources (TSX: V.CGP, Stock Forum) board.

Top Bullboard:Passport Potash (TSX: V.PPI, Stock Forum) received the most reads and posts on a day its stock price slipped more than 14%.

Top blog: LexLuthor2 suggests members take a look at this speculative explorer with an attractive land position in the Lex Corp blog.

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

Word on Wall Street

"Consumer stocks have been left for dead," said Matt Lloyd, the chief investment strategist at Advisors Asset Management, in an interview with Associated Press. Consumer companies cut so many costs during the recession that any slight bump in spending "has a much bigger effect on margins," he said.

Today In The Markets

Strong Alcoa earnings, outlook help TSX rack up first positive close of 2011

DJIA	11,671.88	+34.43
NASDAQ	2,716.83	+9.03
S&P500	1,274.48	+4.73
S&P/TSX	13,401.05	+155.93
S&P/TSX Venture	2,265.74	+32.34

Toronto & New York (The Canadian Press) - The Toronto stock market ran ahead to its first positive close of 2011 on Tuesday as commodity stocks benefited from a solid earnings report from resource bellwether Alcoa Inc.

The S&P /TSX composite index gained 155.93 points to 13,401.05 after five straight losing sessions as sentiment was also improved by a pledge from Japan to support Europe’s bailout efforts.

The TSX Venture Exchange was 32.34 points higher at 2,265.74.

The Dow Jones industrials moved up 34.43 points at 11,671.88.

The Nasdaq composite index gained 9.03 points to 2,716.83 while the S&P 500 index was ahead 4.73 points at 1,274.48

Please click here for the complete U.S. and Canadian market summaries.

After-Hours News

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF, Stock Forum)
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. (TSX: T.CLM, Stock Forum) to acquire all of Consolidated Thompson's common shares in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4.9 billion Canadian dollars (including net debt), or C$17.25 per share. That represents an implied premium of 30% to Consolidated Thompson's closing share price as of Jan. 10, 2011.

Belvedere Resources Ltd. (TSX: V.BEL, Stock Forum)
Belvedere Resources Ltd. announces that it is undertaking a private placement to raise up to C$ 2.5 million through the issuance of 10,416,667 units at a price of C$ 0.24 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of Belvedere and one-half of a common share purchase warrant of Belvedere. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share of Belvedere at an exercise price of $0.40 per share for a period of 18 months following the closing date.