Dividend.com: Midday Playbook

The market is fairly quiet today and this sometimes tends to favor those long the market. The short side tends to get aggressive and often times can be the trigger for what becomes a "short squeeze" in which markets shoot higher. Let's see what is sticking out so far today.

Bullish

Earning Winners: CSX Corp(CSX Quote) and Goldman Sachs(GS Quote) are looking pretty good so far.

Railroad Plays: Burlington Northern(BNI Quote) and Union Pacific(UNP Quote) are benefiting from the CSX results.

Commodity Plays: Freeport McMoran(FCX Quote) and BHP Billiton(BHP Quote) are leading a second-day-in-a-row rally.

Gold: Gold ETF(GLD Quote), RandGold Resources(GOLD Quote) and Agnico-Eagle Mines(AEM Quote) looking good so far.

Retailers: Two momentum favorites are higher, Sears Holdings(SHLD Quote) and Coach(COH Quote).

Oil/Nat Gas Upgrades: Anadarko Petroleum(APC Quote) and Occidental Petroleum(OXY Quote) are two names that were upgraded this morning and who may lead here as traders await an over-due energy rally. Look to these names if oil prices can stop going down for a day.

Analyst Upgrades: L-3 Communications(LLL Quote) and Mohawk Industries(MHK Quote) are rising nicely on the heels of Wall Street upgrades.

Bearish

Earnings Warnings: Dell(DELL Quote) and Take-Two(TTWO Quote) are down on weaker outlooks.

Exchange Operators: Intercontinental Exchange(ICE Quote) and CME Group(CME Quote) will need to make a stand soon or things will really get ugly.

Burger King(BKC Quote): Hitting new 52-week lows on downgrade from Bank of America/Merrill Lynch to a neutral.

Summary

As I mentioned earlier, a quiet market can sometimes favor the long side. We are going to be getting some more results after hours to key on, Intel(INTC Quote), Altera(ALTR Quote) and Yum Brands(YUM Quote). I will be especially keying on Yum Brands, especially after Darden Restaurants(DRI Quote) recently disappointed investors. The ultrashort plays are not looking enticing yet. Maintain some patience here, and there will be some good set-ups taking place. It always happens.