Following are the day’s biggest winners and losers. Find out why shares of Apple and Merck popped while Molson Coors and Steel Dynamics dropped.
POPS (stocks that jumped higher)
Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) popped 12%. The emerging markets ETF pop this week as crude oil and commodities gain. Tim Seymour sees some stability in central Europe which has created at cascade of positive moves in emerging markets.
Apple (AAPL) popped 14%. The maker of the iphone has a big week after releasing a new shuffle, plans to reveal new iPhone software and speculation over new products. Karabell sees Apple's products as the best upside to the company, and after uncertainty with the health situation of Steve Jobs passes, he expects the company to keep moving upward.
Freeport-McMoran (FCX) popped 9%. The copper and gold miner pops as the metals shot upwards this week. With China starving for more copper, Freeport-McMoran is the vehicle to use in order to get your hands on the profits, says Joe Terranova.
Fluor (FLR) popped 25%. The largest US publicly traded company pops this week as competitor Foster Wheeler gets an upgrade and Pete sees options action in the name. Pete Najarian sees more upwards movement for Fluor, even with it's recent gains.
A Pop for Insurers (PRU, HIG). The insurers pop on anticipation of government bailout funds in the coming weeks. Tim Seymour sees news surrounding mark-to-market helping the health insurers just as much as it helps the banks.
Merck(MRK) popped 34%. The pharmaceutical giant pops as it announces a $41.4 billion deal to buy Schering-Plough. Zach Karabell sees this new deal in Pharma being very well recieved.
A Pop for the Airlines. The airlines have their longest gain in years on hopes that capacity cuts, reduced costs, and fare cuts will help the companies become profitable. Although he says he'll never advocate buys in the airline industry, Joe Terranova says he has to give them credit. Although they looked close to bankruptcy, they've come back.
Foster Wheeler (FWLT) popped 23%. The oilfield services company pops on an upgrade to “buy” from “neutral” at Goldman Sachs, and gets added to the “conviction buy” list, citing the stock’s value compared to its competitors. Moving from neutral to buy at Goldman Sachs, it's good news for FWLT, says Pete Najarian.
Las Vegas Sands (LVS) popped 38%. The casino company pops after Sanford Bernstein releases a note saying the struggling firm can survive by selling some of its assets to meet debt obligations. They have a huge amount of debt in this environment, says Zach Karabell, who urges caution on this stock.
Palm (PALM) popped 42%. The maker of the Treo pops ahead of earnings next week, on an upgrade at RBC Capital, citing strength in the new Pre and saying it could become a new leader in the smartphone market or an attractive buyout target. The company also said it’s reselling millions of shares to raise capital before launching the new phone
A pop for March Madness Vasectomies. CNBC's Sports Business reporter Darren Rovell writes in his blog that the number of Vasectomies performed rises during March Madness, as the procedure requires a few days of rest. Clinics appear to men to get vasectomies in March so they can watch their favorite teams while recooperating. The Oregon Urology institute reports that business was up 10% during the tournament last year.
DROPS (stocks that slid lower)
Steel Dynamics (STLD) dropped 19%.The steel producer drops after cutting its first-quarter outlook and predicts a loss due to weakening demand. Steel is in a much different place than copper, says Tim Seymour.
Molson Coors Brewing Co. (TAP) dropped 6%. Tne name not participating in this week’s rally is this brewer, hitting a new 52-week low, as its downtrend continues. Joe Terranova says that this stock could be a buy, but they are having their problems.
A Drop for the Sears Tower. The famous Sears Tower, just a few years ago the tallest building in the world, is to be renamed the "Willis Tower." The Willis Group, an insurance broker, recently reached a deal in which the company would gain the naming rights to the tower and leas the 140,000 square feet of office space.
A Drop for Steve Wosniak. The Apple co-founder and contestant on ABC's "Dancing with The Stars" fractured his food this week amidst the dancing. Wosniak is currently sporting a removable cast on his left leg, but will apparently still be competing on "Stars" next week. He has confirmed that next week will be "Crazy and fun, just like the first one."
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Trader disclosure: On Mar. 13th, 2009, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders: Najarian Owns (FCX) Call Spread, (IBB) Calls, (AMAT) Calls, (GDX), (GLD) Put Spread, (GE) Calls, (JPM)Calls, (MS) & (MS) Calls, (MSFT), (X) Call Spread, (XHB) Call Spread, (WFC); Seymour Owns (AAPL), (BAC), (EEM), (FXI), Seymour's Firm Owns (PBR), Seymour Is Short (X); Terranova Owns (IBM) & (IBM) Calls, (DIS) & (DIS) Calls, (XOM), (COP) Calls, (JPM), (X), (POT), (WYNN), (XBI), (HESS), (INTC), (BRCM), (DELL), (JOYG), (FXC), (AMGN) & (AMGN) Puts, MACI Oil Futures; Karabell Owns (AAPL), (BHP), (FCX), (FXI), (GOOG), (GLD), (GE), (JPM); Citi Owns (AMD), (TXN), Citi Has Received Compensation From (INTC),Citi Has Received Compensation From (AMD), Citi Has Had (INTC) As An Investment Client, Citi Has Had (TXN) As An Investment Client, Citi Is A Market Maker In The Shares Of (INTC), Citi Is A Market Maker In The Shares Of (QCOM)