Reuters reports that the stimulus is unlikely to fix state problems.

Reuters writes that US consumer prices probably moved up in January.

Reuters writes that mortgage lenders are busy now the Obama has laid out his homeowner assistance plan.

Reuters reports that nearly five million Americans are getting unemployment benefits.

Reuters writes that Best Buy (BBY) has laid off some headquarters workers.

Reuters writes that Bank of America (BAC) and Citigroup (C) shares fell on nationalization concerns.

Reuters reports that The New York Times (NYT) suspended it dividend.

Reuters reports that Saturn may have other brands in three years.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Anglo American will cut 16,000 people.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Bank of America’s Lewis got a subpoena over the Merrill buyout.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the DJIA hit a six-year low.

The Wall Street Journal reports that gas demand is moving up.

The Wall Street Journal reports that policing TARP money has been hard.

The Wall Street Journal writes that P&G (PG) says high prices will stick.

The Wall Street Journal writes that cable firms may offer shows online.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Sprint (S) is still losing subscribers.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Ford (F) is benefiting from problems at GM (GM) and Chrysler.

The Wall Street Journal reports that any sign of inflation will be a mirage.

The Wall Street Journal reports that China expressed liquidity concerns.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Coke (KO) upped its dividend.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Sumner Redstone may sell a stake in CBS (CBS) now that it has cut its dividend.

The Wall Street Journal reports that oil moved up 14%.

The Wall Street Journal reports that China is considering financing the Petrobras drilling for deep sea oil deposits.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Avon (AVP) cut more jobs.

The New York Times reports that the government will help build profits at private equity firms and hedge funds so that they can be bankers to banks.

The New York Times reports that biotech companies in the agriculture industry are seeing research thwarted by regulations.

The FT reports that US banks shares are near 17-year lows.

The FT reports that Obama will hold meeting to see how US debt can be cut.

Bloomberg reports that Chrysler renewed the option of merging with GM.

Bloomberg writes that Google’s (GOOG) Android software may end up in PCs as a challenge to Microsoft (MSFT).

Douglas A. McIntyre

Analysts have an average price target north of $66.00.  We recently chose Pepsico (NYSE: PEP) in an earnings and valuation measurement for our go-to defensive stock picks for the first part of 2008, and that was long before Pepsi did incredibly well off of earnings.  Jim Cramer gave some dueling targets on Coke VS. Pepsi.

Today’s options prices were signaling an expected price move of up to $1.20 in either direction.  As far as the stock chart goes, KO is no longer in its long-term uptrend.  It is looking more like it is in a no-man’s land with the 50-day moving average at $61.59 and the 200-day moving average at $56.50.  Coca Cola’s 52-week trading range is $45.56 to $65.59.

Last week, Pepsi saw shares rise over $3.00 on earnings and shares are even higher yet.  Over the last 5-days, Pepsico shares are up over 6% while Coca Cola shares are up just under 4%.

Jon C. Ogg
February 12, 2008