Election, Fed meeting and unemployment report is the catalyst of the market this week

We will have another rally to S&P500 1200, or as high as 1220 before the election and Fed meeting on Wednesday. And I think the market will take a short break to digest these few months gain shortly after this rally. The fact is that a rally with an angle up that is as steep as this just can’t be sustained. A rest will most likely take the form of a mild correction first. It will bring the market to the first support 1170, then 1150 and 1130.

 However, until the SPX closes at least below the 5 WK EMA, which is 1169.35, the direction remains up, and not a short play.

Soy after Menopause: A Healthy Choice

Women who eat more soy foods during menopause, hoping to get some relief from symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings, might reap an additional benefit.

A new study found that obese African American women who supplemented with a soy-based shake after menopause lost weight, and white women experienced a shift toward healthier body fat distribution.

According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 39 obese postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to add drink a dairy-based or soy-based supplement shake to their regular diet, twice a day for three months.

Black and white women benefit differently from soy

Several important differences between the groups were found at the end of the trial:

• Abdominal fat, sometimes called “belly fat,” decreased by 7.5% in the women taking the soy shake, but increased by 8.8% in women taking the dairy shake. This type of fat is closely associated with cardiovascular disease.

• Visceral fat, which is distributed on the organs and is the most dangerous type of fat, decreased by 2.5% in the soy group and increased by 5.3% in the dairy group, however, this difference was not statistically significant.

• The researchers found that, when taking race into account, only the white women lost abdominal and visceral fat; African American women taking the soy shake did not experience improvement in body fat distribution.

• African American women on the soy shake lost weight while white women did not.

• Small changes in blood markers in the women using the soy shake suggested that they may have had slight improvements in blood sugar metabolism and generalized inflammation.

“Soy supplementation reduced abdominal fat in obese postmenopausal women,” the study’s authors said of their findings.

Reaping soy’s rewards

In addition to weight loss or better body fat distribution, women who eat soy may see other health improvements:

• Reduced menopausal symptoms. Women from societies where soy is eaten regularly are less likely to suffer from hot flashes, and several studies have found that adding soy to a Western diet can decrease symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

• Lower blood pressure. Soy protein has been found to lower blood pressure in both men and women.

• Lower cholesterol levels. Eating soy foods such as tofu, tempeh, miso, and soy nuts can reduce total and LDL-cholesterol levels.

• Stronger bones. Some, but not all, studies have found that soy foods and supplements can preserve bone density in postmenopausal women.

Never short a dull market

The S&P 500 Index erased most of its losses by the close, giving up just 3.2 points, closed at 1182.45. The SPX continues to consolidate near the 1180 neighborhood.

Market is consolidating at 1180 area. A minor day to day correction will set up another rally to the top of 1120 range by the week of election and Fed meeting. It is not wise to short the market at this time.

Never short a dull market. If you are the fans of bear camp, I suggest you to get ready by the second week of November. When the excitement of the Fed's money printing game and the election is over, watch out the bulls by taking profit and run away.

You should lighten your long position or grab the next rally as a shorting opportunity right before the election at Nov, 2 and Fed meeting at Nov, 3

The S&P 500 Index was up 0.02 point, closed at 1185.64. Stocks kicked off the session on a sour note today, as the Street digested disappointing earnings reports from some of market heavyweights. However the positive consumer confidence report gave market a good excuse to bounce back to the positive zone.

With the Nov. 2 elections approaching and the Federal Reserve's next policy meeting on schedule early next month, the possibility of a correction is imminent.

The Fed has said it could take more policy actions to stimulate growth in the form of an additional purchase of Treasury securities. That's what will be the result of next Fed meeting at Nov, 3. But the market has already anticipated that, and the move has already been priced into the market.

Traders have to be very alert and cautious. If you are a prudent investors, you should lighten your long position. Aggressive traders should grab the next rally as a shorting opportunity, especially the rally right before the election at  Nov, 2 and Fed meeting at Nov, 3.

Market is at a a chronic buying panic stage

The S&P 500 Index gave back most of its lead by the close, finishing with a gain of 2.5 points, closed at 1185.62. Stocks shot higher right out of the gate this morning, However, investors' initial optimism somewhat deflated in afternoon trading.

Market keep trying to test resistance 1200, we are entering the end of month which is usually bullish. If you are still holding your stock, there is no reason to sell it until November or the market tell you to do so. However, a tight stop to protect your profit is necessary.

Traders recent trading strategy is buy low and sell high, buy high and sell higher. That mean they will buy this market no matter what happen. I look at this as a chronic buying panic situation. A real big storm is coming soon. After the November, 3 Fed's meeting and the midterm election, and if dollar find a footing and rebound. Watch out the bears! Anyway if market can resist the gravity on bullish months November and December, in my opinion, I think it will find some excuse and catalyst to sell off on January.

The recent trading was directly related to the movement in the dollar

On Friday the S&P 500 spent several hours of the session confined to a three-point trading range. It was up 2.82 points, closed at 1183.08.

The recent trading was directly related to the movement in the dollar. Stocks gained on a weaker dollar, and when the dollar began to firm, stocks turned south. It could be said that each of the major indices reflected an inverse move in the greenback.

Dollar is down 0.61% by this time and S&P 500 future is up 8 points. Guess we have another gap up open tomorrow. I don't think the Fed and traders will let this market down before the election, just enjoy your bull ride and set your stop loss tight.

Fish may offer protection to men with prostate cancer

A man’s diet may affect his prostate cancer risk, and a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that fish may offer protection to men with prostate cancer. Men who eat an abundance of fish may have a lower risk of developing advanced prostate cancer or dying from prostate cancer compared with men who eat very little or no fish.

Adding fish slows disease progression

The incidence of prostate cancer varies throughout the world, and prior research suggests that diet may affect the incidence of cancer and the number of deaths caused by prostate cancer. For instance, populations who eat a lot of fish such as people in Japan and Alaskan Eskimos have a lower incidence of prostate cancer than people who eat typical Western diets. In this review, researchers examined data from a total of 31 observational studies and looked at the association between the amount of fish men ate and incidence of death from prostate cancer. Because of the many studies included in this meta-analysis, the men ate a wide variety of fish, including fatty fish, lean fish, and even fried fish. Results showed:

• Men who ate more fish had a 44% lower risk of having advanced or metastatic prostate cancer compared with men who ate less.

• In addition, men who ate more fish also had a 63% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer compared with men who ate less.

• In this particular analysis, eating more fish was not associated with a significantly lower incidence of prostate cancer, but it did lower incidence of advanced prostate cancer. The authors comment, “In our study, fish consumption was not associated with a lower incidence of all prostate cancer, but it may be related to decreased aggressive, clinically relevant disease. Fish consumption may decrease cancer-specific mortality by preventing metastatic disease.”

While the authors don’t state how much fish a man should eat for the protective benefits, one epidemiological study referenced in the article found that men who ate fish more than three times per week had a lower risk of prostate cancer and especially metastatic cancer than men who ate less.

Fish-ful thinking

• Get important nutrients. Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D and other vitamins, minerals, and protein.

• Protect against cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in laboratory studies. Inflammation is thought to play a significant role in cancer development and studies have demonstrated that fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects as well. As we see from the results of the above study and others, further research is needed to understand the role of dietary fish in cancer prevention.

• Make it part of a balanced diet. Eating fish is recommended by a number of health organizations to help prevent a variety of medical conditions. For instance, The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week for heart health. But more isn’t necessarily better in this case.

Astaxanthin May Help Quell Reflux Syndrome

The pigment that gives salmon its pink color may reduce the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn, according to a new study.

A high dose (40 mg) of the carotenoid astaxanthin was found to significantly reduce heartburn, and the effects were mostly pronounced in people infected with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium that causes stomach ulcers, according to research published in the journal Phytomedicine.

"This is the first randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the antioxidant astaxanthin used for treatment of functional dyspepsia," wrote lead author Limas Kupcinskas from Kaunas University of Medicine in Lithuania.

"We can hypothesize that the stronger response in H. pylori positive patients is due to reduced oxidative stress in the stomach by the astaxanthin treatment and hence also less oxidative stress in the esophagus, resulting in ameliorated symptoms," Kupcinskas added.

Researchers recruited 132 people with indigestion (dyspepsia) and randomly assigned them to receive 15 or 40 mg per day of astaxanthin or placebo for four weeks. The study was a controlled, prospective, randomized and double-blind design. People were classified as positive or negative for H. pylori infection.

At the end of four weeks, Kupcinskas and co-workers found no significant differences between the three groups regarding overall measures of abdominal pain, indigestion and reflux syndromes. However, when they focused on only reflux syndrome, they found a significant benefit in the group receiving the high dose astaxanthin supplement, compared to the other groups. Moreover, the benefits were higher in the people who also tested positive for H. pylori.

Investors should expect a cooling-off period and a modest pullback to the breakout triple-top at S&P 1130

The S&P 500 Index ended a volatile session with a gain of 2.1 points, closed at 1180.26. The stock market climbed as much as 1% to set a new five-month high, but a rebound in the dollar failed a morning rally.

Stocks had weakened in the afternoon as the dollar strengthened. The market is trading a lot counter to what the dollar’s doing, but investors  expected stimulus support from the central bank are unlikely to let stocks slide too far. Quantitative easing is a nice support and I also think the potential for some more pro-business news in the election coming up is helping to stabilize the market too. However, market also moved up pretty substantially and you get into some of these questions about whether all these positive news and numbers were priced in.

As long as the support zone of S&P 500 1150 to 1175 holds, the chances of a challenge to the April high is still possible this year. But after such a sustained rally from the August low, investors should expect a cooling-off period and a modest pullback to the breakout triple-top at S&P 1130.

Investors are most likely to buy the rumor and sell the fact

The bulls came back today with a dramatic recovery from Tuesday's sell-off. The S&P 500 Index was up 12.3 points, closed at 1178.17 and regained the support of its 10-day moving average at 1172.

Thanks to a weaker dollar and some upbeat earnings reports, stocks rebounded from the prior session's distribution. Most major averages recouped Tuesday's losses. But the rally only regained just over 70% of Tuesday’s losses and failed to reach the volume levels of the sell-off with just 1.1 billion shares yesterday compared to 1.3 billion on Tuesday. And Tuesday’s decline was the second time that the S&P has failed to punch through the resistance at 1185, which is just 10 points under its 200-week moving average.

Tuesday’s 165-point Dow plunge, down volume was greater than up volume. And these negative volume numbers are what technicians consider to be important indicators that a normal pullback could be about to occur. That is an early sign of distribution. 'Watch Out'

The dollar surged 1.7% in the prior session, but was dumped this session for a 1.3% loss. as I mention in last two posts that the consistent downtrend of dollar is the the main catalysts for the strength of the markets lately. Tuesday dollar up, stock down, Wednesday vice versa.

The Fed's monetary policy has been in focus as investors anticipate the central bank's launch of a new round of quantitative easing at the conclusion of its meeting on Nov. 3. I am very sure most of the bullish factors has already price in the market. Investors are most likely to buy the rumor and sell the fact. Just remember to lighten your stock exposure on the way up of this rally. I suggest you not to hold more than 20% stocks when approaching Nov. 3 Fed meeting and midterm election.

If the dollar really begins to bounce, this could suggest today's pullback will continue

The S&P 500 Index ended on a drastic drop of 18.8 points, but the index found a floor in the 1160 neighborhood, closed at 1165.9.  Stocks on Tuesday marked their biggest one-day drop since the market confirmed its rally seven weeks ago. Volume surged and most leaders stumbled.

Disappointment in the tech sector, China's interest rate hike and a higher dollar slammed U.S. stocks Tuesday. However, in Asia the market may have some mild consolidation. But I don’t think this interest-rate hike from China will have any big impact. It’ll attract liquidity flows into Asia, particularly Hong Kong and China. I think the people over there will see any correction as an opportunity to buy.

On Monday, the S&P 500 hit a new closing high for the current rally, but with the internal indicators at overbought level, I cautioned in yesterday's post that a failure of any kind could reverse a near-term trend and drive stocks down. Today's major jump in the U.S. dollar was the true bearish catalyst. The key to everything is the U.S. dollar, A lower dollar has been driving the market higher, but if the dollar really begins to bounce, this could suggest today's pullback will continue.

For the NYSE composite, Tuesday marked its fourth heavy-volume hit since the Sept.1 follow-through signal. Four or five distribution days over several weeks can signal that a market has topped. Leaders were mostly lower.

The next support will be 1050-1055, then 1040-1030,

The counter-trend rally in the dollar may curtail stock's bullish momentum

The S&P 500 Index extending its rally throughout the session to end on a gain of 8.5 points, closed at 1184.71. A big rebound by bank stocks on the upbeat report from Citigroup helped drive the broader market higher Monday.

While it is likely that the current rally has further to go, however, there are some factors that warn us to be cautious. I believe the probability of a pullback is rising. One of the main catalysts for strength of the markets lately has been the consistent downtrend in the U.S. Dollar Index. I think a counter-trend rally in the dollar is approaching and believe this will take away some fuel from the rally.

Tech has been holding the market up as financials fell last week. With tech showing weakness, we could be getting ready for a bigger correction. Nevertheless, Charts are still not showing a topping pattern on the SPY but I will look for that closely to see whether it’s time to look at short opportunities again.

Traders are waiting for minor correction to jump in this overbought market in order to enjoy the year end rally

S&P 500 index closed at 1176.19, up 2.38 points. Stocks gave up early gains and finished mixed after a wave of headlines Friday. Fed Chairman hinted at more action, while most economic reports beat expectations. Stocks ended mixed Friday as weakness in the banking sector dragged on the Dow, while technology shares stayed strong.

One of the internal indicators, the slow stochastic, flashed a short-term sell signal. And the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) survey was released yesterday, showing a drop in bullishness by 1.9% to 47.1%, which is still much too high for this contra-indicator. AAII points out, "This is the sixth consecutive week that bullish sentiment has been above its historical average of 39%."

Now all of this may mean little and even seem overly cautious. And the market could continue to make a run at the next significant resistance, which is 1200 for the S&P 500.

As for trading strategies, when approaching an area of significant resistance, like S&P 1200, it is wise to cut down on the size of new positions and take smaller profits rather than going for the home run. Such resistance zones are there because investors sold at these zones before.

In the mean time, I think most of the traders are waiting for minor correction to jump in this overbought market in order to enjoy the year end rally.

Lutein Slows Vision Loss

A diet rich in dark-green leafy vegetables is essential for eye health, and specific nutrients such as lutein that are found in these foods may have particular benefits for people who suffer from eye disorders. A new study in the Archives of Ophthalmology suggests that supplementing with lutein may slow vision loss in people who suffer from an eye disease known as retinitis pigmentosa.

Lutein plus vitamin A protects peripheral vision

Retinitis pigmentosa refers to a group of hereditary diseases that affect the retina of the eye. The condition often starts in adolescence and slowly progresses through adulthood leading to partial vision loss or sometimes blindness.

In this study, 225 non-smoking people aged 18 to 60 who had retinitis pigmentosa were randomly assigned to receive 12 mg of lutein or a control tablet (providing no treatment), and all participants received daily vitamin A (as 15,000 IU of retinyl palmitate). During the first year of the study participants were also advised to eat two 3-ounce servings of oily fish per week after a study showed benefit of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) supplementation for retinitis pigmentosa.

Researchers followed the people in the study for four years, collecting information from annual eye exams and monitoring of blood serum lutein levels. Results showed:

• People who took lutein had a slower decline of side (midperipheral) vision loss compared with the control group. Vision loss was significantly slower among those with the highest serum lutein levels compared with those who had the lowest.

• There was no significant difference or treatment effect on the course of degeneration of central vision loss between the lutein and control group.

The study authors point out that a daily dietary recommendation for lutein has not been established and that most Americans eat 1 to 2 mg per day. Prior studies, however, have shown that 6 mg per day of lutein supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

The long-term safety of taking lutein supplementation has yet to be established. There are also a number of risks of taking high-dose vitamin A, so it is important to check with your doctor before taking dietary supplements in order to learn more about the risks and benefits.

Tips for eye health

• Eat a balanced diet. Along with other nutrients, lutein is important for healthy vision and is found in dark-green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, kale, and spinach. This new study is another good reason to strive for those five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

• Avoid unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Smoking and drinking alcohol in excess may damage eye health, and both habits are also associated with lower serum lutein levels according to the study authors.

• Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun can be damaging to healthy eyes but especially for people who suffer from eye disorders. Wear protective glasses and provide glasses for your children while enjoying the sunny outdoors.

Dermatologists Think it's Time to End Our Reliance on the Sun as a Major Source of Vitamin D

Vitamin D levels have dramatically decreased among Americans in the past two decades, according to a recent study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine. "We found a marked increase in vitamin D deficiency over the past two decades," said lead researcher Dr. Adit Ginde, an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. "Over three out of every four Americans now have vitamin D levels below what we believe is necessary for optimal health.

It is now recognized that vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are common in elderly people, especially those who are not exposed regularly to sunlight due to infirmity or those who live at northern latitudes where there is insufficient sunlight-mediated vitamin D exposure in the winter months.

The primary function of vitamin D is to keep serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations within the normal range to support strong bones and maintain vital cellular functions. In children, vitamin D deficiency causes the bone-development disorder known as rickets. In adults, insufficient vitamin D can cause weakened bones (osteomalacia) or brittle bones (osteoporosis), increasing the risk of bone fractures.

For most people, the primary source of vitamin D is casual exposure to sunlight. During sunlight exposure, ultraviolet B photons (UVB) transform a form of cholesterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) found in the skin into previtamin D-3, which, in turn, is transformed via thermal isomerization into vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol).

This natural production of vitamin D varies with the levels of skin exposure to UVB, which can be influenced by latitude, season, time of day, and air pollution. In northern latitudes, there is insufficient sunlight during the winter months for the skin to produce significant amounts of vitamin D. And because glass absorbs UVB radiation, exposure to sunlight through windows does not result in any production of vitamin D. Sunscreens also block the skin's absorption of UVB radiation, and studies have shown serum vitamin D levels in subjects who use sunscreen to be significantly lower than control subjects who did not use sunscreen.

A new review by dermatology experts suggests that supplements and diet, rather than sunlight, should be one’s source of vitamin D. The dermatologists suggest that the trade-off between obtaining vitamin D from sunlight exposure and the effects of photo-aging and skin cancer was sensible in our past, when life spans were not long. But in today's society, where life spans have doubled, and potentially 30% of Caucasians will develop skin cancer, the trade-off no longer makes sense. The conclusion is partly in response to recent research that proposed 10 to 15 minutes of unprotected exposure to midday sun as a good source of vitamin D.

Vitamin D supplements such as fish liver oil or multivitamin supplements supplying at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day may be the most practical way to ensure adequate levels of this essential vitamin.

Enjoy the bull run and set your stop loss tight

The S&P 500 Index ended on a mild loss of 4.3 points, closed at 1173.81. Bulls backed away from the market today, spooked by a surprise rise in jobless claims and a foreclosure crisis in the financial sector.

Data had little influence on trade. Among the items released, initial jobless claims for the week ended October 9 totaled 462,000, which is more than the 450,000 claims that had been expected.

It's the action in the Financial Sector that's important. As long as the financial sector lags, it will be tough for the overall market to really get going.

In yesterday post, I mention about the market may have a mild correction that will bring the market to 1165 to 1170. Today's low 1166 may act as a short term support. The next support will be 1155-1160. Google's outstanding earning report may give market some support tomorrow.

It is time to be sensitive to the possibility of a moderate reversal

The S&P 500 index rose 8.33 points, closed at 1178.1. U.S. stocks climbed for a fourth session Wednesday after upbeat earning results from several industry giants and signals from the Federal Reserve about more monetary easing in the near future. For real, the thought of a one (1) Trillion Dollar money printing rescue mission was simply irresistable to the Institutions, as they bid up stocks severely today.

Stocks settled north for the fourth straight session. Things continue to look great for the bulls, but there are always concerns. The continued relative weakness in financials and housing are big issues for me, but if those two areas can get things going, we could have a very nice end-of-year rally in store.

The psychological target of 1,200 is just 22 points away, the trend is up with volume increasing and breadth at solid pre-breakout levels. So the question is not whether we break to new highs, but when. With our indicators now at overbought levels, it is time to be sensitive to the possibility of a moderate reversal that could take prices back to the first line of support at S&P 500 1165-1170, and then into the support zone at 1155-1160.

New positions should be protected with tight stops since a reversal from the current area could be quick and brutal. Maintain some cash to take advantage of a pullback since any consolidation should be viewed as a buying opportunity.

Current stock market is in a complacency environment, market participants are in buying panic mode and the markets are in the ‘bad news is good news’ mode

With a general lack of major earnings or economic releases to drive the day's action, stocks settled almost completely flat today. The S&P 500 Index adding on just 0.2 point, closed at 1165.3.

Friday’s employment report showed the U.S. economy creating fewer private-sector jobs in September than anticipated, Wall Street climbed on the belief that the data raise the chances of the Fed buying more debt.

I think market participants are in the buying panic mode and the markets are in the ‘bad news is good news’ mode, meaning that the poor employment report of Friday, showing private-sector job gains remain very weak, would increase the likelihood that the Fed would continue injecting money into the financial system. Traders are afraid to miss the chance of the next bull market rally, or at least the year end rally, so they keep buying this overbought market.

In the meantime, most of the market participants are very optimistic, they think we’re not going to have a double dip, but slow growth. And with interest rates so low, equities is one of the few places to generate returns. Personally, this scenario is pretty scary and it make me worry and nervous. It looks to me that the current stock market is in a complacency environment.

If you look at the big picture, the secular bear market is still with us, and history tell us that in a bear market investors should sell on rallies in extreme complacency. I am not sure if we are exactly at the 'extreme complacency' zone, and frankly speaking, there is no one can pinpoint the exact point of extreme complacency. Therefore I highly suggest you to lighten your stocks holding now and on the way up of this rally to get ready for next down leg when all the bull cheerleaders retired.

The best bet is that the S&P 500 index drops around 30%, to the 800-range it hit in March of 2009. Then, the PE slipped below 14, and yields were almost 4%. For the first time in almost two decades, stocks became a bargain, and that's what it will take to make them a bargain again.

Traders are in a dilemma

The S&P 500 Index closed at 1165.1, up 7.1 points on Friday. The U.S. lost more jobs than forecast in September as local governments fired educators and other workers to make up for declining tax revenue. lack of jobs is causing difficulty in consumer spending, the biggest part of the economy, limiting growth heading into 2011.

The larger-than-expected job losses raised hopes for more Fed action to boost the economy. Even though the jobs data failed to meet economists' expectations, stocks are rising because the report is one more piece of evidence showing Fed’s potential second round of easing. Friday’s report was a reminder that the U.S. labor market remains in the dead zone 15 months after the recession officially ended. That increases the odds that the Fed will take new steps to jumpstart the economy at its next meeting on Nov. 3.

Despite the significance of today's headlines, many investors remained on the sidelines. In turn, share volume on the NYSE failed, once again, to meet the 50-day moving average of 1 billion shares. Three months ago the 50-day average was at 1.5 billion.

Traders are in a dilemma. They can't long this market because it is at the overbought area. They don't want to short a market before the mid term election (the track record of the mid term election rally is very strong in that only one has been down in the 34 years since 1913 for the 5-month period starting at 9/30) and with the Fed pumping money in the market at the same time.

The only thing we can do is to wait for a trading opportunity.                        

Review Supports Antioxidants for Fertility and Sperm Quality

Antioxidant supplements, including vitamins C and E and selenium, may improve sperm quality and pregnancy rates, according to a systematic review of evidence.

Evidence from randomized controlled trials was found to support a link between antioxidant supplementation and improvements in male fertility linked to sperm quality, according to the review published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online.

Reviewers led by Tarek El-Toukhy from London’s Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust note however that the evidence is not consistent and more studies are therefore required before antioxidant supplements can be recommended to infertile men.

"It is imperative these studies employ strict inclusion and exclusion criteria and standardized methodology to help understand whether a specific group of infertile men is more likely to benefit from antioxidant therapy," they stated.

The link between antioxidants and fertility measures is not new. Oxidative stress, caused by a disruption to the balance of antioxidants and pro-oxidants, has been reported to reduce the quality of sperm. According to Dr. El-Toukhy and his co-workers, about 15% of couples of reproductive age are affected by infertility issues, with 50% of these cases related to impaired semen.

In order to elucidate if antioxidant supplements may benefit infertility measures, the researchers conducted a systematic review of the literature. They found 17 randomized clinical trials involving vitamins C and E, zinc, selenium, folate, carnitine and carotenoids in relation to sperm quality and pregnancy rates.

Data was available for 1,665 men from 17 trials. Results showed that antioxidant supplementation associated with 75% of the trials showed an "improvement in at least one sperm parameter compared with placebo or no treatment." Moreover, 63% of the studies showed significant improvements in sperm motility compared with placebo, while only 33% of trials showed an improvement in sperm concentration.

Regarding pregnancy rates, the London-based reviewers report that antioxidant supplementation was associated with a higher pregnancy rate of 19%, compared with only three percent in placebo/control groups.

"This review shows that oral antioxidant therapy was associated with a significant improvement in spontaneous and assisted conception pregnancy rates in six of the 10 randomized studies identified in the database search," wrote the researchers.

"This finding could possibly be explained, at least in part, by the antioxidant-related improvement in either sperm motility and total motile sperm count—both of which have been reported to predict male fertility—or sperm DNA integrity," they added.

September jobs report coming up tomorrow, market may find a short term top if traders feel it is the right time to take profit.

The S&P 500 Index gave up 1.9 points, closed at 1158.06, but remains well north of its 10-day moving average. We have a muted day on Wall Street because the of September jobs report coming up tomorrow, investors also cautious as companies begin reporting third-quarter financial results.

 "Caution" was the keyword on Wall Street today, with traders holding their breath ahead of the highly anticipated reports.The government will unveil its nonfarm payroll numbers for September early tomorrow morning. With these major market catalysts just over the horizon, traders seemed relatively unmoved

 We have a overbought market and when the market is overbought, traders have ton of reasons to sell their stocks, especially when there is a significant report coming up like the one tomorrow. If you are smart traders, you shouldn't hold your position, especially the long position even though we have a short term uptrend.

As I mentioned couple days ago, market may find a short term top if traders feel it is the right time to take profit.

The market’s looking for a Fed sign of a second round of quantitative easing. However, there is a great deal of legitimate debate still to take place within the FOMC on the subject of quantitative easing, and the pros and cons and costs and benefits of further monetary accommodation. The ‘Legitimate Debate’ is that For $2 trillion, the Fed may buy little improvement in growth, employment or inflation over the next two years.

Just be cautious and lighten your stock holding on the way up of this rally

The S&P 500 Index made an attempt to find positive ground, but couldn't quite make it past the breakeven line. The SPX settled for a fractional loss of 0.8 point, closed at 1159.57. Broader market trade lacked direction in the early going. Stocks were unable to build on the prior session's big bounce mostly because of disappointment over the September ADP Employment Change. The report indicated that private payrolls fell by 39,000 last month

The high-flying technology stocks had a very rough day. Should this be a warning for the rest of the market? Just be cautious and lighten your stock holding on the way up of this rally, and you won't be too wrong about this.

Friday employment report may be the catalyst of short term market top

The S&P 500 Index added 23.7 points, closed at 1160.75. Stocks raced higher right out of the gate this morning, as a surprise rate cut from the Bank of Japan and better-than-expected services data ignited a broad rally. The markets are feeling reassured after Japan's move to ease monetary policy and the fact that the service sector, which accounts for 90% of our economic activity, is stronger than we were expecting.

Technically, it is bullish that 1150 resistance is broken with above average volume. However, another resistance 1160, 1175  will stop the next rally. The wild card is the employment report on coming Friday. Personally, I think of two scenarios will happen. Firstly, market will have another gap up on Friday if the employment report is very bullish. Secondly, the market will gap down if the report is bearish.

The short term market top may happen on coming Thursday or Friday. You may want to short this market with extreme overbought mode at 5, 15 and 60 minutes charts if  market gap up on Friday and the resistances 1160 and 1175 act as a cover. On the other hand if the market gap down, you may want to wait for the first rebound before placing your short order.

 BE CAUTIOUS BEFORE YOU SHORT THE CURRENT MARKET BECAUSE  the track record of the mid term election rally is very strong in that only one has been down in the 34 years [INDU] since 1913 for the 5-month period starting at 9/30.

History tell us that in a bear market investors should sell on rallies in extreme complacency while traders should pursue bearish strategies on the short side of the market.

The S&P 500 Index dropped 9.2 points, closed at 1137.03. Broad-based selling dropped stocks for sizable losses Monday. The slide found support at last week's lows, though. Stocks finished near session lows Monday following a midday sell-off, as investors remain cautious ahead of corporate earnings season and key employment data due later in the week.

Upside volume is light and continues to lag downside volume. This is troubling because the implication of higher downside volume is that the bears are still in control and that the current rally may be failed. The Fed is pumping money into Wall Street through its Permanent Open Market Operations (POMO). This operation allows the Fed to buy Treasuries from primary dealers. The dealers then take this money and pump it into stocks, which in a low-volume situation with few sellers and even fewer buyers creates a run on stocks on low-volume days.

In the meantime, as a rule, you should buy on support, and sell on resistance (buy low, sell high) until the market tell you not to do so. That is, follow this rule until market break either support or resistance with directional move. It sounds simple, but it takes an enormous amount of discipline to consistently apply the rule, especially if you are listening to cross-currents of opinion. Whether you’re a bull or a bear, if you follow your trading rules, you will be a winner.

Look at the big picture, the secular bear market is still with us, and history tell us that in a bear market investors should sell on rallies in extreme complacency while traders should pursue bearish strategies on the short side of the market.

Sell high and buy low in trading range 1130-1150 until market make directional move

On Friday, the S&P 500 Index  finished the day up 5 points, closed at 1146.24,. Traders noted that the S&P 500 has risen above that level in recent days but hasn’t decisively risen above it, adding to the market’s volatility.

Additionally, many investors are holding off on big bets ahead of the midterm elections in November, which will determine control of Congress.

Technically, market still bouncing around 1130-1150, buy low and sell high seems to be the practical strategy lately. We will stick on this strategy until market make a directional move.

Linoleic acid

Linoleic acid is a colorless to straw-colored, liquid, polyunsaturated fatty acid (C18H32O2) of the omega-6 series. Linoleic and another fatty acid, gamma-linolenic, or gamolenic, produce prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are substances that are found in every cell, are needed for the body's overall health maintenance, and must be replenished constantly. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, which means that the body cannot produce it, so it must be obtained in the diet.

Linoleic acid is an important fatty acid, especially for the growth and development of infants. Fatty acids help to maintain the health of cell membranes, improve nutrient use, and establish and control cellular metabolism. They also provide the raw materials that help in the control of blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation, body temperature, and other body functions.

Fatty acids are consumed in the greatest quantities in fat. Although many people are encouraged to consume less fat in their diets, fat is still an important component of a healthy body. Fat stores the body's extra calories, helps insulate the body, and protects body tissues. Fats are also an important energy source during exercise, when the body depends on its calories after using up available carbohydrates. Fat helps in the absorption, and transport through the bloodstream, of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Linoleic acid is found in fish oil , meat, milk, and other dairy products. It is also a constituent of many vegetable oils, including evening primrose oil , sunflower oil, and safflower oil. Commercially produced linoleic acid is used in margarine, animal feeds, emulsifying agents, soaps, and drugs.

It's now thought that trans fatty acids or those fats which have been hydrogenated commonly found in commercially packaged goods, vegetable shortening, some margarine, commercially fried food such as French fries and onion rings increase LDL (bad) cholesterol while reducing HDL (good) cholesterol. Such an increase causes a decrease in body pH (a more acidic blood plasma), which subsequently creates an environment that is ideal for cholesterol plaque buildup. Evidence suggests that alpha linolenic acid along with the other Omega 3 fatty acids have been associated with decreasing levels of blood cholesterol, preventing against cardiovascular disease and management of chronic disorders.

One particular isomer in CLA, known as cis-9, trans-11, is linked to anticancer benefits. Studies with animals have shown CLA to reduce breast, prostate, stomach, colorectal, lung, and skin cancers. The CLA may slow the growth of cells that give rise to cancer. A human study has shown an association between linoleic acids and a decreased risk for prostate cancer .

Infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) often have poor weight gain and growth and an inability to absorb fats. Some research suggests that infants with CF can benefit from formula with a high linoleic acid content because it optimizes nutrition, growth, and feeding efficiency.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which demyelination, loss of myelin sheath material, occurs. (The myelin sheath is a fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of some nerve cells.) This leads to disruptions in nerve impulse transmission. Linoleic acid is believed to be helpful because myelin is composed of lecithin, which is made of linoleic and other fatty acids.

Many diets recommended for MS patients include supplements. Patients supplementing with linoleic acid show a smaller increase in disability and reduced severity and duration of attacks than those with no linoleic acid supplement. Evening primrose oil is beneficial because of its specialized fatty-acid content, including linoleic acid. Doses of sunflower seed oil or evening primrose oil to provide 17 grams linoleic acid per day may be beneficial.

One study indicated that low doses of linoleic acid and calcium can reduce the incidence of preeclampsia in high-risk women. (Preeclampsia is the development of hypertension with increased protein in the urine or accumulation of watery fluid in cells or tissues or both, due to pregnancy.) Another study showed, however, that linoleic acid consumption can have a negative effect on fetal growth. Pregnant women should talk to their doctors before taking linoleic acid or any other supplement.

Vitamin E May Protect the Aging Brain

While some research suggests that antioxidants may protect against cardiovascular disease and some cancers, many people are also interested in hearing more about their specific anti-aging effects, which haven’t been as well studied. New research in the Archives of Neurology suggests that people who eat high amounts of food rich in vitamin E may lower their long-term dementia risk by as much as 25%.

E associated with lower dementia risk

Oxidative stress, which is caused by free oxygen radicals, may cause increasing damage to cells and organs as a person ages and may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Because of this association, researchers interested in looking at antioxidants’ potential in helping prevent dementia studied 5,395 seniors (55 years old and older) with no dementia. Participants filled out questionnaires about their dietary habits and were monitored for an average of ten years.

Results showed that people who ate higher amounts of foods with vitamin E were 25% less likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, compared with those who ate the least amount of foods with dietary vitamin E. No associations were found between dietary vitamin C, beta carotene, or flavonoids and risk of dementia in this study.

The study researchers comment, “The brain is a site of high metabolic activity, which makes it vulnerable to oxidative damage, and slow accumulation of such damage over a lifetime may contribute to the development of dementia.” They point out that vitamin E is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that may help protect against this occurence.

Facts about vitamin E

Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, and flavonoids play an important role in our health. Here are some further facts about vitamin E:

• Vitamin E actually refers to a number of compounds that are important for cell regulation and the immune system, and that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol are the main forms of vitamin E found in the body, and gamma-tocopherol is the main form of vitamin E in the US diet.

• Vitamin E can provide the most benefit to a person’s health when it is part of a healthy, balanced diet. Vitamin E is present in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetables and some fruits, and in fortified foods such as cereal.