High levels of Silver (Ag), Barium (Ba) and Strontium (Sr) and low levels of copper (Cu) have been measured in the antlers, soils and pastures of the deer that are thriving in the chronic wasting disease (CWD) cluster zones in North America in relation to the areas where CWD and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have not been reported. The elevations of Ag, Ba and Sr were thought to originate from both natural geochemical and artificial pollutant sources--stemming from the common practise of aerial spraying with 'cloud seeding' Ag or Ba crystal nuclei for rain making in these drought prone areas of North America, the atmospheric spraying with Ba based aerosols for enhancing/refracting radar and radio signal communications as well as the spreading of waste Ba drilling mud from the local oil/gas well industry across pastureland. These metals have subsequently bioconcentrated up the foodchain and into the mammals who are dependent upon the local Cu deficient ecosystems. A dual eco-prerequisite theory is proposed on the aetiology of TSEs which is based upon an Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn replacement binding at the vacant Cu/Zn domains on the cellular prion protein (PrP)/sulphated proteoglycan molecules which impairs the capacities of the brain to protect itself against incoming shockbursts of sound and light energy. Ag/Ba/Sr chelation of free sulphur within the biosystem inhibits the viable synthesis of the sulphur dependent proteoglycans, which results in the overall collapse of the Cu mediated conduction of electric signals along the PrP-proteoglycan signalling pathways; ultimately disrupting GABA type inhibitory currents at the synapses/end plates of the auditory/circadian regulated circuitry, as well as disrupting proteoglycan co-regulation of the growth factor signalling systems which maintain the structural integrity of the nervous system. The resulting Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn based compounds seed piezoelectric crystals which incorporate PrP and ferritin into their structure. These ferrimagnetically ordered crystals multireplicate and choke up the PrP-proteoglycan conduits of electrical conduction throughout the CNS. The second stage of pathogenesis comes into play when the pressure energy from incoming shock bursts of low frequency acoustic waves from low fly jets, explosions, earthquakes, etc. (a key eco-characteristic of TSE cluster environments) are absorbed by the rogue 'piezoelectric' crystals, which duly convert the mechanical pressure energy into an electrical energy which accumulates in the crystal-PrP-ferritin aggregates (the fibrils) until a point of 'saturation polarization' is reached. Magnetic fields are generated on the crystal surface, which initiate chain reactions of deleterious free radical mediated spongiform neurodegeneration in surrounding tissues. Since Ag, Ba, Sr or Mn based piezoelectric crystals are heat resistant and carry a magnetic field inducing pathogenic capacity, it is proposed that these ferroelectric crystal pollutants represent the transmissible, pathogenic agents that initiate TSE.
Elevated silver, barium and strontium in antlers, ...[Med Hypotheses. 2004] - PubMed Result
Monday, May 5, 2008
Elevated silver, barium and strontium found in deer antlers, .
Pre Market Trading indications
Futures indicate a lower open for the mkt. This morning's top story is that Microsoft (MSFT) has withdrawn its proposal to acquire Yahoo! (YHOO), sending shares of YHOO 20% lower pre-mkt. Microsoft did end up raising its bid as reports suggested Friday afternoon, to $33 from $31, but Yahoo! rejected the offer. Shares of MSFT touched $31.13 in early morning trade but are only 2% higher heading into the open of trading. There is other M&A news out this morning as WSJ reported that Deutsche Telekom (DT) is weighing a bid to acquire Spring Nextel (S), while United Airlines (UAUA) is intensifying merger talks with US Airways (LCC). Dow is currently -51; Nasdaq is currently -6.3; S&P is currently -6.5.
Gapping down in reaction to disappointing earnings/guidance: AIN -5.1%, HAIN -2.5%...
Other news: YHOO -23.6% (MSFT withdraws proposal to acquire Yahoo; also multiple analyst downgrades), ACAS -6.3% (WSJ article says a new accounting rule governing the use of market values for financial assets could force ACAS to bring its valuations down; also downgraded to Reduce at UBS), WM -2.1% (filed S-3 ASR for resale of up to ~605.44 mln shares of common stock and up to ~36.6k shares of Series S Contingent Convertible Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock), CSCO -1.2% (checking for any news; co reports earnings tomorrow afternoon)...
Analyst downgrades: CFC -9.7% (downgraded to Underperform at FBR), IR -2.6% (downgraded to Underweight at Morgan Stanley), ARTC -2.4% (downgraded to Negative at Susquehanna), PSPT -2.3% (downgraded to Mkt Outperform at JMP), OB -1.8% (downgraded to Mkt Perform at Keefe Bruyette), SWKS -1.8% (downgraded to Accumulate at ThinkPanmure).
Gapping up in reaction to strong earnings/guidance: ALVR +10.2%, STEC +8.3%, CLR +7.2%, MVL +5.8%, GG +2.8%...
Select metals/mining stocks showing strength with higher spot prices: FCX +3.1%, AU +2.8%, AUY +2.5%, HMY +2.2%, LMC +1.7%, ABX +1.6%, BHP +1.2%, PCU +1.2% GLD +1.2%...
Other news: DSCO +24.1% (provides guidance on FDA Approvable Letter for Surfaxin for RDS; approvable letter may be completed in 6-8 weeks), S +7.5% (Deutsche Telekom may bid for Sprint Nextel - WSJ), GOOG +3.4% (still checking), GA +3.3% (announces it reaches peak concurrent users of over 344,000), MSFT +2.6% (withdraws proposal to acquire Yahoo; also hearing resumed with Buy at tier 1 firm), TWX +2.1% (MSFT withdraws proposal to acquire Yahoo), VOLC +2.0% (announces participation in SATURN clinical trial sponsored by AstraZeneca), DOV +1.7% (Cramer makes positive comments on MadMoney), QI +1.4% (co and Centrosolar Group AG sign a contract to jointly build, equip and operate a solar cell manufacturing plant)...
Analyst upgrades: MGI +3.8% (upgraded to Buy at Calyon), TSFG +2.0% (upgraded to Outperform from In Line at Fox-Pitt), EVVV +1.8% (upgraded to Outperform at FBR), NWY +1.6% (upgraded to Buy at Brean Murray).
Gapping up: S +6.5%, MSFT +4.3%, GOOG +3.9%, TWX +2.1%, DOV +1.7% EMKR... Gapping down: YHOO -23.6%, CFC -11.4%, IR -2.6% ACAS.
Pre Market - Trader Talk with Bob Pisani - CNBC.com
Their was plenty of discussion over the weekend that the market's recent upward momentum did not match the reality of the poor economic situation. They seem to be ignoring the fact that the global economy, while somewhat slower, has not collapsed and the markets are clearly anticipating a better second half of the year (which may or may not be overly optimistic.)
Momentum still feels higher, at least in the near term. The U.K. and Japan are closed for holidays. Copper is up 6 percent, was up as much as 9 percent per-open.
Elsewhere:
1) Countrywide [CFC 5.98 --- UNCH (0%) 
] down 8 percent pre-open. Citing deterioration in their loan book, Friedman Billings Ramsey's Paul Miller Jr. lowered his price target on Countrywide to $2 (from $7); more important were the somewhat scathing comments on the deal with Bank of America. Noting that Bank of America could face $20 billion to $30 billion of loan write-downs when it closes the Countrywide transaction, Miller said:
a) "BAC should completely walk away from the CFC deal, as CFC's loan portfolio will prove a drag on earnings and could force BAC to raise additional capital." BAC [BAC 39.79 --- UNCH (0%) ] has already said there is no assurance they will assume or guarantee Countrywide's debt.
b) "BAC will likely renegotiate the transaction down to the $0 to $2 level [from $7] and force CFC's bond holders to absorb the remainder of the potential write-downs."
2) Marvel Entertainment [MVL 30.25 --- UNCH (0%) ] trading up nearly 4 percent after the weekend success of "Iron Man," which took in more than $100 m. I saw it over the weekend, and it was a terrific film.
3) Sprint Nextel [S 7.89 --- UNCH (0%) ] up 7 percent pre-open on word in the Journal that Deutsche Telecom may make a bid.
4) Hovnanian [HOV 11.67 --- UNCH (0%) ] followed its fellow homebuilders by announcing (preliminary) big losses for land ($275 m); they also noted home deliveries were down 21 percent for the current quarter. Cancellation rate was 29 percent, which was an improvement over the previous cancellation rate of 32 percent.
Does Market Really Reflect Economic Woes? - Trader Talk with Bob Pisani - CNBC.com
SmallCap Pre-market gainers and losers
Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $50 million and $750 million:
Biggest percentage gainers:
• STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC), up 10% after the provider of flash memory products posted first-quarter results that trumped analysts’ estimates and issued rosy second-quarter guidance above the consensus on Wall Street.
• Eagle Test Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLT), up 9%.
• Approach Resources, Inc. (Nasdaq:AREX), up 9%.
Biggest percentage losers:
• RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (Nasdaq: RRST), down 4.3%, despite reporting first-quarter results that met Wall Street’s expectations. The provider of content management and global distribution services also issued second-quarter revenue guidance that was inline with the Street.
• Immersion Corp. (Nasdaq:IMMR), down 3.3%.
• PeopleSupport Inc. (Nasdaq:PSPT), down 2.3%.
Monday’s pre-market gainers and losers - SmallCapInvestor.com
NYSE Pre Market Trading Arca Morning Update
Stocks trading on NYSE Arca at a price more than 15% away from the previous trade day's consolidated close price. (As of 08:30:00 ET)
Stock | Friday's Close | Current Price | Pct Chng | Current NYSE Arca Vol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
YHOO | $28.66 | $22.57 | ( 21%) | 6,993,655 |
10 Most Active stocks on NYSE Arca as of 08:30:00 ET
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NYSE Arca Morning Update
Pre-Market Trading Most Active Stocks - NASDAQ Premarket
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Pre-Market Most Active Stocks - NASDAQ Premarket
