Today's Stars:Echosmith

Echosmith is a family band from Chino,California,just east of Los Angeles.The bandmembers are siblings Sydney Sierota,18,lead vocals,tambourine and keyboard;Graham,16,drums;Noah,19,backing vocals,bass;and Jamie,22,backing vocals and guitar.Formed in 2009,they are managed by their father,Jeffery David.*
Echosmith is classified as an indie pop band,influenced by Coldplay and Fleetwood Mac,among others.They were signed by Warner Music Group in 2012 and their first album,"Talking Dreams," was released in 2013.Echosmith have been touring nonstop since even before then,the band says,so they are taking a short break now before beginning to write and record their next record.They have been to Europe seven times this year and toured widely in Asia and the United States as well.Their upcoming shows are:
12-3 Celebrity Theatre,Phoenix
12-4 San Diego Civic Theatre
12-5 Nob Hill Masonic Center,San Francisco.
They are indeed as young as they look.Sydney recently graduated from high school.Jamie is married and he and his wife are expecting their first child;while Noah is recovering from a punctured lung and Graham is still in high school.*
We want to write songs that talk about how life is beautiful regardless of circmstances,the band said,that we can be reminded that we are not alone.Songs that explore love and all its layers.*
Echosmith's biggest hit so far was "Cool Kids." It reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified platinum.Another song,"Surround You," made it onto the "Endless Love" soundtrack.They have also appeared on several network TV shows,including The Today Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Reconnecting With Toto;Indianapolis 500

Tonight is featured the hit song "Africa" by Toto.The band originated in Van Nuys,California of the Greater Los Angeles area in the 1970s and had several top five hits,including our featured track.They are still touring and recording today,having released "Toto XIV" in March 2015.The new album received 4.5 out of 5 stars from stereoboard.com,the British ticket and music news website.Stereoboard described the LP as being masterful,with lyrics rooted in an angry post-9/11 world,where big issues are challenged and hope craved.
"Africa" reflects the band's interest in world music,as well as several other styles,including folk and jazz:
It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had*
The members of Toto started out as session musicians,backing the likes of Seals and Crofts and Sonny and Cher,among others.One of the original band members,Mike Porcaro,died of ALS on 15 March 2015.
The name "Toto" is derived from the Latin phrase "in toto," meaning "all-encompassing," reflecting the many recordings they worked on and styles they have played.*
Keyboardist Steve Porcaro co-wrote the hit song "Human Nature" with Michael Jackson.It was included on Jackson's "Thriller" LP.*
Toto is currently touring in Europe and will join with English band Yes for a North American tour beginning on 7 August.Upcoming dates for Europe:
25 May-Manchester-02 Apollo
26 May-London-Eventim Apollo
28 May-Paris-Zenith de
30 May-Amsterdam-Ziggo Dome
03 June-Copenhagen-Frederiksberg Falconer Salen
07 June-Oslo-Sentrum Scene
10 June-Bremerhaven Stadthaller
11 June-Berlin-Tempodrom*
On Sunday 24 May,the 99th annual Indianapolis 500 will be held.Starting in the first row will be 1.Scott Dixon (NZ) 2.Will Power (AUS) 3.Simon Pagenaud (FRA).Will Power is the reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion.Two women are participating this year,Simona de Silvestro (SWI) and Pippa Mann (UK).The race is expected to be highly competitive,with several previous Indy 500 winners being on the grid,including American Ryan Hunter-Reay,who won last year's race.

2011 Market Wrap: Lackluster With Some Light

The stock market drew to its 2011 conclusion Friday,with the major averages down just over a half percent for the week.For the year,the bellwether S&P 500 Index was virtually flat,down a meaningless 0.003.You made no money on the broad market this year,but you didn't really lose any,either.
There were individual winners and losers,however.McDonald's was the biggest winner among the Dow 30,rising 31% on the year.The biggest loser in the Dow was Bank of America,losing more than half its value at -55%.Top-rated financials in the analysts' estimates are JP Morgan Chase,Prudential Financial and Wells Fargo.
The winning sectors for 2011 were utilities and consumer staples-clearly defensive areas.The biggest losers were the financials and materials-sectors dependent on a robust economy.The CBOE VIX volatility index was up a sharp 31.83% on the year,and trading volume was pretty uniformly thin.
The new year may well hold more of the same in store,with concern over European and American deficits,and the U.S. presidential election,dominating a headline-driven market.The S&P futures slipped modestly Friday evening,down 4.80%,and bond index futures gained.
McDonald's(MCD),Bank of America(BAC),JP Morgan Chase(JPM),Prudential Financial(PRU),Wells Fargo(WFC)

President and Troops Celebrate With Basketball

President Barack Obama and U.S. troops celebrated the Veterans Day holiday with a twilight basketball game aboard the USS Carl Vinson(CVN 70)at Naval Base Coronado,California.The first Carrier Classic,sponsored by Quicken Loans,went off seamlessly aboard the aircraft carrier before about 7,000 Sailors,Marines and other service members and veterans.Captain Bruce O. Lindsey is Commanding Officer of the warship,which will be deployed at the end of the month.
The President said our gratitude to the troops does not stop when they take off the uniform.We make our commitment to serve you as well as you have served us.Mr.Obama seemed to be very relaxed and having a good time watching his favorite sport with our military men and women.Former NBA star Magic Johnson also attended,saying the event was a bucket list day for him.Number one-ranked North Carolina beat Michigan State 67-55.
On Wall Street,Veterans Day was marked by strong gains on light volume as Greece and Italy seemed to be ironing out some of their political problems.For the week,the Dow was up 1.42%,while the NASDAQ rose 2.04 and the S&P climbed 0.85.The S&P is up 0.49 on the year.
Next week will be influenced by any further news from Europe,as well as reports on inflation,retail sales,industrial production,housing starts and Leading Economic Indicators.The Philly Fed manufacturing survey will also be released,as will earnings reports from Home Depot,Wal-Mart,JC Penney and Sears.
On Friday evening,the S&P futures continued the rally,gaining 24.20.Gold futures added 24.40 to reach 1789 dollars an ounce.The bond market was closed for Veterans Day.
Wal-Mart(WMT),Home Depot(HD),JC Penney(JCP),Sears(SHLD)




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Rare October Snowfall Developing

Winter Storm Warnings are posted for the interior Northeast and Mid-Atlantic as a rare October nor'easter threatens the regions.Widespread power outages may occur as heavy snow coats leafy trees,bringing limbs down on power lines.Baltimore,Maryland has not had October snow since 1903.Upwards of a foot of snow could blanket the Appalachian Mountains,aggravating residents who are looking forward to Halloween on Monday.
Wall Street was not aggravated this week,hailing European leaders for devising a broad outline for handling the Euro debt crisis.Gains were muted on Friday,however,as traders soberly contemplated the U.S. deficit and the prospects for the Europeans now agreeing on details.
For the week,the broadly based S&P added 46.83 points,bringing it up 2.18% on the year.Large cap stocks are leading the way,with the Dow thirty up 5.65% on the year.
Scores were high at the Andalucia Masters at the Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande,Spain on Friday.Scotsman Richie Ramsay topped the leader board with a five under par 72.France's Gregory Havret and Spaniard Sergio Garcia shot a 71 and a 70,respectively,on the very hilly course.
Next week will be back loaded by the employment report on Friday.The Institute for Supply Management will also release important manufacturing data.The S&P futures were basically flat in response on Friday evening,barely declining at -0.13,while bond index futures rose.

McIlroy Dominates At Congressional

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy dominated the early going at the U.S. Open at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda,Maryland.Mature beyond his 22 years,McIlroy,who also had led the year's first major,The Masters,through most of the tournament,made golf history on Friday by posting the best ever 36-hole score at the U.S. Open.
Although botching the eighteenth hole along with Phil Mickelson,McIlroy ended the day with an 11 under 131 for the tournament so far.Mickelson was well back at 1 over.
News from Europe dominated the stock market this week,resulting in several poor closing bells.By week's end,however,things had calmed down in Athens,Greece and the Europeans seemed closer to resolving their debt crisis for the moment,allowing the major averages to post minute gains.The Dow and S&P closed fractionally up for the week,at 0.4 and 0.04,respectively.The NASDAQ gained a more appreciable 1.0.
The Wallow fire,worst in Arizona history,continued to burn Friday evening,being 33% contained.Gusty winds were unfortunately in the forecast,posing further danger of blazes in the drought-ridden West.
The week ahead poses more danger for portfolios as the Federal Reserve issues an interest rate decision and statement on Wednesday.Data on home sales,durable goods and Gross Domestic Product may also prove significant to investors.
The S&P futures took a positive slant,rising 2.50 Friday evening,while bond index futures headed downward.

Cavaliers Move On,Market Does Not

The Virginia Cavaliers moved on in the ACC Baseball Championship in Durham,North Carolina didn't faze the Cavs,who topped Pool A with a 2-0 record.The Canes mounted a comeback when they loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth,but were ultimately shut down by Cavs reliever Branden Kline,who got the save.
The stock market did not progress this week,ending with slight losses on continued European debt fears,poor pending home sales and doubts about the consumer.For the week,the Dow slipped 0.6,while the S&P and NASDAQ edged 0.2 lower.
Next week will be back-loaded by Friday's employment data,with the ISM manufacturing figures on Wednesday and chain store sales on Thursday also possible influences on trading,along with the European debt crisis and the U.S. budget deficit.The S&P futures nontheless traded up 3.40 Friday evening,and bond index futures also rose as traders felt cautious ahead of overseas markets and governments being open Monday morning.

Market Seems Relieved

Hopeful noises from Europe and the conclusion of the health care debate in Congress helped the market score a fourth consecutive weekly gain.The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.0,while the NASDAQ pegged 0.9 and the S&P gained 0.6 for the week.It seems that the European Union has at least the semblance of a plan to deal with the Greek debt crisis and Congress has gone home for the Easter recess,having put the final touches on the new health insurance reform law.At the same time,the headwind of poor housing data kept the market in check,and volume was still on the light side.
Next week's big financial event happens on Good Friday,with the stock exchanges being closed,but business journalists busy with the employment report Friday morning.The trading week will have limited significance,given the crucial report waiting beyond its reach.It will be a week looking to the following week's reaction to the report.Nonetheless,the S&P futures were up 0.80 early this evening.

Debt Crisis From Europe

The S&P was down 0.7 for the week,making for a total loss of 4.2 with last week.Until the Europe situation resolves,its hard to see any real progress being made.There is an atmosphere of crisis,whether or not the economics of European debt really impact the U.S. or not.That doesn't matter.There's a perception that it might.It might even be a harbinger for the American economy.Investor's Business Daily says the market is in a correction.Many other analysts thought the first half of 2010 could be the roughest part.With some good internals in today's employment report and a promising ISM manufacturing survey,it would indeed seem we are in a correction,not another leg down.There is enough strength in the numbers to suggest we aren't going back down to the lows of last March.There probably won't be another Lehman weekend.All we have to handle this weekend is a lot of snow on the car in the Mid-Atlantic region.That's achievable.

Market Mirrors Frigid Weather

The stock market was as icy this week as the weather on the east coast and elsewhere.The S&P closed down 3.7% for the month,making it the worst month since last February.If the "January barometer" theory holds true this year,we're in trouble.It was the third straight down January.Tech and commodity stocks led the weakness,being sold into strength.Big cap tech rolled over as the dollar index rose 0.63%-the highest reading since last July.The inverse relationship between the dollar and stocks was in full force this week.It has characterized so much of recent months' market activity.The dollar is being seen as a haven in the face of global uncertainty regarding everything from the economies of southern Europe,to China's clampdown on lending,to anti-Wall Street rhetoric in Washington.Conversely,traders are booking profits from the stocks that have recovered so well to this point.They want to lock in their success while they can.The week froze out retail investors yet again.The S&P futures gave little comfort about next week,being down more than eight points tonight.