Commerce Department reported retail sales rose 0.3% in February, analysts expected to fall another 0.2% this month. Sales excluding autos rose 0.8% in February after rising 0.5% in January; analysts expected sales would rise 0.1%. In another report released today, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index fell to 72.5 in early March from 73.6 last month. Analysts expected sentiment would rise to 74. Stocks traded in a tight range with light volume, in the morning, stocks were up a couple of points only to fall within two hours of the close. Dow Jones industrial average rose 10 points, the Nasdaq Composite index fell 1 point and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.3 point. Commodity prices along with the dollar fell; gold fell $1.20 to $1,107.00 and crude oil fell $0.83 to $81.28. Bond prices rose, the yield on the benchmark 10-year note fell to 3.70 from 3.72 Thursday.

Free Daily Stock Picks activity and results for March 12, 2010:

ARO - EOD price hit for a loss of 0.66 points
POT - Stop hit for a loss of 1.00 point
MOS - 1st Target Level hit for a gain of 0.95 points
IPI - 3rd Target Level hit for a gain of 1.20 points
CF - Stop hit for a loss of 1.00 point
ZUMZ - 1st Target Level hit for a gain of 0.48 points

Total: 6 positions; -0.03 points; -$3.00 (based on 100 shares)

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Stocks Day Trading Picks results:
Total: 9 positions; +6.44 points; +$644.00 (based on 100 shares)

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Forex Day Trading Picks results:
Total: 3 positions; +$862.14 (based on 1 contract)

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Futures Day Trading Picks results:
Total: 5 positions; +$340.00 (based on 1 standard lot)