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After the week I've had, I'm looking forward to the long weekend. Although you know if you have babies and toddlers that weekends are no longer about rest! Ugh.

Retail sales beat expectations this morning (+0.9% vs. +0.7% consensus). This is helping push bond yields higher, with the 10-year trading up to 4.76%.

Oil is getting a bounce (finally), and there is more rumors about an emergency OPEC meeting. Of course, OPEC hasn't been able to support prices during the last 6 months, so why would they have any newfound success.

Nonetheless, the energy patch is bouncing, with most industries participating. Tech is also slightly higher, but semis are lagging again today. Biotechs and homebuilders are the strongest groups so far today, after energy.

In other news and notes:

• Asian stocks rise sharply overnight
• More scurtiny of options grants at AAPL
• Samsung reports mixed Q4 results
• MIDD featured in IBD's New America
• BofA ups INFY to Buy
• Citi starts BTU with Buy ($48 tgt)
• Multiple downgrades of SAP following weak results
• LVLT exchanges convertible debt for equity
• MCD could sell Boston Market (remember that IPO?)
• Piper raises CROX target to $54
• BofA raises AAPL target to $105
• AMD lowers guidance due to price competition
• Cowen bullish on ISRG after slide
• Punk Ziegel raises LEH target to $91

long AAPL, BTU, ISRG

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