Schaeffer's Daily Market Blog Features McDonald's, Petco Animal Supplies, Coldwater Creek, and General Motors.

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the November 23 edition of Schaeffer's Market Blog are McDonald's (NYSE:MCD), Petco Animal Supplies (NASDAQ:PETC), Coldwater Creek (NASDAQ:CWTR), and General Motors (NYSE:GM). Schaeffer's Market Blog is just one of the many free market commentaries written everyday at www.SchaeffersResearch.com - the home of Bernie Schaeffer and Schaeffer's Investment Research. The Market Blog is written throughout every trading day by Schaeffer's financial analysts and traders. They are quick insights to the day's most notable market activity from an options perspective. For additional information about this report or to have it delivered to you free via email every day click on the following link. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROB11M&PAGE=1 .

Schaeffer's Market Blog for Wednesday, November 23, 2005:

Below are just a few of today's Market Blog entries. Click here to read all of today's Market Blog. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROB1C&PAGE=1 .

3:53 PM McDonald's Marches Closer to Resistance

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) has tacked on 2.6 percent on news that it is launching a major U.S. media blitz for its Arch Card. Though the card was introduced into restaurants earlier this year, the fast-food chain waited until the holiday season to pull out the gift-giving marketing. The cards come in a variety of colors and icons and are available in denominations of $5, $10, $25 and $50. The firm plans to give away $22 million worth of Arch Cards beginning November 29.

Today's rally has brought the shares closer to overhead resistance at the 34 level. In fact, the stock has been trapped between 32 and 34 since early August. However, the stock has now consolidated into support at its ascending 20-week moving average, which it has not closed a week below since early July.

2:41 PM Fitch Takes Dim View of GM Moves

Fitch ratings said the recent announcement of plant-closings by General Motors (NYSE:GM) is not enough for the carmaker to return to positive cash flow in 2006. The plant-closings keep Chief Executive Rick Wagoner under pressure and raises the stakes for a new line of sport utility-vehicles and trucks coming in 2006. Analysts believe for GM to reach their stated goal of $7 billion dollars of savings, Delphi must avert from entering into a strike with the United Auto Workers and its health care obligations must decline. Add in the low visibility of earnings by automakers and you have possible trouble at GM.

10:35 AM Coldwater Creek Up on Positive Earnings Surprise

Last night, Coldwater Creek (NASDAQ:CWTR) reported third-quarter earnings of 20 cents per share, a penny ahead of analyst expectations. Company revenues increased 26.3 percent year-over-year to $190.1 million, ahead of the consensus estimate of $184.4 million. CWTR also guided fourth-quarter earnings higher, and now expects a profit of 24-25 cents per share, versus its prior guidance of 23-24 cents.

CWTR stock is up nearly six percent on the positive earnings surprise. One factor that could help the stock bolster its gains is the hefty amount of short interest on CWTR. Short interest accounts for more than 14 percent of its float. Some of these bearish short players may feel pressure to cover their bets on the positive earnings news, thus putting additional buying pressure on the stock.

10:10 AM Petco Animal Supplies Reports Earnings, Guides Lower

Last night, Petco Animal Supplies (NASDAQ:PETC) reported third-quarter earnings of 23 cents per share, including hurricane-related costs of one to two cents per share. This earnings result was three cents light of analyst expectations. PETC also issued downside guidance for both the fourth quarter and 2006. For the fourth quarter, the company sees earnings of 44-48 cents per share, versus the consensus estimate of 50 cents per share. PETC sees earnings of $1.29-1.33 per share for 2006, versus consensus estimate of $1.38.

A check on sentiment indicators toward PETC shows that despite the stock's recent lackluster performance, option players remain hopeful. Speculators currently hold 8,800 puts compared with 17,800 calls in the near term. The resultant Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.49 is lower than three-quarters of all readings taken during the past year, indicating optimism. An examination of the security's technical outlook shows the recent negative earnings news coupled with overhead resistance at its declining 20-week moving average have sent the shares eight percent lower to $21.42 today.

The above are just a few of today's Daily Market Blog entries. Click here to read all of today's Daily Market Blog. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROB1C&PAGE=1 .

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About Schaeffer's Investment Research (www.SchaeffersResearch.com)

Schaeffer's Investment Research, founded by Bernie Schaeffer in 1981, is a financial information and trading resources company. It publishes Bernie Schaeffer's Option Advisor, the nation's leading options subscription newsletter. The firm's contrarian approach focuses on stocks with technical and fundamental trends that run counter to investor expectations. The firm's website, http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com , is recognized as one of the leading information sources for stock and options traders and was cited as the top options website by both Forbes and Barron's. Click here for more details about Schaeffer's trading methodology: http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com/method .