Schaeffer's Daily Market Blog Features: Skillsoft, Ford Motor, Citigroup, Finish Line, and Newfield Exploration.

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the August 25 edition of Schaeffer's Market Blog are Skillsoft (NASDAQ:SKIL), Ford Motor (NYSE:F), Citigroup (NYSE:C), Finish Line (NASDAQ:FINL), and Newfield Exploration (NYSE:NFX). Schaeffer's Market Blog is just one of the many free market commentaries written every day 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=PROB13M&PAGE=1

Schaeffer's Market Blog for Friday, August 25, 2006:

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=PROB13C&PAGE=1

10:28 AM Skillsoft Reports Strong Earnings

Before the open this morning, Skillsoft (NASDAQ:SKIL) announced second-quarter earnings of $4.8 million, or five cents per share, down from a year-ago profit of $22.9 million, or 22 cents per share. Sales climbed four percent to $55.7 million. Analysts had predicted a profit of four cents per share on sales of $54.3 million. Looking ahead, the firm boosted its outlook for fiscal 2007 to earnings of $18 million to $21 million, or 17 to 20 cents per share, on revenue of between $218 million to $222 million. Its previous view was for a profit of $16 million to $20 million, or 16 to 20 cents per share, on revenue of between $213.7 million and $218 million. For the third quarter, the company expected a profit of $4 million to $5 million, or four to five cents per share, on revenue ranging from $54 million to $56 million. The Street is currently calling for a full-year profit of 20 cents per share, and third-quarter results of six cents per share.

The equity is currently up 1.7 percent, breaking through resistance at the six level. In fact, the stock is at its highest level since July 7. The equity has been in a long-term uptrend since April 2005, making a series of higher highs along the support of its ascending 50-week moving average.

10:53 AM Rubin Leaves Ford's Board

In early trading, Ford Motor (NYSE:F) is more than three percent higher after Robert Rubin resigned from the automaker's board of directors. Rubin, a director at investment bank Citigroup (NYSE:C), had served on F's board of directors since 2000. Rubin wrote F's chief executive, Bill Ford, stating that C's "multi-faceted relationship with Ford could raise a question whether my relationship with Ford and Citigroup creates an appearance of conflict." Rubin also noted that no conflict of interest currently exists, and that he regretted leaving F's board.

11:33 AM Finish Line Warns

Finish Line (NASDAQ:FINL) warned last night that second-quarter results would fall short of previous forecasts. The company now expects same-store sales for the quarter ending August to decline six percent to eight percent and total sales to be $335 million to $339 million. The company had released prior projections for same-store sales to drop three percent to six percent and total sales of $352 million to $362 million. The company now expects earnings of 19 to 21 cents per share, below its previous estimate of 25 to 28 cents per share.

The shares are currently up 0.39 percent after having been capped by resistance at its declining 10-day moving average. This trendline has worked in tandem with the equity's 20-day moving average to usher the shares lower since early February. In fact, FINL tagged a new annual low this morning of $9.55 before rebounding.

11:52 AM Natural Gas Upgrades

Newfield Exploration (NYSE:NFX) has jumped more than five percent this afternoon following an upgrade from Merrill Lynch to "buy" from "neutral." In fact, the brokerage firm upgraded EOG Resources (EOG), Forest Oil (FST), XTO Energy (XTO) and Pogo Producing (PPP) as well. The firm stated that "One needs to remember that winter time demand represents 45% of natural gas consumption."

The shares of NFX gapped higher on the upgrade, bouncing off support in the 41 region and breaking through former resistance at their declining 10-day moving average. The stock has battled resistance at its 10-day and 20-day trendlines since early July. From a longer-term perspective, it appears the shares are attempting to rebound off support at their 20-month moving average, but are still battling resistance at their 10-month trendline.

For more information on these stocks or any stock in your portfolio, feel free to visit our Schaeffer's Equity Scorecard feature. Click here to read all of today's Market Blog: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROB13C&PAGE=1

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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.