Schaeffer's Daily Market Blog Features Jarden, Exxon Mobil, Federated Department Stores, Google, and Oregon Steel.

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the March 29 edition of Schaeffer's Market Blog are Jarden (NYSE:JAH), Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Federated Department Stores (NYSE:FD), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Oregon Steel (NYSE:OS). 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=PROB12M&PAGE=1 .

Schaeffer's Market Blog for Wednesday, March 29, 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=PROB1C&PAGE=1 .

10:55 AM Jarden Faces Resistance

According to Hoover's, Jarden (NYSE:JAH) manufactures a diverse set of branded consumer products, including Sunbeam appliances, Coleman outdoor gear, and First Alert home safety products. It also makes Ball home canning products, Diamond matches and plastic cutlery, Crawford home storage products, Loew-Cornell artist supplies, and Bicycle playing cards. The stock is on my bearish radar screen after its recent rally and rejection at overhead resistance. The stock is down about 1.2 percent today to trade at 31.89. After a dizzying drop from its October all-time high of 42.25 to last month's low of 23.68, the stock has rallied back. However, it stalled at its 50-week moving average near 33.50. Short interest on the stock is near a four-year high. However, analysts are relatively positive, awarding two "strong buy" and one "buy" out of five ratings.

11:35 PM Crude Inventories Rise; Gasoline, Distillate Levels Fall

The Energy Information Administration released its weekly inventory report this morning, showing an increase in crude stocks and a decline in gasoline and distillate supplies. Crude inventories rose by 2.1 million barrels during the week ended March 24, compared to an estimated climb of 950,000 barrels. U.S. crude inventories are now at their highest level since the week of April 16, 1999, at 340.7 million barrels.

Gasoline inventories dropped 5.4 million barrels, the biggest one-week decline since August 22, 2003. They were expected to slip only 1.45 million barrels. Finally, distillate fuel inventories were down by 2.5 million barrels last week, surpassing economists' expectations for a 1.25-million-barrel drop. Both distillate and gasoline levels are above the upper end of the average range for this time of year.

Crude futures are slightly lower in response, down 27 cents at $65.80 per barrel on the May contract. Natural gas futures have slipped a fraction lower ahead of tomorrow's inventory report. Turning to stocks, the Energy Select SPDR exchange-traded fund (ETF) (XLE) is keeping its head above water, up 0.51 percent and back above its 10-week moving average. Other major oil names, including Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), ConocoPhillips (COP), and Chevron (CVX), are in positive territory.

1:01 PM Federated Department Stores (FD) Benefits From Stock Split, Dividend Announcements

Retailing behemoth Federated Department Stores (NYSE:FD) is on the rise today after company officials announced plans for a two-for-one stock split. The retailer hopes to receive shareholder authorization for this plan at its annual meeting on May 19. The split would ultimately bring the stock's available float to about 1 billion shares. The split would transpire on June 9 to shareholders of record on May 26.

In other news, the company's board of directors announced a two-percent increase in its quarterly cash dividend payable July 3 to shareholders of record on June 16. Should the stock split, the dividend will amount to 12.75 cents per share. If not, the dividend will pay out 25.5 cents per share.

FD shares have gapped up nearly 2.6 percent on the news and are again challenging the 74-75 region. The stock has not made a solid advance beyond this area since mid-2005.

On a sentiment basis, FD remains a favorite among analysts and the options-trading community. Without a whole lot of technical strength to justify this affection, the stock earns a Schaeffer's Equity Scorecard rating of 4.0.

1:53 PM Google May Pull Back Over Near-Term

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is approaching its 80-day moving average near the $397.50 level, and optimism seems to surround the stock in the wake of its latest push higher. The stock found life after being added to the S&P 500 Index, and has moved about 15 percent higher since the announcement. Option activity the past two days has heavily favored the call side, and the stock's current Schaeffer put/call open interest ratio of 0.68 is lower than 69 percent of readings over the past year. I'd say a near-term pullback is very likely.

1:56 PM More of the Same for Steel - New Highs

What a difference a day makes. We saw some strong selling yesterday after the Fed's decision; now today we're getting buying across the board and on huge volume. With nearly every group in the black, there's one that stands higher than the rest - steel. If you've read this blog at all over the past two months then you know how I've been pounding the table saying steel stocks are in a bull market and today is no different. Currently the SIG Steel Producers Index (STQ) is up 3.50 percent to yet another new all-time high. In fact, year-to-date the index is up over 40 percent. Looking at some select names in the group shows that Steel Dynamics (STLD) is up almost seven percent, Oregon Steel (NYSE:OS) three percent, and Carpenter Technology (CRS) four percent. Bottom line, nothing is wrong with the technical picture on this group - so continue to enjoy this ride. If you are looking for a way to trade the bull market in steel then I'd invite you to check out our new Gold and Metals Prospector (www.schaeffersresearch.com/shop/products.aspx?familyID=1700). It's only been open a few months, but over this time we've been playing a lot of steel names and the returns have been very strong.

For more information on these stocks or any stock in your portfolio, feel free to visit our Schaeffer's Equity Scorecard. Also, for more information on what makes up these scores, or if you want more filters and screens, take a 30-day trial to our Schaeffer's Gold. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROB1C&PAGE=1 .

Take advantage of the timely Schaeffer commentaries by signing up for their free e-newsletters -- Opening View, Market Recap and Monday Morning Outlook. Click here to have the Schaeffer's commentaries delivered to you free via email every day. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROB12M&PAGE=1 .

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 .