Schaeffer's Today's Market Features: Home Depot, Warner Music Group, Ford Motor, DaimlerChrysler, and Toyota Motor.

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the December 1 edition of Schaeffer's Today's Market are Home Depot (NYSE:HD), Warner Music Group (NYSE:WMG), Ford Motor (NYSE:F), DaimlerChrysler (NYSE:DCX), and Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM). Schaeffer's Today's Market 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. Today's Market is written throughout every trading day by Schaeffer's financial analysts and traders. The entries are quick updates on the day's most notable market activity and news.

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8:39 AM A Private Home Depot?

U.S. stock futures are pointed higher this morning, indicative of a positive open on the session. However, the status of the major market indices today could well depend on the remaining economic reports slated to hit the Street this morning.

While construction spending, auto and truck sales are all on the docket, the November Institute of Supply Management's (ISM) manufacturing sentiment index could be the more critical of the bunch.

Equity news is quite thin this morning, but what is out there could make the session quite interesting for a few stocks. The New York Post is reporting that Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts and Texas Pacific are mulling a potential $100 billion buyout of Dow Jones Industrial Average component Home Depot (NYSE:HD). Late on Wednesday, CNBC carried similar speculation. According to the paper, several firms have held discussions with Wall Street investment banks about structuring the debt needed to finance what would be the largest leveraged buyout offer in history.

Elsewhere, Warner Music Group (NYSE:WMG) reported that it earned $12 million, or eight cents per share, during the fourth quarter. Revenue, however, dropped six percent to $854 million. On an adjusted basis, excluding $13 million of income related to the settlement of copyright infringement by peer-to-peer network Kazaa, WMG would have lost one cent per share. Analysts were expecting flat results on revenue of $893 million.

11:22 AM ISM Numbers Disappoint

In this morning's Opening View, my colleague Joseph Hargett pointed out that the "November Institute of Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing sentiment index could be the more critical" of the news reports released today. In the article, he also pointed out that MarketWatch noted that the Fed usually cuts interest rates if the ISM poll slips below 50. Well, it did. The ISM index dropped to 49.5 percent during November, indicating contraction in the U.S. factory sector for the first time in three years. Moreover, the ISM index hit its lowest level since April 2003. Economists had expected the index to increase to 51.8 percent from October's reading of 51.2 percent.

Immediately following the report, Treasurys advanced pushing yield lower. The reason for the move is that hopes surfaced for an interest-rate cut from the Fed sooner rather than later. In contrast, the dollar dropped sharply in comparison to other currencies. The buck hit a 20-month low versus the low and a 14-year (yes, year) low versus the British pound.

Immediately following the report, the Dow's already bad day got worse. However, we are yet to lapse into the realm of a triple-digit loss. The Dow Jones (DJIA - 12,157.0) checks in with a 65-point drop after retreating from resistance at its 10-day moving average. The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 1,393.94) has shed nearly seven points and the Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 2,409.3) has dropped more than 22 points.

2:07 PM Mixed Auto Sales Results

Stocks remained locked in the red this afternoon and appear doomed to start December off on the wrong foot. At last check, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 12,146) has dropped 76 points and the S&P 500 Index (SPX - 1,392.52) has slipped eight points. The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 2,400.2) is valiantly hanging onto the 2,400 level as it has sunk 31.5 points so far today.

Meanwhile, February gold closed at $650.60 an ounce Friday, down $2.30 for the day, but up $16.20, or 2.5%, for the week on rising concerns over a slowdown in U.S. economic growth. March silver edged 7.5 cents higher to close at $14.19 an ounce,. The metal finished the week with a gain of 7.2 percent.

Auto sales have rolled in today. Ford Motor (NYSE:F) announced that November U.S. auto sales dropped 9.6 percent. The car side suffered a 2.6-percent decline, while truck sales tumbled 12.9 percent. Lincoln and Volvo brands turned in double-digit improvements while Jaguar continued its trend of plunging sales, down 35.2 percent. The company stated that it plans to build 620,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter, down 15,000 units from prior forecasts.

Elsewhere, DaimlerChrysler (NYSE:DCX) saw November sales jump 4.7 percent, crushing the Street estimate for a 1.1-percent decline. The Chrysler side handed in a 2.9-percent increase, benefiting from what the automaker called its "most aggressive product launch" in its history. In the luxury Mercedes-Benz group, sales surged 20.8 percent.

Finally, Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) Sales U.S.A. said Friday November sales rose 15.9 percent. Toyota division sales increased 18 percent, while Lexus division sales inched 4.2 percent higher.

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 the Today's Market entries: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PRMS13C&PAGE=1.

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