Schaeffer's Today's Market Features: J.C. Penney, Lowe's Companies, Home Depot, Wal-Mart Stores, and Jabil Circuits.

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the November 27 edition of Schaeffer's Today's Market are J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW), Home Depot (NYSE:HD), Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT), and Jabil Circuits (NYSE:JBL). 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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9:47 AM Cyber Monday Kicks Off

U.S. futures are pointed lower as we head into the first full trading session on Wall Street in about five days. Despite what appears to be a negative start to the session for equities, commodities are faring pretty well in electronic trading, with both gold and crude oil gaining ground in pre-market trading.

Retailing concerns could be the focus of much speculation today, as some preliminary results from the Black Friday buying spree begin to roll onto the Street. According to some of the early reports rolling in, sales are seen about six percent higher than last year, arriving at about $9 billion. According to ShopperTrak RTC, preliminary data indicates that sales were "relatively strong," while J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP) noted that the holiday season was off to a "good start."

Keeping with the retailing theme, Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) announced over the weekend that U.S. same-store sales fell 0.1 percent during November, marking the company's first such drop since 1996. In other news, WMT also agreed to a joint venture with India's Bharti Enterprises in order to gain a foothold in a market that has been closed to foreign companies.

Finally, home-improvement retailers could see a bit of a lift today. Banc of America Securities upgraded Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW) to "buy" from "neutral," setting a price target of $43 per share. According to the brokerage, "Fundamentals have not bottomed, but valuation may have as we believe the market is beginning to look through the potential trough." Banc of America Securities also lifted its price target on Home Depot (NYSE:HD) to $45 from $42 per share.

12:30 PM Fire Sale on Wall Street

If you were looking for a fire sale on "Cyber Monday" on the Street, you might want to wait until the smoke clears. Currently, the major market indices are in a tail spin, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 12,148.50) dropping more than 130 points on the session. Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT) has placed a lodestone on the Dow, as the retailer's first U.S. same-store sales decline since 1996 has the equity trading lower by nearly two percent. Elsewhere, the S&P 500 Index (SPX - 1,385.83) has plowed past the 1,400 level to trade some 15 points lower on the session, while the Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 4,417.3) has given up about 43 points.

The falling U.S. dollar is being largely being blamed for today's wave of red, as the old greenback continued to lose ground against the euro today. At last check, the U.S. currency was down 0.3 percent versus the euro. However, the dollar has gained 0.1 percent against the yen on the session. This week's economic reports could be the savior of the dollar, however, as many investors are waiting on pins and needles for some confirmation that the U.S. economy isn't quite as bad as the speculation touts it to be.

Not all equities are in the red today, as Thor Industries (THO) is up more than two percent after the company reported first-quarter net earnings of $32.6 million, or 58 cents per share. Revenue fell 4.4 percent to $727.7 million from $761.3 million. Analysts were expecting a profit of 60 cents on revenue of $703.8 million.

2:48 PM Commodities Rally Amid Broad Market Weakness

As we head into the final hours of this Monday session of trading, the wave of selling on the Street is showing no signs of relenting. At last check, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA- 12,126.7) had dropped more than 150 points and is poised to close its first session below its 10-day and 20-day trendlines since November 3.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Index (SPX - 1,383.89) is off more than 17 points, also below its 10-day and 20-day trendlines. What's more, the SPX is currently in the process of testing key support in the 1,380 region. Finally, while the Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 2,414.2) had plunged more than 45 points on the session, the tech-laden index still maintains the support of its rising 20-day moving average.

Checking in on commodities, gold for December delivery benefited from the dollar's weakness. The malleable metal closed its first session of trading on the NYMEX following the holiday break higher by $11.60 an ounce at $640.60. Meanwhile, crude oil for December delivery was last seen higher by 68 cents at $59.92, following news that Saudi Arabia's oil minister is open to supporting another cut in production at the December meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

In equities, Jabil Circuits (NYSE:JBL) has given up more than four percent after Moody's placed its rating on the company on review for possible downgrade. Moody's said that the actions reflect the company's plan to acquire Taiwan Green Point Enterprises for roughly $900 million in cash.

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=PROB13C&PAGE=1 .

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