Stocks finished higher on Thursday. The Dow was up 48 points to 17838. The S&P 500 gained 5 points to 2105 and the Nasdaq Composite added 19 points to 4971. The volume totals were reported mixed, higher on the NYSE and lighter on the Nasdaq exchange versus the prior session. Breadth was positive as advancers led decliners by nearly 2-1 on the NYSE and 3-2 on the Nasdaq exchange. There were 52 high-ranked companies from the Leaders List made new 52-week highs and were listed on the BreakOuts Page, up from the total of 48 on the prior session. New 52-highs solidly outnumbered new 52-week lows on both the NYSE and Nasdaq exchanges.

Charts used courtesy of www.stockcharts.com

PICTURED: The S&P 500 Index is perched within striking distance of prior highs. It is -1.4% off its May 20, 2015 all-time high (not shown).

The market's confirmed uptrend (M criteria) continues as stocks overcame recent pressure. The Dow Jones Industrial Average,S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite Index have all rebounded above their 50 DMA lines, respectively. Leadership recently improved as more stocks hit new highs. Although very few issues have appeared to meet the fact-based investment system's guidelines or made meaningful headway in recent weeks, the latest expansion in leadership is a reassuring sign. The Featured Stocks Page includes current notes with headline links for access to more detailed letter-by-letter analysis including price/volume graphs annotated by our experts.

The S&P 500 closed at the highest level since November ahead of tomorrow’s non-farm labor report. On the data front today, initial jobless claims came in at 267,000, lower than analyst expectations of 270,000. In a separate release, an ADP report showed that 173k workers were added to private payrolls in May. In international news, the European Central Bank left interest rates and stimulus measures unchanged.

Seven of 10 sectors in the S&P 500 ended the session in positive territory. Health Care stocks were the best performers as Humana (HUM +5.61%) and Aetna (AET +4.11%) both rose. In earnings, Joy Global (JOY +21.92%) rallied after the mining equipment maker reported better-than-expected profits. Box Inc. (BOX -11.48%) fell as the cloud storage company’s billings were short of projections. Oracle (ORCL -3.97%) fell on allegations of improper accounting practices.

Treasuries advanced with the benchmark 10-year note up 9/32 to 1.80%. In commodities, NYMEX WTI crude ticked up 0.2% to $49.11/barrel, after weekly crude oil inventories showed a draw of 1.4 million barrels. COMEX gold slipped 0.1% to $1210.60/ounce. In FOREX, the dollar weakened against the yen for a third consecutive session.

The Retail Index ($RLX +0.74%) gave the major averages a boost and the Bank Index ($BKX +0.38%) edged higher while the Broker/Dealer Index ($XBD -0.04%) finished flat on Thursday. The tech sector had a bullish bias as the Biotechnology Index ($BTK +2.56%) and Networking Index ($NWX +1.35%) each ended solidly higher but the Semiconductor Index ($SOX +0.02%) was unchanged.  The Oil Services Index ($OSX -1.32%) fell while the Integrated Oil Index ($XOI -0.05%) finished flat and the Gold & Silver Index ($XAU +0.26%) ended slightly higher.

Charts courtesy www.stockcharts.com

Maxlinear Inc (MXL -$0.05 or -0.24% to $20.86) is perched near its all-time high after a recent spurt of gains with below average volume. Its strong close above the new pivot point was backed by +100% above average volume triggering a new (or add-on) technical buy signal noted on 5/16/16. Disciplined investors avoid chasing extended stocks too far above prior highs. 

Prior highs near $19 define initial support to watch on pullbacks. It was last shown in the FSU section on 5/12/16 with an annotated graph under the headline, "Rebounded Above 50-Day Average Following Strong Earnings News". There was a powerful gap up on 5/10/16 for a considerable volume-driven gain after it reported strong earnings +422% on +190% sales revenues for the Mar '16 quarter versus the year ago period. The gain helped it rebound above its 50-day moving average (DMA) line. Members were reminded - "Remember that any stock that was previously sold can be bought again when strength returns."

MXL was first highlighted in yellow with pivot point cited based on its 1/13/16 high in the 2/26/16 mid-day report (read here). It ended up breaking out convincingly with a subsequent streak of gains on above average volume, clearing the previously noted a "double bottom" base and triggering a technical buy signal. 

The high-ranked Semiconductor firm saw sales revenues increases of +99%, +193%, and +205% for the Jun, Sep, and Dec '15 quarters, respectively, versus the year ago periods as earnings rose +62%, +900%, and +820%. The 3 strong quarterly comparisons above the +25% minimum guideline (C criteria) were noted in the 2/09/16 mid-day report - "Helping it better match the fact-based investment system's guidelines." 

Its small supply of only 52.4 million shares in the public float (S criteria) may contribute to greater price volatility in the event of institutional buying or selling. The number of top-rated funds owning its shares rose from 175 in Mar '15 to 290 in Mar '16, a very reassuring sign (I criteria). It currently has a Timeliness rating of B, and a Sponsorship Rating of D.  

Charts used courtesy of www.stockcharts.com

Color Codes Explained :
Y - Better candidates highlighted by our staff of experts.
G - Previously featured in past reports as yellow but may no longer be buyable under the guidelines.

***Last / Change / Volume data in this table is the closing quote data***

Symbol/Exchange Company Name Industry Group	PRICE	CHANGE (%Change)	Day High	Volume (% DAV) (% 50 day avg vol)	52 Wk Hi % From Hi	Featured Date	Price Featured	Pivot Featured
								Max Buy
TDG - NYSE Transdigm Group Inc AEROSPACE/DEFENSE - Aerospace/Defense Products and; Services	$265.84	-0.25 -0.09%	$267.31	9,757,860 1,591.82% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 613,000	$267.39 -0.58%	5/11/2016	$248.33	PP = $245.00
								MB = $257.25
Most Recent Note - 6/2/2016 12:39:56 PM G - Perched at all-time highs following volume-driven gains and a rally well above its "max buy" level. Disciplined investors avoid chasing extended stocks. Bullish action has continued since highlighted in yellow in the 5/11/16 mid-day report (read here). See the latest FSU analysis for more details and a new annotated graph. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Getting Extended From Prior Base After More Volume-Driven Gains - 6/1/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
CSFL - NASDAQ Centerstate Banks Inc Banks-Southeast	$15.82	+0.14 0.89%	$15.82	169,171 75.19% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 225,000	$16.59 -4.64%	5/27/2016	$15.80	PP = $16.69
								MB = $17.52
Most Recent Note - 6/1/2016 3:56:05 PM Y - Consolidating above its 50 DMA line ($15.51) since highlighted in yellow with pivot point cited based on its 4/27/16 high plus 10 cents. Subsequent volume-driven gains for new highs are needed to trigger a proper technical buy signal before action may be justified under the fact-based investment system. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Forming Ideal Base and Fundamentals Are Favorable - 5/27/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
MXL - NYSE Maxlinear Inc Cl A Telecom-Infrastructure	$20.86	-0.05 -0.24%	$20.92	1,020,873 75.45% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 1,353,000	$20.94 -0.38%	5/16/2016	$19.24	PP = $19.20
								MB = $20.16
Most Recent Note - 6/2/2016 5:29:16 PM G - Disciplined investors avoid chasing extended stocks too far above prior highs. Prior highs near $19 define initial support to watch on pullbacks. See the latest FSU analysis for more details and a new annotated graph. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Extended From Latest Base After Recently Wedging Higher - 6/2/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
PATK - NASDAQ Patrick Industries Inc WHOLESALE - Building Materials Wholesale	$53.56	-0.29 -0.54%	$53.61	138,941 99.96% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 139,000	$54.09 -0.98%	5/24/2016	$53.45	PP = $50.68
								MB = $53.21
Most Recent Note - 6/1/2016 3:53:28 PM G - Hit another new 52-week high today with light volume behind recent gains while wedging further above its "max buy" level. Disciplined investors avoid chasing extended stocks. Prior highs define near term support in the $50 area. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Solid Volume-Driven Gain Into New High Territory - 5/24/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
NVEE - NASDAQ N V 5 Global Inc Comml Svcs-Consulting	$28.11	-1.97 -6.55%	$29.85	169,964 163.43% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 104,000	$30.21 -6.95%	4/19/2016	$28.20	PP = $28.10
								MB = $29.51
Most Recent Note - 6/2/2016 12:30:41 PM Y - Color code was changed to yellow after retreating below its "max buy" level. Hit a new 52-week high with a volume-driven gain on the prior session following M&A news. Support is defined by its 50 DMA line ($26.65) and a multi-month upward trendline. See the latest FSU analysis for more details and an annotated graph. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Consolidating Near Highs After Completing New Public Offering - 5/31/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
Symbol/Exchange Company Name Industry Group	PRICE	CHANGE (%Change)	Day High	Volume (% DAV) (% 50 day avg vol)	52 Wk Hi % From Hi	Featured Date	Price Featured	Pivot Featured
								Max Buy