Stocks finished higher on Wednesday. The Dow was up 41 points to 18354. The S&P 500 added 6 points to 2163 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 22 points to 5159.  The volume totals were lighter than the prior session on the NYSE and on the Nasdaq exchange. Advancers led decliners by a 2-1 margin on the NYSE and on the Nasdaq exchange. There were 26 high-ranked companies from the Leaders List that made new 52-week highs and were listed on the BreakOuts Page, versus the total of 22 on the prior session. New 52-week highs still outnumbered new 52-week lows on both the NYSE and the Nasdaq exchange.

Charts used courtesy of www.stockcharts.com

PICTURED: The Nasdaq Composite Index is perched -1.4% off its record high.

The benchmark S&P 500 Index, the S&P 400 Mid Cap, and the S&P 600 Small Cap Index each hit new record highs on Friday. Big gains for the major indices were noted in prior commentaries and that bullish action signaled a new "confirmed uptrend" for the market (M criteria). See the Featured Stocks Page which now lists a few noteworthy candidates that have made headway.

The Dow snapped its seven-day losing streak as crude rallied and investors digested optimistic updates on the economy. On the data front, an ADP report showed that 179,000 workers were added to private payrolls in July, above analyst estimates of 170,000. In a separate release, Markit’s survey of U.S. business activity expanded to 51.4 in July, above expectations of a 51.0 reading. Finally, ISM’s non-manufacturing index yielded a 55.5 reading.

Six of 10 sectors in the S&P 500 finished in positive territory. Energy shares paced the gains with Marathon Petroleum (MPC +6.26%) posting a big gain. Financials outperformed as (AIG +7.31%) rose after the insurer announced a $3 billion increase in its stock buyback program. Time Warner (TWX +2.71%) rose as the media giant raised its full-year outlook. Retailers were notable decliners on the session with Kate Spade (KATE -18.22%) and Michael Kors (KORS -2.58%) ending lower.

Treasuries advanced with the benchmark 10-year note up 5/32 to yield 1.53%. In commodities, NYMEX WTI crude rallied 3.4% to $40.83/barrel, after the EIA reported gasoline stocks slumped by 3.3 million barrels. COMEX gold lost 0.6% to $1355.80/ounce. In FOREX, the Dollar Index gained 0.5%.

The Retail Index ($RLX +0.12%), Broker/Dealer Index ($XBD +1.86%) and the Bank Index ($BKX +1.48%). The Networking Index ($NWX +1.13%) and Biotechnology Index ($BTK +0.91%) led the tech sector while the Semiconductor Index ($SOX +0.11%) inched higher. Commodity-linked groups were mixed as the Gold & Silver Index ($XAU -0.82%) fell and the Integrated Oil Index ($XOI +1.88%) and Oil Services Index ($OSX +1.65%) both rose.

Charts courtesy www.stockcharts.com

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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	$277.95	+0.80 0.29%	$278.69	384,809 51.86% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 742,000	$280.28 -0.83%	5/11/2016	$248.33	PP = $245.00
								MB = $257.25
Most Recent Note - 8/1/2016 6:04:02 PM G - Volume was below average while recently wedging into new all-time high territory. Its 50 DMA line ($264.91) defines important near-term support to watch on pullbacks. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Gains Lack Great Volume While Wedging to New Highs - 7/27/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
IESC - NASDAQ I E S Holdings Inc Bldg-Maintenance and Svc	$13.75	-0.15 -1.08%	$13.94	50,283 55.26% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 91,000	$16.77 -18.01%	7/26/2016	$15.79	PP = $15.74
								MB = $16.53
Most Recent Note - 8/2/2016 5:45:41 PM G - Testing support near its 50 DMA line ($13.95). Considerable loss with higher volume raised concerns and its color code was changed to green while slumping back into the prior base. Disciplined investors always limit losses by selling any stock that falls more than -7% from their purchase price. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Volume-Driven Gain for New Highs Clinched Technical Buy Signal - 7/26/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
NTES - NASDAQ Netease Inc Adr INTERNET - Internet Information Providers	$198.60	-1.74 -0.87%	$202.68	889,300 68.46% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 1,299,000	$210.27 -5.55%	6/29/2016	$182.42	PP = $186.55
								MB = $195.88
Most Recent Note - 8/2/2016 5:47:50 PM G - Still consolidating above its "max buy" level with volume totals below average behind 4 consecutive losses. Disciplined investors avoid chasing stocks more than +5% above the prior high or pivot point. Prior highs near $186 define initial support to watch on pullbacks. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Perched +5% Above Prior Highs Following Volume-Driven Gains - 7/15/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
HTHT - NASDAQ China Lodging Group Ads LEISURE - Lodging	$38.31	-0.30 -0.78%	$38.67	77,794 36.02% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 216,000	$41.76 -8.26%	7/13/2016	$38.87	PP = $39.29
								MB = $41.25
Most Recent Note - 8/1/2016 6:00:44 PM Y - Quietly sputtering back into its prior base raising concerns. Stalled after the 7/15/16 gain backed by +57% above average volume clinched a technical buy signal. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Negative Reversal After Touching New High - 7/13/2016  |  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	$21.44	+0.02 0.09%	$21.44	908,202 91.28% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 995,000	$22.50 -4.71%	5/16/2016	$19.24	PP = $19.20
								MB = $20.16
Most Recent Note - 8/2/2016 5:46:28 PM G - Still consolidating above its "max buy" level. Recent lows and the 200 DMA line in the $16.85 area define important support to watch on pullbacks. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Consolidating Near Highs Above its "Max Buy" Level - 7/29/2016  |  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
PATK - NASDAQ Patrick Industries Inc WHOLESALE - Building Materials Wholesale	$63.18	-0.43 -0.68%	$63.87	157,874 101.20% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 156,000	$69.53 -9.13%	5/24/2016	$53.45	PP = $50.68
								MB = $53.21
Most Recent Note - 8/2/2016 5:43:34 PM G - Churning above average volume while hovering near all-time highs, extended from any sound base. Disciplined investors avoid chasing stocks more than +5% above prior highs. Reported earnings +41% on +35% sales revenues for the Jun '16 quarter. Its 50 DMA line ($58.75) defines near-term support to watch on pullbacks. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Rallied +30% in 2 Months Since Breakout Was Featured - 7/28/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
FBHS - NYSE Fortune Brands Hme & Sec Bldg-Constr Prds/Misc	$63.44	+0.25 0.40%	$63.44	1,188,534 63.42% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 1,874,000	$64.47 -1.60%	6/22/2016	$57.71	PP = $60.08
								MB = $63.08
Most Recent Note - 8/1/2016 5:58:46 PM G - Consolidating above its "max buy" level and its color code is changed to green. Rallied for new highs with +66% above average volume following strong earnings news. See the latest FSU analysis for more details and a new annotated graph. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Perched Above "Max Buy" Level Following Volume-Driven Gain - 8/1/2016  |  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	$33.38	+0.50 1.52%	$33.46	55,710 56.27% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 99,000	$33.14 0.72%	4/19/2016	$28.20	PP = $28.10
								MB = $29.51
Most Recent Note - 8/3/2016 5:28:20 PM G - Hit a new 52-week high with today's gain on light volume. Its 50 DMA line ($29.07) and prior highs define important near-term support to watch on pullbacks. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Winning Streak Leaves Leader Extended From Prior Base Pattern - 7/18/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
SFBS - NASDAQ Servisfirst Bancshares BANKING - Regional - Southeast Banks	$49.41	-0.06 -0.12%	$49.75	57,548 52.80% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 109,000	$53.58 -7.78%	7/19/2016	$53.28	PP = $52.82
								MB = $55.46
Most Recent Note - 8/1/2016 6:02:36 PM Y - Quietly slumped below its 50 DMA line ($50.23) today. A volume-driven gain and strong close above the pivot point are needed to clinch a convincing technical buy signal. It has been quietly consolidating since highlighted in yellow in the 7/19/16 mid-day report with pivot point cited based on the 6/01/16 high plus 10 cents. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Meeting Resistance Near Prior Highs - 7/20/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I
OLLI - NASDAQ Ollie's Bargain Outlet Retail-DiscountandVariety	$26.36	+0.45 1.74%	$26.41	649,193 64.85% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 1,001,000	$28.72 -8.22%	7/19/2016	$26.42	PP = $28.82
								MB = $30.26
Most Recent Note - 8/3/2016 5:26:02 PM Y - Managed a positive reversal today after finding prompt support at its 50 DMA line. Volume-driven gains above the pivot point are needed to trigger a convincing technical buy signal. Completed another Secondary Offering on 6/06/16. Such offerings often hinder upward price progress for the short term, yet they also help to attract more institutional sponsorship. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Retail Firm Approaching Pivot Point - 7/19/2016  |  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