The major averages ended higher as the dollar fell after Congress passed the historic health care bill.  As expected, volume totals contracted compared to Friday's options inflated levels on both major exchanges. Advancers led decliners by nearly a 2-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and the Nasdaq exchange. There were 45 high-ranked companies from the CANSLIM.net Leaders List that made a new 52-week high and appeared on the CANSLIM.net BreakOuts Page, higher than the 37 issues that appeared on the prior session. New 52-week highs again overwhelmingly trumped new lows on both exchanges.

Late Sunday night, the US House of Representatives passed the historic health-care bill which will allow uninsured Americans to get medical coverage and add a whopping $940 billion in debt over the next decade. To pay for the plan, in 2013 the government wants to initiate new Medicare taxes on individuals who earn more than $200,000 per year and joint filers who earn more than $250,000 per year. Taxes will increase to 2.35% from 1.45% and a new 3.8% tax on unearned income such as dividends and interest will be created. Finally, there will be an excise tax of 2.3% on the sale of medical devices.

Charts courtesy www.stockcharts.com

PICTURED: The Semiconductor Index ($SOX +2.41%) was a standout gainer on Monday, rallying to within -1.7% of its recovery high.

Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (BRLI +$0.52 or +1.19% to $44.37) has been consolidating very near its 52-week high since its negative reversal on 3/12/10. This high-ranked Medical-Dental - Services firm is slightly extended from its prior base, and prior chart highs and its 50-day moving average (DMA) line now coincide in the $40 area defining important support to watch. Any subsequent deterioration below those levels would raise concerns and trigger technical sell signals. 

A gain on 3/04/10 with 2 times average volume lifted it solidly above its pivot point, confirming a technical buy signal. Its weekly chart is marked by many up weeks with above average volume and few down weeks on volume - very bullish characteristics. No resistance remains due to overhead supply now, which could allow for a significant sprint higher. Earnings growth and sales revenues growth has accelerated, with increases better than the +25% minimum guideline in recent quarters. Fundamentals are favorable with respect to the C and A criteria of the investment system. BRLI has only 13.9 million shares outstanding (S criteria) and has average daily volume under 100,000 shares, which could contribute to greater price volatility in the event of more decisive institutional buying or selling. The number of top-rated funds owning its shares rose from 77 in Mar '09 to 87 in Dec '09 which is somewhat reassuring in regard to the I criteria of the investment system.

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.