Stocks were mixed on Wednesday. The Dow was up 50 points to 18041. The S&P 500 added 3 points to 2095. The Nasdaq Composite fell 25 points to 4863. The volume totals were reported higher on the NYSE and on the Nasdaq exchange. Breadth was positive as advancers led decliners by more than a 2-1 margin on the NYSE but by a narrower 8-7 margin on the Nasdaq exchange. Leadership improved as there were 40 high-ranked companies from the Leaders List made new 52-week highs and were listed on the BreakOuts Page, up from the total of 26 on the prior session. The new 52-week highs totals expanded and outnumbered new 52-week lows on the NYSE and on the Nasdaq exchange, and the new lows totals on the NYSE have been in the single digits every day this week.

Charts used courtesy of www.stockcharts.com

PICTURED: The Dow Jones Industrial Average is perched only -1.7% off its record high hit last May.

Sustained rallies require a healthy crop of leaders (stocks hitting new highs) so the recent expansion in new highs is a reassuring sign while the market is maintaining the previously noted confirmed uptrend (M criteria).  The DOW and S&P 500 Index are making further progress above their respective 50-day and 200-day moving average (DMA) lines, meanwhile the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has pulled back to its 200 DMA line.  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 major averages fluctuated after Federal Reserve officials reassured investors they will increase interest rates at a gradual pace. The central bank left the benchmark interest rate unchanged, but indicated it remains open to a possible June hike as it expects the economy to improve moderately. On the data front, pending home sales ticked up 1.4% in March.

Seven of 10 sectors in the S&P 500 advanced on the session. Telecom stocks paced the gains as Verizon (VZ +2.48%) rose. Energy shares outperformed as well with oil trading at its highest level in 2016. In earnings, Boeing (BA +2.88%) despite missing profit projections. EBay (EBAY +3.18%) rose as results were above forecasts.

Technology shares weighed down the markets after disappointing earnings releases. Apple (AAPL -6.26%) after reporting a year-over-year decline in quarterly revenue for the first time in a decade. Twitter (TWTR -16.28%) as the company put forth disappointing forward guidance.

Treasuries snapped a seven-day losing streak with the benchmark 10-year note up 18/32 to yield 1.86%. In commodities, NYMEX WTI crude jumped 2.9% to $45.32. In FOREX, the dollar weakened against the euro.

Financials were mixed on Wednesday as the Bank Index ($BKX +0.14%) inched higher but the Broker/Dealer Index ($XBD -0.42%) lost ground, meanwhile the Retail Index ($RLX +0.03%) finished flat. Commodity-linked groups were positive as the Oil Services Index ($OSX +3.37%), Integrated Oil Index ($XOI +1.40%) and the Gold & Silver Index ($XAU +1.67%) each ended higher. The Networking Index ($NWX +0.98%) and the Semiconductor Index ($SOX +1.01%) both tallied solid gains again while the Biotechnology Index ($BTK -0.88%) again ended lower. 

Charts courtesy www.stockcharts.com

PICTURED: The Biotechnology Index ($BTK -0.88%) is still consolidating below its 200-day moving average (DMA) line.

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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
MXL - NYSE Maxlinear Inc Cl A Telecom-Infrastructure	$17.17	+0.07 0.41%	$17.29	1,051,304 76.51% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 1,374,000	$19.10 -10.10%	2/26/2016	$16.10	PP = $16.19
								MB = $17.00
Most Recent Note - 4/27/2016 5:23:00 PM G - Still consolidating near its 50 DMA line. Found prompt support following a considerable loss on 4/19/16 with 4 times average volume that raised concerns and triggered a technical sell signal. Disciplined investors always limit losses by selling any stock that falls more than -7% from their purchase price. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Found Support Above 50 DMA Line Consolidating Near 52-week High - 4/1/2016  |  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	$26.56	+0.58 2.23%	$26.85	38,667 74.36% of 50 DAV 50 DAV is 52,000	$28.66 -7.34%	4/19/2016	$28.20	PP = $28.10
								MB = $29.51
Most Recent Note - 4/27/2016 5:23:50 PM Y - Posted a small gain on lighter volume. Its 50 DMA ($24.46) line and recent lows define important near-term support where violations may trigger a technical sell signal. Volume-driven gains above the pivot point may trigger a new technical buy signal. >>> FEATURED STOCK ARTICLE : Met Resistance When Poised to Breakout From Longer Base Pattern - 4/20/2016  |  View all notes | Set NEW NOTE alert | Company Profile | SEC News | Chart | Request a new note C A  S  I