The Week Ahead: A Labor Department report shows there are 6 unemployed people for every 1 job opening which is the highest level recorded since this data began 9 years ago. In addition companies looking to hire is also at historic lows. Bond markets are closed for Columbus Day on Monday. The FOMC Minutes from September are released Tuesday. Retail sales and import price data come out on Wednesday. The CPI and jobless claims arrive on Thursday and Industrial Production numbers on Friday.

Stocks to Watch: NCR Corp. (NCR) after a sizeable drop Thursday from the sudden resignation of its CFO rebounded Friday, but it does appear the stock may have peaked for a while. Sunrise Senior Living (SRZ) will sell 21 assisted living communities for $204 million to Brookdale Senior Living (BKD) as both stocks benefited. Regal Beloit (RBC) which manufactures electrical products boosted its Q3 EPS guidance by 33% from earlier estimates. Scientific Learning (SCIL) had strong Q3 earnings and record revenue almost doubling in price before selling off.

Special Note: The Dow Industrials have surpassed the September closing high, but so far has not been confirmed by the S&P 500 or Nasdaq. An alternating pattern seems to be in progress for the main indexes since 2007 with October and November marking high points in '07, low points in '08, and what appears to be a high in development for the same two months this year. Insider selling as a ratio to insider buying is still expanding reaching 44 to 1 in early October.

Commentary provided by Barry Ward, Registered Principal, NobleTrading.com, Inc.

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