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Indices rose Friday, with the S&P closing at 1,065, a 1.7% increase. The DIJA rose by 165 points or 1.7%, ending at 10,561. The Nasdaq Composite also rose by 1.7% that Friday.

Some of our most popular technology stocks, however, have announced important 3rd quarter reports. Intel estimated sales of $11 billion for the third quarter rather than its previous estimate of $11.2 to $12 billion in sales. HP and Dell are both vying over 3Par, a company offering customized storage solutions for mid to large-size companies.

The Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke vowed Friday to do all he can to prevent deflation in the US.
The dollar fell along with oil prices, which ended Tuesday at $72.39 a barrel. Gold ended at $1,233.40 an ounce. Wheat prices continue to rise after Russia declared a moratorium on wheat due to a drought.

The US unemployment rate remained at 9.5% this month, although the private sector added 71,000 jobs.

Home sales in the US sunk 27% in July, to their lowest level in 15 years.

World Markets
China reported a fall in growth in July for the first time in 16 months. This week China is expected to release its GDP growth for the 2nd quarter as well as balance of trade reports, which will give analysts information on future growth and investment or if the fall is a trend. India will also release growth figures. Analysts expect 8% growth to be announced. Analysts predict that India will catch up more to China in terms of growth rate this year.

The European Central Bank will unveil latest interest-rate decision on Thursday. It is likely to leave the rate unchanged, a confirmation that continue with relaxed lending policies until the end of the year.

Carrefour reported this week a net profit of Euro 82 million as it seeks to expand to markets in Brazil and China.
Vivendi, French media and telecom group also reported today a 6.6% rise in profit to 1.26 billion Euros for the first half of the year.

Currencies
The dollar fell to a 15-year low against the Yen. The euro fell to a 9-year low against the yen, and the British pound to 3-month low against the yen. The strength of the yen causes concern for exporters.

This strategy benefits you mostly when you have two options with a range of expiry, where both options could be in the-money. Then you are able to minimize your risk but   also maximize your gain.

This option is almost most popular in forex binary options, in which the value of the currency can change very quickly in either direction. In this scenario, hedging could be a viable option for reducing risk to the trader.

Take the following scenario of a forex binary option based on the price of the Euro. The Euro has been rising and is predicted to continue to rise at a determined breakout point. At this point you would place a call, expecting the Euro to rise. But what if the price changes quickly and falls? You can place a put option at another point, helping you to minimize risk in the event that the price indeed falls.

In the above scenario, you have placed a call for $500 at the option price of 5.1. You have also placed a put for $500 at the option price of 5.3.

The following outcomes could occur:

• The Euro price could expire at 5.1 exactly, making your call option at-the-money. You would receive $500 in return of your initial investment. In this case your put option would be in-the-money, and you would receive $850 on your initial investment. Total investment= $1000. Profit= $350. This trade would end up being a net gain. (-500 + 500 + -500 + 850)
• The Euro price could expire between 5.1 and  5.3, making both your put option and your call option in-the-money. You would receive $850 for both trades.  Total investment= $1000. Profit= $700.   (-500 + 850 + -500 + 850) This trade would end up being a net gain.
• The Euro price could expire below 5.1, making your call option out-of-the-money. You would receive $75 in return of your initial investment. In this case your put option would be in-the-money, and you would receive $850 on your initial investment. Total investment= $1000. Profit= – $75.   (-500 + 75 + -500 + 850) This trade would end up being a net loss, but you still lose much less than you stand to gain in other scenarios.
• The Euro price could expire above 5.3, making your call option at-the-money, and you would receive $850 in return of your initial investment. In this case your put option would be out-of-the-money, and you would receive $75 in return of your initial investment. Total investment- $1000. Profit= -$75.  (-500 + 850 + -500 + 75) This trade would end up being a net loss, but you still lose much less than you stand to gain in other scenarios.
• The Euro price could expire at 5.3 exactly, making your put option at-the-money. You would receive $500 in return of your initial investment. In this case your put option would be in-the-money, and you would receive $850 on your initial investment. Total investment= $1000. Profit= $350.  (-500 + 850 + -500 +  500) This trade would end up being a net gain.

In each scenario, you stand a chance of winning a greater profit by hedging, or placing two bets in opposite directions, than the all-or-nothing chances of one binary bet. In the instances in which you stand you lose money, you lose far less than the possibility you have to gain a greater profit than loss in other circumstances.