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Technology Stocks : Lam Research (LRCX, NASDAQ): To the Insiders -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (5277)	4/13/2005 4:12:45 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 5867

Options 'fear gauge' spikes up on investor worries Wed Apr 13, 2005 04:07 PM ET CHICAGO, April 13 (Reuters) - Sentiment in the U.S. options market turned apprehensive on Wednesday as U.S. stocks slumped and some investors showed an inclination to bid up options to manage their stock market risk, analysts said. The closely watched Chicago Board Options Exchange Index or VIX, which tracks projected volatility embedded in near-term options on the Standard & Poor's 500 index, shot up 17.79 percent to 13.31 late on Wednesday after hitting an intraday peak of 13.44. "Investors have shifted away their focus from falling oil prices to disappointing retail numbers as well as potential upcoming earnings disappointments," said Daryl Nanes, principal of Nanes Delorme Capital Management, a New York-based broker dealer. "This has prompted many of them to buy downside protection in the form of index options," he said. Although the VIX spiked up on Wednesday, the advance comes on the heels of a one-month low, said Ken Tower, chief market strategist at CyberTrader Inc, a unit of Charles Schwab. The VIX remains in its long-term downtrend, hovering between 14 and 11, which is near its 10-year low of around 10.36. "So for today's increase in the VIX to be more significant, it would have to close above the March and January highs of 14.89 and 14.95, respectively," Tower said. The VIX is often called Wall Street's "fear gauge" because it tends to rise when the market suffers steep declines. This is said to reflect increased anxiety among investors who buy portfolio protection in the form of S&P index options during periods of financial turmoil. A declining VIX can suggest a lack of demand for such insurance, indicating investor confidence or complacency. U.S. stocks sank on Wednesday as investors' concerns about earnings and weaker-than-expected March retail sales put many in the mood to sell. "On days like this, the increase in the VIX reflects mounting anxiety on the part of investors," Tower said. "But because it is taking place in a sustained low volatility market, it makes today's action more likely a blip than the beginning of a more significant advance."

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (5277)	4/13/2005 5:01:30 PM
From: BWAC	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5867

That should make it about a 13 trailing PE. On I assume peakish earnings.

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (5277)	4/13/2005 9:08:56 PM
From: Jong Hyun Yoo	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 5867

Brian, The earning numbers continue to look attactive for LRCX. Two weeks ago, I sold all my AMAT positions (including that in my 401K account) to raise cash and do final alignment of my holdings within semi equipment sector. NOW I am AMAT-free.. Maybe risky move but I am going to stick with KLAC, NVLS and LRCX. Tomorrow I will add some additional LRCX. This will be my last purchase before what I think is a modest upturn in 4Q driven by selected pick-up in the communication and wireless sector. JHY