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The following Investment Newsletter is provided by the InvestmentHouse.com family of websites which include StockSplits.net, CoveredCall.Com and TechnicalTraders.com.

1) MARKET SUMMARY

- A rally of sorts, but sellers came in again before the weekend.
- Was today the best shot at a rally?
- Economic news is mixed for the day, but down for the week.
- Subscriber questions
- Team Trades

Click Here to read the full text of our Weekend Market Summary. Topics this weekend include: The Economy, The Markets, This Week's Economic Calendar; What To Expect This Week In The Markets and our popular Team Trades column.

2) STOCK SPLITS

Be sure to read our Stock Splits Manual. Playing stock splits can be very profitable, but it takes know-how.

Our stock split service focuses on three main types of plays:

1) pre-announcement (where we forecast an upcoming split prior to the company making the announcement); 2) pre-split (these plays are made in the days leading up to the actual split day); and 3) post-split plays (plays made after the actual stock split where the stock is showing continued or renewed strength).

We play pre-split plays as short-term plays. We get in when the technical indicators show us things look right, grab as much as we can, and get out, always being conscious of resistance and support. These stocks are highly volatile at this time, and can turn on you quickly. Don’t let good profits disappear. Watch for turns, especially when a stock trades in a wide range and finishes off its high. That is a sign these stocks often give you that they are running out of steam. We usually get out and ask questions later. We can always get back in. We like to play in the money calls, preferably two strike prices in the money as this usually gives us a greater delta (the percent an option will mover versus the stock’s movement). We prefer deltas of 75 or better. This means if the stock moves 1 point, the option should move three-fourths of that point. That means up or down.

Remember, wait to see the stock start to move up. Don't just blindly make a play and don’t try to guess tops and bottoms. We can look at indicators to give us a clue as to what will happen, but we need the stock to confirm it for us. Here's a pre-split play to watch and our current analysis.

INFA (Informatica--$80.94; +11.06; optionable): Splits 2:1 effective 12-14-00.
Company Profile
STATUS: INFA made a stunning move Friday, jumping off of Thursday’s doji and running back over its 200 day MVA (77.68) and then hitting as high as 88.25 (its 18 day MVA is at 87.91) before pulling back to close. A remarkable intraday run, and we will see if the stock can move back up again if the market makes another run next week. We will keep an eye on that 88 level as resistance.
PLAY: On a move up from here in a good day in the Nasdaq, with stock (insufficient open interest for options).

Chart by StockCharts.com

3) A TECHNICAL PLAY

MAPS (Mapinfo Corp--$35.31; +2.18; no options): Computer software
Company Profile
STATUS: Broke to a new all-time closing high on strong volume (420,700; avg. 103,409) from a trading range that has support at the 50 day MVA (31.07). The high tapped 35.94, just over the previous November high of 35.88, so look for a move over the new high on continued strong volume as the market rallies further. MAPS shows strong money flow and a relative strength that has broken out ahead of price, a strong sign for a move higher.
BUY POINT: Over 36, on continued strong volume.
POSITION: Stock.

Chart by StockCharts.com

4) A COVERED CALL PLAY

CPN Calpine Corp. is currently trading at $36 The Jan $35 calls (CPNAG) are trading at $4.50. That provides downside protection of 12% and a return of about 11% in two months if the stock is above $35 on expiration Friday in January.

Chart by StockCharts.com

5) IPOs
Week Ahead: Don't Hold Your Breath
Dan McCarthy

With the stock market's slide growing deeper nearly every day, the last thing on most investors' minds right now is the IPO market. The new-issues market, which has focused mostly on speculative tech offerings, has been hurt worse than just about any other section of a badly battered market.

Mercifully, the atrocious fall season for IPOs will come to an end in two short weeks. Christmastime and the first part of January are traditionally dead for IPOs, and in times like these, Wall Street's investment banks are not likely to want to start challenging that tradition.

(This IPO story is continued on our website in the IPO Forum.)

Good Investing! See you right here next week!

Your Friends at
InvestmentHouse.com

The foregoing is commentary for informational purposes only. All statements and expressions are the opinions of Eric J. Aafedt of Online Investment Services, LP., or Jon Johnson of Split Ventures, Ltd. This information is not meant to be a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell, or hold securities. We are not licensed or registered in the securities industry. The information presented herein and on the related web site has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. The security portfolio of Eric J. Aafedt or Jon Johnson may, in some instances, include securities mentioned herein and on the related web site. Estimates, assumptions and other forward-looking information are subject to the limits of forecasting. Actual future developments may differ materially due to many factors. Eric J. Aafedt and Jon Johnson do not receive compensation in any manner from any of the companies that are discussed in this newsletter.