Investors focused their attention on president obamas plan to combat islamic terrorists in the middle east. Some tougher new sanctions against russia and the timing of the Federal Reserves next interest move. The stocks began lower but closed at the high of the session getting a boost from rising oil prices, dow lost 19, nasdaq up by five and the s p added a point by the close of the bell. And despite the uncertainty there has been a trend in major weeks, many investors have stepped back in to buy. Dominic shu looks at recent activity, what may happen next and what some professionals are buying right now. Reporter stocks go up and stocks go down, but with the overall market still near record highs many investors are wondering if now is the time to sell and take some of those profits off the table. Certain stocks are getting hit worst than others, so far in september, the broader s p 500 has lost about half a percent, but Energy Stocks have taken up bigger hits. As a sector it lost around 4 during the same time. One big reason is the price of oil. It has been on a steady drop since june which helped drag down oilrelated stocks. But not everyone is as worried about oil. Main street should not look at the price of oil in determining what their investments should be. They should be picking solid Energy Companies with the focus on the growth in u. S. Oil production, which is at a 45year high, who are the winners, who has proven assets and invest in the businesses. Reporter among the top picks are the oil and Gas ExplorationCompanies Like yogi resources and marathon oil. So far in 2014 there have been three notable pull backs in the stock market, but none have been more than 13 . Some experts believe that the trend could continue. Consumer spending is as high as it has been before the recession, auto sales have spiked, manufacturing is picking up. Were seeing the information out there yet the market is kind of plodding along right now, so some of the optimism has been priced in. I think well see stocks move higher but i wouldnt expect anything dramatic. Of course, the geo political markets still abound and some say were long over due for significant stock correction. So far, september has been a litt bit of a languid market. Nothing in their behavior has screamed buy or sell, even money manager mike holland sounded tentative when he talked about what he was doing for his portfolio. I am taking some tips off the table and in 2008 when things were ugly, warren buffet said that is when you buy things. Right now im pareing back, taking things off the table for several days. How does an individual investor know who to do like mike holland for shares . Mitch, welcome, good to have you with us. You know, we in Financial News on television, we are very partial to telling people exactly what to buy. Tell me what to buy. And i get it. Were probably less good at telling people who and when to sell, what is your best advice for them . My best advice is investors need more discipline, because youre right, people are always focusing on what to buy, research is buydriven, but as investors we need to take chips off the table. As they say dont count your chickens until the eggs hatch, dont count your profits until you take something off the table. My feeling is with the discipline strategy i like to use strategies like trailing stop orders, basically, i want it preprogrammed so that when my stocks go up a certain amount lets say you have certain shares up 25 , i want to take 25 of my shares off the table and reinvest. So you take the emotion out of it . As much as possible. And you have some tips, we have them on the screen so lets go over some of them. You say hesitation is the most costly enemy of investors, is that the emotion thing that tyler just talked about or Something Else . No, it goes directly to the heart of what tyler is talking about. When you have hesitation basically it is a symptom of a lack of a disciplined strategy. So what you want to do is bring in the discipline to avoid having to lets say be in a stock that is up. You ride it up, down, up, and at the end of the day you really havent made anything are you saying the day i buy the stock i pay 20 for a stock and that day when i say it hits 40 or 50, whatever it is, im going to sell it . Is that the discipline . There is a little bit of feel to this also. It depends on industry, volatility, particularly if im up 20 in a stock or so that is when i look at the stock just below the level. So you say dont sell all at once, that is the other point here, if the stock has gone up 25 , you dont want to dump 100 , you want to dump 25 or 50 . Secondly if i bought stock at 100 a share, i ought to have in my head the point at which i am going to start aggressively selling on the down side, right . Yes. Is it only pricedriven here or do i want to watch developments in the news if i hear that that an earnings number is not good, or that there is some sea change in an industry . Are those kind of day to day news facts probably going to mislead you as much as they help you . I would say they will mislead you as much if not more. Then what happens, youre so hyper focused on the day to day news. You start to buy and sell but dont really make any progress. There is something called buying and giving investments some time and patience. So if youre going to buy a stock for example im not necessarily going to buy it all at once. I might even put a market order for 25 of a new position and put an order in for the same stock, if it goes down 3 , ill double up. Buy a limited order . It is an order that basically says youre willing to pay a specific price at a certain price or lower. Mitch, i was really interested on this last tip that you have for our viewers. You say raising cash is not a longterm strategy. How do you know how much cash you should have in your portfolio . It is a good question. I think generally it speaks to peoples risk tolerance, their time horizon, their financial goals. But if somebody is lets say 70plus retired, im actually looking to be maybe 40 or 50 cash and fixed income, i am. Things can change a little bit but right now in the market that is where i am comfortable with my clients. Again, everybodys situation is different, somebody in their 40s, probably 10 cash. So i think quickly, we begin by taking a few chips off the table. Where, what kinds of stocks . And what are the characteristics of the ones youre sell something. Well, the characteristics of the ones im selling are mostly my winners. They are across the gamut from industrial, Consumer Spending im glad to hear you have winners across the gamut in your business. Thank you very much, we have our share of bruises, also. So youre selling the winners, not the losers. Right, it is a gradual process of coming out of winners, gradually on the way up and taking on new positions on the way down. So it is always a see saw between cash and equity. Thinank you, mitch goldberg. And the federal government reported a deficit of 20 billion, that was much lower than a year ago. The u. S. Is on track for the lowest annual budget shortfall since 2008. And today came news that more americans sought unemployment benefits, first time claims spiking since 2011, that is the lowest since june but still lower than a year ago. An update on a story we told you earlier. We told you about some Economic Indicators you may not be aware of but theyre closely watched by the Federal Reserve. Well today we know what the reports say. And now just days away from the feds policy meeting on the Interest Rates and the monetary policies, Steve Liesman has more on what the Central Banks are looking at in the data. Reporter a new Market Indicator from the feds show the strength in the nations job market but a long way to go until it can be considered healthy. And yet it could mean faster rates on wall street than anticipated. Fed chair janet yellin said she is now following these indicators. It rose. 08 in august to minus. 52. That is still below the levels of the 2001 recession and still below average. But the momentum indicators suggest good job growth in the months ahead. The pace of improvement continues at the rate that it has been since the qe 3started i would estimate we hit the zero mark or the average conditions next march. And historically the fed has started to move rates higher roughly around that time. Reporter meanwhile, it looks like Second Quarter growth reported to be strong is even better than first thought. A relatively new Government Survey that measures the big u. S. Sector shows Health Care Spending was much healthier than first estimated. In fact, it surged along with Better Business investments. The result . Growth in the overall economy in the Second Quarter now looks to be running somewhere around 4. 7 , a half point better than originally reported and maybe the best growth quarter since 2005. It is certainly a big snap back from the number in the first quarter. It is unclear if the strength will motivate wall street, which is running a healthy 3. 1 . One more piece of data this week, watch for an important report on Consumer Spending with the august sales report. For nightly business report, im Steve Liesman. At least one report has the Federal Reserve raising the bench mark at least in march. Today, the school of management predicted the funds rate which has been at or near zero since late 2008 will be raising in the next six months and will raise gradually in 2016, when they believe it will stand at 23 . And federal analysts are looking at the oil prices, just today the International Energy agency lowered the forecast for demand, the third month in a row that the group did so calling the drop in Worldwide Oil demand nothing short of remarkable. The main drivers, economic weakness in europe and china. But streets about the conflict in the middle east caused the oil prices to spike at least higher than today. The prices shot up more than a dollar, closing at 93 a barrel, the crude prices ended five straight losing sessions. Tougher new sanctions against russia announced today by the white house. They announced the prospect of aiding the separatists. In ukraine, they will be expected to target russias energy, defense and financial industries. In one week, residents of scotland will vote on whether to become an independent nation ending a 300 year union with u. K. And with the numbers showing split, lloyds bank and those based in scotland and privately owned by the British Government said they would move their offices to london if they decide to move away from the u. K. The reason is Debt Repayment and the regulatory agencies with the central bank of england. Still ahead, more trouble with radio shack. We warned you of the possibility of a bankruptcy. Today we have more information. More trouble at radio shack, the retailer posted its tenth straight moneylosing quarter. Losses that were twice as big as wall street expected. As we reported last night the struggling Electronics Chain now confirms it is in talks to shore up the finances but warned they could run out of of cash. Shares closed higher today up by 9 cents as executives tried to raise money and turn things around. Well, a different problem at verizon, the ceo said the company is seeing a surge in wireless companies. Up a huge 30 than a year ago period, but because of cheaper plans at rival carriers and the heavy plans to subsidize the musthave smartphones customers want margins are getting squeezed. And a new diet pill got the okay from the food and drug administration, called contray, you would think shares would get a big news, but shares declined 10. 5 today. What is making investors hold back on what looks like a solid investment . Meg turrerr reports. Reporter it was supposed to be good news, a long battle that the obesity drug was approved by the fda. Today the stocks sank. It seems counterintuitive. The drug, contrave is the third new diet pill to be approved in the last three years but investors are wary after experiments. There have been no big obesity drugs recently, and all of a sudden there are new drugs coming together, and there was a lot of excitement with the investors. What we sensed, two of the drugs were launched as somewhat disappointing. Reporter orexigen may have disappointments, the two drugs were approved in 2012 and missed sales expectations. There are still safety concerns about obesity drugs after such drugs like fenfen were pulled from the shelves because of risks. Analysts say having enough resources to mount a successful drug launch has been difficult for the smaller companies. Orexegen is part of a japanese drug maker to sell in the united states. The ceo is confident that they will give the chance to the drug to be a blockbuster. While wells fargo recommends buying them, investors are skeptical. It looks like lululemon is getting back in shape, at the beat predictions and raised the outlook, the company said higher than expected online sales, the stocks went up to 43. 73. Kroger out with strong results, the quarterly chains growth is better than expected. The company attributed growing Consumer Confidence for the good performance, shares were up but only a fraction, 52. 17. Investors bought up shares of tamenco after eastmon Chemical Company announced they would buy the specialty chemical maker in a deal valued at 3 million, the experts look at the agriculture markets, tamenco had 26. 21. Shares of eastman off. And supplying boeing with aluminum sheet and plate that is worth more than a billion dollars. The new contract is the largest ever signed between the two companies. But despite that, shares of alcoa were down and boeing off a bit at 127. 64. Here is another partnership announced today, gogo is partnering up with tmobile to provide free inflight texting beginning on september 17th. Shares of go go rose up to 18. 58, tmobile fell slightly. And pandora scoring a licensing. Bmgs roster includes songwriters who have hits, everybody from Frank Sinatra to beyonce, shares jumped to 26. 94. Also salon popped hours after the Company Reported better than expected Second Quarter earnings and revenue. The cosmetics retailer also gave an upbeat outcome for the full year. The stock was higher after the bell. In the regular session shares were up a fraction from 97. 48. And hertz reaching a deal with carl icahn, he agreed not to launch at the car rental company. They will search for a new ceo. The Company Announced the chief stepped down on monday. Shares went up initially after hours during the regular trading day the stock up slightly at 27. 75. And an auto recall, you should know about toyota, they will recall 140,000 tundra pickups because of the installation with air bags. That could prevent the air bag from deploying properly. Thankfully, no crash or injuries have been reported in connection with the default. And food prices are heading lower. The United Nations global food index shows that worldwide, food prices hit a fouryear low last month with the largest price declines in dairy and grains. Prices on some major grains may be heading lower right here at home and that is just because today the government reported a bumper crop of corn, soy beans and wheat. With so much products coming out of u. S. Farms products all drifted lower in trading today. So worldrecord setting crop yields translate into lower prices at the Grocery Store for you. Jane wells reports. Reporter everyone knew it was going to be a record crop this year after a summer of near perfect weather in the midwest. But the government now predicts even more corn and soy beans than expected. A lot more. Boy oh boy, when you kind of take the report to the side of the road and look under the hood the bean pod counts and ear counts on the corn and beans really kind of make you think what the traders say, big crops get bigger. Reporter farmers will report a 14 billion report on products, corn, which peaked at eight bucks a bushel two years ago is now under 2. 50. The trader believes they could fall into the 7s. Even wheat fell as they reported prices rising faster than demand. Even though, they have not made their way to consumers. Theyre what they call the canary and the coal mine, if the downward trend continues . Well not be talking about inflation, well talk about deflation and what we can do to stimulate the economy. Most of the corn grown in the country goes to feeding livestock, so the costs should fall. Beef is down and more beef will be imported because high steak prices have not scared off consumers. But there is plenty of poultry and turkey production is higher than before. For nightly business report, jane wells, los angeles. Still ahead, wall street remembers and gives back as it honors those who were lost 13 years ago today when tragedy struck. That is coming up. It was a day to remember as the nation marked the 13th anniversary of the september 11th attacks. President and mrs. Obama observed a moment of silence outside the white house before attending a 9 11 Memorial Service at the pentagon. At the site of the World Trade Center in new york city family and friends read the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died there. And on wall street, a moment of silence on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to honor those who were lost. And cantor employees lost hundreds of employees that day. And they remember the people they lost with a single act of charity, Mary Thompson has more. Reporter no firm lost more on 9 11. Now, Cantor Fitzgerald gives back. It helps us turn the toughest day into something that is beautiful. Reporter he lost hundreds of employees, including his brother and best friend. So 13 years on, he and the employees of the firm he rebuilt donate the days trading profits ought the and their salaries for a day to hundreds of charities, with alist stars like actor ben stiller. Theyre all saying give me thumbs up, i wanted 14. 5, said no. Reporter cantor talks to stars. I am starting my own foundation, and focuses on health and education for children pretty much all over the world. Reporter super model Christie Turlington finds a way to give back. It is a day we all want to contribute and do something. We dont always have the ability to do that. Reporter over the years, cantors charity day has raised over 100 million. And while bringing in rock stars like jon bon jovi for a day . One woman lost her dad on 9 11. It made us fond of the firm and it is a great opportunity and im very honored to work here. Words that would make any father proud. For nightly business report, im Mary Thompson in new york city. So much good coming out of so much bad. A lot of these kids who lost their parents they were maybe teens and now theyre grown adults. And howard ludlick did an amazing job rebuilding the company, he and more than 600 companies worked to rebuild. Im tyler mathisen, thank you for joining us. Have a great evening, everybody, well see you back here tomorrow night. This is bbc world news america. Funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation, newmans own foundation, giving all profits to charity and pursuing the common good for over 30 years, kovler foundation, union bank, and beijing tourism. At union bank, our relationship managers use their expertise in Global Finance to guide you through the Business Strategies and opportunities of international commerce. We put our extended Global Network to work for a wide range of companies, from Small Businesses to major corporations. What can we do for you