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U.S. stock futures edged higher Wednesday morning, a little above the 13-month highs they reached Tuesday, as investors await key data figures, including consumer prices and housing starts. As traders take a breather from the recent runup in stocks, the same trends that pushed markets higher on Tuesday remain: the dollar dropped and commodities soared, driving mining stocks higher in overseas markets.

[Update 8:30 a.m.: October housing starts were down 30% from last year, the weakest since April. CPI rose 0.3% in October on higher energy, car prices. At first glance, these figures may affect the mood negatively. 8:35 a.m.: Stock market futures are declining, indicating a lower start.]

The future investment stars are already with us. The NYSE Financial Future Challenge, operated by the NYSE Foundation, By Kids for Kids, K12 Inc. and the United Investors Association, is in full swing, with five finalists just identified. To reach this level, the participants had to develop a new product, idea or process that would "excite, educate and motivate their peers" to become interested in the financial marketplace. The eventual winner lurks within this subset and will receive a $2,500 prize -- a great way to get that portfolio started. And, he or she will be feted at a closing bell ceremony at the NYSE (NYX) on January 11, 2010.

The finalists presented a variety of ideas which are sure to generate some buzz. Kelsey Foss, a 12-year-old from Mountainville, NY, proposed a new television show, "Stock Market Tycoon Idol," which would harness the popularity of reality TV while amping up the content. The program would involve the journeys of 10 kids as they seek to make money or lose it, with the possibility of becoming virtual millionaires along the way. The show would be set at a mock NYSE studio on Wall Street, and exports would be brought out to mentor the contestants. The reality TV reach would help engage a younger audience.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Aflac Inc. (NYSE: AFL) reported strong Q3 results, declared a dividend, and offered guidance for Q4.
• Avon Products Inc. (NYSE: AVP) Q3 earnings slumped and revenue was hurt by currency translations.
• BP (NYSE: BP) shares leaped higher after it reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings.
• Daimler AG (NYSE: DAI) reported that it returned to profitability in Q3 but warned of decreasing revenue.
• General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE: GD) Q3 earnings beat expectations and it lifted its earnings outlook.
• Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) posted strong Q3 earnings and expects full-year earnings ahead of forecasts.

Halloween, though not the blockbuster holiday that Christmas is, still results in some additional spending on the part of consumers as they stock up on candy and costumes, and maybe take in a scary movie or two. With those treats in mind here are some stocks that may give investors sweet dreams -- and hopefully not nightmares.

As is well known, candy is all the rage at Halloween, and among the largest candy stocks are Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) and Cadbury PLC (NYSE: CBY). Last week, Hershey reported third-quarter earnings rose 30% despite weaker volumes affected by higher prices for its sweets. Last year's numbers also included special charges. Still the company said it expects full-year earnings to be ahead of Wall Street forecasts. In 2010, the Pennsylvania company said it expects earnings excluding items to rise 6% to 8%. The stock has a forward-looking price-to-earnings ratio of 16 and a current dividend yield of 3.1%.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• AirTran Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AAI) reported its third consecutive quarterly profit and will increase capacity.
• Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) shares soared after it reported very strong Q3 numbers.
• Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) reported stellar Q4 results, driven by the popularity of Macs and iPhones.
• BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) Q3 earnings soared, due in part to a tax benefit, and assets managed grew.
• Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) revenue surged sequentially but note the would be flat going forward.
• Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) beat Q3 earnings expectations and shares rose though revenue slumped.

Hershey (NYSE: HSY) had a more than acceptable third quarter in terms of bottom-line growth, but it looks like the market couldn't care less. As I write this, shares of the candy company are trading down 4.4% in the afternoon session, on extremely sweet volume (and by sweet, I mean bad).

On an adjusted basis, Hershey increased per-share profit by 14% to 73 cents. According to Earnings.com, analysts were only expecting 67 cents per share. Hey, what's going on? The Dow and the S&P 500 are in the green, and the NASDAQ is only down slightly. Shouldn't investors be happy with results like these?

Hershey (NYSE: HSY) closed at $40.49 Wednesday. Cadbury PLC (NYSE: CBY), the world's second largest confectioner, rejected Kraft (NYSE: KFT) $16.7 billion for CBY on September 7, which has led analysts to speculate about additional merger possibilities.

HSY September and October option implied volatility is at 27 is near its 26-week average of 29. HSY options were active on September 9th with volume of 52,364 contracts according to Track Data.

ISE Sentiment Index - ISEE closed at 127 on 9/9/09. ISEE 10-day moving average is 114.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Over the past year, M&A has been on a starvation diet. Then again, with a terrible recession and credit crunch, what do you expect?

Yet, while it is still toot soon to tell, there are signs that things are beginning to improve. Just look at what's cooking between Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) and Cadbury (NYSE: CBY). Both global giants are involved in, well, an M&A food fight.

Steady-as-she-goes, to cite an old Star Trek phrase, regarding The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY), which is why I'm reiterating my Buy rating for the company, first recommended on April 23, 2009 at a price of $37.45.

Manufacturing savings, new products, and promising opportunities for revenue growth in international markets, along with demonstrated marketing prowess, point to a bright future for HSY. The company's dual-class capital structure with unequal voting rights is problematic, but not enough to change the overall investment evaluation.

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the plunge in China overnight is being blamed on the industrial metal, so expect some carry-over.

It turns out copper was the metric. Drats, I thought it was the dollar or oil. I thought we were supposed to buy the cyclicals on earnings being better than expected. I thought we might be buying the minerals and the steels and the oils off the morning proxy of the Baltic Freight Index, known as the Baltic Fright Index in the days when it kept going down, and kept us out of the Freeports (NYSE: FCX) (Cramer's Take) and Vales (NASDAQ: VALE) (Cramer's Take) and Union Pacifics (NYSE: UNP) (Cramer's Take) and U.S. Steels (NYSE: X) (Cramer's Take).

Silly me.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) met Q2 earnings estimates but fell short of revenue expectations.
• Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) lower Q2 results beat expectations, lifted by strength in non-cola beverages.
• Continental Airlines Inc. (NYSE: CAL) reported net loss was accompanied by a job cuts announcement.
• Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) surprised with a Q2 profit due mainly to a huge gain from debt reduction.
• Hasbro Inc. (NYSE: HAS) posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings due to Transformers and G.I. Joe toys.
• Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) posted strong numbers for Q2 and also raised its full-year guidance.

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) announced Q2 earnings on Thursday. Shareholders of the confection company should definitely appreciate the growth reported. Net sales increased almost 6%. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share went up a whopping 48% to 43 cents.

According to Earnings.com, analysts were expecting only 35 cents per share. Hershey's management went the extra distance on this one. Not only was the magnitude of the beat impressive, but as Reuters points out, Hershey raised its guidance for the full fiscal year, something that is obviously a positive signal to the marketplace.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's (NASDAQ: RMCF) first fiscal quarter release had an undeniable theme running throughout. No, it wasn't a happy promo about its delicious confections. Instead, it was the very familiar issue of the recession. I guess the company's premium chocolates aren't wholly economically defensive in nature after all.

According to the results, sales declined by over 5%. Same-store franchised revenues dropped well over 6%. Earnings per diluted share were cut by 25% to 12 cents. Things are rough for Rocky Mountain.

Want to stock up on Hershey's tasty treats? Get in while the getting is good.

Stating that its "current business model is not sustainable," Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) is closing its online store -- HerseysGifts.com -- as of July 31. After that, consumers with a sweet tooth for products such as chocolate-covered Macadamia nuts or a five-bound Hershey bar will have to visit local stores. Products can be customized for special occasions and run from $10 to $150.

Soccer and professional bicycle racing fans are accustomed to advertising on team wear, but the big three U.S. pro sports have kept theirs as pure as the driven fastball. The National Football League (NFL), however, looking for new revenue streams, is about to take the first step down that slippery slope by selling ad space on team practice jerseys.

This spring the league agreed to allow teams to sell rights to a 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" space (slightly smaller than a paperback book) on their practice jerseys. One can only imagine the sponsors that would like up for such a billboard. The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) for the New York Jets? The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) for the Cleveland Browns? Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) for the San Diego Chargers? Cancun Resorts for the Redskins? Quicken for the Bills? The Dollar Store for the Buccaneers?