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The question on everybody's mind this week was when will the declines end? Was that the so much talked about capitulation? Have the stock markets bottomed?

Well, I can't answer that, and suffice it to say that many market analysts, fundamental and technical, are still quite gloomy. Pretty much all we can do in this time is hope for flat performance from a few select stocks, which perhaps would yield good returns once the economy starts rebounding and the bear market has completed its course.

Here are some picks and pans from the past week from BloggingStocks contributors:

Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) -- Steven Halpern brought a recommendation from one of The Forbes Wireless Stock Watch advisors, Nikhil Hutheesing. In Hutheesing's words: "In the long run, smart investments today will lead to profits down the road. One of those companies, that I now think looks attractive, is the Canadian maker of the BlackBerry." Not only is RIMM's corporate business strong, it is also working on getting its phones to consumers. In addition, it has lots of cash and little to no long-term debt and great prospects, what the advisor is looking for in addition to value and fundamentals in this environment.

Lear Corp. (NYSE: LEA) is an auto parts supplier. Jamie Dlugosch bets on a bailout for the auto industry here. Today, Lear has a $110 million market capitalization, down from its peak within the last 52 weeks of $2.6 billion. If the bailout finally happens, owners of LEA could benefit greatly.

Research In Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) launched the newest BlackBerry "do everything" wireless phone this week to much fanfare. While some pundits has argued whether this was the reel first "iPhone killer" to come to market, most of the universe eagerly waited to test an actual unit and see if what the specifications looked like matched reality. Add to that the fanatical user base the BlackBerry has -- just as nutty as iPhone worshippers -- and it was a classic showdown. Would the new BlackBerry Storm hold its own against Apple, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) offering?

Being released today on the second-largest wireless network in the U.S. -- Verizon Wireless -- the newest BlackBerry offering is the first without a real, tactile keyboard. However, the touchscreen does have actual, tactile feedback. In other words, it can be "pressed" instead of just hovered over or lightly tapped. After having scanned an in-depth review over at Engadget, there may be some major adjustment to this all-new way of inputting information into a phone, just like when Apple released the original iPhone and touchscreens were the new "it."

The gamble RIM takes here is if the real "tough" screen will get customers who require some kind of tactile feedback when using phones to become BlackBerry customers over the iPhone. From a phone standpoint, this is a good comparison. But when looking at the complete multimedia package of the iPhone from top to bottom, I'm unsure the Storm is even in the same league.

As a phone and email device, you bet -- the Storm is every bit as good as the iPhone on paper (feel free to disagree). Since Verizon told Apple to take a hike when the iPhone was originally offered to it, it's now 18 months later and the company finally has an answer. However, the question and answer may have already been asked and answered by AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T), who Apple chose to partner with when Verizon Wireless declined.

Sean Udall is a Minyanville contributor.

Interesting article on Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) beating Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to the "touch" with regard to providing a touch screen interface on a computer. It's certainly a worthwhile read. However, I've long commented on AAPL and its particular touch technology being infused into its computer lineup in some way. Laptops will likely be the first enabled. However, I'll take some assertions in the article to task.

While AAPL is known to be a first mover and always have that advantage, that's not always the case. I think it's more the fact that when the company does something it just executes so well and improves an existing product category so dramatically that people think it's a first mover product.

It certainly was very late entering the cellular market but did it spectacularly with a game changer. Portable music devices were around for years and the iPod was the ultimate game changer. In fact, the continued iPod dominance with this mature of a product is simply shocking. I could give more examples but the point is made.

Analyst upgrades:

• UBS upgraded Pacific Sunwear (NASDAQ: PSUN) to Neutral from Sell and said liquidity is no longer a near-term concern. The firm lowered Pacific Sunwear's target to $1.50 from $3. Citigroup upgraded shares to Hold from Sell on valuation following the recent weakness and believes Pacific Sunwear has sufficient liquidity to remain a going concern.
  
• Calyon believes Reliant Energy (NYSE: RRI) will be successful in unwinding the Merrill Lynch Retail credit sleeve and obtaining alternative collateral. The firm upgraded shares to Buy from Add.
  
• JP Morgan said Cogent's (NASDAQ: COGT) position in homeland security and the defense markets make it less sensitive to an economic downturn, making valuation attractive. JP Morgan upgraded shares to Overweight from Neutral and raised its target to $13 from $10.50.
• Goldman added Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) to its Conviction Buy List and removed Riverbed (NASDAQ: RVBD) from the Conviction Sell List.
  
• J.M. Smucker (NYSE: SJM) was raised to Buy from Underperform at Merrill Lynch.

"If you can tolerate the volatility, it's a good idea to begin dipping back in to the stock market, in solid companies with strong cash balances, little debt and great prospects," says wireless sector expert Nikhil Hutheesing.

In The Forbes Wireless Stock Watch, the advisor asks, ""In the long run, smart investments today will lead to profits down the road. One of those companies, that I now think looks attractive, is the Canadian maker of the BlackBerry - Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM)."

"The Canadian company introduced the BlackBerry in 1999 and it quickly became a must-have way for employees oflarge companies to communicate through email and voice wirelessly. In its fiscal 2008 (which ended in February) the company sold nearly 14 million devices (more than double the year before).

"Recently, though, the financial crisis has dealt a strong blow to the company. Investors doubt whether RIMM can repeat the 90% growth in revenues that it achieved in fiscal 2008.

"Not only is the slowing economy a threat to growth but so is increased competition. Apple's iPhone, for example, has been a hit among consumers and now the company is pushing into the corporate market, trying to erode Research In Motion's market share.

Nokia (NYSE: NOK - option chain) shares are falling today after the company warned that the global mobile phone market will weaken in 2009. NOK forecast global handset sales of 1.24 billion phones in 2009, down from a previous estimate of 1.26 billion. The entire industry is taking a hit today from this announcement including competitors like Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) and Motorola (NYSE: MOT) as well as suppliers such as Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM). If you think this Nokia won't be rising too far in the coming months of economic headwinds, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on NOK.

This morning, NOK opened at $12.43. So far today the stock has hit a low of $12.22 and a high of $12.97. As of 12:40, NOK is trading at $12.57, down $1.58 (11.2%). The chart for NOK looks neutral and S&P gives NOK a 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

For a bearish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a December bear-call credit spread above the $15 range. A bear-call credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of call options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make an 11.1% return in five weeks as long as NOK is below $15 at December expiration. Nokia would have to rise by more than 19% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.

DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in NOK, RIMM, MOT, or QCOM.

Consumers may be strapped for cash this year with Christmas approaching, but if there's one category which analysts expect to do well despite the downturn, it's smart phones. Analysts have called for Apple, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) to reduce its price on the 8GB iPhone to $99 (with a two-year AT&T contract), though reports that the company might scale back production point to somewhat depressed demand.

Will Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) finally have its iPhone contender; and just in time for the pre-holiday frenzy? Boy Genius Report has received a leaked presentation from Verizon management that indicates the Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) Blackberry Storm will be released in a "pre-launch special event" on November 20, the Thursday before Thanksgiving. The document indicates the Storm, Verizon's first chance at an iPhone-like device, would be available for testing and pre-ordering at 123 company stores, which would open an hour early for the extravaganza. Actual launch throughout the U.S. would occur on the 24th and 25th, Monday and Tuesday.

The Storm has no physical keyboard, instead using the touch-screen technology similar to the iPhone, a camera, and visual voicemail. Pricing will be $199.99 with a two-year agreement. With Verizon planning to stock plenty of these devices, the iPhone-style frenzy may not exist, but it should be popular for consumers who have been captive to Verizon for one reason or another -- and those whose loyalty lies with the Blackberry. Will this be the holiday season of the touchscreen smart phone? RIMM and Verizon can only put their nightcaps on and dream.

Some great news for Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) revolutionary iPhone today, as a new study shows that for the first time ever, Apple has moved ahead of competitor Research in Motion Limited (NASDAQ: RIMM) for second place in overall smartphone market share.

Top slot remains firmly in the hands of Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE: NOK), but the current data may start to give the perennial champion some reason for concern. While its current lead in market share domination remains well above its next closest competitor, but the figures are much closer than what they were this time last year, another indication of just how popular the iPhone has become over the past year.

Last year at this time, Nokia had a very tight grip on the market, with a reported 51.4% control of the market. It's next closest competitor was Research in Motion, which had 10.6% market share.

U.S. stock futures rose Friday morning, indicating Wall Street could start on a positive note after the recent selloff. About an hour before the opening bell, the October jobs report will be released and Wall Street is expecting to see an ugly picture, including unemployment figure at a 5-year low. If the jobs data are much worse than expectations, Wall Street could still do an about face as this isn't the only bad news it expects today. Ford has already reported losses far below expectations and GM is about to follow suit. Oil has steadied at $61 a barell after a two-day plunge. Other economic releases Friday include September pending home and wholesale inventories.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) reported this morning a loss that exceeded Wall Street's expectations. It has lost $129 million in the third quarter and burned up $7.7 billion in cash. Excluding items, Ford lost $1.31 per share, worse than estimates of a 94 cents per share loss. Sales fell 22% to $32.1 billio, beating estimates for sales of $28 billion. The struggling automaker also announced it will cut another 10% of its North American salaried work force. F shares are trading 3% higher in premarket action.

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) reported a 13% decline to $760 million, or 40 cents a share in fiscal fourth-quarter net income, below estimates of 43 cents per share. Sales increased 5.8% to $9.45 billion, exceeding the $9.33 billion average estimate. Disney said it is suspending share buybacks to preserve capital. The company also saw a a considerable slowdown in its parks and resorts as well as slowing ad sales. DIS shares are down 3.5% in premarket trading.

U.S. stock futures were lower Wednesday morning, a day after a historic election saw Barack Obama elected president. But if Tuesday markets rallied, today it seems we're witnessing a "sell on the news". President-elect Obama will inherit a troubled economy and that what Wall Street is back to focusing on this morning. Some data could contribute to current sentiment as the October ADP employment numbers will be released before the opening bell and October ISM services after. weekly energy inventory data are also out for release. Oil prices declined ahead of the data to around $68.30 a barell.

Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) reported an 18% growth in profits from continuing operations, and profit of 31 cents per share (excluding items), beating analyst estimates. Time Warner also lowered its outlook for full-year earning primarily because of layoffs at Time Inc. Advertising revenue at AOL as did revenue at its Warner Bros. movie division, but TWX saw growth in its cable-access and cable-network businesses.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) and News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) will both report after the close. Cisco is expected to report fiscal first-quarter earnings of 39 cents a share, News Corp., 22 cents a share in the fiscal first quarter according to Thomson Reuters.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), according to one analyst, may be cutting iPhone production for the fourth-quarter. Yes, you read right. Despite the looming shopping season, the analyst believes the economy would have more of an impact on shopper as we slide further into a recession, affecting iPhone sales.

With the stock prices of thousands of public companies taking a very large nosedive in recent weeks, it stands to reason that some companies with little debt and who're also flush with cash may be seeking to turn on their acquisition engines and snap something up. With Research In Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) down almost 90 points from its 52-week high set just this summer, could the email addict support company be ripe for a buyout? Who would want to gain RIM's immense cellphone/email subscriber base that seems to keep outperforming larger competitors? Think Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT).

The company just said that it is experiencing higher costs due to the launch of newer smartphones (like the Storm), and if you take that with the pounding the overall market has taken, RIMM could be left as a willing acquisition to the company that failed to snatch up Yahoo, Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) earlier this year. Microsoft's Windows Mobile is a venerable mobile operating system but does not have the core business email user base of the cachet of the Blackberry. At the $60 per share level, RIM would be a $34 billion takeover, which is still quite large for Microsoft to swallow. Is RIM worth it? You decide.

Microsoft would seem to have a more logical fit with an RIM acquisition (in its entirely) than by gobbling up Yahoo and having so much overlap in the process. If the future really is mobile (for computing, communications, etc.), Microsoft's potential acquisition of RIM would be years ahead of its time and possibly even a bargain if one were to look at the broadband and wireless landscape circa 2015. It's got the cash, and it's got the moxie. Whether it has the will to try another huge acquisition in 2008 is anyone's guess

U.S. stock futures were significantly lower Friday morning, a day after the Dow industrials had already plunged 678 points. The Dow dropped 21% in the past 10 days. U.S. stock markets are looking to join the plunge in global markets as Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 9.6%, Hong Kong Hang Seng dropped 7%, London's FTSE 100 declined 5.5% and the German DAX 30 was down 8% to name but a few that have managed to remain open. Some global markets actually had to close today, prompting the name "Black Friday."

Wednesday's coordinated rate cut didn't seem to loosen frozen credit markets as investors seem to completely lose confidence in the world's financial system. Finance officials from the G7 are meeting in Washington Friday to address the financial meltdown. On the economic front, August trade data and September import prices will be released. Oil prices plummeted to a one-year low of $82 a barrel.

General Electric (NYSE: GE) -- meanwhile this morning, GE reported results that met the lowered expectations. GE's profit fell 22% to $4.3 billion, or 43 cents per share, compared with $5.56 billion, or 54 cents, a year earlier. GE's revenue climbed 11% to $47.23 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecast earnings of 45 cents a share on revenue of $47.34 billion. GE recently got a $3 billion infusion from Buffett's Berkshire and raised $12.2 billion through a stock offering. Shares of GE are down about 1% in pre-market trading.

This week saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average register its worst losses ever, extending October's reputation as a bad-news month for U.S. stocks. With banks failing domestically and abroad, and Iceland -- Iceland? -- on the verge of national bankruptcy, it's hard not to feel panicky about the state of the market.

In fact, not even market professionals are immune. On a routine visit to my dentist earlier this week, the good doctor informed me my blood pressure is high (yes, he's a very thorough dentist). My first response was, "Have you seen the market lately?"

It then occurred to me how much worse my hypertension might be if I didn't have the wisdom of market veterans to rely on each day at the office. With this in mind, I decided to survey a few of of my learned colleagues here at Schaeffer's Investment Research to see what advice they could offer you in the face of this unprecedented market turmoil.

Ryan Detrick, our senior technical strategist, notes that "It's all about a lack of confidence." (In light of the week's roller-coaster Dow ride, this seems to be the case for both bulls and bears alike.) Detrick explains that it's simple economic physics at work: "When you see banks going under in a matter of days, no one trusts anyone else to lend to them. This, of course, leads to a huge economic slowdown and in a very quick fashion."

However, he says, U.S. investors can at least indulge in a bit of schadenfreude. "The reality of the situation is, Europe is probably in worse shape than the U.S.," observes Detrick. "It seems like nearly every day Europe is bailing out another bank. We've had crises before, but this is the first one in our generation that has spread throughout the globe."

So, with panic sweeping the known universe, what's a trader to do? "Don't panic" seems like obvious advice, but our resident blogger and senior equities analyst, Nick Perry, finds that a bit trite. "I've lost count of how many times I've been told that 'now is not the time to panic,'" he says. "This bothers me for two reasons. One, is there ever really a time to panic? Two, it's like telling someone who's on fire to 'think cool thoughts.' In other words, it doesn't help."

Research in Motion Limited (USA) (NASDAQ: RIMM) announced today the launch of a new touch screen BlackBerry, which will go under the name of the Storm 3G.

The move comes as the company tries to make another big step in gaining market share in the consumer segment. For most of the BlackBerry's existence, the phone has been regarded as mainly a device for professionals, but RIMM has been trying to break that reputation, and is banking on the fact that its newest touch screen will help move the company in that direction.

All of the major mobile phone makers have been scrambling to keep up with the mania that Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) created last year when it released its iPhone, and then again this year when that mania spiked once more with the release of the upgraded iPhone 3G.