Raytheon Co. (RTN)

Let's consider the case of what would be the best odds on favorites to start a new position in the Dow Jones average.

The fact is that there are several highly significant barriers with China still to be satisfactorily addressed before any real progress might be realized.

Plus, defense contractors remain stocks to own as geopolitical risk isn't going away.

The U.S. economy may see a real lift-off in consumer prices due to higher energy prices, even if certain sectors stand to benefit greatly -- as might the trade deficit.

That the market didn't plummet following the strikes on Saudi oil facilities shows big differences in our economy and reliance on foreign oil compared with just a decade ago.

The drone attacks on Saudi oil operations even could influence the Fed's thinking on inflation and rates.

Algorithmic traders, along with the Chinese and the Saudis, will feel the outcome of the oil attacks.

There is no denying that markets got ugly over the last 30 minutes or so of the Thursday session.

And as the semiconductor sector continues to shine, Brooks Automation is a name to keep in mind.

Here are defense companies to watch as the U.S. responds to offensive threats posed by China and Russia.

Preventing the U.S. dollar from appreciating too aggressively while repairing credit conditions are 'job freaking one'.

What started as a 'small step' 50 years ago this weekend has launched a journey that's really now taking shape in ways never before believed -- for the military, potential civilian travel and coming investor opportunities.

After the week's Fed speak, CPI data for June arrives on Thursday.

While perhaps not good long-term holds at these prices, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman may be good trades.

My thesis all along has been that an attempt to normalize the yield curve must be made, therefore I would choose to be proactive.

FedEx's rise on bad news and Facebook's fall on the same are two examples of how it's hard to figure out when enough's enough.

The endless rally needs fuel, and without it, you end up with what you got Tuesday, a soggy session that was hit from the cloud, Beyond Meat's chill, and big merger uncertainties.

If the United Technologies/Raytheon deal makes any smaller defense name attractive, it might be this one.

The incredible trajectory of Beyond Meat is daunting to those of us who fear a toppy market and the run in the stock is a slap in the face of those who care about too much enthusiasm.

Pensions may not be the sexiest aspect of the merger but it doesn't make them any less important.

The President voiced concerns about industry consolidation in the defense sector and the prospects for competitively priced government contracts, adding a headache for shareholders on both ends of the deal.

I am no longer as eager to sell these shares as when I discussed this merger pre-opening.

United Technologies' plans to hook up with Raytheon could give UTX shares a nice technical boost.

United Technologies and Raytheon look to control the aerospace and defense industry with their mega-merger.