A couple of notes on today's trading. Markets reversed into the close and the dow closed higher after poking below 8000. Feels like a low retest of some sort here. MLPS also went down to an 8 point loss and got most of that back by the close finishing down 1.75.

Hiland Partners (HLND) traded up today on the 9.50 buyout offer from Harold Hamm. The stock closed below the buyout price which to me says that there isn't much of a chance of a higher bid. He owns a 61% share of HLND. A few people on the Hiland yahoo message board are pissed off. But you know what? This is what a smart businessperson does in an enviornment where you have cash. You buy good businesses and market distressed prices. My question is...will there be a distribution declared come month's end. At least that way Hiland holders get 9.50 plus the payout. At least if the distribution is cut it won't matter too much with the bid on the table.

Not much else of note today but at least the market held.