The opening bell has sounded and the market is slightly higher. It looks like the Dow will battle with potential resistance at the 12,600 level throughout the session, as it has already backed away from this level in the early going. The S&P 500 Index may make a run at the 1,400 level and the Nasdaq Composite has the 2,500 level in its sights as well. With the indices all facing significant resistance levels, let's take a look at some of the news that could push the market one way or the other:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that Bear Stearns (BSC) will turn over documents to securities regulators showing that several "financial giants" lowered their exposure to BSC ahead of its collapse
• Coca-Cola Enterprises' (CCE) second-quarter earnings forecast fell short of the Street's expectations
• Dow Chemical (DOW) reported that it will raise prices as much as 20% thanks to surging costs for energy, raw materials, and transportation
• Durable-goods orders dropped thanks to dropping aircraft orders, but the results were better than the expected drop of 2%
• Crude futures have dropped thanks to concerns that high gas prices have curbed demand (you don't say?!?)

With all of this news in focus, let's take a look at 2 stories that qualify for the Biggest! News! Of! The! Day!:

• My colleague, Joseph Hargett, emailed me a story about the latest salvo in the great Animal Conspiracy. Turns out that squirrels have decided to take up residence in Helsinki's Seurasaari museum, an open-air museum showing the traditional Finnish way of life. The squirrels "have learned to hide food between wooden shingles on the roof," and employees saw "a squirrel pulling at a shingle with its two paws until it broke." If that vandalism isn't bad enough, museum conservator Risto Holopainen noted that "Squirrels run into the buildings they nibble on the museum textiles and make holes in the walls."


• I worry about the Animal Conspiracy, of course, but I worry about humans as well. Take a look at these criminal masterminds. I really can't describe this, please just watch.

After watching the video, I think of the old adage, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice " man, I forget how that goes, President Bush. Thanks.