Stocks in North America were primarily flat for the week with the exception of Toronto’s S&P Composite Index, which put together another strong week by gaining more than two hundred points to make up for all the losses from the previous week and then some. The one fact that ran true for the week across the board was volatility. Worries about the Chinese growth rate and concerns over European stability combined with mixed economic data kept stocks moving wildly, but stocks in Canada got a nice boost from banking stocks to end the week with a solid day and week which saw a 400 point swing in the final three days of the week. Similar volatility was displayed in the States, with U.S. stocks rallying on Thursday and Friday just to close basically flat for the week.

The S&P TSX Composite Index rose another 207.09 points, or 1.62%, on the week to 12,956.33. The TSX Venture Exchange closed modestly lower; dropping 11.22 points on the week, or .56%, to 1,995.87.

In the States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average crept forward; gaining 10.97 points, or 0.10% on the week to 11,203.55. The much-broader S&P 500 index finished at 1,199.73 points, gaining 0.52 points on the week to close flat for the week. The tech-rich NASDAQ composite index flat also; dropping 0.09 points over five trading days to 2,518.12.

On Monday, Data in Canada showed that the number of new motor vehicles sold rose 4.2% to 134,845 units in September. Stronger truck sales were the main contributor to the overall increase. In the States, the Commerce Department reported that retail sales jumped 1.2% in October, the largest increase since March. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported its Empire State Manufacturing Survey index of general business conditions plunged to minus 11.1 points in November, from a positive 15.7 points in the previous month.

On Tuesday, it was reported that Canadian manufacturing sales decreased 0.6% in September to $45.1 billion. The decline in sales was mostly concentrated in the transportation equipment industry in Central Canada. Constant dollar manufacturing sales fell 1.4%. Data in the United States from the National Association of Home Builders on Tuesday showed its housing market index rose to 16 in November, falling short of the expected reading of 17. The Labor Department reported that the index of producer prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4% last month, below economists' forecast for a 0.9% gain. By taking out more-volatile food and energy prices, showed that wholesale prices fell by 0.6% in October, the steepest drop in more than four years.

On Wednesday, Canadian Employment Insurance benefits data revealed that in September, 692,700 people received regular benefits, an increase of 14,600 or 2.2% from August. Stateside, US MBA mortgage applications sunk by 14.4% the week ended Nov 12, in sharp change compared to the mild 5.8% increase the week prior. The decline is the worst result since early January of this year. Housing starts fell 11.7% in October to an annual rate of 519,000; the lowest since 477,000 in April 2009. The U.S. Labor Department reported that the consumer price index increased 0.2% in October. The core CPI, excluding food and energy costs, was flat for the third straight month in October. Economists were expecting the CPI to rise 0.3% in October and for the core rate to rise 0.1%.

Thursday was a big day on the data front. Leading Indicators proved the composite index rebounded 0.2% in October from a 0.2% dip in September. Of the 10 components, six advanced and three fell, versus four increases and five decreases the month before, while one was unchanged in both months. The financial components posted the largest gains, led by the stock market, while housing remained the weakest sector. In other data news, strong foreign investment in Canadian securities was sustained in September as non-residents added a further $12.3 billion to their portfolios, for a cumulative total of $87.2 billion over the first three quarters of 2010. Meanwhile, Canadian acquisitions of foreign securities strengthened to $4.6 billion in September, the largest outflow since March. Finally, wholesale sales rose 0.4% to $44.8 billion in September, following a 1.3% advance in August. The September increase was largely a result of higher sales in the motor vehicle and parts subsector and the machinery, equipment ad supplies subsector. U.S. weekly initial jobless claims rose by 2,000 to 439,000 last week, the U.S. Labor Department reported. This total came in lower than economist’s expectations which called for a rise to a seasonally adjusted 445,000. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported its regional business index soared to 22.5 in November from 1 in October due in part to gains in orders, shipments and employment.

Next week in Canada, the shortened week will bring very limited data. Investors will have their eyes open for Consumer Price Index data and retail sales info on Tuesday.

In the States, data will be condensed to basically two days. On Tuesday, look for GDP data and existing homes sales information. On Wednesday, traders will be on alert primarily for weekly jobless claims, consumer sentiment figures and new homes sales stats.

Among the stocks we watched this week, iWeb Group Inc. (TSX-Venture:IWB), moved forward to start the week, but slipped back two cents, or 2.17% to finish the week at $0.90, after hitting a high of $0.92 during the week, while metals and mining company Dacha Strategic Metals Inc. (TSX-Venture:DSM) ended by finishing the week down by three cents at $0.38, or 7.32% after hitting a high of $0.43 earlier in the week.

In the States, consumer goods company, Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. (OTCBB:NADVF) moved forward by $0.05, or 6.25%, to $0.85 after hitting an intraday high on Friday of $0.90, while metals and mining company, American Rare Earths and Materials Corp. (OTCBB:AREM), produced gains of $0.025, or 11.9%, after hitting a high of $0.249 for the week.

If you’d invested in all four stocks and held them to the end, you’d have seen an average gain of 2.17%. However, if you’d bought all four at the beginning of the week and sold each at its peak, there would have been an average gain of 8.99%.

Next week, we focus on Canadian stocks LNG Energy Ltd. (TSX-Venture:LNG) and Golden Hope Mines Ltd. (TSX-Venture:GNH). In the States, look for big things from Healthnostics Inc. (Pinksheets:HNSS), and The Amergence Group (Pinksheets:AMNG).

Looking at our recent Company spotlights, China TMK Battery Systems Inc. (OTCBB:DFEL) announced their financial results for the three month period ended September 30, 2010. For the third quarter of 2010, revenues increased 26.5% to $16.5 million, from $13.0 million in the third quarter of 2009. Increased demand for TMK's products, from both existing and new customers resulted from the Company's expanded sales and marketing efforts. The Company has a maximum production capacity of 300,000 battery cells per day, which was recently expanded through the addition of two production lines.

Total cost of sales increased by 25.7%, to $12.4 million for the third quarter of 2010, compared to the same year ago period. The Company's gross profit increased 29.2% to $4.1 million with gross margin of 24.6% in the third quarter, compared to $3.1 million and gross margin of 24.1% in same year ago period.

Net income for the Company in the third quarter of 2010 was approximately $3.1 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 52.5%, over the same year ago period. Diluted net income per share for the third quarter of 2010 was $0.08 based on 36.9 million weighted average shares outstanding, as compared to diluted net income per share of $0.08 for the third quarter of 2009, based on 25.3 million weighted average shares outstanding.

The financial figures for DFEL are quite impressive, as such we are still closely following the stock as it is still largely under the radar of most investors. However with announcements such as this, it may just be a matter of time before it captures the attention of a much larger investor audience, which could result in a boost to the stock price.

We will be announcing a new Canadian Company spotlight this upcoming week. It is a junior miner that is capturing a lot of investor attention, and for good reason. We will fill you in on all the excitement in the next few days.