No sector has escaped the clutches of this bear market, including the technology sector. So far, 2009 has been dominated by earnings announcements, Steve Jobs' health issues and more job cuts, including Microsoft's first-ever mass layoffs. But the strong will survive, and their investors will be rewarded handsomely when the market turns around. Here are five names poised to thrive going forward.

Some say that 2008 was the year of the short, but more accurately, it was the year of the trade. In hibernation since the dot com crash, those moving in and out of the market during the last year made out like bandits.

GG offers a trade up to the resistance beginning at the 200-day moving average.

In late November our government drew the line in the sand with respect to the banking and financial sector. With that line there will be clear winners and losers. If your bank is on the right side of that line, you are in the clear.

If you've been able to preserve capital during the great bear market of 2007-2008, now is the time to do some serious shopping. Some of the biggest companies with the biggest brands and the largest profits are now trading for deep discounts. Here are five corporate giants selling at wholesale prices.

CSX Corp. lowered its earnings expectations and withdrew it's guidance on Monday. Jamie Dlugosch weighs in CSX's valuation.

The Commerce Department announced Thursday that retail sales fell by 2.7 percent in December, more than double the 1.2 percent decline that Wall Street expected. The shortfall in December sales comes on the heels of a November drop which was recently revised downward to 2.1 percent.

Wait and let the S&P 500's compass show us the next path to take.

ArcelorMittal bonds are still attractively priced and should be part of a balanced bond portfolio.

A 'telephone trade' in T has a new short-term target.

Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. (AA) kicked off the 2008 fourth quarter earnings season with a wider-than-expected loss, sending revenue plunging as demand waned and prices fell.

Shares of Rambus, Inc. plunged 39% on Friday as the U.S. District Court of Delaware ruled that the company cannot pursue its claims of patent infringement against Micron Technology Inc. due to spoliation, a legal term for the destroying of evidence in pending or reasonably foreseeable litigation.

BMY has broken its bearish resistance line and just this week issued a 'Golden Cross.'

Most expect the recession to last through 2009, but it could be longer. Ultimately the details of the government's plans will go a long way in determining exactly when we rise from these ashes.

DE has broken a double-top and could make a run to the 200-day moving average.

Republic Services, Inc. and Allied Waste in December, 2008 completed the merger of the number two and number three non-hazardous solid waste collection and disposal companies serving the residential, commercial and municipal waste collection markets in the United States.

Investing in the stock market is really not as complex as many make it out to be. Cut through much of the noise and what you have left is a few basic fundamental principles and intuition.

While the threats for continued growth for DRIV are substantial, the company has been adept at reacting to competitive forces. Management has guided the company to continued increases in market share and profitability.

It's no secret that 2008 was a year for the history books. All major indices fell dramatically from last year's highs with the Chinese markets falling more than most. And while we haven't put turmoil and volatility behind us just yet, there are still pockets of opportunity -- and China stocks will lead the way.