Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over daily movements, we do like to keep an eye on market changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

With ADP reporting that private-sector job increased by 238,000 last month, a figure higher than the 200,000 jobs economists had expected, one would imagine the major indexes would take that news and continue yesterday's rally. While the Nasdaq is doing just that, up 0.28% at 1 p.m. EST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.56%) is down 0.46%, and the broader S&P 500 has lost 0.05%.

One reason the blue-chip index is off today is Microsoft (MSFT -1.27%), which is lower by 1.6% this afternoon. The move comes after Ford (F 0.66%) CEO Alan Mulally said Tuesday he will not leave his job this year. After months of speculation that Mulally was the top choice to replace Steve Ballmer as Microsoft CEO, we finally have confirmation that won't happen This news certainly isn't something that some Microsoft shareholders wanted to hear, but this will enable both companies to move ahead and allow Microsoft to continue looking for its next leader. While shares of Microsoft are heading south, Ford's are up 1.7% at this time.  

Outside the Dow, one big loser is J.C. Penney (JCPN.Q), as shares are currently down 8.1%. After four straight days in which its share price fell 10.5%, the retailer's management team released a statement saying that it is pleased with holiday sales figures, but it didn't release any actual numbers. The lack of information has investors speculating that the holiday shopping season wasn't as good as the company makes it sound, and thus shares are tumbling. The problem for J.C. Penney is that right now it's better to say nothing at all than to say just a little.  

Management certainly has its work cut out for it in saving the department store chain, but worrying about the stock price should not be on that list. No management team should worry about the stock price -- it should focus on building a great business, and the share price will take care of itself. J.C. Penney investors need to reconsider their position and who is driving the ship at this point, before rougher seas are reached.

More Foolish insight