I hate falling into the trap of simply responding to the hottest news headlines - because very few people get rich by reacting to headlines and pulling the trigger on investments based on "hot" trends in the market.

At this point, computers can wipe the floor with most any day-trader, so if you think you can buy yesterday's news and still eke out a profit, you're probably wrong.

In the past couple weeks agriculture has been the hot topic on everyone's mind. First, fires in Russia caused wheat prices to double in less than a month as Vladimir Putin banned Russian wheat exports. In sympathy, many other crop commodities rose in price as well. Then yesterday, BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) the world's largest mining company, put in a failed bid to buy Potash Corp (NYSE: POT) the world's largest fertilizer company.

Seattle-based Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTICD) has been granted a fast-track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its treatment of refractory indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the company announced this morning.  Shares are up $0.04, or 0.73%, to $5.50.

Shares of EpiCept Corporation (Nasdaq: EPCT) are gaining on news this morning that the pharmaceutical company’s drug Azixa for the treatment of primary and secondary brain tumors was shown to be effective in clinical studies.  Shares have moved up $0.11, or 5.07%, to $2.28.