Daily Markets - Financial News And Opinions

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• Gold ETF Receives Capital Inflows For First Time In Two Weeks
• IMF Doubles Inflation Target - Gold Ready To Resume Long-Term Bull Market
• Materials And Emerging Markets Were Today’s US Stock Market Leaders
• Banking Regulation - The US Government’s Next Scapegoat
• 4 ETFs To Play Australia’s Optimistic Outlook
• Investing In Gold: Protection From Runaway Inflation
• GDX Vs. GDXJ: A Better Way To Play Gold?
• Stock Picks For Thursday 4 March: GigaMedia, Take-Two Interactive, Alcoa
• Interview With Wilmot George Of Mackenzie Financial On Tax And Estate Planning Advice
• You Know It’s Bad When The Current System Looks Good
• Equinix To Raise $750 Million
• Nelnet Beats Zacks View
• Rating Concerns For Prudential Plc
• JAKKS Down A Cent, Outlook Weak
• Jim Chanos Is Wrong About Investing In China
• Introducing The Ron Paul Freedom IRA
• Shorting The Euro: A Good Bet If Not For The DOJ
• Video: NYSE Closing Bell Market Monitor: PFE, BJS, RSH
• Beating The Market Makers: Never Pay Full Price
• Wilmington Upgraded To Neutral
• Video: Crude Soars On Weak Dollar
• Video: Want More Legroom? Continental Will Offer It, For A Fee!
• ProLogis’ New Solar Project
• Daily ETF Roundup: UUP Sinks, GDX Continues Surge
• NHP Gets Medical Office Buildings
• Symmetry Reports In Line
• Pros And Cons Of Futures-Based ETFs
• $1 Trillion Mortgage Bomb Still Ticking Away
• Ev3 Downgraded
• McDermott Beats, Profit Soars
• VeriFone Tops Estimates
• Forex Trading: GBPUSD Is Down Testing The 100 Hour MA Support
• Bullish On Pozen
• Milton Friedman And Economic Reforms Saved Chile
• Dodge Taxes Legally… Become Treasury Secretary
• Video: 03/03 FX Options Report
• Geron Misses Expectations
• Joy Global Surpasses Estimates
• EQT Buys Marcellus Assets
• Big Lots Outperforms
• The Best Kind Of Healthcare Reform You Can Get
• Diamond Wins Major Contracts
• Central Bank “March Mayhem” Puts Currency ETFs In Focus
• SID Beats Zacks Consensus
• Forex Trading: EURUSD Basing For A Move Higher Or Consolidating In A Range
• Opportunities Likely In Chinese Real Estate ETFs
• 7 Critical Data Points Show The US Economy Is Hitting A Wall
• Government Spending Induces Counterfeit “Expansion”
• Jacobs Penetrates Middle East
• ADP Sees 20,000 Job Losses
• NET Servicos Downgraded
• Video: Market Movers: ETH, DIN, SLB, NFLX, PEP
• SIRIUS Upgraded To Neutral
• Video: Risk Appetite Returns
• Anadarko Lifts Capex Outlook
• Redpoint Sitting In The Sweet Spot
• Video: Winter Storms Lead To Grounded Profits For US Airways
• Greece - From Hard Money To Fool’s Gold
• Gold And Silver Supply: Get Some While You Can
• Nucor Growing Inorganically
• Lower Q4 Loss For Human Genome
• PDL BioPharma Falls Short
• The Bullish Case For Equities
• Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 1
• Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 2
• Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 3
• Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 4
• Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 5
• Analyst Interviews: Health Care Outlook & Stock Review

Gold ETF Receives Capital Inflows For First Time In Two Weeks Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:50 PM PST “Gold futures rose Wednesday but came off earlier highs, playing off the euro’s gains against the dollar that made the precious metal more attractive as an investment alternative. Gold for April delivery rose $5.10, or 0.5%, to $1,142.70 an ounce. It earlier rose as high as $1,144.40, the loftiest level seen since Jan. 11, when it closed at $1,151.40 an ounce, the high for 2010,” Deborah Levine Reports From MarketWatch. Levine goes on to say, “In foreign-exchange dealings, the dollar … [visit site to read more]

IMF Doubles Inflation Target - Gold Ready To Resume Long-Term Bull Market Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:50 PM PST I grew up in Germany, a country that went through hyperinflation twice during the 20th Century. Maybe that’s the reason I learned inflation is bad and inflationary policies are diabolic. Inflationary periods are highly unjust. They undermine the ethics of hard work and thrift. They destroy solidarity, lead to widespread hardship and often to social unrest. All these points are well documented in history. Many countries have suffered through the destruction brought on by huge surges of … [visit site to read more]

Materials And Emerging Markets Were Today’s US Stock Market Leaders Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:07 PM PST The bid held this afternoon into the final hour push. This is becoming a consistent theme and this lack of conviction leads to potential frustration — over trading and just flat out abandoning your method/plan. Do not allow this environment to let that happen, stay focused on positioning within your plan. Who were the leaders today? Materials and Emerging Markets helped hold modest gains into the end of the day, which was in front of some Claims data that is due out pre-market tomorrow … [visit site to read more]

Banking Regulation - The US Government’s Next Scapegoat Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:01 PM PST Banks are now in the government’s crosshairs. For the past 15 months, the government has done everything possible to help the banking sector. It had to. The financial crisis required it. So the Feds dropped the bank lending rate to 0%. They weakened accounting standards so the banks didn’t have to take huge writeoffs on upside-down mortgage loans. They passed out hundreds of billions of dollars in bailout money. And they kept a bid under the mortgage market by using your tax dollars … [visit site to read more]

4 ETFs To Play Australia’s Optimistic Outlook Posted: 03 Mar 2010 04:01 PM PST Australia was one of the better-positioned developed economies in 2009, and its exchange traded fund (ETF) followed suit. This year could be another breakout for the land Down Under: In a vote of confidence in its recovery, the central bank raised rates once again. Australia’s Central Bank Governor Glenn Stevens boosted the overnight cash rate target to 4% from 3.75%, reports Jacob Greber for BusinessWeek. The news strengthened the Australian dollar against a basket of currencies, and … [visit site to read more]

Investing In Gold: Protection From Runaway Inflation Posted: 03 Mar 2010 04:00 PM PST Since the feds can't grow their way out of debt…they'll have to try to inflate their way out. Trouble is, first…central bankers don't have that good a grasp of inflation. They can control the amount of money in the monetary base at the Fed. But they don't really control what happens to it next. For a long time, prices don't necessarily react…because, in a depression, the velocity of money slows down to a crawl. The banks don't lend; the money doesn't get around…and it … [visit site to read more]

GDX Vs. GDXJ: A Better Way To Play Gold? Posted: 03 Mar 2010 03:50 PM PST A recent survey released by InvestmentNews highlighted the ten ETFs financial advisors researched the most, based on data provided by Morningstar. It's tough to know exactly what to make of the list, but at the very least it gives some interesting insights into the minds of investors. The list included many of the usual suspects: the S&P 500 (SPY), emerging markets (VWO), aggregate bond markets (LQD) and diversified commodity funds (DBC) were all represented. Also making the list … [visit site to read more]

Stock Picks For Thursday 4 March: GigaMedia, Take-Two Interactive, Alcoa Posted: 03 Mar 2010 03:31 PM PST ( click to enlarge ) Alcoa (NYSE:AA) The stock had a good day on Wednesday, as commodities bounced on the day. The stock is trading near the major level of $13,52, which is resistance for a breakout move. I’m buyer once this move occurs and we expect to see strong volume drive the stock higher. ( click to enlarge ) Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ:TTWO) The stock is trading up after hours on Wednesday, as the company released good earnings. TTWO should gap higher on Thursday and be … [visit site to read more]

Interview With Wilmot George Of Mackenzie Financial On Tax And Estate Planning Advice Posted: 03 Mar 2010 03:01 PM PST Biography: Wilmot is a Certified Financial Planner and Director of Tax and Estate Planning at Mackenzie Financial Services Inc. Benefits of saving in a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) versus a Taxable Non Registered Account Q: Mr. George, what are your thoughts (benefits and drawbacks) on taking on RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) loans to make contributions? Is this not a good idea for people with pre-existing debts like student debt and credit card debt? A: This is a … [visit site to read more]

You Know It’s Bad When The Current System Looks Good Posted: 03 Mar 2010 03:00 PM PST Government spending is out of control, and President Obama seems to at least recognize it…even if his administration is doing little to remedy it. Instead, his efforts to rein in spending seem concentrated on health care reform, despite the fact that it's such a convoluted and expensive proposition. Health care reform can't help but invite the twin evils of confusion and corruption to the bargaining table. It's enough to make you start to appreciate the evils you already … [visit site to read more]

Equinix To Raise $750 Million Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:57 PM PST Global data center service provider Equinix Inc. (NASDAQ:EQIX) recently announced an underwriting agreement to sell $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.125% senior unsecured notes due in 2018. The company is expected to derive net proceeds of approximately $736,275,000, excluding underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. The company will be using the net proceeds from this debt issue for general purposes, such as capital expenditure for expansion and to repay the existing … [visit site to read more]

Nelnet Beats Zacks View Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:41 PM PST Nelnet Inc.'s (NYSE:NNI) fourth quarter earnings of $1.64 per share were well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.21. The company had earned 32 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly results reflect the benefits of diversification of revenue through fee-based businesses, reduced operating expenses, improved core student loan spread and reduced debt burden. Including discontinued operations, restructuring charges, impairment expenses, and certain liquidity-related charges, the … [visit site to read more]

Rating Concerns For Prudential Plc Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:24 PM PST Following the announcement by Prudential Plc (NYSE:PUK) to purchase Asian life-insurance unit American International Assurance (AIA) from American International Group Inc. (NYSE:AIG), Fitch Ratings has become cautious with regard to execution risks that the deal may bring along. The value of the deal, estimated at approximately $35 billion, is greater than the company's market value, which is $23 billion at present.    Prudential Plc, which anticipates completing the deal by third quarter … [visit site to read more]

JAKKS Down A Cent, Outlook Weak Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:04 PM PST JAKKS Pacific Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) reported fourth quarter earnings of 22 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. The company had earned 55 cents in the year-ago quarter. Results were mostly in line with our expectations. While the company experienced a decline in revenue, the results were helped by cost cuts. The company reported a 26% year-over-year decrease in revenue to $198.8 million. Though sales were driven by Halloween costumes, pretend play products, electronic toys … [visit site to read more]

Jim Chanos Is Wrong About Investing In China Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:04 PM PST The China bulls and bears have been going at it lately. The bears argue that the country is creating a nasty bubble, especially in its infrastructure and real estate markets. Famous short seller Jim Chanos has even called China's real estate market "Dubai times 1,000… or worse." Of course, the bulls staunchly decry that statement. But when people like Jim Chanos speak, investors should take a second look at their positions. Could the bulls be wrong and the bears be right? Investors need … [visit site to read more]

Introducing The Ron Paul Freedom IRA Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:01 PM PST Might Uncle Sam look to confiscate your retirement accounts for purposes of funding our massive federal deficit and the enormous municipal pension gap? Initial steps are being taken in Washington that may very well lead to that reality. What can we do to protect our current retirement accounts and the sanctity of future retirement savings? Support the introduction of a Ron Paul Freedom IRA. Where can we learn more about this? Let’s review analysis put forth by Ronald Holland, my guest … [visit site to read more]

Shorting The Euro: A Good Bet If Not For The DOJ Posted: 03 Mar 2010 02:00 PM PST Every crisis comes with political baggage. This morning, the US Justice Department is said to be "requesting" that certain hedge funds reveal their bets against the euro. Under pressure from their EU counterparts, say rumors making their way around the Internet, the Department of Justice is tracking down fund managers who attended a particular dinner in February hosted by Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co., a NYC brokerage firm. The managers there supposedly discussed taking short positions … [visit site to read more]

Video: NYSE Closing Bell Market Monitor: PFE, BJS, RSH Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:52 PM PST The latest in news, commentary, and information on what’s moving the US equities markets. Watch this broadcast LIVE at 4:00 pm EST daily @ “http://www.nyx.com/marketmonitor” … [visit site to read more]

Beating The Market Makers: Never Pay Full Price Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:50 PM PST The Smart Profits Report: Issue #212 Beating the Market Makers: Never Pay Full Price By Karim Rahemtulla Chairman, Mt. Vernon Research I want to let you in on a little secret: I beat the market makers by never paying full price. That is, I never buy options at the offer (or ask) price. Nor do I sell at the bid price. The option market maker goons, of course, want you to pay full price – and they know that impatient investors will. But don't fall for it. It's a mistake. That's because … [visit site to read more]

Wilmington Upgraded To Neutral Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:45 PM PST Given the current market recovery factor and valued growth indicators, we are upgrading our recommendation on the shares of Wilmington Trust Corporation (NYSE:WL) to Neutral from Underperform. Although the current economic turmoil has weakened both the revenue growth and the operating leverage of Wilmington, we believe that once the economy stabilizes, it will have a substantial positive effect on the earning potential of the company.   Wilmington reported a fourth quarter loss, versus the … [visit site to read more]

Video: Crude Soars On Weak Dollar Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:43 PM PST Despite a rise in crude supplies, front month crude prices once again were on the upside following weakness in the US dollar. … [visit site to read more]

Video: Want More Legroom? Continental Will Offer It, For A Fee! Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:39 PM PST Continental Airlines announced Wednesday that it will begin charging coach customers extra if they want a seat with more legroom. … [visit site to read more]

ProLogis’ New Solar Project Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:31 PM PST ProLogis (NYSE:PLD), a leading global provider of distribution facilities, recently announced a new rooftop solar project in Portland. On completion, the project spanning 90,000 square feet of roof space and generating about 2.4 megawatts (MW) of energy would be the largest rooftop solar system in the Pacific Northwest region.   In order to develop the project, ProLogis signed a deal with Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR), a vertically integrated electric utility company that serves … [visit site to read more]

Daily ETF Roundup: UUP Sinks, GDX Continues Surge Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:29 PM PST Once again, investors around the world turned their attention to Greece on Wednesday, as the heavily indebted nation unveiled a new round of budget cuts and tax increases to gain control over its rapidly-swelling budget deficit. Measures included a 2% bump to the VAT, additional taxes on tobacco and fuel, a freeze on civil servant pensions, and a 30% reduction to public sector workers. The reaction was generally positive, as European neighbors praised the move and the euro zone's common … [visit site to read more]

NHP Gets Medical Office Buildings Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:17 PM PST Nationwide Health Properties Inc. (NYSE:NHP), a real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in health care facilities, recently acquired five medical office buildings (MOBs) in California from Pacific Medical Buildings LLC. Pacific Medical specializes exclusively in the development and management of MOB, outpatient facilities and parking structures for hospitals, medical groups and universities.   With the deal, Nationwide Health acquired 590,000 square feet of health care facilities. … [visit site to read more]

Symmetry Reports In Line Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:04 PM PST Symmetry Medical Inc. (NYSE:SMA) recently reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2009 results. For the quarter, earnings per share were 5 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate but considerably lower than the year-ago earnings of 12 cents. For fiscal 2009, earnings per share of 66 cents were higher than the year-ago figure of 48 cents.   Quarterly Results   Total revenues in the quarter declined 23% year over year to $76.4 million. The decline was due to lower customer demand … [visit site to read more]

Pros And Cons Of Futures-Based ETFs Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:01 PM PST Last year, investors demanded commodities and exchange traded funds (ETFs) became the go-to investment vehicle for tracking them. Investors should be aware of the the costs and risks involved when investing in commodity ETFs that track short-term futures contracts. Commodities that are hard to store should show lower futures prices than spot prices, and the price of those futures should converge with spot prices as the expiration date comes, otherwise known as backwardation, writes Will … [visit site to read more]

$1 Trillion Mortgage Bomb Still Ticking Away Posted: 03 Mar 2010 01:00 PM PST How close are we to being back to square one with impending mortgage meltdowns? According to SNL Financial, much closer than anyone would like to think. It has gotten a hold of an updated version of the original 2007 Credit Suisse chart that such caused a stir at that time. It's reprinted below along with a few of SNL's thoughts on the matter. From SNL Financial: "Most of the resets are expected to occur through 2012. Between 2010 and 2012, the chart indicates that $253.25 billion of … [visit site to read more]

Ev3 Downgraded Posted: 03 Mar 2010 12:47 PM PST We have recently downgraded ev3 Inc. (NASDAQ:EVVV) to Neutral with a target price of $16 based on a P/E of roughly 35.6x our fiscal 2010 EPS estimate of 45 cents. We downgraded the stock based on a downtrend in earnings estimates in the past 30 days.    During the 30-day period, six out of ten analysts downgraded their earnings estimates while only three have upgraded theirs for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. For the second quarter, five out of ten analysts have downgraded their … [visit site to read more]

McDermott Beats, Profit Soars Posted: 03 Mar 2010 12:34 PM PST Energy-focused engineering and construction company McDermott International (NYSE:MDR) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, driven by robust performance from the Offshore Oil and Gas Construction segment. Earnings per share came in at 42 cents, 2 cents above the Zacks Consensus Estimate and 23 cents above the prior-year period.   This was the company's fourth consecutive positive earnings surprise. McDermott has performed well during this period, with its average earnings … [visit site to read more]

VeriFone Tops Estimates Posted: 03 Mar 2010 12:19 PM PST VeriFone Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PAY) reported revenues of $223.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, up 2.6% sequentially and up 4.4% year over year. Systems Solutions generated revenues of $188.0 million, up 1.2% year over year. Services revenue increased 11% sequentially and 25% year over year.   Based in San Jose, California, VeriFone designs, markets and services a transaction automation system that facilitates electronic payments between consumers, merchants and financial … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: GBPUSD Is Down Testing The 100 Hour MA Support Posted: 03 Mar 2010 12:12 PM PST The GBPUSD broke above the 100 hour MA today for the second time since February 14th. The last time occured on February 23rd and it was for a single 1 hour bar.  The move today moved  to 1.5129 and has stayed above for the last 4 or so trading hours.  Now the price is down testing the key support level at the 1.5083 level.  The 100 bar MA on the 5 minute chart is also in the area at 1.5080.  Traders could buy against the levels, looking for a move back higher. … [visit site to read more]

Bullish On Pozen Posted: 03 Mar 2010 12:03 PM PST Pozen (NASDAQ:POZN) remains one of our top picks in the small-to-mid cap biotechnology industry.  We view the company as financially sound, exiting 2009 with over $46 million in cash on hand and another potential $20 million coming in April 2010 from AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) for the U.S. approval of Vimovo. The company is also well diversified, with one product on the market in Treximet, one product nearing FDA approval in Vimovo, and one product in phase III trials in PA-325. All three products … [visit site to read more]

Milton Friedman And Economic Reforms Saved Chile Posted: 03 Mar 2010 12:02 PM PST “How Milton Friedman Saved Chile,” Bret Stephens in Tuesday’s WSJ: “Milton Friedman has been dead for more than three years. But his spirit was surely hovering protectively over Chile in the early morning hours of Saturday. Thanks largely to him, the country has endured a tragedy that elsewhere would have been an apocalypse. Earthquake magnitudes are measured on a logarithmic scale. The earthquake that hit Northridge in 1994 measured 6.7 on the Richter scale. But its … [visit site to read more]

Dodge Taxes Legally… Become Treasury Secretary Posted: 03 Mar 2010 12:00 PM PST If you don't want to pay capital gains taxes, work for the President…or have lots and lots of kids. In the biggest stock sale of his life, former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson didn't pay one dollar of capital gains tax. Nearly $500 million worth of Goldman Sachs shares – a profit of hundreds of millions of dollars – and not a red cent went to the IRS. Paulson's Treasury predecessors Robert Rubin and Paul O'Neil enjoyed a similar tax dodge themselves…as did many other familiar … [visit site to read more]

Video: 03/03 FX Options Report Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:59 AM PST The EUR advanced vs. the USD, as Greek’s austerity plan helped support the Euro-zone currency. … [visit site to read more]

Geron Misses Expectations Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:58 AM PST Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN) posted a net loss of $18.4 million, or 20 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2009, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 17 cents. However, the result was better than the year-ago loss of 22 cents. For 2009, the company reported a loss per share of 80 cents compared to a loss of 79 cents in 2008.   Revenues for the quarter increased 11.2% year-over-year to $605,000. Revenues consisted of $225,000 from collaborative agreements and $380,000 … [visit site to read more]

Joy Global Surpasses Estimates Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:52 AM PST Joy Global Inc. (NASDAQ:JOYG) posted an EPS of 73 cents for the first quarter of 2010, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 64 cents but below the year-ago earnings of 83 cents. The better-than-expected earnings were primarily driven by improved commodities market and better orders during the quarter. During the quarter, the company merged its operating Continental Crushing and Conveying segment into Joy Mining Machinery and P&H Mining Equipment segment. The results from the prior year … [visit site to read more]

EQT Buys Marcellus Assets Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:41 AM PST EQT Corp. (NYSE:EQT) has decided to purchase approximately 58,000 net acres in the Marcellus Shale from a group of private operators and landowners in a stock and cash deal. The acreage is located primarily in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties in Pennsylvania.  The total consideration for this deal is about $280 million. Of this, 90% ($252 million) will be paid through EQT shares and 10% ($28 million) will be paid in cash. The acquired properties also include a 200 mile … [visit site to read more]

Big Lots Outperforms Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:40 AM PST Big Lots Inc. (NYSE:BIG) recently posted stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter 2009 results on the heels of better sales, improved inventory control and effective cost management. The quarterly earnings of $1.31 per share outdid the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.28, and soared 31% from $1.00 delivered in the prior-year quarter. The better-than-expected results prompted management to provide three years' outlook. The retailer now expects earnings per share to grow at a compounded annual growth … [visit site to read more]

The Best Kind Of Healthcare Reform You Can Get Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:29 AM PST Wednesday, March 3, 2010: Issue #1208 Last weekend, I was in Costco when I noticed what represented two Americas: America #1: As I was in line at the checkout, I thought I recognized someone from a television commercial. One of those health ads where they show 70-year-old men with the physiques of 30-year-olds. The man, clearly in his 70s, was in great shape. I looked in his shopping cart. It was filled with fruits, vegetables and some salmon. There was clearly a reason this gentleman looked … [visit site to read more]

Diamond Wins Major Contracts Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:26 AM PST Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (NYSE:DO), a major contract driller, has received notifications of award for three term drilling contracts from Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) in Brazil. Excluding bonus and extensions, these contracts have a combined capacity to generate total revenue of approximately $1.4 billion and represent at least 11 years of contract drilling backlog.  The contracts are for three floating drilling rigs: ultra-deepwater semisubmersible Ocean Valor, deepwater semisubmersible Ocean … [visit site to read more]

Central Bank “March Mayhem” Puts Currency ETFs In Focus Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:22 AM PST Federal Reserve meetings are always among the most anticipated and closely scrutinized events in the investment community, as specific decisions on key interest rates and more general observations on the state of the economy have the power to set off waves of either buying or selling on Wall Street and around the globe. Central bank meetings have lost a bit of their luster in the last year, as ongoing concerns of a double-dip recession and weak fundamentals in the economy have essentially … [visit site to read more]

SID Beats Zacks Consensus Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:11 AM PST Recently, Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (NYSE:SID) reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009.  During the quarter, net revenue totaled R$3.06 billion, down 9.8% year over year. However, it was up 2.4% sequentially primarily due to the increase in sales volume in the domestic market, where prices are normally healthier than abroad. In 2009, net revenue came to R$10.98 billion, down 21.6% from 2008 level primarily due to shrinking demand and lower prices in the first half … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: EURUSD Basing For A Move Higher Or Consolidating In A Range Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:04 AM PST The EURUSD corrected down to 1.3711 off the ceiling top at 1.3735 area. The low corrective price following the surge higher above the 1.3691 level came down to 1.3707.   This could be a short term stop level for intraday traders with confirmation of further downside if the price were to go below the 1.3691. The topside is defined by the 1.3735 level.   A move above should solicit additional buying interest with 1.3788 level which was the high price from February 17th. … [visit site to read more]

Opportunities Likely In Chinese Real Estate ETFs Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:01 AM PST As China expects to lead the world in economic growth in 2010, some think the nation’s real estate markets pose an opportunity and will likely see appreciation in the coming year. When comparing price-to-book ratios versus return on equity, a recent study indicated that Chinese real estate was the most undervalued when compared to other high growth nations like India and Hong Kong.  Additionally, some expert analysts state that the Chinese real estate sector has underperformed by … [visit site to read more]

7 Critical Data Points Show The US Economy Is Hitting A Wall Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:00 AM PST It's been declared countless times in the mainstream media that the economy has recovered. The US is out of recession and good times are back again. Yet, there is plenty of data to support that this is not the case. Seven of the top warning signs that the US economy may be hitting a wall are highlighted below. According to Irwin Kellner, chief economist at MarketWatch: 1. Both consumer confidence and sentiment have fallen unexpectedly. 2. After-tax personal incomes adjusted for … [visit site to read more]

Government Spending Induces Counterfeit “Expansion” Posted: 03 Mar 2010 11:00 AM PST There's good news and bad news…and a lot of news in between. Consumers spent a little more than was expected of them. And manufacturing did a little better than expected too. On the other hand, the federal government's tax receipts plunged in the month of February…and bank lending is still contracting. Last week it shrank $33 billion – the 7th week in a row it has contracted. How does an economy expand when the banks are lending less money? Beats us. We believe the "expansion" … [visit site to read more]

Jacobs Penetrates Middle East Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:56 AM PST Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) has won a contract from Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company of Saudi Arabia , to develop a basic engineering package for four sulfur recovery units, each with an expected production capacity of 1,200 tons per day.  This new, four-train sulfur plant will be part of the Wasit Gas Development Program in the Kingdom. Jacobs has designed over 350 sulfur recovery units since 1985, and it will license its proprietary EUROCLAUS and sulfur degassing … [visit site to read more]

ADP Sees 20,000 Job Losses Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:43 AM PST Automatic Data Processing, the largest payroll processing firm in the nation, reported this morning that the nation lost 20,000 private sector jobs in February, which is the smallest number by its count since the recession began all the way back in December of 2007. This is a relatively tasty appetizer to the jobs data main course that comes out in Friday morning. However, the revision to the January data to a loss of 60,000 jobs from their original estimate of 22,000 leaves a bit of a bad … [visit site to read more]

NET Servicos Downgraded Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:41 AM PST We downgrade our recommendation for NET Servicos de Comunicacao SA (NASDAQ:NETC) to Neutral, which means the stock will perform mostly in line with the broader market. The stock price has moved up nearly 117% in the last one year and is currently trading at the high-end of its 52-week price range. According to our assessment, the current valuation of NET Servicos calls for very limited room for above market gain.  NET Servicos is the largest integrated cable MSO in Brazil and one of the … [visit site to read more]

Video: Market Movers: ETH, DIN, SLB, NFLX, PEP Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:34 AM PST The latest news and information on U.S. stocks that are moving the market. … [visit site to read more]

SIRIUS Upgraded To Neutral Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:26 AM PST We upgrade our recommendation for SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRI) to Neutral, which means the stock will perform mostly in line with the broader market. The company's fourth-quarter 2009 financial results came in ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Significant amount of subscriber growth, improvement in conversion rate in trial to self-pay subscription, increase in ARPU and decline in customer churn rate are the other important positive factors in the recently concluded … [visit site to read more]

Video: Risk Appetite Returns Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:19 AM PST Risk appetite returned this session after positive news out of Greece and better-than-expected US economic data paved the way for a rise in higher-yielding currencies. … [visit site to read more]

Anadarko Lifts Capex Outlook Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:11 AM PST Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:APC) announced its capital spending plans for 2010 in the $5.3 to $5.6 billion range, up from $4.6 billion in 2009. This represents an increase of about 15% to 22% over 2009.  For 2010, the company has allocated approximately $2 billion (36%) of its capex to near-term projects and expects to increase sales volumes in 2010 by up to 5% over the 2009 total of 220 million BOE.  Approximately 22% of the 2010 capital budget is allocated to the ongoing … [visit site to read more]

Redpoint Sitting In The Sweet Spot Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:11 AM PST We are initiating Redpoint Bio (RPBC) with an Outperform rating and $0.50 price target. Despite the low stock price, we believe that Redpoint is poised for a major breakout based on several key drivers in 2010. From our point of view, there are three near-term shots on goal, one of which could result in sizable upfront payments to Redpoint. An All-Natural Sweetener The first is the licensing of RP44, which Redpoint has disclosed in January 2010 to be rebaudioside C (Reb-C), a component of the … [visit site to read more]

Video: Winter Storms Lead To Grounded Profits For US Airways Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:04 AM PST US Airways Group Incorporated announced that due to massive storms during the month of February, the company posted a $30 million loss in sales for the period. … [visit site to read more]

Greece - From Hard Money To Fool’s Gold Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:01 AM PST When Greece invented the Olympic Games in 776 BC, the top prize was an olive wreath, not gold. And in those days, Greece sought out the top runners, rather than compete for a discipline not approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC): governmental financial engineering. If we only brought the original Olympic spirit back, maybe we could solve the world’s challenges. During the ancient Games, Olympic Truce stopped wars to allow safe travel for athletes. Not long after inventing the … [visit site to read more]

Gold And Silver Supply: Get Some While You Can Posted: 03 Mar 2010 10:00 AM PST Adrian Douglas of MarketForceAnalysis.com took a look at a summary of the goings-on at the Comex, and says, "the data reveals a very shocking trend. That is that the registered (dealer) inventory is being drawn down at a phenomenal rate. In silver the inventory has dropped by 24% in 6 months while in gold it has dropped an eye-popping 41% in 6 months!" Already my eyes are glazing over at the sudden overload of information, most of which I know nothing about, but know that I should, and feel … [visit site to read more]

Nucor Growing Inorganically Posted: 03 Mar 2010 09:56 AM PST Steel producer Nucor Corp.'s (NYSE:NUE) subsidiary, the David J. Joseph Company, has bought Ocala Recycling LLC in line with its strategy to grow its scrap-processing industry and its expansion plans in Florida.  Ocala Recycling, a subsidiary of Blaze Metals LLC, operates four Ocala, FL, facilities. It has an automobile shredder with a total capacity of more than 100,000 tons of scrap metal annually. With the addition of Ocala, David J. Joseph operates a total of 15 automobile shredders … [visit site to read more]

Lower Q4 Loss For Human Genome Posted: 03 Mar 2010 09:41 AM PST Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:HGSI) reported fourth quarter 2009 net loss of $9.7 million or 6 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 9 cents and the year-ago loss of $61.9 million or 46 cents. The reduced net loss for the quarter was primarily attributable to increased revenues and lower operating expenses.  Quarterly Results  Revenue in the reported quarter jumped to $53.0 million from $12.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Revenue for the quarter … [visit site to read more]

PDL BioPharma Falls Short Posted: 03 Mar 2010 09:26 AM PST PDL BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDLI) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2009 earnings of 17 cents per share, 2 cents below the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company earned 34 cents (from continuing operations) in the year-ago quarter. Results in the quarter were hurt by lower revenues.  Quarterly Results  Total revenues in the reported quarter stood at $58.3 million as against $68.7 million in the year-ago quarter, down approximately 15.1%. The revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 included … [visit site to read more]

The Bullish Case For Equities Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:16 AM PST The bullish case for equities is best summarized by some of the price action that I am seeing especially in the retail, home building, financial and energy sectors. Leadership provided by these sectors would be the right kind of leadership for a broad market rally. Before I get to the charts, let me state - tongue and cheek mind you - that the equity market never goes down and don’t worry the Fed has your back. This seems to be a pervasive and prevailing attitude so these are just 2 reasons … [visit site to read more]

Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 1 Posted: 03 Mar 2010 07:32 AM PST Join Trading Centrals top Forex analyst, Cyril Berkouk as he provides his latest opinion on where the markets are headed. … [visit site to read more]

Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 2 Posted: 03 Mar 2010 07:31 AM PST Join Trading Centrals top Forex analyst, Cyril Berkouk as he provides his latest opinion on where the markets are headed. … [visit site to read more]

Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 3 Posted: 03 Mar 2010 07:30 AM PST Join Trading Centrals top Forex analyst, Cyril Berkouk as he provides his latest opinion on where the markets are headed. … [visit site to read more]

Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 4 Posted: 03 Mar 2010 07:29 AM PST Join Trading Centrals top Forex analyst, Cyril Berkouk as he provides his latest opinion on where the markets are headed. … [visit site to read more]

Cyril Berkouk “FX Options Trend Opinions Understanding Moving Averages And Trend Lines”, Part 5 Posted: 03 Mar 2010 07:28 AM PST Join Trading Centrals top Forex analyst, Cyril Berkouk as he provides his latest opinion on where the markets are headed. … [visit site to read more]

Analyst Interviews: Health Care Outlook & Stock Review Posted: 02 Mar 2010 09:00 PM PST OVERVIEW The healthcare sector comprises different industries, ranging from managed care organizations, healthcare facilities providers and medical devices manufacturers to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Consequently, we believe that investors in this sector should be mindful of the different drivers and appropriate metrics associated with the various sub-sectors. In the present scenario, investor sentiment in healthcare continues to be driven by decisions in the Congress related to … [visit site to read more]

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