Mar 2, 2010

Daily Markets - Financial News And Opinions

Daily Markets - Financial News And Opinions

Enough Dra(ch)ma: The Euro Will Thrive… When PIIGS Fly!

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 09:17 AM PST

What's your current F.U.D. level?
That is… Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.
When it comes to situations like the Greek debt crisis, you want to make sure it's low. That's because if you want to profit from volatile events like this, the best way is to take the emotion out. Leave the F.U.D. to others.
That's what savvy investors do – and I'm going to show you how to do it here.
Many economists have weighed in with their take on Greece's troubles and whether it will be able to make … [visit site to read more]


Cut Government Salaries Now

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 09:15 AM PST

With the 2011 federal budget the Obama administration is adding a two percent wage increase for civilian federal workers. It doesn't sound like much but, at a time when the total compensation for the average federal worker is double the average of a private sector worker, any increase is too much. 
Here's how Forbes describes the madness of the US government payroll:
"Imagine a company that dominates its field. It's been No. 1 in its industry as long as anyone can remember. But … [visit site to read more]

Merck Buys Millipore

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 09:14 AM PST

Millipore Corporation (NYSE:MIL), a leading life science company, and Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK), a global pharmaceutical and chemicals company, entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Millipore for US$107 per share in cash, or a total transaction value, including net debt, of approximately €5.3 billion (US$7.2 billion).
 
The transaction was approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Millipore and Merck … [visit site to read more]

2010 Economic Forecast, Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, CA,…

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 09:07 AM PST

2010 Economic Forecast, Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, CA, January 22, … [visit site to read more]

Scientific Games Reports Loss

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 09:03 AM PST

Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ:SGMS) reported a loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 versus the analysts' expectations of a profit, primarily hurt by lower instant ticket and service revenue, which caused the shares to slide after the company released its results. Shares fell 8.11% (or $1.37) and closed at $15.52.
 
One-time accounting charges related to write-down of assets associated with the sale of its Racing and Venue Management businesses, the non-cash impairment of certain … [visit site to read more]

What’s Holding ETFs Back From The 401(k) Market?

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 09:01 AM PST

Eager to snatch a greater piece of the investment world’s market share, exchange traded fund (ETF) providers are turning to the trillions held in 401(k) retirement accounts as the next frontier.

More than $3.6 trillion is held in 401(k) retirement accounts, but total ETF assets in 401(k)s account for only $4 billion industrywide, writes Vaughan Scully for Investment Advisor. Only a few 401(k) plan providers currently offer ETFs as an option, and most just target small to medium-sized … [visit site to read more]

American Physicians Tops Estimates

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:47 AM PST

American Physicians Service Group Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AMPH) fourth quarter operating earnings of 96 cents per share were significantly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents. The company had earned 67 cents in the year-ago quarter.
 
Results reflected a favorable claims environment, strong policyholder retention and better-than-expected figures from the Financial Service segment.
 
Including the after-tax effects of realized investment gains and losses and other-than-temporary … [visit site to read more]

MarkWest Energy Tops View

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:33 AM PST

MarkWest Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE:MWE), a master limited partnership (MLP), reported significantly better than expected fourth quarter results. Earnings per unit, excluding mark-to-market derivative loss and compensation expense, came in at 75 cents, which was way ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 19 cents.
 
In the year-ago period, the Colorado-based natural gas pipeline operator lost $2.03 per unit on an adjusted basis. Revenue rose approximately 45.6% to $282.3 … [visit site to read more]

Sector ETF Analysis: Industrials Surge, Utilities Lag

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:31 AM PST

Two months into 2010, hopes for a smooth, steady year for equity markets have already been dashed. After stumbling out of the gates as worries about the euro zone and the sustainability of China's impressive growth, most equity markets bounced back in February, as rounds of solid economic data sparked renewed optimism in the U.S. recovery effort.
U.S. stock markets find themselves in a unique reactionary position, looking overseas for guidance in a remarkable reversal of historical trends. … [visit site to read more]

Australian Dollar: Bounce

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:19 AM PST

Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more]

Canadian Dollar: Rebound In Sight

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:18 AM PST

Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more]

Dollar Financial Repurchases Notes

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:17 AM PST

Last week, Dollar Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:DLLR) announced the repurchase of $35.2 million worth of its 2.875% U.S. senior convertible notes due 2027 for $32.0 million in cash, or 91% of par value. This reduces the company's annual cash interest expense by about $1.0 million and non-cash interest by about $1.8 million annually.
 
Dollar Financial now has $44.8 million remaining under the 2.875% U.S. senior convertible notes due 2027.
 
Dollar Financial's fiscal second quarter (ended … [visit site to read more]

Mortgage Bonds - How To Make 19% Dividends From Bonds

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:17 AM PST

By Tom Dyson

Last week, I told my 12% Letter readers to invest in mortgage bonds. I can just imagine their reaction when they read my advice…

“Tom, you want me to invest in mortgages?! Are you crazy? Aren’t they the terrible investments that have been causing problems for banks and the economy in general?”

Well… Yes, that’s true. Between 2002 and 2008, Wall Street’s real estate machine cranked out $5 trillion of these mortgage bonds and sold them to investors all around the world. (For … [visit site to read more]

Video: Domino’s Delivers Large 4Q Profits

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:15 AM PST

Domino’s Pizza Incorporated (DPZ) reported Tuesday that its 4Q profit more than doubled from the year prior following curious customers purchasing it’s new, improved pizzas. … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: EURUSD Up And Down As Greece Comments Heat Up

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:09 AM PST

There was comment from unnamed source saying additional cuts would be made which would presumingly give the EU reason to support the debt situation.  However at the same time Greek PM is on the wires saying the situation is a nightmare, that must take tough hard and sometimes unfair decisions, and must take all decisions needed to avoid the worst. 
This has got the EURUSD flopping back and forth. 
There is likely to be further volatility as the market digests the fluid … [visit site to read more]

US Traders Dislike Greek Bailout Package

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 08:06 AM PST

Well, it didn't take long for me to get the emails started telling me how wrong I am, again… WOW! Of course, I wonder where these people have been the last nine years, as when nine years ago I was the first writer to issue a whitepaper calling for the long-term downtrend for the dollar… Or, in 2002, when everyone was writing off the euro (EUR), I wrote the whitepaper, "The Year of the Euro"… Or in, 2005, when everyone called for the collapse of the euro… But not me… Or, in 2008, … [visit site to read more]

ATS Medical Reports Weak

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:59 AM PST

ATS Medical Inc. (NASDAQ:ATSI) recently reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2009 results. For the fourth quarter, loss per share was 3 cents, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 1 cent and the year-ago figure of 2 cents. For fiscal 2009, loss per share was 7 cents, compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago loss per share of 5 cents and 19 cents, respectively.
 
Quarterly Results
 
Total revenues in the fourth quarter increased 3.7% year over year to $18.7 million. … [visit site to read more]

Video: People Beginning To See The Fundamentals Are Terrific

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:55 AM PST

Floor trader David Henderson shares his opinions on the recent Dow upswing and what he feels the future holds for the markets. … [visit site to read more]

Mutual Funds: Top 4 Aggressive Growth Funds

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:50 AM PST

Aggressive growth funds are among the best possible vehicle for investments when markets are experiencing strong growth. Focusing on IPOs, low priced issues and volatile stocks, these funds looks to maximize gains during such favorable periods. They are designed primarily to achieve capital appreciation and invest in rapidly growing companies with prospects for above-average profit growth. For investors willing to accept a higher than normal risk-return trade-off and the willingness to forgo … [visit site to read more]

CMS Energy Tops Estimates

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:46 AM PST

CMS Energy Corporation's (NYSE:CMS) fourth-quarter earnings of 38 cents pushed past the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate of 36 cents and 30 cents in the prior-year quarter. The company clocked an EPS of $1.26 in fiscal 2009 compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.24. Fiscal 2009 EPS also topped EPS of $1.21 in fiscal 2008.
 
Operational Results
 
Revenue fell to $1.6 billion in the reported quarter from $1.8 billion in the year-ago quarter due to a tepid economy affecting the … [visit site to read more]

Video: NYSE Opening Bell Market Monitor: DPZ, KMB, SPLS

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:38 AM PST

The latest in news, commentary, and information on what’s moving the US equities markets. … [visit site to read more]

Allot Loss Narrows In FY2009

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:30 AM PST

Allot Communications Ltd (NASDAQ:ALLT) reported fourth quarter of 2009 revenue of $11.5 million, a 21% increase from $9.6 million of revenues reported in the fourth quarter of 2008, and a 6% increase from $10.8 million of revenues reported for the third quarter of 2009.
On a GAAP basis, net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $1.5 million, or $0.07 per share. This compares with a net income of $1.0 million, or $0.05 per share in the fourth quarter of 2008, and a net loss of $2.3 million, or … [visit site to read more]

Amerisafe Misses Substantially

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:15 AM PST

Amerisafe, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AMSF) fourth quarter operating earnings of 32 cents per share came in substantially short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 58 cents. This also compares unfavorably with the earnings of 94 cents in the prior-year quarter. Results for the reported quarter exclude net realized after-tax capital gains and losses.
 
Results deteriorated due to a year-over-year decrease in top line and an increase in expenses. For the reported quarter, the adjustment of current accident … [visit site to read more]

Video: Most Asian Markets Remain Positive

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:04 AM PST

The major Asian/Pacific markets were mostly on the upside this session with exception to Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index, which took a heavy loss on domestic banking declines. … [visit site to read more]
posted by

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)