Daily Markets - Financial News And Opinions

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• Pactiv Completes PWP Acquisition
• Initiating Starbucks As Neutral
• Stock Market News Briefs: Alcoa Inc., AT&T Inc., Family Dollar Stores, Inc., Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), KeyCorp, Las Vegas Sands Corp., Meadwestvaco Corporation, MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc., UBS AG, CA Inc.
• Family Dollar Earnings Surge
• SLB-SII Merger Faces More Review
• JPMorgan Allies With IBM
• Valmont Guides Lower
• Sunoco Wraps Up Chemicals Sale
• Microsoft Phones Next Week
• Japan Holds Interest Rates Steady, Faces Critical Challenge Of Deflation
• Swiss Franc: Rebound
• Japanese Yen: The Upside Prevails
• British Pound: The Upside Prevails
• Euro: The Upside Prevails
• Treasury Bond Sell-off Stalls, At Least For Now!
• Forex Trading: Expecting Slight Pullback In US Dollar Strength Near Term
• Europe’s Economy Unexpectedly Stalls In The Fourth Quarter, U.K. Services Contract For The First Time In Five Months
• Mutual Funds: Top 5 Healthcare Funds
• Forex Trading: GBPUSD Holds That 200 Hour MA Support
• Five Essential Tips For Analyzing ETFs
• Stock Buy: Teck Resources Limited
• Bear Of The Day: Sunoco, Inc. (SUN)
• Stock Buy: MAXIMUS, Inc.
• Stock Buy: Intersil Corp.
• Bull Of The Day: Tiffany & Co. (TIF)
• Stock Buy: Patni Computer Systems ADS

Pactiv Completes PWP Acquisition Posted: 07 Apr 2010 07:47 AM PDT Pactiv Corporation (NYSE:PTV) has closed the acquisition of PWP Industries for $200 million. PWP is a leading manufacturer of APET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate) disposable products.   PWP primarily manufactures a range of APET foodservice containers for several channels, including packer processor bakeries, supermarkets and quick service restaurants. It operates three manufacturing facilities in the United States, as well as a facility that processes post consumer PET.   Pactiv … [visit site to read more]

Initiating Starbucks As Neutral Posted: 07 Apr 2010 07:30 AM PDT We are initiating coverage on Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) with a Neutral recommendation and a target price of $25.50.   Starbucks is the leading roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. The company buys, roasts and sells high-quality whole bean coffees globally. Starbucks' offerings include fresh, rich-brewed coffees, Italian-style espresso beverages, cold blended beverages, many complementary food items, a selection of premium teas in addition to beverage-related … [visit site to read more]

Stock Market News Briefs: Alcoa Inc., AT&T Inc., Family Dollar Stores, Inc., Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), KeyCorp, Las Vegas Sands Corp., Meadwestvaco Corporation, MSC Industrial Direct Company, Inc., UBS AG, CA Inc. Posted: 07 Apr 2010 07:26 AM PDT  Family Dollar (NYSE:FDO) posted fiscal second quarter earnings of 81 cents a share, which beat Zacks estimates of 77 cents, on inline revenues of $2.09 billion. The firm said it sees third-quarter earnings of 71 cents to 76 cents a share  MSC Industrial (NYSE:MSM) posted fiscal second quarter earnings of 48 cents a share, one cent above Zacks estimates, on revenues of $395.5 million, above Zacks estimates of $393 million  Hyatt Hotels (H) announced plans to expand into 15 new … [visit site to read more]

Family Dollar Earnings Surge Posted: 07 Apr 2010 07:26 AM PDT Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYSE:FDO) has posted better-than-expected second-quarter 2010 results due to robust sales witnessed in the Seasonal and Electronics, Home Products and Consumable categories. The quarterly earnings of 81 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents, and jumped 35% from 60 cents delivered in the prior-year quarter. Management now expects third-quarter 2010 earnings between 71 cents and 76 cents a share, and fiscal 2010 earnings between $2.48 and … [visit site to read more]

SLB-SII Merger Faces More Review Posted: 07 Apr 2010 07:15 AM PDT Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE:SLB) on Monday said that the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice has requested for additional information related to the proposed merger with Smith International Inc. (NYSE:SII). The additional information is also known as “second request”.   Regulators usually scrutinize merger agreements in detail. As with the Smith–Schlumberger case, the Department has also issued multiple requests for information on another merger between Baker Hughes Inc. … [visit site to read more]

JPMorgan Allies With IBM Posted: 07 Apr 2010 07:12 AM PDT In an effort to provide solutions to organizations for rationalizing corporate travel expenses, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) said on Tuesday that it has entered into a partnership with IBM (NYSE:IBM) by integrating its expense management tools and services with its Corporate Card solution. This alliance will enable companies improve visibility into business travel costs, better leverage supplier relationships, reduce costs and time associated with expense report processing and audit expense … [visit site to read more]

Valmont Guides Lower Posted: 07 Apr 2010 07:00 AM PDT Valmont Industries Inc. (NYSE:VMI), a U.S. manufacturer of lighting poles and support structures, is expecting a 20% year-over-year decline in revenues in the first quarter of 2010. The company is expecting revenues of about $365.0 million in the quarter compared with last year's $455.2 million. A subdued performance in the Irrigation and Utility segments are expected to drive the decline in revenues. Valmont expects operating income in the range of $29.5 million to $31.5 million in the … [visit site to read more]

Sunoco Wraps Up Chemicals Sale Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:45 AM PDT Oil refiner and marketer Sunoco Inc. (NYSE:SUN) closed the previously announced sale of its polypropylene subsidiary Sunoco Chemicals Inc. to Brazil-based petrochemical and resin producer Braskem S.A. (NYSE:BAK) for approximately $350 million in cash.   As part of the deal, Sunoco sold polypropylene manufacturing facilities in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania; La Porte, Texas; and Neal, West Virginia. These plants have a combined annual production capacity of approximately 2.1 billion pounds of … [visit site to read more]

Microsoft Phones Next Week Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:30 AM PDT Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:MSFT) mobile strategy is unraveling gradually. The world's largest software company is now looking to stem market share losses, as the line between software and hardware vendors wears increasingly thin.   Next week, the company intends to announce a couple of smartphones targeted at teens and other youngsters. The handsets, code-named Turtle and Pure will be based on Sidekick software (acquired from Danger a few years back). And like the existing Sidekick … [visit site to read more]

Japan Holds Interest Rates Steady, Faces Critical Challenge Of Deflation Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:26 AM PDT The Bank of Japan decided to “encourage the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at around 0.1 percent.” The decision was driven by the “critical challenge” of deflation. Jumping to the last paragraph of the Statement on Monetary Policy, it’s clear that the rate will stick around 0.10% for some time: “The Bank recognizes that it is a critical challenge for Japan’s economy to overcome deflation and return to a sustainable growth path with price stability. To this end, the Bank … [visit site to read more]

Swiss Franc: Rebound Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:18 AM PDT Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more]

Japanese Yen: The Upside Prevails Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:18 AM PDT Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more]

British Pound: The Upside Prevails Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:18 AM PDT Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more]

Euro: The Upside Prevails Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:18 AM PDT Update on supports and resistances. … [visit site to read more]

Treasury Bond Sell-off Stalls, At Least For Now! Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:17 AM PDT Fundamentals Treasury bond bears have been stymied once again, as fresh selling failed to materialize once technical support was breached. Front month Bond futures prices fell to their lowest levels since June of 2009, as traders have increased the chances of a Federal Reserve interest rate increase later this year. Much of this optimism is tied to improvements seen on the economic front, especially the gain in U.S. employment last month. Continued signs of an economic recovery should lead the … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: Expecting Slight Pullback In US Dollar Strength Near Term Posted: 07 Apr 2010 06:06 AM PDT The USD continues to make headway, as the optimism around the US grows and concerns of the Greek agreement erodes confidence in the EUR. However, lack of substantive drivers makes us expect a slight pullback in USD strength near term. Yesterday’s release of the FOMC meeting minutes showed that the Fed is generally more secure with the pace of the US economic recovery but fairly surprised by the easing of inflation. An interesting shift in language was the clarification of the wording “extended … [visit site to read more]

Europe’s Economy Unexpectedly Stalls In The Fourth Quarter, U.K. Services Contract For The First Time In Five Months Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:56 AM PDT Europe's Economy Unexpectedly Stalls in the Fourth Quarter, U.K. Services Contract for the First time in Five Months  Fundamental Headlines • Greece Concerns Push Euro Lower– Wall Street Journal • Greek Bonds Remain Under Pressure– Wall Street Journal • Bank of Japan Leaves Rates Unchanged - Financial Times • Europe's Economy Unexpectedly Stagnated in Fourth Quarter on Spending Cuts - Bloomberg • BOE Will Keep Rate at 0.5% Until November, BCC Says. - … [visit site to read more]

Mutual Funds: Top 5 Healthcare Funds Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:39 AM PDT The healthcare sector has clearly felt the impact of the new legislation enacted by Congress. The industry faces the prospect of gaining numerous new customers as well as facing the prospect of substantially higher fees. But the sector as a whole continues to perform well despite these developments and the recent economic slowdown. However, investing in healthcare securities requires clear insight into the nuances of drug discovery and new advances in biotechnology. Mutual funds offer a … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: GBPUSD Holds That 200 Hour MA Support Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:03 AM PDT The GBPUSD fell sharply off the weaker data today but found the buyers against the 200 hour MA at the 1.5135 level.  The moving average will continue to be support on the downside today -especially since the market used it as a key support  ON the topside, the 1.5194 level is my topside target resistance level. This is the 38.2% retracement of the days sharp move … [visit site to read more]

Five Essential Tips For Analyzing ETFs Posted: 07 Apr 2010 04:00 AM PDT Recent years have seen tremendous growth in the ETF industry, bringing the total number of exchange-traded products (including ETNs, HOLDRS, and other ETF cousins) to nearly 1,000. This rapid expansion has given investors more options than ever before, expanding the universe of investable assets to include nearly every geographic region, asset class, and investment strategy imaginable. But this growth has also complicated matters for some investors. Anyone looking to make a play on the biotech … [visit site to read more]

Stock Buy: Teck Resources Limited Posted: 06 Apr 2010 10:00 PM PDT Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TCK) is profiting from the rise in commodity prices as it saw record revenue in the fourth quarter of 2009. TCK is trading with a forward P/E of 13.1. Company Description Teck Resources mines copper, metallurgical coal and zinc, molybdenum and specialty metals. The company, headquartered in Canada and one of the largest miners in Canada, owns or has interests in 13 mines in Canada, the US, Chile and Peru. It is also actively exploring in the Americas, Asia/Pacific, … [visit site to read more]

Bear Of The Day: Sunoco, Inc. (SUN) Posted: 06 Apr 2010 10:00 PM PDT We have downgraded Sunoco, Inc. (NYSE:SUN) shares to Underperform from Neutral, reflecting the bearish refining margin outlook. Weak demand for refined products in the global downturn and increased capacity has squeezed margins throughout the industry. Rising crude oil prices have added to Sunoco’s miseries by increasing the cost of production. With utilization rates remaining at historically low levels, we see a fairly unfavorable macro backdrop for independent refiners over the coming 6-12 … [visit site to read more]

Stock Buy: MAXIMUS, Inc. Posted: 06 Apr 2010 10:00 PM PDT MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS) has a Zacks #1 Rank and trades at 17.9x 2010 consensus EPS estimates. MAXIMUS offers investors strong growth prospects as well as some current income. Analysts expect the company to grow its earnings per share at 15% per year for the next 3 to 5 years. It also has a dividend yield of 0.8%. Company Description MAXIMUS, Inc. provides program management and consulting services to state and local government agencies, federal agencies, and commercial customers primarily in the … [visit site to read more]

Stock Buy: Intersil Corp. Posted: 06 Apr 2010 10:00 PM PDT Intersil Corp. (NASDAQ:ISIL) estimates are climbing following the company’s impressive earnings news. Company Description Intersil Corp. makes analog and mixed signal semiconductors. Their components can be found in flat panel displays, cell phones and notebooks. Earnings Set to Double The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2010 is now 92 cents, up from 67 cents 3 months ago. This level is more than double the 45 cents earned in 2009. Estimates for 2010 are up 26 cents, to $1.08, in that time span. The … [visit site to read more]

Bull Of The Day: Tiffany & Co. (TIF) Posted: 06 Apr 2010 10:00 PM PDT Tiffany & Co. (NYSE:TIF) is well positioned to deliver robust sales and earnings growth by leveraging capital investments made in the past several years. The company holds a significant position in the world jewelry market and is poised to benefit from its enhanced geographic reach. With signs of improvement in retail environment, Tiffany boosts its store expansion program. The company has also been concentrating more on smaller size store formats that offer selected collections of lower … [visit site to read more]

Stock Buy: Patni Computer Systems ADS Posted: 06 Apr 2010 10:00 PM PDT Patni Computer Systems ADS (NYSE:PTI) recently hit a new 52-week high at $26.41 on the back of a global economic recovery that has companies once again deploying capital for enterprise technology systems and services. Company Description Patni Computer Systems Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology services that include application development, maintenance and support. The company was founded in 1978, has a market cap of $1.5 billion and is headquartered in … [visit site to read more]

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