Feb 1, 2010

Daily Markets - Financial News & Opinions

Daily Markets - Financial News & Opinions

Cartoon: Congressmen For Sale

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 02:01 PM PST

Source: Pat Oliphant, Slate.com, January 27, … [visit site to read more]

Constituents Of Commodity Companies Index (CCI) Finally Revealed

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 02:01 PM PST

There are over 1000 companies of various market capitalizations trading on the Canadian and/or U.S. stock exchanges that are involved in some aspect of commodities be it in mining, drilling, agriculture, exploring, developing or financing. That being said there are only about 100 companies that have warrants that trade and only 35 have warrants that are of 24 months duration or longer.

These 35 companies have been gathered together into an index called the Commodity Companies Index (CCI) and … [visit site to read more]

Canadian Pacific Surpasses

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 01:09 PM PST

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.'s (CP) fourth-quarter earnings came in at 94 Canadian cents per share, substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 83 Canadian cents per share. Strong operating performance and continued focus on cost management drove the result.
Total revenues were C$1.1 billion, down 16% from C$1.3 billion in the prior-year quarter, reflecting lower volumes and fuel surcharge revenues.
Operating expenses were C$853 million, down 17% from C$1.0 billion in the … [visit site to read more]

Hologic Upgraded Pre-Earnings

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 12:46 PM PST

Recently, we upgraded Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) to Neutral from Underperform with a price target of $16.00.
Even though we are concerned about the strong competition and declining revenues which are largely attributable to the tough economic and capital spending environment, the company's broad product portfolio pleases us. The growth-by-acquisition strategy adopted by the company has significantly expanded its product portfolio. Hologic is on the lookout for more such opportunities, which … [visit site to read more]

BOK Financial Misses Estimate

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 12:30 PM PST

BOK Financial Corporation's (BOKF) fourth quarter earnings of 63 cents per share were 3 cents below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 66 cents. The company had earned 52 cents in the year-ago period. Results reflected a lower-than-expected increase in revenue and higher expenses but were partially offset by a decrease in loan loss provisions.
For the full-year 2009, BOK Financial reported a net income of $200.6 million or $2.96 per share, compared to $153.2 million or $2.27 per share for … [visit site to read more]

Sysco Reports Modest Results

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 12:12 PM PST

Sysco Corp. (SYY) reported modest results for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 with earnings of 45 cents per share. Earnings were 3 cents above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 42 cents and were up 12.5% year-over-year. 

Sales for the second quarter declined 3.1% year-over-year to $8.9 billion primarily due to challenging business environment. This was however partially offset by the food cost deflation of 3.5%, positive impact from acquisitions of 0.6% and favourable foreign exchange … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: USDJPY Down Testing Support At 90.55 Area

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 12:07 PM PST

As per the prior post (CLICK HERE) , the USDJPY is down testing support at the 90.55 level.   The low just ticked to a low of 90.57 bid.  Watch the level closely with stops on a move below.  Resistance remains above at 90.90 for the … [visit site to read more]

A Picture Of Health?

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 12:01 PM PST

The trillion dollar question for the financial markets is whether or not the global economy is strong enough to accept the hand-off from central bank and government stimulus. After 15+ years trading the financial markets we have found only one statement of truth…things change.

To that end we thought it would be not only instructive, but also financially necessary, to look at some of the drivers of the global bull run…away we go….

Chinese Growth is Boosting Global Trade
Market … [visit site to read more]

America 2030: Why We Must Act – Now

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 12:00 PM PST

Those of you who are parents (and I'm a parent) may want to reject out of hand the idea that we are in effect stealing from our children's future and bequeathing to them a far less prosperous life. But if we don't begin to address our fiscal challenges soon, it's only a matter of time before the consequences begin to show up, most likely starting with higher interest rates. As things get worse, our children will slowly see their living standards decline. We can still prevent these … [visit site to read more]

Video: Nintendo Wii Holiday Sales Soar While Overall Sales Drop

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:58 AM PST

The Nintendo Wii continues to dominate the video game console industry after its holiday season sales more than doubled its competitors figures. However, overall numbers for the year were not as impressive. … [visit site to read more]

NiSource Slumps Below Forecast

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:56 AM PST

NiSource Inc. (NI) reported operating earnings of 35 cents per share, a penny below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents and down 24% from 46 cents reported last year. Earnings for full year 2009 declined 16% year over year to $1.07 compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.06 and year-ago earnings of $1.28. 

The company's 2009 earnings were solidly in line with its guidance range of $1.00 to $1.10 per share announced early last year. The results reflect increased net … [visit site to read more]

Video: Crude Rises On Weather & Pipeline Attacks

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:52 AM PST

Front month crude prices started off a new week and month on the upside following persistently cold weather and Nigerian oil pipeline attacks. … [visit site to read more]

Gannett Tops Zacks Consensus

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:41 AM PST

Gannett Co. Inc. (GCI), the publisher of the nation's largest-selling daily newspaper USA Today, recently reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2009 results buoyed by effective cost-cutting measures and lower newsprint expense. Operating expenses dropped 16.2%. 

The quarterly earnings of 72 cents a share outstripped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 63 cents, which has remained stagnant for the last 30 days. In the last 7 and 30 days, only one out of seven analysts covering the … [visit site to read more]

Digital River Beats, Profits Fall

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:26 AM PST

Digital River, Inc. (DRIV) reported revenues of $104.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, up 26% from a year ago exceeding management's guidance of $94 million – $98 million. The growth in revenues was driven by series of one time promotions of Microsoft Windows 7 in the fourth quarter. This resulted in Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) generating approximately 11.8% of total revenues in 2009.

Net income came in at $15.3 million or 40 cents per share beating the Zacks Consensus … [visit site to read more]

Top-Line Declines At Acxiom

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:11 AM PST

Acxiom Corp. (ACXM) reported revenues of $283.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, down 5.7% from a year ago. The year-ago figure excludes an Information Products pass-through contract of approximately $20.1 million. This contract was modified in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, and the company no longer recognizes pass-through revenue from this contract. 

Net income was $14.3 million compared to a loss of $11.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share (EPS) came … [visit site to read more]

Other Currencies To Look Into Once The US Dollar’s Run Has Peaked

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:01 AM PST

When scanning the various investment boards and forums on the Internet these days, it’s obvious that most people have very low confidence both in the economy and the government’s efforts to fix it.

“Smoke and mirrors” is a common theme directed at the officials who are either woefully ignorant or blatantly lying about the worth of their existing “solutions” to the problems they face. There’s a deep underlying suspicion of mainstream media cheerleading. The perception of the informed public … [visit site to read more]

Double Dip Recession Or Real Economic Growth?

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:00 AM PST

Well, it's a new world, after all…
Maybe we were wrong. Maybe the mainstream economists are right.
You know, up to now all they've been good at was explaining why the forecasts they made in the past didn't work out. But maybe they're right, after all. Maybe up IS down. Maybe better IS worse. Maybe you can squander trillions of dollars and yet have more!
It is all too much for us. Our head aches thinking about it. But there it is, right there on the front page of the weekend … [visit site to read more]

Vistaprint Tops Zacks View

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:56 AM PST

Vistaprint N.V.'s (VPRT) second quarter (ending December 31) earnings for fiscal year 2010 came in at 59 cents per share. The company had earned 42 cents in the year-ago quarter. Excluding share-based compensation expense and its related tax impact, the company would have earned 73 cents versus 53 cents in the prior-year quarter. 

Results were well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 47 cents. The results were driven by higher-than-expected revenue increases. Key operating … [visit site to read more]

Income Investors… Here’s The Biggest Mistake You Can Make

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:43 AM PST

Monday, February 1, 2010: Issue #1187
According to Crane Data of Westborough, Massachusetts, the 100 biggest money market funds are currently paying an average of .05 percent.
This is the smallest return that money markets have ever paid. To put it in perspective, at the present rate, it would take more than a 1,000 years to double your money.
I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that may be a tad longer than your personal investment horizon.
Here's what not to do in response to … [visit site to read more]

United Community Misses

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:41 AM PST

United Community Banks Inc. (UCBI) reported fourth quarter results on Friday. The company posted a net operating loss of $39.8 million, or 45 cents per share, compared to net operating loss of $46.7 million, or 99 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The result came in worse than the Zacks Consensus Estimate for a loss of 43 cents.
 
The company said total loans at quarter-end fell to $5.2 billion from $5.7 billion in the year-ago period. The decline was caused by continued … [visit site to read more]

Enbridge Reports In Line

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:24 AM PST

Enbridge Energy Partners L.P. (EEP) reported its fourth quarter 2009 earnings of 64 cents per unit, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-earlier earnings of 67 cents. Total revenues for the quarter decreased more than 12% year over year to $1.63 billion.
Enbridge declared an unchanged cash distribution of 99 cents per unit or $3.96 per unit annualized. Despite an increase in its net operating cash flow, the partnership's cash distribution growth profile does not compare … [visit site to read more]

Avery Dennison Below Expectations

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:07 AM PST

Avery Dennison Corp. (AVY) posted fourth-quarter earnings of 44 cents per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents and down 32.3% from last year's earnings of 65 cents. The lower than expected earnings in the quarter was primarily a result of increased investment in marketing and business development.
 
Net sales of $1,521.8 million reported in the fourth quarter were slightly higher (+0.7%) than the prior-year revenue of $1,511.5 million. Currency translation had a … [visit site to read more]

Yet Another Record Budget Deficit For 2011

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:06 AM PST

This morning Tim Geithner helped the White House unveil a $3.8 trillion government budget for the coming fiscal year. If approved, the fiscal year 2011, which starts in October, will ring in a record $1.6 trillion deficit.
Say again, $1.6 trillion. This is next year, mind you… Even the NBER will be convinced the recession is over by then. Whatever legitimate chance they had to spend under the guise of "emergency" or "the credit crisis" is long gone.
Part of the record deficit will … [visit site to read more]

Video: Market Movers: XOM, BX, GCI, HUM, TWX, BIDU

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:05 AM PST

The latest news and information on U.S. stocks that are moving the market. … [visit site to read more]

Seven More ETFs That Don’t Exist, But Should

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:02 AM PST

ETFs have come along way in their relatively short existence, evolving from plain vanilla funds tracking major equity benchmarks to include more exotic products such as ETFs with triple leverage, and ETFs that employ long/short strategies, hedge fund tracking ETFs, and actively-managed funds. While some investors point to the several dozen funds that have struggled to attract capital as a sign that the ETF market has become over-saturated, the warm reception that many new funds have received is … [visit site to read more]

How To Decode The New Options Trading Codes

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 10:01 AM PST

It sounds like it should have been a government project - “clarifying” something by changing it from just four or five letters to a lengthy combination of up to 22 letters and numbers. That is what’s about to happen with the trading symbols for “put” and “call” options listed on U.S. options exchanges.

But the “government” had nothing to do with it.

The idea for a new option-quotation format was actually put forth back in 2005 by securities industry insiders whose companies were … [visit site to read more]

ISM Manufacturing Index Soars

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:51 AM PST

The Institute for Supply Management's survey of the Manufacturing sector of the economy rose by 3.5 points to 58.4 in January from 54.9 in December. That far exceeded consensus expectations for an increase to 55.5. It is also the highest reading on the consensus index since August of 2004.
This is a stunning turnaround in the index, which in December of 2008 stood at 32.5, its lowest level since March of 1975. The index is set up so that any reading above 50.0 indicates that the manufacturing … [visit site to read more]

NuStar Reports Profit Growth

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:49 AM PST

NuStar Energy L.P. (NS), a master limited partnership (MLP), announced better-than-expected fourth quarter results on the strength of higher margins in its asphalt business. The partnership reported earnings per unit (EPU) of 50 cents, topping both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the prior-year figure by 4 cents. However, revenues of $982.8 million were down 4.9% from the fourth quarter 2008 level, hurt by lower product sales.
 
NuStar's quarterly earnings outperformance becomes even … [visit site to read more]

Video: Risk Appetite Resurfaces To Start The Week

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:46 AM PST

Higher-yielding assets rose this session following an improvement in US ISM manufacturing data and global PMI figures. … [visit site to read more]

ICE Initiated As Neutral

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:36 AM PST

We have recently initiated coverage on IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE) with a Neutral recommendation. The company's third quarter earnings per share of $1.18 modestly surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04. Results benefited from position limitations on speculators, sweeping regulatory reforms, lower expenses and record futures trading. The upside was also attributable to growth in the company's core businesses, significant progress from new initiatives and stronger margins. … [visit site to read more]

Arch Coal Misses, Profits Fall

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:28 AM PST

Arch Coal Inc. (ACI) posted a net income of 11 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2009, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 16 cents and the reported net income of 44 cents per share during the same period last year. For the full year 2009, the company reported earnings of 42 cents versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 44 cents and the year-ago earnings of $2.45.
The company's quarterly revenue declined 0.6% year over year to $725.5 million. Revenue in 2009 dipped 14% to $2.58 … [visit site to read more]

Kodak Expands Chinese Facility

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:19 AM PST

Last week, Eastman Kodak Company (EK) announced plans to open the second production line for its Xiamen printing plate manufacturing facility in China and the Asia-Pacific region. The expanded, state-of-the-art facility in China's southeastern city will enhance Kodak's manufacturing capacity for offset products and underline the company's commitment to strengthen its production base for customers in the fast-growing market.
 
In 2009, Kodak expanded its Center of Operations and … [visit site to read more]

On The Verge Of A Meltdown?

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:17 AM PST

Fundamentals
Gold futures have been trading in a very tight, side-ways pattern lately, due to uncertainty over the economy and the exchange rate of the Dollar. The economy has shown significant improvement over the past few months, even prompting the Fed to use the word recovery in the minutes from the last policy meeting. The employment picture, however, remains a major concern for market observers and traders. This week will give traders plenty to digest in this regard, with the ADP … [visit site to read more]

KLAC Sees Stronger Semi Markets

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:11 AM PST

KLA-Tencor Corporation's (KLAC) second quarter earnings beat the Zacks Consensus by a penny. With the broad turnaround in the semiconductor capital equipment market underway, both Applied Materials (AMAT) and Lam Research (LRCX) are also expected to report strong results.
Revenue
Revenue of $440.3 million was up 28.5% sequentially and 11.0% year over year. The sequential strength was due to a larger section of customers increasing their capex investments, particularly in advanced … [visit site to read more]

Bullish Percent Index Still In Positive Territory For Most US Stocks

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:01 AM PST

I have considered a number of market breadth indicators in recent posts in order to gauge how the bulls and the bears are exerting themselves. The Bullish Percent Index is another useful tool in this regard and shows the percentage of stocks currently in bullish mode as a result of point-and-figure buy signals.
Analyzing the benchmark US indices, it is interesting to note that more than 61% of the stocks comprising these indices are still in buy mode according to point-and-figure … [visit site to read more]

Turns Out, Obama Is A Dyslexic Socialist

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 09:00 AM PST

We'll never agree on every point with The Daily Show, but most could probably agree that this one is hilarious… "You know, they said Obama was going to redistribute the wealth, they never said which direction. You see I figured this out, Obama's a Socialist, but he's also dyslexic. He's redistributing the wealth… it's just going the wrong way."
The video below came to our attention via Rolfe Winkler's Capital Jungle.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Mon - Thurs 11p / … [visit site to read more]

AMB Leases In Tokyo

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:58 AM PST

Amid signs of market stabilization, AMB Property Corp. (AMB), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), has recently leased approximately 157,200 square feet of its development portfolio at AMB Tsurumi Distribution Center in Tokyo for an undisclosed amount.
 
With the lease, the facility is currently 93% leased. AMB Tsurumi Distribution Center is strategically located in close proximity of the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki, Haneda Airport and major highways. The leased facility … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: NZDUSD Moves Above The 100 Hour MA At The 0.7058 Level. Does It Have The Upside Legs?

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:55 AM PST

The NZDUSD has moved above the 100 hour moving average for the second time  today. The first attempt could not close the hour above the moving average level. This hour is trying to break and close above.  The 100 hour moving average comes in at 0.7058.  A close above this hour should see some further upward momentum with the 200 hour MA being the next target (at 0.7105 currently and moving lower). 
A move higher would have resistance at Friday's high at the 0.7087.  … [visit site to read more]

Income, Spending & Savings Rise

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:53 AM PST

The December report on Personal Income and Spending showed that personal income rose by 0.4%, one tick higher than the expected 0.3% increase, but a slowdown from the 0.5% rate in November. The November rate was, however, revised up from 0.4%, so the December rate is flat from where we thought Personal Income growth was yesterday.
On the spending front, Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) rose by 0.2%, well below the 0.7% rate in November, and a tick below the 0.3% expected rate. The … [visit site to read more]

CMS Energy Raises Dividend

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:47 AM PST

CMS Energy (CMS) has raised the quarterly dividend on its common stock by 20% to 15 cents per share, up from 12.5 cents per share. This action has increased the annualized dividend from 50 cents to 60 cents. The first incremental quarterly dividend for the common stock is payable on February 26, 2010, to shareholders of record as of February 8, 2010.
 
CMS Energy has a strong balance sheet among its peers with a low debt-to-capitalization of 70.4% (Zacks industry average was 79.3%) for … [visit site to read more]

General Dynamics Wins Navy Contract

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:31 AM PST

General Dynamics Corporation's (GD) wholly owned subsidiary General Dynamics Electric Boat has won a $23.7 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy to prepare for the post-shakedown availability (PSA) on the nuclear submarine New Hampshire (SSN-778).
Work on the contract is expected to begin in February 2010. General Dynamics estimates up to 800 employees to be engaged in the project, which is scheduled for completion in September 2010.
 
New Hampshire, the fifth ship of the … [visit site to read more]

Chart Of The Week: VXX Celebrates One Year Of Futility

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:31 AM PST

One year ago yesterday, the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures (1 month) ETN (VXX) was rolled out to little fanfare, with the exception of the widespread coverage that VXX and sibling VXZ received here when the ETNs were launched.

VXX opened at 100.11 that day, with the VIX at 42. 63. One year later, VXX is down 68.4% and the VIX is down 42.2%.

Setting aside leveraged ETFs, long positions in VXX were by far the best way to lose money in an ETF over the course of the last … [visit site to read more]

News Corp. Settles With Valassis

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:15 AM PST

News Corp. (NWSA), a diversified global media company, reached an out-of-court settlement with Valassis Communications Inc. (VCI), one of the leading media and marketing services companies in the U.S., to settle a lawsuit that alleged anticompetitive behavior of News America Marketing, a division of News Corp. 

Like its competitor Valassis, News America Marketing publishes coupon inserts for newspapers and sells in-store advertising in supermarkets. In its lawsuit filed in a federal … [visit site to read more]

Thermal Coal Investments: China Fires Up A New Age For This Commodity

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:06 AM PST

The price of thermal coal recently broke through the psychological $100 barrier for the first time in more than a year, just as a wave of brutally cold weather and heavy snow hit China. That storm disrupted mining operations and railway transportation, causing widespread panic buying among Chinese utilities that rely on thermal coal to fire their power plants, especially since they were running low even beforehand.
Those shortages strongly indicate a major market change, as China changes from a … [visit site to read more]

Earnings Preview: Moody’s

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST

The earnings outlook for Moody's Inc. (MCO) remains robust ahead of its fourth-quarter results on February 4, with the current Zacks Consensus Estimate at 39 cents per share. A surge in bond issuance activity will boost the company's fourth-quarter earnings. 

However, there has been no analyst estimate revision in the last three months. We see no estimate revision in the upcoming quarter, with earnings coming in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Over the coming quarters, we … [visit site to read more]

Better-Than-Expected US Economic Growth

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST

According to the US government statistics, we have nothing to fear any longer with regards to our economy, inflation, deficit spending, interest rates, etc., for you see, the fourth quarter GDP had a preliminary print of +5.7%! It's all seashells and balloons for us now, folks… That's what the cable news guys said, and that's what's all over the newswires. Forget about saving; go out and spend… Everybody's doing it, they say! Just fork over those gold coins; there's no reason to … [visit site to read more]

New Agreement For AMMD

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 07:45 AM PST

American Medical Systems Holdings, Inc. (AMMD) recently entered into a new agreement with Tissue Genesis, Inc., an emerging leader in advanced tissue engineering and cell therapy solutions, for the research and development of adipose (fat) derived regenerative cells for use in treating pelvic health disorders. 

Per the agreement, American Medical has a four year option to obtain exclusive distribution and license rights to Tissue Genesis’ regenerative cell technology, including the … [visit site to read more]

Video: NYSE Opening Bell Market Monitor: XOM, GCI, HUM

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 07:32 AM PST

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

Aerospace & Defense ETFs In Focus On China, U.S. Budget

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 07:31 AM PST

After staging an impressive recovery in 2009 to claw back significant losses incurred during the recent recession, the aerospace and defense sector has hit a few speed bumps early in 2010, as potentially negative developments both home and abroad threaten to sap demand.
"Gross Intervention" In China
Last week, China announced the suspension of military exchanges with the U.S. as a response to a $6.4 billion sale of weapons to Taiwan. In addition to threatening to destabilize relations … [visit site to read more]

Waddell & Reed Beats By A Penny

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 07:30 AM PST

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.'s (WDR) fourth-quarter earnings of 39 cents per share were only a penny ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares favorably with a one-cent loss in the prior-year quarter. Results for the prior-year quarter included $18.2 million restructuring and impairment charges. Excluding these charges, earnings would have been 21 cents per share. 

Net income for the reported quarter came in at $33.3 million, compared to a net loss of $0.7 … [visit site to read more]

Video: A Slippery 4Q For Exxon Mobil

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 07:27 AM PST

The world’s largest publicly traded oil company reported 4Q earnings to have tumbled due to higher oil prices hurting profit margins. … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: USDJPY Moves Sharply Higher On Stronger Growth But Rubs Against 90.90 Resistance

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 07:26 AM PST

The USDJPY has benefitted the most off the better ISM data.  The price has moved away from neutral levels at the 90.25 area where moving averages have congregated on 5 minute, hourly and daily charts(see blue 100 bar and green lines 200 bar on the three charts).

Now that the market has moved higher, the pair is up testing the target area as defined by the 38.2% retracement of the move down from the January 2010 high of 93.77 to the low reached last week at the 89.13 (for 2010 that … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: USDCAD Testing Key Support At 1.0646

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 07:20 AM PST

The USDCAD is down testing key 100 hour and trendline support at the 1.0646 level. It is test time for the … [visit site to read more]

Lan’s Cost Controls Boost

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 07:15 AM PST

Recently, LAN Airlines S.A. (LFL), one of Latin America’s leading passenger and cargo airlines reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009. During the quarter, Lan reported a net income of $109.8 million, down 17.6% from the year-ago quarter. EPS was $0.32 compared to $0.28 in the fourth quarter of 2008. It was also above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.22. The increase in EPS was driven by strict cost control initiatives taken by Lan as well the decrease in fuel cost … [visit site to read more]

Video: Asian Stocks Trade Mixed To Start New Week

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 06:54 AM PST

The major Asian/Pacific markets kicked off a new trading week mixed with most of the indices closing out their sessions mostly flat. … [visit site to read more]

How To “Bank” Dividends Whether Or Not The Economy Recovers

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST

By Tom Dyson

“These are tough times for us…”

Publicly traded companies employ special staff members to put out press releases and communicate with investors. They usually call this staff “Investor Relations.” As a stock analyst, I’m often talking to this department. As you’d expect, they’re always very careful about what they say to me… and above all, they never mention the weaknesses in their business.

Last week, I spoke to the top investor relations officer at a large company in … [visit site to read more]

Stock Buy: Tiffany & Co.

Posted: 31 Jan 2010 09:00 PM PST

Tiffany & Co. (TIF) recently announced a dividend hike of 18%. The quarterly dividend was increased from 17 cents to 20 cents and will be paid on April 20. Tiffany pays an industry-leading dividend yield of 1.7%.
The company also stated that it will resume repurchasing its common stock shares, noting that repurchases have been suspended since the third quarter of 2008. Tiffany said $402 million is available for repurchases under a currently authorized program that expires in January … [visit site to read more]
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