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StockSource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
FOREX, COMMODITIES, STOCKS OUTLOOK March 31st: Analysis, Key Events, Trends, Trade Ideas
Stocks: Today: Asia mixed, Europe up. Stocks chop around due to both light holiday volume, as well as caution stemming from a weak Greek bond sale thus far and the usual uncertainty ahead of US Non-farms Payrolls
.- FX: Slight bias against safety currencies [JPY, USD, CHF in order of safety appeal] vs. risk currencies [AUD, NZD, CAD, EUR, GBP in order of risk appetite appeal], as stocks essentially flat, USD gains against fellow safeties and the Euro, but mixed vs. commodity dollars (and the GBP on better than expected Q4 UK GDP).
- Main events: TUES: GBP Final GDP q/q+, USD CB Consumer Confidence+, WED AUD Building Approvals-, Retail Sales-, NZD NBNZ Bus. Confidence-, CHF KOF Econ Barometer USD ADP Non-Farm Payrolls, CAD GDP m/m, JPY Tankan Mfg Index AUD Trade Balance CNY Mfg PMI GBP Mfg PMI USD Unemployment Claims, Challenger Job Cuts, USM Mfg PMI, FRI: USD NFP & Unemployment Rate
- Big Theme: Risk assets mostly continue to trade in ranges of the past weeks due to light holiday volume and caution ahead of both US Job Reports and this week’s Greek 12 year bond sale which will quickly test whether last week’s EU Contingency Plan succeeded in restoring confidence enough to lower Greek borrowing costs. Results thus far are not encouraging.
STOCKS:
US: The overall market finished flat after interest in a better-than-expected consumer confidence report dissipated. We believe the normal caution ahead of the US monthly jobs reports and concerns over Greece’s current inability to sell bonds also weighed on stocks.
A stronger-than-expected improvement in the May Consumer Confidence Index to 52.5 further improved what was already a generally positive tone in the early going. Though gains were modest, the morning advance was broad based.
Still, credit analysts at S&P remain concerned about Britain’s fiscal deficit. Such concern offers another reminder that even historically stable global economies face sovereign debt challenges. To its credit, though, France’s AAA rating was affirmed by Fitch analysts, who also said the outlook for France’s grade is stable.
Strength in the dollar dragged down the broader market, but tech stocks showed resilience. That gave the sector a 0.5% gain and helped the Nasdaq edge out its counterparts.
Financials were part of the reason that the broader market struggled to post a gain. The sector, which is second to tech by market weight, finished with a 0.7% loss. That made it the worst performing sector in the S&P 500. Diversified financial services stocks (-1.3%) were the weakest performers in the sector; they were also among the most actively traded names by volume in the entire market.
Overall trading volume was light once again, under 1 billion shares traded hands on the NYSE. The low-volume trade has been consistent in recent weeks as participants continue to take a cautious stance, wary of jumping in or out of the market for fear of a correction or missing further gains.
Asia Stock Outlook: Down: At the close early Wednesday GMT: Japan’s Nikkei average hit an 18-month intraday high before paring gains on Wednesday, the final day of the financial year, but further gains were expected in the new quarter as a global economic recovery picks up strength.
European Stock Outlook Up At the open early Wednesday GMT: European stocks pared early losses and turned slightly positive in the first few minutes of trading on Wednesday, as steady oil prices boosted energy stocks, eclipsing a dip in heavyweight mining shares.
At 0719 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 0.06 percent at 1,080.05 points. The benchmark index had a roller-coaster session on Tuesday, hitting an 18-month high before surrendering gains and ending the day flat.
ASIA-MIXED N225I % HS % SSEC % FTSTI % AORD %
EUROPE FLAT FTSE % DAX CAC %
US- UP S&P +0.00% DJIA +0.11% NASDAQ +0.11%
THIS MORNING DOWN N225I -0.06% HS -0.46% SSEC -0.62% FTSTI -0.84% AORD -0.68%
UP FTSE +0.24% DAX +0.10% CAC +0.10%
Commodities Outlook: Flat: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: continuing to tight range trading
Crude Oil Daily Outlook: Up: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT, futures continuing higher following overall risk appetite, rising as stocks continue higher and the USD pulled back over the past days.
Gold Daily Outlook own: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT again diverging from stocks, overall risk appetite, beginning to form another leg in its downtrend. Note that gold’s pullback in late November was the earliest leading indicator of the last major risk asset pullback, which did not occur until nearly a month later for oil and stocks.
FOREX Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Continuing bias to risk currencies as risk assets hang on at or near new highs amid ongoing uncertainty about Greece and this Friday’s US jobs reports. Tuesday USD gained vs. fellow safeties and the Euro, but mixed vs. commodity dollars (and the GBP on better than expected Q4 UK GDP).
This week ends with two significant market moving events for the USD and thus the entire forex markets: the attempted Greek 12 year bond sale and the US monthly jobs reports Friday. The Greek bond sale has been weak thus far, which should hurt the Euro (and thus help the USD) because it undermines the EZ confidence and the credibility of the new EU contingency plan’s effectiveness at calming markets to allow Greece ( and its fellow PIIGS block) lower borrowing costs.
However expectations for Friday’s US jobs reports are high, leaving markets vulnerable to disappointment, which would hurt the USD
US Dollar Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. the JPY, AUD, NZD, EUR, steady vs. the CHF, down vs. the CAD, GBP. Key data today is the ADP figure, Chicago Mfg PMI
In NY trade yesterday the dollar made a move up from negative territory to finish with a 0.3% gain against competing currencies. The greenback’s gain was somewhat restricted by strength in the British pound, which garnered support amid news that Britain’s fourth quarter GDP was upwardly revised to reflect a 0.4% increase.
Euro Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. the JPY, down vs. the CHF, USD flat vs. the AUD, down vs. the GBP, CAD – Pressured by anemic demand for Greek bonds, and a possibly very good US monthly jobs report that could boost the USD. However, bouncing back in early European trade as German unemployment figures showed the largest drop since August 2008.
Regarding the impact of the Greek bond sale, key points include:
The euro fell victim to fresh concerns about Greece’s ability to borrow. After EU leaders announced a financial aid mechanism for Greece last week, they stressed that aid is not needed at this time.
Prime Minister Papandreou concurred by saying that the country would first try its luck with the markets by raising money through bond auctions. Unfortunately weak demand has triggered many questions about the country’s ability to borrow. Greece’s surprise auction of bonds that mature in 2022 this morning raised only EUR 390 million, less than half of their EUR 1 billion upper limit.
Greece needs to raise EUR 10.5 billion by the end of May to avoid tapping the bailout plan put into place and resurrecting concerns about a fiscal crisis within the Euro zone. What the results of the bond auction tell us is that just because the Germans and French have agreed to provide support to Greece with the help of the IMF, it is still up to Greece to move forward with their austerity package and reduce their deficit. Unfortunately, austerity spending takes time to show results, and are unlikely to show results within the coming months
While it is good that a mechanism for aid is in place, needing to use it would still be an embarrassment for the Euro zone. As noted in our most recent post The EU Contingency Plan: Doomed By Its Main Strength, it’s unclear how smoothly the EU could actually get the cash to Greece should sudden need arise, assuming Angie Merkel is really willing to face her voters after having just tossed a chunk of their taxes at a very unpopular cause.
Meanwhile, even though Iceland is not a member of the Euro zone, S&P’s decision to downgrade their debt raises contagion fears because they borrow from banks within the region and it reminds everyone that many problems still exist in Europe..
Yen Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Down vs. the USD, CHF, GBP, AUD, EUR
British Pound Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. everything on better than expected Q4 GDP which, given its oversold nature, left it ripe for a bounce on any kind of positive news. Over the past weeks attempting to carve out a bottom for now.
Australian Dollar Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Down or flat vs. most fx except for the JPY as poor retail and building data pressure it
New Zealand Dollar Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. the USD, JPY, down vs. the GBP
Canadian Dollar Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. most fx except for the GBP
Swiss Franc Daily Outlook In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: down vs. the AUD, EUR, up vs. the JPY, steady but fading vs. the USD
CONCLUSIONS & Big Picture: Short term bias for risk assets, The S&P 500, our key risk asset barometer, like other major stocks, holding on at/near 52 week highs Also, fx and commodities continuing their range trading. Long Term Bias Down:, especially in July, when 2 major events hit: Spain needs to sell about 30 bln euros in bonds AND a massive wave of US mortgage rate resets not seen since 2007 begins. The last time we saw this magnitude of rising mortgage rates markets stalled out and ultimately crashed. NB: Never fight the trend, no matter how irrational, as markets can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent (Keynes). Therefore, as anyone who follows our trade recommendations knows, we always wait for some breach of key support/resistance as a signal to enter a position as odds appear to be in our favor, and even then only when the likely target is more than 2x as far away as out stop loss (which we ALWAYS USE, RIGHT?) so that our winning trade profits exceed out losses by at least 2:1.
Trade Ideas: We favor the dollar given the likely ongoing problems with the Greek bond sale and the likely good US jobs figures, but no recommendations until key support resistance levels breached
Disclosure: No positions
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
.- FX: Slight bias against safety currencies [JPY, USD, CHF in order of safety appeal] vs. risk currencies [AUD, NZD, CAD, EUR, GBP in order of risk appetite appeal], as stocks essentially flat, USD gains against fellow safeties and the Euro, but mixed vs. commodity dollars (and the GBP on better than expected Q4 UK GDP).
- Main events: TUES: GBP Final GDP q/q+, USD CB Consumer Confidence+, WED AUD Building Approvals-, Retail Sales-, NZD NBNZ Bus. Confidence-, CHF KOF Econ Barometer USD ADP Non-Farm Payrolls, CAD GDP m/m, JPY Tankan Mfg Index AUD Trade Balance CNY Mfg PMI GBP Mfg PMI USD Unemployment Claims, Challenger Job Cuts, USM Mfg PMI, FRI: USD NFP & Unemployment Rate
- Big Theme: Risk assets mostly continue to trade in ranges of the past weeks due to light holiday volume and caution ahead of both US Job Reports and this week’s Greek 12 year bond sale which will quickly test whether last week’s EU Contingency Plan succeeded in restoring confidence enough to lower Greek borrowing costs. Results thus far are not encouraging.
STOCKS:
US: The overall market finished flat after interest in a better-than-expected consumer confidence report dissipated. We believe the normal caution ahead of the US monthly jobs reports and concerns over Greece’s current inability to sell bonds also weighed on stocks.
A stronger-than-expected improvement in the May Consumer Confidence Index to 52.5 further improved what was already a generally positive tone in the early going. Though gains were modest, the morning advance was broad based.
Still, credit analysts at S&P remain concerned about Britain’s fiscal deficit. Such concern offers another reminder that even historically stable global economies face sovereign debt challenges. To its credit, though, France’s AAA rating was affirmed by Fitch analysts, who also said the outlook for France’s grade is stable.
Strength in the dollar dragged down the broader market, but tech stocks showed resilience. That gave the sector a 0.5% gain and helped the Nasdaq edge out its counterparts.
Financials were part of the reason that the broader market struggled to post a gain. The sector, which is second to tech by market weight, finished with a 0.7% loss. That made it the worst performing sector in the S&P 500. Diversified financial services stocks (-1.3%) were the weakest performers in the sector; they were also among the most actively traded names by volume in the entire market.
Overall trading volume was light once again, under 1 billion shares traded hands on the NYSE. The low-volume trade has been consistent in recent weeks as participants continue to take a cautious stance, wary of jumping in or out of the market for fear of a correction or missing further gains.
Asia Stock Outlook: Down: At the close early Wednesday GMT: Japan’s Nikkei average hit an 18-month intraday high before paring gains on Wednesday, the final day of the financial year, but further gains were expected in the new quarter as a global economic recovery picks up strength.
European Stock Outlook Up At the open early Wednesday GMT: European stocks pared early losses and turned slightly positive in the first few minutes of trading on Wednesday, as steady oil prices boosted energy stocks, eclipsing a dip in heavyweight mining shares.
At 0719 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 0.06 percent at 1,080.05 points. The benchmark index had a roller-coaster session on Tuesday, hitting an 18-month high before surrendering gains and ending the day flat.
ASIA-MIXED N225I % HS % SSEC % FTSTI % AORD %
EUROPE FLAT FTSE % DAX CAC %
US- UP S&P +0.00% DJIA +0.11% NASDAQ +0.11%
THIS MORNING DOWN N225I -0.06% HS -0.46% SSEC -0.62% FTSTI -0.84% AORD -0.68%
UP FTSE +0.24% DAX +0.10% CAC +0.10%
Commodities Outlook: Flat: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: continuing to tight range trading
Crude Oil Daily Outlook: Up: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT, futures continuing higher following overall risk appetite, rising as stocks continue higher and the USD pulled back over the past days.
Gold Daily Outlook own: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT again diverging from stocks, overall risk appetite, beginning to form another leg in its downtrend. Note that gold’s pullback in late November was the earliest leading indicator of the last major risk asset pullback, which did not occur until nearly a month later for oil and stocks.
FOREX Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Continuing bias to risk currencies as risk assets hang on at or near new highs amid ongoing uncertainty about Greece and this Friday’s US jobs reports. Tuesday USD gained vs. fellow safeties and the Euro, but mixed vs. commodity dollars (and the GBP on better than expected Q4 UK GDP).
This week ends with two significant market moving events for the USD and thus the entire forex markets: the attempted Greek 12 year bond sale and the US monthly jobs reports Friday. The Greek bond sale has been weak thus far, which should hurt the Euro (and thus help the USD) because it undermines the EZ confidence and the credibility of the new EU contingency plan’s effectiveness at calming markets to allow Greece ( and its fellow PIIGS block) lower borrowing costs.
However expectations for Friday’s US jobs reports are high, leaving markets vulnerable to disappointment, which would hurt the USD
US Dollar Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. the JPY, AUD, NZD, EUR, steady vs. the CHF, down vs. the CAD, GBP. Key data today is the ADP figure, Chicago Mfg PMI
In NY trade yesterday the dollar made a move up from negative territory to finish with a 0.3% gain against competing currencies. The greenback’s gain was somewhat restricted by strength in the British pound, which garnered support amid news that Britain’s fourth quarter GDP was upwardly revised to reflect a 0.4% increase.
Euro Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. the JPY, down vs. the CHF, USD flat vs. the AUD, down vs. the GBP, CAD – Pressured by anemic demand for Greek bonds, and a possibly very good US monthly jobs report that could boost the USD. However, bouncing back in early European trade as German unemployment figures showed the largest drop since August 2008.
Regarding the impact of the Greek bond sale, key points include:
The euro fell victim to fresh concerns about Greece’s ability to borrow. After EU leaders announced a financial aid mechanism for Greece last week, they stressed that aid is not needed at this time.
Prime Minister Papandreou concurred by saying that the country would first try its luck with the markets by raising money through bond auctions. Unfortunately weak demand has triggered many questions about the country’s ability to borrow. Greece’s surprise auction of bonds that mature in 2022 this morning raised only EUR 390 million, less than half of their EUR 1 billion upper limit.
Greece needs to raise EUR 10.5 billion by the end of May to avoid tapping the bailout plan put into place and resurrecting concerns about a fiscal crisis within the Euro zone. What the results of the bond auction tell us is that just because the Germans and French have agreed to provide support to Greece with the help of the IMF, it is still up to Greece to move forward with their austerity package and reduce their deficit. Unfortunately, austerity spending takes time to show results, and are unlikely to show results within the coming months
While it is good that a mechanism for aid is in place, needing to use it would still be an embarrassment for the Euro zone. As noted in our most recent post The EU Contingency Plan: Doomed By Its Main Strength, it’s unclear how smoothly the EU could actually get the cash to Greece should sudden need arise, assuming Angie Merkel is really willing to face her voters after having just tossed a chunk of their taxes at a very unpopular cause.
Meanwhile, even though Iceland is not a member of the Euro zone, S&P’s decision to downgrade their debt raises contagion fears because they borrow from banks within the region and it reminds everyone that many problems still exist in Europe..
Yen Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Down vs. the USD, CHF, GBP, AUD, EUR
British Pound Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. everything on better than expected Q4 GDP which, given its oversold nature, left it ripe for a bounce on any kind of positive news. Over the past weeks attempting to carve out a bottom for now.
Australian Dollar Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Down or flat vs. most fx except for the JPY as poor retail and building data pressure it
New Zealand Dollar Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. the USD, JPY, down vs. the GBP
Canadian Dollar Daily Outlook: In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: Up vs. most fx except for the GBP
Swiss Franc Daily Outlook In Tuesday and early Wednesday trade GMT: down vs. the AUD, EUR, up vs. the JPY, steady but fading vs. the USD
CONCLUSIONS & Big Picture: Short term bias for risk assets, The S&P 500, our key risk asset barometer, like other major stocks, holding on at/near 52 week highs Also, fx and commodities continuing their range trading. Long Term Bias Down:, especially in July, when 2 major events hit: Spain needs to sell about 30 bln euros in bonds AND a massive wave of US mortgage rate resets not seen since 2007 begins. The last time we saw this magnitude of rising mortgage rates markets stalled out and ultimately crashed. NB: Never fight the trend, no matter how irrational, as markets can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent (Keynes). Therefore, as anyone who follows our trade recommendations knows, we always wait for some breach of key support/resistance as a signal to enter a position as odds appear to be in our favor, and even then only when the likely target is more than 2x as far away as out stop loss (which we ALWAYS USE, RIGHT?) so that our winning trade profits exceed out losses by at least 2:1.
Trade Ideas: We favor the dollar given the likely ongoing problems with the Greek bond sale and the likely good US jobs figures, but no recommendations until key support resistance levels breached
Disclosure: No positions
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Stocks in the News: Toyota, Xerox, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ford, Apple...
The following is a round-up of news likely to affect stock prices today:
Two federal agencies are joining the U.S. government's effort to discover if electronics may be the source of unintended acceleration in Toyota Motor (TM) vehicles. Scientists from NASA with electronics expertise will help the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study the potential for the problem, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Monday. In a separate study, the National Academy of Sciences will examine unintended acceleration issues across the industry, LaHood said. Toyota has repeatedly denied electronics as source of the problem, instead saying mechanical issues and driver unfamiliarity are to blame.
Xerox (XRX) Chairman Anne M. Mulcahy plans to retire in May, the Norwalk, Conn., company said Tuesday. Mulcahy, 57, is credited with turning the venerable copier company around during the last decade. She stepped down as CEO in July.
Bailed-out British lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been fined 28.6 million pounds ($43 million) for sharing loan pricing details with rival Barclays (BCS), Britain's Office of Fair Trading said Tuesday.
Ford Motor (F) said in a Securities and Exchange filing it expects an increase in March sales similar to those of the last few months. The Dearborn, Mich., auto maker's sales have increased by 33% the last 3 months.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple (AAPL) is prepping two new models of its wildly popular smart phone for release this summer, and one could be ready for use on Verizon Wireless's CDMA network. That would end three years of AT&T (T) iPhone exclusivity. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications (VZ) and London-based Vodaphone Group (VOD).
The U.S. Treasury Department plans to sell its 27% stake in Citigroup (C) this year, a move that could result in the biggest profit to taxpayers in the bank-bailout program. Treasury, Citigroup's largest shareholder, will dispose of its 7.7 billion common shares throughout 2010, the agency said Monday.
Sprint Nextel (S) CEO Dan Hesse received compensation valued at $12.3 million in 2009, down 13% from the year before, according to a regulatory filing. Hesse, 56, received a salary of $1.2 million and a performance-based bonus of $1.3 million in 2009, The Associated Press reported.
Container maker BWAY Corp. (BWY) has announced it will go private in a $915 million transaction, including the assumption of debt.
Google (GOOG) confirmed Monday that some of its mobile features in China had been partially blocked, raising the specter that its position in that country was deteriorating even further. Google didn't specify the nature of the block, saying the availability of its online services fluctuates regularly and that it was too early to confirm if the block would be permanent, or even if it was related to the feud with China. Google maintains a page at its website that updates issues about "service accessibility from within mainland China."
Morgan Stanley (MS) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group have entered into agreements to integrate their securities operations in Japan. The companies expect to commence joint venture operations as of May 1.
See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/c3KVMf
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Two federal agencies are joining the U.S. government's effort to discover if electronics may be the source of unintended acceleration in Toyota Motor (TM) vehicles. Scientists from NASA with electronics expertise will help the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study the potential for the problem, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Monday. In a separate study, the National Academy of Sciences will examine unintended acceleration issues across the industry, LaHood said. Toyota has repeatedly denied electronics as source of the problem, instead saying mechanical issues and driver unfamiliarity are to blame.
Xerox (XRX) Chairman Anne M. Mulcahy plans to retire in May, the Norwalk, Conn., company said Tuesday. Mulcahy, 57, is credited with turning the venerable copier company around during the last decade. She stepped down as CEO in July.
Bailed-out British lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been fined 28.6 million pounds ($43 million) for sharing loan pricing details with rival Barclays (BCS), Britain's Office of Fair Trading said Tuesday.
Ford Motor (F) said in a Securities and Exchange filing it expects an increase in March sales similar to those of the last few months. The Dearborn, Mich., auto maker's sales have increased by 33% the last 3 months.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple (AAPL) is prepping two new models of its wildly popular smart phone for release this summer, and one could be ready for use on Verizon Wireless's CDMA network. That would end three years of AT&T (T) iPhone exclusivity. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications (VZ) and London-based Vodaphone Group (VOD).
The U.S. Treasury Department plans to sell its 27% stake in Citigroup (C) this year, a move that could result in the biggest profit to taxpayers in the bank-bailout program. Treasury, Citigroup's largest shareholder, will dispose of its 7.7 billion common shares throughout 2010, the agency said Monday.
Sprint Nextel (S) CEO Dan Hesse received compensation valued at $12.3 million in 2009, down 13% from the year before, according to a regulatory filing. Hesse, 56, received a salary of $1.2 million and a performance-based bonus of $1.3 million in 2009, The Associated Press reported.
Container maker BWAY Corp. (BWY) has announced it will go private in a $915 million transaction, including the assumption of debt.
Google (GOOG) confirmed Monday that some of its mobile features in China had been partially blocked, raising the specter that its position in that country was deteriorating even further. Google didn't specify the nature of the block, saying the availability of its online services fluctuates regularly and that it was too early to confirm if the block would be permanent, or even if it was related to the feud with China. Google maintains a page at its website that updates issues about "service accessibility from within mainland China."
Morgan Stanley (MS) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group have entered into agreements to integrate their securities operations in Japan. The companies expect to commence joint venture operations as of May 1.
See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/c3KVMf
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
How to Get Ahead in Investing
Signing up to a penny stock newsletter will help guide you in the right direction.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, March 31, 2010 ) Del Mar, Around the world, traditionally safe large-cap stocks are struggling and failing. Now is the time to be investing in emerging micro cap and small cap companies.
These are firms with bright futures and the potential to generate huge portfolio gains.
But finding research on these companies can be difficult; the big Wall Street brokers do not provide coverage of this lucrative market sector. It is nowhere on their investment radars.
The best way to stay ahead is by signing up to specific penny stock newsletters and alerts. A company that offers such a service is wallstreetstockreview.com. Individuals that sign up will receive instant e-mail as soon as stock news breaks.
The main advantage of signing up to newsletters is that members can profit handsomely by buying in early - ahead of the masses and before price starts to move. If you normally follow only the mainstream financial press, wallstreetstockreview.com will offer you a fresh take on beating the markets.
Don’t expect to find your inbox inundated with new alerts, however. The company’s business analysts are highly selective and advise only on stocks that have fully researched and truly understood.
wallstreetstockreview.com offers ongoing coverage to help individuals stay current on new developments in the markets and at the company that could assist them in making their buying and selling decisions.
The company’s expert team of business analysts and equities traders have many years of experience identifying underrated penny stocks that are poised for explosive growth.
Through comprehensive research and in-depth due diligence, wallstreetstockreview.com will help individuals invest in the best-value penny stocks and achieve outsized portfolio gains.
Join the thousands of members who have put their trust in wallstreetstockreview.com.
Stay tuned, join their newsletter today and be kept up to date. Sign up here:http://www.wallstreetstockreview.com/
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, March 31, 2010 ) Del Mar, Around the world, traditionally safe large-cap stocks are struggling and failing. Now is the time to be investing in emerging micro cap and small cap companies.
These are firms with bright futures and the potential to generate huge portfolio gains.
But finding research on these companies can be difficult; the big Wall Street brokers do not provide coverage of this lucrative market sector. It is nowhere on their investment radars.
The best way to stay ahead is by signing up to specific penny stock newsletters and alerts. A company that offers such a service is wallstreetstockreview.com. Individuals that sign up will receive instant e-mail as soon as stock news breaks.
The main advantage of signing up to newsletters is that members can profit handsomely by buying in early - ahead of the masses and before price starts to move. If you normally follow only the mainstream financial press, wallstreetstockreview.com will offer you a fresh take on beating the markets.
Don’t expect to find your inbox inundated with new alerts, however. The company’s business analysts are highly selective and advise only on stocks that have fully researched and truly understood.
wallstreetstockreview.com offers ongoing coverage to help individuals stay current on new developments in the markets and at the company that could assist them in making their buying and selling decisions.
The company’s expert team of business analysts and equities traders have many years of experience identifying underrated penny stocks that are poised for explosive growth.
Through comprehensive research and in-depth due diligence, wallstreetstockreview.com will help individuals invest in the best-value penny stocks and achieve outsized portfolio gains.
Join the thousands of members who have put their trust in wallstreetstockreview.com.
Stay tuned, join their newsletter today and be kept up to date. Sign up here:http://www.wallstreetstockreview.com/
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Definition of Terms
Valuation Measures
Enterprise Value/EBITDA
Formula: Enterprise Value / EBITDA
Firm value compared against EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization).
Enterprise Value
Formula: Market Cap + Total Debt - Total Cash & Short Term Investments
EV is a measure of theoretical takeover price, and is useful in comparisons against income statement line items above the interest expense/income lines such as revenue and EBITDA.
Enterprise Value/Revenue
Formula: Enterprise Value / Total Revenues
Firm value compared against revenue. Provides a more rigorous comparison than the Price/Sales ratio by removing the effects of capitalization from both sides of the ratio. Since revenue is unaffected by the interest income/expense line item, the appropriate value comparison should also remove the effects of capitalization, as EV does.
Forward P/E Ratio
Formula: Current Market Price / Projected Earnings Per Share
A valuation ratio calculated by dividing the current market price by projected 12-month Earnings Per Share.
Market Cap
Formula: Current Market Price Per Share x Number of Shares Outstanding
The total dollar value of all outstanding shares. Computed as shares times current market price. Capitalization is a measure of corporate size.
PEG Ratio
Formula: P/E Ratio / 5-Yr Expected EPS Growth
Forward-looking measure rather than typical earnings growth measures, which look back in time (historical). Used to measure a stock's valuation against its projected 5-yr growth rate.
Price/Book Ratio
Formula: Current Market Price / Book Value Per Share
A valuation ratio calculated by dividing the current market price by the most recent quarter's (mrq) Book Value Per Share.
Price/Sales Ratio
Formula: Current Market Price / Total Revenues Per Share
A valuation ratio calculated by dividing the current market price by trailing 12-month (ttm) Total Revenues. Often used to value unprofitable companies.
Trailing P/E Ratio
Formula: Current Market Price / Earnings Per Share
A popular valuation ratio calculated by dividing the current market price by trailing 12-month (ttm) Earnings Per Share.
Financial Highlights
Book Value Per Share
Formula: Total Common Equity / Total Common Shares Outstanding
This is defined as the Common Shareholder's Equity divided by the Shares Outstanding at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.
Current Ratio
Formula: Total Current Assets / Total Current Liabilities
This is the ratio of Total Current Assets for the most recent quarter divided by Total Current Liabilities for the same period.
Diluted EPS
Formula: (Net Income - Preferred Dividend and Other Adjustments)/ Weighted Average
Diluted Shares Outstanding
This is the Adjusted Income Available to Common Stockholders (based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, GAAP) for the trailing 12 months divided by the trailing 12 month weighted average shares outstanding. Diluted EPS uses diluted weighted average shares in the calculation, or the weighted average shares assuming all convertible securities are exercised.
EBITDA
The accounting acronym EBITDA stands for "Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization."
Fiscal Year Ends
The date of the end of the firm's accounting year.
Most Recent Quarter
Date for the most recent quarter end for which data is available on the Key Statistics page. This period is often abbreviated as "MRQ."
Gross Profit
Formula: Total Revenues - Cost of Revenues
This item represents Total Revenues minus Cost Of Goods Sold, Total.
Levered Free Cash Flow
Formula: (EBIT + Interest Expense) x (1 x Tax Rate) + Depreciation & Amort., Total + Other Amortization + Capital Expenditure + Sale (Purchase) of Intangible assets - Change in Net Working Capital + Pref. Dividends Paid + Total Debt Repaid + Total Debt Issued + Repurchase of Preferred + Issuance of Preferred Stock
Where: Tax Rate = 0.375
This figure is a normalized item that excludes non-recurring items and also takes into consideration cash inflows from financing activities such as debt or preferred stock issuances.
Net Income Avl to Common
Formula: Net Income - Preferred Dividend and Other Adjustments - Earnings Of Discontinued Operations - Extraordinary Item & Accounting Change
This ratio shows percentage of Net Income to Common Excluding Extra Items less Earnings Of Discontinued Operations to Total Revenues. This is the dollar amount accruing to common shareholders for dividends and retained earnings.
Operating Cash Flow
Formula: Net Income + Depreciation and Amortization, Total + Other Amortization + Other Non-Cash Items, Total + Change in Working Capital
Net cash used or generated in operating activities during the stated period of time. It reflects net impact of all operating activity transactions on the cash flow of the entity. This GAAP figure is taken directly from the company's Cash Flow Statement and might include significant non-recurring items.
Operating Margin
Formula: [(Total Revenues x Total Operating Costs) / (Total Revenues)] x 100
This item represents the difference between the Total Revenues and the Total Operating Costs divided by Total Revenues, and is expressed as a percentage. Total Operating Costs consist of: (a) Cost of Goods Sold (b) Total (c) Selling, General & Administrative Expenses (d) Total R & D Expenses (e) Depreciation & Amortization and (f) Total Other Operating Expenses, Total. A ratio used to measure a company's operating efficiency.
Profit Margin
Formula: (Net Income / Total Revenues) x 100
Also known as Return on Sales, this value is the Net Income After Taxes for the trailing 12 months divided by Total Revenue for the same period and is expressed as a percentage.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
Formula: [(Qtrly Net Income x Qtrly Net Income (yr ago)) / Qtrly Net Income (yr ago)] x 100
The growth of Quarterly Net Income from the same quarter a year ago.
Quarterly Revenue Growth
Formula: [(Qtrly Total Revenues x Qtrly Total Revenues (yr ago)) / Qtrly Total Revenues (yr ago)] x 100
The growth of Quarterly Total Revenues from the same quarter a year ago.
Return on Assets
Formula: Earnings from Continuing Operations / Average Total Equity
This ratio shows percentage of Returns to Total Assets of the company. This is a useful measure in analyzing how well a company uses its assets to produce earnings.
Return on Equity
Formula: [(Earnings from Continuing Operations) / Total Common Equity] x 100
This is a measure of the return on money provided by the firms' owners. This ratio represents Earnings from Continuing Operations divided by average Total Equity and is expressed as a percentage.
Revenue
The amount of money generated by a company's business activities. Also known as Sales.
Revenue (Sales) Per Share
Formula: Total Revenues / Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Total Cash
The Total Cash and Short-term Investments on the balance sheet as of the most recent quarter.
Total Cash Per Share
This is the Total Cash plus Short Term Investments divided by the Shares Outstanding at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.
Total Debt
Formula: Short Term Borrowings + Current Portion of Long Term Debt + Current Portion of Capital Lease + Long Term Debt + Long Term Capital Lease + Finance Division Debt Current +
Finance Division Debt Non Current
The Total Debt on the balance sheet as of the most recent quarter.
Total Debt / Total Equity
Formula: [(Long-term Debt + Capital Leases + Finance Division Debt Non-Current + Short-term Borrowings + Current Portion of Long-term Debt + Current Portion of Capital Lease Obligation + Finance Division Debt Current) / (Total Common Equity + Total Preferred Equity)] x 100
This ratio is Total Debt for the most recent fiscal quarter divided by Total Shareholder Equity for the same period.
Trading Information
Average Volume (3 month)
This is the average daily trading volume during the last 3 months.
Average Volume (10 day)
This is the average daily trading volume during the last 10 days.
Beta
The Beta used is Beta of Equity. Beta is the monthly price change of a particular company relative to the monthly price change of the S&P500. The time period for Beta is 3 years (36 months) when available.
Dividend Date
The payment date for a declared dividend.
Ex-Dividend Date
The first day of trading when the seller, rather than the buyer, of a stock is entitled to the most recently announced dividend payment. The date set by the NYSE (and generally followed on other U.S. exchanges) is currently two business days before the record date. A stock that has gone ex-dividend is denoted by an x in newspaper listings on that date.
Float
This is the number of freely traded shares in the hands of the public. Float is calculated as Shares Outstanding minus Shares Owned by Insiders, 5% Owners, and Rule 144 Shares.
Forward Annual Dividend Rate
The annualized amount of dividends expected to be paid in the current fiscal year.
Forward Annual Dividend Yield
Formula: (Forward Annual Dividend Rate / Current Market Price) x 100
Trailing Annual Dividend Rate
The sum of all dividends paid out in the trailing 12-month period.
Payout Ratio
The ratio of Earnings paid out in Dividends, expressed as a percentage.
Price
This is the Closing or Last Bid Price. It is also referred to as the Current Price. For NYSE, AMEX, and Nasdaq traded companies, the Price is the previous Friday's closing price. For companies traded on the National Quotation Bureau's "Pink Sheets," and OTC bulletin boards, it is the bid price obtained at the time the report is updated.
Shares Outstanding
This is the number of shares of common stock currently outstanding—the number of shares issued minus the shares held in treasury. This field reflects all offerings and acquisitions for stock made after the end of the previous fiscal period.
Shares Short
This is the number of shares currently borrowed by investors for sale, but not yet returned to the owner (lender).
Short Ratio
This represents the number of days it would take to cover the Short Interest if trading continued at the average daily volume for the month. It is calculated as the Short Interest for the Current Month divided by the Average Daily Volume.
Short % of Float
Number of shares short divided by float.
Shares Short Prior Month
Shares Short in the prior month. See Shares Short.
S&P500 52-Week Change
The S&P 500 Index's percentage change in price from 52 weeks ago.
Trailing Annual Dividend Yield
Formula: (Trailing Annual Dividend Rate / Current Market Price) x 100
5-Year Average Dividend Yield
The average Forward Annual Dividend Yield in the past 5 years.
52-Week Change
The percentage change in price from 52 weeks ago.
52-Week High
This price is the highest Price the stock traded at in the last 12 months. This could be an intraday high.
52-Week Low
This price is the lowest Price the stock traded at in the last 12 months. This could be an intraday low.
50-Day Moving Average
A simple moving average that is calculated by dividing the sum of the closing prices in the last 50 trading days by 50.
200-Day Moving Average
A simple moving average that is calculated by dividing the sum of the closing prices in the last 200 trading days by 200.
Enterprise Value/EBITDA
Formula: Enterprise Value / EBITDA
Firm value compared against EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization).
Enterprise Value
Formula: Market Cap + Total Debt - Total Cash & Short Term Investments
EV is a measure of theoretical takeover price, and is useful in comparisons against income statement line items above the interest expense/income lines such as revenue and EBITDA.
Enterprise Value/Revenue
Formula: Enterprise Value / Total Revenues
Firm value compared against revenue. Provides a more rigorous comparison than the Price/Sales ratio by removing the effects of capitalization from both sides of the ratio. Since revenue is unaffected by the interest income/expense line item, the appropriate value comparison should also remove the effects of capitalization, as EV does.
Forward P/E Ratio
Formula: Current Market Price / Projected Earnings Per Share
A valuation ratio calculated by dividing the current market price by projected 12-month Earnings Per Share.
Market Cap
Formula: Current Market Price Per Share x Number of Shares Outstanding
The total dollar value of all outstanding shares. Computed as shares times current market price. Capitalization is a measure of corporate size.
PEG Ratio
Formula: P/E Ratio / 5-Yr Expected EPS Growth
Forward-looking measure rather than typical earnings growth measures, which look back in time (historical). Used to measure a stock's valuation against its projected 5-yr growth rate.
Price/Book Ratio
Formula: Current Market Price / Book Value Per Share
A valuation ratio calculated by dividing the current market price by the most recent quarter's (mrq) Book Value Per Share.
Price/Sales Ratio
Formula: Current Market Price / Total Revenues Per Share
A valuation ratio calculated by dividing the current market price by trailing 12-month (ttm) Total Revenues. Often used to value unprofitable companies.
Trailing P/E Ratio
Formula: Current Market Price / Earnings Per Share
A popular valuation ratio calculated by dividing the current market price by trailing 12-month (ttm) Earnings Per Share.
Financial Highlights
Book Value Per Share
Formula: Total Common Equity / Total Common Shares Outstanding
This is defined as the Common Shareholder's Equity divided by the Shares Outstanding at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.
Current Ratio
Formula: Total Current Assets / Total Current Liabilities
This is the ratio of Total Current Assets for the most recent quarter divided by Total Current Liabilities for the same period.
Diluted EPS
Formula: (Net Income - Preferred Dividend and Other Adjustments)/ Weighted Average
Diluted Shares Outstanding
This is the Adjusted Income Available to Common Stockholders (based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, GAAP) for the trailing 12 months divided by the trailing 12 month weighted average shares outstanding. Diluted EPS uses diluted weighted average shares in the calculation, or the weighted average shares assuming all convertible securities are exercised.
EBITDA
The accounting acronym EBITDA stands for "Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization."
Fiscal Year Ends
The date of the end of the firm's accounting year.
Most Recent Quarter
Date for the most recent quarter end for which data is available on the Key Statistics page. This period is often abbreviated as "MRQ."
Gross Profit
Formula: Total Revenues - Cost of Revenues
This item represents Total Revenues minus Cost Of Goods Sold, Total.
Levered Free Cash Flow
Formula: (EBIT + Interest Expense) x (1 x Tax Rate) + Depreciation & Amort., Total + Other Amortization + Capital Expenditure + Sale (Purchase) of Intangible assets - Change in Net Working Capital + Pref. Dividends Paid + Total Debt Repaid + Total Debt Issued + Repurchase of Preferred + Issuance of Preferred Stock
Where: Tax Rate = 0.375
This figure is a normalized item that excludes non-recurring items and also takes into consideration cash inflows from financing activities such as debt or preferred stock issuances.
Net Income Avl to Common
Formula: Net Income - Preferred Dividend and Other Adjustments - Earnings Of Discontinued Operations - Extraordinary Item & Accounting Change
This ratio shows percentage of Net Income to Common Excluding Extra Items less Earnings Of Discontinued Operations to Total Revenues. This is the dollar amount accruing to common shareholders for dividends and retained earnings.
Operating Cash Flow
Formula: Net Income + Depreciation and Amortization, Total + Other Amortization + Other Non-Cash Items, Total + Change in Working Capital
Net cash used or generated in operating activities during the stated period of time. It reflects net impact of all operating activity transactions on the cash flow of the entity. This GAAP figure is taken directly from the company's Cash Flow Statement and might include significant non-recurring items.
Operating Margin
Formula: [(Total Revenues x Total Operating Costs) / (Total Revenues)] x 100
This item represents the difference between the Total Revenues and the Total Operating Costs divided by Total Revenues, and is expressed as a percentage. Total Operating Costs consist of: (a) Cost of Goods Sold (b) Total (c) Selling, General & Administrative Expenses (d) Total R & D Expenses (e) Depreciation & Amortization and (f) Total Other Operating Expenses, Total. A ratio used to measure a company's operating efficiency.
Profit Margin
Formula: (Net Income / Total Revenues) x 100
Also known as Return on Sales, this value is the Net Income After Taxes for the trailing 12 months divided by Total Revenue for the same period and is expressed as a percentage.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
Formula: [(Qtrly Net Income x Qtrly Net Income (yr ago)) / Qtrly Net Income (yr ago)] x 100
The growth of Quarterly Net Income from the same quarter a year ago.
Quarterly Revenue Growth
Formula: [(Qtrly Total Revenues x Qtrly Total Revenues (yr ago)) / Qtrly Total Revenues (yr ago)] x 100
The growth of Quarterly Total Revenues from the same quarter a year ago.
Return on Assets
Formula: Earnings from Continuing Operations / Average Total Equity
This ratio shows percentage of Returns to Total Assets of the company. This is a useful measure in analyzing how well a company uses its assets to produce earnings.
Return on Equity
Formula: [(Earnings from Continuing Operations) / Total Common Equity] x 100
This is a measure of the return on money provided by the firms' owners. This ratio represents Earnings from Continuing Operations divided by average Total Equity and is expressed as a percentage.
Revenue
The amount of money generated by a company's business activities. Also known as Sales.
Revenue (Sales) Per Share
Formula: Total Revenues / Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Total Cash
The Total Cash and Short-term Investments on the balance sheet as of the most recent quarter.
Total Cash Per Share
This is the Total Cash plus Short Term Investments divided by the Shares Outstanding at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.
Total Debt
Formula: Short Term Borrowings + Current Portion of Long Term Debt + Current Portion of Capital Lease + Long Term Debt + Long Term Capital Lease + Finance Division Debt Current +
Finance Division Debt Non Current
The Total Debt on the balance sheet as of the most recent quarter.
Total Debt / Total Equity
Formula: [(Long-term Debt + Capital Leases + Finance Division Debt Non-Current + Short-term Borrowings + Current Portion of Long-term Debt + Current Portion of Capital Lease Obligation + Finance Division Debt Current) / (Total Common Equity + Total Preferred Equity)] x 100
This ratio is Total Debt for the most recent fiscal quarter divided by Total Shareholder Equity for the same period.
Trading Information
Average Volume (3 month)
This is the average daily trading volume during the last 3 months.
Average Volume (10 day)
This is the average daily trading volume during the last 10 days.
Beta
The Beta used is Beta of Equity. Beta is the monthly price change of a particular company relative to the monthly price change of the S&P500. The time period for Beta is 3 years (36 months) when available.
Dividend Date
The payment date for a declared dividend.
Ex-Dividend Date
The first day of trading when the seller, rather than the buyer, of a stock is entitled to the most recently announced dividend payment. The date set by the NYSE (and generally followed on other U.S. exchanges) is currently two business days before the record date. A stock that has gone ex-dividend is denoted by an x in newspaper listings on that date.
Float
This is the number of freely traded shares in the hands of the public. Float is calculated as Shares Outstanding minus Shares Owned by Insiders, 5% Owners, and Rule 144 Shares.
Forward Annual Dividend Rate
The annualized amount of dividends expected to be paid in the current fiscal year.
Forward Annual Dividend Yield
Formula: (Forward Annual Dividend Rate / Current Market Price) x 100
Trailing Annual Dividend Rate
The sum of all dividends paid out in the trailing 12-month period.
Payout Ratio
The ratio of Earnings paid out in Dividends, expressed as a percentage.
Price
This is the Closing or Last Bid Price. It is also referred to as the Current Price. For NYSE, AMEX, and Nasdaq traded companies, the Price is the previous Friday's closing price. For companies traded on the National Quotation Bureau's "Pink Sheets," and OTC bulletin boards, it is the bid price obtained at the time the report is updated.
Shares Outstanding
This is the number of shares of common stock currently outstanding—the number of shares issued minus the shares held in treasury. This field reflects all offerings and acquisitions for stock made after the end of the previous fiscal period.
Shares Short
This is the number of shares currently borrowed by investors for sale, but not yet returned to the owner (lender).
Short Ratio
This represents the number of days it would take to cover the Short Interest if trading continued at the average daily volume for the month. It is calculated as the Short Interest for the Current Month divided by the Average Daily Volume.
Short % of Float
Number of shares short divided by float.
Shares Short Prior Month
Shares Short in the prior month. See Shares Short.
S&P500 52-Week Change
The S&P 500 Index's percentage change in price from 52 weeks ago.
Trailing Annual Dividend Yield
Formula: (Trailing Annual Dividend Rate / Current Market Price) x 100
5-Year Average Dividend Yield
The average Forward Annual Dividend Yield in the past 5 years.
52-Week Change
The percentage change in price from 52 weeks ago.
52-Week High
This price is the highest Price the stock traded at in the last 12 months. This could be an intraday high.
52-Week Low
This price is the lowest Price the stock traded at in the last 12 months. This could be an intraday low.
50-Day Moving Average
A simple moving average that is calculated by dividing the sum of the closing prices in the last 50 trading days by 50.
200-Day Moving Average
A simple moving average that is calculated by dividing the sum of the closing prices in the last 200 trading days by 200.
Wealth Manager Q&A: Piper of Collins Stewart likes technology stocks
Mark Piper leads the fund selection committee of Collins Stewart Wealth Management. He tells The Wall Street Journal why he likes technology stocks.
We like the sector and believe that as global economic growth recovers the sector will perform strongly. Technology companies have changed since the bubble of the late 1990s and currently many of them offer good value. Also, since the beginning of last year, technology stocks have outperformed the big global indices.
We see the potential this year for further gains relative to the indices. There has been a big reduction of the number of dedicated technology funds in the last ten years, as investors became wary of the sector. Many funds have also converted into more generalized global equity funds. This should help with fund section for the sector.
Given this, we like Henderson Global Investors Ltd's Global Technology Fund, which has a large-cap basis, and Polar Capital Partners' Technology Fund, which has more of a mid- and small-cap bias in its portfolio. The two funds in combination should prove to be a good mix.
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
We like the sector and believe that as global economic growth recovers the sector will perform strongly. Technology companies have changed since the bubble of the late 1990s and currently many of them offer good value. Also, since the beginning of last year, technology stocks have outperformed the big global indices.
We see the potential this year for further gains relative to the indices. There has been a big reduction of the number of dedicated technology funds in the last ten years, as investors became wary of the sector. Many funds have also converted into more generalized global equity funds. This should help with fund section for the sector.
Given this, we like Henderson Global Investors Ltd's Global Technology Fund, which has a large-cap basis, and Polar Capital Partners' Technology Fund, which has more of a mid- and small-cap bias in its portfolio. The two funds in combination should prove to be a good mix.
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Good news for stocks is good for the $
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The dollar has gotten stronger this year. Is that because the U.S. economy appears to be improving -- or in spite of it?
For most of last year, it was pretty easy to guess where the dollar was going. When stocks were up, the dollar was down. And vice versa.
That may seem odd, but here's the rationale: The dollar was benefiting from a so-called flight to quality. Even though the U.S. economy was in bad shape, the dollar was still viewed as a relatively stable investment compared to stocks, commodities and other currencies.
So good economic and earnings news was considered bad for the greenback because any evidence that the recession was over made investors willing to flock back to riskier assets such as stocks and dump safe havens like the dollar.
That's no longer the case. The dollar has gained nearly 3% this year against a basket of global currencies (including the euro, pound and yen) while the S&P 500 is also up 3%.
Why is this happening? Some think that it's simply a byproduct of the economy slowly getting back on track. The panic is gone and even the nagging sense that the worst may not really be over is starting to dissipate. The market's so-called fear gauge, the VIX, is currently near its 52-week low.
As the markets return to normal, there are fewer reasons to sell the dollar on good news. When you really think about it, it makes more sense for the dollar and stocks to trade in tandem.
"I never bought the story that a stronger dollar was bad for U.S. stocks. A stronger, more stable dollar is consistent with an economic recovery," said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist for PNC in Pittsburgh.
Sure, a weaker dollar does help the sales and profits of large multinational firms, your Cokes, P&Gs and Ciscos of the world. Revenue from markets outside of the U.S. wind up getting a lift when translated back into dollars when the dollar isn't as strong.
But that's purely an exchange-rate phenomenon. Andrew Busch, global currency and public policy strategist at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago, said that under usual circumstances, investors are far more likely to associate a stronger currency with a healthier economy.
"Stocks are percolating and doing quite well. The market looks rather buoyant since the U.S. economy seems to be growing," Busch said. "Having your stock market do well is always helpful for your currency since it can draw in more foreign investors. That can be self-fulfilling."
So this could just be another indication that the markets are returning to normal. The U.S. doesn't really benefit that much from a weak dollar. And last year's bizarro world trade -- selling the dollar anytime there was good economic news about the U.S. -- was just another example of investor fear and confusion.
Dollar getting stronger -- but still not strong
Still, it's not as if the dollar doesn't face any risks. Busch and Hoffman both pointed out that while the dollar is strengthening, it still isn't necessarily strong. Much of the dollar's gains this year have come at the expense of Europe and Britain.
"It's more euro weakness than dollar strength," Hoffman said.
The euro and pound have taken a hit due to concerns about the fiscal nightmare in Greece and fears that the economies of Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Spain (the rest of Europe's so-called PIIGS) could deteriorate further.
Busch said the dollar is no longer considered an "ugly currency" when compared to the euro and pound. But he noted that the dollar actually hasn't gained ground against the currencies of other countries, particularly Japan and commodity-rich nations like Canada, Australia, Brazil and Russia.
That may be a reflection that the U.S. economy is not really leading the global recovery -- it's just not lagging it as much as Europe.
There are also some concerns that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates near zero for a lot longer, which could put pressure on the dollar.
Lower interest rates often dissuade investors from betting on bonds and dollar-denominated assets because there are higher rates of return elsewhere. Some also worry that "cheap money" could contribute to another bubble in housing, commodities or other assets.
But Keith Springer, president of Capital Financial Advisory Services, a Sacramento, Calif.-based investment advisory firm, doesn't buy such talk.
He said zero-percent interest rates don't have to lead to inflation and a weaker dollar. He thinks the Fed's priority right now should be to ensure that the economic growth of the last two quarters is sustainable and not a blip.
"Low interest rates for an extended period of time should spur growth, and that can still be attractive for the dollar. Continued economic expansion will drive the market higher," he said.
Reader comment of the week: There were several interesting comments about Wednesday's column on the recent spike in shares of the financial sector's Not Fab Four: Citigroup, AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I argued that all four remain deeply troubled. Paul Smith agreed.
"The Beatles they ain't!" he wrote. "All four will be in survival mode for years, not months & their share prices should reflect that. That's not going to stop money being shifted in & out of those stocks until fair value will eventually be found. My view of them is similar to ships afloat in the ocean. All hands on deck fully equipped but missing one critical component - their rudders."
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
For most of last year, it was pretty easy to guess where the dollar was going. When stocks were up, the dollar was down. And vice versa.
That may seem odd, but here's the rationale: The dollar was benefiting from a so-called flight to quality. Even though the U.S. economy was in bad shape, the dollar was still viewed as a relatively stable investment compared to stocks, commodities and other currencies.
So good economic and earnings news was considered bad for the greenback because any evidence that the recession was over made investors willing to flock back to riskier assets such as stocks and dump safe havens like the dollar.
That's no longer the case. The dollar has gained nearly 3% this year against a basket of global currencies (including the euro, pound and yen) while the S&P 500 is also up 3%.
Why is this happening? Some think that it's simply a byproduct of the economy slowly getting back on track. The panic is gone and even the nagging sense that the worst may not really be over is starting to dissipate. The market's so-called fear gauge, the VIX, is currently near its 52-week low.
As the markets return to normal, there are fewer reasons to sell the dollar on good news. When you really think about it, it makes more sense for the dollar and stocks to trade in tandem.
"I never bought the story that a stronger dollar was bad for U.S. stocks. A stronger, more stable dollar is consistent with an economic recovery," said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist for PNC in Pittsburgh.
Sure, a weaker dollar does help the sales and profits of large multinational firms, your Cokes, P&Gs and Ciscos of the world. Revenue from markets outside of the U.S. wind up getting a lift when translated back into dollars when the dollar isn't as strong.
But that's purely an exchange-rate phenomenon. Andrew Busch, global currency and public policy strategist at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago, said that under usual circumstances, investors are far more likely to associate a stronger currency with a healthier economy.
"Stocks are percolating and doing quite well. The market looks rather buoyant since the U.S. economy seems to be growing," Busch said. "Having your stock market do well is always helpful for your currency since it can draw in more foreign investors. That can be self-fulfilling."
So this could just be another indication that the markets are returning to normal. The U.S. doesn't really benefit that much from a weak dollar. And last year's bizarro world trade -- selling the dollar anytime there was good economic news about the U.S. -- was just another example of investor fear and confusion.
Dollar getting stronger -- but still not strong
Still, it's not as if the dollar doesn't face any risks. Busch and Hoffman both pointed out that while the dollar is strengthening, it still isn't necessarily strong. Much of the dollar's gains this year have come at the expense of Europe and Britain.
"It's more euro weakness than dollar strength," Hoffman said.
The euro and pound have taken a hit due to concerns about the fiscal nightmare in Greece and fears that the economies of Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Spain (the rest of Europe's so-called PIIGS) could deteriorate further.
Busch said the dollar is no longer considered an "ugly currency" when compared to the euro and pound. But he noted that the dollar actually hasn't gained ground against the currencies of other countries, particularly Japan and commodity-rich nations like Canada, Australia, Brazil and Russia.
That may be a reflection that the U.S. economy is not really leading the global recovery -- it's just not lagging it as much as Europe.
There are also some concerns that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates near zero for a lot longer, which could put pressure on the dollar.
Lower interest rates often dissuade investors from betting on bonds and dollar-denominated assets because there are higher rates of return elsewhere. Some also worry that "cheap money" could contribute to another bubble in housing, commodities or other assets.
But Keith Springer, president of Capital Financial Advisory Services, a Sacramento, Calif.-based investment advisory firm, doesn't buy such talk.
He said zero-percent interest rates don't have to lead to inflation and a weaker dollar. He thinks the Fed's priority right now should be to ensure that the economic growth of the last two quarters is sustainable and not a blip.
"Low interest rates for an extended period of time should spur growth, and that can still be attractive for the dollar. Continued economic expansion will drive the market higher," he said.
Reader comment of the week: There were several interesting comments about Wednesday's column on the recent spike in shares of the financial sector's Not Fab Four: Citigroup, AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I argued that all four remain deeply troubled. Paul Smith agreed.
"The Beatles they ain't!" he wrote. "All four will be in survival mode for years, not months & their share prices should reflect that. That's not going to stop money being shifted in & out of those stocks until fair value will eventually be found. My view of them is similar to ships afloat in the ocean. All hands on deck fully equipped but missing one critical component - their rudders."
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Stocks ready for more gains
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. stocks were expected to start Tuesday with gains, continuing the recent trek upward, with reports on real estate and consumer confidence on tap.
Dow Jones industrial average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 futures were higher.
Futures measure current index values against perceived future performance and offer an indication of how markets may open when trading begins.
Stocks finished higher Monday, pushing the Dow to its highest level in 18 months, after a report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer spending rose 0.3% in February.
"The market has had a pretty good run," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Jefferies & Co., adding that stocks have closed lower in only two of the last 25 trading days. "It looks like that pattern will continue into the early trade today."
He said Tuesday's economic reports will probably not be "market-moving events." However, he added that stocks have benefited recently from strength in commodity prices, such as crude oil and gold, which have been boosted by the weaker U.S. dollar.
Economy: Before the market open, the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index will be released. It is expected to have fallen 0.6% in January versus a year earlier, according to a consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com. In December, the index plunged 3.1%.
The Consumer Confidence index from the Conference Board, due after the opening bell, is expected to have risen to 51 in March from 46 in February, according to the Briefing.com consensus.
Companies: Shares of Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) surged to a fresh all-time high late Monday after The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is developing an iPhone for Verizon (VZ, Fortune 500). The iPhone is currently only available on the AT&T network.
The report, citing unnamed sources, said a new version of the iPhone should be ready for release this summer.
World markets: Asian stocks finished higher. In Japan, the Nikkei index gained 1%, and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 0.7%.
In Europe, Britain's FTSE 100, France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX were little changed in active trading.
The dollar and commodities: The dollar eased against the euro and pound, and edged up against the yen.
U.S. light crude oil for May delivery gained 6 cents to $82.23 a barrel. The price of gold for April delivery slipped 20 cents an ounce to $1,110.10.
Bonds: Treasury prices rose, lowering the 10-year yield to 3.86% from 3.87% late Monday. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Dow Jones industrial average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 futures were higher.
Futures measure current index values against perceived future performance and offer an indication of how markets may open when trading begins.
Stocks finished higher Monday, pushing the Dow to its highest level in 18 months, after a report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer spending rose 0.3% in February.
"The market has had a pretty good run," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Jefferies & Co., adding that stocks have closed lower in only two of the last 25 trading days. "It looks like that pattern will continue into the early trade today."
He said Tuesday's economic reports will probably not be "market-moving events." However, he added that stocks have benefited recently from strength in commodity prices, such as crude oil and gold, which have been boosted by the weaker U.S. dollar.
Economy: Before the market open, the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index will be released. It is expected to have fallen 0.6% in January versus a year earlier, according to a consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com. In December, the index plunged 3.1%.
The Consumer Confidence index from the Conference Board, due after the opening bell, is expected to have risen to 51 in March from 46 in February, according to the Briefing.com consensus.
Companies: Shares of Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) surged to a fresh all-time high late Monday after The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is developing an iPhone for Verizon (VZ, Fortune 500). The iPhone is currently only available on the AT&T network.
The report, citing unnamed sources, said a new version of the iPhone should be ready for release this summer.
World markets: Asian stocks finished higher. In Japan, the Nikkei index gained 1%, and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 0.7%.
In Europe, Britain's FTSE 100, France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX were little changed in active trading.
The dollar and commodities: The dollar eased against the euro and pound, and edged up against the yen.
U.S. light crude oil for May delivery gained 6 cents to $82.23 a barrel. The price of gold for April delivery slipped 20 cents an ounce to $1,110.10.
Bonds: Treasury prices rose, lowering the 10-year yield to 3.86% from 3.87% late Monday. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
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ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Cleck here to sign up
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Monday, 29 March 2010
Emerging Markets Report: Russian stocks unshaken by Moscow subway bombings
Russian stocks rose on Monday, as investors’ sentiment seemed unshaken by two deadly suicide bombings on the Moscow subway system that killed at least 36 people.
Market Update
| S&P 500 |  0.86 |
| NASDAQ |  2.28 |
| NYSE | 17.98 |
Market diary:| Exchange | Advances | Declines | Unchanged | Advanced Vol | Declined Vol | Total Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYSE | 1,548 | 1,489 | 128 | 627,816,000 | 381,619,000 | 1,029,664,000 |
| AMEX | 243 | 209 | 45 | 8,449,000 | 4,009,000 | 13,544,000 |
| NASDAQ | 31 | 220 | 76 | 232,000 | 862,928,000 | 292,000 |
| TSX | 746 | 775 | 275 | 241,897,000 | 160,196,000 | 445,354,000 |
| TSXV | 518 | 479 | 398 | 105,715,000 | 93,167,000 | 256,656,000 |
Major North American indices
| NYSE Composite Index | ^NYSE | | 7403.58 | +17.98 | +0.24% |
| NASDAQ Composite | ^NASD | | 2395.13 | -2.28 | -0.10% |
| S&P 500 | ^SP500 | | 1166.59 | +0.86 | +0.07% |
| S&P/TSX Composite Index | ^TSX | | 11957.37 | -0.74 | -0.01% |
| Russell 1000 Index | ^RUS1K | | 642.06 | +0.42 | +0.07% |
| Russell 2000 Index | ^RUS2K | | 678.97 | -0.13 | -0.02% |
Market Movers
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http://www.stocksource.us
ABOUT US:
Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities.
We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
Stocks Soar, but Many Analysts Ask Why
The unemployment rate remains locked in a range that recalls the economic doldrums of the early 1980s. Housing is stuck in a ditch, with foreclosures rising. And consumers are still reluctant to part with the little cash they do have.
Yet the stock markets are partying like it’s 2003, when hiring was brisk, real estate was booming, wallets were fat — and the major stock indexes started a four-year rally that would double their value and push them to new heights just before the financial crisis hit.
Judging from stock prices alone, one would think the economy was poised for a roaring comeback. But the federal government plans to unplug the economic life-support programs that stimulated production, kept interest rates low and placed a thick cushion under the real estate market.
Some analysts see ample reason for caution in equities, with many economists, including those at the Federal Reserve, forecasting tepid growth in the near term.
“The market is as overvalued now as it was undervalued a year ago,” said David A. Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist for Gluskin Sheff, an investment firm. “There’s a very high degree of complacency.”
The incongruity of it all can be seen clearly in an analysis of price-to-earnings ratios, a gauge of how expensive stocks are relative to their performance.
Ratios in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index are hovering about 13 percent above the average since 2005; a year ago, they were about 40 percent below the average. That suggests that investors are betting on robust earnings through the end of the year, a view that many economists do not embrace.
“The stock market has priced in a bit more than what we’ve got so far,” said Jeffrey A. Hirsch, editor of The Stock Trader’s Almanac. “We’re due for a pause.”
Recent rallies have been narrow, with a modest number of stocks reaching 52-week highs even when the broader market surged. There is a sense in some corners that stock prices will decline: investors are betting more on stocks’ falling now than they have since July.
Mr. Hirsch, citing historical patterns, predicts a 20 to 30 percent dip in the markets before they can climb again. The Dow Jones industrial average is more than 60 percent above its lows a year ago, flirting with 11,000 for the first time since the onset of the financial crisis, though it remains more than 3,000 off its prerecession peak.
The S.& P. 500 is up nearly 75 percent from a year ago, and the Nasdaq is up nearly 90 percent.
The first part of this year had glittering reports on fourth-quarter earnings and mildly upbeat news on economic indicators like retail sales and orders for durable goods.
In response, the broad-based S.& P. 500 has climbed 4.6 percent this year. Autos, consumer electronics, regional banks and home builders — all losers in 2009 — have led the way. Banking stocks, which drove much of last year’s rally, continue to surge, with many regional banks up more than 40 percent.
Even during some of the stock markets’ better weeks, jitters have seemed to lurk just beneath the surface. The Dow rode a rare eight-day winning streak this month, but trading was light and day-to-day gains were small, casting doubt on the significance of the uptick.
During much of the financial crisis, traders clung to bond funds for safety. But as the appetite for risk has returned, investors have begun snapping up stocks: over the last several weeks, new cash has poured into American equity funds at a brisk pace, and mutual funds have shown particular strength.
Many market participants expect the momentum to continue, with stocks ending the year 10 to 20 percent higher. While few expect strong economic growth this year, investors believe that the recovery is intact and that earnings will continue to grow.
“A lot of people believe the government will just keep pumping money into this,” said Doug Roberts, chief investment strategist for Channel Capital Research.
There are signs that some of investors’ optimism may be excessive.
Interest rates, kept at historical lows by the Fed during the financial crisis, are starting to rise because of the flight from bonds and concern over rising debt, particularly that of the United States.
Standard mortgage rates hovered near 5 percent last week after auctions of seven-year Treasury notes were met with weak demand, sending yields higher. A sustained rise in interest rates would crimp growth by making borrowing more expensive for consumers, businesses and governments. It could also attract some investors away from equities and into bonds.
Another concern is the nation’s intractable unemployment rate, which has hampered consumer spending and worsened a foreclosure crisis in the housing market. Employers are still not adding jobs, though the rate of job losses has declined in recent months, raising hopes that a turning point is at hand.
Consumer confidence has improved modestly from its low a year ago, but spending is still weak.
Some clarity may come to the market on Friday, when the government releases its monthly snapshot of the labor market. Forecasters expect the data to show 200,000 new jobs, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 9.7 percent.
When first-quarter earnings results begin trickling in next month, investors will be looking for signs that companies have put cost-cutting behind them and strengthened revenue.
“We’ve managed to at least temporarily suspend the financial crisis,” Mr. Roberts said. “The question now is, ‘You’ve gotten past the first act; what’s the encore?’ ”
This story originally appeared in the The New York Times
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Stock Source is a full service investor relations firm dedicated to growth stocks. We seek out innovative, emerging companies poised for growth and tell their stories to qualified, aggressive investors looking for ground floor opportunities. We connect investors with investment prospects—cutting through the noise and churn of Wall Street to shine the spotlight on companies on their way up. These companies trade on the Nasdaq, Amex, OTCBB, and Pinksheets.
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