Archive for September, 2009
(RL) Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation Launches Custom Shirts
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL) has recently launched an Apple, Inc. (AAPL) iPhone application that allows users to customize the Rugby brand of shirts. The move is an extension of the so-called “merchantainment” program of the company that blends its merchandising efforts...
10Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HPQ) HP Launches New Print Applications
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) recently said it would launch a new Print App and an App Studio portal for the holiday season to enhance web printing, helping consumers to print customized content without a PC. The print App software is designed to work with HP’s high-end printers....
10Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VLO) Valero Energy Closing Unprofitable Units
Texas-based Valero Energy Corp. (VLO), the largest independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products in the U.S., plans to close a few loss-making units in its various refineries. This includes the coking and gasifying complex (which processes a type of heavy crude oil and...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(F) Economic Activity Continued to Stabilize in July and August
There were no surprises in the latest Beige Book. The Fed’s periodic report proclaimed, “Economic activity continued to stabilize in July and August.” This statement confirmed the data provided by several other reports. Overall, the tone of the report is that...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLX) Protalix BioTherapeutics Wins Orphan Drug Status
Yesterday, Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (PLX) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to prGCD for the treatment of Gaucher disease, an enzyme disorder that can cause liver and neurological problems. The drug is currently...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AVB) AvalonBay Communities Offers Mid-Term Notes
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), has recently offered $500 million of medium-term unsecured notes to reduce its debt. The company has decided to offer the notes in two separate tranches of $250 million each, the first maturing...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DT) Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom Merge UK Operations
German telecom carrier Deutsche Telekom (DT) and France Telecom (FTE) are finally merging their UK operations in a 50-50 joint venture. The companies reportedly initiated negotiations yesterday and an agreement is likely to be signed by the end of October. If the deal is finalized,...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) ExxonMobil Corporation Begins New Drilling in North Sea
ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM) will start drilling at the Beryl field in the northern North Sea. The field is jointly owned by Mobil North Sea LLC (Exxon’s subsidiary and the operator) — 50%, Hess Limited (HES) — 22.22%, Enterprise Oil Limited, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FLR) Fluor Wins $150 Million Gas Turbine Contract
Fluor Corporation (FLR) announced yesterday that it received a $150 million engineering, procurement and construction [EPC] contract from ISAB Energy to rebuild a gas turbine power train. The contract is to rebuild one of the two 266-megawatt combined cycle gas turbine power...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BIIB) Biogen Maintains Facet Biotech Offer
Yesterday, Biogen Idec (BIIB) reiterated its intention to acquire its development partner, Facet Biotech (FACT) for $14.50 per share, even though Facet turned down the offer saying it was not in the best interests of its shareholders. The offer price represents a 64% premium...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FDO) Discounters Are Better Positioned for the State of the Economy
The Federal Reserve just released its “Beige Book,” which is largely a collection of anecdotal information about the state of the economy in the various Federal Reserve districts. Below are some of the key passages and my reactions to them. In the interest of space...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BP) British Petroleum. Big Profits
by Tony Daltorio, the Investment U Research Team Not too long ago, seven major oil companies – commonly referred to as the Seven Sisters – controlled their market. But that was then and this is now. Today, they’re scrambling to find new oil fields, while “smaller”...
9Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(SLXP) Salix Pharmaceuticals Gets Marketing Approval
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (SLXP) received positive news yesterday when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted marketing approval for Metozolv ODT (metoclopramide HCl) 5mg and 10mg orally disintegrating tablets. Metozolv ODT received approval for the relief of symptoms...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LUV) Southwests Airlines’ Gain AMR’s Pain
Southwest Airlines (LUV) said on Friday that its August traffic grew 1.5% to 6.7 billion revenue passenger miles [RPM]. Load factor increased to 80.2% from 74.6% last year. However, capacity fell 6.1% from the prior-year period to 8.3 billion available seat miles. In August,...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VIA) A New Wave of “Beatle Mania” Four Ways to Profit From The Beatles: Rock Band
by Marc Lichtenfeld, Advisory Panelist You ready for a good ol’ 1960s rock n’ roll flashback, courtesy of four lads from Liverpool? Amid a buzz of publicity, yesterday was the day that many Beatles fans had eagerly waited for, with the release of a new video game in the...
9Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(AXP) Standard & Poor’s Expects to See Higher Credit Card Losses
On Sept. 8, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) announced that U.S. credit card losses declined in July 2009. However, at the same time it anticipates that the forecasted bad loans would soon resume their upward trend as unemployment continues to escalate. The ratings agency’s...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MCHP) Microchip Technologies Ups Guidance
Yesterday, Microchip Technologies Inc. (MCHP) announced that results for the fiscal second quarter will surpass the guidance provided by the company earlier. Delaware-based Microchip Technologies is a leading provider of microcontrollers and analog semiconductors. Management...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MWV) MeadWestvaco Forms Strategic Alliance With Albemarle
Yesterday, MeadWestvaco Corp. (MWV) executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a strategic alliance with Albemarle Corporation (ALB) to supply activated carbon products in the U.S. This alliance will serve the emerging mercury removal market for the coal-fired power...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CME) CME Group Inc Launches Green Options
On September 8th, CME Group Inc. (CME) announced the launch of trading and clearing services for new “in delivery” month European Union Allowance and Certified Emission Reduction serial options contracts. Trading will be available on the New York trading floor and...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DIOD) Diodes Inc. – Consensus Estimates are Rising
Diodes Inc. (DIOD) has a very bullish next-year estimate as the company projects solid revenue growth paired with higher margins and steady costs. Company Description Diodes Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufacture and sells semiconductor products to semiconductor manufacturers...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ALTR) Altera Ups Guidance to Growth
Yesterday, Altera Corporation (ALTR) raised its revenue guidance for the third quarter, driven by improving market conditions. The company now expects third quarter sales to be flat-to-up 3% on a sequential basis compared to the previous guidance of sales being down 1% – 5%...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GOL) Brazilian Airlines Soaring on Traffic Increase
Late last week, Brazil’s GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (GOL) reported a 6.9% year-on-year increase in air traffic demand during the month of August. This was prompted by better supply and distribution of seats following its merger with VRG’s operations in 2008,...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MT) ArcelorMittal Expands in India
On Friday, ArcelorMittal (MT) said it planned to launch a tender offer for acquiring a 29.4% stake in Uttam Galva Steels Ltd. (“Uttam Galva”), a leading producer of cold rolled steel, galvanized products and color-coated coils & sheets based in Western India. The...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ISTA) ISTA Pharmaceuticals Eye Drug Gets FDA Approval
Yesterday, ISTA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISTA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its drug candidate, Bepreve, for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in patients two years and above. The drug is approved as a...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($GLW) Corning Inc. – ROE of 13% Blows Away Industry Average of 1%
Corning Inc. (GLW) continues to see bullish Zacks Consensus Estimates. Analysts polled by Zacks are forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 25.5% for 2010. Company Description Corning makes specialty glass and ceramics. The company creates components that enable high-technology...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PMI) More Flexibility for Mortgage Insurers
PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. (PMI) said on Tuesday that a regulatory legislation passed in Arizona will bring additional flexibility to mortgage-insurance firms. The new legislation could provide regulatory relief to these companies by granting Arizona’s Department of Insurance...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SO) Southern Telecom Inks Fiber Agreement
Southern Telecom, the telecommunications subsidiary of Southern Company (SO), has recently signed an agreement with the Florida-based 421 West Church Street to connect its Atlanta, Macon and Jacksonville metro dark fiber networks to the latter’s carrier neutral telecommunication...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | ContinuedTop Real Estate Equity Funds – Mutual Fund Commentary
Today we are featuring top-performing “Real Estate” equity mutual funds, which primarily invest in equity securities of real estate companies. Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Real Estate Equity Funds. 3 Excellent Samples Fidelity...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ARD) Arena Resources, Inc – ROE Twice Industry Average
Arena Resources Inc (ARD) continues to top expectations and the Zacks Consensus Estimate is on the rise. Company Description Arena Resources acquires, explores, develops, and produces oil and natural gas in the south-central states of the U.S. The company’s current reserve...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRK) FDA Panel to Decide on HPV Vaccines
We await the outcome of the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) advisory panel meeting scheduled for today that will decide on various aspects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. Primarily there are two vaccines available for the prevention of cervical cancer in women...
9Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued