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Monthly Archives: October 2011

Why Wall St. Does Not Care About Protests

Posted: October 5, 2011 at 6:27 am

People who think investment bankers make too much money have converged on Wall St. to protest that executives there earn millions and they do not. Bankers who barely survived the ...
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Media Digest (10/5/2011) Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

Posted: October 5, 2011 at 6:21 am

Moody’s (NYSE: MCO) cuts Italy’s debt rating. (Reuters) Bernanke says the U.S. economy is close to the flat line. (Reuters) New Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 4S does not impress investors. ...
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The Eight States With The Highest Minimum Wages

Posted: October 5, 2011 at 4:30 am

The highest rate in almost 30 years, nearly one and six Americans lived in poverty last year, according to recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Many states choose ...
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Moody’s Downgrades Italy As Market Investors Flee Europe

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 6:14 pm

Moody's cut its rating of Italy for the same reason that credit rating agencies have dropped their opinions about the financial viability of other nations in the EU. Italy, along ...
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Bad Bank or Not, Is Dexia the Next Long-Term Capital, Lehman, or Bear Stearns?

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 4:30 pm

It is more tiring each day to consider how much Europe has the world by the throat.  Everyone in the U.S. is looking for a flash point, or a flushing sound, ...
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Top Debt & Ratings Agency Actions (AMR, GM, LVLT, CAG, TRI)

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 3:39 pm

Today's ratings agency actions include a new rating on off-balance sheet arrangement by AMR Corp. (NYSE: AMR), parent of troubled American Airlines, and other actions involving General Motors Co. (NYSE: ...
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If S&P Didn’t Downgrade Portugal… Is That An Implied Upgrade?

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 2:38 pm

We have noted over and over, "Expect more downgrades in the lands of the PIIGS from the ratings agencies!"  That means S&P, Moody's, and Fitch.  But what about a day that ...
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Ford, UAW Agree on Labor Contract (F, GM, TM, HMC)

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 1:59 pm

Automaker Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The UAW reached a deal with General Motors ...
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Utilities Replacing CDs and Bonds as the Best Retirement Investments (XLU, IDU, UTG, AEP, FE, PPL, AWK)

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 1:12 pm

The government bond market pays investors nothing now. The 5-Year Treasury Note, a staple for retail investors historically, pays a dismal 0.86%. The appeal of this duration would also appeal to ...
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Molycorp’s Boost From Heavy Rare Earths ‘Discovery’ (MCP, VALE, LYSCF, AVL, REE, SHZ, REMX)

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 12:59 pm

When rare earth minerals miner Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP) re-opened California's Mountain Pass mine last year, the focus was on a variety of minerals known as the "light" rare earths. ...
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Can Yum! Buck the Downtrend in Casual Dining? (YUM, DRI, MCD, SBUX, CMG)

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 11:18 am

After the markets close today, Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) will report its third-quarter earnings. Analysts are expecting EPS of $0.83 on revenue of $3.1 billion, compared with second-quarter EPS of ...
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Bernanke: Downgrading Growth Continues

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 10:19 am

Ben Bernanke is testifying this morning before the Joint Economic Committee, and his speech is titled "Economic Outlook and Recent Monetary Policy Actions."  Today should be taken as yet one ...
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Seasonal Retail Jobs Likely Softer (TGT, M, KSS, JCP, BBY, SHLD, TJX, XRT)

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 10:05 am

U.S. retailers hired more than 627,000 seasonal workers during the October-December 2010 holiday season, a welcome boost from the mere 231,000 seasonal workers put on in 2008. Prospects for 2011 ...
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Analysts Debunk AMR Bankruptcy Fears (AMR, FAA)

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 9:57 am

AMR Corporation (NYSE: AMR) may have been the victim of some aggressive reporting that turned into rumors of an impending bankruptcy filing.  The company tried to refute this notion yesterday, ...
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Goldman Sachs Lowers Growth, But Still Too Rosy (GS, SPY)

Posted: October 4, 2011 at 9:12 am

It has become the newest game on Wall Street in the last month to lower global growth targets for 2011 and 2012 over the last six weeks.  What is amazing ...
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