ThinkstockThe Chicago Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) (also called the Business Barometer) for the month of December rose from 50.4 in November to 51.6, the third consecutive monthly increase. A reading above 50 indicates expansion,…
courtesy Barnes & Noble Inc.U.K.-based media giant Pearson PLC (NYSE: PSO) has made a “strategic investment” of $89.5 million in cash in Nook Media LLC, a joint venture between Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE:…
ThinkstockIn a filing yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE: UAL) said it expects its consolidated available seat miles (ASMs) to drop by 4.2% in the fourth quarter, compared…
ThinkstockNegotiations have failed between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, raising the threat of a longshoreman’s strike against U.S. ports on East and Gulf Coasts. The Alliance represents container ship carriers,…
ThinkstockThe oil and gas industry increased its mergers and acquisitions deals in 2012 by 38% over 2011, according to Dealogic. M&A activity totaled $348 billion in 2012, the industry’s highest total since at least…
ThinkstockTwo days ago, a mining company named Southridge Enterprises Inc. (SRGE) issued a press release announcing a joint venture with gold miner Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE: KGC). Only thing is, the joint venture appears…
U.S. equity markets opened about flat this morning, then ticked upward briefly before moving to lows in the early afternoon. Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner said that the country’s debt ceiling will be reached on…
ThinkstockWe have tracked the key short interest changes as of November 30th in the following oil and gas leaders: Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI); BP PLC (NYSE: BP); Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK); Chevron…
ThinkstockWe have tracked the short interest in the following North American Solar companies as of November 30th: Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ); First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR); GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTAT); MEMC…
ThinkstockWe have tracked the key short interest changes as of November 30th in the following semiconductor leaders: Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD), Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU), SanDisk Corporation…
thinkstockWe have tracked the key short interest changes as of December 14th in the following large cap stocks: General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE), Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), Verizon…
Thinkstock Worldwide, some 17.4 million mobile devices were activated on Christmas Day this year according to research firm Flurry. That’s more than four times the 4 million average number of devices activated between December…
ThinkstockCustomer satisfaction research firm ForeSee released its Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction Index for this year, and the overall score for online retailers was 78 on a 100-point scale, identical with last year’s reading. The most…
ThinkstockLisa Jackson, the top administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has issued statement this morning announcing her resignation from the agency following close upon President Obama’s state of the union speech late…
courtesy Ford Motor Co.According to a research study at Indiana University, only 4% of 2,300 U.S. adult drivers said that purchasing a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) was under serious consideration. Of those, just 22%…
ThinkstockThe U.S. Census Bureau this morning released data on new single-family home sales for November. Sales rose 4.4% month-over-month, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 377,000, the highest point since April 2010. Economists…
ThinkstockThe Conference Board this morning reported that its consumer confidence index fell from 71.5 in November to 65.1 in December. The expectations index fell sharply, from 80.9 to 66.5, while the present situation index…
ThinkstockThe president of Russian oil giant OAO Lukoil has said that the company will cut its Iraqi production by 30%, following a decision by the Iraqi government to reduce output in an effort to…
courtesy of Apple Inc.In a preliminary proxy statement filing, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) today said that CEO Tim Cook will receive $4.16 million in salary and incentive plan compensation for 2012. That is a…
Thinkstock SeaWorld Entertainment Inc., which is wholly owned by The Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX), has filed for an initial public offering to raise $100 million. The number of shares on offer and the…