Investor Pessimism Grows — Gallup
ThinkstockInvestor optimism has once again disappeared in the United States. From a peak Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism reading of 178 in 2000, the index hit an all-time low of -64 in 2009…
All Work
Paul Ausick
Short Interest Jumps in Pipeline Companies (BHI, BP, CHK, CVX, COP, EPD, XOM, KMI, NOV, PSX, SLB, RIG, VLO)
ThinkstockWe have tracked the key short interest changes as of November 30 in the following oil and gas leaders: Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI), BP PLC (NYSE: BP), Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK), Chevron…
Chip Makers’ Markets Drive Shorts (INTC, AMD, QCOM, ARMH, MU, SNDK, BRCM, MRVL, NVDA, TXN, AMAT, SMH)
ThinkstockWe have tracked the key short interest changes as of November 30 in the following semiconductor leaders: Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD), Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU), SanDisk Corp.…
Solar Stocks’ Short Interest Little Changed (CSIQ, FSLR, GTAT, WFR, SPWR, JASO, LDK, STP, TSL, YGE)
ThinkstockWe have tracked the short interest in the following North American Solar companies as of November 30: Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTAT), MEMC…
Joy Global Slides on Outlook
ThinkstockJoy Global Inc. (NYSE: JOY) reported fourth-quarter and full fiscal year 2012 results before markets opened this morning. The mining equipment maker reported quarterly diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.99 on revenues of…
Mortgage Interest Rates Post 22-Year Low
ThinkstockThe Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications this morning, noting a rise of 6.2% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index, compared with last week’s rise of 4.5%. Unadjusted,…
Membership Fees Lift Costco as Revenues Fall Short of Estimates
ThinkstockCostco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) reported first-quarter fiscal 2013 results before markets opened this morning. The big-box club store posted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.95 on revenue of $23.2 billion. In the same…
Dish Network About to Score Big Win
ThinkstockThere are reports this afternoon that Dish Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH) will prevail in its application to offer mobile broadband service in part of its satellite broadcast spectrum. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chief Julius…
24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell — December 11, 2012: Markets Track Higher Today (KORS, FWLT, ARUN, TWC, GPS, DG, TEA, FGP, COST, JOY, CLWR, S, FDO, SPW, BGMD)
U.S. equity markets opened higher this morning on hopeful sentiment that negotiations related to the approaching fiscal cliff might show some progress. In Asia, that sentiment helped push shares higher at most of the…
Natural Gas Pipeline Explodes in West Virginia
thinkstockA 36-inch natural gas pipeline exploded shortly before 1:00 p.m. in Sissonville, West Virginia, which is located about 15 miles north of the state capital, Charleston. No injuries or fatalities have been reported by…
EIA Forecasts Lower U.S. Crude Imports
ThinkstockIn its monthly Short-term Energy Outlook (STEO) published today, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said it expects the net import share of U.S. oil consumption to drop to 40% in 2012, down from…
3-year Treasuries at Record Low Yields
ThinkstockThe U.S. Treasury auctioned off $32 billion in 3-year Treasury notes today at a record low yield of 0.327%. The bid-to-cover ratio was 3.36, lower than the 3.71 average over the last four auctions.…
Rumor #10,928: Sprint to Buy Clearwire
ThinkstockYet another rumor is making the rounds today that Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) is in active negotiations to acquire the 49% of Clearwire Corp. (NASDAQ: CLWR). Citing “people close to the situation,” CNBC.com…
Wheat Supply Rises, Price Falls
ThinkstockThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this morning released its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report for November. The agency lifted its estimate on U.S. wheat stocks by 50 million bushels,…
New Tax Collector in Town — Amazon
ThinkstockAmazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has struck an agreement with the state of Massachusetts to begin collecting the state’s 6.25% sales tax in the fall of 2013. As of September, the online behemoth was collecting…
Delta Acquires 49% Stake in Virgin Atlantic
ThinkstockDelta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) announced this morning that it had acquired the 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic Airways previously owned by Singapore Airlines for $360 million. Delta and Virgin Atlantic will create…
Liberty Interactive Now Steers TripAdvisor
ThinkstockJohn Malone’s Liberty Interactive Corp. (NASDAQ: LINTA) this morning announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in TripAdvisor Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) in a transaction worth $300 million. Liberty acquired approximately 4.8 million shares…
Holiday E-commerce Spending Continue to Climb
ThinkstockWhen research firm comScore Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) reported holiday online spending a week ago, the company noted a 14% rise in sales. Five days later that increase has dropped slightly to 13%. The decline…
Kinder Morgan Sells Oil Sands Pipeline System
ThinkstockKinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE: KMP) announced this morning that it has sold its stake in the Express-Platte pipeline system to Spectra Energy Corp. (NYSE: SE) for about $380 million before taxes. Kinder…
Dollar General Profit Beats, Revenues OK
ThinkstockDollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) reported third-quarter 2012 results before markets opened this morning. The discount retailer posted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.62 on revenues of $3.96 billion. In the same period…