In a speech today that reiterates remarks he made last week, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Dennis Lockhart said: The indicators of economic strength so far in 2012 have been underwhelming. … I expect the…
In remarks at a conference with Asian Banking leaders, San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams said that though the global banking system is in better shape than it was three years ago,…
To say that Centene Corp. (NYSE: CNC), a managed health care provider, has been on a roller coaster ride for the past few days may be an understatement. First, it and Molina Healthcare Inc.…
Shares of nuclear waste disposal company Energy Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ES) are getting pummeled today following the announcement that the company has appointed a new CEO and that the company has lowered 2012 adjusted…
The Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: NDAQ) will make some changes to its Nasdaq Q-50 index next Monday, June 18th. The index will add Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: ADI), Fortinet Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT), IAC/InterActiveCorp…
Shares of Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) rose more than 12% last week, about half that on Friday as rumors swirled that the company might be acquired. Nokia, now partners with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT)…
China’s auto dealers are taking more deliveries of new cars than they can sell. Deliveries totaled 1.28 million vehicles in May, higher than the consensus estimate of 1.22 million and the third consecutive month…
The OECD today released its composite leading indicators (CLIs) for April, noting that national economies are diverging, with some expanding moderately, while others contract. The US, Japan, and Russia continue to improve, but “deceleration…
Saying that certain requirements of Obamacare “make sense,” the CEO of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) today announced that the insurer would continue to offer “important health care insurance protections” regardless of the soon-to-be-announced…
The three major US stock indexes opened lower this morning as investors wait for weekend data on Chinese trade and industrial production. The drop in US unemployment benefits claims didn’t spur much buying, nor…
Even though solar PV stocks have plunged over the last 18 months, there is a ray of hope in the sector according to a report at Bloomberg. China’s five largest solar panel makers expect…
At today’s annual meeting, shareholders of Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) voted against retaining incumbent directors V. Burns Hargis, president of Oklahoma State University, and Richard Davidson, former chairman and CEO of Union Pacific…
Jon OggFedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) announced this morning that it would raise shipping rates at its FedEx Freight subsidiary by 6.9% beginning in July. The change affects shipments between the US and Canada, with…
Appalachian coal miner Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: ANR) announced this morning that it will close four mines and halt work at two coal preparation plants in Kentucky. The company also said that it…
Global same-store sales for McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) rose 3.3% in May, led by a jump of 4.4% in the US and 2.9% in Europe. The company’s Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa region posted…
US District Court Judge Richard Posner has decided, for the moment, to dismiss two-year old patent litigation involving Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Motorola Mobility, now merged with Google Inc.(NASDAQ: GOOG). The trial, scheduled…
As expected, Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) has sold all its midstream assets for a total price exceeding $4 billion. The sale involves three transactions, two with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and one with…
The three major US stock indexes opened higher this morning following the announcement of an interest rate cut in China (our coverage here). Spain sold more than €2 billion in bonds at slightly more…
Shares of heavy construction firm McDermott International Inc. (NYSE: MDR) are getting a nice boost following open market stock purchases worth about $3 million from 4 different insiders. The firm, which specializes in engineering,…
In December 2011, before the spin-off of Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) from ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Conoco was believed to be trying to sell its 247,000 barrel/day Belle Chase, Louisiana, refinery for $700 million to…