Zoltek Stumbles As Prospects Remain (ZOLT)
Zoltek Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZOLT) posted some disappointing numbers last night and it is being reflected in the shares this morning. So much for wind power staying up there as the next major wave,…
All Work
Douglas A. McIntyre
Coal Fields Merger Creates Big Player (ANR, FCL, CLF, KOL)
Today’s announcement of a merger between Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ANR) and Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: FCL) creates the third-largest coal producer in the US. The all-stock deal is worth about $2…
The Mythology Surrounding the Corporate Tax Rate
By John Tamny of RealClearMoney While there’s seemingly a bipartisan view that the U.S. corporate tax rate should be lowered, the mythology about this same levy is impressive even by Washington standards. The more…
Top Analyst Downgrades (AXP, BKE, CIEN, ENER, IP, LINTA, RBS, STO, TSM, TIN, VSAT)
These are some of the top analyst downgrades and cautious research calls we have seen from Wall Street early this Tuesday morning: American Express (AXP) Started as Underperform at RBC. Buckle (BKE) Cut to…
Top Anlayst Upgrades (CAH, CENT, CHS, GPS, HELE, PFG, STEC, TJX)
These are some of the top pre-market analyst comments and analyst upgrades from Wall Street early this Tuesday morning: Cardinal Health (CAH) Started as Buy at Jefferies. Central Garden (CENT) Raised to Hold at…
Software Piracy Issues Remain Unresolved
It remains true that without global IP theft laws which apply equally in all countries the piracy of software and premium entertainment content will never end. The fact was brought home by new data…
The Argument Over China’s Prospects Intensifies
The Wall Street Journal has raised the issue of whether the Chinese consumer can replace the US consumer as the most important engine of the global economy. The answer is “not yet”, but if…
As Bank Of America (BAC) Sells CCB Stake, Question Of Dismantling Become More Important
Bank of America (BAC) is selling part of its stake in China Construction Bank for $7.3 billion. That will help the US institution to raise capital it needs to fill the $34 billion capital gap…
Forgiving A Mistake In The Federal Budget
The Administration says that the budget deficit for the current fiscal year will be 5% higher than previously forecast which will puts the number above $1.8 trillion. The spread between the old number and…
Microsoft’s (MSFT) Debt Issue: The Ethics Of Giving Shareholders A Payout
Microsoft (MSFT) said it plans to make its first bond offering to raise an expected $3.75 billion. The move is extremely odd since the world’s largest software company has $25 billion and no debt.…
Short Sellers Move Into Banks, Out Of Tech (C)(BAC)(WFC)(DELL)(INTC)(CSCO)(MSFT)
Short sellers may have helped themselves by moving out of tech stocks just as shares in the sector began to make big advances. In the period ending. May 11, short interest in Microsoft (MSFT) fell 10% to…
Media Digest 5/12/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg
According to Reuters, Bernanke says he was encouraged by the stress tests. Reuters reports that GM (GM) will probably exit the Dow. Reuters writes that Bank of America (BAC) will probably sell its CCB…
Asia Markets And Europe Open
Markets in Asia were mixed. The Nikkei fell 1.6% to 9,299. The Hang Seng rose .6% to 17,191. The Shanghai Composite rose 1.5% to 2,618. In Europe, the FTSE was off .6 % to…
A Profitable MBIA… The Possible Impossibility (MBI, ABK)
MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) was on our schedule to report earnings tomorrow, but the troubled and former largest bond insurer somehow managed to post a profit for the quarter. We expected a loss, although…
Ford Motor Unloading More Shares To Raise Cash (F)
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) has announced that it will raise capital via a registered public offering of some 300 million shares of common stock. At the closing price of Ford today, this would…
Anadarko Raising Cash (APC)
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) has announced that it will be raising cash via a public secondary of its common stock. The exploration and production company in the oil and gas sector is selling…
Microsoft Debt Could Further Save Corporate Bond Markets (MSFT)
There is something far more important than the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) bond offering. It is even more important than why the company is raising the money. This Microsoft bond offering could act as…
The 24/7 Wall St.-The Channel Checkers Survey: Cheap Brands Selling At Wal-Mart (WMT)
Over the past week, we surveyed Walmart (WMT) stores to gauge trends at the largest bix box chain in the U.S. We asked the following questions: 1. How is business this month? 2. Do you have any…
24/7 Wall St.-The Channel Checkers: Zimiez (ZUMZ) Sales Still Weak
Over the past week, 24/7 Wall St.-The Channel Checkers surveyed Zumiez (ZUMZ) locations to gauge trends in the surf wear and skate wear clothing market. We asked the following questions: 1. Has there been an increase in…
The World’s Best CEOs
In the right hands, big turnarounds do happen. By Mark Gimein of The Big Money Once upon a time, there was a car company that was one of the world’s sickest. Its managers spent…