Can B of A Really Pay the TARP Back That Fast? (BAC, C)
Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) is now claiming it could pay back the TARP monies late in 2009 or in 2010, earlier than expected. In a report from the Charlotte Observer, CEO Ken…
All Work
Douglas A. McIntyre
Goldman Sachs Downgrades Rio Tinto plc (RTP) to Sell
Goldman Sachs downgrades Rio Tinto plc (NYSE: RTP) from Hold to Sell citing problematic debt and forecasted losses in the aluminum division for the next two years. The firm also said there is…
Valero Takes the VeraSun Prize (VLO, ADM, VSUNQ)
Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE:VLO) has won the auction for seven ethanol plants formerly owned by VeraSun Energy Corporation (VSUNQ), which is now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Valero will pay $477 million for the plants.…
Top Analyst Upgrades (AAP, AZO, ED, CRH, DHR, LLY, INTC, LEAP, ORLY, SEIC)
These are te upgrades and positive research calls that we have seen from Wall Street this Wednesday morning: Advance Auto Parts (AAP) Started as Outperform at Baird. AutoZone (AZO) Started as Outperform at Baird.…
Top Analyst Downgrades (AEG, ASTI, AVR, NU, RDS-A)
These are the top analyst downgrades and negative research calls we have seen on Wall Street this Wednesday morning: Aegon (AEG) Cut to Sell at UBS. Ascent Solar (ASTI) Cut to Sell at Cantor…
AIG (AIG) May Pay Money To Hedge Funds
Since AIG (AIG) is handing out money to anyone it can find, why not give some cash to hedge funds to help them show profits and potentially make their partners millions of dollars. According…
Beginning To Think The Worst About China’s Growth
The sound of China’s claims that its economy will grow at 8% or better this year are getting faint. According to the FT, “The World Bank lowered its forecast for China’s GDP growth this…
IBM (IBM) To Pay Too Much For Sun (JAVA)
In a weak economy, troubled companies should never be bought at a premium. No one has mentioned that to IBM (IBM) which is looking at paying $10 a share for Sun Micro (JAVA) which…
AIG (AIG): Paying Taxpayers Back With Taxpayer Money
Using the oblique reasoning techniques of politicians, the Administration has decided to get back the big bonuses that AIG(AIG) paid to some of its employees by withholding the next of many payments made to…
Falling In Love With The Sucker Rally (C)(GE)(SIRI)(AAPL)
The market rise of the last two weeks has been described as a “sucker” or a bear market rally. One means about the same as the other. The premise is that the long term…
General Motors (GM) Checkmates Obama In Two Moves
The wooden but plucky CEO of GM (GM), Rick Wagoner, told the press that if his company is allowed to go into Chapter 11, it will end up being a simple liquidation. GM will…
Media Digest 3/18/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg
According to Reuters, AIG (AIG) will have to pay taxpayers back for bonuses it paid out before it can get its next $30 billion in loans. Reuters reports that Coke (KO) is being blocked…
IPO FILING: Changyou.com, Chinese MMORPG (CYOU)
It has been a while since we had an IPO filing and the IPO market has been a ghost town with only a handful of deals since last summer. Changyou.com, a Chinese MMORPG video…
Oil ETF’s & The Return of $50 Oil (OIL, USO, OIH, DXO, DIG)
Oil flirted with the $50.00 handle today, which would be close to a 4-month high. This also marked the end of the April contract expiration, so now we roll over to May. April delivery…
The 52-Week Low Club (SHS)(CHTR)(ENER)
Sauer-Danfoss (SHS) Loses money. Suspends dividend. Drops to $3.03 from 52-week high of $37.93. Chartered Semiconductor (CHRT) No major news. Down to $.65 from 52-week high of $7.05. Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) Solar energy…
AIG (AIG) Bonuses: Who’s To Say They Did Not Earn Them?
In a letter from NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to Rep Barney Frank, the AG’s office disclosed the results of its investigation of the amount of money paid to certain AIG (AIG) employees as…
DuPont Ignores Solar Market Woes (DD)
DuPont, or EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (NYSE: DD), has announced an initiative today that would have been cheered by investors a few months ago. The company is continuing to expand its solar…
Discovery Says Amazon Kindle Infringes Its Patent (DISCA, DISCB, DISCK, AMZN)
Discovery Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) has filed a patent infringement suit against Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) regarding the Amazon Kindle e-book reader.
ADM Pursuing Brazilian Ethanol? (ADM)
A Brazilian newspaper reports this morning that Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) may purchase the Brazilian ethanol group Unialco, together with a mill belonging to Da Mata. According to the news report, a…
Car Companies Face Rapidly Deteriorating Dealer Financials (GM)(TM)(F)(HMC)
For over a year, analysts have said that one of the largest problems car companies face is dealers who go bankrupt. It is actually a double-edged sword. If under-performing franchises fold, it can help other…