The minutes from the December FOMC meeting where rates were essentially taken to zero have now been released. What is interesting is that there is very little expected hope for anything great in 2009. …
Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd. (NYSE: ALDN) shares have risen sharply on new reports that the Israeli data security software provider was close to receiving a buyout offer from a Vector Capital Group affiliate. Israel’s…
Another prominent figure has reportedly taken his life amidst the turmoil of the financial markets. In this case, it appears that 74 year-old German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide. German newspaper Die Welt…
"Manufacturing is the worst it has been in decades." "Joblessness rose to its highest level in 37 years." "Consumer confidence fell to it the lowest level since measurements began 16 years ago." The "most…
Shares of Logitech International (NASDAQ: LOGI) are trading lower after the company withdrew its guidance. What is interesting is that the stock of this Swiss computer and gaming peripheral leader is holding up far…
Three days ago, Sprint (S) traded at $1.79. Today, it hit $2.32 in early trading, up 30%. AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ) are down during the same period, to some extent because analysts have…
Analysts at Oppenheimer upgraded Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) today following details from Steve Jobs about the condition of his health ahead of Macworld. If you remember, Oppenheimer downgraded Apple on December 17th following Jobs’ cancellation…
Westinghouse Electric, a subsidiary of Japan’s Toshiba Corporation, has signed an engineering, procurement, and construction contract with the Florida subsidiary of Progress Energy, Inc. (NYSE:PGN) to build two new nuclear power plants in Florida.…
Oil field services company Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE:WFT) announced that it has begun offering Senior Notes due in 2019. A subsidiary of Weatherford "will fully and unconditionally guarantee the notes on a senior unsecured…
LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) is living up to the doubts that many investors had in this stock. When times were good for solar and alternative energy players, many questioned the Chinese company. …
By John Tamny RealClearMarkets With England’s economy gasping in the mid 1970s due to a combination of nosebleed rates of taxation and a currency in freefall, the fortunes of many of its flagship companies…
Financial stocks may have enjoyed sizable bounces from their lows in November and December, but not all analysts are following them up. The insurrance sector and some of the re-insurance names have been downgraded…
Dow Chemical (DOW) seemed to be upset that the government of Kuwait walked out on the big joint venture they had agreed to. According to MarketWatch: Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) said Tuesday it would…
In July, the average price of gas in the US was $4.11. According to the carefully followed Lundberg Survey, the number was about $1.66 on Dec. 19. In some regions petrol dropped as low…
We have some key technology and consumer electronics stocks which are seeing upgrades and downgrades from Wall Street analysts this Tuesday morning. Here are some of the calls we have seen from this morning…
Many economists think that when consumers save money instead of spending it, a recession gets deeper. People start to stick money into mattresses for safe keeping in case they get fired. They may use…
E*TRADE Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: ETFC) has filed an automatic mixed securities shelf registration with the SEC to raise cash via the sale of securities. There were no financial terms nor any size indications given…
This week will reveal the economy’s tolerance for pain. Investors will find out the official unemployment rate finished for 2008. The consensus estimates from both Dow Jones and Bloomberg show a 7.0% unemployment rate…
The best way to handle trouble at a company during a recession is to dump the CEO. Someone probably keeps statistics on whether chief executives lose their jobs faster in a downturn than in…
Down in Washington, a bunch of Congressmen who lost their jobs and bunch of others taking lobbying money under the table for a piece of the bailout fund, are drawing and quartering the SEC.The…