Gap Continues Turnaround
ThinkstockThe recovery continues at Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS). The apparel retail giant reported earnings growth of 60% to $308 million for net income. Its earnings per grew by 66% to $0.63 EPS and an…
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Jon C. Ogg
Bernanke Comments: Tighter Lending Standards Hurts Housing
ThinkstockFederal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was speaking at the Operation HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit in Atlanta, Georgia today. His speech was titled “Challenges in Housing and Mortgage Markets” and the focus was on…
Where is the Short Covering in Diamond Foods?
Diamond Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: DMND) has issued its restatements and shares being rewarded with fresh 52-week lows. This is becoming nothing short of a disaster. Usually we might expect that a short-covering rally would…
U.S. Postal Service Suffers Record Loss in 2012… $15.9 Billion
The U.S. Postal Service is supposed to be its own business outside of taxpayers. It even calls itself a self-supporting government enterprise. If it was a true business and not under the government, it would be…
World Gold Demand Lower in Q3, ETFs and India Saved Gold
ThinkstockIf you have been watching the price of gold in recent months the big assumption would be that global gold demand is through the roof. It isn’t. The World Gold Council (WGC) showed that…
November Philadelphia Fed Report: It Is Not Sunny in Philadelphia
This morning already brought a mostly in-line report from the Empire Manufacturing district of New York. That was still negative from New York, and now we have another drop being reported from the Philadelphia…
P&G Analyst Day Actions Not Enough for Activists, Even with More Share Buybacks
ThinkstockProcter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is hosting its 2012 Analyst Meeting today, and the actions may not be enough to satisfy the efforts of the activist investors going after P&G today. For starters, President…
Massive Surprise in Jobless Claims and Uptick in Consumer Prices
ThinkstockThursday brought a lot of economic reports for the markets to absorb. The Labor Department reported its October inflation report via the Consumer Price Index, and it also released a major disappointment to the…
Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades (ANF, AAPL, ADP, BHI, CVC, CTSH, CS, DD, F, GPN, HAL, HAR, HOLX, IAG, MGI, NTAP, PAYX, PWR, SB, SZYM, SPLS, TWC, WLT)
Jon OggThese are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen in Wall St. research calls this Thursday. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) raised to Outperform at William Blair ad raised…
Cisco Acquiring Cloupia to Extend Data Center Portfolio
courtesy of Cisco SystemsCisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is at it again, with yet one more acquisition. The company is acquiring Cloupia, a software company that automates converged data center infrastructure. Cisco will pay…
Big Changes to Argus Model Portfolios (EXC, DRI, IP, DUK, HNZ, DOW, COH, CAKE, MYL, VRTX)
The research team at Argus Research is making some changes to its theoretical model portfolios. It is making buy and sell recommendations in the Equity Income, Growth & Income and Mid-Cap Growth model portfolios.…
Buffett’s Significant Changes to Berkshire Hathaway Stock Holdings
Mark Hirschey / Wikimedia CommonsBerkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-B) (NYSE: BRK-A) and Warren Buffett have just released their most recent U.S.-listed equity holdings. Many changes had been made in the June quarter and Mr.…
Starbucks Acquiring Teavana, Stealing a Tea Empire for a Song
ThinkstockIf you want to see a merger that makes a whole lot of sense, it is the acquisition which was confirmed today. Teavana Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TEA) is going to be acquired by Starbucks…
Blackstone Now Wants All Portfolio Companies To Go Solar
thinkstockWith this being just after the election, you have to wonder about the timing even if it does make sense. Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX) announced on Wednesday that it is embarking on a…
Apple Analyst Raises Rating to Strong Buy
courtesy of AppleApple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) may have pulled back substantially from its highs, but one research upgrade has come out today. S&P Capital IQ raised its rating to Strong Buy from Buy. As…
FOMC Minutes Confirm More Communication Changes and Triggers
ThinkstockThe Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee from October 23–24, 2012 have been released. s we saw from Vice Chair Yellen yesterday, it sure seems as though some changes are going to be…
Credit Card Delinquencies Back on the Rise
For all practical purposes, credit card delinquencies have been improving and improving for close to the last three years. That is perhaps coming to an end. It was in October that Fitch showed a…
PIIGS Rating Twist: Unusual Upgrade For Ireland
ThinkstockUsually all you see is a ratings downgrade and an affirmed “negative outlook” when it comes to the sovereign credit ratings of Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain. That is not the case today.…
5 CEOs Who Should Have Been, And Are Not, Meeting With Obama
thinkstockToday is potentially a make or break day when it comes to a corporate voice on how to avert SOME of the issues with the coming fiscal cliff. Leaders of labor got meet with…
S&P Chart Sees 200-Day Moving Average Alert
ThinkstockAfter PPI and retail sales showed no major pressure, stocks are trying to find their footing after selling off considerably since the election. We are looking at the charts for guidance, particularly the SPDR S&P…