The price for a barrel of crude has risen about 17% since the beginning of 2010, to near $92/barrel. Positive forecasts for global economic growth, combined with a weaker US dollar are responsible, and…
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) is trading higher this morning on reports that NASDAQ sent it a letter dated December 28, 2010 notifying the company that it has met all of the requirements to…
China displaced the US in 2009 as the world’s largest car market, and the number of Chinese auto buyers went up in 2010. Chinese buyers purchased 13.6 million vehicles in 2009 and that number…
Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) is trading higher this morning due to the announcement of “a significant natural gas discovery” at the Leviathan exploration prospect offshore Israel. Leviathan-1 is located in approximately 5,400 feet…
The rumors and thought of private equity in retail is going on and on, oddly enough with the same player. BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) is the newest target according to many web…
The week between Christmas and New Years is often a quiet week for research. That is the case here. These are some of this Wednesday’s key analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in Wall…
The mortgage-backed securities saga is far from over. A fresh suit has been filed in federal court in Manhattan by Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) against originator Countrywide Financial Corporation. The Countrywide suit of course…
When BHP Billiton plc (NYSE: BHP) made its $38.6 billion offer to buy Canada’s Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, China’s Sinochem Group considered making a rival offer for the Canadian fertilizer maker. That offer never…
There has been an amazing feat in 2010. All of the most recent companies which have been booted out of the Dow Jones Industrial Average have outperformed their replacement stocks and the broad market…
It would be difficult to come up with a more polarizing figure than departing director of the President’s National Economic Council, Larry Summers. Never known for his diplomatic skills, Summers has alienated just about…
In the international diplomatic game of tit-for-tat, the Chinese ministry of commerce has said it will begin an investigation into US dumping of livestock feed on China’s farm market. Earlier this month, the US…
The Conference Board released its reading of Consumer Confidence was above the red-line, albeit a bit less than expected. The reading fell to 52.5 for December, down from a revised 54.3 reading in November…
China’s online retail market turned over about $49 billion in business during 2010. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) will post about half that amount as revenue for the current fiscal year, and the total US…
The short sellers ran for cover yet again when it comes to the actively traded high-priced market leaders. There was hardly an exception. December 15 settlement date for the short interest was significantly lower…
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC) has announced that its RoxioNow platform will be used for a new video download and distribution platform for none other than Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD). We recently covered how…
These are some of this Tuesday’s key analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in Wall Street research calls. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) Reiterated Buy and $190 price target at BofA/ML (late-Monday call). General Motors…
Rare earth oxides (REOs) rare earth elements (REEs) aren’t just hot, nor are they just on fire. The have gone supernova. While there is an obvious bubble forming due to concerns of Chinese supply…
The government of Spain has officially cut its subsidies to the solar power industries by 30% in a move that is expected to save the government about $970 million. The decision has caused an…
Today’s research section is being hampered due to post-holiday absence and due to the Northeast blizzard having shut much of the Northeast down. These are some of this Monday’s key analyst upgrades, downgrades, and…
NGAS Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: NGAS) is no longer as actively known as it was previously. That will change temporarily as the company is now being acquired. The horizontal drilling and completion technology player in…