Thursday, September 16, 2010

Daily Markets - Analyst Interviews: Health Care Review & Outlook

Daily Markets - Analyst Interviews: Health Care Review & Outlook


Analyst Interviews: Health Care Review & Outlook

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 03:05 PM PDT

The health care industry is currently undergoing a period of tremendous uncertainty due to the implications of the recent Health Care Reform Act — named the PPACA — after it becomes fully effective.

Why was the reform enacted?

Health care costs, which have risen rapidly in real terms in the last few decades, have strained state and federal budgets. The entire health care sector accounts for roughly 17% of the U.S. GDP, up from 5.2% in 1960. Further growth in health care costs remains … [visit site to read more]


Incyte, FDA Agree On Study Design

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 03:05 PM PDT

Recently, Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY) entered into an agreement with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for the design of a late-stage study (n~300) with its lead candidate INCB18424. The study will evaluate the candidate in patients suffering from advanced polycythemia vera (PV) who are not responding to hydroxyurea.

PV refers to a rare blood disease in which the body overproduces red blood cells. The extra red blood cells cause the blood … [visit site to read more]


Optimer’s Fidaxomicin Encourages

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 02:35 PM PDT

Recently, Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPTR) received a boost when its candidate fidaxomicin, which is being developed for treating adults suffering from clostridium difficile infection (CDI), fared well in late-stage multi-center, randomized, double-blind studies (n=1,164).

Results from the trials, presented at the 50th annual interscience conference on antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy in Boston, revealed that fidaxomicin was superior to vancomycin in treating CDI recurrence and in … [visit site to read more]


Sohu’s Takeover Rumors

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 02:05 PM PDT

The market is abuzz with rumors that China's leading online brand and Internet portal Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ:SOHU) could be acquired by the premier online search giant in China, Baidu.com (NASDAQ:BIDU). Baidu also happens to be Sohu's prime competitor.

Sohu's shares have so far reacted to various takeover rumors and soared 15% over the last month. The company has refrained from making any comment on this.

However, according to Silicon Valley's Tech Trader, the company's CEO Charles Zhang … [visit site to read more]


Oracle Gets Big Earnings Beat

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 02:05 PM PDT

Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ:ORCL) has reported fiscal first quarter 2011 earnings results after the bell Thursday, and the much-anticipated report did not disappoint Oracle investors. Citing strength in new software licensing, Oracle reported a 50% jump in revenues (non-GAAP) to $7.6 billion in the quarter. This amounts to an EPS of 42 cents per share, easily beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents.

Though shares of ORCL had been surging throughout the month of September thus far with the … [visit site to read more]


RIMM Tops Estimates, Ups Guidance

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 02:05 PM PDT

Research In Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:RIMM) did what it had to do in its fiscal second-quarter with better-than-expected EPS and revenue, and, more importantly, a solid outlook for the fiscal third quarter.

Now the question is: did it do enough to win over analysts that had been rather down on the company heading into the report?

After the market closed on Thursday, the smartphone giant announced earnings per share of $1.46, which easily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate at $1.35. With a year-over-year … [visit site to read more]


Consortium Of Suitors Targeting POT

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:35 PM PDT

News is rife that Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (NYSE:POT) is backing a group of investors to thwart the mining giant BHP Billiton's (NYSE:BHP) $38.6 billion taker over proposal. A Chinese major is suspected to contribute largely to the consortium with a lesser contribution coming from international sovereign wealth funds.

According to Associated Press, Sinochem Corp., the China-based chemical maker could lead the consortium as Sinochem is seeking approval from the Chinese government for … [visit site to read more]


Kodak Calls For Notes Redemption

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:35 PM PDT

Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) intends to redeem its entire outstanding 3.375% convertible senior notes due 2033 aggregating $11.2 million. The redemption date for the notes is October 15, 2010.
 
The notes will be redeemed for cash at a price equal to the principal amount of the notes plus accrued interest. The inflow would increase cash and cash equivalents in Kodak's balance sheet. This proves that the company remains focused on its goal of achieving positive cash … [visit site to read more]


DuPont Focuses On Africa

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:35 PM PDT

Chemical company, DuPont (NYSE:DD) through Pioneer Hi-Bred, its Lowa-based subsidiary is buying a majority interest in Pannar Seed Limited, the South African seed company. Pioneer is a part of DuPont's Agricultural and Nutrition segment which forms about 30% of the company's total revenue. Pioneer trades in genetically modified corn and soybean seeds in the region.

Pannar runs seed businesses in nine countries in Africa, including South Africa. The company also conducts research and … [visit site to read more]


St. Jude Launches Costa Rica Plant

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:35 PM PDT

Medical devices giant St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ) has reportedly inaugurated a new manufacturing plant in Costa Rica in a grand ceremony. The 350,000 square-foot facility, located in the El Coyol Free Zone, Alajuela, now employs more than 250 people.
 
St. Jude targets to create an additional 50 jobs before end-2010 and plans to invest $670 million in Costa Rica and eventually employ 2,000 people over the next five years. The new plant will specialize in the manufacture of heart valves … [visit site to read more]


NextEra: Equity Sale To Raise $350M

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:35 PM PDT

Electric utility NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) announced that it will raise $350 million by selling equities to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC. NextEra has also provided an option to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC to purchase an additional $52.5 million of equity units to cover over-allotments.

The units are priced at $50 each and are bound by a contract to purchase NextEra Energy common stock in the future and a 1/20th, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in an FPL Group … [visit site to read more]


Why Getting Tough With China Won’t Solve Our Jobs Problem

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:31 PM PDT

With unemployment in the stratosphere and the midterm elections weeks away, politicians naturally want to show voters they're committed to getting jobs back.
So now they're getting tough on China.
But it's a dangerous ploy based on wishful thinking.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner told the Senate Banking Committee Thursday the Administration is "examining the important question of what mix of tools, those available to the United States and multilateral approaches, might help encourage … [visit site to read more]


EU Tightens Short-Sale Norms

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:05 PM PDT

In an effort to restrain the excessive risk-taking attitude of traders while dealing with the complicated financial products such as derivatives, the European Union (EU) has proposed a number of initiatives for regulation on short-selling and credit default swaps.
 According to the proposal, participating traders need to disclose to the regulators any short position that represents more than 0.2% of the company's share. If the short position exceeds 0.5% of the company's share, a … [visit site to read more]


Broadridge Expands BPO Services

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:05 PM PDT

New York-based global outsourcing service provider Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (BR) recently completed a major expansion of its outsourcing solutions portfolio. The extended offerings will aid global financial institutions with more flexible access to Broadridge's outsourcing solutions.

In an answer to increasing demand for business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions, Broadridge will now include services beyond its securities processing functions. The newly added services will … [visit site to read more]


AK Steel Slashes 3Q Guidance

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:05 PM PDT

Shares of steel maker AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE:AKS) slipped 5.71% or 83 cents and closed at $13.70 on September 15, 2010 after the company forecasted operating losses in the third quarter of 2010. AK Steel foresees operating losses of $20 per ton in the third quarter in contrast to its previous guidance of $15 per ton of operating profits. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter is pegged at a loss of 2 cents.
AK Steel attributed the estimated loss primarily to the cost … [visit site to read more]


Covidien Unfolds FY11 Guidance

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 01:05 PM PDT

Leading healthcare product maker Covidien plc (NYSE:COV) has divulged its financial forecast for fiscal 2011. In a recent investor meeting, the Ireland-based company stated that it envisions net sales for the year to budge up 6%–9% year-over-year (assuming current foreign exchange rates). Covidien currently expects sales to grow 5%–8% in fiscal 2010.
 
The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $10.46 billion and $11.21 billion for fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011, respectively, … [visit site to read more]


Know Thyself (or Why An Open Kimono Often Leads To Frustration)

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 12:44 PM PDT

I am happy to announce a new contributor to the site- Christine song. Below is Christine's bio (which will also be under the about tab, under contributors), and her first article.
Christine Song – Global value investor with a passion for finding undervalued and underfollowed high quality small cap companies in which to invest. www.smallinvestinginsights.com
Did I know from a young age that I wanted to be a stock picker? No. Did my grandfather give me a share of IBM on my 5th birthday … [visit site to read more]


Regency Centers Gets AT&T As Lessee

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 12:35 PM PDT

Regency Centers Corp. (NYSE:REG), a leading operator and developer of grocery-anchored and community shopping centers across the U.S., has recently signed a lease agreement with AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), a premier global telecommunication services provider. The lessee will occupy the space at Beckett Commons shopping center in West Chester, Ohio.
 
Over the years, West Chester has emerged as the economic center of the Cincinnati-Dayton Metroplex, the regional commerce corridor connecting the two … [visit site to read more]


Lockheed Progresses On LCS Bid

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 12:35 PM PDT

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is progressing smoothly on the follow on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract bid for the U.S. Navy. Littoral Combat Ship is a vessel operating in coastal waters carrying out tasks like maritime interdiction, anti-submarine warfare and special operations support. The company along with its partner Marinette Marine Corporation submitted the final proposal revision contract to the U.S. Navy. 
 
Lockheed Martin’s bid is one of two competing bids for … [visit site to read more]


American Poverty Rising

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 12:35 PM PDT

The Census Bureau just released its report on poverty and health insurance coverage during 2009. As one would expect given the depth of the Great Recession, the results were not pretty. Below are the key findings about poverty from the report.

The official U.S. poverty rate in 2009 was 14.3 percent — up from 13.2 percent in 2008. This was the second statistically significant annual increase in the poverty rate since 2004.
In 2009, 43.6 million people were in poverty, up from 39.8 million in … [visit site to read more]


McAfee Joins Up With D-Link

Posted: 16 Sep 2010 12:35 PM PDT

Information Technology (IT) security solutions provider McAfee Inc. (MFE) has joined with end-to-end networking solutions provider D-Link. As per this recent agreement, D-Link will capitalize on the McAfee Global Threat Intelligence Web reputation and use it in conjunction with the company's Wishfi application to provide web-based advertising services to ISPs in North America.

The integration of its cloud-based Global Threat Intelligence with the D-Link Wishfi web communications will resolve … [visit site to read more]


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