Friday, December 3, 2010

DailyMarkets.com - Myth Busted: Don’t Be Conned Into Buying “Numismatic” Or “Collectible” Gold Coins

DailyMarkets.com - Myth Busted: Don’t Be Conned Into Buying “Numismatic” Or “Collectible” Gold Coins


Myth Busted: Don’t Be Conned Into Buying “Numismatic” Or “Collectible” Gold Coins

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 05:39 PM PST

If you’ve spent enough time in the gold community, you might be under the impression that the most imminent threat to the average American isn’t terrorism or unemployment, but rather gold confiscation. Starting with the fact that FDR confiscated gold during the last Great Depression, and continuing to the quite accurate forecast that we are headed into an even Greater Depression, unscrupulous coin dealers have been pushing investors to buy expensive “numismatic” or “collectible” … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Setback For Valeant Epilepsy Drug

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 03:05 PM PST

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE:VRX) and GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE:GSK) recently announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response letter (CRL) for the new drug application (NDA) for their epilepsy candidate, ezogabine. The regulatory body said that the CRL was for non-clinical reasons. Valeant and Glaxo are currently evaluating the letter and plan to file a response to the FDA in 2011.
The companies are seeking approval for ezogabine both in the US and … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Setback For Valeant Epilepsy Drug

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 03:05 PM PST

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE:VRX) and GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE:GSK) recently announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response letter (CRL) for the new drug application (NDA) for their epilepsy candidate, ezogabine. The regulatory body said that the CRL was for non-clinical reasons. Valeant and Glaxo are currently evaluating the letter and plan to file a response to the FDA in 2011.
The companies are seeking approval for ezogabine both in the US and … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Acquisition By EMS’s EmCare

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 03:05 PM PST

Emergency Services Corporation's (NYSE:EMS) EmCare segment has decided to acquire Milford Anesthesia Associates, an anesthesia provider based in Milford. With approximately 100 clinicians the anesthesia company in-sources its services to 9 hospitals and 18 ambulatory surgical centers. The transaction, to be closed in the next 30 days, is expected to contribute $40 million of net revenue annually.
Emergency Medical has entrenched its leading position based on organic and inorganic growth. The … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Interpublic Group’s Partnership

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 03:05 PM PST

Octagon, an Athletes and Personalities Division of Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) is partnering with Impact Mobile Inc., a leading provider of mobile messaging and technology, in order to promote its athletes and sport activities through mobile networking. This would definitely bring the Octagon group into the limelight with mobile users.
Interpublic Group's prime strategy is to grow either through product or geographical diversification. Interpublic Group continues to look for … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Wisconsin Energy’s New Policy

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 02:35 PM PST

Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Energy Corporation (NYSE:WEC) has announced the revision of its dividend policy for 2011 and beyond, as decided at a regular meeting of the company's directors.
Wisconsin Energy's newly adopted policy targets a dividend payout ratio in the range of 50% to 55% of earnings in 2011 and subsequent years. The revised payout target is substantially above the company's previous target range of 40%-45% of earnings for 2011 and 45%-50% of earnings for 2012.
The quarterly … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Flowserve Shell’s Preferred Supplier

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 02:35 PM PST

Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) has been picked as the sole source supplier of control valves facilitating upstream and downstream applications for capital projects, maintenance, repair and other services at Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A).
Flowserve will develop processes and solutions for Shell's capital-intensive projects and production lifecycle applications. The agreement is for five years with an option for another five years.
Over the last several years, emerging markets around the globe have … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Neutral On Incyte

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 02:05 PM PST

We are maintaining our Neutral recommendation on Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY) with a target price of $17.00.
Incyte is a Wilmington, Delaware based drug discovery and development company with a focus on oral compounds to treat HIV, inflammation, cancer and diabetes. The company has transformed itself from a genomic-based information supplier to a fully integrated drug discovery and development organization. The company’s lead compound, INCB18424, an oral janus-associated kinases (JAK) antagonist … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Health Care REIT Prices Share Offer

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 02:05 PM PST

Health Care REIT Inc. (HCN), a real estate investment trust (REIT) that operates senior housing and health care real estate, has recently announced plans to offer 10.0 million common shares at $43.75 each to raise cash. The company had earlier announced its offer of 9 million shares. Health Care REIT will also grant the underwriters an option to purchase an additional 1.5 million shares to cover any over-allotments.
BofA Merrill Lynch, the investment banking and wealth management division of … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Hot Topic’s Negative Comps Better

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 02:05 PM PST

Hot Topic Inc. (NASDAQ:HOTT), a shopping mall-based specialty retailer, remained in the red with same-store sales sliding 2.1% in November 2010.
This marked the 19th consecutive month of falling same-store sales. However, the drop in same-store sales narrowed considerably from a decline of 11.7% witnessed in the prior-year month.
It should be noted that the company had last registered same-store sales growth of 3.1% in April 2009.
Hot Topic recorded a 1.8% drop in total sales, for the month, … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Closing Bell Market Monitor: PAY, WLT, CIE

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:38 PM PST

12/03/10 The latest in news, commentary, and information on what’s moving the US equities markets. Watch this broadcast LIVE at 4:00 pm EST daily @ … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Rite Aid Comps Still In Red

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:35 PM PST

Rite Aid Corp. (RAD), one of the nation's leading drugstore chains, reported yet another month of poor same-store sales. After falling 1.7% in October 2010, same-store sales slipped by 1.3% in November. This marks the 18th consecutive month of decline — since May 2009, when it had registered positive same-store sales of 0.6%.
For the month under review, Rite Aid posted sales of $2,370 million, down 2.3% from the year-ago month.
Front-End Same-Store Sales
As per the company, front-end … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


ISM Service Index Rises

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:35 PM PST

The Institute for Supply Management's Non-Manufacturing — or Service — survey rose in November to 55.0 from 54.3 in October. Like its venerable brother, the Manufacturing survey, this is a "magic 50" index, where any reading above 50 indicates that the economy is expanding and anything below 50 represents an economic contraction. Thus, this means that the Service side of the economy, which is far larger than the manufacturing side, is not only growing, but the rate of growth accelerated … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Quicksilver Draws 2011 Capex Plans

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:35 PM PST

Quicksilver Resources Inc. (NYSE:KWK) outlined its capital spending plans and provided its production volumes guidance for 2011.
Quicksilver Resources expects capital expenditure in 2011 to approximate $455 million. Of the capital budget for 2011, the company has slated roughly $280 million for drilling and completion activities, $85 million for gathering and processing facilities, $50 million for leasehold and $40 million for other property and equipment.
Regionally, Quicksilver Resources plans … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Perfect SAT Math Scores: Male-Female Ratio Of 2:1

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:21 PM PST

In September I had a post about the 2010 Math SAT test results, and reported on the gender differences in favor of males, who scored 34 points higher on average this year than their female counterparts.  This follows a persistent 30+ point differential in favor of male high school students that goes back to at least the early 1970s. 

This is a follow-up to that post, and the chart above (click to enlarge) displays the results of the 2010 Math SAT test by gender for all scores … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


CBST’s Fast-Injection Cubicin OK’d

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:05 PM PST

Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CBST) received a boost recently as the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved a two-minute intravenous injection version of its antibiotic Cubicin (daptomycin). Cubicin is approved in the US and several other markets as a once-a-day, 30-minute infusion for the treatment of severe bacterial infections of the skin and bloodstream.
Besides granting approval to the 2-minute injection, the FDA asked the company to incorporate several changes to the Cubicin … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Employment Report In-Depth (pt. 1)

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:35 PM PST

The economy added a total of 39,000 jobs in November. That is far below consensus expectations for a gain of 130,000. Government payrolls declined by 11,000 and the private sector added a total of 50,000. The consensus was looking for a decline of 10,000 Government jobs and thus a gain of 140,000 private sector jobs.
 
The job growth was not enough to drive the unemployment rate down, and it rose to 9.8%. The numbers for September and October were revised higher — the one silver lining in … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Employment Report In-Depth (pt. 2)

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:35 PM PST

(Note: This article is a continuation from “Employment Report In-Depth [pt. 1].”)

Long-Term Unemployment

Long-term unemployment is a very different experience than short-term unemployment. It is not just an unplanned vacation, it is an existential treat to your standard of living. When you lose your job you don't know how long it will take you to find a new one.

You get unemployment insurance benefits (usually, but not always) but in general, they cover just 60% of what you were earning … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Crude Oil Wavers After Jobs Report

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:29 PM PST

12/03/10 Crude oil futures fluctuated following the US employment report. Oil ended at a two-year high, adding 6.5% for the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Quick Update: Which Are The Strongest And Weakest Sectors Right Now?

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:20 PM PST

With the S&P 500 batting up against new recovery highs, what does the short-term sector rotation/strength model show us?  Good question!

Let's take a look at the recent move off the 1,040 level (September lows) to the present push to the 1,220 level (early December) and take note of the strongest sectors and insights from the model.

Here's the graph:

What's funny is that the graph above is almost identical to that I showed on November 14th's similar Sector … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Supply And Demand To Support New Metals ETF

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:17 PM PST

As the overall health of the US labor force continues to remain in question and Central Banks in the developed world continue to implement loose monetary policies, the appeal of metals remains intact resulting in the introduction of ETF Securities newest metals ETF, the ETFS Physical White Metals Basket Shares (WITE).
WITE, which started trading today, is the first US physically backed ETF to exclusively hold silver, platinum and palladium in equal fixed weights.  According to the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Axcan To Acquire Eurand

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:15 PM PST

Axcan Holdings Inc. recently announced that it plans to acquire all the outstanding shares of Eurand NV (NASDAQ:EURX) for $583 million or $12.00 per share. Axcan plans to commence a tender offer for all the outstanding shares of Eurand shortly, with the intention of closing the deal in the second quarter of 2011.
With the acquisition of Eurand, Axcan will gain access to Eurand's lead product, Zenpep, which is marketed in the United States since November 2009, for the treatment of exocrine … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Sunoco To Offload Toledo Refinery

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:15 PM PST

Leading transportation fuel provider Sunoco Inc. (SUN) entered into a definite agreement with Toledo Refining Company LLC for the sale of an oil refinery in Toledo, Ohio. Toledo Refining is an affiliate of PBF Holding Company LLC and will pay approximately $400 million for the deal.
Under the terms of the agreement, Toledo Refining will also acquire the crude oil and refined product inventory attached to the refinery, valued at market prices on the closing day. Despite the sale of the refinery, … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Wyndham To Acquire James Villa

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 12:15 PM PST

Parsippany, New Jersey-based Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:WYN) announced that it will acquire James Villa Holidays, a vacation rental specialist in the U.K., for $77 million. The purchase will be made through Wyndham's Exchange and Rentals business unit. The company will buy James Villa from the private equity firm Vespa Capital.
James Villa's portfolio of 2,300 villas in more than 50 destinations in U.K. will complement Wyndham’s existing network of 85,000 vacation properties in … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Gold – A Rally To $1600 Is A Likely Scenario For The Coming Months

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 11:54 AM PST

There is a good reason why the U.S. government prints the phrase "In God We Trust" on the currency. You have to have faith that the pieces of papers you carry in your wallet have value and that you can exchange goods and services for those bits of paper. Fiat money is not "backed up" by anything; intrinsically it is useless paper (nowadays not even that, but mere electronic bookkeeping entries). It is valuable only as far as people believe in its anticipated purchasing … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


Sentiment Update: Individual Investors Remain Bullish

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 11:32 AM PST

By Seeking Delta of http://seekingdelta.wordpress.com
The NAAIM (active money managers) survey for this week showed a modest decrease in bullish sentiment while the AAII (individual investors) survey showed a modest increase in bullish sentiment.

click to enlarge

This week, active managers have, on average, a 62% allocation to equities. This is down from 67% last week. The median allocation fell to 82% while the top quartile of active managers have an allocation of 100% or greater … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates


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