DailyMarkets.com - Stock Picks For Thursday: Eastman Kodak, THQ, Allied Irish Banks, Verisign

---

• Stock Picks For Thursday: Eastman Kodak, THQ, Allied Irish Banks, Verisign
• The Day Ahead: US Housing Starts, Initial Jobless Claims, Philadelphia Fed Survey
• Neutral On Optimer Pharma
• Earnings Preview: General Mills
• Hot Option Plays: Market Is Complacent
• C.R. Bard Initiates FY11 Guidance
• Analyst Interviews: Retail Industry Outlook
• Kellogg In Neutral Lane
• Rating Action On CINF
• Jacobs’ Construction Contracts
• Haemonetics Stays Neutral
• Good Data On Teva’s Laquinimod
• IN FOCUS: Cambria Global Tactical ETF (GTAA)
• 12/15 FX Options Report
• Closing Bell Market Monitor: NVS, ACL, SAM
• MoneyGram To Raise $500M
• Gerdau To Merge Villares & Prontofer
• Flowserve Closes Credit Facility
• Chevron Announces Twin Ventures
• Homebuilders Index Unchanged
• Thoratec Reaffirmed At Neutral
• Huntington Bancshares Rating Upped
• SurModics May Drop Pharma Unit
• Forex Trading: AUDUSD Tests Support At 38.2% And Holds
• Forex Trading: EURUSD Breaks Below The Channel Trendline
• Positive Data For Genomics Oncotype
• Positive Data For Genomics’ Oncotype
• Earnings Preview: Oracle
• Rio Tinto: Massive Investment Plans
• Forex Trading: USDJPY Last Hurdle At 84.44
• IPhone Added $2Billion To Trade Deficit W/China
• Crude Oil Climbs On EIA Inventory Data
• 10 Amazing Facts About Oil

Stock Picks For Thursday: Eastman Kodak, THQ, Allied Irish Banks, Verisign Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:09 PM PST ( click to enlarge ) I'm once again directing your attention to Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK). I think this is a crucial time for the stock and my optimism remains at all time highs. Looking at the technical chart above, the stock has been uptrending quietly over the past four months and now the technicals are indicating the stock could begin an even juicier rally. The Stochastic Oscillator is moving higher and MACD is gaining momentum while RSI is at 64. Money Flow has been solid as … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

The Day Ahead: US Housing Starts, Initial Jobless Claims, Philadelphia Fed Survey Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST 12/16/10 The stories, data, and stocks that may have the greatest impact during the next trading … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Neutral On Optimer Pharma Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:35 PM PST We are maintaining our Neutral recommendation on Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:OPTR) with a target price of $12.00. Headquartered in San Diego, California and founded in 1998, Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. focuses on discovering, developing and commercializing anti-infective products. The company is currently engaged in the development of products that treat gastrointestinal (GI) infections and related diseases where current therapies have limitations such as diminished efficacy, serious … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Earnings Preview: General Mills Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:35 PM PST General Mills Inc. (NYSE:GIS), one of the leading branded foods companies in the US, is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2011 financial results on Thursday, December 16, 2010. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is 78 cents a share. First-Quarter 2011, a Synopsis General Mills reported strong results for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. For the quarter, adjusted earnings increased 12.9% to 70 cents a share compared with 62 cents in the year-ago period. The quarterly EPS … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Hot Option Plays: Market Is Complacent Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:18 PM PST Cusick's Corner All eyes are going to be on the EU for the next couple of days as foreign ministers meet to discuss debt issues, specifically how they are going to continue to support it. The Euro, FXE, pulled back in front of this meeting, which has given way to support in the Dollar, UUP. Another currency that has been on the move to the downside is the Aussie Dollar, which explains the weakness in the metals, GLD/SLV. This has been a complacent market — VIX is at 17.94 (see info under … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

C.R. Bard Initiates FY11 Guidance Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:05 PM PST C.R. Bard (NYSE:BCR), which makes medical, surgical, diagnostic and patient care devices, has issued an upbeat outlook for fiscal 2011. At its annual analyst meeting, the New Jersey-based medical devices maker stated that it envisions adjusted (excluding special items) earnings per share for 2011 to grow 14% over its projected earnings for the current year.  Moreover, C.R. Bard expects net sales to grow in the range of 5-8% (in constant currency) for full-year 2011. The company has backed its … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Analyst Interviews: Retail Industry Outlook Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:35 PM PST With the economic backdrop steadily improving, albeit at a very slow pace, the outlook for the holiday shopping season has brightened. According to NRF's 2010 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $688.8 on holiday-related shopping, a slight rise from last year's $681.8. Given the macro challenges, consumers now prefer price over fit and merchandise quality as major determinants for their shopping … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Kellogg In Neutral Lane Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:35 PM PST We reiterated our Neutral recommendation on Kellogg Company (NYSE:K). Kellogg reported an EPS of 90 cents a share for the third quarter of fiscal 2010, which was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the EPS declined 4.3% year-over-year from 94 cents. Total net sales for the quarter dropped 4% to $3.2 billion, whereas operating profit plummeted 5% to $541 million. Excluding the effect of foreign currency translation, net sales decreased 2% and operating profit declined 3%. Weak … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Rating Action On CINF Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:35 PM PST This article has been unpublished. Walter, need new message.   CINCINNATI FINL (CINF): Free Stock Analysis … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Jacobs’ Construction Contracts Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:35 PM PST Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) has won construction contracts from Metrolink Light Rail System in UK and Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.   According to the agreement, Jacobs will be rendering design and construction services for the extension of the Metrolink system.  Although, the transaction value was not disclosed, the total construction cost is estimated at $590 million. Architect of the Capitol will be provided with one-year construction management services of … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Haemonetics Stays Neutral Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:05 PM PST Recently, we reiterated our Neutral recommendation on Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE) with a target price of $67.00. Haemonetics reported adjusted EPS of 80 cents in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4 cents. The adjusted EPS was 16% higher than the year-ago quarter. The company reported revenues of $166.8 million, up 6% compared with the year-ago period. However, revenues were lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $173 million. At constant … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Good Data On Teva’s Laquinimod Posted: 15 Dec 2010 02:05 PM PST Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ:TEVA) recently announced encouraging results on its multiple sclerosis candidate, laquinimod. Initial data on laquinimod, which is being developed with Active Biotech, indicated that patients treated with laquinimod experienced a statistically significant reduction in annualized relapse rate compared to placebo. The candidate also achieved other endpoints like significant reduction in disability progression. Laquinimod was found to be safe and … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

IN FOCUS: Cambria Global Tactical ETF (GTAA) Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:46 PM PST Launch Date: October 25, 2010 Links: Website, Factsheet, Prospectus Investment Strategy: GTAA is an actively-managed ETF that tries to achieve capital growth regardless of market direction, through investments in equities, fixed-income, commodities and currencies. GTAA is essentially a fund-of-funds that achieves its objectives by investing in other ETFs that provide the managers with the necessary exposures. The fund is managed and sub-advised by Cambria Investment Management. The managers aim … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

12/15 FX Options Report Posted: 15 Dec 2010 08:44 AM PST The USD held onto gains, following a slew of US data releases. The EUR weakened on a possible downgrade of Spain’s debt rating by … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Closing Bell Market Monitor: NVS, ACL, SAM Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:35 PM PST 12/15/10 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

MoneyGram To Raise $500M Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:35 PM PST On Tuesday, MoneyGram International Inc. (NYSE:MGI) announced the regulatory filing for the authorization of stock and debt offering worth $500 million. The company is pursuing to sell equity and preferred shares, debt securities or any combination of securities, depending on the capital needs and market conditions. The proceeds are expected to be utilized for general business operations. While the company has been vigorously eliminating its debt under the tranche B term loan, MoneyGram is also … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Gerdau To Merge Villares & Prontofer Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:35 PM PST Brazilian steel producer Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB) intends to merge Acos Villares S.A. ("Villares") and Prontofer Serviços de Construção Ltda. ("Prontofer") in order to integrate the activities of the three companies. Pursuant to the completion of the merger, both Prontofer and Villares will lose their individual identities with their assets, rights, properties, obligations and responsibilities transferred to Gerdau. Gerdau has received a favorable response for the proposed merger from its … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Flowserve Closes Credit Facility Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:35 PM PST Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) has structured a new $1 billion, five-year credit facility, which includes a $500 million term loan and a $500 million revolver that the company can increase, subject to certain conditions, by up to $200 million. This is an arrangement with the Bank of America, N.A (NYSE:BAC). The new facility supports the strength and stability of the company's capital structure. More favorable lending covenants will help enhance its operational flexibility and cash flow … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Chevron Announces Twin Ventures Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:05 PM PST Amberjack Pipeline Company LLC, a joint venture of Chevron Pipe Line Company and Shell Pipeline Company LP, received approval for the installation of crude oil pipeline in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico ("GoM"). Chevron Pipe Line Company is an indirectly, wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) while Shell Pipeline Company LP is an affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS.A). The proposed pipeline, about 36 miles long and 24 inches thick, will extend from the Jack and St. Malo fields … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Homebuilders Index Unchanged Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:05 PM PST The National Association of Homebuilders Housing Market Index (HMI) was unchanged this month at a very depressed level of 16. It is a "magic 50" index, so any reading below 50 indicates a contraction in the housing market. As the graph below shows (from http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/) the HMI generally tracks new housing starts pretty well. It did start turning south well before the peak of single-family starts, but crossed the 50 line just about the same time that housing starts began … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Thoratec Reaffirmed At Neutral Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:05 PM PST We reiterate our Neutral rating on Thoratec Corp (NASDAQ:THOR), a leading provider of therapies which addresses advanced-stage heart failure. Third-quarter fiscal 2010 revenues and earnings both beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, boosted by sustained healthy adoption of the company's HeartMate II Venricular Assist Devices ("VAD"), used to support heart failure patients. Thoratec has maintained a positive earnings surprise streak, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimates in the first three … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Huntington Bancshares Rating Upped Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:35 PM PST Following the announcement by Huntington Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:HBAN) of its capital raising plan to support the repayment of the bailout loan received under the U.S. Government's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), Fitch Ratings have upgraded the ratings on the company. The long-term issuer default rating of Huntington Bancshares was upgraded by Fitch to "BBB+" from "BBB". Both the ratings are investment grade. The default rating for Huntington National Bank, Huntington Bancshares' … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

SurModics May Drop Pharma Unit Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:35 PM PST In a bid to focus extensively on its Medical Device and In Vitro Diagnostics units, SurModics Inc. (NASDAQ:SRDX) announced that it will explore options regarding its Pharmaceuticals division. The company may even sell off the unit to meet the objective. SurModics, a provider of surface modification and drug delivery technologies to the healthcare industry, has been delivering below-par performances over the past few quarters. The company has been taking various measures aimed at cutting costs and … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex Trading: AUDUSD Tests Support At 38.2% And Holds Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:24 PM PST … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex Trading: EURUSD Breaks Below The Channel Trendline Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:15 PM PST The pair needs to move back above the 1.3232 level to lessen the bearish bias for the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Positive Data For Genomics Oncotype Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:05 PM PST Genomic Health (NASDAQ:GHDX), an oncology based biotech company, recently presented results from seven new studies for its flagship product, Oncotype DX breast cancer test. Data presented at a recently held breast cancer conference confirmed that the Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (RS) can accurately predict chemotherapy benefit and recurrence risk in early-stage breast cancer patients. A meta-analysis of seven studies conducted with 912 patients observed a large impact of RS on treatment decisions of … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Positive Data For Genomics’ Oncotype Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:05 PM PST Genomic Health (NASDAQ:GHDX), an oncology based biotech company, recently presented results from seven new studies for its flagship product, Oncotype DX breast cancer test. Data presented at a recently held breast cancer conference confirmed that the Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (RS) can accurately predict chemotherapy benefit and recurrence risk in early-stage breast cancer patients. A meta-analysis of seven studies conducted with 912 patients observed a large impact of RS on treatment decisions of … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Earnings Preview: Oracle Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:05 PM PST Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ:ORCL) is expected to report its second quarter fiscal 2011 earnings on December 16, 2010, after market close. The stock has been trending upward, following the release of the strong quarterly results in September. Oracle's shares are currently trading near their 52-week high price. Recently, a federal jury in California ordered SAP AG (NYSE:SAP) to pay $1.3 billion, one of the highest amounts ever paid in software piracy, to Oracle as a compensation for copyright infringement. In … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Rio Tinto: Massive Investment Plans Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:05 PM PST Rio Tinto Plc. (NYSE:RIO) decided to invest $758 million in the AP60 plant in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec to enhance its production at a reduced cost. Further, an investment of $300 million has been declared for erecting a Kitimat smelter in British Columbia The former amount will increase production by approximately 40% while the latter will increase by 48.0%. The AP60 plant is expected to have annual production capacity of 60,000 tons of aluminium by 2013. Rio Tinto queued up a massive … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Forex Trading: USDJPY Last Hurdle At 84.44 Posted: 15 Dec 2010 11:56 AM PST A move above 84.40 should have cleared the way to a momentum move higher. The problem is the price has one last hurdle at the channel trendline at the 84.44 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

IPhone Added $2Billion To Trade Deficit W/China Posted: 15 Dec 2010 11:45 AM PST Turn over your iPhone and you’ll see that it’s “assembled in China.” But that doesn't mean that most of the profits or revenue go there. In fact, only about $6.54 (a little more than than 1%) of the full $600 retail price of an iPhone goes to China and more than 60% goes directly to Apple and other American companies (see chart above), according to a “teardown report” by iSuppli that was featured in a July New York Times article.  It also doesn’t mean that your … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

Crude Oil Climbs On EIA Inventory Data Posted: 15 Dec 2010 11:43 AM PST 12/15/10 Crude oil futures advanced on the latest EIA data: inventories declined by 9.9 million barrels in the latest … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

10 Amazing Facts About Oil Posted: 14 Dec 2010 10:00 PM PST Lucas Oil Gusher at Spindletop Like gold, the human connection with oil goes back centuries. Initially used for heating and light, oil has now become the lifeblood of industrialized nations. The Swedish bank Carnergie recently put together some quick facts about oil that are worth sharing. World's First Oil Production: Way back in the year 327, Chinese engineers used bamboo pipelines to drill 240 meters below the surface to extract the earliest drops of oil. Carnegie notes that back then, … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Best CD Rates

You are subscribed to email updates from DailyMarkets.com To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610