Canadian Finance Blog

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Caution: Lifestyle Inflation Ahead Posted: 31 May 2011 02:00 AM PDT My wife and I are building a new house, which should be completed in the next two months.  The building process can be very nerve-racking as we go through every painstaking detail in hopes that the final product lives up to our high expectations.  All of the time and stress should be worth it in the end when we finally get settled in and can relax in our new home. Lifestyle Inflation Ahead Unfortunately, moving into a brand new home can come with some lofty expectations in the form of lifestyle inflation. Whether we admit it or not, lifestyle inflation starts to creep into most of our lives as we get older and our salaries increase. We upgraded our house for a few different reasons, most importantly to support our growing family.  But the fact remains that our new house is bigger and more expensive than what we are used to, and we need to be cautious of how this will influence our lifestyle. Suddenly our old furniture and appliances won’t really “go” with our new decor.  Now that we have all of these additional rooms and extra space we may feel the urge to fill it with new stuff.  Parking my 12 year-old beater of a car in the driveway next to all the brand new cars and SUV’s might lower my self esteem.  It could be painful watching our neighbours roll out their beautiful new sod while we throw down seeds just hoping something takes root. Prioritize Your Upgrades We have planned for this move for close to two years now so we definitely know what we’re getting ourselves into.  We’ve listed and prioritized the things we will need to buy right away once we move in, and the rest of the home upgrades can be phased in over time. High Priority (Immediate Need): Air Conditioning is a must have since my wife suffers from MS and is greatly affected by the heat.  We are moving into our new house in the middle of summer, so having A/C installed will be one of our top priorities.  We can actually claim it as a medical expense and can receive a tax credit for $1,000. Window coverings will need to be purchased right away, again to help control the heat in the summer and so we aren’t known as the weird house with tinfoil on our windows.  In the past I’ve purchased window coverings at Blinds.Ca and saved nearly half the retail cost on quality name brands. Central Vac is roughed-in and, since we had that in our old place as well, we will need to purchase another central vacuum system for our new house.  We purchased our last central vacuum at Costco for around $600, but this time around we will look into a group buying site to see if there are any deals to be found online. Medium Priority (6-12 Months): Landscaping the front and backyard will most likely be left until next Spring.  Waiting to landscape on a new lot is often recommended anyway to give the ground time to settle.  We might get the front yard done right away if we have the time and have money left over in our “move-in” budget. Building our fence can wait until next Spring as well.  It looks like our house will be completed before either of our neighbours’, but since we share the fence it makes sense to wait until both neighbours are ready so we can split the costs (and labour) and agree upon the type of wood used. New furniture will be needed for the 2nd living room (“great room”) but we will initially try and get by with an old futon and chair in that space and use it as a playroom for our daughter.  Most of our time will be spent in the main living room, and we already have decent furniture that’s only a few years old.  We’re on the lookout for a new couch and chair (or sectional), but not in a major hurry to buy just yet. Low Priority (2-4 Years): Finishing the basement is at the bottom of our priority list, mainly due to the cost but also the fact that we will already have more than enough living space to suit our current needs as a family.  The cost to have the basement professionally done would be around $15,000 – $20,000.  We could try the do-it-yourself route to save a bit of money, but that is typically very time consuming and the quality is never perfect.  Our plan is to phase in a guestroom and bathroom after a couple of years and then complete the remainder of the basement when time and money permit. I have been very cautious to avoid lifestyle inflation.  We lived in a two bedroom, one bathroom starter home for the past 8 years and have completely adjusted to single income living now for nearly two years.  I know that we have a good handle on our finances but at the same time it’s a bit scary to jump into a new situation. With some careful planning we can enter this new phase in our lives in much the same way that we have lived in previous years.  I hope that the only increase in our recurring monthly expenditures is from a larger mortgage payment and not from trying to keep up with the Jones’. When your salary increases or when you move into a new house does your lifestyle increase too? Related Posts: Real and Nominal Rates of Return The Many Costs of Moving Canadian Home Resales Set Record For July Caution: Lifestyle Inflation Ahead originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on May 31, 2011.

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DailyMarkets.com - Forex – EUR/USD Up In Asian Trade

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• Forex – EUR/USD Up In Asian Trade
• Stock Market Summary For Monday, May 31, 2011 (Major Indexes Rise For Fourth Straight Day-S&P 500 And Nasdaq Composite Back Above 21-Day Moving Averages)
• Forex – USD/JPY Down During Asian Trade
• Fiat To Buy Government Stake In Chrysler
• Forex Trading: NZD Terms Of Trade Index
• Alliant Adds To SM-3 Missile Success
• Forex – NZD/USD Up In Asian Trade
• The Day Ahead: ADP Employment Report, ISM Manufacturing Index, Construction Spending, Auto Sales, Mortgage Applications
• Hot Option Plays: Headline Away From Adding Volatility
• Positive Data For UCB’s Cimzia
• Meet Kevin Cook
• Wisconsin Energy Still At Neutral
• Look To Dividends For Income
• American Tower Revert To Neutral
• Meet Kevin Cook
• Xerox Acquires NewField IT
• Philip Morris’ Smoking Option
• Meet Kevin Cook
• Accenture Wins Banking Deal
• AngioDynamics Boosts VenaCure
• A.M. Best Avows Aflac’s Strength
• Closing Bell Market Monitor: ASH, OPTR, AAPL
• Forex – EUR/USD Up At The End Of U.S. Session
• Forex – USD/JPY Up Toward The End Of U.S. Session
• Analyst Interviews: Health Insurance Stock Outlook
• NYSE, NASDAQ Eye LCH.Clearnet
• Goodyear Redeems Sr. Notes
• Telefonica Lowered To Neutral
• Restaurant Current Situation Index Reaches 100.3 In April, The Highest Level In April Since July 2007
• Forex – EUR/USD Up Toward The End Of U.S. Session
• U.S. Markets Close Higher; Dow Jones Up 1.03%
• Chevron Secures Bulgarian Tender
• Citi Partners With Bank Of Baghdad
• Neutral On Diamond Offshore
• Help End The Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex
• Forex – GBP/USD Down During The U.S. Session
• Drill, Drill, Drill = Jobs, Jobs, Jobs In Pennsylvania
• FINRA Fines BofA, Credit Suisse
• Lockheed Martin Retains Stability
• Lockheed Martin Retains Stability
• L-3 Comm In Neutral Lane
• AUD/JPY To Confirm Triangle Breakout To The Upside To Target 90.00
• How Investors Can Profit From Rising Platinum Prices
• Forex – USD/CAD Down In U.S. Trade
• Ford’s Car Pricy, Cost Escalates
• Zacks Initiates Coverage Of XZERES
• HP Secures Healthways Deal
• Pebblebrook Acquires Viceroy Hotel
• Earnings Scorecard: Ralph Lauren
• Forex – EUR/USD Up In U.S. Trading Hours
• If You Tax Large Firms You Get Fewer Of Them, If You Subsidize Small Firms, You Get More Of Them
• Germany To Be Nuclear Energy Free By 2022
• Bank Of Canada Holds Rate At 1.00%

Forex – EUR/USD Up In Asian Trade Posted: 31 May 2011 05:05 PM PDT Forex Pros – The Euro was higher against the U.S. Dollar on Wednesday.<br/><br/> EUR/USD was trading at 1.4421, up 0.17% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 1.4130, Friday&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 1.4437, Tuesday&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Meanwhile, the Euro was up against the British Pound and down against the Japanese Yen, with EUR/GBP gaining 0.06% to hit 0.8757 and EUR/JPY falling 0.13% to hit … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Stock Market Summary For Monday, May 31, 2011 (Major Indexes Rise For Fourth Straight Day-S&P 500 And Nasdaq Composite Back Above 21-Day Moving Averages) Posted: 31 May 2011 04:28 PM PDT Our current stock market direction outlook is: Short Term: Bearish Long Term: Bullish If you are interested in reading our daily stock market commentary and analysis details then please visit our other website at: http://brettsstockmarketpulse.blogspot.com We also have market signals for bonds, the US Dollar, oil, gold, sectors, and a focus list of stocks we feel have strong fundamentals posted on our other website. They each have their own webpage. or Get a Free analysis of your portfolio … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex – USD/JPY Down During Asian Trade Posted: 31 May 2011 04:15 PM PDT Forex Pros – The U.S. Dollar was lower against the Japanese Yen on Tuesday.<br/><br/> USD/JPY was trading at 81.45, down 0.09% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 80.71, Friday&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 82.03, Thursday&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar was down against the Euro and the British Pound, with EUR/USD gaining 0.28% to hit 1.4437 and GBP/USD rising 0.13% to hit … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Fiat To Buy Government Stake In Chrysler Posted: 31 May 2011 03:57 PM PDT 05/31/11 Fiat SpA will buy the US Treasury’s remaining 6% stake in Chrysler. The Italian automaker will own a majority share in the US … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex Trading: NZD Terms Of Trade Index Posted: 31 May 2011 03:51 PM PDT The 1st quarter reading for the New Zealand Terms of Trade Index improved quarter over quarter by a surprising 0.9%, despite weather related disasters in NZ and the region (0.6% prior). The kiwi bounced toward yesterday's highs heading into the release but has done little following the improved number. The Kiwi bid seems to be driven by the risk bid on Euro that has pushed EUR/USD pair to 1.4435 (highest since … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Alliant Adds To SM-3 Missile Success Posted: 31 May 2011 03:35 PM PDT Aerospace and defense company Alliant Techsystems Inc's (NYSE:ATK) propulsion and control systems made a significant contribution to the success of the latest missile defense test of a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IA missile, conducted on April 15, 2011. The Missile Defense Agency exclaimed that the test was the toughest till date.  The SM-3 Block IA missile was launched from a U.S. Navy Aegis-equipped destroyer off the Hawaiian coast and successfully intercepted a separating … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex – NZD/USD Up In Asian Trade Posted: 31 May 2011 03:35 PM PDT Forex Pros – The New Zealand Dollar was higher against the U.S. Dollar on Tuesday.<br/><br/> NZD/USD was trading at 0.8248, up 0.12% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 0.7967, Thursday&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 0.8264, today&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Meanwhile, the New Zealand Dollar was up against the Australian Dollar and down against the Euro, with AUD/NZD shedding 0.03% to hit 1.2949 and EUR/NZD rising 0.04% … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

The Day Ahead: ADP Employment Report, ISM Manufacturing Index, Construction Spending, Auto Sales, Mortgage Applications Posted: 31 May 2011 10:20 AM PDT 05/31/11 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 Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Hot Option Plays: Headline Away From Adding Volatility Posted: 31 May 2011 03:17 PM PDT Cusick’s Corner A few weeks ago I wrote that I had never seen a market top when retail sentiment shifted to the sidelines so quickly. But the skeptics are gaining some decent bullets, the data stinks. This has investors scratching their heads, watching this market run. But traders are just waiting for the right time to pounce and as I said in the Midday, it is not now. While we are a headline away from adding volatility to this market, the upside is not worth fighting — yet. With the S&P … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Positive Data For UCB’s Cimzia Posted: 31 May 2011 03:08 PM PDT UCB (UCBJF) recently reported positive data on Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) from a late-stage trial — REALISTIC — on patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The data were presented at the annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). In the study, in which Cimzia was added to current therapy in a diverse group of RA patients, the ACR20 response rates were significantly higher in the Cimzia arm (51.1%) compared to placebo (25.9%) at week 12.  The study data … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Meet Kevin Cook Posted: 31 May 2011 03:05 PM PDT Hello fellow investors! My name is Kevin Cook and I just joined the Zacks.com team as a Senior Stock Strategist. I can’t wait to share with you all the ways we can work together to not simply survive in this market, but to thrive in it! But, first things first…I want you to know a few things about my background and lessons learned over the years that prepared me to become a huge fan of the Zacks Rank stock rating system and related trading methods. Then we’ll top it off with my current view … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Wisconsin Energy Still At Neutral Posted: 31 May 2011 03:05 PM PDT We reiterate our long term Neutral recommendation on Wisconsin Energy Corporation (NYSE:WEC) on the back of mixed first quarter performance together with a solid growth outlook. Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Energy operates a high-growth utility in a constructive regulatory environment. The company has a strong and highly-visible near-term growth outlook and a solid financial position, which does not require new equity in the foreseeable future. Moreover, we expect the customers of the company to reap … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Look To Dividends For Income Posted: 31 May 2011 03:05 PM PDT With the 10-year T-note yielding only 3.06%, those investors interested in getting income from their investments are in sort of a tough place. Dividend-paying stocks are a very good place to look for a replacement. One thing you know for sure is that the coupon payment on a 10-year note is not going to rise. A yield of 3.06% does not offer much of a cushion against inflation. What is inflation likely to average over the next 10 years? I have no idea, but based on the spread between the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

American Tower Revert To Neutral Posted: 31 May 2011 03:05 PM PDT We upgrade our recommendation for American Tower Corp. (NYSE:AMT) to Neutral backed by its solid first-quarter 2011 financial results. The company's top line witnessed significant upside primarily due to the rise in demand for broadband data services coupled with American Tower's global expansion strategy. American Tower continues its strong performance driven by substantial demand for tower space to facilitate high-speed wireless data and on demand video services, together with super-fast … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Meet Kevin Cook Posted: 31 May 2011 02:25 PM PDT Hello fellow investors! My name is Kevin Cook and I just joined the Zacks.com team as a Senior Stock Strategist. I can’t wait to share with you all the ways we can work together to not simply survive in this market, but to thrive in it! But, first things first…I want you to know a few things about my background and lessons learned over the years that prepared me to become a huge fan of the Zacks Rank stock rating system and related trading methods. Then we’ll top it off with my current view … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Xerox Acquires NewField IT Posted: 31 May 2011 02:25 PM PDT Xerox Corp. (NYSE:XRX) announced that it has completed the acquisition of U.K.-based NewField IT. The acquisition will enable the company to expand in the managed print service (MPS) portfolio. Xerox seeks to benefit from the new consulting and software services as it speeds up operations by almost four times, thereby allowing efficient implementation of MPS. Headquartered in Twickenham, NewField IT provides consultancy services, software services and optimization tools to its customers. Post … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Philip Morris’ Smoking Option Posted: 31 May 2011 02:25 PM PDT Philip Morris (NYSE:PM) bought the patent and global rights to an aerosol nicotine-delivery system developed by Jed Rose, director of Duke's Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research. The new technology delivers nicotine to users’ lungs but doesn’t involve smoking. Management reported that the Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research at Duke University in Durham, N.C. where Jed Rose is working, does not have a role in Rose’s agreement with the company and won’t receive any … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Meet Kevin Cook Posted: 31 May 2011 02:25 PM PDT Hello fellow investors! My name is Kevin Cook and I just joined the Zacks.com team as a Senior Stock Strategist. I can’t wait to share with you all the ways we can work together to not simply survive in this market, but to thrive in it! But, first things first…I want you to know a few things about my background and lessons learned over the years that prepared me to become a huge fan of the Zacks Rank stock rating system and related trading methods. Then we’ll top it off with my current view … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Accenture Wins Banking Deal Posted: 31 May 2011 02:25 PM PDT Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) recently entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of Credit Agricole Group, one of the largest European retail banking conglomerates. The Group selected Accenture's services for CEDICAM, its payment flow and systems subsidiary. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under the terms of the agreement, Accenture will develop an information technology (IT) platform for CEDICAM. The advanced IT platform will ensure an easier and smoother collection process of … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

AngioDynamics Boosts VenaCure Posted: 31 May 2011 02:05 PM PDT Therapeutic and diagnostic devices maker AngioDynamics (NASDAQ:ANGO) has expanded its VenaCure EVLT laser vein treatment with the launch of a new procedure kit. The new 90 centimeter (cm) NeverTouch kit features a longer TRE-Sheath introducer to gain vascular access above the ankle for treating varicose veins (abnormally swollen veins), a condition affecting more than 40 million Americans annually. The availability of the 90 cm procedure kit will offer physicians more options, enabling them to … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

A.M. Best Avows Aflac’s Strength Posted: 31 May 2011 02:05 PM PDT Rating agency, A.M. Best, reiterated its credit and insurance strength ratings on Aflac Inc. (NYSE:AFL) and its operating divisions, on Friday, maintaining a stable outlook. This came in despite the fact that almost 77% of the company's operations are based in Japan, which was struck by devastating tsunami and earthquake in March this year, resulting in a challenging operating environment for the company. Accordingly, the rating agency affirmed an issuer credit rating (ICR) of "a-" on … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Closing Bell Market Monitor: ASH, OPTR, AAPL Posted: 31 May 2011 02:00 PM PDT 05/31/11 The latest in news, commentary, and information on what’s moving the US equities … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex – EUR/USD Up At The End Of U.S. Session Posted: 31 May 2011 01:55 PM PDT Forex Pros – The Euro was higher against the U.S. Dollar on Tuesday after the release of U.S. data on Chicago PMI.<br/><br/> EUR/USD was trading at 1.4398, up 0.81% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 1.4068, Thursday&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 1.4424, today&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Earlier in the day, data showed that The U.S.&rsquo;s Chicago PMI fell more-than-expected to a seasonally adjusted 56.6 last … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex – USD/JPY Up Toward The End Of U.S. Session Posted: 31 May 2011 01:40 PM PDT Forex Pros – The U.S. Dollar was higher against the Japanese Yen on Tuesday after the release of U.S. data on Chicago PMI.<br/><br/> USD/JPY was trading at 81.52, up 0.72% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 80.71, Friday&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 82.03, Thursday&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Earlier in the day, data showed that The U.S.&rsquo;s Chicago PMI fell more-than-expected to a seasonally adjusted 56.6 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Analyst Interviews: Health Insurance Stock Outlook Posted: 31 May 2011 01:31 PM PDT Several health insurers reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, with the outperformance driven by higher enrollment figures, organizational changes and fewer regulatory reform-related losses. Most of them are moving into a third year of record profits, which has been augmented in recent months by a lingering recessionary mindset among Americans who are postponing medical treatment. This trend in medical utilization benefited the group's results last year as well. Unfavorable … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

NYSE, NASDAQ Eye LCH.Clearnet Posted: 31 May 2011 01:31 PM PDT Given the flurry of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the exchange industry, NASDAQ OMX Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) and NYSE Euronext Inc. (NYSE:NYX) have been showing interest in buying LCH.Clearnet for over a fortnight now, according to Financial Times. The companies' bidding offer projections range from €350 million to €1.0 billion. Meanwhile, LCH.Clearnet, a leading clearinghouse for swaps in Europe owned by multiple banks and market participants, has also confirmed the bid offers from … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Goodyear Redeems Sr. Notes Posted: 31 May 2011 01:31 PM PDT Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE:GT) recently completed the earlier-announced redemption of senior notes worth $350 million due 2016. The redemption will reduce the company's annualized interest expense, thereby adding approximately $40 million to savings, out of which about $23 million is expected to be realized in 2011. Goodyear Tire exercised its right to redeem senior notes following the successful closure of its mandatory convertible preferred stock offering in March. In the process, 10 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Telefonica Lowered To Neutral Posted: 31 May 2011 01:31 PM PDT We are downgrading our long-term recommendation on Spanish telecom giant Telefonica (NYSE:TEF) to Neutral from Outperform due to difficulties emerging from the depressed domestic market. For the short term (1–3 months), the stock retains a Sell rating with the Zacks #4 Rank. The weak Spanish market has ended up with customers switching to cheaper offers from Telefonica's competitors. The economic downturn in that country has been longer than expected and is likely to drag the company's … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Restaurant Current Situation Index Reaches 100.3 In April, The Highest Level In April Since July 2007 Posted: 31 May 2011 01:31 PM PDT National.Restaurant Association — “Buoyed by positive same-store sales and solid optimism among restaurant operators for continued growth, the outlook for the restaurant industry remained positive in April. The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 100.9 in April, essentially unchanged from a level of 101.0 in March. In addition, April represented … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex – EUR/USD Up Toward The End Of U.S. Session Posted: 31 May 2011 01:25 PM PDT Forex Pros – The Euro was higher against the U.S. Dollar on Tuesday after the release of U.S. data on CB Consumer Confidence.<br/><br/> EUR/USD was trading at 1.4392, up 0.77% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 1.4068, Thursday&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 1.4424, today&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Earlier in the day, data showed that CB consumer confidence in the U.S. fell unexpectedly to a seasonally adjusted 60.8 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

U.S. Markets Close Higher; Dow Jones Up 1.03% Posted: 31 May 2011 01:10 PM PDT Forex Pros – U.S. stocks were up after the closing bell on Tuesday.<br/><br/> At the close of U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.03%, the S&P 500 index gained 1.06%, while the Nasdaq 100 index climbed 1.56%.<br/><br/> Earlier in the day, data showed that The U.S.&rsquo;s Chicago PMI fell more-than-expected to a seasonally adjusted 56.6 last month from 67.6 in the preceding month.<br/><br/>Analysts had expected the Chicago PMI to … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Chevron Secures Bulgarian Tender Posted: 31 May 2011 01:07 PM PDT Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) won an exploration license from the Bulgarian government, against a payment of approximately $43 million or €30 million.  Chevron out bid Canadian BNK Petroleum to receive the tender. Per the terms of the tender, Chevron would look for natural gas in a shale gas field near Novi Pazar in northeastern Bulgaria. Initial valuation suggests that the deposits hold between 300 billion and 1 trillion cubic meters of gas. Treading on the similar route as many other … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Citi Partners With Bank Of Baghdad Posted: 31 May 2011 12:55 PM PDT Yesterday, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) and Bank of Baghdad (BoB), a subsidiary of Kuwait’s Burgan Bank, entered into a strategic alliance. The partnership will provide cash management requirements and other related banking services to corporate clients with major business in Iraq. BoB's services to Citi’s clients includes a number of comprehensive products and service portfolios encompassing account services, payments and collection both domestically and internationally, liquidity management and … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Neutral On Diamond Offshore Posted: 31 May 2011 12:55 PM PDT We reiterate our Neutral recommendation on Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (NYSE:DO) following the first quarter 2011 earnings beat. However, fears of a gradual decline in mid-water rates keep us on the sidelines. The Houston, Texas-based contract driller registered impressive first quarter 2011 results, mainly on account of a lower tax impact as well as better-than-expected revenues. Although total revenue fell 6.2% on an annualized basis, it outpaced our expectation mainly on better … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Help End The Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex Posted: 31 May 2011 12:52 PM PDT www.jacobkornbluth.com/clients/reich/05-24-11/05-25-11_302pm.mov Help End the Military-Industrial-Congressional … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex – GBP/USD Down During The U.S. Session Posted: 31 May 2011 12:45 PM PDT Forex Pros – The British Pound was lower against the U.S. Dollar on Tuesday after the release of U.S. data on Chicago PMI.<br/><br/> GBP/USD was trading at 1.6453, down 0.14% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 1.6275, Thursday&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 1.6547, today&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Earlier in the day, data showed that The U.S.&rsquo;s Chicago PMI fell more-than-expected to a seasonally adjusted 56.6 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Drill, Drill, Drill = Jobs, Jobs, Jobs In Pennsylvania Posted: 31 May 2011 12:38 PM PDT Marcellus Shale Coalition – “The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry – like a host of news outlets across the region and the nation – continues to keep a watchful eye on the powerful job creation engine called the Marcellus Shale, the world's second largest natural gas field behind one in Iran. In its recent "Marcellus Shale: Fast Facts" employment overview, the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis – a research arm of the Dept. of Labor & Industry – … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

FINRA Fines BofA, Credit Suisse Posted: 31 May 2011 12:35 PM PDT On Thursday, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) imposed fines on units of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) and Credit Suisse Group (NYSE:CS). The cumulative fine totaled $7.5 million. FINRA alleged that both the companies had misrepresented delinquency data and had insufficient supervision on residential subprime mortgage securitizations (RMBS) sold to investors. BofA's unit Merrill Lynch would pay $3 million while Credit Suisse's unit Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Lockheed Martin Retains Stability Posted: 31 May 2011 12:35 PM PDT We maintain our 'Neutral' rating on a long-term basis (6-12 months) on the defense behemoth Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT). Looking ahead, Lockheed expects its fiscal 2011 earnings to come in at $6.95 – $7.25 with revenues in the range of $45.8 billion-$47.3 billion. The Zacks Consensus earnings estimates for the second quarter, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012 are $1.92, $7.28 and $8.73, respectively. Currently, Lockheed Martin has a Zacks #3 Rank, which implies a short-term 'Hold' … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Lockheed Martin Retains Stability Posted: 31 May 2011 12:35 PM PDT We maintain our 'Neutral' rating on a long-term basis (6-12 months) on the defense behemoth Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT). Looking ahead, Lockheed expects its fiscal 2011 earnings to come in at $6.95 – $7.25 with revenues in the range of $45.8 billion-$47.3 billion. The Zacks Consensus earnings estimates for the second quarter, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012 are $1.92, $7.28 and $8.73, respectively. Currently, Lockheed Martin has a Zacks #3 Rank, which implies a short-term 'Hold' … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

L-3 Comm In Neutral Lane Posted: 31 May 2011 12:35 PM PDT We maintain our 'Neutral' recommendation on L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (NYSE:LLL) reflecting our concerns regarding the loss of key contracts, a backlog skewed toward fixed price contracts and possibilities of cuts in future defense budgets. L-3 Communications also holds a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term Hold rating, and correlates with our long-term recommendation. We however believe that L-3 Communications by virtue of its non-platform focus, prominent position as … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

AUD/JPY To Confirm Triangle Breakout To The Upside To Target 90.00 Posted: 31 May 2011 12:30 PM PDT AUD/JPY in an Imminent Breakout from a 5-wave Triangle (5/25) AUD/JPY - The AUD/JPY broke above a 5-wave triangle, suggesting that the market is picking the upside after a period of indecision in  May. - The market is now in a throwback. Looking at the 1H chart, if the RSI reading remains above 40, the bullish momentum just established would be confirmed to continue upon a return back above 60. - The RSI in the 4H chart is not above 70 yet although it broke above the 40-60 range to the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

How Investors Can Profit From Rising Platinum Prices Posted: 31 May 2011 12:18 PM PDT by Tony Daltorio, contributing writer Even after a sharp sell-off on commodities prices, the spot price of platinum remains within reach of a two-year high. That high was hit last month at around $1,870 per ounce. The consensus in the industry is for higher prices in the coming years. And this is despite the disaster in Japan, whose automotive industry is one of the biggest consumers of the precious metal. Why so much bullishness?  The main reason investors, analysts and those in the … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex – USD/CAD Down In U.S. Trade Posted: 31 May 2011 12:10 PM PDT Forex Pros – The U.S. Dollar was lower against the Canadian Dollar on Tuesday after the release of U.S. data on Chicago PMI.<br/><br/> USD/CAD was trading at 0.9690, down 0.82% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 0.9656, today&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 0.9816, Thursday&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Earlier in the day, data showed that The U.S.&rsquo;s Chicago PMI fell more-than-expected to a seasonally adjusted … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Ford’s Car Pricy, Cost Escalates Posted: 31 May 2011 12:07 PM PDT Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) raised prices of its vehicles by an average of $124 or 0.4% per unit on the back of higher commodity costs. This is the third time the automaker hiked prices of its vehicles in the year after once in January and next in April. On an average, the price rise was 1.3% or $375 per vehicle this year. Higher commodity costs have been bothering Ford for a long time. In the first quarter of 2011, the automaker's structural costs went up $400 million and commodity costs increased … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Zacks Initiates Coverage Of XZERES Posted: 31 May 2011 12:05 PM PDT Steven Ralston, CFA Zacks Initiates Coverage of XZERES Zacks has initiated coverage of XZERES Corp. (XPWR: OTCBB) with an Outperform rating. XZERES Corporation is an engineered systems company, with a focus on clean and renewable energy. Currently, XZERES primarily designs, develops, manufactures and markets premium small wind turbine systems and related equipment for the generation of electrical power to a wide range of customers. Recently, the company acquired Rochester Power Saver and now … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

HP Secures Healthways Deal Posted: 31 May 2011 12:05 PM PDT The largest PC manufacturer Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) recently secured a 10-year outsourcing contract worth $380.0 million from Healthways Inc. As per the terms of the agreement, the PC maker will provide applications development solutions and IT management services to Healthways. This deal win is expected to strengthen the relationship between the companies and help them pursue new opportunities in the government and commercial markets. Healthways is expected to take advantage of health … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Pebblebrook Acquires Viceroy Hotel Posted: 31 May 2011 12:05 PM PDT Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB), a lodging real estate investment trust (REIT), has recently acquired the Viceroy Miami hotel in downtown Miami, Florida, for $36.5 million, as part of its continuous acquisition spree to capitalize on improving market fundamentals. The recent transaction marks the thirteenth acquisition by the company with over $1 billion of capital investments since its initial public offering in December 2009. The 148-room Viceroy Miami hotel is an upper upscale full-service … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Earnings Scorecard: Ralph Lauren Posted: 31 May 2011 12:05 PM PDT Recently, specialty retailer Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE:RL) announced its financial results for the fourth-quarter 2011. Street analysts had nearly a week to ponder the news. In the paragraphs that follow, we cover the recent earnings announcement, subsequent analysts' estimate revisions as well as the Zacks Rank and long-term recommendation on the stock. Earnings Review Polo Ralph Lauren’s fourth-quarter 2011 earnings of 74 cents per share declined 34.5% from the prior-year quarter earnings … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Forex – EUR/USD Up In U.S. Trading Hours Posted: 31 May 2011 11:45 AM PDT Forex Pros – The Euro was higher against the U.S. Dollar on Tuesday after the release of U.S. data on CB Consumer Confidence.<br/><br/> EUR/USD was trading at 1.4383, up 0.71% at time of writing.<br/><br/> The pair was likely to find support at 1.4068, Thursday&rsquo;s low, and resistance at 1.4424, today&rsquo;s high.<br/><br/> Earlier in the day, data showed that CB consumer confidence in the U.S. fell unexpectedly to a seasonally adjusted 60.8 … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

If You Tax Large Firms You Get Fewer Of Them, If You Subsidize Small Firms, You Get More Of Them Posted: 31 May 2011 11:40 AM PDT FINANCIAL POST –”Small business tax incentives are keeping businesses in Canada small, hindering business efficiency and disproportionately benefiting the wealthy, according to a new study from the University of Calgary. The study, authored by Jack Mintz and Duanjie Chen of The School of Public Policy, said that Canada's small business tax rate creates a "wall of taxation" in the country that keeps businesses small so they can remain in favorable tax brackets. Instead of job growth, … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Germany To Be Nuclear Energy Free By 2022 Posted: 31 May 2011 11:30 AM PDT 05/31/11 Following the nuclear crisis in Japan, Germany announced plans Monday to abandon nuclear energy over the next 11 years and replace it with renewable energy … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Bank Of Canada Holds Rate At 1.00% Posted: 31 May 2011 10:23 AM PDT The Bank of Canada maintained the key lending rate unchanged at 1.00%.  However the central bank noted that the “considerable monetary policy stimulus in place will be eventually withdrawn,”. The Bank also noted the strength of the Canadian Dollar: ”The persistent strength of the Canadian dollar could create even greater headwinds for the Canadian economy, putting additional downward pressure on inflation through weaker-than-expected net exports and larger declines in import … [visit site to read more] or compare Best Credit Cards and Balance Transfer Credit Cards

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