DailyMarkets.com - Forex – EUR/USD Firms As IMF Bolsters Lending Capacity

Forex – EUR/USD Firms As IMF Bolsters Lending Capacity
Sites Protest SOPA, PIPA
New Zealand’s Consumer Price Inflation Falls Unexpectedly
Magna Expects Flat 2012 Sales
Hot Option Plays: Focus Shifting Towards Earnings
Data, Earnings, EU Bond Auctions In Focus
Cigna-TTK JV Details Announced
Linear Provides Encouraging Outlook
Vivus’ ED Drug Continues To Hold Up
Safeway Reiterated At Neutral
Stocks To Watch Thursday
Earnings Preview: Google
Lexington Realty Secures Term Loan
Bullish Reversal On Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI)?
Covidien Recalls Duet TRS
Auto Plants Are At Capacity And Adding Third Shifts Around The Country, Boosting Local Economies
CONSOL Elaborates On FY12 View
U.S. Stocks Surge To Best Yearly Start Since 1987; DOW Up 0.78
What Epidemic? US Obesity At A Standstill
Glaxo, Astex Call Off Agreement
EnCana Stays Neutral
Boeing Picks B/E Aerospace For 737
CBL Forms JV With Horizon
Stocks End Near Session Highs, See Best Close Since July
Crude Oil Futures Higher Despite Weak U.S. Data
BMC Acquires I/O Concepts
Recovery In Mining Stocks? Breakouts Out Of Downtrends And Bases Beginning
Kraft Trims Jobs, Projects Profits
Medtronic’s Endurant II In Europe
Earnings Preview: PPG Industries
Natural Gas Futures Slightly Lower Before Inventories
Forex – U.S. Dollar Lower On Greek, IMF Hopes
The Trend Trader For Stock Trading On Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Trend Trader For ETF Trading On Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Trend Trader For Forex Trading On Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Trend Trader For Futures Trading On Thursday, January 19, 2012

Forex – EUR/USD Firms As IMF Bolsters Lending Capacity

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 04:39 PM PST

Forexpros – The euro strengthened against the dollar on Thursday after the International Monetary Fund said it would consider boosting its lending arsenal by $500 billion, fueling hopes that light will soon appear at the end of the tunnel in Europe.

EUR/USD hit 1.2869 in early Asian trading on Thursday, up 0.04%, up from a session low of 1.2852 and off from a high of 1.2870.

The pair likely tested support at 1.2852, the earlier session low, and resistance at 1.2878, last Friday’s … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Sites Protest SOPA, PIPA

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 03:50 PM PST

01/18/12 The internet community protested controversial anti-piracy legislation on … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

New Zealand’s Consumer Price Inflation Falls Unexpectedly

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 03:40 PM PST

Forexpros – Consumer price inflation in New Zealand fell unexpectedly in the last quarter, official data showed on Wednesday.

In a report, Statistics New Zealand said that CPI fell to a seasonally adjusted -0.3%, from 0.4% in the preceding quarter .

Analysts had expected CPI to rise 0.4% in the last … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Magna Expects Flat 2012 Sales

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 03:35 PM PST

Magna International Inc. (NYSE:MGA) revealed that it expects consolidated sales between $27.8 billion and $29.3 billion for full year 2012 based on its growth opportunities outside traditional markets, strong position in North America and improving results in Europe. It is flat compared with the sales guidance of $28.1 billion and $28.9 billion for full year 2011.
The company expects consolidated production sales between $23.6 billion and $24.7 billion assuming light vehicle production volumes of … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Hot Option Plays: Focus Shifting Towards Earnings

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 03:22 PM PST

Cusick’s Corner 01-18-2012
Energy, XLE +1.64%, Tech, XLK +1.45%, and Consumer Discretionary, XLY +1.61%, are all showing great leadership and are the core sectors that the bulls need to outperform if this rally is going to continue to have legs. I like to see the Consumer sector really strong, this further supports the positive data that has been coming out and starts to enforce the belief that domestic strength is real. I talked recently about Semis, SMH, and how this sector was poised to … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Data, Earnings, EU Bond Auctions In Focus

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 10:20 AM PST

01/18/12 Earnings from the bellwethers in the financial and technology sector will be closely watched. Jobs, housing and inflation data from the US are slated for release on … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Cigna-TTK JV Details Announced

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 03:15 PM PST

U.S.health insurer, CIGNA Corp. (NYSE:CI) recently announced the details of its joint venture with the TTK Group of India. The formal announcement of the deal was made in November, 2011 and will see Cigna offering a range of health insurance products across the Indian subcontinent via its new partner.
The venture has been named Cigna TTK and will be headquartered in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. Sandeep Patel, in charge of overseeing Cigna's Middle East business since 1998, has been … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Linear Provides Encouraging Outlook

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 03:05 PM PST

Linear Technology (NASDAQ:LLTC) reported disappointing second quarter results, with both revenue and earnings missing expectations. But Linear's revenue guidance for the fiscal third quarter surpassed Street expectations, so share prices jumped 8.3% in after-hours trading.
With gross profit dollars declining 11.8% sequentially and operating profit dollars declining 15.5% sequentially on a revenue decline of 10.8%, it is apparent that the company saw some issues in the last quarter that were not … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Vivus’ ED Drug Continues To Hold Up

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:51 PM PST

Positive data from a late-stage trial on Vivus Inc.'s (NASDAQ:VVUS) erectile dysfunction (ED) candidate, avanafil, was recently published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. The REVIVE (TA-301) study, which was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of avanafil in ED patients at three doses (50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg), demonstrated that patients receiving avanafil achieved a significant improvement in erectile function.
Data showed that 64%, 67% and 71% patients who attempted to have … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Safeway Reiterated At Neutral

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:51 PM PST

We reiterate our Neutral recommendation on Safeway Inc. (NYSE:SWY) with a target price of $22.00.
We note that the environment for retail industry is quite challenging. Consumer spending on durable products has been very weak. Riding on the economic uncertainty and price competition, Safeway has been witnessing sluggish revenue growth over the past few quarters.
Although, the swell in ID store sale appeared as a reflection of improved economic scenario, considering nearly 4% retail inflation … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Stocks To Watch Thursday

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:40 PM PST

( click to enlarge )

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Breaking out to new highs. You want to keep AAPL on your screen for Thursday's trading.

( click to enlarge )

InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDCC) traced out a nice setup and the upside breakout has a lot of power. Volume surged and this breakout looks like it is here to stay. Crossed its 50 day moving average and is probably heading for 49. There looks to be good upside in IDCC, so keep it on your radar the next few days. Some are speculating that … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Earnings Preview: Google

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:35 PM PST

We think that the company will easily beat top line estimates, but come in close to bottom line expectations.

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is set to announce its fourth quarter earnings tomorrow after the bell. Judging from market trends such as search metrics and ecommerce growth, we think that the company will easily beat top-line estimates, but come in close to bottom line expectations.

Google saw much higher query volumes and rising click-through rates that we think will be slightly … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Lexington Realty Secures Term Loan

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:30 PM PST

Lexington Realty Trust (NYSE:LXP), a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on single-tenant real estate investment, recently announced that it has secured a $215.0 million term loan, scheduled to mature in January 2019. The company expects to utilize the proceeds generated from the transaction to repay certain debts.
In connection with the procurement of the term loan, Lexington Realty replaced its existing $300.00 million secured revolving credit facility, which was scheduled to mature in … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Bullish Reversal On Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI)?

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:28 PM PST

Andrew Tan's Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI), formerly known as Fil-Estate Land, Inc., (LND) appears to be on track to move even higher in the coming days or weeks. Let me tell you why.
From a technical standpoint, GERI looks to have been forming a double bottom pattern as you can see in its daily chart above. Consequently, its trading volume over the same time period also shows a similar pattern which is very typical of a major move that is about to happen soon. In any case, a critical … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Covidien Recalls Duet TRS

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:20 PM PST

Health care products major Covidien plc (NYSE:COV) has initiated a voluntary recall of all production lots of its Duet TRS universal straight and articulating single-use loading units following reports of patient deaths associated with the use of this product line in thoracic surgery.
The Duet TRS, introduced in 2009, is a single-use tissue reinforcement system used with the company's Endo GIA laparoscopic stapler. Covidien has already sold more than 500,000 units of Duet TRS globally and … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Auto Plants Are At Capacity And Adding Third Shifts Around The Country, Boosting Local Economies

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:09 PM PST

Bloomberg — “Bobbi Marsh puts her 11-year-old son to bed each night and then heads to her job at General Motors Co. (GM)'s metal-stamping plant in Lordstown, Ohio. She gets home in time to make him breakfast. Marsh, 34, is one of thousands of auto workers in the U.S. benefiting from the return of a third shift at factories — often from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. — translating to 24-hour-a-day production at many plants for the first time since the industry collapse in 2009. At the nadir, some … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

CONSOL Elaborates On FY12 View

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:05 PM PST

After disclosing its capital expenditure plans in the preceding week, diversified fuel producer CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CNX) revealed its production expectation for 2012. The company expects its 2012 coal production to be in the range of 59.5 − 61.5 million tons, while its gas production is expected to be 160 Bcf (billion cubic feet).
For 2012, the company has plans to invest $720 million in its coal division. The expenditure will be directed towards maintenance of projects, growth in … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

U.S. Stocks Surge To Best Yearly Start Since 1987; DOW Up 0.78

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 02:01 PM PST

Forexpros – U.S. stocks climbed, sending the S&P 500 Index to the best yearly start since 1987 Wednesday on homebuilder confidence and easing euro zone worries.

At the close of U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.78%, the S&P 500 surged 1.11% and the Nasdaq Composite advanced by 1.53%.

Stocks climbed as a report that confidence among U.S. homebuilders advanced to a 4 year high earlier, sparking optimism that the world’s largest economy is on the upswing.

Bullish … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

What Epidemic? US Obesity At A Standstill

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST

01/18/12 Although still high, studies have found obesity rates among children and adults appear to be leveling off, showing that rates are neither retreating nor … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Glaxo, Astex Call Off Agreement

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:55 PM PST

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) and Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ASTX) announced recently that they are discontinuing a collaboration agreement entered into in October 2009 for the discovery and development of cancer therapeutics based on epigenetic targets.
Following the termination of the agreement, Glaxo will receive full rights to the existing research work and assets related to CLIMB technology, while Astex will be eligible to receive potential milestones and royalties. The decision to end the … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

EnCana Stays Neutral

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:50 PM PST

We are maintaining our Neutral recommendation on EnCana Corporation (NYSE:ECA), reflecting its large asset base and strong financial profile, partially offset by gas price volatility.
Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, EnCana is the second largest gas producer in North America, and holds a highly competitive land and resource position in a number of the region’s most promising shale and tight gas resource plays. This provides the company with a low risk, long-life and sustainable growth … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Boeing Picks B/E Aerospace For 737

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:50 PM PST

The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) announced that it has chosen B/E Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:BEAV) to become the exclusive manufacturer of modular lavatory systems for Boeing’s 737 Next-Generation family of airplanes. The estimated value of the award is in excess of $800 million, exclusive of retrofit orders, which are expected to be substantial.
The B/E Aerospace modular lavatory system or MLS utilizes B/E Aerospace, patent pending, Spacewall technology, which frees up floor space in the cabin, creating the … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

CBL Forms JV With Horizon

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:35 PM PST

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (NYSE:CBL) recently announced that it has entered into a 75/25 joint venture with Horizon Group Properties, Inc. to develop a property in Atlanta (Woodstock), GA. The construction of the to-be-developed property, named The Outlet Shoppes, will begin in spring 2012, and is expected to be completed by late summer 2013. As per the agreement, Horizon will be responsible for leasing and managing this project.
The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta is a 370,000-square-foot … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Stocks End Near Session Highs, See Best Close Since July

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:30 PM PST

01/18/12 NYFP’s Closing Bell Report: Stocks closed out the trading session at near highs and posted its best close since July on strong housing market data and IMF … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Crude Oil Futures Higher Despite Weak U.S. Data

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:18 PM PST

Forexpros – bsp;- Crude oil futures advanced Wednesday despite downbeat U.S. economic data and continued euro zone debt worries.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light sweet crude futures for March settlement traded at USD101.03 a barrel during late U.S. trade adding 0.16%

It earlier climbed to USD102.23 a barrel adding 1.1% to trade at the highest level since last Thursday.

Weakness in the U.S. dollar helped lift crude oil prices. The dollar index, which tracks the performance of the … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

BMC Acquires I/O Concepts

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:11 PM PST

Consistent with its recent acquisition spree, BMC Software Inc. (NYSE:BMC) announced that it has bought I/O Concepts, a leader in the ioEnterprise line of mainframe console security, automation and consolidation solutions.
The acquisition is expected to allow BMC to improve the productivity of its customers, through a reduction in their staffing requirements and also enhance systems availability for its MainView Solutions. However, the financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Recovery In Mining Stocks? Breakouts Out Of Downtrends And Bases Beginning

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:04 PM PST

The end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 greeted investors with spooky market stories to scare investors. A prominent cartoon in the Wall St. Journal depicted a pretty lady shrieking, "The DOW Sank 17%". Another balloon read "The US Loses Its AAA Rating". She is screaming, "Who Will Fix Europe?". Another caption reads, "$71 Billion Yanked From U.S. Stock Mutual Funds". Another hysterical cry exclaims, "I Want Treasuries!". As if that cartoon wasn't enough to scare … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Kraft Trims Jobs, Projects Profits

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 01:00 PM PST

As Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE:KFT) moves ahead with its spin-off plan, the company plans to slash the jobs of about 1,600 employees in North America in the year 2012.
According to Kraft, the move was imperative for the smooth running of its businesses. The company also projects higher profits than its earlier forecast for the fiscal year 2011.
Kraft had planned to spin-off its North American grocery business and split itself into two independent public companies in August 2011; a global snacks … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Medtronic’s Endurant II In Europe

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 12:50 PM PST

Leading medical devices player, Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced the receipt of CE Mark followed by the launch of Endurant II AAA stent graft system in the international market. The launch of this device will enable physicians to treat patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms ("AAA") through minimally invasive endovascular aortic repair ("EVAR").
Endurant II has been developed in collaboration with more than 250 physicians from across the world. It is the advanced version of the currently … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Earnings Preview: PPG Industries

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 12:50 PM PST

PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE:PPG) is scheduled to report its fourth quarter and full-year 2011 results before the market opens on Thursday, January 19. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is $1.28 per share, representing a year-over-year growth of 2.67%.
With respect to earnings surprises, the company outdid the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters. This is reflected in the average earnings surprise of 5.40%, with positive surprises in all the four quarters.
Previous … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Natural Gas Futures Slightly Lower Before Inventories

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 12:43 PM PST

Forexpros – bsp;- Natural gas prices slipped lower on Wednesday, approaching a 10 year low, as the commodity struggles for direction prior to Thursday U.S. inventory figures.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas futures for February delivery traded at USD2.476 per million British thermal units during late U.S. trade, easing lower by 0.48%.

It earlier climbed by as much as 1.5% to trade at a session high of USD2.542 BTU’s.

Prices plunged 6.8% yesterday to hit the lowest since … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards

Forex – U.S. Dollar Lower On Greek, IMF Hopes

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 11:57 AM PST

Forexpros – The U.S. dollar traded lower against its major counterparts Wednesday as optimism over Greek debt talks and the International Monetary Fund attempting to increase its lending capacity boosted risk appetite.

During late session U.S. trade, the greenback traded lower against the euro, with EUR/USD gaining 0.81% to hit 1.2839.

The IMF aims to bolster its lending resources after identifying a potential need for USD1trillion in financing in future years. However, the fund will not … [visit site to read more] or compare Credit Card Rewards and Best Credit Cards