BloggingStocks

Favorite farm stocks, millions more could get rebate check & downtowns in danger - Today in Money 6/20

Allan Halprin — 2008-06-20T08:43:00+00:00

Filed under: Yahoo! (YHOO), Starbucks (SBUX), General Motors (GM), Money and Finance Today, Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), Deere and Co (DE), Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT), MBIA Inc (MBI)

In the News

· Continental, United Airlines Align to Lower Costs

· Moody's Cuts Bond Insurers MBIA, Ambac Ratings

· General Motors Stops Major Overhaul of Pickups, SUVs

· Yahoo's Turmoil Spreads as Top Executives Flee

· Yahoo Planning to Reorganize

· Starbucks Bringing Back Bolder Coffee

· Winnebago Sales Plunge

· Girlfriend of Missing Hedge Fund Swindler Arrested

· Some Gas Stations Declining Credit Cards

· Sorry, Charlie: Del Monte May Sell StarKist

Farm Stocks: Pick of the Crop
Millions of acres of farmland may be under water, but some agricultural outfits stand to benefit as higher prices lead to demand for seeds, equipment, and fertilizer. They include Archer Daniels Midland, Mosiac, Potash Corp., Agriam, Monsanto and John Deere.
Ag Stocks: Farm Favorites

Millions More Could Get a Rebate If They File a Return
Even as the IRS has sent out nearly 77 million tax rebates, more than 5 million retirees and disabled veterans who may qualify for a rebate haven't received one because they haven't filed a tax return.
Millions more could get a rebate if they file a return - USATODAY.com

Downtowns in Danger of Going Downhill, Again
In recent years many once moribund downtowns received funding to begin impressive comebacks as both residential and commercial centers. But as the economy stumbles and the money dries up, many projects are stalling. Will these downtowns be able to survive the downturn? From L.A. to Richmond and Atlanta to Seattle see which project are in danger in 13 cities.
Are Downtowns in Danger of Going Downhill Again?
In Pictures: Downtowns in Downturn

Credit Scores: Now Lifestyle Matters Too
Lenders may be monitoring your bar tab or marriage counseling bill - which could be costly for consumers.
Are Creditors Eyeing Your Purchases? - BusinessWeek

To Save Money at Gas Pump, Pay Cash
Filling stations are slapping a 6¢-a-gallon premium on credit-card customers, to help offset the hefty fees such purchases involve.
To Save Money at the Gas Pump, Pay Cash

6 Destinations to See Before It's Too Late
Global warming is expected to ruin some of the world's most beautiful tourist spots. They include Glacier National Park, Montana, The Maldives, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mauritius, Lake Mead in Neveda and Churchill, Manitoba.
6 Vacation Spots Threatened by Global Warming -SmartMoney.com

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Pre-market movers (ABK) (MBI) (CAL)

Douglas McIntyre — 2008-06-20T07:40:00+00:00

Filed under: Before the bell, Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), MBIA Inc (MBI)

Ambac (NYSE:ABK) is down 4% after being downgraded.

MBIA (NYSE:MBI) is off over 5% after a downgrade.

Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) is off 5% after a brokerage downgrade.

Continental (NYSE:CAL) is off 4% on news that it is unlikely to merger with another airline.

Stocks may trade differently in the pre-market than they do in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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Analyst upgrades: SI, CNW, ODFL and YHOO

Eric Buscemi — 2008-06-13T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, Yahoo! (YHOO), Campbell Soup (CPB), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL)

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Siemens, Con-Way, Old Dominion Freight and Yahoo! were today's noteworthy upgrades:

Goldman added Siemens (NYSE: SI) to their Conviction Buy List on valuation, as they believe investors are overlooking potential catalysts for the stock, such as the company's buyback and margin expansion opportunities. Shares remain Buy rated.
Baird upgraded LTLs Con-Way (NYSE: CNW) and Old Dominion Freight (NASDAQ: ODFL) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuations, less fuel exposure, and better business models than TLs.
Soleil upgraded Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) to Hold from Sell on valuation, as the stock is near their $22 target.

OTHER UPGRADES:

Partner Communications (NASDAQ: PTNR) was upgraded at UBS to Buy from Neutral.
Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Lehman.
Soleil upgraded Continental (NYSE: CAL) to Buy from Hold.

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For airlines, every pound saved is a dollar earned

Joseph Lazzaro — 2008-06-11T16:56:00+00:00

Filed under: Consumer experience, Southwest Airlines (LUV), AMR Corp (AMR), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), Delta Air Lines (DAL)

No, the airlines haven't started charging by the pound. At least not yet...

Jokes aside, nobody told the airlines there'd be days like these, to paraphrase John Lennon.

Jet fuel costs -- up 84% in the past year alone -- have skyrocketed, along with the cost of just about every other product derived from the world's most vital commodity, and the airlines are looking for every conceivable way to reduce weight, reduce wind/resistance drag, and increase operational efficiency, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

The major carriers are replacing heavier seats with lighter ones, cleaning engines and planes more often, reducing the fresh water available on flights, and plugging into electric outlets instead of idling engines at the gate, among other changes, in order to cut fuel consumption.

More air travel changes ahead

Moreover, the changes -- and charges -- have only just begun, so says stock analyst C. Leonard Bauer. "Everyone knows about the added bag charges, a pain in the neck, for sure. But it could get worse," says Bauer, who also flies on a major carrier about 5-7 times per year. "In the winter you could see a per pound baggage charge, or something along those lines. So don't pack that extra winter coat when you fly this December."

To be sure, weight is no laughing matter, for the airlines, Bauer said. Weight may very well determine which carriers survive the current oil shock. "Reduction in weight can mean the difference between a flight that turns a $20,000 profit or loses $30,000," Bauer said. "Add that up over thousands of flights and you begin to grasp the airline's perspective." Bauer added that he does not have a rating on nor own shares in any airline.

Another likely sector-wide change, according to Bauer, could be slower flying speeds, which means longer travel times between points. "The practice has already started, and it has to occur, at least until airlines can phase-in new planes, which are more fuel efficient," Bauer said. "The airlines will determine the optimum speed per plane and flight, then see how close they can come to it, and still comply with safety and schedule requirements."

Of course, none of the above applies, Bauer said, if oil drifts back towards saner price levels.

"Oil and sane price levels?" Bauer added. "That's an oxymoron."

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Companies that vanished: Eastern Air Lines grounded by deregulation, union buster

Trey Thoelcke — 2008-06-06T15:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Products and services, Industry, Competitive strategy, Contl Airlines'B' (CAL)

This post is part of a series on some of the most memorable companies that have disappeared.

With soaring fuel prices and declines in discretionary spending leading to bankruptcies and mergers among the airlines these days, one might forget that such things have often occurred in that industry since its early days. Take Eastern Air Lines, one of the first and longest-running of the so-called trunk carriers in the United States.

Eastern began as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in the mid-1920s but through acquisition and expansion came to dominate much of the domestic travel industry along the profitable East Coast corridor by the 1950s. Back then the company was widely known for its famous president, former World War I Ace, Eddie Rickenbacker.

The airline thrived into the 1970s, when it was one of the "big four" major U.S. airlines. In its time, Eastern pioneered the use of a worldwide computer reservation system and the all-jet mainline fleet. However, the carrier struggled after the Air Transportation Deregulation Act of 1978. Former astronaut turned CEO Frank Borman finally relented to corporate raider and union buster Frank Lorenzo's buyout offer in 1985. Valuable assets such as new aircraft, the East Coast shuttle service, lucrative fuel operations, and the worldwide travel agent computer system were sold off or shifted to Lorenzo's other carrier, Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL). Deteriorating labor relations forced Eastern into bankruptcy in 1989, at the time the largest airline bankruptcy in U.S. history. The carrier ceased operations the day after the start of Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

At its height, Eastern was the free world's largest airline in terms of passengers carried, serving 26 countries on three continents, including Madrid; Mexico City; Nassau, Bahamas; and London. It had large hub operations at airports in Atlanta, Boston, Kansas City, Miami, New York, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Eastern was also the official airline of Disney World for many years.

Eastern's groundbreaking and popular East Coast shuttle featured hourly flights between New York, Washington D.C., and Boston. Seat reservations were not required and seat assignments were not given. Eastern guaranteed availability -- in the event of a full flight, Eastern simply added another aircraft to the schedule.

Recent rumors have suggested that a Miami-based group may have acquired the Eastern name and trademarks with an eye toward reviving the carrier, perhaps as soon as 2009.

Let us know in the comments what you miss about Eastern. And be sure to check out other Companies That Have Vanished.

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Closing bell: Retail and tech ignore woes and oil gains

Jon Ogg — 2008-06-05T16:09:00+00:00

Filed under: Wal-Mart (WMT), Ciena Corp (CIEN), Verizon Communications (VZ), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), Broadcom Corp'A' (BRCM)

Shares were higher today after the weekly jobless claims were reported as 357,000, down 18,000 from last week. While new claims are down, the four week average of those filing for benefits was up to 3.086 million, the highest level since March 2004. The good news is that the markets largely ignored that S&P downgrade of bond insurers today. The stock market even ignored a $5.00 rise per barrel in oil today. Here are the unofficial closing levels today:

DJIA 12,598.10 (+207.62)
S&P500 1,403.30 (+26.10)
NASDAQ 2,549.94 (+46.80)
10YR-TNote 4.03% +(0.09%)
52-WEEK LOWS
TOP 10 ANALYST CALLS

Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) was an example of just how strong today was by being up almost 3% at $28.90 late in the day. If you read trough the co-founder and former CEO's indictment charges you might think shareholders would have gone the other way.

Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) was the disappointment of the day. The company was up early on after beating earnings, but it slid lower after its call and shares were down a sharp 8% at $27.97 in the final minutes of the day.

Continental Airlines Inc. (NYSE: CAL) announced it was cutting capacity and would shed about 3,000 jobs. Its shares were up almost 5% at $15.20 in the final minutes of the day.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) confirmed that Verizon Wireless was acquiring Alltel and its 13+ million wireless subscribers for some $28.1 Billion, and shares were up over 5% at $39.01 in the final minutes today.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) was up 3.5% to $59.71 after the company posted strong same store sales gains on the day. The one issue this highlights is the "trading down" in America.

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Option Update: Continental volatility up into capacity, fleet, staffing reductions

Paul Foster — 2008-06-05T08:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), Options

Continental (NYSE: CAL) announced it plans to reduce its work force by 3,000 jobs and its Q4 domestic departures would be 16% lower than a year earlier.

CAL closed at $14.50 Wednesday. WTI Crude oil is recently up 0.20% to $122.54 according to Bloomberg.

CAL July option implied volatility of 97 is above its 26-week average of 80 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risks.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

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22 mid-cap dividend marvels, the rock star of money & 6 fixes for pricey gas - Today in Money 6/5

Allan Halprin — 2008-06-05T08:44:00+00:00

Filed under: Wal-Mart (WMT), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Money and Finance Today, ALLTEL Corp (AT), Research in Motion (RIMM), Verizon Communications (VZ), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA)

In the News:

· Continental Airlines Cuts 3,000 Jobs, Takes 67 Planes Out of Service

· United Makes Deep Job Cuts, Flights and Says Adios to Ted

· Verizon Reportedly May Buy Alltell for $27B

· Porsche, Honda Top JD Power Quality Rankings

· E-Trade Makes Trading Easier on BlackBerry

· Wal-Mart Credits Stimulus Checks for Boosting May Sales

· Retail Sales Overall Top Expectations in May

· Hallmark Cuts 335 Jobs

· HarperCollins CEO Resigns

· Summer Airfares Double, Triple, Quadruple

· Next Food Shortage: Ice Cream?

22 Mid-Cap Marvels
These top-ranked dividend-paying stocks are also expected by S&P analysts to rise in price during the next 12 months.
Smart Dividend Plays: 22 Mid-Cap Marvels - BusinessWeek

The Rock Star of Money
The world's richest man is having an E.F. Hutton moment. Warren Buffett, dubbed the Oracle of Omaha by Wall Street, is making his voice heard these days. The billionaire investor is out talking to cable TV anchors. To magazines. To shareholders. To Congress. To foreign investors. To a former Wall Street analyst who is writing a book about him. He's even popped up in a CNBC documentary, The Billionaire Next Door: All Access, which delves into all things Buffett. Not to mention a recent guest appearance on the daytime soap opera All My Children. People are really listening to what Buffett has to say more than ever.
Warren Buffett hones rock-star status - USATODAY.com

6 Fixes for Pricey Gasoline
Ideas to help people ease the burden of high gas prices are swirling in Washington. Will any of them work?
Six fixes for high gas prices - CNNmoney
· Gas Prices Set Another Record at $3.99/Gallon

8 Warning Signs You Are Headed for Debt
Debt problems can stalk anyone, especially in a slowing economy. You know the signs of excess debt: You rely on credit cards or home-equity credit lines for everyday purchases, you make only minimum payments, you take cash advances from one credit source to pay others. Avoid that fate by heeding these rules for smart borrowing.
ConsumerReports.org - Your debt: Eight benchmarks for borrowing

What You Need to Know About FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Loans
What are they? Who should consider one? What are the advantages of FHA-insured loans? What kinds of loans does the FHA insure? What are the requirements to qualify?
What to know about FHA loans -Bankrate.com

Wal-Mart, Your Friendly Drugstore
The retailing juggernaut is set to move more aggressively into pharmaceuticals and health care, much as it did with groceries 20 years ago.
Wal-Mart, Your Friendly Drugstore - BusinessWeek

America's Most Time-Draining Airports
Flight delays are a summer travel nightmare. These airports have the worst waits. Topping the list is Chicago's O'Hare which is the nation's worst. In three categories: late aircraft, air traffic control and cancellations it ranked last out of 100 airports. To translate that into time lost, O'Hare flights in 2007 were delayed by a cumulative total of 2.5 million minutes due to a late aircraft.
America's Most Time-Draining Airports - Forbes.com
20 Worst Airports for Delays

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Newspaper wrap-up: United Airlines puts US Airways on hold, talks to Continental

Laurie Pasternack — 2008-05-30T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Apple Inc (AAPL), Chesapeake Energy (CHK), US Airways Group (LCC), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), General Dynamics Corp (GD), Northrop Grumman (NOC)

MAJOR PAPERS:

Merger talks between UAL Corporation's (NASDAQ: UAUA) United Airlines and US Airways Group Inc (NYSE: LCC) have been put off for now, the Wall Street Journal reported. United is reportedly close to an alliance with Continental Airlines Inc (NYSE: CAL).
Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) is for sale and the company has begun to hear from interested parties, the Wall Street Journal also reported. Harris is looking for $75 to $80 per share. Speculation about the bidders includes General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC).

OTHER PAPERS:

The Charleston Gazette reported that Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) has decided not to build its Eastern Division headquarters in Charleston, West Virginia in the wake of a West Virginia Supreme Court ruling on May 22.

WEB SITES:

AppleInsider reported that Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) is expected to announce a back-to-school deal soon that will encourage students to buy new Macs by offering some of the largest incentives in the history of the company.

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Before the bell: Dell, oil help futures rise

Melly Alazraki — 2008-05-30T07:41:00+00:00

Filed under: Before the bell, Earnings reports, Deals, Dell (DELL), Market matters, Tiffany and Co (TIF), US Airways Group (LCC), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), Economic data, Oil

Stock futures were higher early Friday morning as oil futures continued to drop and Dell reported surprising strong earnings. (Read the full transcript of the conference call that followed the earnings announcement.)

Some upcoming economic readings about personal income might affect the Street's mood yet, but as long as oil prices remain at around $125 a barrel or go even lower, investors may feel more positive on the day.

If last week stocks witnessed one sharp-drop session after another, this week stocks have been more consistent on their way up and on Thursday U.S. stocks rose for the third session in a row due to a big drop in crude-oil futures. The Dow industrials rose 52 points, or 0.41%, the S&P 500 added 7 points, or 0.53%, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 21 points, or 0.87%.

On the economic calendar today several releases:

At 8:30 a.m. EDT April Personal Income and spending is due. While not perfect, personal income is a decent indicator of future consumer demand. Once personal income starts to stagnate, meaning inflation has caught up with income growth, this is another indication of a recession.
A price index is included in the income report. The personal-consumption expenditures is often considered to be the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge.
A little after the open, May Chicago PMI, a regional manufacturing survey, is due out.
Finally, at 10:00 a.m., a revised reading on consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan for May will also be released.

On the corporate side, Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) is the big surprise. Dell shares jumped 10% in premarket trading after the computer maker reported Thursday after the close a 4% rise in quarterly profit and a 19% revenue growth. The solid first-quarter results beat Wall Street expectations for first-quarter sales and profit.

After financial media got so excited about their executive meeting, UAL Corp. (NYSE: UAUA) United Airlines and UA Airways (NYSE: LCC) has ended merger talks, according to published reports as United is close to an alliance agreement with Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL).

Also, Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) reported results Friday morning. TIF shares are up over 5.7% in premarket trading after the jeweler said that strong growth in Asia-Pacific and European markets helped its first-quarter profits rise 19%, beating analysts' expectations. The company warned that it doesn't expect an improvement in the U.S. until later this year.

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Military couple are millioniares in making, more trouble ahead for fliers & incredible parking garages - Today in Money 5/23

Allan Halprin — 2008-05-23T08:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Yahoo! (YHOO), Walt Disney (DIS), Money and Finance Today, Gap Inc (GPS), Southwest Airlines (LUV), US Airways Group (LCC), AMR Corp (AMR), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), JetBlue Airways (JBLU), Delta Air Lines (DAL)

In the News:

· $4 Gas Forecast for Coming Week

· The Gap Weathers Sales Slump as 1Q Profit Surges 40% Thanks to Cost Management

· Airlines Running Short on Options

· Deal Reached in Tainted Pet Food Case

· Mesa Air's Future in Doubt

· Home Prices Post Record Decline

· Yahoo Nominates Existing Board for Re-Election

· High Gas Prices Force Cops to Walk the Beat More

· Disney Recalls Sleeping Bags, Toy Wands

Military Couple are Millionaires in the Making
If you're brave enough and willing, the Army can be a lucrative career. Just ask U.S. Army Captains Matthew and Kristen Shifrin. This military couple's plan is to save one paycheck and live off the other. That has them well on their way to meeting their financial goals.
Millionaires in the Making Millionaires in the Making: The Shifrins «

Safeguard Your Home Before a Storm Strikes
Disaster has stormed through homes from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, with 1,005 tornadoes reported so far this year and AccuWeather.com forecasts 12 named hurricanes this year. Take these steps now to protect your house and valuables -- plus, what to do after disaster hits.
Safeguard Your Home Before a Storm Strikes - Kiplinger.com

More Trouble Ahead for Fliers
Other carriers are likely to mirror American's plans to add checked-bag fee and cut seats.
Other Airlines Likely to Follow American's Lead -SmartMoney

Steps to Take to Avoid Having Your Car Stolen
Every 26.4 seconds, another car is stolen in the United States. Don't be part of this statistic. You can avoid starring as a car-heist victim in a real life "Gone in 60 Seconds" scenario by following these steps.
Putting the brakes on auto theft - Bankrate.com

Most Incredible Parking Garages
Parking structures are rarely sexy. But these nine buildings were built to accommodate automobiles in an architecturally sophisticated manner.
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/05/0521_beautiful_parking/index_01.htm?technology+slideshows

World's Best Vodka
Some drinkers say vodka has no taste. Discerning martini drinkers disagree. BusinessWeek's in-house bon vivant David Kiley thought it a good time to evaluate some of the top brands on the bar shelf. Ketel One and Ciroc tied for the top.
In Pictures: Best Vodkas World's Best Vodka? It's Anybody's Guess

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As United (UAUA) falls, new fears of airline Chapter 11

Douglas McIntyre — 2008-05-19T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Analyst reports, Forecasts, Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), Economic data

Early today, JP Morgan downgraded some airlines and commented that there would be a possible Chapter 11 among the industry's largest companies. "There will be blood," wrote analyst Jamie Baker in the research report, forecasting a 2008 operating loss for the industry of $7.2 billion," reports MarketWatch.

Several airlines were hit by the news, but United (NASDAQ: UAUA) sold off late on rumors and ended the day down 10% at $12.42. Continental (NYSE: CAL) also got squeezed by investors and was down almost 6% to $16.90.

The industry may be in a better position than investors think. This has nothing to do with rising fuel costs, which will keep operating costs very high or a recession, which could decrease traffic. It has everything to do with whether big banks want to write-off hundreds of million of dollars in losses in loans. They don't, especially not with poor balance sheets of their own. That should make it more likely the airline debt terms will be extended until the industry moves back in the direction of positive operating income.

Banks don't want to own airlines. Aviation is a bad business.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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What credit crunch? TPG arranges $2.46 billion for XOJET

Tom Taulli — 2008-05-19T13:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Private equity, US Airways Group (LCC), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL)

David Bonderman, the founding partner of TPG, is not typical among his peers. For example, since the early 1990s, he has struck a variety of airline deals, such as for Ryanair (NASDAQ: RYAAY), US Airways (NYSE: LCC) and Continental (NYSE: CAL).

Well, Bonderman is back in the airline space. That is, he has assembled a $2.46 billion investment for XOJET. The investor group includes Tasameem, Export Development Canada, White Oak Global Advisors, LLC and XOJET founder Paul Touw.

XOJET focuses on the private aviation market, which has been growing at a rapid clip. After all, it helps that the major carriers have had lots of problems.

And yes, much of the growth is in foreign markets, such as in Asia and the Middle East. In fact, XOJET has also entered a joint venture with Tasameem, which is operated in Abu Dhabi.

No doubt, XOJET faces a competitive market. But, with its huge slug of capital, it will now have a balance sheet to deal with its rivals.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements. He also operates MergerBook.com.

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Why your taxes are going up, jumbo loan rates decline & best places to live - Today in Money 5/15

Allan Halprin — 2008-05-15T09:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Google (GOOG), Yahoo! (YHOO), General Electric (GE), Time Warner (TWX), Penney (J.C.) (JCP), Money and Finance Today, CBS Corp 'B' (CBS), Countrywide Financial (CFC), Research in Motion (RIMM), Merck and Co (MRK), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA)

In the News:

· CBS Buying CNet for $1.75 Billion

· GE Looks to Exit Appliance Business

· Carl Icahn Looking to Crash Yahoo's Board

· Vioxx Verdict Against Merck Overturned

· ComScore Puts Google Sites at No. 1 For First Time; Surpassing Yahoo

· United Discussing Alliance With Continental Airlines

· J.C. Penny 1Q Profit Plunges 50%

· Countrywide Fraud Lawsuit Moves Forward

· Time Warner Spinoff Reveals Hidden Value

· Touchscreen BlackBerry Coming Soon

· Gas Prices Rise 12% Over Past Month

Charlotte, NC Named Best Place to Live
Apparently, there's just something about North Carolina. For the second year in a row, America's best city in which to live lies within its borders, according to Relocate-America.com's annual list. This year, Charlotte, N.C., is in the top spot, the site announced this week. Last year's winner was Asheville, N.C., which slipped to No. 7 on this year's list. Other top places are runner-up San Antonio, TX, Chattanooga, TN, Greenville, SC and Tulsa, OK.
Charlotte dethrones Asheville, N.C., as best place to live - MarketWatch

Jumbo Loan Rates Finally Decline
The interest rates for jumbo mortgage loans are coming down, but standards for qualifying are much tighter.
Jumbo loan rates finally decline - Bankrate.com

Why Your Tax Rate Is Going Up
Taxes are likely to head higher. And that could derail your retirement plan. Here's how to protect yourself.
Revell on retirement: Why your tax rate is going up - CNNmoney

Wedding Loans
Borrowing money to pay for a wedding is one of the biggest financial mistakes a couple can make.
Wedding Loans: Till Death Do You Owe s - TheStreet.com

Choosing the Right Smartphone for You
Move over iPhone. For email addicts or those on a budget, here's how to choose the right smartphone.
Slideshow: Choosing the Right Smartphone for You - SmartMoney

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Analyst downgrades: Airlines, CHTP and CLWR

Eric Buscemi — 2008-05-08T11:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, Kellogg Co (K), US Airways Group (LCC), AMR Corp (AMR), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), Delta Air Lines (DAL)

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Airlines, Chelsea Therapeutics and Clearwire were today's noteworthy downgrades:

Merrill downgraded AMR Corp (NYSE:AMR), Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), US Airways (NYSE:LCC) and UAL Corp (NASDAQ:UAUA) to Neutral from Buy citing earnings risk this year from higher energy costs.
Oppenheimer downgraded shares of Chelsea Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CHTP) to Perform from Outperform after their survey suggested physicians believe currently available generic treatments are adequate in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, which could impact the company's lead drug Droxidopa.
Clearwire (NASDAQ:CLWR) was cut to Sell from Hold at Citigroup on valuation, as they estimate fair value at $13.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

Goldman downgraded Kellogg (NYSE:K) to Neutral from Buy and Hershey Foods (NYSE:HSY) to Sell from Neutral.
Piper lowered Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE:OWW) to Neutral from Buy.

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Early analyst calls: DAL, CAL, UAUA, LCC, AMR, NWS

Douglas McIntyre — 2008-05-08T07:36:00+00:00

Filed under: Before the bell, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, US Airways Group (LCC), News Corp'B' (NWS), AMR Corp (AMR), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), Delta Air Lines (DAL)

Merrill Lynch downgraded shares of Delta (NYSE: DAL), United (NASDAQ: UAUA), US Airways (NYSE: LCC), AMR (NYSE: AMR), and Continental (NYSE: CAL) from "buy" to "neutral," according to Briefing.com.

Deutsche Bank maintained a "buy" on News Corp (NYSE: NWS) saying the company is less expensive than its peers, according to the AP.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com and author of the Ten Stocks Under $10 letter.

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Closing Bell: More news than the quiet tape can show

Jon Ogg — 2008-04-28T16:16:00+00:00

Filed under: Ford Motor (F), Wrigley, (Wm) Jr (WWY), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), RadioShack Corp (RSH)

Today was a mixed day, which is evident in the tape. Today we had one of the top food deals announced, yet Warren Buffett came out and said we were in a recession. There were also concerns that the housing market will continue to slide along with general credit conditions, and that black stuff in the barrels was up $0.25 at $118.77 on last look.. Here were the unofficial closing levels:

DJIA 12,872.97 (-18.89; -0.15%)
S&P500 1,386.35 (-1.49; -0.11%)
NASDAQ 2,424.40 (+1.47; +0.06%)
10-YR TBond 3.835% (-0.03%)
52-WEEK LOWS
Top 10 Analyst Calls

Bebe Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: BEBE) fell after a downgrade by Roth Capital Partners from a Buy to a Hold rating, citing disappointing sales and conservative guidance. The company reports earnings Thursday. Shares fell by more than 10% to $9.86 on the news.

Continental Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: CAL) abandoned talks to merge with United Airlines Sunday. News came as a shock to United who has been searching for a merger partner. United and US Airways may pursue a deal while Continental will press ahead with a merger agreement with American Airlines and British Airways. Shares were down 1.5% at $16.96 in the final minutes today.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) rose significantly on news that Kirk Kerkorian's investment vehicle, Tracinda Corp., is to purchase 100 million of Ford's shares, reaching a 5.6% ownership in the company. Shares rose 9% to $9.20 in the final minutes today.

RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) was down after first quarter margins narrowed due to decreased sales of Sprint-Nextel contracts and increased promotions, missing analyst estimates. They posted a net income of $38.8 million or $0.30 EPS, an 8.7% drop from first quarter last year. Shares were down some 13.5% at $15.13 in the final minutes today.

Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU) soared after first quarter results showed a 156% increase from a year ago and 30% from last quarter. The Chinese online media company posed revenues of $84.4 million, widely beating estimates and guidance. Shares were up almost 15% at $70.94 in the final minutes.

William Wrigley Jr. Co. (NYSE: WWY) is to be chewed up by candy bar maker Mars bar for $80.00 per share in a merger, for a $23 billion transaction. Financing and investment from Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway and Goldman Sachs will aid the deal. Shares rose 23% to $77.00 at the end of the day. Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) and Tootsie Roll (NYSE: TR) both went up 4.5% to $36.30 and 6.3% to $24.74 respectively after the announcement.

Jon Ogg produces and edits the Special Situation Investing Newsletter for 247WallSt.com.

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Before the bell: Futures higher following deal news; investors await Fed move

Melly Alazraki — 2008-04-28T07:40:00+00:00

Filed under: Before the bell, Earnings reports, Deals, Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Market matters, Wrigley, (Wm) Jr (WWY), Verizon Communications (VZ), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), Tyson Foods'A' (TSN), Economic data, Federal Reserve

Stock futures got a boost this morning from a possible $22 billion deal as Buffett's Berkshire and Mars consider buying Wrigley. Also in on investors' mind is this week's Federal Reserve meeting and rate decision as well as oil nearing $120 a barrel again.

U.S. stocks finished mixed on Friday, with the Dow industrials rising 42 points, or 0.33%, and the S&P 500 up 9 points, or 0.65%. The Nasdaq composite, however, found itself in the red following a cautious outlook from Microsoft the day before, and finished the day down almost 6 points, or 0.25%.

Without much economic news today, investors will focus on the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee two-day meeting starting Tuesday. On Wednesday, Fed chairman Bernanke will announce the policy decided and most economist expect a quarter point rate cut, but also for the Fed to halt the cuts after that as inflationary pressures have been rising.

Also, attention will be on oil prices, which once again hit an all-time high of $119.93 a barrel Monday. A refinery strike closed a pipeline system that delivers a third of Britain's North Sea oil to refineries in the U.K. as well as supply outages in Nigeria have caused oil to climb again despite the strengthening dollar.

Another big new item this morning, and one that helped boost sentiment is that of Mars and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) nearing a deal to buy chewing gum giant Wm. Wrigley Jr. (NYSE: WWY) for more than $22 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Wrigley, which has a market capitalization value of roughly $13.6 billion, is seeing its shares climbing over 23% in premarket trading.

Still in deal news, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO). The deadline the software giant gave the internet portal passed on Saturday. As there was no announcement from either side, this leaves Microsoft with two choices, walk away from the deal or engage in a large hostile takeover battle.

And one more item in deal news concerns Continental Airlines Inc. (NYSE: CAL), which said late Sunday it would not be part of any merger in the near future. Many who have speculated the airline could join forces with United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA) were surprised. Shares of CAL are down over 5% in premarket trading.

And it's earnings season with Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) reporting today.

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Continental (CAL) elects to go it alone

Douglas McIntyre — 2008-04-27T20:24:00+00:00

Filed under: Deals, Consumer experience, Competitive strategy, Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), Oil, Delta Air Lines (DAL)

While Northwest (NYSE:NWA) and Delta (NYSE:DAL) have decided to merge, Continental (NYSE:CAL) will take the road in the other direction by electing to stay independent.

According to The Wall Street Journal "Continental's statement comes as the industry faces soaring fuel prices." The trouble is that whether airlines merge or not, crude oil prices continue to rise.

Continental has probably made a wise decision. There is no guarantee that the marriage of NWA and DAL will help either company. Mergers mean lay-offs and that often means strikes. If there are labor walk-outs the new carrier could face weeks of being unable to fly and unable to collect revenue. Merged reservation systems can also take months to integrate.

Continental will be on its own, but if fuel continues it sharp ascent, it won't matter.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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Most innovative companies, airline secrets & billion dollar sport of ultimate fighting - Today in Money 4/18

Allan Halprin — 2008-04-18T09:44:00+00:00

Filed under: Google (GOOG), Apple Inc (AAPL), eBay (EBAY), General Electric (GE), Pfizer (PFE), Wal-Mart (WMT), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Walt Disney (DIS), Caterpillar (CAT), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX), Citigroup Inc. (C), Goldman Sachs Group (GS), Xerox Corp (XRX), Southwest Airlines (LUV), BP p.l.c. ADS (BP), Marriott Intl'A' (MAR), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), Honeywell Intl (HON)

In the News:

· Citigroup Posts Worst-Than-Expected $5.1 Billion Loss; 9000 Job Cuts Coming

· Google Beats Q1 Estimates; Stock Soars

· Xerox Swings to Loss

· Caterpillar Earnings Rise 14%; Top Estimates

· Honeywell Earnings Impress Wall Street; Raises Guidance

· Sallie Mae Unsure About Future Loans

· Continental & Southwest Airlines to Raise Fares

· E*Trade Swings to Loss; Cutting Back as Recession Looms

· eBay Struggles to Rebuild Traffic

· Linen's 'N Things Shopping for a Buyer

· Thomson Reuters Takes on Uncertain World

· Netflix Lives!

50 Most Innovative Companies
The companies that make up BusinessWeek's annual ranking nurture cultures that value creative people in good times and bad. The top company by industry include Apple, Pfizer, Goldman Sachs, Disney, Toyota, GE, Marriott, Wal-Mart and BP.
The World's Most Innovative Companies

Airline Gate-to-Gate Times Slowest in 20 Years
Air travel is slower than at any time in the past two decades, a USA TODAY analysis shows. Here are the top 10 major routes where flight times have increased, gate to gate.
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/air-trips-slowest-in-past-20-years/20080418074309990001 Air trips slowest in past 20 years - USATODAY.com

10 Things Your Airline Won't Tell You
Your hard-earned air miles are worth less all the time. We love to sock you with hidden fees. Customer service isn't always our top priority. Go inside the airline industry and see their secrets.
10 Things Your Airline Won't Tell You (10 Things: Personal Finance) at SmartMoney.com

Are There Too Many Women Doctors?
As an MD shortage looms, female physicians and their flexible hours are taking some of the blame.
Are There Too Many Women Doctors?

Squeezed Lenders Abandon Students
The exodus of lenders means students must be vigilant about securing loans. Here's how.
Squeezed Lenders Abandon Students (Consumer Action: Personal Finance) at SmartMoney.com

The Brothers Behind Ultimate Fighting
Two casino tycoons turned a violent fight club into a billion-dollar sports empire.
The Brothers Behind Ultimate Fighting - Forbes.com
Also: Ultimate Fighting Superstars

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