Archive for the 'Good News' Category
MasterCard (MA) rises on Fed action
MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) shares are rising following the Federal Reserve’s announcement that it will make $200 billion worth of Treasury securities to financial institutions in an effort to stave off a recession and fight the credit crunch. whether you think that the company won’t fall…
Best Buy to help new HDTV customers with satellite bill payments
Best Buy, Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is stepping up promotion of high-definition TV in its stores by paying for satellite bills of customers who buy a new HDTV along with DirecTV service. From looking at the details, it looks like a promotion like that is probably much more appealing than running fixed “…
Housing’s new day may very well start with the FHA
Groucho Marx once remarked that whenever things start to look really dark, remain calm, don’t panic, and above all, turn on a light.
Given the barrage of financial stresses battering the credit and fairness markets these days, consumers, economists and investors alike could use some of Grouch…
Socially responsible investing on the rise
The Social Investment Forum has issued a new report showing that assets under management at firms employing socially responsible investment (SRI) screens grew by 18% to $2.71 trillion [subscription required] in the two-year period ended in December of 2006.
That compares to growth of just 3% …
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac agree to revise home appraisal standards
The nation’s two largest sources of mortgage funds have agreed to sponsor a new home appraisal watchdog group to prevent inflated home values, Reuters reported Tuesday. Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) will supply $12 million each by the next five years to create the new independen…
Freeport-McMoran (FCX) lifted by gold and copper gains
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) shares are rising that , helped by rising copper and gold prices. Copper is higher by more than 2% today, while gold is up by about 1% on concerns about inflation in a lower interest rate environment. whether you think that the company won’t fa…
McDonald’s (MCD) rises on strong Jan. sales
McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) shares are rising that wee hours after the fast-food giant reported that same-store sales rose 5.7% in January, driven by strong worldly growth. that could be a good sign for MCD, as it indicates strong sales growth at existing stores despite the current profitable s…
Oil falls below $87 after weekly inventories surge
Oil fell $1.55 to $86.86 at mid-day after crude oil inventories rose by seven million barrels for the week ended February 1 — well above the consensus estimate of a 2.6-million-barrel increase — the U.S. Energy info Administration announced Wednesday.
Meanwhile, gasoline inventories increas…
Best Buy, Barnes & Noble most dependable retailers that holiday season
Retail websites are fitting just as critical as brick-and-mortar presences for most retailers, and that is never more obvious than during the retail holiday season. For those customers who don’t wish to defeat each other up while standing in 6am Black Friday lines, sitting at home ordering holid…
Apollo Group Inc. (APOL) up and down
Apollo Group Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL) owns University of Phoenix, which posted an 11% enrollment increase to 325,000 students, as well as a consolidated revenue increase of 17% to $780.7 million for 1Q2008. But that is old news. Nevertheless, the stock jumped 10% on January 31 to shut at $80.64, well…
EBay buyers save billions per year, study says
EBay, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) users can be a frugal lot — and they’re used to saving a bundle as they buy things through the site. In fact, new and independent research shows that eBay buyers save billions of dollars each year using the world’s largest online auction site.
The research from the …
Bush, Congress reach tentative agreement on fiscal stimulus package
This one may produce the record books for an approved, federal stimulus package, whether it becomes law within a month.
U.S. Congressional officials from both parties and White House aides announced Thursday daylight they have reached a tentative deal on an profitable stimulus plan, an aide s…
Dow reverses after word of banks, NY regulator assembly on bond insurer rescue
Key regulators at the New York State Insurance office met Wednesday with U.S. banks to discuss raising new capital for bond insurers, a office spokesman said, Bloomberg News reported late Wednesday afternoon.
Talks in New York with unnamed banks are part of New York Insurance Superintendent …
PetMed Express (PETS) net income up 60%
Investors tired of getting whipsawed by the current stock market gyrations may wish to investigate a regular stock such as PetMed Express (NASDAQ: PETS). Americans currently spend in excess of $40 billion a year on their pets. That figure is expected to rise 12% annually for the next few years a…
