offshore-finances.com

In one of our previous essays we mentioned that the situation in the USD Index appears bearish, but it has not been the main driver of the PM prices lately. It’s been the general stock market that used to drive gold and silver prices lately, which means that the situation is now less than perfectly bullish, especially in the short term.

Therefore, this week we would like to let you know what we think about the main stock indices and how it may influence the gold market.

Let’s begin with … [visit site to read more]

Founded in 1924, Eaton Vance is one of the oldest investment management firms in the U.S. With over $161.6 billion of assets under management, the company and its affiliates provide a wide range of investment products and wealth management services to individuals and institutions. Operating in the investment space for over 85 years has given the company a long term perspective which it uses to deliver sustained value to its clients. It aims to become the country’s premier investment … [visit site to read more]

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) just celebrated its first annual profit since 2005. After losing $6.9 billion in 2008, the automaker reported a full-year net profit of $2.7 billion.
Initially expecting further losses, CEO Alan Mulally warned that his company wouldn’t be “solidly profitable” before 2011. Yet it gained last year all the same, and without any sort of Federal bailout.
Quite the contrast to its Detroit rivals, General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Chrysler, which both relied on Uncle Sam while … [visit site to read more]

Staples Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS), the global leader for the supply of office products, recently boosted its quarterly dividend by 9%. The Board has approved an increase in annual dividend to 36 cents (or 9 cents quarterly) from 33 cents a share (or 8.25 cents quarterly).
 
Framingham, Massachusetts-based, Staples, said that the higher dividend will be paid on April 15, 2010, to shareholders of record as on March 26, 2010. Staples’ strong liquidity provides financial flexibility to drive future … [visit site to read more]

At a meeting with financial analysts in New York , U.S. energy behemoth Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) unveiled its business strategy. In particular, the company outlined plans to restructure its struggling downstream (refinery, marketing, and transportation) operation that has seen mounting losses due to weak demand for fuel. Chevron will now focus on growth in Asian markets and in its gas business.
 
The company confirmed its 2010 capital expenditure budget of $21.6 billion, 2.7% lower than a … [visit site to read more]

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) has announced a super-fast carrier routing system called the CRS 3.
 
Management stated that use of multiple CRS-3s in the network would enable data transfer speeds of up to 322 terabits per second (tbps), significantly higher than the 92 tbps of the CRS-1, which is currently used by many of the major carriers around the world, including AT&T (NYSE:T), Sprint (NYSE:S) and Verizon (NYSE:VZ).
 
The company has sold around 5,000 CRS-1s to 300 network operators to … [visit site to read more]

The USDCAD is trying its best to bottom. The problem is there does not seem to be much of a short to cause a strong bounce in the currency pair. 
From a technical basis the 1.0259 level has given us a number of hourly bar bottoms at the level to keep us interested in that level as a pivot area. If the price is above, bullish. If the price moves below bearish. A break below has 1.0234 as the low target and below that level, the low for 2010 comes in at 1.0223.
On the topside there are a … [visit site to read more]

 Facet Biotech (FACT) agreed to its purchase by Abbott Labs (NYSE:ABT) for $722 million or $27 per share.

 American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) announced plans to shutter all 28 Martin & Osa stores. The company is due to report results today, with fourth quarter earnings of 33 cents versus 19 cents a year ago anticipated.

 Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) added Bucyrus (NASDAQ:BUCY) to its Conviction Buy List with an $80 price target.

 Several analysts reiterated “buy” recommendations … [visit site to read more]

Standard Life’s better-than-expected results made little impact on the life assurer’s share price this morning, despite initial gains.
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Investors took advantage of a drop in the share price of Gulf Keystone Petroleum today after the stock dropped 9.3 per cent to 85.1 pence per share. 
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