Jun 11 2010

Televisa Venture Wins Fiber Auction

The Communications and Transportation Ministry of Mexico recently awarded a 20-year lease for two strands of optical fiber lines to a consortium led by Grupo Televisa S.A. (NYSE:TV). The Mexican government conducted an auction for fiber-optic lines owned by the state-owned power company, Comision Federal de Electricidad to boost competition in the country’s telecom market.
 
Mexican telecom market is highly monopolized. While America Movil SAB (NYSE:AMX) controls 71% of the wireless market, … [visit site to read more]



Jun 11 2010

Legg Mason: Lower May AUM

On Thursday, Baltimore-based money manager Legg Mason Inc. (NYSE:LM) reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $657.9 billion for the month of May. AUM was down 4.0% from $685.3 billion at the end of the prior month though it slightly improved sequentially in April.
 
Till date in 2010, Legg Mason recorded a fall in AUM for the first time.
 
At the end of May, Legg Mason’s equity AUM totaled $163 billion, down 8.3% from $177.8 billion at the end of the prior month. … [visit site to read more]



Jun 11 2010

Think BP Shares Are ‘Too Cheap To Pass Up’? Remember The Case Of Citigroup

Investors sold BP (NYSE:BP) shares in a panic this week, as risks came to light that were obvious a long time ago.

British Petroleum (BP) shares plunged to a 14-year low this week on fears of political fallout.

With investors seemingly deciding to panic all at once, BP’s U.S. exchange-traded ADR (the company also trades in London) tumbled 16% in one day on Wednesday. That fall cut the share price almost exactly in half, as measured from pre-oil spill highs just under $60 per share.

For us … [visit site to read more]



Jun 11 2010

Investing In BP After The Oil Spill: Does It Make Sense?

I bought BP (NYSE:BP) shares this past month. In some ways the decision was dead easy, in other ways I must admit that I am still questioning my choice- but not for the regular reasons. Let me explain to you first why it was an easy decision (my rational side) and then lets talk about why it was a tough decision (let’s call it my emotional side).

Buying BP was an easy decision

At my target price BP shares would pay a 9.5% dividend, with a great price to book, price to sales, and P/E to name … [visit site to read more]



Jun 11 2010

Stock Market News Briefs: Agrium, American Eagle Outfitters, Bank Of America, BP P.l.c., Goldman Sachs Group, Jefferies Group, MedcoHealth Solutions Inc, National Semiconductor, Novartis AG, Walgreen Company, Dell, Finisar Corporation

 National Semiconductor (NYSE:NSM) posted better-than-expected fourth quarter results of 33 cents, up a nickel from Zacks estimates of 28 cents, as revenues increased 10.1% to $399 million, above Zacks estimates of $384 million

 Finisar (NASDAQ:FNSR) topped estimates by 2 cents on fourth quarter results of 22 cents, reflecting a 75.3% rise in revenues to $189 million, up from estimates of $183 million

 Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) revised its first quarter earnings lower to 17 cents from 22 cents … [visit site to read more]



Jun 11 2010

SABESP Downgraded To Neutral

We recently downgraded our rating for Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de São Paulo, or SABESP (NYSE:SBS), a public water and sewage services provider in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, from Outperform to a Neutral recommendation. The rising debt level resulting in increasing financial burden is the prime reason behind the recommendation revision.
 
At the end of the first quarter of 2010, SABESP had loan and financing totaling R$5,610.1 million (US$3,116.7 million), compared with … [visit site to read more]



Jun 11 2010

Market update (AM): BP meeting proposal triggers rebound

News that BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg had requested a meeting with US president Barack Obama was well received by the market this morning.
Read


Jun 11 2010

Market update (AM): Consumer belt-tightening hits Home Retail Group

Home Retail Group became one of the worst performing stocks this morning, after a downbeat investor update, showing like of like sales down 8.1 per cent at Argos and 1.4 per cent down at Homebase.
Read


Jun 9 2010

Hatteras Financial: A “Goldilocks” Situation Creates A Safe 17% Dividend

I know the promise of 17% interest – safely – is ridiculous…
You should be skeptical. Interest rates that high must be either:

Not possible (a lie of some sort is hiding in there).
Or in an extremely risky investment.

You should be even more skeptical about rates that high in today’s world… at a time when your bank is paying you less than 1% on your deposits.
But I assure you, what I’ll share with you today is real and very safe… It’s all thanks to government … [visit site to read more]



Jun 9 2010

GM Recalls 1.5 Million Vehicles

General Motors (MTLQQ) has announced a global recall of about 1.5 million vehicles to fix a problem with a heated windshield wiper fluid system that causes fires. About 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S. and more than 100,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and other international markets have been affected by the recall.

The recall affected 2006 to 2009 model years of Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, and Hummer H2; 2008-2009 Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS; 2007-2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and … [visit site to read more]