Stock Market Weekly

My view on the stock markets today

Citigroup Inc.

One of the major players in the money center bank industry is the Citigroup Inc.  The Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 and is headquartered in New York, New York. The company has been providing a wide range of financial products, as well as services to the different types of consumers across America and all over the world. The consumer arm of the company offers several products like consumer banking, lending, investment and insurance services through its branches. Aside from transactions made at the branch, the Citigroup Inc. also made it easier for the clients to transact business through their network of automated teller machines and automated lending machines.  Its services were further improved by the other methods of transacting business through the Internet, over the phone and by mail. The markets and banking segment of the company offers investment banking as well as securities and provides services to corporate accounts. It also has a wealth management segment which provides portfolio management and investment advice to rich individuals and companies. The company has also alternative investments aside form banking including real estate.

Among its competitors, Citigroup places third in market capitalization but has the most number of employees. Investing in the shares of stock of the Citigroup Inc. is recommended to be buy and hold since projections show that prices will increase in the near future.

Getting a stock market software to work on the technical analysis of your investments will save you time and effort in doing so.  This way you can focus on making your calls right so that you will have more profit to play with in the end.

November 15, 2008 Posted by demarketman | The Markets | , , , | No Comments Yet

Medtronic Inc.

In the early years, if you are suffering from chronic diseases, enjoying a longer and healthy life is far from reality. But now, when the rise of many medical advances is on its peak, new discoveries on healing chronic can now be availed of many. And another good news to people suffering from major diseases is the establishment of Medtronic, Inc. this company is known all throughout the globe for its high-end medical technology that truly helps in alleviating extreme pain and extending and even restoring the health of people from all corners of the world suffering from any diseases.

Medtronic Inc. formulates and manufactures and excellent array of medical products and therapies that are all putting great attention on how to diagnose, prevent and monitor chronic conditions. Like diabetes, heart diseases, neurological disorders and other vascular illnesses. Because of the great revolutionary products that this company provides, it is estimated that for every five seconds, a person’s life is saved.

Many are thankful for the introduction of the beneficial products produced by Medtronic Inc. Founded last April 29, 1949 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Earl Bakken and Palmer J Hermundslie; Medtronic Inc. has now larger scope of market because of the efficiency and effectiveness of all its products. Its success in the business has allowed the company to produce greater biomedical technology. The passion of Medtronic Inc to help the sufferers of major diseases results to their success as one of the world’s leading medical technology company that provides brilliant disease solutions.

October 30, 2008 Posted by demarketman | The Markets | , , | No Comments Yet

Motorola Inc.

In this age, the use of communication device is on the rise. The demand for better and faster communication has prompted producers to come up with innovative products that would entice every customer. Today, the Motorola Inc. is the forefront of all communication inventions. The company has been around the market for about 80 years and it still has many things to show and develop. With the many experiences that come along the company, many customers are swayed on patronizing any Motorola product because of the phone’s unique and innovative features.

Motorola Inc. is the very first company to develop the world’s handheld portable cellular phone, which is known as the DynaTAC (DYNamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage) 8000X. And the latest technology that Motorola Inc has to offer is the all-digital high-definition television (HDTV) technical standard and the firs ever WiMAW 802. All these new technological breakthroughs would keep the customers wanting for more.

To add to the long list of Motorola Inc.’s long list of accomplishments, it is now developing new communication technologies that include wireless handsets, wireless accessories, wireless access systems, digital entertainment services and a lot more exciting features.

With all this, Motorola Inc. is definitely considered to be one of the best when it comes to providing top caliber communication device solutions. This company is the one that develops new technologies and other competitors only follow. Through the company’s products, the world becomes smaller and communication is a lot easier and affordable. All this is because of the initiative of Motorola Inc.

October 15, 2008 Posted by demarketman | The Markets | , , | No Comments Yet

AngloGold Ashanti Limited

Operating twenty one facilities in four continents, the AngloGold Ashanti Limited is already a certified expert when it comes to matters regarding gold mining and marketing. As a global gold producer, it has an essential project pipeline and a wide exploration program. It is aiming at improved performance of current assets through efficient cost management and heightened productivity.

Realizing how important opportunities are to the company, the AngloGold Ashanti Limited continues exploration and a dedicated acquisition method. With an increased return on investments and provision of dividends, future growth is very promising, especially on the part of shareholders.

If you want to be a part of the well rewarded shareholders of the AngloGold Ashanti Limited, you can try researching about stock market, investing and finance. Should you wish to convert your knowledge into skills, you can try enhancing your ability to understand stock markets through stock market software.

You can try buying, selling, or holding your share, but with AngloGold Ashanti Limited, it is just practical to buy more shares and earn extra. You only have to know what you think will go up or down in the stock market and when your decision was good, that’s extra money for you.

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August 15, 2008 Posted by demarketman | The Markets | , , | No Comments Yet

Intertape Polymer Group Inc.

The Intertape Polymer Group Inc. is the leader in the packing industry. The company has rightfully gained the spot through the advanced technologies they use to manufacture their products. The products that the Intertape Polymer Group Inc. has under its name include polyolefin plastic and paper-based packing products. They also make customized orders for commercial and retail use.  Distribution of the company’s products is also well-organized since they operate in nineteen locations. This is their main advantage over their competitors because this arrangement allows a lower cost for their consumers. The company was established in 1981 and has its headquarters in Quebec and Florida.

Buying shares of stock is not recommended at this time.  The most appropriate trading action that one can make do of at the moment is to hold. This is because the prices of the stocks are currently trading even so it is better to play safe than sorry. The Intertape Polymer Group Inc. is also second among its competitors yet has been steadily earning over the years.

To make sure that you make the right decisions with investing your money in the trading market, you can make use of stock trading software to guide you on the calls you have to make.  The advantage of this type of software is that it is fully automated and will update itself with trading fluctuations so that it will be easier for you to manage your financial portfolio. By getting this underway, you can be assured that the decisions you make will be the right decisions done at exactly the right time.

July 30, 2008 Posted by demarketman | The Markets | , , | No Comments Yet

Cascade Corporation

Cascade Corporation directs the conduct of its business towards the manufacture and distribution of devices designed to handle load and its respective replacement parts. These devices are primarily used in the lift truck industry.  It is also utilized by the construction industry worldwide. The company was founded in 1943 and has its main office located in Fairview, Oregon.

The products that the corporation carries under its brand name are those lift truck related products that are designed to handle loads with or without pallets.  Specialized attachments are also being produced by the company to answer the need of being able to handle different types of load such as paper rolls, carpets, textiles, drums, bricks, appliances, masonry blocks, plywood and lumber. In the construction industry, the name Cascade is known for its construction attachments and other related products that allow construction vehicles like wheel loaders and backhoes to move materials. The products made by the corporation are only available through a distribution channel.

The company started to offer common stocks to the public in 1965 and has since faced several market fluctuations due to the rise and fall of the demands of the farm and construction machinery industry. The company places second among its direct competitors in the industry yet still continue to be profitable.  At present, the recommendation to be followed is to hold stocks owned in the company and wait for a more positive time when prices will again rise.  Tracing the ups and downs of the market prices of stocks in the Cascade Corporation can be done with a stock trading software.

July 24, 2008 Posted by demarketman | The Markets | , , | No Comments Yet

Stocks finish narrowly mixed after economic reports, ahead of next week’s data

Wall Street closed out a winning week with a narrowly mixed performance Friday after the government reported that Americans’ spending rose in April to keep pace with rising costs.

Investors who sent stocks higher for three straight sessions turned cautious after the Commerce Department said personal spending rose 0.2 percent last month and personal income rose 0.2 percent. The department also said inflation at the personal spending level, after stripping out food and energy costs, ticked up in April by a tame 0.1 percent.

The readings were in line with the market’s expectations, and supported the notion that high commodities costs are not yet causing a sharp pullback in spending or lifting prices for other goods. Meanwhile, the technology sector got a lift after computer maker Dell Inc. and chip maker Marvell Technology Group Ltd. posted stronger-than-expected quarterly results.

But Wall Street’s concerns about the economy and inflation are far from erased, despite the stock market’s healthy gain this week. Although the government estimated Thursday that first-quarter gross domestic product grew by nearly 1 percent, Americans still face rising costs for necessities such as groceries and gasoline. Furthermore, crude oil remains near record highs — a serious drag on consumer spending which accounts for more than two-thirds of the U.S. economy.

Investors will get a clearer picture next week when a number of key economic reports will be released. Analysts believe strong data on job growth and manufacturing will boost stocks — or, if the reports are disappointing, deliver a setback to the markets.

“It is now all about the economy, and I think we’re going to get numbers that might be a requiem for the recession forecasters,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at New York-based brokerage house Avalon Partners. “Not to say the numbers will be great, but not as bad as people might have anticipated. That will give the market a lift.”

He said some investors were adjusting their positions Friday ahead of the data. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 7.90, or 0.06 percent, to 12,638.32.

Broader stock indicators edged higher. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 2.12, or 0.15 percent, to 1,400.38, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 14.34, or 0.57 percent, to 2,522.66.

All three indexes finished higher for the week, recovering from the previous week’s sharp losses. The dollar stabilized and oil prices pulled back from record highs during the past four sessions, giving investors some relief as they parsed data suggesting that the economy is weak but not technically in recession.

The Dow rose 1.27 percent, the S&P 500 gained 1.78 percent and the Nasdaq picked up 3.19 percent.

Government bonds edged up Friday. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, fell to 4.06 percent in late trading from 4.08 percent on Thursday.

The energy markets continued to weigh on investors, however, with oil prices down from record levels but threatening to surge again. Crude oil futures settled up 73 cents at $127.35 a barrel in erratic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

“We’ve hit a level where you’re starting to see demand destruction,” said John Massey, portfolio manager at AIG SunAmerica Asset Management.

The dollar fell against other major currencies, while gold prices rose.

Wall Street will look for signs of how rising inflation is affecting the economy in several reports due next week. The Institute for Supply Management will release an index of conditions in the manufacturing sector on Monday and its services sector report on Wednesday.

The Labor Department on Friday will release its May employment report, one of the most closely-watched indicators of economic health.

In corporate news, the technology-dominated Nasdaq got a boost after Dell, the world’s second-largest seller of personal computers, issued a profit report late Thursday that was stronger than analysts expected due to growth in Asia and robust sales of notebook computers.

Dell shares jumped $1.25, or 5.7 percent, to $23.06, and injected some optimism into Wall Street that foreign economies are helping many companies weather the weak U.S. market.

Marvell Technology swung to a larger-than-expected profit in the quarter ended May 3, and its revenue also beat analyst forecasts. Shares rose $3.28, or 23.3 percent, to $17.36.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 2.73, or 0.37 percent, to 748.28.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by about 8 to 7 on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 3.72 billion shares, compared to 3.81 billion shares on Thursday.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average closed up 1.52 percent. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.24 percent, Germany’s DAX index advanced 0.59 percent, and France’s CAC-40 rose 0.77 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended the week up 158.69, or 1.27 percent, at 12,638.32. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index finished up 24.45, or 1.78 percent, at 1,400.38. The Nasdaq composite index ended the week up 77.99, or 3.19 percent, at 2,522.66.

The Russell 2000 index finished the week up 24.18, or 3.34 percent, at 748.28.

The Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Composite Index — a free-float weighted index that measures 5,000 U.S. based companies — ended Friday at 14,260.76, up 306.28 points, or 2.19 percent, for the week. A year ago, the index was at 15,441.30.

May 31, 2008 Posted by demarketman | The Markets | , , , | No Comments Yet

AOL sheds its brand to draw specialty audiences

Unless you’re looking carefully, you’ll likely miss the fact that the new Asylum Web site for young men is a creation of Time Warner Inc.’s AOL. Same for WalletPop on personal finance, Spinner on indie music and StyleList on fashion.

The AOL brand is taking a back seat as the company long associated with dial-up Internet access for the masses quietly launches dozens of sites targeted at specialized audiences.

AOL figures that to grow its audiences — and draw additional advertising the company crucially needs to offset plunging revenue from its shrinking base of Internet access subscribers — it must break from a one-size-fits-all model and let its specialty sites set their own designs and editorial tone, shedding the AOL brand when necessary.

Bill Wilson, AOL’s executive vice president for vertical programming, said the company has been retaining the AOL name for some sites — AOL Body is one, after research showed women 25 and up respond well to the brand.

And the brand isn’t completely invisible even if AOL isn’t part of the site’s name. There’s usually a small AOL logo somewhere, along with links to other AOL sites. The right mix, Wilson said, is the product of research on what makes the most sense for consumers.

Take Asylum, which has grown into a leading site for young men since its December launch. The name was chosen partly to convey humor and irreverence.

“If we put it out as AOL Men, we got the feedback it wouldn’t connect,” said Mike Rich, a senior vice president who oversees Asylum and other specialty sites. “People just didn’t connect this type of content with the AOL brand.”

Wilson said AOL’s unbranding can help potential visitors know that the site isn’t part of its subscription service, which AOL started breaking down in late 2004 in favor of free, ad-supported sites.

AOL parent Time Warner was more blunt in a regulatory filing:

“If AOL cannot effectively build a portfolio of alternate brands that are appealing to Internet consumers, AOL may have difficulty in increasing the engagement of Internet consumers on its Web products and services. AOL believes that the `AOL’ brand is associated in the minds of consumers with its dial-up Internet access service.”

AOL is by no means alone in promoting alternative brands.

Google Inc. has its homegrown Orkut social-networking service alongside its Picasa photo products and YouTube video-sharing site, both brands that came in through acquisitions. On the other hand, the Keyhole brand disappeared when Google bought the mapping concern, which became Google Earth.

Yahoo Inc., meanwhile, has Flickr photos and recently launched Shine for women.

Microsoft Corp. has a slew of brand names, including MSN, Hotmail and Live.

But unbranding represents a reversal for AOL after it tried to make its Moviefone and Netscape acquisitions more AOL-like. Type in “Moviefone.com,” for instance, and you’re automatically redirected to “movies.aol.com.”

“AOL currently implies legacy. It implies old. It implies out of date,” said Rob Enderle, an industry analyst with the Enderle Group. “If you want to attract a new, young audience to a site, attaching ‘AOL’ is probably a kiss of death. They are wise to use the new individual property brands.”

May 17, 2008 Posted by demarketman | The Markets | , , , , | No Comments Yet