Continue reading Closing Bell: The dollar giveth and taketh away (AAPL, ABX, S, SOMX, NVDA, INTC)

Closing Bell: The dollar giveth and taketh away (AAPL, ABX, S, SOMX, NVDA, INTC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Comcast (CMCSA) agreed to take a majority-ownership of NBC Universal from General Electric (GE). Comcast announced a 40% dividend increase and said its will complete its $3.6 billion stock-buyback effort during the next three years. CMCSA overall option implied volatility of 35 is versus its 26-week average of 39, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Barrick Gold (ABX) closed at $47.93. Gold is recently up 0.24% to $1215.90 according to Bloomberg. Barrick Gold announced on December 1 that it has eliminated all gold hedges and now has full leverage to the gold price on the industry's largest gold production and reserves. December and January option implied volatility of 43 is near its 26-week average of 44 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

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

Options Update: Comcast volatility low into NBCU deal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Late in the evening of November 11, The Daily Telegraph reported that Barrick Gold (ABX) has shut its hedge book because the world gold supply is running out. Barrick Gold's president, Aaron Regent, told the periodical that global output has been shrinking at a pace for nearly 1 million ounces a year since the start of the decade.

At RBC's annual gold conference in London, Regent noted that "There is a strong case to be made that we are already at 'peak gold.'" Regent believes that production peaked around 2000 and has dropped ever since, he adds that Barrick Gold believes the decline will continue because "It is increasingly difficult to find ore."

Continue reading Barrick Gold shuts hedge book over world gold supply

Barrick Gold shuts hedge book over world gold supply originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When gold miners and gun-toters lag the broader economy, it's usually a good sign that conditions are on the mend. Both sectors outperform when times were tough, but this year, their growth has slowed relative to the market has a whole.

The S&P 500 index has gained 57% since March 9, 2009, according to a USA Today report, while Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) and Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM) are up 36% and 21%, respectively, for the same period. Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ: SWHC) is up 30%. Again, these are definitely respectable results, but they aren't keeping pace with the index.

Continue reading Guns and gold tell the story on the economy

Guns and gold tell the story on the economy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: ABX) announced that it would begin eliminating its hedges against a collapse in gold prices.

In so doing, the company is raising some $3 billion with the sale of stock that will dilute current shareholders.

While the gold hedges may have acted as a brake on revenues and profits in a rising gold price environment, the strategy was prudent.

Continue reading Gold stock to sell #1: Barrick Gold (ABX)

Gold stock to sell #1: Barrick Gold (ABX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gold at $1,000. Better buy now or you will miss the greatest invention since tulips in the 1800s.

Or so they say. I say, what a bunch of baloney. Why on earth would I want to put hard-earned cash on something that may look pretty but has no real tangible value?

That's right, gold has no tangible value. Well, that's not entirely true since there is a vast cult of worshipers out there that say gold is the only thing with value. As a result of their die-hard belief, gold actually does have value, as we now see with AU trading for $1,000 per ounce.

Continue reading Gold is losing its shine: Five to sell now

Gold is losing its shine: Five to sell now originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: The never ending rally (ABX, GE, PALM, VVUS)

Closing Bell: The never ending rally (ABX, GE, PALM, VVUS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Baxter (NYSE: BAX) is hosting an analyst day on September 16. BAX closed at $55.60. BAX September option implied volatility of 22 is near its 26-week average of 32 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) closed at $23.09. Natural gas is recently up 1.32% to 2.844 according to Bloomberg. CHK September option implied volatility is at 45, October is at 47; below its 26-week average of 61, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

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

Options Update: Baxter volatility low at 22 into analyst day originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"In the 2000s, as we've alternated between deflationary and inflationary worries, gold has been the only major investment to rise every year," says Stephen Leeb.

In his The Complete Investor, he explains, "We think that many miners are exceptional bets today. And among our favorite gold investments is one that we hold in our small cap value model portfolio: NovaGold Resources (AMEX: NG)."

"The case for mining stocks is that the price of gold rises faster than miners' costs, allowing margins to increase.

Continue reading NovaGold (NG): 'Exceptional bet' in mining

NovaGold (NG): 'Exceptional bet' in mining originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded BB&T (NYSE: BBT) to Market Perform from Underperform as it believes downside risk has been reduced following the company's capital raise. The firm raised its target price to $23 from $15.
  
• Janney Montgomery upgraded FEI Company (NASDAQ: FEIC) to Buy from Neutral on expectations margins will improve and various country stimulus packages will provide benefits in 2010. The firm has a $31 target on the stock.
  
• Citigroup upgraded Tyco Electronics (NYSE: TEL) to Buy from Hold as it believes automotive headwinds are priced in and the company's long-term fundamentals are intact. The firm raised its target price to $25 from $19.
• Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
  
• J.B. Hunt (NYSE: JBHT) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens.
  
• Roper Industries (NYSE: ROP) was upgraded at Oppenheimer to Outperform from Perform.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TEL, ABX, AET, WMT, VMW ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TEL, ABX, AET, WMT, VMW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded Lincoln National (NYSE: LNC) to Buy from Underperform and raised its target to $17 from $10 citing expectations that the company will "qualify for and accept TARP funding."
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded AU Optronics (NYSE: AUO) to Outperform from Neutral as it believes inventory levels are low end demand is better than expected.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR) to Overweight from Neutral. The firm views the recent pullback in shares as a buying opportunity given the company's attractive nuke position and expected ramp in government spending.
• Patterson-UTI Energy (NASDAQ: PTEN) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) was raised to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel.
  
• Stryker (NYSE: SYK) was lifted to Sector Perform from Underperform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LNC, AZN, APOL, PNRA ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LNC, AZN, APOL, PNRA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I confess to being surprised by the extent of the current rally, even after many times warning that bear-market rallies tend to be sudden, violent affairs.

Nevertheless, the facts point to the dramatic advance of the past 10 days (the best seven-day rally since 1939) as still nothing more than a rebound following a sell-off that took prices to a level that had to be attacked by bargain hunters and patient investors alike.

Now, however, the easy part is behind them.

Continue reading Today's technical outlook: Too late to buy stocks

Today's technical outlook: Too late to buy stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Citigroup upgraded Blue Nile (NASDAQ: NILE) shares to Buy from Hold on valuation following the recent sell-off as they believe weakening fundamentals have been factored into estimates and that Blue Nile should benefit from the recent softening of diamond prices. The firm raised its target price to $30 from $20.
  
• Baird upgraded AmSurg (NASDAQ: AMSG) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuation, potential upside from in-line results, good visibility, and FCF yield.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded DryShips (NASDAQ: DRYS) to Perform from Underperform on valuation following the recent weakness and believes the company is at least halfway through its $500M equity offering.
• UAL Corp (NASDAQ: UAUA) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Banc of America/Merrill.
  
• Mylan (NASDAQ: MYL) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
  
• Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) was lifted at Deutsche Bank to Buy from Hold.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: NILE, XOM, MT, NFLX ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: NILE, XOM, MT, NFLX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Abercrombie & Fitch Inc. (NYSE: ANF) beat Q4 earnings estimates handily, sending shares higher.
• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) did well in the holiday period but offered weak guidance.
• Barclays (NYSE: BCS) one-time gains offset write-downs and said it expects to resume dividend payments.
• Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) shares fell after it announced that it had understated its Q4 and fiscal 2008 loss.
• Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) topped Q4 earnings estimates due in part to volume gain internationally.
• Diageo (NYSE: DEO) earnings rose in the first half, but it cut its full-year forecast.
• GSI Commerce Inc. (NASDAQ: GSIC) "solid" Q4 results led to an analyst downgrade.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Coke, Pepsi, Hasbro, Marriott, Abercrombie, Wells Fargo and others

Earnings highlights: Coke, Pepsi, Hasbro, Marriott, Abercrombie, Wells Fargo and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) is recently at $31.88 in pre-open trading, below its close of $35.66. CAT says 2009 will be a very tough year. CAT reported Q4 sales and revenues rose 14% from 2007. CAT February option implied volatility of 76 is above its 26-week average of 55, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Barclays (NYSE: BCS) is recently trading at $4.50 in pre-open trading, above its close of $3.07. BSC said it will avoid further capital increases as revenue grows. BCS overall option implied volatility of 80 is below its 26-week average of 92, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) closed at $39.58. Gold is recently up 1.09% to $907.50 according to Bloomberg. ABX is scheduled to report Q4 EPS in late February. ABX March option implied volatility of 72 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

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

Options Update: Caterpillar (CAT) volatility elevated into lower 2009 outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The mythical lore of gold dates to the dawn of man. Whether for jewels, religion or currency, gold's place in history is quite secure.

In the modern day, gold has become more about safe havens for fear mongers ready to declare the end of the world.

These folks will have you believe that the U.S. dollar will be worthless due to inflationary pressures arising out of a printing-press monetary policy. And that the collapse of U.S.-style capitalism necessitates a return to the one thing that we can count on to hold value no matter the circumstances.

Hogwash! Why not just make granite or bricks the de facto currency of choice. Ridiculous, right? But seriously, tell me the difference.

Of course, gold means so much more to the lunatics that believe the precious metal will solve all of their problems. What a joke. The only real utility for gold is aesthetic. The stuff looks nice in the form of baubles and chains. Beyond that, there is little true value.

Continue reading Don't be a fool -- stay away from gold

Don't be a fool -- stay away from gold originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Canadian markets halted due to a glitch -- can it happen in the U.S.?

Canadian markets halted due to a glitch -- can it happen in the U.S.? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hedge Inflation with two gold ETF ideas: GDX and GLD

Hedge Inflation with two gold ETF ideas: GDX and GLD originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Gold prices drop and take several gold stocks to new 52 week lows

Gold prices drop and take several gold stocks to new 52 week lows originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading With U.S. stocks plunging, here are some Canadian stock picks

With U.S. stocks plunging, here are some Canadian stock picks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.