TheStreet Search RSS Feed:

Wal-Mart Poised to Outperform: Analyst

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:41:30 EST

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Wal-Mart was upgraded to buy from hold by a Stifel Nicolaus retail analyst, who said the discounter could see more cooperation in building stores in big cities.

Analyst David Schick said in a note that state and local governments might be willing to approve the opening of more urban stores in an effort to spur job growth.

Consumers are also still trying to spend less on basics, benefitting Wal-Mart, Schick wrote. ...

Click to view a price quote on WMT.

Click to research the Retail industry.

IGT Drags Down Sector

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:58:35 EST

(IGT article updated with stock prices.)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- International Game Technologies saw its rating cut by Goldman Sachs on Monday, on pessimism in the regional gaming market and product replacement.

The news sent shares sinking 3.2% to $19.99 in afternoon trading and dragged down shares of other gaming technology makers. Bally Technologies is off 0.4% to $43.90, WMS Industries is falling 0.7% to $40.80 and Suffle Master> is dropping 4.3% to $8.64. ...

Click to view a price quote on IGT.

Click to research the Computer Software & Services industry.

McDonald's Up; Burger King Down

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:15:47 EST

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Fast food is in the spotlight on Tuesday as McDonald's is upgraded and Burger King downgraded by an analyst.

McDonald's was lifted to outperform from neutral by Credit Suisse analyst Keith Siegner, citing potential earnings drivers like its international business.

"We do not believe estimates or valuation fairly reflect McDonald's ability to build upon already substantial 2008 and 2009 share gains through a several-year recovery period," he wrote in a note. "McDonald's will benefit from its unique ability to simultaneously appeal to both 'depressed' and 'recovering' consumers." ...

Click to view a price quote on MCD.

Click to research the Leisure industry.

Connecticut AG Seeks Credit Card Fee Rollback

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:07:24 EST

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is asking Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to roll back increases in fees and interest charged to credit card holders. ...

Chicago Alderman New Ill. Commerce Commission Head

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:42:11 EST

CHICAGO (AP) Gov. Pat Quinn has named Chicago Alderman Manny Flores as the new chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Quinn announced the appointment Monday at a news conference in Chicago, calling Flores hard working and diligent. The governor says Flores will have a "strong voice" for consumers and focus on green initiatives. The ICC determines utility rates in Illinois. ...

Banks Trim Borrowing From Fed's Emergency Program

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:30:18 EST

JEANNINE AVERSA

WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. banks borrowed slightly less from the Federal Reserve's emergency lending program over the past week, a sign credit stresses are easing.

The Fed, in a report issued Thursday, said commercial banks averaged $18.74 billion in daily borrowing over the week that ended Wednesday. That was down from $18.75 billion the previous week. ...

New York's Aging Infrastructure A Costly Problem

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:16:31 EST

VALERIE BAUMAN

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Tens of thousands of miles of aging sewer and water treatment systems need extensive repairs and upgrades that could cost New York billions in the next two decades, an expensive undertaking even with the help of federal stimulus funding, according to state officials.

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation found sewage-treatment infrastructure around the state is aging out and in need of an estimated $36.2 billion in repairs over the next 20 years. A similar state Health Department study estimated that drinking water infrastructure is in need of approximately $38 billion in repairs over 20 years. ...

Mortgage Rates End The Year Above 5 Percent

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:37:32 EST

McLEAN, Va. (AP) Mortgage rates rose for the fourth straight week, ending the year above 5 percent.

The average fixed rate on a 30-year mortgage was 5.14 percent this week, up from 5.05 percent last week, Freddie Mac said Thursday. ...

Euro Back Above $1.44 In Thin Year-end Trading

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:30:37 EST

BERLIN (AP) The euro pushed higher against the dollar in light trading on Thursday, as trading volumes dried up on the last day of the year.

The 16-nation euro bought $1.4414 in morning trading, up from $1.4334 overnight in New York. The British pound also nudged up to $1.6172, from $1.6069 in New York late Wednesday. ...

Survey: 137 Media Workers Killed In 2009

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:00:54 EST

BRUSSELS (AP) This year has been one of the worst on record for the deliberate killing of reporters and media staff, an international journalists' association said Thursday.

A total of 137 journalists and media personnel were killed in 2009, according to the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists. ...

Audit: Maui Land & Pineapple's Future Uncertain

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:14:47 EST

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) Maui Land & Pineapple Co. says its auditors have found the company's liabilities exceed its assets by more than $60 million, raising doubts about its ability to survive.

The property developer, one of Maui's biggest landowners, said in a report filed this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it's counting on being able to sell some of its real estate to raise cash and meet its financial obligations. But the weak real estate market may thwart those plans. ...

Treasurys Creep Higher After 7-year Auction

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:35:42 EST

SARA LEPRO

NEW YORK (AP) Interest rates fell slightly Wednesday following an auction of $32 billion of seven-year notes.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which is used as a benchmark for interest rates on mortgages and other consumer loans, slipped to 3.79 percent from 3.80 percent late Tuesday. Its price rose 2/32 to 96 18/32 in late trading. ...

Correction: Nielsen Ratings Story

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:20:37 EST

NEW YORK (AP) In a Dec. 29 story about last week's television ratings, The Associated Press reported erroneously the broadcast network viewership averages. Last week, CBS averaged 9.1 million viewers in prime-time (5.7 rating, 10 share), NBC had 6.4 million viewers (3.9, 7), ABC had 4.5 million (2.7, 5), Fox had 3.7 million (2.3, 4), ION Television had 1.1 million (0.7, 1) and the CW had 820,000 (0.6, 1). ...

Crude And Gas Supplies Fall Less Than Expected

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:40:51 EST

NEW YORK (AP) Crude and gasoline supplies fell last week, the government said Wednesday.

Crude inventories dropped by 1.5 million barrels, or a half percent, to 326 million barrels, which is 0.3 percent above year-ago levels, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report. ...

JAL Shares Dive To Record Low On Bankruptcy Fears

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:38:20 EST

TOKYO (AP) Shares of struggling Japan Airlines Corp. nosedived to a record low Wednesday on growing fears the money-losing carrier could be put through bankruptcy court as part of restructuring.

Asia's biggest airline, known as JAL, closed down 24 percent at 67 yen on the last trading day for 2009 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Earlier in the day, JAL plunged 32 percent to 60 yen. ...