Archives for September 2012

September 2012 - Page 5 of 19 - Money Morning - Only the News You Can Profit From

Jeffries Group Reports in Line - Analyst Blog

Jefferies Group, Inc. (JEF) reported its fiscal third-quarter 2012 (ended August 31) earnings per share of 32 cents in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the earnings compared favorably with the prior-year quarter’s earnings of 10 cents. Results were impacted by escalated non-interest expenses. Yet, higher top-line growth was a positive for the quarter. […]

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The Hershey Company - Growth & Income

The Hershey Company (HSY) raised its 2012 earnings guidance after a solid first-half performance. Shares reached a new 52-week high on September 7 and earnings estimates have been moving up. Moreover, the company pays a regular quarterly dividend that yields 2.7%, which makes this Zacks #2 Rank (Buy) chocolate maker attractive to income seeking investors. […]

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A TV As Thin As Saran Wrap is Just the Beginning For these New Materials

Call it the "Graphene Factor"…

Discovered in 2004, this radical new material made from a single carbon atom has turned the world on its ear.

Since then, experts around the globe have heralded graphene as the hot new commodity that could change everything from satellites to semiconductors.

As it turns out, graphene is only a part of a much bigger story about a new generation of smart materials.

In fact, I've discovered five new materials besides graphene that will change the world, making early investors a fortune along the way.

But don't think for a minute that I've backed away from my belief in graphene since I wrote about this "Miracle Material" last December in this article.

Since then, my confidence in graphene's impact has only grown. Its uses seem almost endless.

With graphene we'll have flat-screen TVs as thin as Saran Wrap, nanotech devices that put the power of a mainframe computer in the palm of your hand and brain implants that combat Alzheimer's.

It's the perfect substance for what I call the Era of Radical Change. We have entered a period like none other in history. What was once science fiction is becoming science fact.

But graphene won't be the only new material pushing the limits of high tech…

See, scientists around the world are in their labs right now working on new materials that could affect everything from drugs to smart phones to space travel. And they're making huge strides.

As a result, science is set to hand us a whole new group of smart materials that will have a wide impact on the future of the whole planet.

Here are five of them…

New Material Number 1: How "Magic Moly" Makes Walls Glow

Of all the promising new materials out there, this one comes closest to matching graphene's uses in electronics.

Like graphene, this new substance works in 2D, meaning it has height and width but virtually no depth. It's a lubricant officially known as molybdenum disulfide. But I just called it "magic moly."

The Challenge in the Persian Gulf with Iran Looms Large

My meetings and media interviews continue here in London. But this morning I want to fill you in on one of the more interesting briefings I have ever held.

Last night, Marina and I had the distinct pleasure of dining with Khaled Duwaisan, Kuwait's Ambassador to the Court of St. James and the longest-serving foreign emissary in London.

His Excellency is a very gracious man, well respected by his peers, and, after more than two decades in London, certainly somebody who has seen much come and go in his time.

Our discussions centered on the situation presented by Iran in the Persian Gulf and the current crisis there.

Also attending the dinner and long discussion were the ambassadors from every other Gulf Coordination Council nation in the region and the legal representative of the Iranians (who currently have no official diplomatic connection with the United Kingdom).

Now, as with such sessions, all of the conversations were held under Chatham House rules. That means, while general themes can be discussed, all participants agree not to connect named people with specific positions in commenting on the meeting afterwards.

This was one of the more memorable sessions I have ever had. It was striking how articulately and passionately the delegates addressed the subject.

The overwhelming response to my comments could be summarized in two ways: the rejection of a nuclear-armed Iran and a strong opinion that the region must settle its affairs on its own.

The first conclusion is certainly shared by the West, but the second may well be difficult to achieve in practice. The prospect of Iran with nuclear capability is hardly a matter Washington, or London, or Brussels will allow the region to decide on its own.

The gathering certainly understood that. These are, after all, seasoned diplomats well-schooled in the protocols and realities of international politics. But they are also experienced in the affairs of a region with the longest and most intricate negotiating traditions on the face of the earth.

They also have a perspective honed from several thousand years of history, tradition, and conflict. There was present a quality I rarely experience in my international meetings — patience.

However, one other matter quickly surfaced that was unanimously viewed as a major element in the ongoing conflict. The assembled representatives spoke about it candidly and directly.

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TMK Notes Get Negative Rating - Analyst Blog

Torchmark Corp.’s (TMK) newly issued $300 million worth of 3.58% Senior Notes, which will mature in 2022, have been assigned a 'BBB+' rating whereas the junior subordinated debentures have been given a  'BBB-' by Fitch Ratings. The rating agency has affirmed 'A-' as long-term ratings and Insurer Financial Strength (“IFS”) ratings of 'A+' to the […]

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When it Comes to the Facts and Figures, America is in Trouble

There are always at least two sides to every story.

That's true when it comes to trading (there's always a buyer and a seller). It's also true when it comes to politics.

But, just like in trading or investing, when it comes to politics, it's not about being "right" or "wrong." It's about distilling rhetoric and opinions down to facts and figures that can then (hopefully) be more objectively observed and used to fashion compromises that lead to winning positions, financially and socially.

I try to let the facts and figures speak for themselves and peel back others' opinions to get at what's really happening and why.

I change my opinions all the time, whenever there are new facts that warrant consideration. But in the end, I take a stance.

I'm telling you this because I'm about to lay out some insights and some indictments regarding the economy, Wall Street, and oil, and then delve into something that's so charged that some of you are going to flip out.

But before you do, remember, there are two sides to every story.

First up: poverty.

Just look at the numbers out this morning…

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The Holy Grail of Neuroscience is Getting Closer All the Time

Our knowledge of the human brain is improving even faster than I thought.

Just last month, I told you about five new brain secrets you needed to know about. What amazes me is that in just a few weeks, top researchers have announced several major new findings.

Taken together, these latest advances mean we are getting much closer to the day when we will achieve the Holy Grail of neuroscience – complete knowledge of how the brain really works.

That's key because many of our worst diseases target the brain. Of course, I'm talking about dreaded ailments like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. But the list also includes inoperable tumors as well as chemical imbalances that could be a major cause of mood swings and drug addiction.

I spend a lot of time reading about brain research for a very good reason. As I see it, the goal is to have a complete map of this highly complex organ. To do so, we need to know how every single brain cell works.

Some experts even foresee the day when we will reverse-engineer the entire brain. Doing that would allow us to create artificial intelligence systems that would be as smart as humans but less prone to their downsides – like anger, drinking binges, and the effects of stress.

I believe the brain ranks at the top of key breakthroughs that make the Era of Radical Change so exciting. Solving the brain puzzle we will rid mankind of many cruel diseases while making our physical world smarter and more in tune with the way our minds work.

Here is a look at three new breakthroughs pushing the limits of neuroscience.

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Investing in Gold: Why the "Golden Cross" is a Big Deal

Investing in gold and silver already offered staggering profit potential, and the opportunities just got even brighter.

Gold this week reached a "golden cross" and silver is perched to traverse one in a matter a days, following successive weeks of bullish trends in both precious metals' markets.

A golden cross occurs when the current price of a commodity (or an equity) and the shorter term moving averages "cross" or rise above the longer term 200-day moving average.

After 18 months of tepid and sometimes lower price movement, gold and silver have formed a large foundational base while enjoying two of the longest and strongest bull markets in history, according to research from Business Insider.

Now the golden cross has delivered technical support for higher moves for both metals.

"We're going to see new highs in both gold and silver in the first half of the New Year," said Money Morning Global Resources Specialist Peter Krauth. "I don't see anything that will keep this from happening."

Here's why Krauth is so bullish on gold and silver.

Taxmaggedon 2013: These Changes Mean Less Take Home Pay For Everyone

Funding of the Social Security program has been a growing concern for years now, and new tax law changes for 2013 will target at least one portion of that problem.

Thanks to Taxmageddon 2013, your take home pay is about to shrink.

In the first three parts of our series on the tax outlook for 2013, we reviewed the impact of proposed changes on capital gains, dividend income and the treatment of certain taxes for the wealthy and small businesses.

Today, we'll look at scheduled changes in the FICA withholding structure, as well as a number of other 2013 tax law revisions that individual taxpayers need to be aware of.

FICA is short for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, the Depression-era law that imposed payroll taxes to fund America's Social Security retirement and disability programs. Withholding for the Medicare elder-health program was added in the 1960s.

Silver Prices: Much More To This Rise Than a QE3 Rally

Silver prices had a volatile week, which started with a down day Monday closing at $34.25.

The week was poised to be somewhat "quiet" after the previous one was full of central bank news from the United States and Europe.

But living up to its reputation for swings, silver turned and hit a six-month high on Tuesday at $35.10.

And just when we thought it was time for a slight breather from monetary action, the Bank of Japan announced Wednesday that it would expand its stimulus program with 10 trillion yen ($126 billion).

Japanese silver investors were more excited than other traders about the news, driving up silver prices by 2.9%. The United States was less so as Decembersilver futures on the COMEX fell $0.103 to $34.615 an ounce on the news before closing up 1.5% for the day.

On Thursday, December silver rose 0.27% to $34.68.

So what can we expect next from this fickle metal with its great year?

In a Scotiabank note this week, analysts wrote of silver, "We remain bullish … and see this as a healthy consolidation after a strong rally."

Here's why the silver bull party is still going strong.

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