Will falling labor costs take the pressure off the U.S. Federal Reserve to begin its "exit strategy," which includes raising interest rates to curb inflation? Productivity was up to 6.4%, while labor costs dropped at an annual rate of 5.8%, the U.S. Department of Labor said yesterday (Tuesday). The productivity boost was the largest in […]
Archives for August 2009
August 2009 - Page 7 of 9 - Money Morning - Only the News You Can Profit From
Hefty Overdraft Fees Raise Banks’ Profits and Consumers’ Eyebrows
Overdraft fees, which a large number of U.S. banks and credit unions relied on to turn a profit in 2008, are under a great deal of fire from consumers and Washington alike. More consumers are turning to their checking accounts for purchases, and this could make for a significant boost in overdraft fees. Charges related […]
Hot Stocks: With an Emerging Markets Foray, Molson and SABMiller Quench Their Thirst For Global Growth
By Jason Simpkins Managing Editor Money Morning With sales volume plunging in Western markets, Molson Coors Brewing Co. (NYSE: TAP) and SABMiller PLC (OTC ADR: SBMRY) are tapping into emerging markets for refreshing growth. SABMiller, for instance, saw beer sales slump 7% in Europe and 0.8% in the United States, while Africa and Asia combined […]
How the Economic Rebound and China's Emergence Will Help Create a $300 Trillion Profit Opportunity For Investors
By William Patalon III Executive Editor Money Morning/The Money Map Report What's the name of the world's best-selling beer? Hint: It's not Budweiser. And it's not Bud Light. It's called Snow Beer, and I'll wager that most U.S. investors haven't even heard of it before. If they haven't, it's not a surprise. You see, Snow […]
Investment News Briefs
With our investment news briefs, Money Morning provides investors with a quick overview of the most important investing news stories from all around the world. Markets Fall On Profit-Taking; Southwest Ups Bid For Frontier; GM to Sell Cars on eBay; Dish Subscribers Grow, Profit Falls; U.S. Consumer Bankruptcies on the Rise; Nobel Nod; McDonald's Same-Store […]
Will Commercial Real Estate Pose the Next Hurdle for the Federal Reserve?
By Jason Simpkins Managing EditorMoney Morning Having last month addressed concerns about inflation by outlining a stimulus "exit strategy," U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke may turn his attention to the growing threat posed by commercial real estate at the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) two-day meeting taking place tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday. As […]
The Two Indicators That Show the Recession is Ending
By William Patalon III Executive Editor Money Morning/The Money Map Report Investors are being flooded with economic reports, many of them contradictory in nature. From that confusing gaggle, two indicators hint at an upbeat outcome: The torrid stock-market rally that’s been dominating headlines in recent weeks. And so-called “first-time jobless claims.” Let’s look at stock […]
Hot Stocks: As Upscale Retailers Struggle, Five Top Discounters Rule
By Bob Blandeburgo Associate Editor Money Morning When it comes to the recession-ridden U.S retail sector, discounters are king. Heading into the all-important back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, U.S. retailers as a group are struggling. Same-store sales among the 31 retailers that report such figures fell an average of 6.4% in the month of July, […]
Buy, Sell or Hold: Will PepsiCo Inc.'s (NYSE: PEP) Recent Acquisitions Pay Off?
Since I recommended PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) on Oct. 20, the stock has greatly outperformed the market, up about 10%. However, the stock has underperformed since the market began its rebound on March 10. And since the end of March, Pepsi’s shares have lagged those of arch rival, The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO), since the […]
Unemployment Rate Drops, but Joblessness Continues to Plague the Economy
By Jason Simpkins Managing Editor Money Morning The U.S. unemployment rate slipped to 9.4% in July from 9.5% in June, the most encouraging sign yet that the U.S. recession is easing. But the news – released in a government report Friday – isn’t all good: Unemployment is likely to remain high in the months to […]