Small stocks with big potential, Best cities to live, work and play & most polluted cities - Today in Money 5/29

Posted May 29th 2008 9:31AM by Allan Halprin
Filed under: Microsoft (MSFT), Wal-Mart (WMT), Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Money and Finance Today, Sears Holdings (SHLD), Costco Wholesale (COST), United Parcel'B' (UPS), Under Armour'A' (UA), Bear Stearns Cos (BSC)

In the News:

· Costco Profits Rise 32%, Topping Wall Street Expectations

· Stuggling Retailer Sears Loses $56 Million in 1Q; Missing Estimates

· More Restructuring Coming to General Motors

· Ford Motor to Cut More Jobs

· Heinz Raises Earnings Growth Forecast

· Rival DHL to Ship Some Packages Via UPS

· Microsoft Unit Under Criminal Investigation in Norway

· 85-Year Old Bear Stearns Set to Disappear Today

· Wal-Mart Puts the Squeeze on Food Costs

· Mortgage Rates Rise and Lenders Get Strict

Small Stocks, Big Potential
Little companies get less attention from investors, but they can often provide handsome returns. Here are 21 top picks in the group from investing pros.
Small Wonders - BusinessWeek

Hot Growth, Against All Odds
Here is BusinessWeek's list of fastest-growing small companies. Can they sustain their stratospheric growth? Topping the list is Hansen Natural, LuluLemon Athletica and Graham. Other hot growth companies include J.Crew, Morningstar, Nutrisystem, Quicksilver, Gymboree, Blue Nile, Strayer Education and Under Armour.
Hot Growth, Against the Odds - BusinessWeek List: Hot Growth Companies

2008 Best Cities to Live, Work & Play
In our search for the ten best cities in which to live and work, we sought places with strong economies and abundant jobs, plus reasonable living costs and plenty of fun things to do. There are some very surprising cities that rose to the top, most surprisingly was the comeback kid - Houston, TX. who ranked No. 1. Other top places include Raleigh, NC, Omaha, NE, Boise, ID and Colorado Springs, CO.
Kiplinger's Best Cities - Best Places to Live, Smartest Cities for Your Future

Best & Worst Metro Areas for Pollution
Per capita carbon emissions were highest in Lexington, Ky., 3.4 metric tons per person, and lowest in Honolulu, 1.3 metric tons per person, the report found. Most surprising was Los Angeles which rnankes as second best area.
Report ranks metro areas on pollution - USATODAY.com

Rent a Car, Get Cheap Gas
It goes against all conventional car rental wisdom: agreeing to fill the tank up at the rental agency may actually make more financial sense than going to a gas station. Car-rental agencies are offering discounted fill-ups, as well as other savings.
Rental Companies Offer Cheap Gas, Other Discounts - SmartMoney.com