BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[AutoZone (AZO): Stock crushed but looks good for a snapback trade]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/23/autozone-azo-stock-crushed-but-looks-good-for-a-snapback-trad/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/23/autozone-azo-stock-crushed-but-looks-good-for-a-snapback-trad/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/23/autozone-azo-stock-crushed-but-looks-good-for-a-snapback-trad/#commentsAutoZone (NYSE:AZO) is in my sweet spot right now for a day trade. I like to buy quality companies that are being irrationally beaten down perhaps too much after a mediocre earnings report. The company has been hurt by the one-two punch of the recession plus the bankruptcies of the major automakers. The company posted a 3.1% year-over-year decline in earnings, and a 1% increase in sales (quarter-over-quarter). They also didn't raise guidance. The market was in an unforgiving mood today and the stock is down 11 points, or about 7.4%.

However, Merrill just came out with a report defending the company. In the report Merrill states:

Continue reading AutoZone (AZO): Stock crushed but looks good for a snapback trade

AutoZone (AZO): Stock crushed but looks good for a snapback trade originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[BloggingStocks named finalist for best business blog on its third birthday]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/bloggingstocks-named-finalist-for-best-business-blog-on-its-thir/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/bloggingstocks-named-finalist-for-best-business-blog-on-its-thir/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/04/21/bloggingstocks-named-finalist-for-best-business-blog-on-its-thir/#commentsFiled under: ,


I'm happy to announce that yesterday, BloggingStocks was named a finalist for Editor & Publisher and MediaWeek's "EPpy" awards. We're up for "Best Business Blog" and competing with BusinessWeek and USA Today for the grand prize.

Six sites from AOL's MediaGlow division made the list -- the most of any media company. Joining us as finalists in their categories are Fanhouse, Engadget.com, Popeater.com, Urlesque.com and Moviefone.com.

We learned this news almost three years to the day since BloggingStocks launched.

Continue reading BloggingStocks named finalist for best business blog on its third birthday

BloggingStocks named finalist for best business blog on its third birthday originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eppyfeaturedTue, 21 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Google exec Tim Armstrong takes helm at AOL]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/12/google-exec-tim-armstrong-takes-helm-of-aol/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/12/google-exec-tim-armstrong-takes-helm-of-aol/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/12/google-exec-tim-armstrong-takes-helm-of-aol/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tim Armstrong is the new chief executive of AOL, a division of Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) and parent of BloggingStocks. Armstrong, a senior VP at Google (you can read the press release here) replaces Randy Falco, who joined AOL in November, 2006. Also leaving AOL is President Ron Grant.

Time Warner shares initially traded down in after hours trading following the announcement, but were leveling off by 6:30. The stock closed at $8.32 today, a gain of 5%, and at 7pm was at $8.31.

Google exec Tim Armstrong takes helm at AOL originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AOLinthenewsRandy FalcoRandyFalcoRon GrantRonGrantTim ArmstrongTimArmstrongTWXThu, 12 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Money winners of 2008: Beyonce, one smash hit after another]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/15/money-winners-of-2008-beyonce-one-smash-hit-after-another/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/15/money-winners-of-2008-beyonce-one-smash-hit-after-another/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/15/money-winners-of-2008-beyonce-one-smash-hit-after-another/#commentsFiled under: ,

This post is part of our feature on Money Winners of 2008. See all 20.

The recent release of Beyonce Knowles' Sasha Fierce album has garnered the singer, song writer, and producer her fifth number one hit song. She also has two motion pictures coming out soon, Cadillac Records and Obsessed, and will go on a world tour in 2009. That should considerably increase her already sizable earnings.

I don't own any of Beyonce's albums, but after listening (and watching) her AOL Sessions version of "Irreplaceable" a few times, I plan to put one on my Christmas list. Which one should I ask for, Beyonce fans? Her second solo album, B'Day, which has "Irreplaceable" on it, or her new double-album?

I also plan to see Cadillac Records, in which she plays the legendary Etta James. The New York Times says her performance is impressive. In the interview, it's clear that Beyonce has designs on being legendary herself.

At 27, Beyonce certainly is well on her way. And she is clearly a money winner this year -- Forbes estimates she pulled in $80 million between June 2007 and June 2008, ranking her the top celebrity earner under 30. But with her album, tour, movies (not to mention her clothing line and endorsement deals with Pepsi and L'Oreal), next year could provide even greater riches.

Beyonce made our Money Winners for 2008, but she looks like a shoe-in for our 2009 list as well.

Be sure to check out more Money Winners of 2008.

Money winners of 2008: Beyonce, one smash hit after another originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BeyonceBeyonce KnowlesCadillac RecordsCadillacRecordsEtta JamesfeaturedMoney Winners 2008Sasha FierceMon, 15 Dec 2008 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Money winners of 2008: Tiger Woods on the road to earning $1 billion]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/13/money-winners-of-2008-tiger-woods-on-the-road-to-earning-1-bil/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/13/money-winners-of-2008-tiger-woods-on-the-road-to-earning-1-bil/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/13/money-winners-of-2008-tiger-woods-on-the-road-to-earning-1-bil/#commentsFiled under: ,

This post is part of our feature on Money Winners of 2008. See all 20.

Tiger Woods returns to our Money Winners list this year despite a season shortened due to an injury and being let go as a General Motors spokesman. He won four of the six PGA tournaments he entered this year before bowing out with an injured knee. Paul Rogers, a veteran golf writer, who has written for Travel + Leisure Golf, GOLF Magazine, and Links Magazine, who I interviewed via e-mail, called that, "an unheard of rate of success by any current player's standards except his own."

That record made him golf's second-biggest prize winner despite his short season. Rogers says, "To give you a better sense of this
accomplishment, the top money winner on Tour this year, Vijay Singh, competed in 23 events." Rogers also mentioned that Woods is currently designing three golf courses in the Dubai desert, the mountains of North Carolina, and in Mexico's Baja, Calif., for a reported design fee of $25 million each.

Golf Digest magazine estimated in its February issue that by 2010 Woods could be the first athlete to reach $1 billion in earnings. He earned $123 million total in 2007 for total career earnings of $769 million, according to the magazine.

Continue reading Money winners of 2008: Tiger Woods on the road to earning $1 billion

Money winners of 2008: Tiger Woods on the road to earning $1 billion originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>golfGolf digestMoney Winners 2008Paul RogersPGA tourTiger WoodsSat, 13 Dec 2008 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Best & Worst in Money 2008: Company of the year]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/07/best-and-worst-in-money-2008-company-of-the-year/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/07/best-and-worst-in-money-2008-company-of-the-year/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/07/best-and-worst-in-money-2008-company-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This post is part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst in Money 2008 feature.

If you think the Company of the Year award should go to the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, you have a clear choice (if you look at the results through November at least). The winner on that score is Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO), which was up 34% as of Dec. 3. All dollar stores are doing well in the current recession-era shopping environment. But Family Dollar does particularly well since, unlike most dollar stores, few of the items for sale actually cost $1.

I shopped at a Family Dollar myself last weekend and I spent a shocking $80 on Christmas trinkets and snacks for our long road-trip home from Grandma's. I think one item in the bunch cost only a dollar, but pretty much everything was under $10 and seemed like a good value at the time. I can understand why the company is doing well.

Continue reading Best & Worst in Money 2008: Company of the year

Best & Worst in Money 2008: Company of the year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmgenAMGNBest and Worst 2008Family DollarFDOfeaturedMCDMcDonaldsWal-MartWalmartWells FargoWFCWMTSun, 07 Dec 2008 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Seven reasons why we can be thankful for this recession ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/27/seven-reasons-why-we-can-be-thankful-for-this-recession/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/27/seven-reasons-why-we-can-be-thankful-for-this-recession/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/27/seven-reasons-why-we-can-be-thankful-for-this-recession/#commentsThanksgiving is a day to share a meal with family and friends and reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for. With the economy hitting a brick wall, that may seem a tall order this year.

But at least for today, put aside worries about your plummeting portfolio, sinking home values and increasing job insecurity. Even when it comes recession, there are reasons to be thankful. Here are seven things I'm happy about that are occurring now due to the economic slowdown:

Stocks are cheap. We may not have seen the bottom yet (hopefully we have), but this could be the stock buying opportunity you've been waiting for. The trailing price-earnings ratio of stocks in the Standard & Poor's 500 is 11. Don't throw all your investable assets in the market all at once, but start nibbling here and there on strong companies that have been slammed by the economy -- like General Electric (NYSE: GE), Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), Intuitive Surgical, or just a broad index fund -- and hold on for the ride. (For more ideas, see our Stocks To Buy category.)

Gas prices are falling. Last summer, gas prices nationally averaged over $4 a gallon. My mother-in-law was panicked she couldn't afford to stay in her house this winter due to heating oil costs. Now gas is at $1.87 on average nationally and heating oil costs are about 20% lower than last year. Fact is, the price of crude is tied to expectations for economic growth. In recession, demand for crude falls globally and gas and heating oil get cheaper. Then, in a nice virtuous cycle, lower energy prices put more dollars in consumers' pockets and help fuel a bit more spending.

Continue reading Seven reasons why we can be thankful for this recession

Seven reasons why we can be thankful for this recession originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyfeaturedobamaprice-earningsrecessionthanksgivingThu, 27 Nov 2008 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Financial Felons: Ken Lay]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/21/financial-felons-ken-lay/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/21/financial-felons-ken-lay/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/21/financial-felons-ken-lay/#commentsFiled under: ,

This post is part of a feature in which we wonder whatever happened to some notorious financial felons. See all 17.

In my 20-year career as a financial writer, there have been a number of times when I've been truly shocked by news events. This year has had more than its share -- with Lehman's bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch's forced sale and Eliot Spitzer's prostitution scandal at the top of the list.

But in 2006, probably the biggest shock was when Enron founder Ken Lay died suddenly of a heart attack. He had been convicted just six weeks earlier of 11 counts of securities fraud and related charges. At age 64, he seemed destined to spend the rest of his life behind bars. His sentencing was set for Oct 23.

But Lay died on July 5 while vacationing at Snowmass, Colorado. George H. W. Bush was among the 1,200 guests at his funeral.

Lay's detractors howled in protest. Some thought he had somehow faked his death.

Others knew instantly that this meant his conviction wouldn't stand. And, indeed it was vacated a couple of months later. The law dictates that when someone dies before using up all their available appeals, the conviction doesn't count.

According to the letter of the law, Ken Lay 'got away' with his Enron crimes. But it took his death for that to happen. And his name certainly wasn't cleared. For most Americans, Ken Lay still stands for the worst in corporate corruption and greed.

Financial Felons: Ken Lay originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>financial felonsKen LayFri, 21 Nov 2008 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Financial Felons: Nick Leeson]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/20/financial-felons-nick-leeson/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/20/financial-felons-nick-leeson/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/20/financial-felons-nick-leeson/#commentsFiled under: ,

This post is part of a feature in which we wonder whatever happened to some notorious financial felons. See all 17.

Who better understands the roots of the current financial crisis than the man who single-handedly brought down Barings Bank back in 1995? Back then, Nicholas Leeson lost $1.4 billion in unauthorized trading and rendered Britain's oldest bank insolvent. It was eventually sold for one pound to ING, a Dutch Bank.

Leeson now lives in Ireland with his family and is CEO of Irish football club Galway United. Although he is available for speaking engagements, he's been in relative obscurity until recently when he has re-emerged to comment on today's financial crisis.

He's been pretty prescient. In a column in the U.K.'s Independent back in January, he wrote that the financial crisis would only get worse, mainly because regulators, central banks, and the investment bankers did not understand the potential market impact of the financial instruments in play.

Leeson correctly predicted both a "crisis of confidence" in leadership and that the financial crisis would "get a lot worse before it starts to get any better." Hey Nick, have we reached bottom yet?

Compared to today's bumbling financiers who threaten to bring down the entire global financial system with their ill-timed bets, Leeson seems "like a cheap date and more fun," opines one Scottish news site. Even more to his credit, that site points out, Leeson actually went to prison, serving four years in a Singapore prison.

Will any of today's financial ne'er-do-wells do time?








Financial Felons: Nick Leeson originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>financial felonsNick LeesonThu, 20 Nov 2008 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Would investing more for retirement now help you sleep better at night? ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/12/would-investing-more-for-retirement-now-help-you-sleep-better-at/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/12/would-investing-more-for-retirement-now-help-you-sleep-better-at/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/12/would-investing-more-for-retirement-now-help-you-sleep-better-at/#commentsFiled under: , ,

On a day when the Dow Jones industrial average closed down 400 points, you may be asking yourself, 'What can I do to make myself feel better about this?'

Charles Schwab Corp. (NASDAQ: SCHW) has an idea for you: Invest more for your retirement.

Here's how the logic goes, and I agree with it (even though, of course, it is good marketing for Schwab to promulgate such ideas).

The discount broker has found in surveys that most people (63%) say they sleep better at night when they are saving for retirement, yet many people save very little for retirement each year. They also found that people save for vacation or household items before they max out their retirement plans. And most people are positively drowning in credit card debt, probably because they made those purchases and took those vacations before they'd actually saved the money (that's my sophisticated analysis there, not survey results).

Continue reading Would investing more for retirement now help you sleep better at night?

Would investing more for retirement now help you sleep better at night? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>401kfeaturedretirementsavingSchwabWed, 12 Nov 2008 18:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Where are GM's earnings today? We're waiting... Shares halted]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/07/where-are-gms-earnings-today-were-waiting/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/07/where-are-gms-earnings-today-were-waiting/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/07/where-are-gms-earnings-today-were-waiting/#commentsFiled under:

Companies that report earnings in the mornings, usually release results at 8:30 AM ET. General Motors (NYSE: GM) was supposed to release third quarter earnings this morning, but they haven't yet. When I checked the web site, there is a note that the results will be posted at "approximately 10:30 a.m."

Now it is 10:45. Where are they? We're waiting GM.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) already announced this morning, reporting a modest $129 million loss (thanks to some beneficial accounting), but that it had burned through $7.7 billion in cash.

Update: 11:15 AM: General Motors shares have been halted. There is clearly some very bad news coming. And still no earnings.

11:45 AM: The results are out and they ain't good. Looks like GM could run out of cash some time in 2009 if it can't turn things around.

Where are GM's earnings today? We're waiting... Shares halted originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Obama Pick: Buy GE as Obama brings good things to life]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/05/obama-pick-buy-ge-as-obama-brings-good-things-to-life/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/05/obama-pick-buy-ge-as-obama-brings-good-things-to-life/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/05/obama-pick-buy-ge-as-obama-brings-good-things-to-life/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For me, today is a day of great optimism. I'm immensely relieved that Obama was elected President and I expect great things from him. In fact, I think his win could increase optimism about the future of America enough to give the economy a much-needed boost.

Years from now, historians may look back and see Obama's election as kicking off a new virtuous cycle where people feel more upbeat, so they buy a few more items, and businesses do a bit better and hire more and...

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself here. But while pondering what stock I would buy as a play on the new Obama America, my pick would be General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE). GE has long been a play on global economic growth. It is a huge conglomerate with businesses in consumer finance, media, energy and household appliances -- just to name a few. Its returns pretty much track the S&P 500 or other broad market indexes over time (although with more volatility than the index).

Given recent months of financial crisis and worldwide economic slowdown, GE's stock is cheap. It is trading today around $20 a share, a 50% drop from a year ago. It's price-earnings ratio is just 10 and its yield is a hefty 6%.


Continue reading Obama Pick: Buy GE as Obama brings good things to life

Obama Pick: Buy GE as Obama brings good things to life originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>110508GEgeneral electricGeneralElectricImmeltturbinesWed, 05 Nov 2008 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Eight ways the Wall Street bailout is adding insult to injury ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/28/eight-ways-the-governments-bailout-is-adding-insult-to-injury/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/28/eight-ways-the-governments-bailout-is-adding-insult-to-injury/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/28/eight-ways-the-governments-bailout-is-adding-insult-to-injury/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As if the economic recession wasn't hard enough on Americans, seeing the government spend billions to bail out Wall Street has made it all even harder for the average person to take. Yes, we all want to avoid global financial collapse. But the way the government rescue of the banking industry is playing out seems to be adding insult to injury.

Here are eight recent examples:

Wall Streeters can still expect big bonuses this year
When the government agreed to bail out Wall Street, the goal was to provide funds to shore up banks' capital bases so they would start lending again. It wasn't to help them fund the bonus pool. But estimates run that as much as $70 billion will get paid out in bonuses to bankers this year. That amount equals 10% of the $700 billion bailout. Sure, the bonuses will be smaller than last year and fewer people will get them, but there will still be lots of six-figure payouts to go around.

A Goldman hot shot got the job of doling out all that money
Neel Kashkari, a 35-year-old former Goldman Sachs whiz kid who believes in free markets, is getting the job at the Treasury Department of dispersing the government's $700 billion rescue. Is he really the right person for the job? Gawker has been merciless, publishing his high school yearbook page that features a Ferrari and lyrics from the rock band Rush. But lots of observers have wondered if a seasoned vet with a little more political experience might be a better fit for the task at hand.

Continue reading Eight ways the Wall Street bailout is adding insult to injury

Eight ways the Wall Street bailout is adding insult to injury originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bailoutfeaturedfinancial crisisFinancialCrisisGoldman SachsGoldmanSachsinvestment bankInvestmentBankWall StreetWallStreetTue, 28 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Signing bonuses on Wall Street: Do they really still exist?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/28/signing-bonuses-on-wall-street-do-they-really-still-exist/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/28/signing-bonuses-on-wall-street-do-they-really-still-exist/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/28/signing-bonuses-on-wall-street-do-they-really-still-exist/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I've never gotten a signing bonus. In my 20 years of work since graduating from college, I've been hired for seven full-time positions and it never really occurred to me to ask for one. Usually I was happy to get the position -- a new challenge! -- and a salary increase.

So, it grated a bit when l read about bankers at the defunct Lehman getting signing bonuses to stay at firms that acquired their divisions in bankruptcy proceedings. The Financial Times reported that Nomura, which bought Lehman's European and Asian divisions, gave bankers cash equal to last year's bonus if they agreed to stay at Nomura for a year, for example. The article covered a "scramble for talent" that took place when all those Lehman execs were suddenly available for hire.

Bank of America is also reportedly promising Merrill Lynch brokers a bonus as big as as 100% of the revenue they generate to stay after the deal is closed -- even though the sale was done to avert Merrill's demise.

Apparently even undergraduates are still getting signing bonuses when hired at investment banks, according to web site Banker's Ball. The average salary posted in the comments is about $60,000 with a $10,000 signing bonus (plus a target $30,000 or $40,000 year-end bonus depending on the position).

Continue reading Signing bonuses on Wall Street: Do they really still exist?

Signing bonuses on Wall Street: Do they really still exist? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonusesgsinthenewslehmswall streetWallStreetTue, 28 Oct 2008 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flash: Dow goes into positive territory today, traders cheer]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/10/flash-dow-goes-into-positive-territory-on-the-day-traders-chee/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/10/flash-dow-goes-into-positive-territory-on-the-day-traders-chee/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/10/flash-dow-goes-into-positive-territory-on-the-day-traders-chee/#commentsFiled under: ,

Phew. After plunging at the open as much as 700 points, the Dow Jones industrial average quickly rebounded and by 10 am was back in positive territory. I've been listening to traders cheer on CNBC.

It's not the kind of cheering when you win the race. It's the kind of cheering when you're trying to urge your horse to cross the finish line.

So let's all breathe a sigh of relief that some buyers have emerged to get stocks back in positive territory -- at least for now. With any luck, the rally will continue today. Maybe this is a good day to tiptoe back into the market. But if you're brave enough to do so, realize it is very early to call the bottom.

Flash: Dow goes into positive territory today, traders cheer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Flash: Fed slashes rates 50 basis points in emergency move]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/08/flash-fed-slashes-rates-50-basis-points-in-emergency-move/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/08/flash-fed-slashes-rates-50-basis-points-in-emergency-move/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/08/flash-fed-slashes-rates-50-basis-points-in-emergency-move/#commentsFiled under: ,

As global markets plummet, the Federal Reserve pulled another arrow out of its quiver and reduced rates by 50 basis points. The short-term Fed Funds rate is now down to 1.5%. This move comes weeks ahead of the Fed's regularly scheduled meeting.

This should at least give U.S. stocks a lift today.

Other central banks in Europe, Canada, Switzerland and England also ratcheted back rates today.

Flash: Fed slashes rates 50 basis points in emergency move originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Federal ReserveFederalReserveInterest ratesInterestRatesWed, 08 Oct 2008 07:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Three reasons why you shouldn't panic and sell your stocks ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/29/crystal-ball-gazing-three-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-panic-and-s/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/29/crystal-ball-gazing-three-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-panic-and-s/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/29/crystal-ball-gazing-three-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-panic-and-s/#commentsFiled under: ,

The government bailout that was supposed to save the financial sector from certain doom failed to pass vote on Congress. Does that mean we now face certain doom? I think not.

I don't want to sound Pollyanna-ish and I don't really have a crystal ball (as my headline promises), but here are some reasons why investors should not panic and sell their stocks now:

First, as frightening as the market looks -- the Dow fell 778 points for its worst one-day drop ever -- there is going to be a rebound. If you sell at the bottom, you will miss out on an eventual recovery. If you really want to get out, wait for a bounce and then sell some of your stock holdings. Don't sell into a freefall. Think about it: the S&P fell an astounding 8.79% on Monday -- the worst percentage drop in more than 60 years, except for 1987's Black Monday crash. The Nasdaq fell 9.14%. Given the devastation, I think a bounce could come as soon as Tuesday since there will no doubt be some news that has to be better than Monday's.

Incidentally, this "don't sell in a panic" advice is the same you'll get from any financial advisor worth his or her salt. If you're invested in the market for the long term, you should ride out such waves and -- if you're really brave -- even use episodes of panic selling to buy more stocks.

Continue reading Three reasons why you shouldn't panic and sell your stocks

Three reasons why you shouldn't panic and sell your stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit crisisCreditCrisisfeaturedmarket meltdownMarketMeltdownMon, 29 Sep 2008 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Meltdown 2008: What Wall Street's crisis means for your finances]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/17/meltdown-2008-what-wall-streets-crisis-means-for-your-finances/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/17/meltdown-2008-what-wall-streets-crisis-means-for-your-finances/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/17/meltdown-2008-what-wall-streets-crisis-means-for-your-finances/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It seems like years ago, but it was only Monday when I wrote a post about what Wall Street's meltdown means to the average American. The post generated a slew of additional questions from readers who wanted to know, not just how their investments and the economy would be affected, but also how all aspects of their personal finances would hold up.

Many BloggingStocks writers also heard from readers who wondered what was going to happen to their AIG insurance policy, the Lehman stock they didn't know their broker had bought for them, and their life's savings in their community bank. They asked us if their assets were safe and what they should do next.

To answer these questions and more, we teamed up with AOL Money & Finance on a feature, Financial Meltdown 2008, that offers concise answers to questions you may have about what the current financial mayhem means to different areas of personal finance. It's scary stuff. But, surprisingly, it's not all bad news.

Be sure to check it out and let us know what what we left out and any additional questions you might have.

Meltdown 2008: What Wall Street's crisis means for your finances originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIGfeaturedLehmanWall StreetWallStreetWed, 17 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What the financial meltdown means to you -- if you're not in finance world]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/15/what-the-financial-meltdown-means-to-you-if-youre-not-in-fin/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/15/what-the-financial-meltdown-means-to-you-if-youre-not-in-fin/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/15/what-the-financial-meltdown-means-to-you-if-youre-not-in-fin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Over the weekend and on Monday, the population of the country suddenly divided. On one side are average folk who aren't involved in financial markets, except for maybe their 401(k), credit card, mortgage or checking account.

For those people -- the great majority of the population -- Monday started the week pretty much like any other. If they glanced at the news, it was to note more headlines predicting financial ruin for investment banks and institutional investors (the news is of the actual ruin of Lehman Bros. (NYSE: LEH) and probably Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) and AIG (NYSE: AIG), but after months of such news, that may have been lost on many people). Wall Street may not have been front of mind to most people going about their day today.

Latest Developments:
o. Stocks Sink on Lehman News
o. Will Fed Resume Rate Cuts?
o. An Unprecedented Bankruptcy
o. Banks Establish Emergency Fund
o. Bank of America to Buy Merrill
o. Future of AIG Uncertain
o. SEC to Rein in Naked Shorts


Then there is the other side of the new dividing line: People involved professionally in the financial markets. For us, the events of the weekend and today are a sea change. Huge investment banks failing, securities trading opened on a Sunday to allow firms to unwind their positions, the government finally saying no to massive bailouts. There are going to be multiple thousands of finance professionals who lose their jobs. What will that do to the economy?

For me, a New York City resident and editor of BloggingStocks, I've felt the kind of nervous anxiety all day where I don't know if I'm going to cry or laugh. Among our team there has been plenty of gallows humor -- two actually quoted the same R.E.M. lyric in messages to me before 8 a.m.: "It's the end of the world as we know it."

That sounds dire (indeed, today feels very dire to me). But when I put aside my anxiety and wonder what all this means to folks that aren't engaged in the financial world professionally, here is how I see things shaking out:

For investors: The stock market will no doubt be extra-turbulent through the end of the year (on top of the financial sector's meltdown, we have election uncertainty and a weakening economy to worry about). I don't expect stocks to trade higher by the end of the year and think we may see a dramatic sell-off in the weeks to come. If we get a sell-off, you should use it to buy some strong stocks on the cheap. If you expect to need cash in the next year that you currently have invested in stocks, I would suggest gradually using rebounds in the market over the next few weeks to exit some positions. This is a good time to have an extra cash cushion.

Continue reading What the financial meltdown means to you -- if you're not in finance world

What the financial meltdown means to you -- if you're not in finance world originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>091508aigfeaturedlehmerMon, 15 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ads Gone Bad: What did McDonald's think 'I'd Hit It' meant anyway?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/07/ads-gone-bad-what-did-mcdonalds-think-id-hit-that-meant-any/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/07/ads-gone-bad-what-did-mcdonalds-think-id-hit-that-meant-any/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/07/ads-gone-bad-what-did-mcdonalds-think-id-hit-that-meant-any/#commentsFiled under: ,

This post is part of our Ads Gone Bad series. Share your thoughts and memories of this ad in the comments, and be sure to check out our other posts on marketing gone wrong.

As a 40-something trying -- but hopefully not too hard -- to cling to an increasingly tenuous understanding of current youth culture, I can imagine how McDonald's ad execs made the perilous mistake that landed them on our list of Ads Gone Bad.

It was probably a gathering of 40-something copywriters in a conference room in mid-town Manhattan. (I just finished reading Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris, so now I think I'm an expert in such things). They were no doubt tossing around the latest slang that might play off McDonald's winning slogan "I'm Lovin' It."

Someone threw out, "I'd Hit It," and everyone pounced on it as a sure winner. Perfect for banner ads on websites.

But did anyone dare ask what it actually meant?

Continue reading Ads Gone Bad: What did McDonald's think 'I'd Hit It' meant anyway?

Ads Gone Bad: What did McDonald's think 'I'd Hit It' meant anyway? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad parodiesAds Gone Badbanner adsId Hit ItIm Lovin ItMCDMcDonaldsMcDonalds adsMIT Brand CultureThen We Came to the EndSun, 07 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST