Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:00PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: Major movement, Rants and raves, Competitive strategy, General Electric (GE), Indices, Diageo plc (DEO), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Chasing Value, Commodities, Anglo Amer ADR (AAUK), S and P 500, DJIA, Stocks to Buy, Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG), NASDAQ, Annaly Capital Management (NLY), Best Stocks for 2009, American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), EZCORP (EZPW)

The second quarter is now behind us and for the most part it was a positive one in terms of the market pushing higher almost 40%. This is the second review of my 2009 stock picks through June 30 (see:
Chasing Value: 9 picks for 2009 -- APC, GE, ISRG, WFC and more). There was a lot of talk about
green shoots this past quarter as Wall Street was looking for any small bit of optimistic data to support the market.
The federal printing presses continued to run at full speed pushing the dollar lower and oil prices higher. While the feds were printing money to cover their deficits, the States do not have that same luxury and many of them are having trouble balancing their budgets to the tune of billions of dollars.
Continue reading Chasing Value: 2009 picks 731% better than S&P -- 2nd quarter review
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 1:30PM by Elizabeth Harrow
Filed under: Deals, Competitive strategy, Altria Group (MO)
Tobacco titan Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) is snapping up the South African operations of Swedish Match for a cool 1.75 billion rand, or roughly $224.7 million. The acquisition is part of PM's broader strategy to gain a foothold in the smokeless tobacco arena. Currently, Swedish Match South Africa is the market leader in the South African pipe tobacco and snuff categories.
"This financially attractive acquisition represents an excellent strategic fit for our business in South Africa," said Jean-Claude Kunz, PM's president of Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa. "We firmly believe that merging the two businesses will provide us with the talent, infrastructure, and expertise to further build and grow our portfolio of strong brands in this important market."
Continue reading Philip Morris shells out $224.7 million for Swedish Match unit
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 1:10PM by Brian White
Filed under: Competitive strategy, Motorola (MOT)
Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) has been in deep trouble for a while now. For some untold reason, the company placed almost all its growth bets on its wireless division but has not produced a hit handset in years. Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) and Samsung Electronics have been producing and selling all kinds of cutting-edge wireless handsets to carriers all over the world. What has Motorola been up to?
It's still producing handsets, but so many of the designs and marketing strategies have been commodities lately. Meanwhile, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has taken the mobile crown with the iPhone, and even Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) has risen from the dead with the new Palm Pre. Motorola was in such bad shape financially that it even suspended the spinoff of its mobile unit last year.
Continue reading Does Motorola really think it has a chance?
Posted Jul 2nd 2009 8:00AM by Michael Fowlkes
Filed under: Industry, Consumer experience, Competitive strategy, Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Recession
Auto sales continued to drop in June, but we are starting to see signs that sales may be beginning to stabilize a bit.
The auto industry is still in deep trouble. It is going to take a while before things get back to normal, but before things can even start to improve, they have to stop worsening, and that's what may be happening.
Continue reading Auto sales show signs of stability
Posted Jun 30th 2009 4:40PM by Sheldon Liber
Filed under: Good news, Products and services, Industry, Rants and raves, Competitive strategy, General Electric (GE), Workspace
The federal government, for better or worse, has been increasing the money supply as fast as it can in an attempt to prevent a collapse of our financial system, stabilize the housing market, improve the employment outlook and rehabilitate our nations infrastructure.
Most economists have some fear of inflation as a result of this, even if the fear is not for three to five years. To combat the increase in money supply we need to balance it out with an increase in productivity.
Continue reading GE invests in Michigan, USA -- new technology center
Posted Jun 30th 2009 1:20PM by Tom Taulli
Filed under: Deals, Competitive strategy
Dan Duncan, who is a billionaire, understands the importance of patience (especially in creating lots of wealth). An example of this is his latest deal; that is, his company, Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE: EPD), has been pursuing Teppco Partners LP (NYSE: TPP) since March. At that time, Duncan offered about $2.8 billion for the company. And yes, according to the senior management at Teppco, it was too low.
Well, after some wrangling, there is now a deal. Of course, the price tag is higher -- at $3.3 billion (it's a stock-for-stock swap).
Continue reading Energy billionaire strikes again with Enterprise-Teppco deal
Posted Jun 30th 2009 8:00AM by Tom Johansmeyer
Filed under: International markets, Industry, Competitive strategy, AMR Corp (AMR), Contl Airlines'B' (CAL), UAL Corp (UAUA), Delta Air Lines (DAL)
Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) is seeking immunity from antitrust laws to work more closely with United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA) and others on international routes. And, since airlines operate in a state of seemingly perpetual turmoil, what's the harm? According to the Justice Department: plenty.
The airline sought broad immunity as part of an effort to join Star Alliance, which includes US Airways, Lufthansa (OTC: DLAKY), and Air Canada -- along with United. Continental believes that it needs to join Star Alliance in order to remain competitive, especially with airlines that have this type of immunity already.
Continue reading Justice Department pushes back on Continental immunity request
Posted Jun 29th 2009 10:20AM by Brian White
Filed under: Management, Competitive strategy, Best Buy (BBY)
Last week, Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) CEO Brad Anderson ceded the throne to 24-year Best Buy vet Brian Dunn, who took over as CEO. Dunn, who started with the largest consumer electronics chain in the U.S. by belting out the theme to Miami Vice to amp up home theater sales in the 1980s, has stated that he wants to "connect" every consumer that steps inside Best Buy's doors. That is, make sure wireless phones, PCs, and home theater become the chain's biggest opportunities. In other words, take advantage of the "three screens of opportunity."
Continue reading Best Buy welcomes new CEO Dunn, the prince of 'connectivity'
Posted Jun 28th 2009 5:40PM by Tom Taulli
Filed under: Competitive strategy, Google (GOOG), Yahoo! (YHOO), Small business
Yodle helps companies drum up new business by managing online advertising campaigns, such as through Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO), and other ad networks.
And Yodle has continued to grow despite the recession. In fact, the company has attracted venture capital from top firms like Bessemer Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and JAFCO Ventures.
How does Yodle do it? One reason is referrals. Actually, about a third of Yodle's revenues come from referrals. In all, the company pays $200 for each new customer.
Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Gain new business ... with referrals
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