Continue reading Closing Bell: Exhausted after a week of news, market remains more or less flat (CIT, MSFT, TIF, SPWRA, RSH)

Closing Bell: Exhausted after a week of news, market remains more or less flat (CIT, MSFT, TIF, SPWRA, RSH) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lance Armstrong is in the midst of a comeback over in the Tour de France, but he is making news for reasons other than his exploits on his bicycle. Yesterday, Lance announced that he will return to the Tour de France in 2010 and will be riding for a new sponsor, RadioShack (NYSE: RSH).

The terms of the deal were not available, but it also includes rights to Lance as he participates in marathons and triathlons. On his website, Livestrong.com, Armstrong said, "RadioShack has agreed to partner with us on this venture and ensure that this partnership and this team stays alive for years to come." This means that Armstrong will be leaving Team Astana after this year's Tour, and will probably be taking a number of teammates with him. There will also be other sponsors named, with Nissan the most prevalent, and the rumored budget for the team is $20 million.

Continue reading JockStocks: RadioShack to sponsor Lance Armstrong -- is it a smart move?

JockStocks: RadioShack to sponsor Lance Armstrong -- is it a smart move? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Following up on my Nike (NYSE: NKE) post from last week, you just knew I would have to comment on Nike's earnings report, right? Bottom line, it was a rough report and the short-term outlook is bleak as far as future orders go -- but all is not lost for Nike.

Here are the reasons to be optimistic. First, this is Nike, ladies and gentlemen. This is the company that has the biggest of the big names in its stable of athletes: Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, to name just a few. This ensures that Nike will continue to be in the discussion as long as these athletes are at the top of their game.

Continue reading JockStocks: Can Nike rebound from its disappointing earnings report?

JockStocks: Can Nike rebound from its disappointing earnings report? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post was part of the AOL Money & Finance Best & Worst of 2007 feature. The voting has now closed and readers have chosen the Dubai as the breakout city of the year. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you are pleased with this result.

What are breakout cities? Cities that seemed to pop up in news stories with uncommon frequency, that have developed a cachet, that appear on the itinerary of early adopters. For your consideration here are four outstanding, very different candidates for this honor. Which whets your travel appetite?

Dubai City, U.A.E.
Nothing helps build a city quicker than petrodollars and a monarchy devoted to world-class projects. Dubai has all of that and more. The city that calls itself the "City Built For Tourism" is known as the home of the world's largest free-standing hotel, the Burj Al Arab. This ultra-ultra-luxury, 1,000-ft. tall hotel with a profile evoking billowing sails has quickly become the symbol of Dubai.

Under the vision of the ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai has used its free-trade zone status to also develop into a world center for business. Having the world's largest manmade harbor and an airline that serves as a hub for the Persian Gulf region (with a new one under construction) helps, too. Dubai's acceptance of other culture's mores has helped turn it into a popular tourism destination, as well.

Continue reading Best & Worst of 2007: Breakout cities of the year

Best & Worst of 2007: Breakout cities of the year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst 2006. You can vote for Donald Trump's hair as the Worst Signature Style.

Good Mr. Trump, he of the fluffy comb-over, had a heck of a year in 2006. We should all be so lucky (he would ascribe luck to none of it, of course, but that is another matter)!

Just a few of his accomplishments:

• The Iconic Donald saw his net worth rise again above a mere five billion dollars.
• He is erecting buildings all over the world, including a Trump Tower in Dubai. The Hair is literally global.
• He married a stunning model, half his age, and fathered a lovely son whom he subtly named Baron. He has stated for the record that he does not and will not change the baby's diapers.
• His television show, The Apprentice, is literally one of the top-rated shows in television. To demonstrate that his Trumpian blood line lives on, he fired his firm professionals from the show and put both of his genetically perfect children on camera alongside him. And they are articulate and on the ball, like pop.
• To put a capper on his TV dominance he put a smack down on his "friend" and Apprentice ingénue, Martha Stewart, when she attempted her own show and talked down the D-man. Nobody does that! Wonder how he handles his enemies when they cross him?

And now, at year end, he is giving foreign-policy style speeches and musing about running for president. And like our current president, the Donald does not drink alcohol. No wonder he is always so crisp.

Continue reading Best & Worst: The Donald as hair icon

Best & Worst: The Donald as hair icon originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.