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Sunny Side: A Dose of Positive News |
| While there’s no shortage of negative news easily found in the press, finding anything positive is challenging. Fisher Investments MarketMinder has created this new feature called “Sunny Side”. The section’s sole purpose is to identify positive financial news on a daily basis. It will not be fair and balanced—it’s designed so that if you find yourself feeling especially glum, you can get a dose of positive news. As hard is it might be to believe, there are still many positives in the world. Learn more about Fisher Investments. |
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Heinz Profit Rises 13% on Emerging-Market Strength
Anjali Cordeiro and Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal
9/1/2010
Summary: “HJ Heinz Co.'s fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 13%, helped by strong sales of its namesake ketchup and pantry staples such as Classico pasta sauces.”
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Toll Brothers Posts First Profit Since 2007
Nathan Becker and Kevin Kingsbury, The Wall Street Journal
8/25/2010
Summary:
“Shares of luxury builder Toll Brothers Inc. climbed following a surprise fiscal third-quarter profit, its first in nearly three years, as revenue fell far less than analysts expected.”
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Thai Economy Unexpectedly Strong in Q2, Rates to Rise
Orathai Sriring and Kitiphoung Thaichareon, Reuters
8/23/2010
Summary: “Thailand's economy grew by a faster-than-expected 9.1 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, stoking speculation the central bank may become more aggressive in raising rates, official data showed on Monday.”
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Smucker’s Earnings Rise 5%
Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal,
8/20/2010
Summary: “JM Smucker Co.’s fiscal-first-quarter earnings rose 5% as the food company benefited from stronger margins and a lower tax rate.”
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Williams-Sonoma Net Soars Amid Higher Sales
Mary Ellen Lloyd, The Wall Street Journal ,
8/19/2010
Summary: “Williams-Sonoma Inc.'s second-quarter profit soared, hitting a record for the period and bucking the weakening sales trends reported by other retailers as merchandising changes and reduced discounting boosted sales and leveraged lower store and operating costs.”
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AirAsia Posts 43% Profit Rise
KP Lee, The Wall Street Journla
8/18/2010
Summary: “AirAsia Bhd., Southeast Asia's largest budget airline by fleet size, said Wednesday that second-quarter net profit rose 43% from a year earlier as a recovering economy boosted passenger traffic and load factors.”
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Dell to Acquire 3Par for $1.15bn
Alan Rappeport, Financial Times
8/16/2010
Summary: “Dell, the US computer maker, said on Monday that it would acquire 3Par, a data storage company, in a $1.15bn deal that will expand its ability to offer ‘cloud computing’ services.”
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Walt Disney Co. Third-Quarter Earnings Jump 40%
Dawn C. Chmielewski, Los Angeles Times,
8/11/2010
Summary: “ESPN's World Cup soccer coverage and the strong box-office performance of films including Disney/Pixar Animation Studios' ‘’Toy Story 3’ helped buoy Walt Disney Co.'s bottom line in the third quarter.”
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HSBC Profit Hits $11.1bn as Bad Debts Fall
Sharlene Goff, Financial Times
8/2/2010
Summary: “Pre-tax profit more than doubled at HSBC in the first six months of the year as bad debts fell to the lowest level since the start of the financial crisis and its investment banking division revealed a surprisingly resilient performance.”
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Exxon Profit Soars 91%
Isabel Ordonez and Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal,
7/29/2010
Summary: “Exxon Mobil Corp. said Thursday its earnings jumped 91% helped by higher commodity prices and a surge in refining profit and production.”
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Ford Profit Rises 13%
Jeff Bennett, The Wall Street Journal ,
7/23/2010
Summary: “Ford Motor Co. reported a 13% increase in second-quarter net income as the auto maker sold more vehicles at higher prices thanks to new models and consumer upgrades to high-tech features.”
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Caterpillar Net Income Soars, Lifts View
Matt Egan, FoxBusiness,
7/22/2010
Summary: “In a positive sign for the economy, heavy machinery maker Caterpillar beat the Street by nearly doubling its second-quarter profits and boosting its 2010 earnings outlook.”
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UPS Profit Surges 90% on Higher Package Volume
John Kell, The Wall Street Journal ,
7/22/2010
Summary: “United Parcel Services Inc.'s second-quarter profit surged 90% as the company reported higher package volume as well as revenue growth and substantial margin improvement.”
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Coca-Cola 2Q Net Income Up 16%, Volume Rises
Emily Fredrix, USA Today
7/21/2010
Summary: “Coca-Cola's second-quarter net income climbed 16% as the world's largest drink maker sold more soft drinks and juices in every part of the world except Europe.”
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Delta Swings to Profit
Matt Jarzemsky, The Wall Street Journal
7/19/2010
Summary: “Delta Air Lines Inc. swung to a second-quarter profit, topping analysts' expectations, on a strong rebound for a key revenue gauge.”
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Tyco Electronics to Buy ADC for $1.25 Billion
Staff, The New York Times,
7/13/2010
Summary: “Tyco Electronics said on Tuesday that it has agreed to buy ADC Telecommunications, a broadband equipment maker, for about $1.25 billion in cash.”
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Dr Pepper Snapple to Repurchase Addl. $1 Bln Shares
Staff, RTT News,
7/13/2010
Summary: “Non-alcoholic beverages maker Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. Tuesday said that its board authorize the repurchase of an addition $1 billion of its common stock over the next three years.”
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Online Job Postings Climbed in June
Justin Lahart, The Wall Street Journal,
7/1/2010
Summary: “The index [Monster Employment Index], compiled by Monster Worldwide Inc., showed rising demand in 13 of 20 industries tracked with 5 flat and just 2 down. All 28 major metropolitan areas Monster tracks saw job gains.”
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Discover Posts 14% Profit Gain
Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal ,
6/24/2010
Summary: “Discover Financial Services' fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 14% as the credit-card lender and payment processor reported lower delinquency rates for a second-straight quarter and loan-loss provisions declined.”
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Emerging Markets Spur Nike’s 53% Profit Gain
Andria Cheng, MarketWatch,
6/24/2010
Summary: “Athletic apparel giant Nike Inc. said Wednesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped 53%, helped by gains in China and other emerging markets.”
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Finance Operations Boost CarMax Q1 Profit
Staff, RTTNews
6/23/2010
Summary: “Used vehicles retailer CarMax, Inc. reported Wednesday a profit for the first quarter that more-than-tripled from last year, boosted by profits at its finance unit CarMax Auto Finance and 23% revenue growth.”
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JM Smucker 4Q Net Income Rises 28 Percent
Emily Fredrix, Associated Press,
6/17/2010
Summary: “Its [JM Smucker Co.] fourth-quarter net income rose about 28 percent. The jams and jellies maker says its Folgers acquisition is still bolstering business.”
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Tata Motors Sales Up 50%
Staff, The Street,
6/16/2010
Summary: “Tata Motors (TTM), India's largest auto maker by revenue, witnessed a 50% increase year over year in global vehicle sales during May, driven by a 72% jump in its U.K.-based Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) brands, the company revealed in a press release Tuesday.”
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China’s AgBank Eyes Record $23 Billion IPO
Staff, Reuters
6/14/2010
Summary: “The Agricultural Bank of China is seeking to raise over $23 billion by listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai in what would be the world’s biggest IPO, as China’s banks shore up their capital base after a lending spree.”
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India's April Industrial Output Surges 17.6%
V Phani Kumar, MarketWatch,
6/11/2010
Summary: “India's industrial output in April jumped 17.6% from the same month a year earlier, trouncing estimates, according to figures released Friday, on robust growth in the manufacturing sector and buoyant mining activity.”
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Ongoing Jobless Claims Plummet to 17-Month Low
Julianne Pepitone, CNNMoney,
6/10/2010
Summary: “The number of people filing for ongoing unemployment insurance plummeted by 255,000 to the lowest level since December 2008, according to government figures released Thursday.”
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Airbus Gets $11 Billion Emirates Order
Aaron Smith, CNNMoney
6/8/2010
Summary: “Emirates and Airbus announced Tuesday that the Middle Eastern airline is ordering an additional 32 Airbus super-jumbo planes worth $11.5 billion.”
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Global Airline Industry Forecast Profit in 2010
Nicola Clark, The New York Times
6/7/2010
Summary: “With the accelerating pace of the global economic recovery bringing a renewed surge in demand for air travel, an industry body predicted Monday that the world’s airlines would report profits of $2.5 billion this year, a dramatic improvement from the steep losses of the past two years.”
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Pending Home Sales Jump
Jeff Bater and Meena Thiruvengadam, The Wall Street Journal,
6/3/2010
Summary: “The National Association of Realtors' index for pending sales of used homes increased by 6.0% to 110.9 in April, the industry group said Wednesday. The gain was the third in a row.”
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Spanish Jobless Claims Dip for a Second Month
Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch,
6/2/2010
Summary: “In April, jobless claims fell 0.6%, which had been the first fall in jobless claims in eight months. The labor ministry said the drop in May was the biggest in five years and excluding May 2005, the biggest monthly fall since July 1998.”
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Costco 3Q Profit Rises 46 percent As Sales Climb
Staff, Associated Press,
5/27/2010
Summary: “The largest U.S. wholesale club operator said Thursday that it earned $306 million, or 68 cents per share. That's up from $210 million, or 48 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose 12 percent to $17.78 billion.”
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New-Home Sales Rise to Highest Level Since May '08
Greg Robb, MarketWatch,
5/26/2010
Summary: “Sales jumped 14.8% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. This follows an almost 30% gain in March.”
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Cracker Barrel Profit Jumps 20%, Raises View
Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal
5/25/2010
Summary: “Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.'s fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 20% as the casual-dining company reported improved sales and margins.”
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Deere Profit Tops Estimates on Farm-Equipment Demand
Shruti Date Singh, BusinessWeek ,
5/19/2010
Summary: “Deere & Co., the world’s largest farm equipment maker, reported second-quarter profit that topped analysts’ estimates and raised its profit and sales forecasts as demand for farm machinery increased.”
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Home Depot Boosts Outlook After Strong Spring
Dhanya Skariachan, Reuters
5/18/2010
Summary: “Home Depot Inc. reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit and boosted its earnings forecast for the year after it saw strong demand for gardening products and energy-efficient appliances.”
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Industrial Production in US Rose 0.8% in April
Courtney Schlisserman, Bloomberg,
5/14/2010
Summary: “Industrial production in the US rose in April by the most in three months, indicating factories keep powering an economic recovery.”
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Kohl’s Profit Jumps 45%
Nathan Becker, The Wall Street Journal,
5/13/2010
Summary: “Kohl's Corp.'s fiscal first-quarter earnings rose a better-than-expected 45%, helped by the double-digit revenue jump the company reported last week.”
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Time Warner Posts Record Quarterly Profit
David Goldman, CNN Money,
5/5/2010
Summary: “Time Warner Inc. on Wednesday recorded its highest quarterly profit in company history, easily beating Wall Street's forecasts.”
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Pfizer, Merck Results Beat Estimates, Shares Rise
Lewis Krauskopf, Reuters
5/4/2010
Summary: “US drugmakers Pfizer Inc and Merck & Co posted better-than-expected first-quarter results on Tuesday and stood by their long-term forecasts, sending their shares up 2 percent.”
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Pending Home Sales Rise 5.3 Percent in March
Staff, Associated Press
5/4/2010
Summary: “The number of buyers who signed contracts to purchase homes surged more than expected in March, another sign that government incentives are propelling the housing market this spring.”
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US Economy: Spending Picks Up, Sustaining Growth
Timothy R. Homan, Bloomberg
5/3/2010
Summary: “American consumers helped propel the US economy at the start of 2010, taking over leadership of a recovery that is starting to generate the jobs needed to ensure it’s sustained.”
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Chicago Purchasing Managers Index Exceeds Forecasts
Courtney Schlisserman, Bloomberg,
4/30/2010
Summary: “Business activity in the U.S. expanded in April at the fastest pace in five years, indicating the manufacturing rebound accelerated entering the second quarter.”
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Kellogg 1st Quarter Profit Rises 30 Percent
Staff, Associated Press,
4/29/2010
Summary: “The maker of Frosted Flakes cereal, Pop Tarts and other popular foods said profit rose to $418 million, or $1.09 per share, during the three months that ended April 3.”
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Ford Posts $2.1 Billion 1Q Profit on Strong Sales
Staff, Associated Press
4/27/2010
Summary: “Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it earned $2.1 billion in the first quarter, another sign the economy is improving as people spend more on big-ticket items like cars.”
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New Home Sales Jump 27 Percent in March
Staff, Associated Press,
4/23/2010
Summary: “Sales of new homes surged 27 percent last month, bouncing off the previous month's record low and blowing past expectations as better weather and government incentives boosted sales.”
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Morgan Stanley Profit Beats Estimates
Steve Eder, Reuters,
4/21/2010
Summary: “With its quarterly profit, Morgan Stanley joined in a rally that began last week with strong results from JPMorgan Chase & Co and continued with Goldman Sachs Group Inc's profit surge on Tuesday.”
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Coach Profit Rises 37% on North America, China Sales
Rachel Rosenthal and Matt Jarzemsky, The Wall Street Journal
4/20/2010
Summary: “Coach Inc.'s fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 37% as the luxury handbag and leather-goods maker saw a boost in sales on more robust discretionary-spending habits.”
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The Tables Turn
William Neuman, The New York Times,
4/15/2010
Summary: “Sales at some restaurants have risen in the last few months, and the industry has hired thousands of additional workers.”
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JP Morgan 1Q Profit Rises 55% as Economy Improves
Matthias Rieker and Nathan Becker, The Wall Street Journal,
4/14/2010
Summary: “Net income at the nation's second-largest bank by market capitalization rose 55% from a year earlier, to $3.3 billion.”
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Ford Vehicles Sales Jump 84 Percent in 1st Quarter
Staff, Associated Press,
4/1/2010
Summary: “Ford Motor says sales in China by the company and its local partners jumped 84 percent in the first quarter, fueled by higher demand for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.”
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Canadian Economy Grows Fastest in 3 Years
Tavia Grant, The Globe and Mail,
3/31/2010
Summary: “The Canadian economy began the year with a bang, expanding the most in three years as manufacturing, mining and construction activity quickened.”
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Chinese Industrial Profits More Than Double
Patricia Jiayi Ho, The Wall Street Journal,
3/26/2010
Summary: “Profits at China's major industrial enterprises more than doubled in the first two months of this year from a year earlier, as profitability returned to levels last seen before the financial crisis.”
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Best Buy Reports Strong Fourth-Quarter Sales
Jonathan Birchall, Financial Times,
3/25/2010
Summary: “The electronics chain saw comparable-store sales at its more than 1,000 US stores gain 7.4 per cent during the three months ending on February 27, despite a year-on-year drop in prices for flat-screen televisions and notebook computers.”
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General Mills Profit Spikes, Boosts Outlook
William Spain, MarketWatch,
3/24/2010
Summary: The “results for the third quarter reflect continued good sales growth, margin strength, and significant marketing reinvestment in our brands,” said Ken Powell, chief executive, in the earnings report.
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Walgreen’s Profit Rises 4.6%
Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal
3/23/2010
Summary: “Walgreen Co.'s fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 4.6% on fewer restructuring charges and stronger margins.”
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Williams-Sonoma Profit Climbs Sharply
Nathan Becker and Mary Ellen Lloyd, The Wall Street Journal
3/22/2010
Summary: “Williams-Sonoma Inc.’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings soared, beating its own forecasts.”
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FedEx Profit Soars, Hints at Recovery
Elizabeth Strott and Charley Blaine, MSN Money,
3/18/2010
Summary: “FedEx’s profit more than doubled, and it boosted its outlook for both the current quarter and full year.”
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GM Finance Chief Says 2010 Profit Is Possible
Sharon Terlep, The Wall Street Journal,
3/17/2010
Summary: Only eight months after emerging from bankruptcy, “General Motors Co. has a reasonable chance of becoming profitable in 2010.”
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Indonesia Debt Rating Raised by S&P; Outlook Positive
Aloysius Unditu, Bloomberg,
3/12/2010
Summary: “Indonesia’s sovereign debt rating was raised to the highest level in 12 years by Standard & Poor’s after the central bank increased the country’s economic growth forecasts this week.”
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Wholesale Inventories Drop
Judith Burns and Jeff Bater, The Wall Street Journal,
3/10/2010
Summary: “US wholesalers’ inventories unexpectedly fell 0.2% in January, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, as surging demand pulled goods off shelves in the first month of the year.”
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Job Openings Rise the Most Since March 2007
Paul Davidson, USA Today,
3/10/2010
Summary: “The economy generated jobs at a noticeably faster pace in January, the government said Tuesday in a further sign that the labor market may be turning the corner.”
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McDonald’s Posts Robust Sales
Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal
3/8/2010
Summary: “McDonald’s Corp.’s reported a 4.8% sales rise in February…led by strong overseas gains.”
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Del Monte Q3 Results Top Street, Raises FY EPS View
Staff, Reuters,
3/4/2010
Summary: “Del Monte, which sells canned, frozen and pet food, sees full-year earnings from continuing operations of $1.07 to $1.11 a share, up from its prior outlook of 93 cents to 97 cents a share.”
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UK Service Industry Rebounds After Snowy January
Julia Kollewe, Guardian,
3/3/2010
Summary: “Britain’s service industries bounced back strongly last month after the disruption caused by January’s wintry weather, suggesting that the UK economic recovery is gathering pace.”
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Domino’s 4Q Profit Doubles on New Recipe
Staff, Associated Press,
3/3/2010
Summary: “Revamped pizza and a frank advertising campaign helped Domino’s Pizza Inc. more than double its fourth-quarter profit as curious customers tried out its new recipe, the delivery chain said Tuesday.”
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US Economy Grew at 5.9% Annual Pace Last Quarter
Timothy Homan, Bloomberg,
2/26/2010
Summary: “The US economy expanded at a 5.9 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter reflecting stronger business investment and a greater contribution from inventories.”
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Target’s 4Q Profit Rises 53.7 Percent
Associated Press, MSN Money
2/23/2010
Summary: “Lean inventory and stronger-than-expected holiday sales helped Target Corp.'s fourth-quarter profit soar 53.7 percent.”
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Home Construction Rose in January
Staff, Associated Press,
2/17/2010
Summary: “Housing Construction posted a better-than-expected increase in January, which pushed activity to the highest level in six months.”
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PepsiCo Profit Doubles
Anjali Cordeiro, The Wall Street Journal,
2/11/2010
Summary: “PepsiCo Inc.'s fourth-quarter earnings nearly doubled amid prior-year commodity hedging charges, and the soda maker said it will reap larger cost savings from buying its bottlers than previously expected.”
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McDonald’s January Same-Store Rise
Staff, ABC News
2/9/2010
Summary: “McDonald's Corp posted an expectations-topping 2.6 percent increase in January sales at established restaurants.”
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Taiwan Posts Best Export Growth in More Than 33 Years
Crystal Hsu, The Wall Street Journal
2/8/2010
Summary: “Taiwan posted Monday its biggest monthly growth in exports in more than 33 years, powered by a recovery in demand from all its major export markets, especially China.”
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Retailers Continued Comeback Into January
Elizabeth Holmes, The Wall Street Journal,
2/5/2010
Summary: “Sales at stores open at least a year, the retail industry’s main performance benchmark, rose 3.3% in January over the prior year.”
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Factory Orders Climb 1% in December
Joseph Lazzaro, Daily Finance,
2/5/2010
Summary: “US factory orders rose a better-than expected 1.0% in December, the Commerce Department announced Friday.”
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Ford Posts First Full-Year Profit Since 2005
Jeff Bennett, The Wall Street Journal,
1/28/2010
Summary: “Ford Motor Co. swung to its first annual net profit since 2005 and said it will remain profitable on a pretax basis during the next two years.”
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Holiday Shopping Lifts Retail Projections for 2010
Andrea Chang, Chicago Tribune,
1/27/2010
Summary: “Shoppers spent more than they planned during the holiday season, giving retailers a much-needed sales spurt that industry watchers are hoping will continue this year.”
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Apple Reports Most Profitable Quarter Ever
Jessica Guynn, LA Times
1/26/2010
Summary: “The consumer electronics giant nailed its most profitable quarter ever Monday, blowing past expectations with a $3.4-billion profit in the last three months of 2009.”
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US Leading Economic Index Rose More Than Forecast
Timothy Homan, Bloomberg,
1/21/2010
Summary: “The index of U.S. leading indicators increased more than anticipated in December, a sign the economy will keep growing through the first half of the year.”
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Wells Fargo Swings to Profit; Charge-Offs Rise
John Spence, MarketWatch,
1/20/2010
Summary: “Wells Fargo & Co. Wednesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $2.82 billion, compared with a loss of $2.73 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.”
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Builder KB Home Posts First Profit Since 2007
Staff, Associated Press,
1/13/2010
Summary: “KB Home capped its fiscal year with the first quarterly profit since 2007, thanks to a change in federal tax laws, and said it expects to turn a profit this year.”
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Holiday Sales Soared in Britain
James Thompson, The Independent,
1/13/2010
Summary: “Retailers have shrugged off the downturn to record their best Christmas trading figures since December 2001.”
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Wave of Imports Lifts Ports
Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times
1/12/2010
Summary: “Imports at the nation's trade gateways—including the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—appear to have ended their long decline and are poised for a strong recovery, according to preliminary data released Monday.”
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Heineken to Buy Femsa Beer Unit in $7.7 Billion Deal
Andrew Cleary, Bloomberg
1/11/2010
Summary: M&A is still happening—a good thing. Expect it to pick up more as companies start deploying all the extra cash on their balance sheets. See our 12/17/2009 cover story, “Cash Rich,” for more.
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Wholesale Inventories, Sales Post Strong Nov Gains
Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press,
1/8/2010
Summary: “Inventories held by wholesalers posted an unexpectedly strong gain in November while sales shot up by the largest amount in 10 months, two signs that the economic recovery was gaining traction in the fall.”
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Holiday Sales Point to December Gains
Anne D’Innocenzio, Time,
1/7/2010
Summary: “Last-minute holiday shoppers brought relief to the nation's retailers, handing them modest sales gains for the holiday season and prompting several to raise their fourth-quarter profit outlooks.”
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Bed Bath & Beyond Surpasses Estimates, Delivers Good Comps in Q3
Steven Mallas, Blogging Stocks,
1/7/2010
Summary: “Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) scored in its fiscal third quarter. Sales rose well over 10%. Same-store sales increased a very impressive 7.3%. The real star, however, was the net income number. Earnings per diluted share soared 71% higher to 58 cents.”
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Manufacturing Sector Expands in Euro Zone
Ilona Billington and Joe Parkinson, The Wall Street Journal
1/4/2010
Summary: "The euro zone's manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index rose to a 21-month high in December."
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Chip Sales Rise for Ninth-Straight Month
Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal
1/4/2010
Summary: “Global semiconductor sales rose 3.7% in November from the previous month—the ninth-straight month of sequential gains—as global demand continued to improve.”
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Jobless Claims Fall Unexpectedly as Layoffs Ease
Christopher S. Rugaber, Associated Press,
12/31/2009
Summary: “New jobless claims have dropped steadily since September, raising hopes that the economy may soon begin creating jobs and the unemployment rate could decline.”
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European Retail Sales Grew in December
Jurjen van de Pol, BusinessWeek,
12/30/2009
Summary: “European retail sales increased in December, signaling the economy of the 16 nations using the euro is gathering strength after emerging from the recession.”
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Personal Income: Biggest Bump in 6 Months
Hibah Yousuf, CNN Money,
12/23/2009
Summary: “Personal income posted its largest gain in half a year in November and spending by individuals rose for a second straight month.”
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Existing Home Sales Up 7.4 Percent in November
Staff, Reuters,
12/22/2009
Summary: “Sales of previously owned home in the United States surged last month as prices continued to fall and buyers rushed to take advantage of a popular tax credit.”
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German Business Confidence Rises to 17-Month High
Frances Robinson and Jana Randow, Bloomberg,
12/18/2009
Summary: “German business confidence increased to the highest level in 17 months in December as the global recovery sparked a revival in exports and manufacturing growth.”
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General Mills Profit Climbs 49%
Anjali Cordiero and Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal,
12/17/2009
Summary: “General Mills Inc. reported a 49% rise in fiscal second-quarter earnings as the packaged-foodmaker continues to benefit from lower commodity costs and higher prices.”
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Home Construction Rebounds From 6-Month Low
Hibah Yousef, CNN Money,
12/16/2009
Summary: “Home building rebounded from a six-month low in November, with improvement in new home construction in all sections of the nation.”
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US Industrial Production Rises 0.8 Pct in Nov.
Staff, Reuters,
12/16/2009
Summary: “US industrial output rose firmly in November as the manufacturing sector expanded a recovery that economists hope will help turn around the ailing labor market.”
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Industrial Production in US Rose 0.8% in November
Bob Willis, Bloomberg
12/15/2009
Summary: “Industries in the U.S. boosted production in November by the most in three months, showing the world’s largest economy is gaining speed heading into 2010.”
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Exxon to Acquire XTO Energy in $31 Billion Stock Deal
Kevin Kingsbury and Jason Womack, The Wall Street Journal
12/14/2009
Summary: “Exxon Mobil Corp. placed a big bet on the growth prospects of the natural-gas industry, announcing a deal to acquire XTO Energy Inc. for $31 billion in stock.”
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Wholesale Inventories, Mortgage Demand Rise
Lucia Mutikani, Reuters,
12/10/2009
Summary: “US wholesalers started restocking in October for the first time in more than a year, suggesting the economy could get a lift as a long-running effort by businesses to pare inventories reaches an end.”
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Dollar Thrifty Expects Sharply Improved 4Q, Year Results
Tess Stynes, Dow Jones Newswires,
12/9/2009
Summary: “Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. (DTG) expects a sharply improved bottom line in the fourth quarter as the car-rental industry continues to rebounds from depths earlier this year raised that raised bankruptcy fears for some in the industry.”
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Corning Lifts Its Glass Forecast
Kevin Kingsbury, The Wall Street Journal,
12/9/2009
Summary: “Corning Inc. boosted its volume forecast for glass shipments and sees further improvement in 2010 as the market for liquid-crystal displays continues to grow.”
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Amgen Approves $5 Billion Stock Buyback
Staff, Associated Press
12/7/2009
Summary: “The buyback is being added to the company’s current stock repurchase plan, which still has $1.2 billion in funds remaining.”
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A November With Rosier Retail Data
Stephanie Rosenbloom, The New York Times,
12/2/2009
Summary: “Despite reports of weaker spending on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the nation’s stores appear to have fared much better this November than last year.”
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Pending Home Sales Best in 3½ Years as Factories Expand
Scott Stoddard and Ed Carson, Investor’s Business Daily,
12/2/2009
Summary: “Factory activity kept growing in November but at a slower pace, while a gauge of future home sales rose for a ninth straight month, according to industry reports on Tuesday, suggesting slow but steady economic growth.”
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Cyber Monday Sales May Hit Record, Amazon Ahead
Alexandria Sage, Reuters
12/1/2009
Summary: “Online retail sales on "Cyber Monday" are set to reach a new record, with rivals Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart.com set to be the prime beneficiaries, according to industry experts.”
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J. Crew Profit Beats, Shares Rise
Alexandria Sage, International Business Times,
11/25/2009
Summary: “J. Crew Group Inc reported a quarterly net profit far above Wall Street estimates due to strong autumn sales and expanded profit margins from depressed year-ago levels.”
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Leading Indicators Rise for 7th Straight Month
Rex Nutting, MarketWatch,
11/19/2009
Summary: “The index of leading economic indicators rose for the seventh consecutive month in October, showing that a recovery is ‘unfolding’ in the US economy.”
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Regional Factor Activity, Labor Market Improve
Lucia Mutikani, Reuters,
11/19/2009
Summary: “Manufacturing activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region saw a two-year high November, indicating the economic recovery was gaining momentum, while the trend in claims for jobless aid continued downwards.”
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Williams-Sonoma Swings to Profit, Raises Forecast
Nathan Becker and Joan E. Solsman, The Wall Street Journal,
11/19/2009
Summary: “Williams-Sonoma Inc. swung to a third-quarter profit, posting results that beat forecasts, as margins rose and the company said consumers are responding to its merchandise and marketing strategies.”
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Target Profit Climbs 18 Pct in 3Q on Lower Costs
Ashley M. Heher, Associated Press
11/17/2009
Summary: “Target's third-quarter profit was helped by its ongoing cost-cutting efforts along with better sales in its stores—which climbed 1.4 percent—and better profit from its credit card business.”
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Retail Sales Surge
Julianne Pepitone, CNN Money
11/16/2009
Summary: Retail sales in October rose 1.4%, beating analysts’ expectations.
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Australia Jobs Surge
James Glynn, The Wall Street Journal
11/13/2009
Summary: Australia’s labor market is regaining strength as it experiences a surge in jobs.
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Garmin Reports Surge in 3Q Profits
Staff, Associated Press,
11/4/2009
Summary: “Navigational device maker Garmin Ltd. says profits surged in the third quarter as improved pricing and lower costs offset a drop in sales.”
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Comcast’s Profit Rises 22%
Nat Worden, The Wall Street Journal,
11/4/2009
Summary: “Comcast Corp., the largest US cable operator, posted a 22% increase in third-quarter earnings.”
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Auto Makers in Japan Raise Their Forecasts
Yoshio Takahashi, The Wall Street Journal
11/3/2009
Summary: Three Japanese car makers reported slumping earnings, but raised projections for the full fiscal year amid signs cost-cutting is beginning to pay off.
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Samsung Reports Powerful Rebound
Evan Ramstad, The Wall Street Journal
11/2/2009
Summary: “Samsung Electronics Co.’s record quarterly profit for July to September has put the company on track to have its second-biggest annual profit this year.”
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Ford Sees Bright Future, Posts Nearly $1B Profit
Brent Snavely, Detroit Free Press
11/2/2009
Summary: “For the first nine months of the year, Ford has now posted a $1.8-billion profit. That’s a $10.6-billion improvement from the same period a year ago.”
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Wells Fargo Says Profit Doubled in Quarter
Staff, The Associated Press,
10/21/2009
Summary: Wells Fargo, the nation’s fourth-largest bank, becomes the latest to beat analyst expectations with third quarter earnings.
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Apple Soars After Mac and iPhone Sales Top Estimates
Rochelle Garner and Connie Guglielmo, Bloomberg
10/20/2009
Summary: “Apple Inc. rose to its highest level in almost two years in Nasdaq trading after fourth-quarter profit and revenue topped analysts’ estimates.”
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JPMorgan Profits Surge Six Fold
David Ellis, CNN Money,
10/14/2009
Summary: The bank beat Wall Street expectations with a profit of $3.6 billion during the third quarter.
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Eurozone Business Activity Rises in Sept.
Staff, EUbusiness
10/5/2009
Summary: “Private sector business activity in the 16-nation eurozone grew in September with manufacturing and services each gaining on initial estimates.”
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Global Chip Sales Rose 5% in August
Joan Solsman, The Wall Street Journal
10/2/2009
Summary: “Global semiconductor sales rose 5% in August from the previous month, the sixth-straight month of sequential gains.”
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General Mills Profit Jumps 51% on Strong Demand
Michelle Chapman, Associated Press,
9/23/2009
Summary: Benefiting from lower ingredients costs, the food maker beat expectations for its fiscal first quarter and raised its full-year outlook.
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Forecasts for Asian Growth Raised
Staff, BBC News
9/22/2009
Summary: “The ADB raised its growth forecasts for the region to 3.9% in 2009, from its previous forecast of 3.4%. It also raised its 2010 forecasts to 6.4% from its previous estimate of 6%.”
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Dell to Buy Perot Systems for $3.9 Billon
Franklin Paul, International Business Times
9/21/2009
Summary: Dell Inc. plans to buy Perot Systems Corp for about $3.9 billion to expand its technology services business.
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Leading Indicators Show Recession ‘Bottoming Out’
Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
9/21/2009
Summary: “Five of the 10 leading indicators improved in August,” adding “further evidence to the growing view that the official end date of the recession is likely to be sometime in the third quarter.”
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Household Net Worth Grows by $2 Trillion
Jeannine Aversa, Associated Press
9/17/2009
Summary: “Americans' wealth rose this spring for the first time in nearly two years, with stocks and home values gaining as the recession faded.”
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Philly Factories Show Strength
Greg Robb, MarketWatch
9/17/2009
Summary: “The [Philadelphia Federal Reserve] bank's business activity index rose to a two-year high of 14.1 in September, up from 4.2 in August.”
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Production in US Increased More Than Anticipated
Courtney Schlisserman, Bloomberg,
9/16/2009
Summary: “Industrial production in the U.S. rose more than forecast in August, adding to evidence gains in manufacturing are helping end the worst recession in seven decades.”
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US Retail Sales Surge in August
Christopher Rugaber, The Globe and Mail,
9/15/2009
Summary: “US retail sales jumped in August, spurred by widespread gains beyond the increases of auto and gasoline sales that economists expected.”
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Brazil Emerges From Recession, Led by Domestic Demand
Joshua Goodman and Andre Soliani, Bloomberg,
9/11/2009
Summary: “Brazil’s gross domestic product grew more than expected in the second quarter, emerging from its first recession since 2003 because of rising domestic demand.”
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General Mills Sees Q1 Earnings Above Internal View
Kevin Kingsbury, SmartMoney,
9/10/2009
Summary: “General Mills Co. (GIS) said fiscal first-quarter earnings are estimated to have topped the company's internal projections, calling the results a "strong start" to the year.”
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Australia’s Economy Grows More Than Expected
Lisa Twaronite, MarketWatch,
9/2/2009
Summary: “The Australian Bureau of Statistics said GDP rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% in the April-June quarter from the previous quarter, beating economists' consensus expectation of a 0.2% rise.”
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Nation at Its Most Productive in 6 Years
Staff, CNN Money,
9/2/2009
Summary: According to the US Labor Department, non-farm productivity rose at a 6.6% annual rate—and the 0.2% increase over last month’s growth was the biggest rise seen since Q3 2003.
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US Manufacturing Sector Grew in August
Staff, International Business Times
9/1/2009
Summary: “The U.S. manufacturing sector grew in August in the first month of expansion in more than a year and a half.”
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Canada’s GDP Back in Black
Kevin Carmichael, The Globe and Mail
8/31/2009
Summary: “Canada’s economy grew for the first time in 11 months in June.”
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Hopeful Signs: Manufacturing, Housing Show Gains
Annys Shin and Dina Elboghdady, The Washington Post,
8/27/2009
Summary: “Manufacturing and housing, two sectors that have suffered some of the largest job losses in this recession, showed signs of strengthening in July, the latest indications that the economy is on the mend.”
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Durable Goods Orders Surge 4.9%
Staff, CNN Money,
8/26/2009
Summary: “New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods recorded their biggest gain in two years in July, buoyed by a surge in aircraft orders, a government report showed Wednesday.”
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July New US Home Sales Up 9.6%
Alan Zibel, Associated Press,
8/26/2009
Summary: “New U.S. home sales surged 9.6% in July, rising for the fourth straight month and beating expectations as the housing market marches steadily back from its historic downturn.”
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Existing Homes Selling Fast—Record Fast
Les Christie, CNN Money
8/21/2009
Summary: “Sales of existing homes rose in July for the fourth consecutive month, lending support to economist who argue a recovery is near.”
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Leading Indicators Rise 0.6% in July
Ruth Mantell, MarketWatch,
8/20/2009
Summary: “For its fourth consecutive monthly gain, the index of leading economic indicators rose 0.6% in July.”
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Lego 6-Month Profit Surges to $177 Million
Commentary by Staff, Associated Press
8/17/2009
Summary: “Danish toy maker Lego said Monday that six-month net profit nearly doubled to 927 million kroner ($177 million) on strong sales of its best-selling products.”
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Mexico Favours Brazil Trade Pact
Staff, BBC News
8/17/2009
Summary: Free trade remains high priority for nations worldwide as “Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has said he will propose a free trade agreement with Brazil.”
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An Astonishing Rebound
Staff, The Economist,
8/14/2009
Summary: “The four emerging Asian economies which have reported GDP figures for the second quarter (China, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore) grew by an average annualised rate of more than 10%.”
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India Signs Free Trade Pact With ASEAN
Staff, SME Times,
8/13/2009
Summary: “India and 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) today signed a crucial trade pact that will break duty barriers in the 1.7 billion consumer market in the region.”
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Germany, France Pull Out of Recession
Staff, Reuters,
8/13/2009
Summary: Germany and France ended their recessions “earlier than many policymakers and economists had expected,” with German and French GDP both rising by 0.3% in the second quarter.
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Industrial Output Up 7.8 Percent in June
Staff, SME Times,
8/12/2009
Summary: “Further signs of recovery in India's industrial sector emerged Wednesday with the latest official data indicating a 7.8 percent growth in June over the like month the previous year.”
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Debt Market Revival a Comfort to Investors
Enda Curran, The Australian,
8/12/2009
Summary: “Australia's debt market is enjoying a firm bid tone and improving liquidity as investors draw comfort on signs that the worst of the global downturn has passed.”
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US Economy: Worker Productivity Surges and Labor Costs Drop
Shobhana Chandra, Bloomberg
8/11/2009
Summary: “Productivity, a measure of how much an employee produces for each hour worked, rose at an annual 6.4 percent pace, more than forecast, after a 0.3 percent gain the prior three months, Labor Department data showed today in Washington. Labor costs fell by the most in eight years.”
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India, South Korea Sign Free Trade Deal
Staff, Associated Press
8/10/2009
Summary: Expect more trade deals to be signed. The world economy is becoming increasingly integrated—a plus for consumers and businesses alike as goods generally become available at better prices.
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An Unexpected Gain in Factory Orders in June
Jack Healy, The New York Times,
8/5/2009
Summary: The US manufacturing sector showed positive signs in June, with an increase in orders for goods shipments (metals, machinery and equipment).
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Pending Home Sales Rise for 5th Month
Elizabeth Scott, MSN Money
8/4/2009
Summary: “There was another sign that the housing market may be starting to recover this morning: the National Association of Realtors' pending home sales index rose 3.6% in June, thanks to low interest rates and falling prices.”
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Coke Enterprises Reports $313M 2Q Profit
Staff, Business First,
7/29/2009
Summary: “The Atlanta-based Coca-Cola products marketer and distributor posted net income of $313 million and earnings of 64 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $3.2 billion and a loss per share of $6.48 in the second quarter of 2008.”
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Index Adds to Spate of Upbeat Housing News
JW Elphistone, Associated Press
7/28/2009
Summary: “Home prices in May posted their first monthly increase since the summer of 2006, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city index.”
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Netflix Posts Higher 2nd Quarter Profit, Sales
Staff, Associated Press
7/24/2009
Summary: “Netflix Inc.'s second-quarter profit coasted past expectations as recession-weary customers continued to embrace its DVD-by-mail and streaming movie service.”
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Samsung Elec Posts Biggest Profit in 2.5 Yrs
Marie-france Han and Rhee So-eui, International Business Times
7/24/2009
Summary: “Samsung Electronics, the world's top maker of memory chips and LCD screens, posted its best quarterly profit in 2.5 years.”
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Recession Over, Growth Resumes: Bank of Canada
Kevin Carmicheal, The Globe and Mail
7/24/2009
Summary: Canada’s central bank announced GDP will expand at an annual rate of 1.3% this quarter as stronger financial conditions and increasing confidence contribute to turn the economy around.
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Lilly Profit Beats Forecasts, Raises ’09 Outlook
Staff, Reuters,
7/22/2009
Summary: “Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.N) reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings Wednesday on overseas inventory adjustments and price increases that boosted sales of its medicines, and raised its 2009 profit forecast.”
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Starbucks Beats Q3 Estimates
Staff, Atlanta Business Chronicle,
7/22/2009
Summary: “Starbucks Corp. reported third-quarter earnings of $151.5 million, or 20 cents per share, beating Wall Street’s estimates of earnings of 19 cents per share.”
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Northern Trust 2Q Profit Jumps 46%
Staff, The Wall Street Journal,
7/22/2009
Summary: “Northern Trust Corp.'s (NTRS) second-quarter earnings jumped 46% as results topped analysts' expectations.”
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Pepsi Investing $1 Billion More in Russia
Associated Press, MSNBC
7/21/2009
Summary: “Soft drink and snack maker PepsiCo Inc. announced plans Monday to boost its investment in Russia, continuing a trend of consumer companies seeking growth in emerging markets…”
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US Credit Card Defaults Up Less Than Expected
Juan Lagorio, Reuters,
7/15/2009
Summary: Delinquency rates fell in June for some of the nation’s major credit card providers, possibly indicating consumer credit standing isn’t as weak as feared.
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Goldman’s Profit Soars on Record Trading Results
Joe Bel Bruno and Kerry Grace Benn, The Wall Street Journal
7/14/2009
Summary: “Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s second-quarter profit surged as Wall Street's largest surviving investment bank delivered record results in trading and stock underwriting.”
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Manufacturing Index Up for 6th Straight Month
Julianne Pepitone, CNN Money,
7/1/2009
Summary: While we hesitate to put too much stock in this, the rate of contraction has slowed for the manufacturing index, perhaps indicating an impending recovery.
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H&M Fares Well Despite Downturn
Ola Kinnander, The Wall Street Journal
6/30/2009
Summary: “Hennes & Mauritz AB on Thursday posted a 6.4% rise in fiscal second-quarter net profit, as it continued to fare better during the economic downturn than many of its rivals.”
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Kroger Posts 13% Rise in Earnings
Paul Ziobro, The Wall Street Journal
6/23/2009
Summary: “Kroger Co. reported a 13% rise in fiscal-first quarter earnings, ahead of Wall Street estimates as the grocer's low-price strategy yielded solid sales without compromising margins.”
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Apple Sells One Million New iPhones, Defying Predictions
Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal
6/22/2009
Summary: “Apple Inc. said it sold more than a million units of its iPhone 3G S n the first three days, defying predictions that it wouldn’t reach the level of its predecessor’s launch.”
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Profit Rises 33% for Maker of BlackBerry
Associated Press, The New York Times
6/19/2009
Summary: “The BlackBerry maker Research in Motion posted a 33 percent increase in quarterly profit on Thursday, exceeding expectations but disappointing investors with its forecast.”
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US Housing Starts Jump in May, Inflation Muted
Lucia Mutikani, Reuters
6/16/2009
Summary: “New U.S. housing starts and permits surged in May from record lows, while wholesale prices were muted despite higher gasoline prices, indicating the economy was moving closer to the end of a deep recession.”
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Empire State Survey Suggests Recession Is Ending
Mark J. Perry, Carpe Diem
6/15/2009
Summary: “The Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that the general business conditions index fell several points from last month’s level…but remained well above the string of deeply negative readings in the October-March period.”
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General Mills Expects Earnings to Top Prior View
Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal
6/8/2009
Summary: General Mills said that earnings for “the year ended May 31 will top its March forecast” due to “good operating performance and lower tax rate.”
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United Plans Huge Jet Order
Susan Carey, The Wall Street Journal,
6/4/2009
Summary: Looking for bargains, United Airlines has “asked Boeing Co. and Airbus to propose dueling bids for up to 150 new airliners,” a deal worth possibly more than $10 billion.
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Factory Orders Rise for Second Time in 3 Months
Staff, Associated Press,
6/3/2009
Summary: “Orders to US factories rose 0.7 percent in April, the second increase in three months and further evidence that manufacturers may be recovering.”
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Still The Lucky Country: Aust GDP Grows in March Quarter
Garry Shilson-Josling, New Zealand Herald,
6/3/2009
Summary: The Australian economy saw a rise in the most recent quarter’s GDP, thereby averting the common definition of a recession (two consecutive quarters of negative GDP).
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Job Market Shows Signs of Improvement
Jessica Dickler and Catherine Clifford, CNN Money,
6/3/2009
Summary: Although the stock market historically rises before unemployment hits a bottom, this is still good news.
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