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EU Morning Report – USD Falls As G7 Refrain To Criticize The Greenbacks Weakness

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:44:13 GMT

The USD fell after the G7 finance chiefs did not call for measures to counter the U.S. currency's weakness.[More...]

Not All Dividend Stocks Are Overvalued

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:49:00 GMT

While the market has enjoyed impressive gains ever since it hit a multi year low in March 2009, investors are beginning to get nervous about valuation. If valuation is too high, chances are that investors are overpaying for stocks purchased, which could lead to lower performance over time.[More...]

Dynamic Growth: Monday, May 11, 2009- Briefing

Mon, 11 May 2009 16:57:25 GMT

Investors managed to keep the rally alive last week despite several key banks being told they had to raise more capital. After the government’s stress test results, 10 of the nation’s 19 biggest banks were told to pony up. Here's a summary of each bank and how much capital they need to raise; American Express: none needed Bank of America: $33.9 billion BB&T Corporation: none needed Bank of New York Mellon: none needed Capital One Financial: none needed Citigroup: $5.5 billion Fifth Third Bancorp: $1.1 billion GMAC: $11.5 billion Goldman Sachs: none needed JPMorgan: none needed KeyCorp: $1.8 billion MetLife: none needed Morgan Stanley: $1.8 billion PNC Financial: $0.6 billion Regions Financial: $2.5 billion State Street: none needed SunTrust Banks: $2.2 billion U.S. Bancorp: none needed Wells Fargo: $13.7 billion In addition to the stress test, the nations unemployment rate hit 8.9%, but the employment report came in better than many had expected. The current rally is[More...]

April 2009 Monthly Market Review

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:45:00 GMT

March has been an extraordinary month from a historic market perspective. The volatility we have become accustomed to over the past 7 months did not disappoint, as the S&P500 lost nearly 5% on the first trading day of March and hit its 13 year low on March 3. After February resulted in more stock market losses, the operative word among government officials was changed to “the economy was fundamentally ok.” The Fed and Treasury then launched a new program to pump $200 billion into the asset backed security (ABS) market to spur lending for non-mortgage consumer loans. Ben Bernanke then made an unprecedented move for a sitting Fed Chairman, granting widely watched 60 Minutes an interview, to stress his belief that America has averted the risk of a depression and a recovery could begin next year if the financial sector stabilizes, which he believes is happening. It is our opinion that among existing government finance officials, Chairman[More...]

Wall St. Week Ahead

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:02:00 GMT

Here is a preview of the week ahead in the markets from Reuters: NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks should rally further this week, if investors get more signs that the economic slump is abating and earnings season does not get off to a rocky start. Alcoa Inc (AA.N) will report results on Tuesday in the unofficial start of first-quarter company results. But given that the aluminum producer is expected to post another loss, the outlook it provides will be key to investor sentiment. In this holiday-shortened week, volume could be light, raising the specter of increased volatility as investors look to string together a fifth straight week of gains. Many market participants are likely to be out of the office this week, when Passover begins. Markets will be closed on April 10 for the observance of Good Friday. After investors got a boost in recent weeks from economic reports suggesting that[More...]

Yes, The Ship Really Is Sinking

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT

I knew something was up when Citigroup shares were hovering just over penny stock territory and the media began to report on a “leaked” internal memo from the company’s CEO. In the memo, Vikram Pandit praised his staff and made the surprise announcement that the company was profitable in January and February. “We are having our best quarter-to-date performance since the third quarter of 2007,” he wrote. Rather than characterize the charade as the public relations stunt that it obviously was, the compliant mainstream media reported the “leak” as if it were a rare inside glimpse that we were lucky to have found out about. Following the Citi “slip”, Bank of America CEO Kenny “Bug Eyes” Lewis stated that his bank was also profitable in January and February and that B of A expected to ride out the remainder of the depression without[More...]

Fitch Statement On Downgrading Berkshire To AA

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:55:00 GMT

8 and yarpp.reference_ID = 7057 AND wp_posts.post_type = 'post'--> By now you have heard that Warren Buffett’s bets on GE, Goldman, and Swiss Re and his derivatives positions have earned him a downgrade from Fitch Rating Agency. Below is the Fitch statement. I have highlighted the key sections: Fitch Ratings has downgraded the Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and senior unsecured debt ratings of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK/A) as follows: –IDR to ‘AA+’ from ‘AAA’; –Senior unsecured debt to ‘AA’ from ‘AAA’. Fitch has concurrently affirmed its[More...]

Intel Defies Layoff Trend – Spends $7 Billion Protecting 7,000 Jobs

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:47:00 GMT

By Don MillerAssociate EditorMoney Morning At a time when U.S. employers are laying off workers in record numbers, Intel Corp. (INTC) announced yesterday (Tuesday) that it would spend $7 billion... Money Morning is here to help investors profit handsomely on this seismic shift in the global economy. Money moves markets. But Money Morning lets you move first. [More...]

Friday’s Market Recap (2/6/2009)

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:31:00 GMT

A second consecutive upswing in the market today occurred as investors awaited a Senate vote on its version of an economic stimulus plan that would include a mix of spending and tax cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average swung by 2.70% to a close of 8,280.59 while the Nasdaq and S&P moved 2.94% and 2.69% respectively to levels of 1,591.71 and 868.60. To the contrary, crude oil lost -$1.17 to settle at $40.00 while copper increased $0.0120 to a close of $1.62. During the trading day, investors were able to look past the newly reported unemployment rate, which came in at 7.6% compared to estimates of 7.5%. The Labor Department reported that United States employers cut 598,00 jobs during the month of January, which is the most since 1974. American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO:[More...]

This Accounting Rule Change Could Send Stocks Soaring

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:31:00 GMT

Friday, February 6, 2009 by Marc Lichtenfeld, Senior Analyst & Healthcare Specialist, Smart Profits Report and Martin Denholm, Managing Editor, Smart Profits Report Dear Smart Profits Report Reader, 598,000 jobs lost in January - the worst in 34 years… … and just to keep us on our toes, the erratic stock market reacts by zooming higher. This on top of an unsurprising Washington holdup in passing the economic stimulus package, too. One can only imagine that the market is shrugging off the news because the abysmal figure from the Labor Department didn’t stink up the joint quite as badly as feared. It’s like being thankful when your son escapes injury after taking your car without permission and backing it up through the closed garage door. But make no mistake…[More...]

Property Investors Are Back in Profit

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:48:00 GMT

Jul. 19--Cash on deposit is earning next to nothing and the stock market is becalmed, with many companies unable to afford to pay dividends.
They have not invested in property before and Lisa says: "I've always thought that what people were doing was mad.
Nick and Lisa are not fussy about the type of property -- period or modern, houses or flats.

[More...]

Employers Holdings, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Earnings and Declares Third Quarter Dividend

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:48:00 GMT

RENO, Nev., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Employers Holdings, Inc. ("EHI" or the "Company") today reported second quarter net income of $20.3 million or $0.44 per share compared with $27.4 million or $0.55 per share in the second quarter of 2008, a decrease of $7.0 million or $0.11 per share.
Consolidated net income before the impact of the LPT (the Company's non-GAAP measure described below) was $16.0 million or $0.34 per share in the second quarter of 2009 and $22.8 million or $0.46 per share in the second quarter of 2008.

[More...]

Employers Holdings, Inc. Schedules Second Quarter, 2009 Earnings Release

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:52:00 GMT

Employers Holdings, Inc. )') , a Nevada-based company whose subsidiaries are specialty providers of workers' compensation insurance focused on small businesses, will review the company's second quarter and year-to-date 2009 financial results during a conference call and webcast Friday, August 7, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. PDT. The webcast will be accessible on the Employers Holdings, Inc. web site at www.employers.com through the 'Investors' link.An archived version of the webcast will remain on the Employers Holdings, Inc. web site following the live webcast. To listen to a recording of the call by telephone, dial 286-8010 and use the conference call access code 77509677. International callers should dial 801-6888.Employers Holdings, Inc. will release earnings after market close on Thursday, August 6, 2009, and will file its Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, August 7, 2009. After release, these materials will be available on the company's web site at www.employers.com through the 'Investors' link.Copyright 2009 EMPLOYERS. All rights reserved. EMPLOYERS )and America's small business insurance specialist. )are registered trademarks of Employers Insurance Company of Nevada. Employers Holdings, Inc. is a holding company with subsidiaries that are specialty providers of workers' compensation insurance and services focused on select, small businesses engaged in low to medium hazard industries. Insurance subsidiaries include Employers Insurance Company of Nevada, Employers Compensation Insurance Company, Employers Preferred Insurance Company, and Employers Assurance Company, all rated A- by A.M. Best Company. Additional information can be found at: http://www.employers.com.[More...]

EMPLOYERS(R) Launches Agent Marketing Toolbox to Further Enhance Ease of Doing Business, Agent-Carrier Workflows

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:26:00 GMT

EMPLOYERS) has launched its Agent Marketing Toolbox Web site for its appointed independent agents to simplify agent-carrier workflows and streamline marketing processes. EMPLOYERS, America's small business insurance specialist), developed the Agent Marketing Toolbox to enable easy access to customizable marketing materials, making it easy for agents to communicate workers' compensation coverage options and value-added services to small businesses. Appointed agents now have the ability to 'pull' EMPLOYERS marketing materials and create their own marketing campaigns 24/7 based on their individual needs. The introduction of the Agent Marketing Toolbox is an extension of EMPLOYERS' focus on providing independent agents with tools to effectively and efficiently reach and service larger volumes of small business accounts. The new Agent Marketing Toolbox greatly complements EMPLOYERS' highly-automated underwriting systems, and knowledgeable, responsive underwriters, loss control experts and claims specialists, all of which are focused on streamlining processes for valued agent partners. Appointed agents can visit: www.cendixportal.com/employers and follow the instructions to create an account. 'Independent agents are very important to EMPLOYERS and we continuously work to provide them with resources and information to simplify their work, and to help them in their prospecting and account maintenance efforts,' said Ty Vukelich, vice president of marketing, EMPLOYERS. 'Ultimately, we know that by helping our agent partners bring maximum value to policyholders, we are fostering successful, long-term relationships with small businesses. This benefits everyone. The new Agent Marketing Toolbox improves our ease of doing business and allows agents to spend less time on administrative hassles, so they can focus on their clients and prospects.' EMPLOYERS also will launch its redesigned corporate Web site: www.employers.com in early August. The new site will introduce an interactive environment where agents and small businesses can participate in relevant discussions and access useful information such as white papers, e-mail newsletters, resource libraries, and events calendars. About Employers Holdings, Inc.Employers Holdings, Inc. is a holding company with subsidiaries that are specialty providers of workers' compensation insurance and services focused on select, small and medium-sized businesses engaged in low to medium hazard industries. The company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 30 states. Insurance is offered by Employers Insurance Company of Nevada, Employers Compensation Insurance Company, Employers Preferred Insurance Company, and Employers Assurance Company, all rated A- by A.M. Best Company. Additional information can be found at: http://www.employers.com. Copyright 2009 EMPLOYERS. All rights reserved. EMPLOYERS and America's small business insurance specialist are registered trademarks of Employers Insurance Company of Nevada.[More...]

National Federation of Independent Business Names EMPLOYERS(R) Provider of Choice for its 22,000 California Members

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:48:00 GMT

The National Federation of Independent Business has officially named EMPLOYERS, America's small business insurance specialist, its workers' compensation insurance provider of choice for its 22,000 California members. NFIB selected EMPLOYERS because of its strong presence in California, and its focus and expertise as a specialty writer of workers' compensation insurance for small businesses.[More...]

Employers Holdings, Inc. To Be Added to S&P 600

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:31:00 GMT

RENO, Nev., June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Employers Holdings, Inc. announced Standard & Poor's will add it to the prestigious S&P 600 SmallCap Index.
The S&P 600 is widely considered the preferred small capitalization-market index in the United States and is comprised of 600 leading publicly-held companies in the most important industries in the U.S. economy.
According to Standard & Poor's, the S&P SmallCap 600 is a core component of the U.S. indices that could be used as building blocks for portfolio construction.

[More...]

Employers Holdings, Inc. Leadership to Present at FPK Small & Mid-Cap Bank and Insurance Conference

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:46:00 GMT

Employers Holdings, Inc. announced key members of its senior leadership team will present at the Fox-Pitt Kelton Small & Mid-Cap Bank and Insurance Conference scheduled June 17-18, 2009 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.[More...]

Employers Holdings, Inc. Announces Annual Stockholder Meeting Results

Fri, 29 May 2009 14:25:00 GMT

Employers Holdings, Inc. today announced the results of its 2009 annual meeting of the stockholders, which was held yesterday.[More...]

National Poll: Sixty-five Percent of Small Business Leaders Report Business Worries Keep Them Awake at Night

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:56:00 GMT

Respondents evenly split on Bush vs. Obama as a stronger advocate for small business[More...]

Employers Holdings, Inc. Reports First Quarter Earnings and Declares Second Quarter Dividend

Wed, 06 May 2009 21:50:00 GMT

RENO, Nev., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Employers Holdings, Inc. ("EHI" or the "Company") today reported first quarter 2009 net income of $20.9 million or $0.43 per share compared with $25.5 million or $0.51 per share in the first quarter of 2008, a decrease of $4.6 million or $0.08 per share.
Consolidated net income before the impact of the LPT (the Company's non-GAAP measure described below) was $16.5 million or $0.34 per share in the first quarter of 2009 compared with $20.7 million or $0.42 per share in the first quarter of 2008.

[More...]

Employers Holdings, Inc. Schedules First Quarter, 2009 Earnings Release

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:53:00 GMT

Employers Holdings, Inc. ") , a Nevada-based company whose subsidiaries are specialty providers of workers' compensation insurance focused on small businesses, will review the company's first quarter 2009 financial results during a conference call and webcast Thursday, May 7, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. PDT. The webcast will be accessible on the Employers Holdings, Inc. web site at www.employers.com through the "Investors" link.[More...]