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Weekly Watchlist 01/05

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:21:00 GMT

Welcome back from the weekend! As the rest of the market returns from the holiday break, we should see more volume and volatility creep back into stocks. Only tomorrow will tell as to whether or not this is a positive or a negative for stock prices. At the moment, futures prices are trading slightly lower. The Dow is off by 44 points, the S&P down 5 points, and the Nasdaq is down 7 points. Crude oil is up another buck, trading at $47.30. As we talk technicals, take a look at a 5 day chart of the mini S&P futures contract. [More...]

Unibanco Downgraded on Merger - Analyst Blog

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:04:00 GMT

We are reducing our rating on Unibanco Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros SA (UBB) to Hold from Buy following the merger agreement with Banco Itau Holding Financeira S.A. (or Itau) (ITU). On November 3, 2008, UBB and Itau announced a merger, creating the largest bank in Brazil, with R$575 billion in assets, 4,800 branches, and a 19% share of the Brazilian loan market. The transaction, expected to be completed in first half 2009, should be immediately accretive to earnings. Pro forma for the merger with Itau and based upon our current estimates, we expect net income in 2009 to increase 5% to R$11,351 million. However, we show a decline in US$ after taking into account the negative impact of[More...]

Brazilian Bank Merger For Emerging Market's Largest

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:36:00 GMT

The merger announced yesterday will have repercussions outside of the Brazilian stock market. Banco Itaú Holdings S.A. (U.S. ADR: ITU) and Unibanco (ADR: UBB) will merge in an all stock deal to form Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A. The merger will have a ripple[More...]

Six Profit Plays From South Of The Equator

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:30:00 GMT

By Martin Hutchinson Contributing Editor Money Morning Like most other markets, Brazil has been battered by the credit crisis – the BOVESPA index is currently down 28% in October alone... 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...]

Major ADRs Hit New 52-Week Low On Global Sell-Off

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:52:00 GMT

The financial crisis and deepening credit crunch is affecting global stocks as the companies prepare for next year by raising capital and assess the long-term risks.[More...]

Short Setups For Wednesday

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:15:00 GMT

Although we may have room to rally, I am finding far more attractive setups on the short side. Buying has lacked volume, and yesterday saw a large number of reversals in sector ETF's and individual stocks. Here are a few that I am watching for today:- MMP is in the oil transportation and storage business. It has seen a huge rally off the lows, and is now at resistance. I am short already.- PAA is in the same business, with a similar pattern. I'm short[More...]

Buying Gold On Pullbacks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:17:00 GMT

I am currently holding a small gold position, via the ultra long ETF DGP. The government's actions are being perceived as highly inflationary. The evidence can already be witnessed by the drop in the dollar and the strength in commodities and currencies such as the yen and Swiss franc. Gold is overbought here, but I'm not sure how much it will pull back from this level. I feel confident that gold prices will rise well above today's price, so I will be gradually building my position even on modest drops. I think the most informative view comes from the five-year chart for GLD: [More...]

Banks World-Wide Feeling the Impact - Zacks Analyst Interviews

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:48:00 GMT

To find out how the U.S. financial crisis is beginning to play out in foreign markets, we spoke late last week with Zacks senior analyst Ann Heffron, CFA recently about how banks around the world under her coverage are currently being affected.[More...]

Today's Winners - It's All the Same Trade/Stock

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:09:00 GMT

Today's winner list is an example of why this is not a stock pickers market but a sector allocation market or as I like to say "It's all the same stock" Below is a list of 73 winners returning 6% or more. Instead of highlighting the commodity or global gr[More...]

Brazilian Banks/Asset Managers Continue to Gain Assets

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:21:00 GMT

With Brazil's emergence onto the global economy, there have undoubtedly been some excellent investment opportunities. But, most of the gains have been concentrated in the energy and natural resource spaces. As Brazil continues to emerge as a growing nation with a strong economy, I've turned my focus to the next wave of investments to make in Brazil. And, I think it can come from a sector that has been touched on by many before, but has never really garnered the spotlight. I'm talking about Brazilian banks and asset managers. Over the long term, their financial landscape will continue to evolve and the underlying financial firms are poised to benefit, seeing as Brazil has now become a net foreign creditor. Also, due to the booming economy, many Brazilians have started to enjoy new-found wealth and are turning to banks/asset managers looking for a place to put their hard earned money to work.Institutional[More...]

Banks and Multilaterals Step in to Boost Trade

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:47:00 GMT

With commodity prices plummeting from last year's highs, Latin American governments are seeking ways to support their trade sectors as part of their economic stimulus plans.
Brazil's central bank: Attempting to boost banks' trade finance lines
In February Brazil's central bank sold $1 billion in dollar repos to banks to increase trade finance lines.

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Surge Of Bank Mergers Dominates Deal Activity

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:53:00 GMT

Government-encouraged bank mergers and bailouts are keeping global M&A activity alive amid the financial crisis, which has severely restricted financing for corporate buyouts.
San Francisco- based Wells Fargo 's $15.1 billion acquisition ofWachovia, which derailed a hastily arranged government deal to sell most ofWachovia to Citi, was the largest M&A deal in the Americas in October.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department announced a plan to spend $250 billion to buy preferred shares in financial institutions, with half going to the top 10 banks and the rest to regional and community banks.

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World's Best Banks 2008

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:55:00 GMT

Now more than ever, the world's best banks deserve recognition for continuing to provide excellent products and high levels of service to their clients, despite the distractions of the global credit crunch and financial market turmoil that continues to swirl around them.
The most successful financial institutions in the past year have been those that moved guickly to distance themselves from the fallout of the crisis, as well as those lucky enough to be located in fast-growing emerging markets remote from the epicenter.
The foundation of the global banking system remains unstable, and further aftershocks are possible, but the process of rebuilding and creating a new culture and business model is already under way.

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The Best Emerging Market Banks

Thu, 01 May 2008 13:50:00 GMT

2008 In our 15th annual survey of top banking performers in emerging markets, we name those banks that are consistently providing high levels of service in fast-evolving markets.
Fast economic growth and lack of exposure to the US subprime mortgage problems are two reasons that well-managed banks in emerging markets are performing so well.
This out-performance is true not only of banks operating in the oil-rich countries of the Middle East and the fast-growing export economies of Asia but also in some African countries, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe and in Latin America.

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Approval of the Merger Between Itau and Unibanco

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:34:00 GMT

ITAU UNIBANCO BANCO MULTIPLO S.A , UNIBANCO - UNIAO DE BANCOS BRASILEIROS S.A. and UNIBANCO HOLDINGS S.A. are pleased to announce that:[More...]

Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Unibanco Uniao De Bancos Brasileiros SA, Banco Itau Holding Financeira S.A., ADC Telecommunications, SAP AG and Cephalon Inc.

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:13:00 GMT

Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog.
Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets.
Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Unibanco Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros SA (NYSE: UBB), Banco Itau Holding Financeira S.A. (or Itau) (NYSE: ITU), ADC Telecommunications (NASDAQ: ADCT), SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) and Cephalon Inc. (NASDAQ: CEPH).

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Unibanco and AIG Agree to Repurchase Each Others’ Shares in Brazil Joint Ventures, UASEG and AIG Brasil

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:44:00 GMT

Unibanco - União de Bancos Brasileiros S.A. (“Unibanco”) and American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”) announced today that they have entered into an agreement to repurchase their crossholdings in Unibanco AIG Seguros S.A. (“UASEG”) and AIG Brasil Companhia de Seguros (“AIG Brasil”). Under the terms of the agreement, Unibanco will purchase the shareholding in UASEG held by certain of AIG’s subsidiaries, and an AIG subsidiary will purchase Unibanco’s shares in AIG Brasil. Unibanco AIG Seguros S.A.’s name will be changed to Unibanco Seguros S.A. (“Uniseg”).[More...]

Learn About the World Investment Services Market Brief

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:52:00 GMT

Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report related to the Financial services industry is available in its catalogue.
The global outlook series on Investment Services provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings.
The report provides a rudimentary insight into the industry's structure, and segmental composition and trends i.e. Asset Management, Mutual Funds, Institutional Asset Management, Investment Banking, Underwriting, Securities, and other alternative investments.

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Fitch Places Unibanco Ratings on Positive Watch and Affirms Itau Group of Banks

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:49:00 GMT

Fitch Ratings has today affirmed the ratings of of the Itau Group of banks.
At the same time, the agency has placed the Local Currency short- and-long term Issuer Default ratings (IDRs), as well as the Foreign currency short-term IDR of Unibanco-Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros S.A. (Unibanco) on Rating Watch Positive; the Foreign currency IDRs of the Itau banks and of Unibanco are constrained by Brazil's country ceiling.
The transaction contemplates an exchange of shares, which will mean the migration of the current shareholders of Unibanco Holdings S.A. and Unibanco to a non-financial holding, IU Participacoes, that will control BIHF, to be called Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. (Itau Unibanco Holding).

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Banco Itau Holding Financeira S.A. Conference Call Rescheduled

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:20:00 GMT

Banco Itau Holding Financeira S.A. wishes to advise that the conference call scheduled for November 5, 2008, was moved forward to November 4, 2008, due to the association between Itau and Unibanco .[More...]

Conference Call: Itau and Unibanco Joint Venture

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:40:00 GMT

Itau Unibanco Holding is pleased to invite you to participate in its conference call about the joint venture between Itau and Unibanco .[More...]

Reminder - Register Your Company Now for the 2009 IR Global Rankings

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:48:00 GMT

NEW YORK, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- MZ Consult NY (http://www.mz-ir.com/), a leading global investor relations and financial communications firm, announces that the registration period for the 11th annual edition of the IR Global Rankings and Awards ("IRGR") is open to all companies across the world.
This event, supported by KPMG, Arnold & Porter, The Bank of New York Mellon, Corporate Asia Network, Bloomberg and NYSE Euronext is a unique external review of any company's communication process with the capital markets.
TO REGISTER, please visit the website http://www.irglobalrankings.com/ , or type IRGR into your Bloomberg terminal.

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COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT - UNIBANCO

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:48:00 GMT

In regard to the press article "VCP quer 'limpar' balanco da Aracruz" published in Valor Economico newspaper, October 21, 2008 edition, Caderno Eu&Investimentos , Unibanco - Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros S.A. informs that it did not enter into any derivative transaction with Aracruz, including those transactions known as "target forward". Market should disregard such erroneously published information. Unibanco's investor relations area is available for any further clarification. This note has been filed with Bovespa, Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios, Securities and Exchange Commission and posted on our investor relations website.[More...]

Unibanco Announces Consolidated Financial Results for 2Q08

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:41:00 GMT

Unibanco .[More...]