InvestorPlace

Apple Swallows App-Search Specialist Chomp

InvestorPlace Staff — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:31:09 +0000

Apple's purchase of app-search specialist Chomp, for a reported $50 million, is designed to make the App Store’s 550,000-plus apps easier to navigate.

Friday Apple Rumors: Report Shows iPhone, iPad Dominate in Mobile Ad Market

Anthony John Agnello — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:33:11 +0000

Apple's iPhone and iPad capture more mobile advertising impressions than RIM's BlackBerry and devices using Google's Android operating system, a report shows.

5 Retail Stocks Investors Should Keep on the Rack

Louis Navellier — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:00:40 +0000

Consumer sentiment is on the rise, but these stocks have been heading down over the past year.

Microsoft Puts: A Little Bet on a Big Move

Beth Gaston Moon — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:56:13 +0000

Microsoft put buyers dream big in the short term with a sizable (but cheap) bet.

Apple AGM Addresses Board Governance

Brad Moon — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:35:00 +0000

At its annual meeting on Thursday, Apple addressed board governance but disclosed nothing about new products, its labor issues, or a hoped-for dividend.

5 Auto Stocks Receiving Poor Grades

Louis Navellier — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:16:06 +0000

Find out which big name auto companies are receiving unsatisfactory grades.

24 Companies Increasing Dividends

Jim Woods — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:09:46 +0000

Abbott Laboratories, Allstate and Gap Inc. were among the top payout performers for the trading week of Feb. 20-24.

5 Great Early Spring Break Deals

Anthony John Agnello — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:00:48 +0000

Couples, college partiers and families alike can take advantage of a number of 2012's early spring break deals to log savings of 30% and more.

Groupon Stock: 3 Pros, 3 Cons

Tom Taulli — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:47:44 +0000

In a few years, Groupon has revolutionized the online local business market. But the company faces intense competition and continues to lose money.

Differing Put Strategies Hit Live Nation and BP

Chris McKhann — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:16:52 +0000

Live Nation puts are active in the option pits after earnings disappoint, and BP sees put sellers bet on support.

Gold Slides, Silver Up After Week of Gains

Andrew Burger — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:15:40 +0000

New-home sales and consumer confidence reached higher-than-expected levels in January.

Votizen: Facebook Meets American Elections

InvestorPlace Staff — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:45:21 +0000

Votizen is merging the worlds of registered voters and social media, and it recently got a round of financing powered by some celebrity investors.

Toasted Skin Syndrome Could Affect Luxury Drivers Everywhere

InvestorPlace Staff — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:40:05 +0000

Car seat butt warmers are the latest inconvenient conveniences to add to your list of First World problems.

Superb Cash-Flow Pick in Health Care

Richard Band — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:36:04 +0000

Managed health care company Wellpoint will be able to take advantage of Obama’s new health care law and offer investors growing dividends.

Will a GM-Peugeot Alliance Pay Off for Shareholders?

Jim Woods — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:21:53 +0000

A possible deal between General Motors and European automaker Peugeot could mean big savings for GM. And in the short term, GM could be a decent trade.

Google Advertising Vet May Lead Motorola

InvestorPlace Staff — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:19:29 +0000

Dennis Woodside, Google Inc. President of Americas operations, will become the CEO of Motorola Mobility according to reports.

DirectTV Owns the Airwaves

Lawrence Meyers — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:50:48 +0000

One of the best moves DirecTV (NYSE:DTV) made when hiring CEO Mike White a couple of years back was drawing him from the ranks of marketing. White was the grand poobah of marketing at Pepsi (NYSE:PEP). And in case you haven’t noticed, DirecTV’s marketing is more prevalent and more clever than the competition’s. That’s not [...]

4 Big Names That Are Too Hot to Handle

James Brumley — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:53:22 +0000

Apple, McDonald's, Coke and Visa have all been on a tear of late, and for mostly good reasons. But they just aren't likely to keep their pace.

Making a Case for JC Penney

Beth Gaston Moon — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:03:03 +0000

Here's why I want to root for the chain -- and why it just might be the little retailer that could.

4 Stocks to Watch on Dendreon Earnings

Serge Berger — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:50:37 +0000

Here's a look at how to trade Dendreon on Monday's earnings report, as well as similar smaller companies that tend to move when DNDN moves.

T-Mobile Looks for a Road to Survival

Cynthia Wilson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:34:31 +0000

No. 4 wireless carrier T-Mobile is revamping its network, open to carrying the iPhone, and perhaps grooming itself for another suitor.

Mattel Is Serious Fun for Investors

Gene Marcial — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:48:57 +0000

The No. 1 toymaker's stock keeps rolling -- and its dividend keeps rising -- as it continues to keep the hit toys coming in markets around the world.

Former Lehman CEO Dick Fuld May Never Trade Again

Jeff Reeves — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:48:44 +0000

Former Lehman Brothers CEO Dick Fuld can't find work on Wall Street after the financial crisis. Some say "good riddance!"

HP: Meg Whitman’s Tough Talk Is a Good Start

Jonathan Berr — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:30:35 +0000

Meg Whitman's blunt assessment of HP's woes -- financial, operational and strategic -- stung investors, but at least she's facing facts.

Sears Has Investors Looking Forward — and Buying

Beth Gaston Moon — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:00:57 +0000

Despite a poor earnings report, SHLD surged even higher Thursday on news of store sales and a spin-off

5 Popular Mutual Funds to Avoid

Tom Taulli — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:00:36 +0000

A number of mutual funds have earned their names over time, but they haven't passed the "what have you done for me lately" test.

Microsoft Jabs Google Over Business Products, Privacy Strategy

Brandy Betz — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:45:26 +0000

While Google grapples with PR problems, Microsoft goes on the attack, belittling Google's apps selection for business and its privacy policy plan.

4 Ways to Make Money on the Next Pullback

Tom Taulli — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:30:13 +0000

The market is looking overbought and due for a pullback. But there are still plenty of ways to make money when things go south. Consider these four trades.

Advocacy Group Still Urging FTC to Sue over Google’s Privacy Plan

Cynthia Wilson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:00:57 +0000

The Center for Digital Democracy is urging the FTC to sue Google to stop the rollout of its privacy plan, saying it would violate an earlier settlement.

High-Frequency Trading Is High-Tech Cheating

Jeff Reeves — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:00:01 +0000

This high-tech cheating is skimming by algorithm -- and it impairs liquidity and efficiency for actual human investors. Here's why it's time for the SEC to take on HFT.

A Dull Bull is Still a Bull

Sam Collins — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:23:45 +0000

Boring is bullish, and investors should buy on pullbacks.

Place Your Bid on eBay Stock Now

Sam Collins — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:34:37 +0000

eBay just confirmed a major breakout through a compound top that has taken a full year to form.

China: It’s the Year of the Draggin’

Jeff Reeves — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:15:40 +0000

Although China is often heralded as a land of untold growth, here are five good reasons investors should think twice about investing in Asia in 2012.

Amazon Launches Simple Workflow for Business

Brandy Betz — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:49:13 +0000

Amazon's latest cloud-based program, Simple Workflow, allows businesses to develop proprietary applications for billing, analytics, and other functions.

Sears, Angie’s List Spike — Thursday’s IP Market Recap

Kyle Woodley — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:47:26 +0000

Sears Holdings and Angie's List both posted quarterly losses Thursday, but other positive news sent their shares higher.

Walmart’s ‘Get on the Shelf’ Contest: Get Ready to Vote

InvestorPlace Staff — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:07:28 +0000

Walmart is getting into talent competition with the company’s “Get on the Shelf” contest which allowed anyone to submit video pitches for the next great product.

Symantec Still Struggling with pcAnywhere Vulnerabilities

Cynthia Wilson — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:28:36 +0000

Security research firm Rapid7 says it has identified additional vulnerabilities in Symantec's pcAnywhere software, a month after flaws were first exposed.

2 New Funds Target Thrill-Seeking Investors

Kyle Woodley — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:56:59 +0000

Invesco's two new PowerShares high-beta funds, launching Friday, tap the power of volatility -- for better or worse.

P&G Will Shed 5,700 Workers

InvestorPlace Staff — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:37:37 +0000

Many of the cuts, some 10% of the consumer-products giant's total workforce, will be in its huge marketing department.

Stock Talk: Buy Kellogg and Liberty Media, Sell Amazon

Jeff Reeves — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:41:12 +0000

Jeff Reeves regularly appears on Boston's WRKO radio with Barry Armstrong on "The Financial Exchange." Here he discusses Kellogg, Liberty Media and Amazon.

Vivus Soars on an Anti-Obesity Drug’s Likely Approval

InvestorPlace Staff — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:24:57 +0000

The recommendation to OK Vivus's Qnexa has the company's shares nearly doubling.

Why Amazon Should Wait to Release Its New Kindle Fire

Anthony John Agnello — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:15:39 +0000

Although a new Kindle Fire is reportedly in production, the current edition has good things going for it that Amazon has yet to fully exploit.

Man’s Childhood Comic Book Collection Sells for $3.5 Million

InvestorPlace Staff — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Billy Wright’s proclivity for comic books back in the 30’s and 40’s stacks up to $3.5 million at auction.

Obama’s Dividend Tax: More Fuel for Cyclical Stocks?

Michael A. Gayed — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:45:56 +0000

Any such move to hike taxes on dividends would likely make stocks with payouts less attractive compared to those that offer capital appreciation and growth.

How Do I Pick 401k Mutual Funds?

Jeff Reeves — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:34:01 +0000

Mutual funds and 401k investing is the primary way that most folks experience the stock market and plan for retirement. Here's how to make the most of your 401k.

Who’s Who in the Online Video Market

Brad Moon — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:29:28 +0000

We take a look at the big players -- and the hopefuls -- in the online video market.

Turkish Telecom on the Brink of a Big Move

Charles Sizemore — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:07:44 +0000

A power struggle over Turkey's Turkcell could be near an end. When it does, expect the company's dividend to resume, and the stock to soar.

5 Materials Stocks Not Making the Cut Despite Positive Gains

Louis Navellier — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:05:45 +0000

Basic materials stocks are making a comeback this year, but despite positive YTD returns in this sector, there are still some that end up on my sell list.

Thursday Apple Rumors: iPad 3, London Apple Store Will Debut Together, Sources Say

Anthony John Agnello — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:44:24 +0000

Speculation mounts that the iPad 3 and the Apple Store at Harrods in London will debut together, on March 7.

Big Blue Poised to Break Out

Tyler Craig — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:44:09 +0000

Traders confident that IBM will break out to another all-time high should consider making this call vertical spread play.