Market Insight

Markets rarely move at random. InvestorPlace’s leading analysts break down macro trends, sector dynamics, and recurring market patterns to help investors understand what is changing, what matters most, and where opportunities may emerge.

September Consumer Confidence at Recessionary Levels

By ETFguide
September consumer confidence dropped to 48.5 from a lower revised 53.2 in August, coming in below analyst expectations, and stocks dipped sharply.

Borders, Toys “R” Us Use Pop Up Stores to Spur Holiday Sales

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
This year will see a number of major national retail chains opening up their own seasonal stores, thus bringing on significantly more temporary employees than are typically hired for the holiday shopping season.

Can Sony Retake Portable Games Market?

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
Sony hopes to retake portable games market with the PSP2, but its biggest challenge will be competing with Apple's iPod Touch and iPhone.

6 Ways to Cash in on Midterm Elections

By Neil George
Forget debating the (de)merits of the government's spending spree and start focusing on the best ways to profit from it.

Family Dollar Stores (FDO) EPS Up 30% in Quarter

By InvestorPlace Staff
Family Dollar Stores (FDO) said its earnings per share climbed 30% and same-store sales rose 6.1% in its most recent quarter. It plans a $750 million stock buyback.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) Devices Now Have Access to Google Voice App

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
Google gets around to releasing their official Google Voice app for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Goldman Sachs says that the 7-inch iPad isn't coming any time soon, but a new iPad is in the cards for early 2011. Finally, Apple releases an update for their Remote app that brings support to the iPad and new Apple TV.

China Unicom Blows Out iPhones, Still Issues $1.84 Billion in Debt

By Paul Ausick
China Unicom Ltd. (NYSE: CHU) just completed a hugely successful launch of the iPhone 4 from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). The company reportedly took pre-orders for 200,000 of the phones and sold out, or nearly so, 60,000 units on the first weekend of sales.

Walgreen Posts Sales, Earnings Gains

By Paul Ausick
Walgreen reported revenue and earnings gains for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2010, citing cost controls as a factor.

McDonald’s Pros and Cons – Is the Stock a Buy at New Highs?

By InvestorPlace Staff
McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) is one of the most recognizable brands in the world and a longtime component of the Dow Jones stock market index. But with a market cap of about $80 billion, this blue chip firm’s reach is as much of a turn-off to investors as a reason to buy into McDonald’s stock. After all, how much bigger can MCD get, and how much faster can it grow?

Peet’s to Raise Coffee Prices

By InvestorPlace Staff
Peet's Coffee & Tea is raising its drink and bean prices, following Starbucks' moves.

Conoco Sheds More Lukoil Shares

By Paul Ausick
Back in March, ConocoPhillips Corp. (NYSE: COP) revealed a plan to increase shareholder value by selling assets, reducing debt, getting a better return on capital, increasing dividends, and buying back more shares. The company faced serious problems in each of these areas.

Demand Outpacing Supply for iPhone 4 in China

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
In January, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: APPL) announced the iPad, a 9.7-inch tablet computer that Jobs claimed would transform the portable computer market. When the tablet launched in April, it was impossible to buy the device at a retail outlet or even online.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) News – Google and iAd Tie for Mobile Market Share

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
While Google and Apple continue their strong partnership on AAPL devices, Apple is taking away serious revenue from the technology company in other sectors. A new report says that iAd, Apple's recently launched mobile advertising platform, will be neck and neck with Google's mobile advertising business by the end of the year.

Target Comes to a Metropolis Near You

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
The new Target at the East Harlem Mall may have put bonafide big box retail on the island, but the store itself is indistinguishable from your average target.

No Frills, Just Thrills for Air Tran at Southwest Offer

By Paul Ausick
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has made an offer to buy competitor AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) for about $1.4 billion in cash and Southwest stock. If the deal goes through, Southwest will solidify its position as the leading regional airline in the US.

Why Bank Stocks Are Such a Drag

By Anthony Mirhaydari, InvestorPlace Market Strategist
Bank stocks in general and regional bank stocks in particular are dragging down the broader market due to weak loan growth and other factors.

All Signs Point to Sell-off

By Chris Vermeulen
Barring a big surprise, the charts are saying the market is due for a correction.

Oracle’s REAL Buyout Targets

By Michael Murphy, Editor of New World Investor
As Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) held its annual meeting this week, CEO Larry Ellison said: “You’re going to see us buying chip companies.” He added that now that Oracle is in the hardware business through its acquisition of Sun Microsystems, he wants to follow the model of his friend and Apple CEO Steve Jobs to own more of the intellectual property in the computer chips Oracle will be using.

Apple (AAPL) Rumors – 99-Cent TV Downloads Panned

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
Apple's new 99-cent TV show rentals may be short-lived. More TV studios are coming out against the pricing.
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