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.

Target (TGT) to Sell Facebook Gift Cards

Facebook IPO rumors continue to rumble. But with the announcement by Target (NYSE: TGT) that it will begin selling Facebook Credits in gift-card form to shoppers starting Sept. 5, it appears that Facebook is looking hard at unique ways to increase its cash flow and profitability. That’s probably in part due to Facebook IPO hopes and a desire for new revenue streams.

Samsung Tablet PC to Take On iPad, Sony Challenges Amazon Kindle

When Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced on Tuesday that they would begin offering their Kindle e-reader through Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) retail chains in addition to Target (NYSE: TGT), it was just the latest piece of good news for the company. A few months ago, investors were being told that the tablet PC market was about to make e-readers obsolete.

Amazon (AMZN) Streaming Service Heats Up Online Video Race

Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) is launching their own streaming video service, according to reports this week. And in other news, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: APPL) is strengthening their ties to the current champion of home video delivery Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) in a new partnership.

Halo Sales Hold Long Reach Over Microsoft and Gaming Industry

Halo Reach sales start in less than two weeks, and investors and video game junkies alike are watching closely. That’s because this Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Xbox title is one of the most popular franchises in history and video game sales for Halo Reach could be off the chart again. That would be a bright spot in an otherwise dark outlook for video game sales in 2010.

Stocks Vulnerable to Selling in September

U.S. stocks closed out August with the Dow Industrials dropping more than 4% on the month. If the economic numbers continue to indicate a possible double-dip recession however, stocks are likely to fall by a much greater amount in September.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) iTV Partners with Netflix, ABC and Fox Also Join Up

There's a trifecta of Apple TV items today, with a report that claims Netflix will be partnering with Apple to offer instant streaming video on the new Apple TV. Speaking of the rumored iTV, it looks like the service and iTunes will be getting their 99 cent TV show rentals after all. Finally, a new Apple survey lets the cat out of the bag concerning instant video streaming through iTunes.

Burger King (BKC) Searching for Buyout

The world's second-largest fast food chain, Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) is apparently beating the private equity bushes for a buyout firm. The reports have sent Burger King shares up more than 13% in early trading.

Hong Kong Shows China Stocks Still Booming

Hong Kong is all about trade and finance -- the value of goods and services trade is about four times GDP due to the huge amount of re-exports as Chinese companies ship to the port city, from which goods then leave for the rest of the world.

Netflix (NFLX) Pros and Cons – Can the Online Movie Stock Go Any Higher?

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) has become synonymous with how we watch movies at home. The Netflix business model of delivering movie content to users via mail, and now also via streaming Internet, has literally revolutionized the way we watch movies.

Summer Movie Sales Slump Hurts Hollywood

Summer box-office revenue rose +2.4% to a record $4.35 billion in the U.S. and Canada as higher prices more than made up for the lower attendance, according to Hollywood.com Box Office estimates. The average ticket price is expected to have increased +5.1%to $7.88 from $7.50 last year, the largest overall gain since the +6.3% increase in 2000.

Amazon Kindle Hits Staples, Other Retailers

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) refuses to let their e-reader, the Kindle, suffer in the face of rising tablet computer sales. The online bookseller has spent the summer of 2010 waging an aggressive campaign to boost both sales and interest in their portable device.

Electric Car Sales May See Dim Future

Nissan Motors (PINK: NSANY) is expected to begin taking orders tomorrow on its new Leaf, the electric vehicle that aims its price-point to everyday consumers. The Nissan Leaf price should run $28,000 to $35,000 for a well-equipped C-class version of the electric vehicle.

Nintendo (NTDOY) Drops Hardware Prices to Pave Way for 3DS

Since its release in November of 2004, Nintendo (PINK: NTDOY) and its portable handheld the DS has seen three hardware revisions, and has sold 132.04 million units worldwide. That makes the Nintendo DS the second-best selling gaming console in the history of the video game industry.

Are Ag Stocks and Agribusiness Stocks Taking a Breather?

When BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE:BHP) made its $38.6 billion offer for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. (NYSE: POT) recently at the same time wheat prices hit new highs, agribusiness and ag stocks got a lot of attention. Unfortunately, not all ag stocks got a price boost and not all are looking up.

Death of the P/E Ratio is Greatly Exaggerated

The Wall Street Journal has a rather unusual column today claiming that the Price/Earnings Ratio is not only declining, but the metric’s importance is declining as well. For supporting evidence, they offer up the fact that corporate earnings were strong this past earnings season but the stock market has since fallen.

CVS Offers Free Flu Shot with $30 Puchase

Available at every CVS pharmacy and MinuteClinic stores, the flu shots will be provided at no charge to consumers who buy $30 worth of products from Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) such as Bounty paper towels, Pampers diapers and Tide laundry detergent.

Dollar General (DG) Improved Outlook Still Lower Than Expected

Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) reported earnings today, proving again that low-price retail stores continue to have their day in the sun. Dollar General’s second fiscal quarter earnings were $0.41 on revenue of $3.21 billion. Excluding a one time charge of $6.4 million, the company posted EPS of $0.42. Analysts on average expected EPS of $0.38 on revenue of $3.22 billion.

J.Crew (JCG) Opens Online ‘Outlet’ to Boost Sales

J.Crew (NYSE: JCG) is capitalizing on the trend of online shopping with a new concept of an online outlet store that will launch in September. The bid from retail stock J.Crew is meant to attract bargain shoppers in an economy characterized by weak consumer spending.

Google (GOOG) Launches Gmail Priority Inbox

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) will begin offering a new feature this week the company calls "Priority Inbox.” The inbox will automatically predict which incoming emails are more likely to be read and therefore important, over mail from senders that are likely to get ignored.