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.

Why Britain and Japan Are Worse Off than U.S.

By Ivan Martchev, InvestorPlace Contributor
While most economic commentary is centered on the U.S. as the biggest Western market – and because most investors are U.S.-based and they would like guidance on how to avoid this mess – it’s worth noting that Britain and Japan are actually in far worse economic condition.

The Top 7 Big Pharma Buyouts of 2010

By InvestorPlace Staff
After the stock market’s gut-wrenching dive in late 2008 and the beginning of 2009, some of the first signs of life we saw were in the pharmaceutical sector in the form of acquisitions, mergers and buyouts.

Price Targets for 8 Famous Smartphone Stocks

By Burke Speaker, Investorplace Writer
Most of the smartphone stocks listed here – covering manufacturers as well as telecom providers – are below their consensus price estimate and offer decent buying opportunities for investors.

Walgreen (WAG) to Offer Flu Vaccine Gift Cards This Fall

By InvestorPlace Staff
Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) has announced that it will begin selling gift cards for flu shots.

Toyota (TM) Posts Strong Earnings, Raises Forecast

By Paul Ausick
For its first fiscal quarter of 2011, Toyota reported earnings of 190.47 billion yen ($2.2 billion), compared with a loss in the same period a year ago of -77.8 billion yen.

After 107 years, Harley plant may hit the road

By Jeff Reeves
The plant that cranks out Harley’s choppers in Milwaukee may finally be at its breaking point after over a century, with labor costs threatening to shutter the facility and end 107 years of tradition.

New Car Sales Fall in China

By Paul Ausick
The heart-stopping sales growth for new cars in China couldn't last forever, and apparently it hasn't. For some automakers sales are still growing, but more slowly than before, and for others, sales are declining. BYD Co. Ltd., of which Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns 10%, made just 36% of its full-year sales target of 800,000 cars in the first six months of 2010.

Apple & HP Supplier SiGe Set for 2010 IPO

By Wayne Faulkner
The recession has put a damper on companies seeking initial public offerings, or IPOs. Earlier this month, Bloomberg News said about 90 companies filed for IPOs in the second quarter of 2010, but 50 of the IPO offerings had been shelved.

Market Nervously Awaits Friday’s Jobs Report

By Louis Navellier, Editor, Growth Investor
Companies are awash with cash because of this political and economic uncertainty. For now, companies seem to be using their excess cash to refinance their existing debt and raise dividends before higher tax rates on dividends go into effect. If the 2003 tax cuts expire in 2011, taxes on dividends could soar from today's 15% to 39.6% next year, even though President Obama has implied that dividend tax rates should match long-term capital gains rates, at 20%. Many corporations are also taking advantage of low interest rates to lower their interest costs by refinancing existing debt.

Should We Fear the Coming Correction in Gold?

By Ivan Martchev, InvestorPlace Contributor
Gold is known for having lackluster summers. Still, we have not yet had a down year in the bull market that started in 2001 and one of these years we may have a down year -- and still be in a bull market. I still think we are going in the neighborhood of $4,000 on bullion, but not in a straight line!

Earnings Improve for Health Care Providers Humana and HealthSouth

By Paul Ausick
Health care providers Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and HealthSouth Corp. (NYSE: HLS) both posted earnings today that topped Wall Street expectations.

Amazon Kindle Sells Out – Again

By InvestorPlace Staff
The latest proof of the Kindle’s success comes today, with word that Amazon has sold out of its newly re-priced and slimmed down Kindle.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) News – News Corp Launches News App

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
The big news for Apple today is news itself, with word that News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS) is developing a brand new news service for Apple's iPad.

Why Holding Cash is a Bad Idea

By Louis Navellier, Editor, Growth Investor
Standard & Poor's reported this week that the non-financial companies in the S&P 500 have accumulated a record-high $837 billion in cash as of March 31, 2010, the latest quarterly accounting period available.

How to Cash in on Colombia

By Ivan Martchev, InvestorPlace Contributor
Colombia has seen accelerating growth between 2002 and 2007, like most South American commodity-oriented economies.

Stocks Aren’t the Only Assets Heading Higher

By Robert Hsu, InvestorPlace Contributor
Equity markets around the world have definitely seen their share of volatility. And as earnings season for Chinese companies heats up, we'll likely continue to see some significant ups and downs. But lately, there has been a decidedly bullish shift in investment sentiment towards Chinese companies.

Google Spent $1.1B on 22 Buyouts in 2010 – So Far

By Jeff Reeves
Despite what most folks would consider fairly lean times, Google has gone on a $1.1 billion shopping spree so far in 2010, buying up 22 companies.

HSBC Earnings Way Up as Bad Debts Way Down

By Paul Ausick
The earnings report from HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) came out very strong this morning. The UK-based bank reported first half profit before tax of $11.1 billion, up 121% from the first half of 2009.

Stock Market is Stronger Than it Looks

By Anthony Mirhaydari, InvestorPlace Market Strategist
According to the supply and demand measures maintained by Lowry Research, the price declines over the last few days have been the result of a decline in demand rather than a big increase in selling pressure. In other words, instead of a full frontal assault by the short sellers, stocks are falling because buyers decided to take a step back.
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