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.

Yahoo, Amazon Expected to Beat Estimates

By Paul Ausick
After markets close today, Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) is expected to meet or beat the consensus EPS estimate of $0.14 and the revenue estimate of $1.16 billion. After Google Inc. (GOOG) reported lower-than-expected earnings on soft advertising rates, Yahoo, which depends on display ads for revenues, is expected to post solid profits even if revenues don't rise much.

Forget Inflation – Fed Fears a New Deflation Threat

By Louis Navellier, Editor, Growth Investor
The Labor Department announced on Thursday and Friday that June's Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.5% and 0.1%, respectively. Although lower food and energy prices are largely responsible, the CPI has now fallen three months in a row, making some FOMC members nervous.

China Growth ‘Slows’ to 10.3%

By Louis Navellier, Editor, Growth Investor
As the U.S. economy decelerates, China is increasingly becoming the primary economic engine driving the worldwide economy. China's second-quarter GDP grew at a 10.3% annual pace, down slightly from an 11.9% pace in the first quarter and reflecting a "soft landing" as Chinese inflation starts to moderate.

Playboy (PLA) Site Safe for Work

By Jeff Reeves
Playboy (PLA) launches TheSmokingJacket.com, a safe for work website -- but can it turn around the failing media company?

Railroad Stock Price Targets Indicate Big Upside for Sector

By Burke Speaker, Investorplace Writer
Railroad stocks and rail operators are seen as indicators for the broader economy, since more freight moves across America via freight trains as consumers buy more and businesses ship more. Leading railroad stocks include Union Pacific (UNP), CSX Corp. (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC), but smaller rail operators are affected similarly.

Harley-Davidson (HOG) Roars Back

By Paul Ausick
Since January, Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG) shares have shifted from second gear to third gear and back again. The company reported a sales decline of about 80,000 bikes in 2009 compared with 2008, from 303,000 to 223,000. Forecast sales for 2010 were even lower, in a range of 201,000-212,000.

June Video Game Sales Slump Again

By Anthony John Agnello, Consumer and Technology Writer
Just a few short weeks ago, the May reporting period from NPD Group painted a rather unhappy portrait of the videogame market in North America and stocks like Activision (ATVI) and Electronic Arts (ERTS). Total sales were down by 20% for the same period in 2009, with major players in the game software publishing business Activision, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and others failing to make significant impressions on sales charts.

In-N-Out Burger Can Teach Fast Food Stocks a Lesson (MCD, BKC, WEN, YUM)

By Jeff Reeves
Fast-food heavyweights such as McDonald's (MCD), Burger King (BKC), Wendy's/Arby's Group (WEN) and Yum! Brands (YUM) stores Taco Bell and KFC have long made a practice of juicing earnings and sales with short-term promotions. But these restaurant stocks could learn a thing or two from In-N-Out Burger, a privately held West Coast fast-food chain with a rabid and almost cult-like following.

Did U.S. Wrongly Close Auto Dealers?

By Jeff Reeves
Did Uncle Sam hurt American workers by forcing the closure of auto dealerships at GM and Chrysler as part of their 2009 bankruptcies and bailouts?

Delta Profits Hit 10-year High, But Not Good Enough

By Paul Ausick
Delta's miss on revenue is probably costing it more than its earnings beat is paying off.

Finding Safety in Asian Bonds

By Richard Band
When the currency drops, so does the price of the country's bonds for a dollar-based buyer. That makes Asian bond funds a good low-risk play now.

Why Financial SPDR ETF Is a Buy – Bank Earnings Better Than You Think

By Anthony Mirhaydari, InvestorPlace Market Strategist
Mega banks JPMorgan (JPM), Citigroup (C), and Bank of America (BAC) have all reported better than expected earnings results -- only to be knocked to the ground by unimpressed investors. But here are the reasons the XLF ETF is a buy.

3 Stocks Boosting Dividend Yields – PG, PPG, CMI

By Wayne Faulkner
These high yield dividend stocks have increased their dividends in the last week: Procter and Gamble (PG), PPG and Cummins (CMI).

General Growth Offers Notes on its Way Out of Bankruptcy

By Paul Ausick
Real estate investment trust General Growth Properties, Inc. (GGP) filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization proposal earlier this week that it claims will improve its balance sheet and "substantially" reduce its debt.

KKR IPO Expected to Yield $1.9 Billion

By Wayne Faulkner
Private equity firm KKR (KKR) makes another try at an IPO, offering nearly 205 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange that it expects to yield $1.9 billion. The firm, parent of the original leveraged buyout king Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, said it may come back to raise another half billion.

RealD Goes Public on Nasdaq

By Wayne Faulkner
RealD (RLD), the licenser of 3-D technology to motion picture exhibitors, is ready to take on a new dimension as a public company, with its IPO on Nasdaq set for this week.

iPad and Similar Tablets May Replace Laptops

By Paul Ausick
Goldman saved the day issuing a report on the future of the iPad and other tablet devices among corporate buyers. The implications of Goldman's study could affect tech giants like Intel Corp. (INTC), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ), and Dell Inc. (DELL).

Toyota’s (TM) Road to Redemption

By Paul Ausick
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration received more than 3,000 complaints of sudden acceleration in several models produced by Toyota Motors (TM). Of the reported problems, 75 resulted in fatal accidents and claimed 93 lives. Toyota recalled more than 8 million cars world-wide to fix the interfering floor mats and sticking accelerator pedals that are believed to be responsible for the complaints.

Is a Bigger Trade Gap All Bad News?

By Paul Ausick
The gap between U.S. exports and imports grew more than expected in May, to $42.27 billion, up 4.8% from the revised April gap of $40.29 billion. That's the highest trade deficit in 18 months, and represents higher levels of imports from China.
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