Stocks Profile

GDP Slowing or Crashing?

Government shenanigans (read adjustments) are making it hard to tell if the economy is slowing or crashing. After clearing away all the man-made fog (or rather changes based on more accurate data), this beaten down old economy still appears to be coming to a stop in my humble view. Q2 2010 GDP was reported up 2.4%, still a marked deceleration in growth pace from Q1, especially after government adjustment.

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There will come a point in one’s life that borrowing some cash will seem like a very reasonable idea. It is indeed a reasonable idea, if you know how to do it wisely. Being a wise borrower is not an easy task as it requires practice and caution. However, you can start by being familiar with some terms.

Credit refers to your character and background as a borrower, and is built up by your borrowing history. It exists to inform others of your capability of keeping and paying quick cash loans. Full post…

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Itron (ITRI).  About two weeks ago, I wrote about Itron (ITRI) likely to Esco Tech (ESE) which sent the stock plummeting.  However, the selling didn’t last long and the shares recovered further after posting a .  Today, the stock ran out of steam as it was hit with not only a downgrade out of Macquarie from Neutral to Underperform, but according to , it appears they may have lost out on the BG&E smart meter deal to privately held Silver Spring Networks.

It isn’t a done deal, but apparently Maryland’s Public Service Commission revealed that BG&E is working with privately held Silver Spring Networks, not Itron.  An analyst at Deutsche Bank said that while Itron losing out on this deal is likely, it doesn’t impact their 2010 and 2011 estimates because they believed Itron only had a 30% chance in the first place.  They maintain their Buy rating due to significant opportunities in the EU market.

Shares of ITRI reversed at resistance of the 200 day moving average today and finished down about 7% on heavy volume.

According to a recent behavioral finance study, stock market traders who are hungry take substantially greater trading risks. Full post…