Month: April 2012

With the objective of further strengthening its operations in the emerging markets, Thermo Fisher Scientific ( TMO ) has opened a new demonstration laboratory and training center in Seoul, South Korea. The 1,800-square-foot facility will showcase the company’s portfolio of analytical instrumentation, software and consumables. […]

Foster Wheeler AG ( FWLT ) received the International Headquarters Award from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). The prestigious award was conferred to Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Foster Wheeler’s Global Engineering and Construction Group. […]

On Tuesday, The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. ( PNC ) has announced that it will redeem trust preferred securities (TruPS) further. These include redemption of 6.625% preferred securities worth $500 million issued by National City Capital Trust III […]

Two conflicting events placed BHP Billiton Ltd ( BHP ) on a delicate ground this week. On the positive, the company received funding approval for a spar facility project. […]

Tenet Healthcare Corporation ( THC ) has opted for a $42.75 million civil settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia and the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services in connection with over-billing of Medicare. The company was facing allegations that it admitted several Medicare patients to 25 of its inpatient rehabilitation facilities during May 2005–December 2007, even though the patients did not qualify for such treatment. […]

In order to combat the issue of spectrum limitation, Leap Wireless International Inc. ( LEAP ) recently entered into a strategic relationship with T-Mobile to swap their spectrum in major cities in the U.S. The deal will allow LEAP to access broad band spectrum in the Phoenix and Texas regions, while T-Mobile will gain wireless access to other major cities like Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. […]

The off-price apparel and home fashions retailer The TJX Companies Inc. ( TJX ) posted a 10% increase in comparable-store sales for the five-week period ended in March 31, 2012. […]

Apogee Enterprises Inc. ( APOG ) reported earnings of 11 cents per share for fiscal 2012 fourth quarter ending March 3. […]

We are maintaining our ‘Neutral’ recommendation on Gentiva Health Services Inc. ( GTIV ) as its strong market position, divestiture of low-margin business and growth from specialty programs are offset by a decline in cash balance as well as shareholders’ equity. Ratings downgrade and legal issues are the other downsides […]

In the first quarter of 2012, foreclosure activity has fallen to the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2007. This was reported by RealtyTrac, the leading online marketplace of foreclosure properties, while releasing its foreclosure market report. According to the report, foreclosure filings for the reported quarter dipped 2% from the prior quarter and 16% from the prior-year quarter, with a total of 572,928 properties receiving default, auction or repossession notices. […]

The HealthCare unit of Bayer ( BAYRY ) has updated the labels in the US for the oral contraceptives in its portfolio which contain drospirenone following a directive from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, information from recent studies, which evaluated the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE or blood clots) in women taking birth control pills containing drospirenone, is available on the drug labels. The oral contraceptives containing drospirenone in Bayer’s product portfolio include drugs such as Yaz, Yasmin, Beyaz and Safyral. […]

Costco Wholesale Corporation ( COST ) continues to be a dominant retail wholesaler based on the breadth and quality of merchandises it offers. The company’s strategy to sell products at heavily discounted prices has helped it to remain on a positive growth track amid beleaguered economic conditions as budget-conscious customers continue to see it as a viable option for low-cost necessities. Having delivered comparable-store sales growth consistently, Costco is well positioned in the warehouse club industry […]

Apple Inc. ( AAPL ) and five frontline book publishers were recently sued by the Department of Justice (DOJ), for conspiring and manipulating e-book prices. […]