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Pandora (P) vs Apple (AAPL) 9.7.2012

This space is not anything new however…similar companies like Spotify, SoundCloud, Grooveshark, LastFM and many other services have been in this space for some time now too. While this competition formidable, is seems as though willing consumers around the world, who are already financially linked to iTunes, love anything that AAPL pumps out into their pocket.

This seems to be another effort by AAPL to further dominate the app tiles on your iPhone screen. Recently, a story broke that AAPL may drop GOOG maps and search capabilities on the iPhone.  This disintermediation effort may discourage developers in AAPL apps and smother entrepreneurs looking to break into the most popular device. This may further drive consumers and developers to other devices like Android; and as we know, where cutting edge apps are…consumers are so caveat emptor.

mark@keeneonthemarket.com

http://stocktwits.com/KeeneOnMarket

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Morning Rage 9.7.2012

Leading the market’s growth yesterday was Men’s Warehouse Inc. (MW) at 19% ending the day up about 6 points. After hours MW continued to grow another 0.5%. MW’s 52-week low and high is 24.50 and 40.97 respectively. The specialty retailer of men’s suits and tuxedo rentals products in the US and Canada began to lose value this year when it missed on a third earnings estimate in a row, dropping the stock 20 points in June 2012.  The CFO left in July. The stock then surged to a four month high after Q2 earnings results that were $0.06 cents higher than last year and $0.03 cents higher than estimates. Expect the stock to continue to rely on earnings for any movement.

Yesterday’s morning rage discussed Navistar International Corp (NAV | 23.97). The stock was one of the bigger movers yesterday, growing 17.44%. The stock moved on earnings Wednesday and yesterday seemed to connect to the new CEO’s statement to focus on returning to profitability while switching to different engines in order to meet EPA standards. Navistar’s expenditures have been high because of this switch, and they are expecting to report losses in the fourth quarter.

Look out for the employment situation report released by the labor department today at 8:30am EST. Employment situation is a set of labor market indicators based on household surveys. The prior level of unemployment and number of private payrolls were at 8.3% and 172k. The new levels are expected to sit around 8.3% and 134,000. 

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Market Recap 9.6.2012

The S&P 500 closed at session highs of 1432.10 for a gain of 2.04%.  The Nasdaq also closed at session highs up 2.17%.  The DJIA closed at a session high of up 244.52 points for a gain of 1.87%.

A huge day for equities across the board, with the S&P 500 logging its best day since January 2008.

James Ramelli UIUC graduate in Finance. Email: james@keeneonthemarket.com Follow: @Jim_KOTM 

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Trade of the Day (HALO) 9.6.2012

UPDATE 9.16.2012  With a nice rally higher, the October 5 Calls are worth $1.45, good for over 10% gains, but I am leaving them on as the chart looks strog.

UPDATE 9.21.2012  With the Stock moving up by over 28% today, these Calls went from $1.45 to $3.10 and good for 2.5 times my money.  I have NOT takin any profits off yet.

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Stocks Hit 4 Year Highs 9.6.2012

The S&P 500 is currently up around 1.91% with financials and materials leading the rally, the DOW is up 1.73%, and the Nasdaq is up over 2%.  The VIX has fallen to near 16.

JPMorgan and Bank of America are leading the rally in the Dow up 3.8% and 4.54% respectively.

James Ramelli UIUC graduate in Finance. Email:james@keeneonthemarket.com Follow: @Jim_KOTM

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Morning Rage 9.6.2012

The big story of the morning comes from Europe, as news from the European Central Bank drove the EUR/USD up higher 0.31%. Oil, Gold, and Silver futures all moved higher 1.09%, 0.95%, and 1.69% respectively. US indices futures are all up around 0.5%.

Navistar International Corp (NAV) moved 2% yesterday after a positive earnings report. Third quarter income was $84 million compared with last year’s 1.4 billion. Revenues in the third quarter were down 6 percent from the third quarter of 2011. The EPA issued a ruling on NCPs for highway diesel engines last week but NAV claims it is prepared with plans to transition to a new clean engine solution by 2013.

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) is said to reveal a new Kindle Fire product. An ad last night showed the new Kindle e-read and new Fire. Last week Amazon announced that it had sold out of the Kindle Fire. AMZN is sitting at 246.50.