Yesterday, MeadWestvaco Corp. (MWV) executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a strategic alliance with Albemarle Corporation (ALB) to supply activated carbon products in the U.S. This alliance will serve the emerging mercury removal market for the coal-fired power industry. Unlike other U.S. activated carbon producers, which make their sorbents from coal or lignite, MeadWestvaco Specialty Chemicals manufactures its carbons from wood. The company produces high quality activated carbons for use in the some of the most challenging purification applications, such as the automotive industry. On the other hand, Albemarle is an established supplier of mercury control solutions and is the largest bromine producer in North America. Under the terms of this alliance, the two companies will jointly develop brominated wood-based activated carbons for use in mercury control. The company said that through a joint development program, both the companies have developed economical methods ...

Investors occasionally use a stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends,' which is the technique of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets.br /br /If you are interested in a href="http://stockerblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/buying-dividends-top-7-stocks-going-ex.html"buying dividends/a, there are many stocks in many different industries to choose from. In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks.br /br /All of the following stocks yield over 2%. br /br /Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) goes ex-dividend on 12/1/2008 . The stock has a yield of 6.55% .br /Callaway Golf Company (ELY) goes ex-dividend on 12/1/2008 . The ...