Federated High-Income Bond A (FHIIX) was incepted in November 1977. The investment seeks high current income.

The fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of high-yield, lower-rated corporate bonds (also known as junk bonds). As of March 2009, its portfolio turnover was 19%.

Mark E. Durbiano has managed the fund since January 1987. The fund has topped the total returns of its benchmark index in the last 1-, 3- and 5-year periods.

Federated Prudent Bear A (BEARX) seeks capital appreciation. The fund is designed to help investors benefit from a declining stock market.

Using a “bottom-up meets top-down" investment approach, the fund tries to achieve its goal through a combination of short sales of equity securities, market indices and futures as well as put options and long positions in stocks of gold and precious metals and mining companies.

Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL), Ecolab Inc. (ECL)

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Highlights include The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX), Saks Inc. (SKS), Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).Intial claims for unemployment fell 12,000 to 631,000. The four-week moving average dropped a slight 3,500 to 628,500. The four-week average is a key indicator at turning points in the economy -- when it peaks out it usually means that the official recession is over. We had started to see it decline, but then it reversed last week, and this week's very small decline is somewhat encouraging, but not very decisive. Looks like we will have to watch it closely for another few weeks.A year ago, initial claims were at 374,000 and we were losing jobs at that point, so this small drop we have seen does not indicate the employment picture is improving. Continuing claims continued to rise, up 75,000 this week to 6.66 ...

Highlights include Avon Products, Inc. (AVP), Colgate Palmolive Co. (CL), Kimberly-Clark Corp. (KMB), The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (PBG) and The Proctor & Gamble Co. (PG).Despite the S&P 500 rallying 27.9% from the low close on March 9th, the market is still down 44.7% from the closing high on October 9, 2007. The global economic slowdown is negatively impacting the earnings and cash flow of many companies. However, some companies still have strong cash flow, and their Boards are sufficiently confident in the future to raise dividends.An announcement concerning an increased dividend in the current environment has positive implications for both the company's equity and bonds. In the Consumer Staples sector, five companies have announced an increase in the quarterly dividend in the last three months.On February 3, Avon Products, Inc. (AVP) announced a 5% increase in ...

Highlights include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) and Colgate Palmolive Co. (CL). This morning we got some more good news with respect to what 1Q GDP growth will be. The trade deficit has continued its dramatic improvement. Granted, it is improving for the wrong reason -- falling imports rather than rising exports -- although exports did tick up a bit in February.It was not long ago that we were importing more than $60 billion a month, than we exported, month in and month out.  By January that had dropped to $36.2 billion, and in February it fell to just $26.0 billion. That is the smallest trade deficit since 1999.The $10.2 billion improvement was due to a $8.2 billion drop in imports and a $2.0 billion increase in exports. While much of the recent improvement in the trade ...

American Italian Pasta Company (AIPC) continues to head higher on more impressive earnings results. The company's share price has been in rally mode for most of the last three months, bottoming out in late November just below $13. Since then this Zacks #1 rank stock has topped off above $33, where some resistance has developed. The longer-term trend that has been supporting prices for the last few months is still in play, take a look below.

Colgate Palmolive Co. (CL) shares are now approaching a 5-month level of support as the company's earnings outlook remains optimistic. Shares of CL have been trading between $68 and $55 for most of the last 5 months, having recently dropped back to the bottom portion of the channel. Take a look at the chart below.

Zacks Investment Research

Is Washington replacing New York – and more specifically, Wall Street – as the city that drives America?

The question, raised in a new Reuters piece, is certainly a good one – and a fair one.

As the United States suffers through perhaps its worst financial crisis ever – a crisis caused by the combination of rampant greed and some ill-conceived financial engineering – Wall Street’s reputation has been badly tarnished, perhaps forever.

Moving forward, two results will be a tightening of financial regulation and an increase in government control of the financial markets. We’ll also end up with a federal government that more closely controls – and in some cases owns stakes in – banks and other financial institutions, a move that some regard as de facto nationalization.

Like a super hero arriving to save the day, in steps Washington, “home to a popular president and a Congress

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Colgate Palmolive Co. (CL) rose nearly 3% to break a short-term level of resistance at $63.74 today. Colgate Palmolive is a Zacks#3 Rank (“Hold”) stock.

"CL" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?Zacks Investment Research

Colgate-Palmolive Co.'s (CL) share price recently broke above a key level of resistance and has firmly planted itself in higher territory. The recent surge comes after the company reported strong second-quarter results on July 29.

Revenue jumped 16% to $3.96 billion. Net income totaled $493.8 million, up from $415.8 million last year. This produced earnings of 98 cents per share, ahead of analyst estimates of 94 cents per share.

Colgate said that it raised its prices by 4.5%, the largest increase in more than 10 years, without experiencing a slowdown in either sales or income.

Colgate also reported strong international sales and a bullish earnings forecast into 2009.

Four Consecutive Beats This is the fourth time in four quarters that Colgate has been able to surprise and beat analyst estimates, having done so by an average of 2 cents, or 2.49%.

Estimates Rising

The current-year estimate

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Colgate Palmolive Co. (CL) shares are holding their ground in higher territory in a very challenging environment. After testing the 26-week high earlier in the month, this stock has temporarily pulled back and is taking a breather just below this key level. Shares are also trading in a fairy tight range, oscillating between $74 and $78 for most of the last month. There is a short-term support level above the $74 area, take a look at the chart below.

Snap On, Inc. (SNA) shares have also been holding their gains, trading in a range between $55 and $60 for most of August. The 52-week and all-time high is close at hand, just above $62. Analysts are bullish on the company, with the next-year estimate pegged at $4.60 per share, a 12 earnings growth projection. Take a look at the chart.

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Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL) has had a stellar long-term growth record. The company’s tight financial controls and history of new product innovations coupled with efforts to enhance shareholder value through share repurchases and dividend increases support a positive long-term view on the stock. However, rising raw material/fuel costs and the costs related to the implementation of the restructuring plan remain concerns.

Colgate-Palmolive stock has traded in a P/E multiple range of 18 to 27 over the last four years. However, during the last time of earnings de-acceleration and a corporate restructuring in the mid-1990s, Colgate’s stock traded at a P/E in the low 20 s. The stock is currently trading at a P/E multiple of 20.8, which is in the middle quartiles of the historical range. Positive earning surprises along with savings from the company’s restructuring and business-building plan should support future growth.

In addition, the company remains the clear

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