Harman International Industries Incorporated (HAR) is seeing significant growth opportunities in Asian markets, particularly China and India. President, Chairman and CEO Dinesh C Paliwal recently stated that the company expects its earnings from China to exceed $1 billion over the next five years. Revenue from India is expected to reach $250 million during the same time period.  Management also announced the opening of a new R&D center in the Huang Pu commercial district of Shanghai yesterday, which is expected to complement its existing manufacturing facilities in Suzhou and Shenzhen. We think this is an effective way of reducing costs, as R&D engineers typically command higher pay than manufacturing personnel. The company’s current workforce in China is approximately 1000.  Simultaneously, the company launched its latest generation, scalable automotive infotainment system, which has been designed over the past year in Asia, Europe and the US. The product will ...

Chrysler Group LLC. filed a lawsuit against its former parent Daimler AG (DAI) in a federal court in New York, charging it with having failed to honor supply contracts for parts essential for the production of key 2010 Chrysler vehicles.

Chrysler claimed that it would have to halt production of its 2010 model-year vehicles, Dodge Challenger, Charger, Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee models at its plants in Brampton, Ontario and Jefferson North in Detroit due to the disruption in the supply of components including steering columns and torque converters. The company will also have to idle workers and cease related orders from other suppliers.

The German automaker, Daimler believes that Chrysler’s claims have no merit. Daimler is willing to resolve the issues with Chrysler on new and modified supply agreements.

In 2007, Daimler had sold the wholly-owned Chrysler to a private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, retaining a 20% stake. However,

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Moody's Investors Service has downgraded its outlook on Paccar Inc. (PCAR) and its main financing arm to Negative from Stable, expecting the heavy truck maker to continue to face difficulties due to a slump in truck demand. The credit ratings agency has also affirmed its A1 long-term and Prime-1 short-term ratings for Paccar and the financing arm. A1 is an investment-grade rating four notches below the top triple-A rating. Obligations rated A by Moody’s are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk. Moody’s provides Prime-1 rating to taxable securities with maturity not exceeding thirteen months. Short-term ratings are based on the securities ability to honor short-term financial obligations. In the second quarter of 2009, Paccar had lost a penny per share, excluding a one-time tax gain. Net revenues slipped 55% driven by a significant fall in volumes on the back of a ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 13, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights Cisco Systems (CSCO) as the Bull of the Day and Sunoco (SUN) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Nissan (NSANY), Ford Motor (F) and Daimler AG (DAI).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Cisco Systems’ (CSCO) fourth quarter results were a significant improvement over prior quarters, with both revenue and earnings growing sequentially.

Of particular note is the growth in orders, which indicates a bottom for CSCO. Improving operating performance, solid financials, a sound restructuring policy and new growth initiatives are the drivers behind our Outperform rating.

However, we caution investors about the increasing competition, market share losses, complicated decision making process and integration

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Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, Paccar Inc. (PCAR) announced the delay in the commissioning of its diesel engine plant near Columbus, Mississippi. Paccar attributed the delay to adverse economic conditions that have impacted truck demand. The plant, which was scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2009, will now start production in late 2010.

Paccar is engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks. The company markets heavy-duty diesel trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF brands. The company's trucks are used for over the road and off the highway to haul freight, petroleum, wood products, construction and other materials. Paccar's upcoming plant in Mississippi will manufacture 12.9-liter and 9.2-liter diesel engines for Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF vehicles.

Back in 2007, Paccar had signed a contract with the state to provide 500 jobs at the Mississippi plant by 2013. According to the

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Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd (APWR) Aon Corp (AOC) The Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK) Blyth Inc (BTH) Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc (BBW) Callaway Golf Co (ELY) Cincinnati Financial Corp (CINF) Cleco Corp (CNL) CONMED Corp (CNMD) Daimler AG (DAI) Domtar Corp (UFS) DRI Corp (TBUS) Eastman Kodak Co (EK) EMS Technologies Inc (ELMG) Exelon Corp (EXC) Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) First State Bancorp NM (FSNM) FNB United Corp (FNBN) Gaiam Inc (GAIA) Gran Tierra Energy Inc (GTE) GreenHunter Energy Inc (GRH) Haverty Furniture Companies Inc (HVT) Independent Bank Corp (IBCP) Integra Bank Corp (IBNK) Investment Technology Group (ITG) ITT Corp (ITT) Kaman Corp (KAMN) Kelly ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

ABB Ltd (ABB) Actuant Corp (ATU) Allegheny Energy Inc (AYE) Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE) Blyth Inc (BTH) Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc (BBW) Cincinnati Financial Corp (CINF) Cleco Corp (CNL) CONMED Corp (CNMD) Dassault Systemes SA (DASTY) Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc (BAGL) Electronics For Imaging Inc (EFII) EMS Technologies Inc (ELMG) EnerSys (ENS) Eni SpA (E) Enstar Group Ltd (ESGR) Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) FNB United Corp (FNBN) Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc (FDP) The Hain Celestial Group Inc (HAIN) Harleysville Group Inc (HGIC) Hartford Financial Services (HIG) Haverty Furniture Companies Inc (HVT) Heritage Financial Corp (HFWA) I-Flow Corp (IFLO) Independent Bank Corp (IBCP) Investment Technology Group (ITG) ...

Daimler AG (DAI) aims to close down 2 plants at its Japanese truck unit Mitsubishi Fuso, resulting in a reduction of 2,300 positions.

Daimler stated that its Mitsubishi Fuso division would shut a bus production plant at Oye near Nagoya in Japan by mid-2010 and also close a truck plant near Bangkok in Thailand by the end of 2009.

The company also indicated that it would restructure its retail network in Japan to adjust capacity to a weakening market.

The above-mentioned jobs cuts at Mitsubishi Fuso would be carried out through voluntary leave, retirement, and other means.

Daimler also said that its overall fixed costs would be reduced by 25% as a result of its latest actions.

Meanwhile, Daimler, a Zacks #4 Rank ("Sell") company, dipped almost 5% today on low volume of 233,000, against the daily average of 829,000.

"DAI" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? ...

General Motors Corp. (GM) will be discontinuing the Pontiac brand by 2010. It is unknown how much this will cost GM as it discontinues contracts with dealers and they are now left with worthless products to sell. The Pontiac G6 will also be a victim, and it is one of GM's top-10 selling cars.Our review of Pontiac's product line from the San Diego Auto Show is below:PONTIAC (G6, G3, Vibe, G5, G8)(This company is owned by General Motors.) G6 - Sales are up 6% for this car with 21 MPG and 80% US content. There is 4/5 star safety and a price of $31-33K. The interior is sporty, but needs some improvement. Smog emissions are 30% above average. Models that should be consolidated - G3 with VibeModels that should be discontinued - G5.On balance, we do not disagree ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

American Oil & Gas Inc (AEZ) Baker Hughes Inc (BHI) The Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK) Callwave Inc (CALL) Capital Trust Inc (CT) Chunghwa Telecom Co Ltd (CHT) Concho Resources Inc (CXO) Daimler AG (DAI) DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc (DWA) Eaton Corp (ETN) Ensco International Inc (ESV) Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FFH) Hartford Financial Services (HIG) Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc (HE) JDA Software Group Inc (JDAS) Lennox International Inc (LII) Nordson Corp (NDSN) Northern Trust Corp (NTRS) Reliance Steel & Aluminum (RS) S&T Bancorp Inc (STBA) Teck Cominco Ltd (TCK) Teleflex Inc (TFX) Weingarten Realty Investors (WRI) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List.

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