Back in April I talked up Cash America International (NYSE:CSH) because with the market on edge and American's strapped for cash, it just made sense. America's largest pawn shop and payday loan service is on fire today after raising Q2 estimates.  There's no reason why the trend can't continue. This stock was a defensive play in April and still is in July.  Shares of CSH are up 15% today after raising their Q2 08 earnings outlook above analyst estimates on higher revenue from its pawn business and lower-than-anticipated ...

I'm in China right now. Every time I return, I am amazed at how drastically the skyline has changed. The pace of construction here is dazzling. In fact, I've seen estimates that as many as 75% of the world's construction cranes are in China. What were empty lots now contain office towers and condominium complexes so tall that you can't see the top of the buildings through the smog. The quaint hutongs, or traditional residential lanes and small streets that originated during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), have been razed and replaced with shopping malls. The reason for the juggernaut growth is simple: China Is Experiencing the Largest Human Migration in the History of Mankind Reminiscent of other industrial revolutions around the world, a massive tidal wave of working class Chinese from ...

On Friday, Dow Chemical (DOW) CEO Andrew Liveris said Dow uses how much of the U.S.’ electricity to make its products?

Liveris estimates Dow uses about one percent of the U.S.’s electricity to make its products, which become components of other consumers goods, and the equivalent of about one million barrels of oil a day.

Dow scores within the middle of the pack on each of the models I use - so really nothing much to say about it either way.

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Only 6% remains of S&P500 companies to post Q1 earnings. Actually earnings fell by -17,5% against estimated growth +5,7% (data provided by Thomson on 1st Jan 08). Huge "contribution" had financials sector. Compared to Q1 2007 financials posted $142 bln less and finished quarter in loss of $28 bln.Q1 started badly by General Electric (GE) which didn't provide bright outlook for other earnings. Nevertheless it wasn't so bad quarter. If two sectors (the best - energy; the worst - financials) are taken out earnings actually grew by 2,9%. That's not so far from optimistic January estimates.Estimation for Q2 2008 are currently set negative -5,4%.http://stockweb.blogspot.com/atom.xml

I believe in my earnings preview my exact quote was “I don’t own enough of this Chinese rocket ship”. Let me reiterate… I don’t own enough.

Sohu.com (SOHU) crushed estimates… $0.55 actual vs $0.37 estimate, and yet another guidance boost to boot (obviously). All the growth drivers continue to look rosy, and the gaming side of the business is simply growing exponential. My only fear has been some sort of slowdown post Olympics, but I suppose that is a matter for another day. I began this position in early February [Feb 5: Initiating Sohu.com "Starter" Position] near $46. Obviously with the stock now north of $71 (+54% in under 3 months), I (repeat all together) don’t own enough. At the time I wrote:…