For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 6, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week’s analysis include B.P. Prudhoe Bay (BPT), Sabine Royalty Trust (SBR), Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Hershey (HSY) and Del Monte (DLM).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Dirk Van Dijk, CFA, Chief Equity Strategist for Zacks.com.   This week: Out-of-Step Industries

Sometimes the best investments come from a small group that seems to be bucking the trend of the much larger group that they are a part of. That appears to be the case for the Oil Royalty Trust group. There are eight names in this group, all of which sport Zacks #2 rankings. That puts them in a tie for 4th place among all industries tracked. Meanwhile, the Energy sector is well down the list overall sector rank list.

With royalty trusts, you get high dividends

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 14, 2009 - Zacks Research Equity Strategist, Dirk Van Dijk says that S&P 500 earnings are continuing to show red ink. He tracks companies on the Zacks.com web site, naming names, while forecasting trends for the months ahead.

Key Points from Van Dijk's Latest Earnings Assessment

Second-quarter total net income expected to be down 34.9% year over year Staples only sector expected to post positive growth in second quarter Seven sectors expected to decline more than 25% Financials expected to rebound after disastrous 2008 Early positive surprises lead disappointments by 7:1 margin Third quarter expected to be down 22.9% year over year Estimate cuts for 2009 again outnumber increases slightly Full year 2009 expected to fall 13.6%, ...

A recent study published by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) at the request of UN Food and Agriculture Organization and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), confirms the fears of many critics that land deals in Africa and Asia may in practice be little more than “neocolonialism”.

The report found that many countries do not have sufficient mechanisms to protect local rights and take account of local interests, livelihoods and welfare. A lack of transparency and of checks and balances in contract negotiations can promote deals that do not maximize the public interest. Insecure local land rights, inaccessible registration procedures, vaguely defined productive use requirements, legislative gaps and other factors too often undermine the position of local people.

Both The Economist and the Financial Times have weighed in on the issue, underlining the social and economic concerns such deals raise for local farmers, but

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