TODAY: Markelov murder suspect reportedly confesses; vengeance a possible motive?  Activist abducted in Moscow.  Spy chief issues warning on Georgia; Lavrov surprised at Poland soliciting US help.  Medvedev reserves army use for emergencies. Luzhkov lays into Abramovich; new vodka pricing; toy story. The Moscow Times reports that revenge may be the motive behind the shooting of human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov.  Apparently the alleged gunman Nikita Tikhonov may have been a suspect in the stabbing of anti-fascist activist Alexander Ryukhin in 2006, whose mother Markelov was a lawyer for.  The other suspect, Eugenia Khasis, 24, appears to have no prior convictions.  Apparently the killer has confessed - the Other Russia reporting it to be ...

Today's POLITICUS in the New York Times tries to fathom the extent to which NATO and the Western powers really trust Russia to cooperate in putting pressure on Iran, regarding its nuclear programme.  Whilst certain recent moves by the West suggest an element of confidence in the Kremlin's good nature, such as the Mistral deal, and, depending on who you read, the scrapping of the missile defence scheme, others imply a latent distrust.  How much trust do -- or should -- the Western allies accord Russia in attempting to get its cooperation to stop Iran's drive for nuclear weapons?And while good faith is the issue, what practical Western steps or accommodations are understood in NATO Brussels' home-office line that the allies owe Moscow recognition of its "security interests"? ...

Magellan Health Services Inc. (MGLN) reported third quarter results last Friday. The company posted a 31.9% growth in net income to $31.0 million or 88 cents per share, compared to $23.5 million or 58 cents per share in the year-ago period, and easily surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 21 cents. The strong result was primarily driven by the acquisition of First Health coupled with the solid performance of the Specialty Pharmacy segment. Magellan Health offers managed behavioral healthcare, radiology benefits management and pharmaceutical management services to health plans, insurance companies, corporations, labor unions and various governmental agencies in the U.S. During July this year, the company completed the acquisition of First Health Services Corp., a subsidiary of Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH). First Health provides pharmacy benefits administration, health care management and IT services to state Medicaid programs. The company said net revenues recorded ...

Dolan Media Company (DM) is making big profits from its counter cyclical mortgage default processing services. The company has surprised on estimates the last 3 quarters by an average of 36.30%. Dolan Media trades with a PEG ratio of 0.87.

Company Description

Dolan Media provides professional services and business information to the legal, financial and real estate industries. It has two segments: Professional Services and Business Information Division.

Professional Services consists of two subsidiaries, NDeX and Counsel Press. NDex provides mortgage default processing services in states with large numbers of distressed home owners such as California and Michigan. Counsel Press provides appellate services to the legal community.

The Business Information Division publishes journals and operates media web sites targeted to the business and legal communities in 21 geographic markets.

Dolan Media Expands Into Florida Market

On Oct 5, the company announced its subsidiary NDeX had entered into a

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Invesco Limited’s (IVZ) third quarter earnings came in at 24 cents per share, a penny ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, this compares unfavorably with 33 cents in the prior-year quarter. The year-over-year decrease in earnings was due primarily to a 14.7% decline in revenue, partially offset by a 12.3% decline in operating expenses. However, increased market values as a result of the gradual recovery of the global equity markets and the impact of slightly more favorable foreign exchange rates helped improve assets under management 7.3% sequentially and 1.8% year-over-year. Operating revenues increased 12.9% sequentially but decreased 14.7% year-over-year to $705.8 million. Operating revenue for the quarter included performance fees of $4.3 million, compared to $18.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Net revenue for the quarter increased 13.8% sequentially but decreased 13.5% year-over-year to $534.8 million. Operating expenses increased 7.7% sequentially but decreased 12.3% ...

BWAY Holding Company (BWY) has surprised on estimates 4 quarters in a row by an average of 31.51%. It also recently raised guidance to the higher end of its forecast range. The company trades with a forward P/E of 13.04.

Company Description

BWAY Holding manufactures industrial in 21 plants in the United States and Canada. These include paint cans, aerosol cans, plastic drums, and ammunition boxes.

BWAY Guides to Higher

On Oct 12, the company announced that it was now expecting full year EPS to be at the upper end of the Aug 5 guidance range which was $1.20 to $1.26 per share. In August, fourth quarter EPS was expected to be in the range of 34 to 39 cents.

It also announced it had signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire Ball Corporation's (BLL) injection molded plastic pail plant and business located in Georgia. The price

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Regions Financial (RF) reported a third quarter loss of $437.0 million or 37 cents per diluted share, worse than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 26 cents per share. Last year, the company reported a net income of $95 million -- a profit of 13 cents per share. The results suffered mainly due to increased loan loss provisioning, reflective of continued underlying economic weakness and the related loss implications to Regions' loan portfolio. Regions reported a net interest margin of 2.73%, up 11 basis points sequentially, benefiting from continued low-cost deposit growth, especially in non-interest bearing products and improving loan spreads due to better pricing discipline. As a result, taxable equivalent net interest income increased 1.7% sequentially to $845.0 million. According to management, dramatically falling interest rates have worked as a primary headwind for net interest income over the past few quarters. ...

TAMPA, FL - MagneGas Corporation (OTCBB: MNGA), a producer of a metal working fuel and natural gas alternative made from liquid waste, announced today that it has entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement ("SAA") with Atlanta, GA-based Eprida Power and Life Sciences Company ("EPRIDA") (www.eprida.com).

Yesterday, metal and plastic packaging manufacturer, Ball Corporation (BLL), announced the sale of its plastic pail assets to BWAY Corporation (BWY) for approximately $32 million. The sale, which is expected to close by the end of October, primarily involves the sale of a pail manufacturing plant in Newnan, Georgia.  Ball acquired this plant in 2006 as part of its purchase of U.S. Can Corporation. The plant produces injection molded plastic pails and drums for products such as building materials and pool chemicals and employs approximately 110 people. Ball said that the plastic pail product line is a small part of its Plastic Packaging segment (9.7% of 2008 revenue) and is not a strategic focus area.  The company is now focusing on its core businesses. As a part of this strategy, Ball plans to expand its global metal beverage can business. Accordingly, the company recently acquired ...

TODAY: Did Clinton get what she wanted?; media reports possible silence for sanctions deal; START treaty progress.  Georgia accused of abetting al-Qaida; Putin 'satisfied' with job.  German official castigates Medvedev for investigation into Stalin-researching historian; the man of steel's grandson loses battle with newspaper; psychological perils of police force and military; mafia boss funeral. According to the Moscow Times, Hillary Clinton received a 'cool welcome' from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the crucial issue of sanctions on Iran, with Russia still resisting.  Clinton apparently 'brave-faced' it, saying, 'we did not ask for anything today. We reviewed the situation', and added 'Russia has been extremely co-operative in the work we have done together'.  Reports have circulated that the ...