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% ...

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and enjoying a beer with Ron Ianieri from OptionUniversity.com. For those of you who’ve had the opportunity of learning options from him, you know what I mean when I say he’s awesome! He’s experience, poised, and his knowledge from REAL LIFE trading is outstanding.

Well Ron (the linebacker looking guy to the right —>) has written this article for us today talking about “them”, and I think you’ll like it!

Please enjoy the article below, comment with your thoughts, and check out Ron’s new online video!

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Are you one of the “misinformed? Are you losing the tremendous opportunities that using stock options can offer? No, options are not one of the more risky investments. “Oh, yea” you say sarcastically. “That’s why my broker looks down at the floor as he

...

On Friday, CME Group Inc. (CME) launched trading and clearing services for eight new petroleum products and nine natural gas liquids (NGL) futures contracts. While trading will be available on the New York trading floor, the clearing services will be available through CME ClearPort.

ClearPort is a set of flexible clearing services open to participants in over-the-counter (OTC) market to substantially mitigate counterparty risk and provide neutral settlement prices across asset classes.?

Trading of the option contracts is scheduled to begin on Sept. 20 for trade on the next day. These contracts are listed with NYMEX and are subject to the rules and regulations of both NYMEX and CME.

The first listed month will be the October contract. The BALMO contracts will be listed for one month and the following month for 10 business days prior to the start of the contract month. All other contracts will be

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On September 8th, CME Group Inc. (CME) announced the launch of trading and clearing services for new "in delivery" month European Union Allowance and Certified Emission Reduction serial options contracts. Trading will be available on the New York trading floor and clearing services will be available through CME ClearPort. ClearPort is a set of flexible clearing services open to over the counter (OTC) market participants to substantially mitigate counterparty risk and provide neutral settlement prices across asset classes. Trading on the option contracts is scheduled to begin on Sept. 20 for trade date Sept. 21. These contracts are listed with NYMEX and subject to the rules and regulations of both NYMEX and CME. The contracts and commodity codes for the serial options will be: in delivery month European Union Allowance (9G) and in delivery month Certified Emission Reduction (9E). These options contracts are listed on ...

On Sep 2, CME Group Inc. (CME) announced that August 2009 volume averaged 10.2 million contracts per day, assuming combined CME Group and NYMEX volumes. That's down 7% from Aug 2008, but up 5% compared to July 2009. The monthly volume marked the best year-over-year performance to date in 2009.

Total monthly volume was 214 million contracts, 81% of which were traded electronically. Total electronic volume averaged 8.3 million contracts per day, down 6% from the prior year but up 5% from July 2009.

Average daily volume cleared on CME ClearPort was 440,000 contracts for the month, up 7% compared with August 2008. This continued to highlight the market participants' increased interest in the safety and soundness of CME's regulated, transparent, and centrally cleared markets.

Year-to-date volume averaged 10.2 million contracts per day. Interest rates volume increased 14% sequentially, whereas FX volume and commodities and alternative investments volume experienced an annual

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Principal Financial Group’s (PFG) second-quarter earnings of $0.69 per share were 6 cents ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results were driven by the sequential improvement in the U.S. as well as global equity markets during the second quarter.

The company posted a sequential improvement in earnings. Assets under management (AUM) increased 9% sequentially while operating earnings were up 22%, driven by improved results at the company’s three asset management and asset accumulation segments.

The company also realized a $3 billion improvement in net unrealized losses due to the credit spreads contraction. This has more than doubled the company’s book value, which stands at $16.19 per share at the June 30, 2009, up from $8.03 per share at March 31, 2009.

However, the results were down on a year-over-year basis. The company reported net income of $150.3 million or $0.52 per share in the second quarter of 2009, compared to $168.3 million

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DVR, Cal Dive International Inc.

HIG, Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.

DrStockPick Watch List!

 

DrStockPick Watch List! for Thursday July 30, 2009

 

My Picks for Thursday July 30, 2009 are:

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DVR, Cal Dive International Inc.

DVR has provided manned diving services on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) since 1975. With recent acquisitions of certain assets from Acergy and Torch, Inc. in 2005, and Horizon Offshore in 2007, DVR has grown into one of the largest marine diving contracting company’s in the world.

DVR owns and operates the largest DSV fleet, the largest diving corps and the largest array of diving equipment in the world; as well as recently acquired conventional pipelay

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 13, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Broadcom Corp. (BRCM), Emulex Corp. (ELX), Primus Guaranty, Ltd. (PRS), Ambac Financial (ABK) and MBIA (MBI).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Broadcom Stops Pursuing Emulex

Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) yesterday dropped all efforts to acquire Emulex Corp. (ELX) after the latter rejected its revised acquisition offer. Broadcom had earlier raised its hostile bid to acquire all outstanding shares of rival Emulex from $9.25 per share to $11.00 per

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Primus gains scale through CypressTree acquisition Primus Asset Management, Inc. (PAM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Primus Guaranty, Ltd. (PRS), announced the closure of the acquisition of CypressTree Investment Management, LLP on July 9, 2009. We view this acquisition as positive for PRS as it will gain more scale with a leveraged platform. With approximately $2.4 billion of assets under management, CypressTree will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PAM. The nature of CypressTree’s business is managing leveraged loans and high yield bonds among various other investment products, including collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), collateralized swap obligations (CSOs), off-shore funds and separately managed accounts. Following the acquisition, PAM now has over $25 billion in assets under management in structured credit vehicles. Focusing on the single niche area of credit swaps, Primus is able to maintain lean operations and leverage its employee base while growing its business. ...

By Shah Gilani
Contributing Editor
Money Morning

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To read a related story on how the long-term dismantling of U.S. banking regulations set …