Freddie Mac’s (FRE) third quarter net loss (available to common shareholders) came in at $1.94 per share, compared to a net loss of 11 cents in the prior quarter and $19.44 in the prior-year quarter.  Results for the quarter exclude the preferred dividend of $1.3 million paid to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the senior preferred stock. Though the results improved significantly over the prior-year quarter, the company expects its provision for credit losses to remain high during the fourth quarter of 2009.  The company is mainly focused on initiatives that support the Making Home Affordable Program (MHA Program) announced by the Obama Administration in February 2009. As a leading player, Freddie Mac continued to support the housing market during the third quarter of 2009, enabling more than 78,000 struggling borrowers to accept offers to modify their loans under the Home Affordable Modification program ...

South Korea’s largest wireless carrier SK Telecom (SKM) announced plans to introduce its fixed-mobile substitution (“FMS") service. Assuming near-term approval of the service by the telecom regulator Korea Communications Commission, the company targets the commercial launch on Nov 1.   FMS refers to use of cellular handsets instead of wired or cordless landline phones for communication. This entails migration of voice minutes from fixed-line to wireless networks. FMS differs from fixed-mobile convergence, which allows users to switch between fixed-lines and mobile networks using a single dual-mode handset and two different technologies. Currently, FMS services are widely available in Europe.     SK Telecom’s FMS service allows customers to make calls within a designated area (called “Discount Zone") under the company’s network coverage. These calls will be charged at a discount rate which is the same as fixed-line VoIP (Voice-over-Inernet Protocol) service. Currently, tariffs levied on fixed-line VoIP ...

The Nevada Company Ormat Technologies announced that Ormat Subsidiaries Ltd., its Israeli subsidiary, entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Sunday Energy Ltd. Sunday is a private Israeli energy company and the agreement will be to construct and operate solar-photovoltaic energy systems with a total capacity of 36 MW throughout Israel.

According to the JVA, Ormat will now own 70% of each special purpose entity (SPE) with Sunday contributing the rights to all of its property and roofs required to develop solar energy systems above 1 MW to SPE’s.

The agreement between Ormat and Sunday will have major effects throughout the industry. Sunday is a leading developer in the Israeli PV market while Ormat has over four decades of experience in the development, construction, financing and operation of hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy projects worldwide.

The estimated capital expenditure for 36 MW of solar power systems is

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Chinese wireless giant China Mobile (CHL) is reportedly planning to spend more on 3G terminal subsidies in 2010. The company has tripled the amount of subsidies from the current year level and is expected to spend up to RMB30 billion (US$4.4 billion) next year. This move will enable the company to better compete with its Chinese peers in the domestic 3G space. China Mobile remains the leading player in the Chinese wireless market with 70% market share and more than 500 million subscribers. However, the company’s share of the new subscribers has dropped recently due to stiff competition from China Unicom (CHU) and the relatively new wireless player China Telecom (CHA) as they both operate internationally acclaimed 3G standard based networks. Leveraging its home-grown TD-SCDMA 3G standard, China Mobile launched its 3G network in early 2009, already covering 38 Chinese cities. The company currently ...

China Fire & Security Group (CFSG) is a leading provider of industrial fire protection systems in China. The company's strong position in the industry has enabled it to win a high percentage of its bids, which is around 60-70% of bids in the iron and steel industry.

Though the company has been primarily serving the iron and steel industry, it is now looking at expanding into other industrial sectors such as transportation, marines, nuclear energy and petrochemical. China's industrial fire protection market is expected to grow 11% annually until 2011.

As a leading player in the market, we believe CFSG is well-positioned to capitalize on the growth potential. We are upgrading our rating on the stock from Neutral to Outperform.Zacks Investment Research

On Friday, Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) presented encouraging four-year follow-up phase II data on alemtuzumab, which is being developed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Results showed durable reductions in relapse rate and sustained accumulation of disability even three years after patients received their last course of alemtuzumab.

The company presented these efficacy and safety data at the annual meeting of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis in Germany. This CAMMS223 study was conducted in early, relapsing-remitting MS patients, who were randomized to receive either alemtuzumab or Pfizer/Serono's (PFE) Rebif.

Patients taking once-yearly cycles of alemtuzumab reduced their risk of relapse by 72% and the risk of sustained accumulation of disability by 73% compared to patients receiving Rebif. Additionally, the annualized relapse rate and disability risk measured from year three to four remained at the same low level observed in prior years of

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Earlier this week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Novartis Pharma’s (NVS) Extavia, a branded version of interferon beta-1b, which is used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Novartis obtained the rights to seek approval for its own branded version of interferon beta-1b through agreements signed with Bayer Schering, which markets Betaseron. MS is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the myelin sheath, or protective tissue surrounding the nerve fibers that carry electrical signals in the brain. As a result, persons afflicted with the disease experience problems with muscle control and strength, vision, balance, sensation and mental function. Extavia has been approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. It is also indicated for patients who have experienced a first clinical episode of MS and have features consistent with ...

China Mobile (CHL), the largest wireless operator in the world by customer, has announced its updated 3G subscriber target. The company expects to amass roughly 80 million 3G customers within 2 years of the first phase of commercial service rollouts. This will enable the wireless giant to capture approximately one-third of the Chinese 3G market. However, the new subscriber target represents a decline from the original guidance of 100 million, largely due to intense competition.    China Mobile remains the leading player in the Chinese wireless market with 70% market share, leapfrogging the second placed China Unicom (CHU). However, the overhaul of the Chinese telecom industry in late 2008 has intensified the competitive scenario in the domestic wireless market with the addition of a new market entrant China Telecom (CHA).   The Chinese government issued three 3G wireless licenses in early 2009 with China ...

It’s not often that one comes across a developing company that is growing at a nice clip in these seemingly difficult times. In a general sense, this type of event points to the need for certain types of products and services whatever the economic conditions might be. Energy is such a commodity as is the need to manage its use and distribution. Finding such types of markets and products is a safe way to capitalize in difficult times. The big boy’s in the market are easy to spot in this regard, finding the new and growing ones, however, is where the real profit might be made.

Pansoft Inc., a developer and marketer of office efficiency software, works to offer solutions and software products directed primarily at the domestic Chinese oil and gas markets. The company currently offers a full range of products from warehouse management to finance and cost controls. Pansoft

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 4, 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: AT&T Inc. (T), NTT DoCoMo (DCM), Vodafone (VOD), Telefonica (TEF) and SK Telecom (SKM).

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 Monday’s Analyst Blog:

AT&T Leads Global HSPA Market

AT&T Inc. (T) has reportedly emerged as the leading player in the global HSPA (high-speed packet access) market in terms of total subscriber connections. According to a recent report by the GSM Association, the second-largest US carrier has outpaced industry leaders such as

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