China is Investing Billions in Renewable Energy One firm has already built China’s largest wind turbine manufacturing factory. And it’s working with the Chinese Science Academy to develop new wind, solar, and geothermal technologies… for which it will own 70% of the rights. But this company’s business reaches far beyond the Chinese border, with operations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. It’s first quarter net income increased by 294% over a year ago. Click here for the full report.

If NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG) were an athletic prospect, scouts would rate it as a “triple threat.” That’s because the Princeton-based wholesale power generator is involved in all three of the key energy sources of the future: Solar, wind and nuclear.

And that’s only part of the reason I like this stock.

Growing profit margins and earnings momentum add to the energy company’s appeal – …

Phase Forward (PFWD) recently announced that it completed its previously announced acquisition of the Interactive Voice and Web Response Services business of Covance Inc. (CVD) for $10 million in cash.  Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, Phase Forward is a leading provider of data management solutions for clinical trials and drug safety.

As part of the agreement, Phase Forward and Covance also entered into a multiyear marketing agreement. Management expects that this acquisition will strengthen its Interactive Response Technology solutions. 

Earlier, the company reported second quarter results, which beat analysts’ expectations and trimmed its outlook for 2009. Management stated that it expects revenues between $214.5 and $217.5 million. On a non-GAAP basis, the company projects EPS between 47 cents and 50 cents, down from the average forecast of 54 cents and its prior guidance of 51 cents to 54 cents, primarily due to acquisition related costs of 4 cents to

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Ten years ago in his book The Return of Depression Economics, Paul Krugman* warned of the problems that would lead to the current crisis. Last year the professor and trenchant columnist was awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics. In the interview below with Daniel Huber, Credit Suisse’s Head of Publications, he talks of the reasons for the crisis, the lessons to be learned, and life as a winner of the Nobel Prize.

Daniel Huber: There are very few winners emerging from this crisis, but you seem to be one of them, because foreseeing this crisis a decade ago probably won you the Nobel Prize for Economics. Paul Krugman: Well, I think I’m enough of a humanitarian to wish things hadn’t turned out this way.

Would you consider yourself a pessimist or a realist? In my view, it seems they’re the same thing right now. But over the course of

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STDF, Steadfast Holdings Group Inc, STDF.PK

MEDX, Medarex Inc.

DrStockPick Watch List!

DrStockPick Watch List! for Thursday July 23, 2009

 

My Picks for Thursday July 23, 2009 are:

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MEDX, Medarex Inc.

MEDX is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and potential commercialization of fully human antibody-based therapeutics to treat life-threatening and debilitating diseases, including cancer, inflammation, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases.

MEDX applies its UltiMAb® technology and product development and clinical manufacturing experience to generate, support and potentially commercialize a broad range of fully human antibody products for itself and its partners. MEDX is committed to building value by developing a diverse pipeline of antibody products to address the world’s

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Last month the first ETF adhering to strict Islamic beliefs, Dow Jones Islamic Market International (NYSE: JVS), began trading.  Following Shariah law, the index excludes anything close to investing in “sin stocks” or firms that produce or market alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons, or pornography.

Investors are further assured that the stocks held in the index have nothing to do with borrowing or lending, women’s fashions, cosmetics, modern cinema, popular music, or pork.

Personally, I wouldn’t touch this fund with a barge pole. It is virtually guaranteed to earn sub-par returns.

Here’s why…

Investing in Sin Stocks vs. Socially Responsible Stocks

If you were given the choice six years ago between investing in the environmentally and socially responsible Sierra Club Stock Fund (Nasdaq: SCFSX) or investing in sin stocks with the Vice Fund (Nasdaq: VICEX), which invests primarily in tobacco, alcohol, defense and gambling, which would you have chosen?

I’ll give you a hint.

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Investing in Sin Stocks: How to Oppose Radical Islam in Your Portfolio

by Alexander Green, Advisory Panelist

Last month the first ETF adhering to strict Islamic beliefs, Dow Jones Islamic Market International (NYSE: JVS), began trading.

Following Shariah law, the index excludes anything close to investing in “sin stocks” or firms that produce or market alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons, or pornography.

Investors are further assured that the stocks held in the index have nothing to do with borrowing or lending, women’s fashions, cosmetics, modern cinema, popular music, or pork.

Personally, I wouldn’t touch this fund with a barge pole. It is virtually guaranteed to earn sub-par returns.

Here’s why…

Investing in Sin Stocks vs. Socially Responsible Stocks

If you were given the choice six years ago between investing in the environmentally and socially responsible Sierra Club Stock Fund (Nasdaq: SCFSX) or investing in sin stocks with

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Exelon Corp. (EXC) said it would record a $40 million severance charge in the second quarter for slashing 500 jobs as part of its restructuring initiative.

The nation's largest nuclear power company has been trying to cut costs in order to buffer itself against a slump in demand for utilities amid the ongoing recession. Its plans to lay off employees, freeze executive compensation and other incentives are expected to yield $350 million in annual savings. Exelon currently employs about 17,000 people.

While 12 analysts on average expect the Chicago, Illinois-based company to earn 98 cents per share in the second quarter, the most accurate estimate is pegged at 94 cents.

Exelon is still pursuing its hostile $5 billion bid for Princeton, New Jersey-based NRG Energy Inc.(NRG) that could create the biggest power producer in the country. NRG's annual general meeting next month is expected

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Reports Point to Housing Market Bottom; Big Three Automakers Beat Estimates; Microsoft Will Unveil New Operating System in Time for XMAS; Dallas Fed President: Economy ‘Getting Less Worse’; European Jobless Rate Climbs;  Pepsi Bottling Chief Could Cash In

The housing market showed further signs of bottoming in April, as pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes saw their biggest monthly gain in seven and a half years, the National Association of Realtors reported. The number of Americans signing contracts to buy previously owned homes climbed 6.7% in April, more than forecast and the fourth increase in five months. The report supports the case for a housing bottom made in Money Morning on Monday, where it was noted that housing prices are starting to move upward in western U.S. markets and should soon slowly begin to rise in hard-hit east coast markets.  “Based on what we just ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - May 18, 2009 - Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This week's list includes Deere & Co. (DE), Home Depot (HD), Lowe's (LOW), Target (TGT), Aeropostale (ARO) and Gap Inc. (GAP). To see more earnings analysis, visit http://at.zacks.com/?id=3207.

Every day, Zacks.com makes 4 stock picks available, free of charge. To see them, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=3567.

The Week's Events

First-quarter earnings season nears an end with Deere & Co. (DE), Home Depot (HD), Lowe's (LOW) and Target (TGT) reporting. Joining them will be 15 other members of the S&P 500. In total, we have confirmed reports from 124 companies.

There is not much on the economic calendar, though the minutes from the

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First-quarter earnings season nears an end with Hewlett-Packard (

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