Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its ratings on Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV), lowering the debt ratings to 'BBB' from 'BBB+’ and placing it with negative implications. However, Southwest has retained its investment grade rating. The downgrade reflects lower operating cash flow caused by record high fuel prices, low global demand for air travel and weak prices. The travel downturn has eroded the airline's flow of cash at a time when the airline faces substantial fixed obligations and declining cash balances. Southwest's cash balance fell to $902 million in the third quarter from $1.4 billion at the end of 2008. Recently, Southwest borrowed $124 million under a new term loan agreement secured by five Boeing 737-700 aircrafts. It also replaced its previous $600 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a new $600 million unsecured revolving credit facility that will expire in Oct. 2012. The rating ...

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

Friday September 4, 2009

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Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in August 2009, a 1.0 percent increase from the 6.6 billion RPMs flown in August 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 6.1 percent to 8.3 billion from the August 2008 level of 8.9 billion. The load factor for the month was 80.2 percent, compared to 74.6 percent for the same period last year. For August 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have decreased in the five to six percent range as compared to August 2008.

Phoenix

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MFN, Minefinders Corp. Ltd.

FRNTQ, Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc, FRNTQ.PK

PennyOmega.com Watch List!

PennyOmega.com Watch List ! for Friday July 31, 2009

Our Picks at PennyOmega.com for Friday July 31, 2009 are:

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MFN, Minefinders Corp. Ltd.

MFN engages in the mining, exploration, and development of precious metal properties primarily in Mexico and the United States.

MFN principal property includes Dolores Mine, an open pit, heap leach gold and silver mine located in the Sierra Madre Occidental Range of northern Mexico, approximately 250 kilometres west of the city of Chihuahua. MFN also owns property interests in the northern Sonora properties in Mexico, which include Planchas de Plata and Real Viejo silver properties, as well as La Bolsa gold deposit.

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DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

Thursday July 30, 2009

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GSE Systems, Inc. (NYSE Amex - GVP), a leading global provider of real-time simulation and training solutions to the power, process, manufacturing and Government sectors, will hold a conference call on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss results for the second quarter and mid-year 2009. Financial results will be issued in a press release after the close of the market the same day.

The Board of Directors of Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE: SXT) has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.19 per share. The cash dividend will be paid on September 1, 2009, to shareholders of

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Recently, major Mexican airlines companies reported a decrease in passenger traffic for the month of June.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico S.A.B. de C.V. (PAC) announced a 20.1% decline in total terminal passengers year-over-year, comprised of 17.5% decrease in domestic passengers and 25.4% drop in international passengers.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S.A.B. de C.V. (ASR) announced a fall of 28.4%, with 17.6% in the domestic sector and 36.7% in the international sector.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte S.A.B. de C.V. (OMAB) reported a decrease of 20.5% in total passenger traffic, with domestic traffic down 18.4% and international traffic tumbling 32.3%.

Passenger traffic decreased not only in June, but throughout the second quarter of 2009. PAC’s passenger traffic was down 36.6% in May and 10.4% in April. ASR’s passenger traffic dropped 50.7% in May and 2.1% in April. OMAB reported a fall of 39.7% in May and 17.7%

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Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) announced today that it recorded a 2.1% decline in passenger traffic for June.

The airline flew 6.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) last month, compared to 6.9 billion RPMs in the year-ago period.

Available seat miles (ASMs), which indicate capacity, decreased 3.8% to 8.5 billion.

The low-cost carrier also launched one of the biggest fare sales in the company's history, in which one-way tickets priced between $30 and $90 are on offer to customers for a period of 2 days.

This move by Southwest comes after major airlines raised fares last month in an effort to improve sales.

Meanwhile, 8 of 13 covering analysts lowered expectations on the company's full-year earnings over the past month, sending the consensus down by 10 cents to 26 cents per share.

LUV, a Zacks #3 Rank ("Hold") stock, has slipped more than 2% so far today on volume of approximately 3.4 million, which is well

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In an effort to beat the economic downturn, Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) has introduced a new charge for unaccompanied children and for passengers bringing pets inside the cabin.

The discount carrier said that it will start levying a service fee of $25 each way for minors travelling alone. Southwest also stated that passengers will be allowed to carry small cats and dogs inside the aircraft cabin for a special round-trip charge of $150.

The company also increased the service fee for a third baggage, weighing 51 to 70 pounds, to $50 from the existing $25.

The airline industry has been forced to discover new sources of revenue as travel demand has waned amid the ongoing recession.

Shares of Southwest are trading close to break-even on lower-than-usual volume of approximately 5.2 million, compared to average daily volume of about 7.5 million.

LUV is a Zacks #3 Rank ("Hold") stock.

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When it comes to the U.S. stock market right now, the story continues to be about earnings. And this week will be no exception.

Bank of America Corp. (BAC), which reports today (Monday), remains among the last financials of note that has yet to announce its first-quarter performance, and the big bank figures to get a lot of attention as investors look to see how well Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. (formerly known as “The Bull”) and Countrywide Financial Corp. have fit into the BofA family fold.

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) (today) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) (Wednesday) will give investors a better idea of just how well the tech sector – which up to now has been quite hot – is really doing. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) (Thursday) will give investors an inside look at the

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Airline industry has been one of the most beaten in last year. AMEX Airline Index (XAL) is down more than 50% in last months and but on July it had been even almost 70% down. What is interesting is that recent low has been formed on July. Compared to other industries where recent lows have been reached during October after heavy sell-off. Earlier turnover is due to declining crude oil and gasoline prices which are down more that 50% since July peak.Bad news about global economies will still weigh on crude oil and decreasing demand will send price lower. This will fuel airlines companies. Technically, chart above shows recent low higher than previous bottom. Usually it is strong bullish pattern, the same seen in early 2003 before AMEX Airline Index had bounced. Have a look also to Adam Hewisons video with ...