For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 20, 2009 – Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Universal Health Services, Inc (UHS), Crane Co. (CR), Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (CTB).      Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% – but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here

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U.S. stocks tumbled Thursday as concerns about a subdued economic recovery played in the minds of investors.  Safer bets like dollar strengthened and oil prices slumped.  As investors turned to safe havens, Treasury prices rose, sending corresponding yields lower.  Yields on three-month bills, considered one of the safest bets, turned negative for the first time since December.  A Bank of America Merrill Lynch downgrade of semiconductor industry also added to the downward pressure.     

The spike in bond prices came even as the Treasury announced plans to auction a record $118 billion in new notes next week – an auction schedule of $44 billion 2-year notes on Monday, $42 billion 5-year notes Tuesday, and $32 billion 7-year notes on Wednesday.

The Dow, which had plunged as much as 170 points during the session, ended down 93.87 points, or 0.9%, to 10,332.44.  The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 14.90

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We are downgrading Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) to Neutral from Outperform with a lower six-month price target of $26.00, as we don’t see any near-term drivers of growth. Our price target represents a 2010 P/E multiple of 24.3x, a premium to the industry average. We currently do not see much upside to the shares from current levels due to softness in Services revenue (approximately 46% of total revenue), driven by the weak economy. We believe the stock is over-priced and near-term momentum is not envisioned. As long as the company continues to perform at a high level, we believe the shares can maintain their current valuation, and perhaps increase slightly, but we would not chase the stock at these levels. The company’s third quarter results were in line with Zacks Consensus Estimates. However, IRM narrowed the guidance range for 2009. It has also adopted an ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 19, 2009 – Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: OPNET Technologies, Inc. (OPNT), Gap Inc. (GPS), Fossil Inc. (FOSL) and Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP).      Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% – but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here is a summary

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U.S. stocks closed modestly lower Wednesday, after paring deeper losses, as weak housing data and grim outlook from tech companies fuelled worries about the economy.  Stocks struggled to stay near the 13-month high reached the prior session as jittery investors decided to book profits.  Gold prices rose for the fourth straight session.

The Dow, which had slid as much as 77 points in the morning trading, closed down 11.11 points, or 0.1%, to 10,426.31.  The broader S&P 500 index slipped 0.52, or 0.1%, to 1,109.80, while the Nasdaq, hurt by the weakness in tech shares, fell 10.64, or 0.5%, to 2,193.14.  Bond prices fell, pushing yields higher. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.37% from 3.33% late Tuesday.  Crude prices advanced 44 cents to settle at $79.58 per barrel.  Volume remained light, with only 1.063 billion shares trading on the NYSE, and declining issues ahead

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 18, 2009 – Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Cantel Medical Corp (CMN), Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), China Green Agriculture, Inc. (CGA) and DryShips Inc. (DRYS).      Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% – but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here is

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U.S. stocks closed higher for the second consecutive day, helped by strength in shares of commodity-related companies even as major retailers said they remain cautious ahead of the holiday season.  At the end of a session that lacked conviction, major stock indexes managed to reach their fresh 13-month highs.  A smaller-than-anticipated rise in industrial production also weighed on sentiments.

Waning risk appetites sent gold prices up 20 cents to a fresh all-time high of $1,139.40.  Treasuries rose, pushing corresponding yields lower.  The yield on the benchmark 10-year note slipped to 3.33% from 3.34% late Monday.  Crude prices closed above $79 per barrel.  Copper prices rose to 14-months highs on expectations that China demand will remain robust.

A perpetual decline in the value of the dollar and record low interest rates in the US have driven stocks higher as investors, seeking higher return on their investments, have sought refuge in

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With the US dollar falling down a precipice, spare a thought for non-US investors invested in US stocks and bonds.

The graph below shows the performance of US 10-year Treasury Notes since the beginning of March in both US dollar terms (red line) and euro terms (blue line). Whereas US investors are showing a poor return of -2.8% for the period, European investors are completely under water to the tune of -17.5%. For the year to date the figures are -4.8% (US dollar) and -10.5% (euro). (Although I am using the euro in this example, the same logic applies to most other non-US dollar currencies.)

Source: StockCharts.com

The next graph illustrates the same principle for equities by comparing the performance of S&P 500 Index in US dollar terms

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The old normal allocation between the three most basic classes (Cash, Bonds and Stocks) is currently the new normal.

While the old normal return expectations for U.S. securities, and the allocation between U.S. securities and global securities (particularly emerging market securities) is not likely to be resemble the past; the old normal weighting between cash, bonds and stocks from whatever country is more likely to be used than not.

The last decade was abnormal in the preponderance of equity risk assumed in the aggregate across all households in the United States. The old normal is more balanced, which is something the typical investor advanced in age or wealth accumulation is seeking these days.

Based on Federal Reserve data from 1945, the average allocation between cash, bonds and stocks was approximately 10%, 40% and 50% respectively. The average over the past decade was about

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 17, 2009 – Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Ctrip.com International Ltd. (CTRP), Casey's General Stores Inc. (CASY), Skechers USA Inc. (SKX) and Bristow Group Inc. (BRS).      Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% – but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here

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