OUTLOOK The improving economic scene, both here in the U.S. as well as worldwide, is the main driver of the current oil rally that has seen the commodity settling around the $80 per barrel level. But high levels of product inventories (particularly gasoline), along with still higher supplies, will limit any sustained crude gains, in our view. But way too many factors weigh on oil prices, from OPEC decisions and geostrategic tensions to the value of the U.S. dollar and seasonal variables, to definitively size up each one of them for their respective impact on prices.  In its latest release, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a less-than-anticipated increase in crude stockpiles, which rose by 800,000 barrels for the week ending October 23. However, current crude oil stocks, at 339.9 million barrels, still remain 9% above the year-earlier level as well as above the upper limit ...

Visa Inc. (...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 5, 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: Churchill Downs Inc. (CHDN), Raytheon Company (RTN), Stone Energy Corp. (SGY) and Flowserve Corporation (FLS).      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

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Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE) Bunge Ltd (BG) Centennial Communications Corp (CYCL) Chiquita Brands International Inc (CQB) CSG Systems International Inc (CSGS) Euronet Worldwide Inc (EEFT) FalconStor Software Inc (FALC) Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc (FDP) Greenlight Capital Re Ltd (GLRE) Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc (HGR) The Hershey Co (HSY) Hertz Global Holdings Inc (HTZ) Lender Processing Services Inc (LPS) MeadWestvaco Corp (MWV) MWI Veterinary Supply Inc (...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Abraxas Petroleum Corp. (AXAS) Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK) Allied Healthcare International Inc. (AHCI) American Financial Group Inc. (AFG) AutoZone Inc. (AZO) Berry Petroleum Co. (BRY) CNS Response Inc. (CNSO) Conn's Inc. (CONN) Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCA) Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCB) EnteroMedics Inc. (ETRM) Euronet Worldwide Inc. (EEFT) Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO) Gander Mountain Co. (GMTN) Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN) Majesco Entertainment Co. (COOL) Monro Muffler Brake Inc. (MNRO) Omnicare Inc. (OCR) Owens & Minor Inc. (OMI) Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc. (PEET) StarTek Inc. (SRT) Stone Energy Corp. (SGY) Sturm Ruger & Co. (RGR) Susser Holdings Corp. (SUSS) Syntroleum Corp. (SYNM) Urologix, Inc. (ULGX) Young Innovations Inc. (...

In mid-April, I wrote about the how daunting forming a sound stock screening strategy could be for investors. In an effort to help investors find winning stocks provide a sneak peak into some Zacks’ market-beating strategies, I highlighted four stock-picking screens from the Research Wizard and included a stock that was produced by each screen.

The stocks were Accenture Ltd. (ACN), Cimarex Energy Co. (XEC), Stone Energy Corp. (SGY) and Walter Industries, Inc. (WLT). Each company has performed better than all three major averages over the past year.

The screening strategies are the Upgrades and Revisions2, Filtered Zacks Rank2, Value Method1 and Momentum Method1.

The Upgrades and Revisions 2 strategy focuses primarily on stocks with upward Earnings Estimate Revisions and Rating Upgrades. This screen generates approximately 8-10 stocks a month, has an excellent win ratio (74%) and has shown consistently impressive returns year after year.

One company that currently fulfills

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Stone Energy (SGY) is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana. The company’s business strategy is to increase shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas in mature and emerging fields. Stone currently operates in the Gulf of Mexico, onshore Louisiana, and is also engaged in an exploratory joint venture in Bohai Bay, China.

Stone recently provided an update on the impact of Hurricane Gustav on its operations. The adverse weather conditions associated with Hurricane Gustav resulted in the suspension of all offshore drilling and production activities in the Gulf of Mexico as of August 30. Stone safely evacuated all employee and contract personnel prior to the arrival of the storm. Net daily production of approximately 310 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (Mmcfe) was shut-in as a result of the hurricane.

Flyovers of company and certain

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