On Monday, Fitch Ratings raised its outlook for Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) to positive from stable subsequent to the completion of the company’s Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) for its Macau unit. The ratings also include an improved operating outlook following the relaxation of travel restrictions.  Through the Hong Kong IPO, Wynn sold 1.25 billion shares or a 25% stake in its Macau business, which represented Hong Kong's second-biggest haul of the year.  Macau, a former Portuguese colony, is one of the world’s biggest gambling markets. Though the economic slowdown has negatively impacted the revenues of casino operators in the last few quarters, we note that Macau has been posting record revenues. Recently, visa restrictions had been lessened by Beijing to allow mainland tourists to visit Macau once a month rather than twice a year.  In 2008, Macau generated HK$105.6 billion ($13.5 billion) of ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 14, 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: Las Vegas Sands (LVS), Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN), MGM Mirage (MGM), Advance Auto Parts (AAP) and O’Reilly Automotive (ORLY).

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Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Macau Casino Growth Threatened?

The explosive growth of the casino industry in Macau may be threatened as the government of Macau − the Chinese gambling Mecca − is considering ways to impose restrictions on age, number of tables and locations of casinos.

Yesterday, government officials of

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The explosive growth of the casino industry in Macau may be threatened as the government of Macau − the Chinese gambling Mecca − is considering ways to impose restrictions on age, number of tables and locations of casinos. Yesterday, government officials of Macau met with six major casino operators including Las Vegas Sands (LVS) and Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) and a casino jointly operated by MGM Mirage (MGM) and local businesswoman/tycoon Pansy Ho, concluding that limitless expansion of the Macau gambling sector may be harmful to the society. Significant expansion of the gambling business in Macau has encouraged corruption, addiction and prostitution in that area. The government is considering regulations like raising the entry age limit for casinos to 21 years from 18 years, limiting the number of tables per casino and modifying zoning laws to compel slot machine halls away from residential areas ...

Monday November 13, 2008 Navivest

Standard & Poor’s is making changes to the S&P 500 and the S&P 400 MidCap. Following are details of the changes:

Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) is replacing Ashland Inc. (ASH) in the S&P 500, Ashland will replace Lear Corp. (LEA) in the S&P MidCap 400, S&P MidCap 400 constituent DENTSPLY International Inc. (XRAY) will replace Hercules Inc. (HPC) in the S&P 500, and Bucyrus International Inc. (BUCY) will replace DENTSPLY in the S&P MidCap 400 after the close of trading on Thursday, November 13.

Ashland will be acquiring Hercules in a transaction that will result in a company with a market value appropriate for the S&P MidCap 400, and which is expected to close on or about that date, pending final approvals. As of today’s close of trading Lear Corp. had a market value of approximately $129 million, ranking 400th in the S&P MidCap 400 index.

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Nevada is more than Las Vegas. Its banking and finance industries are very strong, as is also the construction industry, but there is yet a lot more. Check out the following interesting facts:1. Nevada is a state without usury limits, which has attracted many credit card companies to establish in the state.2. Nevada, after California, produces the most geothermal energy in the nation.3. Nevada produces about 10% of the world’s gold supply.4. Nevada has no corporate income tax.5. No franchise tax6. The state has no personal income tax.7. There is no state tax.8. Nevada permits one-individual corporations.9. There are more than 300,000 companies incorporated in the state of Nevada.10. The state does not require that the directors of a company be stockholders.The following companies have market caps of over $1 billion …