IIC's Winners Watchlists

[Rob]

Still Off Topic ...

Since we're talking about ski lift stories and hijacking Doug's thread while doing it: We went skiing at a place called Mountain High in Wrightwood, CA. It was right around 1980, give or take a year. It was just before 1:00 p.m., and we were going up for the first run after lunch. Suddenly our chair started bouncing up and down pretty strongly for no apparent reason. I thought someone in another chair must be horsing around, but when I looked around I saw nothing unusual, just other people looking around equally puzzled. We never figured out what that was until we were driving home that evening. The news came on the radio and said that there had been an earthquake that day shortly before 1:00 p.m. I thought, "Cool. How many people can say they felt an earthquake while on a ski lift?" And then I thought, "Sheesh, what if that had been 'the big one'?"

[IIC]

Morning Movers:PMTI BIDU GOOG FRX PETC LBIX BDCO PETM AUY ENER STXN SOHU ESLR ERTS GLD MT TS BP EZM PEIX ...............Some Upgrades:IP BAP SSCC TIN SAP MNST PKTR MNI CNP BIDU

[IIC]

I saw that movie Vanishing Point...Everybody used to drive fast after that...Doug

[IIC]

TOP STORIES
US JUNE RETAIL SALES BELOW EXPECTATIONS

Retail sales unexpectedly fall in June, dragged down by auto sector, and demand for other goods isn't up to par, either, underscoring slowing in the economy. Sales fall by a seasonally adjusted 0.1%. Economists projected a rise of 0.4%. Decrease is first in four months. Outside the auto sector, all other retail sales climb, up 0.3%. But economists expected a 0.4% increase.
GENERAL ELECTRIC 2Q NET UP 4.4%

GE posts net of $4.9 billion, or 47c a share, matching analysts' estimates. Revenue rises 9.2% to $39.9 billion. GE reaffirms full-year outlook and sees 3Q EPS of 48c-50c. Analysts expect EPS of 50c. CFO says most units showed continued strong growth. Shares fall 1%.
US IMPORT PRICES UP 0.1% IN JUNE

Slight increase, below estimates for a 0.2% rise, is due to lower oil costs. Prices excluding petroleum increase 0.4% for a second-straight month of strong gains, suggesting the disinflationary effect of global trade may be waning somewhat.
PRIVATE EQUITY IN $1.8B DEAL FOR PETCO

Leonard Green & Partners and Texas Pacific Group agree to acquire the pet-supply chain for $29 a share, a 49% premium to yesterday's closing price. Deal is expected to close by 4Q. Petco shares rise 43%.
BROADCOM TO HAVE BIG OPTIONS COSTS

Firm expects to a record additional noncash stock-compensation expense of more than $750 million as it corrects accounting for past option grants. Nearly all of that expense should be recorded in 2000-2003. Shares edge higher.
BOJ ENDS 5-YEAR ZERO RATE POLICY

Japan's central bank ends its zero interest rate policy, raising its key monetary rate to 0.25%, saying the economy is 'expanding moderately', though BOJ Governor Fukui says rates won't be hiked consecutively.
EMC NET FALLS 4.9%; REVENUE UP

EMC's 2Q net income falls to $279.1 million, or 12c a share, as revenue rises 9.8% to $2.57 billion. Company warned on its quarterly results Monday. CEO says he is 'deeply disappointed' with the performance. Shares fall 1%.
ISRAEL FIRES MISSILES AT BEIRUT AIRPORT

Israel steps up its attacks on Lebanon, holding its northern neighbor responsible for the abduction of three Israeli soldiers, as well as numerous cross-border raids by militant Islamic movement Hezbollah. See full coverage.
BORDERS DOWN AFTER 2Q OUTLOOK

Shares drop 8% as the retailer now sees loss of 28c-32c a share, compared with prior view of loss of 10c-20c. Borders says 2Q sales trends are below expectations.
ROSNEFT SHARES RISE IN DEBUT

State-controlled Russian oil company gains 3% in London after raising $10.4 billion in its IPO, the sixth-largest ever. BP confirms its stake in Rosneft. U.K. court to hold hearing Monday on Yukos' suit to block Rosneft listing.
COURT SLASHES $250M PRUDENTIAL AWARD

Ohio appeals court cuts most of a $250 million punitive-damages award handed down against Prudential Securities. Case stems from case in which a Prudential stockbroker in 1998 allegedly sold all of his clients' holdings without their consent.
SAMSUNG 2Q NET DOWN 11%; SEES 3Q RECOVERY

Memory chip maker says 2Q net profit falls 11% to $1.58 billion from a year ago, due largely to the weak performance of its cellphone business, but forecasts results to improve in 3Q. Samsung to set up wafer JV with Germany's Siltronic.
DR HORTON LOWERS EARNINGS VIEWS

Shares fall 11% a day after the home builder cuts 3Q, fiscal-year earnings forecast and says 3Q orders fell 7.3%. Firm now sees 2006 profit of $3.65 a share.
REGIONS FINANCIAL 2Q NET UP 39%

Southern bank posts net income of $345.3 million, or 75c a share. Analysts expected Regions to earn 64c. Earnings at the company's Morgan Keegan investment-banking business rise 34%. Shares gain 4%.
HERTZ'S OWNERS TAKE FINAL STEPS TO LAUNCH IPO

Hertz is in final preparations for an initial public stock offering, say people familiar with the matter, just six and a half months after the car-rental giant was bought by private-equity investors.
S KOREA CONFIRMS CANCELLATION OF US TRADE TALKS

South Korea cancels the final day of five-day free trade talks with the U.S. after it says the American side failed to attend one of the sessions scheduled the previous day, although U.S. chief negotiator says 'reasonable progress' was made.
EUROPEAN STOCKS LOWER

European shares struggling as oil prices hovered not far from the record high they set earlier above $78 a barrel, as ongoing unrest in the Middle East continued to spark supply concerns and left investors unsettled.
BRIDGESTONE TO SHUT OKLAHOMA PLANT

Bridgestone Firestone finalizes decision to close its Dayton Tire plant which employs about 1,400 people in Oklahoma City. Factory lost $40 million last year and $17 million in 1Q.
STATES FILE SUIT AGAINST DRAM COMPANIES

Attorneys general from 34 states will file suit against seven makers of DRAM memory chips, including Hynix Semiconductor and Micron, alleging that price-fixing from 1998 to 2002 forced up prices of computers that use them.

[Rob]

HERTZ'S OWNERS TAKE FINAL STEPS TO LAUNCH IPO
Hertz is in final preparations for an initial public stock offering, say people familiar with the matter, just six and a half months after the car-rental giant was bought by private-equity investors.

So, it's like: Hey, we're not making any money with this pig, so let's go public and see how many suckers will throw their money into it, after which we'll exit quietly with a profit. Is that pretty much the story?

[IIC]

In TRID 16.50's...IIC

[IIC]

Out TRID +.20...IIC

[IIC]

Out TRID +.20...IIC

I sorta lucked out...I went to trim but before I confirmed I looked at the SOX...so I changed my order to sell all...That's it for me today...IIC

[jiesen]

I sorta lucked out...I went to trim but before I confirmed I looked at the SOX...so I changed my order to sell all...That's it for me today...IIC

nice job avoiding the pounding, Doug!

the market is just brutal this week...

[IIC]

The way I see it...Naz support at 2030 then 2005ish...Later...IIC

[Rob]

Out TRID +.20...IIC

So ... assuming the quantity was a thousand shares, and allowing about 20 bucks for the round trip, you'd have made $180 for a half-hour's work. Hey, that's enough to take your very deserving spouse out to a nice dinner. May I recommend The Warehouse Restaurant in Marina Del Rey? I've eaten there; it's a great place.

[IIC]

So ... assuming the quantity was a thousand shares, and allowing about 20 bucks for the round trip, you'd have made $180 for a half-hour's work. Hey, that's enough to take your very deserving spouse out to a nice dinner. May I recommend The Warehouse Restaurant in Marina Del Rey? I've eaten there; it's a great place.

Go there for Sunday Brunch about 1x a yr...Doug

[IIC]

in FTO...mid 34 teens...IIC

[IIC]

in FTO...mid 34 teens...IIC

Trimmed +.23......

[IIC]

out FTO....IICavg +.46sh