Stock Review: Baidu

Baidu.com, Inc. (Baidu) is a Chinese-language Internet search provider. Baidu offers a Chinese-language search platform to both users and customers. Its platform consists of the Websites and Baidu Union, which is its network of third-party Websites and software applications. The Company's services are designed to enable Internet search users to find relevant information online, including Chinese-language Web pages, news, images and multimedia files, through links provided on its Websites. In February 2005, the Company acquired the distribution business of Shanghai Qilang Science and Technology Co. Ltd.

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Stock Review: Rentrak

Rentrak Corporation manages business operations that facilitate the delivery of home entertainment content products and related rental and sales information for that content to home video specialty stores and other retailers, including grocery stores and convenience stores (Retailers) by the way of Pay Per Transaction System (PPT System). The Company leases product from various suppliers. Under its PPT System, Retailers that rent digital videodiscs (DVDs), videocassettes (VHSs) and video games (collectively, Units) to consumers generally sublease Units and other media from the Company, usually for a low initial fee and share a portion of each retail rental transaction with the Company. Effective April 1, 2005, the Company has two operating divisions: the Pay-Per-Transaction (PPT) and Advanced Media and Information (AMI) divisions, as well as an Other Division

Gas Headed To $4 Gallon

Gas prices keep heading up. America's energy demand and stagnating supplies will keep prices high. Adam Lass forecasts $4 gas and picks his top stocks to ride the trend.

Introduction: Exchange Traded Funds

A security that tracks an index, a commodity or a basket of assets like an index fund, but trades like a stock on an exchange, thus experiencing price changes throughout the day as it is bought and sold.

By owning an ETF, you get the diversification of an index fund as well as the ability to sell short, buy on margin and purchase as little as one share. Another advantage is that the expense ratios for most ETFs are lower than those of the average mutual fund. When buying and selling ETFs, you have to pay the same commission to your broker that you'd pay on any regular order.

One of the most widely known ETFs is called the SPDR (Spider), which tracks the S&P 500 index and trades under the symbol SPY.

(Source: Investopedia)

Investing In The Stock Market

Excellent video about your stock investment

Company Earnings: Centex Corp, Circuit City, MedImmune

Homebuilder Centex Swings to Q4 Loss
U.S. homebuilder Centex Corp (CTX) reported a Q4 loss as the housing downturn continues to hit revenue. The company posted a loss from continuing operations of $22.3 million versus its earlier forecast of break-even. Last year the company earned $369 million in Q4. The results do not reflect earnings from discontinued operations of $221.1 million related to the company's construction services business, sold off in March, and some home equity operations. Including those profits, the company posted net income of $198.9 million, down from $391.8 million a year earlier. Revenue dropped 11% in the quarter to $3.67 billion against analyst expectations of $3.34 billion. Shares dropped 2.7% yesterday and were down another 1% in AH trading to $44.77.

Circuit City Shares Fall
Circuit City (CC) restated earnings for the past 2 quarters and revised its guidance for 2008. Restatement of earnings along with poor sales of large flat panel and projection TV, will result in a loss from continuing operations before taxes of $80 million - $90m for Q1'08. Circuit City said if business trends improve and restructuring efforts are effective, then it expects 2008 earnings at the low end of its prior forecast of 1.4% to 1.8%. Shares of Circuit City lost 2.7% to $17.45 in normal trading and dropped 8% to $16.05 in the after-hours on volume of almost 1.07 million.


MedImmune Inc Beat Quarter
MedImmune Inc. (MEDI) reported that its 1Q 07 profit more than tripled on increased sales of its respiratory drug. MedImmune posted a net profit of $160 million. Sales were up $574.8 million, from $498 million last year. Analysts were looking for revenue of $553.5 million. Worldwide sales of their drug grew 9% to $507 million, up from $463 million last year. MedImmune agreed last month to be bought by AstraZeneca (AZN) for more than $15 billion. Shares climbed $0.82 to $57.50 after hours.

(Source: Seeking Alpha, MarketWatch, Reuters)