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Sony Leads This Group of Consumer-Related Underperforms

Wed, 25/08/2010 - 10:22 by Anand Chokkavelu

As an investor, it doesn't pay to follow the crowd.

Fool Radio Roundtable: Adobe, RIMM, and Consumer-friendly, Dividend Stocks

Sun, 22/08/2010 - 10:02 by Chris Hill

Motley Fool Money is a one-hour weekly business radio show syndicated to radio stations across America. On our most recent show, host Chris Hill talked with our analysts about some stocks on their radar. You can catch this week's show online at motleyfoolmoney.com. In this lightly edited transcript, the guys share three stocks on their radar.

HP to release two tablets in market soon

Sun, 22/08/2010 - 09:44 by Priyanka

Hewlett-Packard Co. on Friday finally confirmed that it is working on a two tablet computers, which will be releasing in the market as early as next year.

Ford, GM get top consumer ranking

Wed, 18/08/2010 - 01:55 by Prince damin

Detroit -- Ford's Lincoln-Mercury brand and GM's Buick nameplate topped the auto industry in consumer satisfaction, a report released Tuesday said.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index, developed at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, showed U.S. automakers on the rise after problems at Japan's Toyota. Overall, U.S. brands were rated higher than Japanese and Korean autos for the first time since 2000, but were still behind European vehicles.

It was the first time Lincoln-Mercury and Buick have been tops in consumer satisfaction in the survey's history

Despite higher sales, Chrysler's problems persisted. Its Jeep and Dodge brands were rated at the bottom of the list, the report said.

U.S. markets shake off early doldrums

Mon, 09/08/2010 - 23:36 by Prince damin

New York -- U.S. markets opened flat Monday and picked up steam in the early afternoon.

Disappointing data from a week ago and anticipation of a Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting this week are likely to keep markets subdued. The Commerce Department said Tuesday consumer spending was unchanged from May to June. On Friday, the Labor Department said the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.5 percent.

Both reports indicated the economic recovery had stalled.

In addition, investors often take a wait-and-see approach before a Federal Reserve policy meeting.

Crude oil holds above $82

Wed, 04/08/2010 - 22:10 by Prince damin

New York -- Crude oil prices held above $82 per barrel Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, establishing a new plateau despite sluggish spending.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that consumer spending and incomes were virtually flat in June. Stock markets slumped slightly, but crude oil prices headed higher, breaking the $80 barrier for the first time in three months.

Overnight, the price of light, sweet crude oil for September delivery peaked at $82.85 before dropping back to $82.52 per barrel.

Prices were supported by a drop in the dollar index, which fell Monday and Tuesday.

Faith in U.S. recovery looks weak

Thu, 29/07/2010 - 01:16 by Prince damin

New York -- More U.S. consumers are concerned the economic recovery will sour further before it solidifies than consumers with an optimistic outlook, a recent poll found.

In a survey conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion, of 1,013 respondents, 86 percent indicated they believed the economy was in poor or very poor shape -- respectively, 57 percent and 29 percent.

Sixty-one percent indicated their own financial situation was in poor shape, while 20 percent indicated their personal finances were in very poor shape, the survey found.

More consumers indicated the economy was getting worse than those indicting it was getting better -- 26 percent, compared with 18 percent.

iPad owners sue Apple over tablet's overheating and switch off problems

Wed, 28/07/2010 - 12:26 by Priyanka

As per several media reports on Tuesday, Apple Inc. has been slapped with a lawsuit by iPad owners Friday, alleging that the tablet overheats easily and as a result switches off immediately.

Tuesday's ETF To Watch: QQQQ

Wed, 21/07/2010 - 00:32 by Eric Dutram

With markets encountering a rough patch and the consumer confidence index plunging, many investors have stayed away from technology and consumer discretionary names in order to avoid some of the volatility as consumers continue to save instead of spend. Despite this trend, one company has managed to find demand for its products no matter what challenges the economy is facing: Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL). Once almost entirely dependent on sales of Mac computers and music through its iTunes platform, the technology giant has now come to dominate the smartphone market and the tablet computer segment as well. In fact,according to stock analysis at Trefis, Mac computers and iTunes make up less than 20% of their price target for AAPL, while iPhones and iPads combine to make up close to 55%.

Would You Pay $10 for Apple's iTunes -- Per Month?

Sat, 17/07/2010 - 11:47 by Daniel Bailey

NPD has released survey results that point to a huge interest in an iTunes subscription service, which, in 2010 language, would be called a "cloud service." NPD believes there is a market of about 8 million possible subscribers in the U.S. alone. Those subscribers indicated they would be willing to pay at least $10 per month, which would translate into the next billion-dollar opportunity for Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL).

Star Asia wire feed welders recalled

Thu, 15/07/2010 - 11:40 by Pankaj Damin

Washington -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of Star Asia USA wire feed welders due to a burn hazard.

About 9,000 welders were imported from China by Star Asia USA, LLC, doing business as Titan of Kent, Wash., and sold nationwide at auto parts stores from October 2006 through March 2010 for about $170 each.

The wire welder's touch lacks a cold contactor, which allows an arc to form immediately upon contact with welding material, posing a threat of burn to welders, the commission said in a statement.

The recall involves model number 41181 Vaper 90 amp flux feed welders. They are red and black and include the words "Vaper" and "90 amp flux wire welder" found on the operation panel.

Consumer Reports: Nay on iPhone

Tue, 13/07/2010 - 02:51 by Pankaj Damin

Yonkers, N.Y. -- U.S. products-review magazine Consumer Reports said Monday it would not recommend purchasing Apple Inc.'s iPhone 4 because of persistent reception problems.

It said the fourth generation of iPhone, released June 24 in the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan, has an antenna-design flaw -- contradicting claims by Apple the problems were a software issue.

Consumer Reports said its engineers tested three separate iPhone 4s and found that when the bottom left corner of the iPhone is touched it can lose about 20 decibels, or enough signal strength to drop a call, especially "if you're in an area with a weak signal," the magazine said in a blog post and accompanying video.