For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – July 2, 2012 – 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 E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co (DD - Analyst Report), The Dow Chemical Company (DOW - Analyst Report), Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN - Analyst Report), Celanese Corporation (CE - Analyst Report) and News Corp. (NWSA - Analyst Report).
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Chemistry Council Shows Choppy Recovery
The American Chemistry Council’s (“ACC”) recently released first monthly report on its new, first-of-its-kind economic indicator shows weak demand for chemicals, pointing to a sluggish recovery in the U.S. economy. Demand for chemical products takes place early in the supply chain and changes in chemical production serves as a barometer to gauge the trends in the broader economy.
The report shows that the Chemical Activity Barometer (“CAB”), the Washington-based chemical industry trade group’s new macroeconomic indicator, dipped for the third consecutive month in June, suggesting economic growth to subside in the back half of 2012. It also signals a slow recovery in the domestic housing market.
The CAB composite index consists of indicators drawn from an array of chemicals and sectors associated with the production of chlorine and other alkalies, pigments, plastic resins and other selected basic industrial chemicals.
The index also factors in the stock data of chemical companies, hours worked in the industry and chemical prices. It helps in spotting the trends in the U.S. economy within sectors such as housing, retail and automobiles that are closely connected to the chemical industry.
The ACC noted that the CAB index sagged 1.3% to 88 in June following a decline of 0.7% and 0.6% in May and April, respectively. The index, which helps anticipate the peaks and valleys in the U.S. economy, registered gains in the first three months of 2012. The report also demonstrates a positive correlation between the CAB and Federal Reserve’s Industrial Production index.
With respect to the various components of CAB, the production-related indicator remained flat while chemical company equities, hours worked and prices shrank. CAB’s three-month moving average fell in June, signaling tepid growth prospects in the months ahead.
The ACC report further reveals a slowdown in construction-related activity as the production of chlor-alkalies and a few construction-related polymers slipped following several months of growth. The decline is significant as these chemicals are used to make a host of plastic products for housing construction.
The U.S. housing sector remains a weak end market. The domestic housing sector, a key consumer of chemicals, is likely to remain soft through 2012. Weakness in the electronics and construction end markets may weigh on the June quarter results of chemical companies including majors such as E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co (DD - Analyst Report), The Dow Chemical Company (DOW - Analyst Report), Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN - Analyst Report) and Celanese Corporation (CE - Analyst Report).
The chemical industry is among the biggest industries in the U.S., a roughly $760 billion enterprise, accounting for 26% of the nation’s GDP. The chemical industry, by nature, is cyclical and heavily linked to the overall condition of the U.S. economy. It has been consistently leading the U.S. economy’s business cycle due to its early position in the supply chain.
The U.S. chemical industry represents roughly 19% of the global chemicals output. It is responsible for 10% of the nation’s merchandise exports, aggregating $145 billion annually. Chemical industry also touches 90% of manufactured goods, making the manufacturing industry the biggest consumer of chemical products.
While the U.S. is yet to reach a healthy growth phase and the European economy is still in tatters, the chemical industry is well placed to reap the benefits of the emerging market tailwind in 2012 with Asia being a beacon of growth.
News Corp. Split Confirmed
It’s now official: News Corp. (NWSA - Analyst Report), a 60-year old company with a market value of approximately $53 billion, will finally split into two separate publicly traded publishing and entertainment entities. The steering will remain in the hands of 81-year old veteran Rupert Murdoch, who views this as the right move, at the right time and in the right direction.
The diversified media conglomerate is spinning the newspapers, HarperCollins book publishing, its digital education operations and the integrated marketing services business. It is also and creating a much more profitable entity including Fox broadcasting, cable network, Fox News Channel, the 20th Century Fox movie studio, BSkyB, Sky Italia, Sky Deutschland, and pay-TV operations in Europe and India.
The decision to divide into two has finally brought a reason to cheer for disgruntled shareholders, who from a long time have been pressing hard to sever the publishing business.
The process of separation will likely take a year, and result in News Corporation’s stakeholders receiving one share in each new company formed for each share they currently hold. Murdoch’s family with approximately 40% voting right will spearhead both the companies.
Chase Carey will serve as chief operating officer of the entertainment company and maintain his present role in News Corporation. The company is yet to decide who will assume the role of CEO in the publishing company.
We believe that the breakup would help News Corporation to lift its image, which was tainted due to the phone hacking scandal that resulted in the closure of the publication of ‘The News of the World’ and abstinence from acquiring the remaining 61% stake in the British Sky Broadcasting Group.
Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – July 2, 2012 – 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 E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co (DD - Analyst Report), The Dow Chemical Company (DOW - Analyst Report), Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN - Analyst Report), Celanese Corporation (CE - Analyst Report) and News Corp. (NWSA - Analyst Report).
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Chemistry Council Shows Choppy Recovery
The American Chemistry Council’s (“ACC”) recently released first monthly report on its new, first-of-its-kind economic indicator shows weak demand for chemicals, pointing to a sluggish recovery in the U.S. economy. Demand for chemical products takes place early in the supply chain and changes in chemical production serves as a barometer to gauge the trends in the broader economy.
The report shows that the Chemical Activity Barometer (“CAB”), the Washington-based chemical industry trade group’s new macroeconomic indicator, dipped for the third consecutive month in June, suggesting economic growth to subside in the back half of 2012. It also signals a slow recovery in the domestic housing market.
The CAB composite index consists of indicators drawn from an array of chemicals and sectors associated with the production of chlorine and other alkalies, pigments, plastic resins and other selected basic industrial chemicals.
The index also factors in the stock data of chemical companies, hours worked in the industry and chemical prices. It helps in spotting the trends in the U.S. economy within sectors such as housing, retail and automobiles that are closely connected to the chemical industry.
The ACC noted that the CAB index sagged 1.3% to 88 in June following a decline of 0.7% and 0.6% in May and April, respectively. The index, which helps anticipate the peaks and valleys in the U.S. economy, registered gains in the first three months of 2012. The report also demonstrates a positive correlation between the CAB and Federal Reserve’s Industrial Production index.
With respect to the various components of CAB, the production-related indicator remained flat while chemical company equities, hours worked and prices shrank. CAB’s three-month moving average fell in June, signaling tepid growth prospects in the months ahead.
The ACC report further reveals a slowdown in construction-related activity as the production of chlor-alkalies and a few construction-related polymers slipped following several months of growth. The decline is significant as these chemicals are used to make a host of plastic products for housing construction.
The U.S. housing sector remains a weak end market. The domestic housing sector, a key consumer of chemicals, is likely to remain soft through 2012. Weakness in the electronics and construction end markets may weigh on the June quarter results of chemical companies including majors such as E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co (DD - Analyst Report), The Dow Chemical Company (DOW - Analyst Report), Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN - Analyst Report) and Celanese Corporation (CE - Analyst Report).
The chemical industry is among the biggest industries in the U.S., a roughly $760 billion enterprise, accounting for 26% of the nation’s GDP. The chemical industry, by nature, is cyclical and heavily linked to the overall condition of the U.S. economy. It has been consistently leading the U.S. economy’s business cycle due to its early position in the supply chain.
The U.S. chemical industry represents roughly 19% of the global chemicals output. It is responsible for 10% of the nation’s merchandise exports, aggregating $145 billion annually. Chemical industry also touches 90% of manufactured goods, making the manufacturing industry the biggest consumer of chemical products.
While the U.S. is yet to reach a healthy growth phase and the European economy is still in tatters, the chemical industry is well placed to reap the benefits of the emerging market tailwind in 2012 with Asia being a beacon of growth.
News Corp. Split Confirmed
It’s now official: News Corp. (NWSA - Analyst Report), a 60-year old company with a market value of approximately $53 billion, will finally split into two separate publicly traded publishing and entertainment entities. The steering will remain in the hands of 81-year old veteran Rupert Murdoch, who views this as the right move, at the right time and in the right direction.
The diversified media conglomerate is spinning the newspapers, HarperCollins book publishing, its digital education operations and the integrated marketing services business. It is also and creating a much more profitable entity including Fox broadcasting, cable network, Fox News Channel, the 20th Century Fox movie studio, BSkyB, Sky Italia, Sky Deutschland, and pay-TV operations in Europe and India.
The decision to divide into two has finally brought a reason to cheer for disgruntled shareholders, who from a long time have been pressing hard to sever the publishing business.
The process of separation will likely take a year, and result in News Corporation’s stakeholders receiving one share in each new company formed for each share they currently hold. Murdoch’s family with approximately 40% voting right will spearhead both the companies.
Chase Carey will serve as chief operating officer of the entertainment company and maintain his present role in News Corporation. The company is yet to decide who will assume the role of CEO in the publishing company.
We believe that the breakup would help News Corporation to lift its image, which was tainted due to the phone hacking scandal that resulted in the closure of the publication of ‘The News of the World’ and abstinence from acquiring the remaining 61% stake in the British Sky Broadcasting Group.
Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
Read the full Analyst Report on DD
Read the full Analyst Report on DOW
Read the full Analyst Report on EMN
Read the full Analyst Report on CE
Read the full Analyst Report on NWSA