Monday Morning, August 27th
SITE NEWS
New IceMD Recording:
Scientists bringing bad breath out of the closet
Hidden Treasure News:
Neuralstem Shares Accepted for Trading on Amex(R)
Stem cell company Neuralstem, Inc. (NRLS) today announced that its shares have been accepted for listing on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol CUR. Neuralstem shares are expected to begin trading on Amex on August 27, 2007.
"Moving to the Amex is the next logical step for Neuralstem. It is a result of the continuous and significant progress the company has made in each and every phase of its activity, and of an increasing awareness of the company and its prospects on the part of the financial community," said Richard Garr, Neuralstem President and Chief Executive Officer.
The approval is contingent upon the company being in compliance with all applicable listing standards on the date its stock begins trading on the Amex and may be rescinded if the company is not in compliance with such standards.
About Neuralstem
Neuralstem's patent-protected technology enables, for the first time, the ability to produce neural stem cells of the human brain and spinal cord in commercial quantities, and the ability to control the differentiation of these cells into mature, physiologically relevant human neurons and glia. The Company expects that its first Investigational New Drug (IND) application will be for the treatment of Ischemic Paraplegia, a form of paraplegia that sometimes results from the surgery to repair aortic aneurysms and for which there is no effective treatment The Company hopes to submit its initial IND application to the FDA and begin its first human trial during calendar year 2007.
Major Central Nervous System diseases targeted by the Company with research programs currently underway include: Ischemic Paraplegia, Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury, ALS, and Parkinson's disease. The company's cells recently extended the life of rats with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in a paper published in the journal TRANSPLANTATION, and were deemed viable for continued work in neurodegenerative spinal conditions. Neuralstem cells also recently reversed paralysis in rats with Ischemic Spastic Paraplegia, a form of paralysis that can result from the surgery to repair aortic aneurysms, as reported in NEUROSCIENCE (http://www.neuroscience-ibro.com/). The company has also developed immortalized human neural stem cells for in-vitro use in drug development for the academic and pharmaceutical markets. For further information, please visit http://www.neuralstem.com.
Dow Stock News
Private Equity firms seeking to acquire Home Depot's wholesale supply unit slashed the price to $8.5 billion, 18% below what had been agreed to two months ago, after banks that had agreed to loan money to the buyers balked. - WSJ
Wal-Mart Stores is considering acquisitions in its home market as it seeks to open smaller stores and limit its reliance on giant supercenters for growth, according to a published report. - CNNMoney
UTX - reiterated Buy at DBAB - they believe the company can outperform at market consition
Ice Man Stocks
Breakouts the Ice Man may consider trading:
ANH - 50
DKS - 63.15
Regular Trades the Ice Man may consider:
DYN - 8.55
SYNL - 21
QLGC - 13.05
CRDN - 71.40
IACI - 28.40
INXI - 10.26
HMY - 9.10
AUY - 10.50
MDT - 54.20
MCRL - 11
AXR - 39.85
SWIR - 22.50
RSYS - 12.15
KMB - 70.50
Media Commentators
Cramer's Comments:
Bullish: TOL, EMR, DLTR, DELL, HPQ, SCMR, JDSU, SHLD. Joe Theismann picks: MON, LVLT, WFC, INTC, SIX, KO - Cramer was questionable on LVLT and SIX.
Bearish: HRB, FRE
Ice Cold Commentators
Break Man Video Summary:
Break out buy (or short sell) watch list for short term gains August 27 includes: LNDC, EXPE, CRNT, HRT, BAY, NOK, INTC, IVGN, STSI, NFLD, ANO, AT, FEEC.
Several candidates for break out or short sell plays for at least short term gains by buying the break out (or selling the break down) on good volume and closing at least some on the first day.
CNBC Fast Money Review
Will the Fed cut?
Najarian: 100% they will cut
Adami: the U.S. dollar will go to zero
Macke: always bet against what the masses are looking for
Tim: Fed is watching inflation
Tech outperforming in Fall:
CNBC Journalist Jim Goldman´s comments on Tech:
Tech is acting as a bazaar flight to quality lately. We see the companies:
- sitting with and generating substantial amounts of cash
- Halo 3 comes out in September which is greatly anticipated and good for Microsoft
- INTC developer forum is upcoming which normally means higher stock prices for INTC
- The highly anticipated AMD Barcelona chip is slated for the 1st or 2nd week of Sept.
- Speculation of a new iphone
- Speculation on Google entering the wireless world
Macke: Halo 3 is already in MSFT´s price and stay long INTC
Adami: people have been moving money out of Oil and placing it into Technology
Is deal making done?
Dan from PE Hub :
I think the deals will come back after Labor Day but we will see smaller deals. If we do not see deals getting done by the third week of September, then I would be concerned that private equity could be finished.
Is the stock market moving higher dependent on Private Equity deals?
Macke: still to early to get back in the market
Adami: No, the story is Global boom
Tim: Sovereign Funds have $1 Trillion for M&A
Najarian: deals were overpriced and that will stop now
What are you watching for year end:
Macke: I am watching how Halo 3´s numbers look and can Nintendo make enough systems to fill demand.
Adami: Goldman Sachs earnings are huge
Najarian: I´m watching the Fed
Tim: I think the Russian election are big and should go well
Final Trade:
Macke: go long Nintendo by shorting SNY
Najarian: JNPR
Adami:go long LMT
Tim: go long the Real or the Renminbi
News and Events Digest
Breaking News
In the latest example of global consolidation in the steel industry, United States Steel Corp. has agreed to acquire Canada's Stelco Inc. for C$38.50 a share, or C$1.1 billion, the companies said. The buyout price is a 43% premium over Hamilton, Ontario-based Stelco's Friday close of C$26.93. It works out to the equivalent of $36.56 a share. - MarketWatch
company Crocs Inc. (CROX) known for its brightly colored shoes made of resin, said on Monday it will launch a line of apparel in October.
The clothing, for men and children, will use the company's proprietary material and will be resistant to harsh chemicals and heat, the company said. - Reuters
Barrons:
Banks may have $30 billion hangover from LBO deals at low interest rates. They may need to sell at a 12% loss. This affects GS, MER, MS, and JOM.
Tech companies have $200 billion in collective cash and will continue to buy smaller rivals.
Media Summary:
According to Reuters, US Steel (X) will buy Canadian steel company Stelco for $1.1 billion.
Reuters writes that Singapore's state-owned Temasek Holdings has approached Nasdaq (NDAQ) about buying its stake in the London Stock Exchange.
The Wall Street Journal writes that India's Tata Group may bid for Ford's (F) Jaguar and Rover brands.
The Wall Street Journal reports that virtualization, pioneered by VMWare (VMW), is now moving to the PC using new technology from Pano Logic.
The Wall Street Journal reports that show company Crocs (CROX) will diversify into clothing.
The New York Times writes that Nokia (NOK) will relaunch its NGage which combines a multi-player phone with standard voice features.
The FT reports that the Saudis have set up a 35.000 person force to guard their oil fields
The FT writes that Intel (INTC) will launch a new version of its vPro platform, a combined chip and software product that makes it easier for companies to manage secure computing networks.
The FT writes that Wal-Mart (WMT) is setting up acquisition group in the US market to potentially buy companies with stores smaller than the ones it operates now.
Barron's reports that a well-known economist has suggested that Google (GOOG) is recession-proof.
M&A Activity:
MIPS Technologies Inc. (MIPS), the Mountain View, Calif., provider of processor archtectures and cores for electronics, networking, communications and other applications, said it would pay $147 million for Chipidea Microelectronica SA of Portugal. Chipidea produces analog and mixed-signal intellectual property for wireless, consumer and connectivity markets. MIPS also will pay in 2009 a performance-based amount of 610,687 of its shares. Those shares are valued at about $5 million based on MIPS's closing price Friday at $8.17. Employing 310 people worldwide, Chipidea had revenue for the year through June 30, 2007, of $32.8 million. MIPS said the company should add to adjusted earnings by the end of June 2008. - MarketWatch
Taiwan computer vendor Acer Inc. said Monday that it's agreed to acquire Gateway Inc. (GTW), the fourth-largest personal-computer company in the U.S., for $710 million, or $1.90 a share. The offer represents a 57% premium to Friday's closing price of $1.21 a share. The deal has been unanimously approved by both boards of directors and should create pretax synergies of at least $150 million. Separately, Gateway announced it intends to exercise its right of first refusal to acquire all of the shares of PB Holding, the parent company of European PC vendor Packard Bell BV. Gateway is also currently in discussions with a third party over the potential sale of its U.S.-based professional business. - MarketWatch
IPO Central:
No IPOs on schedule for the week of 8/27/2007
Economic Data:
10:00 Existing Home Sales
Upgrades and Downgrades by Sector:
Brokers:
LEH, BSC, MS - Goldman says the top brokers are “very attractive’ long term. MS is the “best buy’ and BSC will see the biggest Q3 EPS decline.
Biotech
AMLN Amylin Pharms CIBC Wrld Mkts Price Target Raised Sector Outperform $45 to $58
Broadcasting
HTV Hearst-Argyle TV Deutsche Securities Downgraded from Buy to Hold $24 to $27
Bus Svc-Recruiting
DHX Dice Holdings Jefferies & Co Initiated at Buy $13
Business Services
HPOL Harris Interactive Roth Capital Cut Price Target Buy $7 to $6
Computer Hardware
FFIV F5 Networks CE Unterberg Towbin Price Target adjusted for split Buy $88 to $44
Foods
HNZ Smith Barney Says to Buy
Healthcare Facilities
THC Tenet Healthcare Deutsche Securities Upgraded from Sell to Hold $4
Insurance
CNA CNA Financial Credit Suisse Upgraded from Underperform to Neutral $46
Media Services
DISCA Discovery Deutsche Securities Upgraded from Hold to Buy $20 to $27
Oil and Gas
ERF Enerplus Res Fd Trust RBC Capital Mkts Upgraded from Sector Perform to Outperform
RDC Rowan Cos Bear Stearns Upgraded from Peer Perform to Outperform
HERO Hercules Offshore Lehman Brothers Initiated at Overweight
Real Estate
LUM Luminent Mortgage Cap JMP Securities Upgraded from Sell to Mkt Underperform $1
Regional Banks
GRNB Green Bankshares BB&T Capital Mkts Downgraded from Buy to Hold
Retail Trade
AMZN Amazon.com Bernstein Upgraded from Mkt Perform to Outperform $95
ANN AnnTaylor Friedman Billings Price Target Raised Mkt Perform $33 to $34
SWY Merrill Lynch Downgraded to Sell
DLIA Delia*s Friedman Billings Downgraded from Outperform to Mkt Perform $8 to $5
Semiconductors
TSRA Tessera Tech First Albany Upgraded from Neutral to Buy $44
MTSN Mattson Am Tech/JSA Resrch Price Target Raised Sell $9 to $9.75
VSEA Varian Semi UBS Price Target Raised Buy $54 to $60
Telecommunications
GCOM Globecomm Systems Susquehanna Financial Initiated at Positive
KVHI KVH Industries CE Unterberg Towbin Downgraded from Buy to Market Perform
Utilities
ATG AGL Resources Calyon Securities Upgraded from Hold to Buy
ATO Atmos Energy Calyon Securities Upgraded from Hold to Buy