Wall Street Addict

Wall Street sank for a second straight session Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the slumping housing market remains a "significant drag" on the economy.
Bernanke's speech Monday night in New York elevated concerns that the summer's credit tightness might persist into the winter -- a sobering thought for investors, who are sifting through mixed third-quarter earnings and watching energy costs rise.
"First of all, the worry is we're getting more bad news on housing. No. 2 is higher oil prices. That's a pretty bad combination," said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer of Johnson Illington Advisors.
Crude oil prices spiked to another record above $88, and a National Association of Home Builders' index that tracks developers' expectations of future home sales fell for the eighth consecutive month to the lowest point since January 1985. Also Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson echoed Bernanke's concerns, saying housing is a significant risk to the economy.
The uncertainty on Wall Street about the economic outlook "comes at a time when earnings results are not particularly exciting -- in fact, are dismal," Johnson said.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 71.86, or 0.51 percent, to 13,912.94, after falling more than 100 points earlier in the session.
Broader indicators also declined. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slid 10.18, or 0.66 percent, to 1,538.53, and the Nasdaq composite index dipped 16.14, or 0.58 percent, to 2,763.91. The Russell 2000 Index of smaller companies fell 6.01, or 0.72 percent, to 823.35.
Source: Madlen Read, AP Business Writer

Labels: Ben Bernanke, BSC, C, Crude Oil, INTC, Oil Futures, STT, USB, WFC, YHOO

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Tuesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Genentech (NYSE:DNA - News) beat earnings estimates on Monday after the bell, announcing $0.73 EPS over an expected $0.72 EPS. DNA's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Robbins & Meyers (NYSE:RBN - News) also beat earnings after the close today, with $1.05 EPS versus expectations of $0.84 EPS. RBN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - News) reports earnings on Tuesday before the market opens, with analysts looking for $0.99 EPS. JNJ's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY - News) announces quarterly results before the bell on Tuesday, with analysts looking for $0.72 EPS. KEY's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
When US Bancorp (NYSE:USB - News) reports earnings tomorrow morning, watch for $0.66 EPS. USB's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Analysts are watching for Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC - News) to report $0.70 EPS on Tuesday before the open. WFC's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Supervalu (NYSE:SVU - News) is looking to report $0.68 EPS before the bell tomorrow. SVU's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Published by TradingMarkets.com

Labels: DNA, Hot Stocks, JNJ, KEY, RBN, SVU, USB, WFC

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett may buy parts of beleaguered mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp (NYSE:CFC - News), some investors are speculating, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Countrywide's debt-servicing business and its portfolio of mortgages and mortgage-backed securities may be attractive to Buffett, the Journal reported on its Web site on Monday, citing unnamed investors.
Like many mortgage lenders, Countrywide has struggled with rising delinquencies and foreclosures, and an unwillingness among bankers to extend credit, and among investors to buy the loans it makes.
Countrywide, which is being closely monitored by U.S. regulators, sought to reassure investors earlier on Monday that it is safe to do business with the company.
Buffett has been increasing his stake in financial services companies, including those with significant exposure to the mortgage market.
Earlier this month, Buffett's investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:BRK-A - News; NYSE:BRK-B - News) disclosed an investment in Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC - News), one of the six largest U.S. mortgage lenders, in a regulatory filing.
Berkshire is also a long-time shareholder in Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC - News), the second largest U.S. mortgage lender after Countrywide.
Wells Fargo has largely been spared the subprime mortgage-related woes afflicting smaller rivals, helped by its conservative underwriting standards.
Buffett told TV network CNBC last week that the worsening credit and housing markets may present some "real" investment opportunities.
Berkshire officials were not immediately available for comment. Buffett does not discuss what Berkshire is presently buying and selling.
Published by Reuters

Labels: BAC, BRK-A, BRK-B, CFC, Warren Buffett, WFC

Warren Buffett has added Bank of America Corp. to his Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s bank holdings.
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKA - News) held 8.7 million shares of Charlotte-based BofA at the end of June. The stake was valued at $425.3 million.
It's uncertain whether BofA (NYSE: BAC - News) will become one of Buffett's long-term holdings.
Buffett also added to his long-time holding in Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC - News), bringing the value of his stake in the San Francisco bank to more than $9 billion as of June 30.
He also added to his stake in Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp.
Published August 16, 2007 by the Charlotte Business Journal

Labels: BAC, BRKA, Warren Buffett, WFC