First Program That Bundles Alerts, Offers and Locator Service to U.S. Bank Visa Cardholders

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by Benchmark Journal.

The market for initial public offerings is thawing, but retail investors shouldn't expect to find access to this notoriously exclusive market any easier -- though a few back doors are open for those who know where to look.

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Global Payments finally says goodbye to its money transfer business.

Analysts at JPMorgan maintain their “overweight” rating on Visa Inc (NYSE: V) and MasterCard Inc (NYSE: MA).

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published its report on consumer credit, interchange fees and the impact on consumers and merchants. According to JPMorgan, the report indicated that merchants are paying more as a result of more swipes and appreciating interchange rates. The report also acknowledged that it will be tough to determine the benefit or damage to consumers if interchange were to be regulated.

JPMorgan believes that the results of the GAO study were positive and would not pose a risk to V and MA. JPMorgan also expressed its comfort level with the risks associated with the possible interchange regulation.

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Today’s tickers: CVS, LIZ, ITMN, MA, V, RF, KG, HW, WSM, AEP & NTAP

CVS - CVS Caremark Corp. – Shares of the pharmacy retail chain are up 1.5% to $31.11 perhaps due, in part, to the ‘buy’ rating it received at UBS today. Optimistic options activity took place in the December contract as one investor initiated a bullish risk reversal. It appears the trader sold 4,400 puts at the December 31 strike for an average premium of 94 cents apiece in order to finance the purchase of the same number of calls at the higher December 32 strike for 63 cents each. The investor pockets a 31 cent credit on the trade, which he retains in full as long as shares remain above $31.00 through expiration. Additional profits accumulate if CVS’s shares rally above $32.00.

LIZ - Liz Claiborne, Inc. – A 15,000-lot covered call in the January 2011 contract on Liz Claiborne today suggests shares are likely to recover, albeit at a glacial pace. Shares of the apparel and accessories retailer suffered a 5% decline to $4.55 during the trading session. One investor effectively purchased shares of the underlying stock for $3.30 apiece by selling 15,000 calls at the January 2011 5.0 strike for a premium of 1.25 each. Thus, the trader stands ready to accrue gains of 51% if shares of LIZ appreciate to $5.00 by expiration. The long-term positioning of the covered call play provides several advantages to the investor. One advantage is that the call options do not expire for another 13 months, which leaves ample time for LIZ’s shares to appreciate up to the strike price of $5.00. The 15,000-lot call transaction represents nearly 50% of the total existing open interest on LIZ of 31,502 contracts. Note that shares last traded above $5.00 yesterday at approximately 10:35 am (EDT).

ITMN - InterMune, Inc. – A bull call spread on the biotechnology company today suggests shares could rally significantly by expiration in April 2010. Bullish options activity on the stock belies the more than 3% decline in ITMN’s shares during the session to $10.94. The call spread involved the purchase of 3,750 calls at the April 15 strike for an average premium of 2.25 each, marked against the sale of the same number of calls at the higher April 25 strike for 75 cents apiece. The net cost of the transaction amounts to 1.50 per contract. The optimistic investor is positioned…

(CVS) - CVS Caremark Corp. - Shares of the pharmacy retail chain are up 1.5% to $31.11 perhaps due, in part, to the ‘buy’ rating it received at UBS today. Optimistic options activity took place in the December contract as one investor initiated a bullish risk reversal. It appears the trader ...

Today's tickers: MA, V, RF, KG, HW, WSM, AEP & NTAP[More...]

Last weekend, in my Market Forecast, I said, "For the new week, the market will start the week in a neutral position.  If SPX and Nasdaq can rise above their respective daily MAs, the market can rally higher.  The immediate resistance levels above the daily MAs are SPX 1080 and Nasdaq 2150.  Although VIX closed below 25, [...]

Traders watch earnings releases closely, as changes in a company’s performance can be a good indication whether a company is on the right track, or headed the wrong way.   Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. (CIDM) is scheduled to release its earnings results Thursday. The company currently has an earnings per share ratio (EPS trailing twelve months) of -1.45 and investors are hoping to see that number change. Let’s take a look at the performance of the stock since its previous earnings release.   {loadposition link_newslink1}     {loadposition livevideopromo}       {loadposition homeaccordion2}   {loadposition contentad}       In the past three months, the stock has posted a 21.74% gain in terms of stock price. Over the same period, the Business Services industry group has returned a combined 10.35% gain.   So the eyes of investors turn to this new round of earnings.   Now, good earnings don’t always lead to higher stock prices, but keeping up on earnings is still a vital part of your fundamental stock analysis. Also note that companies often change earnings dates, so you should double-check them often.   When looking at earnings, it’s very helpful to see how stocks compare to others in its industry group. And even though two stocks may not be direct competitors, many analysts and institutional investors still compare them and evaluate them relative to other stocks in their group.     CIDM is in the Business Services industry group where it competes for investor dollars with companies like USA Technologies Inc. (USAT), which released its earnings on 09/24 and last reported a -1.54% decline in quarter-over-quarter EPS.   Another industry peer, Innotrac Corp. (INOC) released its earnings on 11/10 and last reported a 79.63% gain in QOQ EPS.   Visa, Inc. (V) is the stock with the biggest market cap in the Business Services industry at $68.37B. It closed yesterday at $80.82   To better understand how to evaluate earnings announcements and the affect they have on your portfolio, be sure to read Earnings Announcements and EPS.   {loadposition link_nowtime} {loadposition followus}

Schaeffer's analyst Morgan Searcy takes a look at news on the Street before the market open.

Schaeffer's analyst Colleen S. King takes a look at the major news of the day on Wall Street.

Schaeffer's analyst Colleen S. King takes a look at the major news of the day on Wall Street.

Schaeffer's analyst Mark Fightmaster takes a look back at the major news of the day on Wall Street.

Schaeffer's Senior Equities Analyst Joseph Hargett takes a look at news on the Street before the market open.