4/16/08

Economics

Some observations on inflation from Barry Ridholtz:

http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2008/04/inflation-updat.html

Passing the peak in mortgage resets:

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2008/04/passing-peak-of-mortgage-resets.html

Sharing the tax burden--or not:

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2008/04/on-tax-day-tax-debate-we-need-to-have.html

Politics

Domestic

Obama on trade:

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/04/obama-sets-trade-priorities.html

International War Against Radical Islam

An update from Iraq the Model:

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/iraqs-moment-of-truth-in-baghdad-and-basra/

The Market

Technical

Charts on the 10 year Treasury Note and the dollar:

http://bespokeinvest.typepad.com/bespoke/2008/04/treasury-yields.html

Fundamental

Subscriber Alert

The Altria stub (MO-$22), i.e. the domestic operations of the old Phillip Morris Cos., is being shifted from the Dividend Growth Universe to the High Yield Universe. At its current price, it is in its new Buy Value Range. Accordingly, MO is being Added to the High Yield Buy List; and at the Market open this morning, the High Yield Portfolio will Buy a one half position in MO.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=MO

The stock price of Suncor (SU-$109) has risen above the upper boundary of its Buy Value Range. Accordingly, it is being Removed from the Aggressive Growth Buy List. The Aggressive Growth Portfolio never purchased shares of SU.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=SU

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

Northern Trust (Dividend Growth Portfolio) reported first quarter earnings operating earnings per share of $1.03 versus $.84 recorded in the similar 2007 quarter. The company bought back approximately 900,000 shares during the quarter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=NTRS

US Bancorp (High Yield Portfolio) reported first quarter earnings per share of $.62 versus estimates of $.61 and $.63 reported in the first quarter of 2007.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=USB

A review of Johnson & Johnson’s (Dividend Growth Portfolio) first quarter financial report:

http://www.thestreet.com/p/_htmlrmm/rmoney/healthcare/10411857.html

Schwab (Aggressive Growth Portfolio) reported first quarter earnings per share of a$.26 in line with expectations and versus $.22 recorded in the similar 2007 quarter. SCHW also announced that it bought back $350 million in stock.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=SCHW

A look at the coal industry (Peabody Energy-Aggressive Growth Portfolio):

http://www.thestreet.com/p/_htmlrmd/rmoney/energy/10412105.html

Johnson Controls (Dividend Growth Portfolio) reported its second fiscal quarter earnings per share of $.48 versus expectations of $.47 and $.38 reported in the comparable 2007 fiscal quarter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=JCI

Coca Cola (Dividend Growth Portfolio) reported first quarter operating earnings per share of $.67 versus $.63 recorded in the first quarter of 2007.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=KO

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