Auto sales continued to drop in June, but we are starting to see signs that sales may be beginning to stabilize a bit.

The auto industry is still in deep trouble. It is going to take a while before things get back to normal, but before things can even start to improve, they have to stop worsening, and that's what may be happening.

Continue reading Auto sales show signs of stability

Auto sales show signs of stability originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ford (NYSE: F) is the last of the "Big" Three standing on its own two feet. Chrysler and General Motors (OTC: GMGMQ) are on crutches supplied by the federal government. While they're both still upright, those crutches are mighty expensive (the government will own 60% of GM when it emerges from bankruptcy).

Speaking of bankruptcy, Chrysler is already on the other side and now a partner with Fiat. That was perhaps the fastest legal action ever seen. Usually bankruptcy takes between 18 months to two years before a new company emerges.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Is Ford a buy?

Comfort Zone Investing: Is Ford a buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I recently attended a Lakers' basketball playoff game and took notice of the fact that Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) was a major sponsor advertising at Staples Staples Inc (NASDAQ: SPLS) Center. This, while our home grown car companies are all on the verge of collapse.

As we write stories on the depressed economy readers frequently comment about "buying American" as a theme that will help the greater good by keeping jobs and money in the United States.

This patriotic notion got me thinking about what would happen if we carried it further? Would we stop advertising and promotion of foreign products? Would we restrict discussion of foreign products in the media all together? Would we limit the production of foreign products here, even if they are providing jobs for Americans?

Continue reading Buy American -- but promote foreign brands?

Buy American -- but promote foreign brands? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 May 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chrysler announces major dealership closings

Chrysler announces major dealership closings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 May 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) Q1 results beat expectations and raised its guidance.
• Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: ANR) shares surged after the it reported strong Q1 earnings.
• Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM) just missed swinging to a loss due to to hefty investment losses.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) surprised with a net loss in Q1 as revenue and cash flow declined.
• Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) shares fell after it reported disappointing results for the quarter.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: GM, Toyota, CBS, Sprint, ADM, MGM, Nintendo, UBS and more

Earnings highlights: GM, Toyota, CBS, Sprint, ADM, MGM, Nintendo, UBS and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 May 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Toyota posts first annual loss in 59 years

Toyota posts first annual loss in 59 years originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

VW may have passed Toyota (NYSE: TM) as the world's No.1 car company just as Toyota passed GM (NYSE: GM) a year ago. Unfortunately, the companies all operate in an industry where being on the top of the pile does not matter much these days. It is probable that each of these firms loses money on the great majority of the cars they sell. To make matter worse, market share may be a weakness as the auto industry moves out of the recession.

It seems more and more likely that modest sized and nimble auto makers like BMW and Hyundai, who do not have to maintain factories in distant corners of the world and do not have to develop and market dozens of individual products, may hold an advantage in a fragmented car industry. The behemoths rely on their ability to maintain massive capital spending and their cost structures can do them nearly irreparable harm in a weak economy.

Continue reading Volkswagen may be number one

Volkswagen may be number one originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

	'Cash for clunkers' programs institutionalizing planned obsolescence
	February wholesale inventory drop may be another 'green shoot'
	Toyota trounces Chrysler in test of consumer 'iQ'
	Should we fire CEOs and liquidate their banks?

DailyFinance today: should we fire CEOs and liquidate their banks, Toyota trounces Chrysler in consumer IQ, February wholesale inventory drop another green shoot, and cash for clunkers institutionalizing planned obsolescence originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Honda (NYSE: HMC) closed at $25.90. HMC March 2009 U.S. sales decreased 36% compared to March 2008. HMC April option implied volatility of 51 is below its 26-week average of 62, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) closed at $67.90.TM March 2009 U.S. sales decreased 39% compared to March 2008. TM April option implied volatility is at 44, May is at 46; below its 26-week average of 57, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Nissan (NASDAQ: NSANY) closed at $8. NSANY March 2009 U.S. sales decreased 37% compared to March 2008. May option implied volatility of 60 is below its 26-week average of 65, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Honda, Toyota and Nissan volatility low originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Toyota concerned about welfare of its top 100 U.S. suppliers

Toyota concerned about welfare of its top 100 U.S. suppliers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Auto sales continue to weaken

Auto sales continue to weaken originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Great Day Thwarted, Disaster Thwarted (BBI, GENZ, TM, BAC, FSLR)

Closing Bell: Great Day Thwarted, Disaster Thwarted (BBI, GENZ, TM, BAC, FSLR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street: Feb. 27
• How to Buy Gold Now

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't need stocks? Don't own 'em

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't need stocks? Don't own 'em originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Honda Motor president bowing out originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Japanese appear more willing to replace car companies CEOs as profits fall due to the troubled auto market. In the U.S., none of The Big Three has replaced its chief executive since the industry crisis began.

According to The Wall Street Journal, "Honda Motor Co (NYSE: HMC) said Monday that it appointed Takanobu Ito, a senior managing director, as new president and chief executive to replace Takeo Fukui." The departing CEO will get to stay on the board of directors. Just three weeks ago, Toyota (NYSE: TM) replaced its chief executive.

Continue reading Honda (HMC): Another car firm CEO waves 'goodbye'

Honda (HMC): Another car firm CEO waves 'goodbye' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

No large car company is going to do well as the global recession deepens. But the one best positioned to move through the tough period is Honda (NYSE: HMC). It did not go through the global factory expansion that has stretched Toyota's (NYSE: TM) resources. It builds small, quality, fuel-efficient cars that have gained more and more market share in almost ever major country.

Results out of China say something about Honda's relative success. According toThe Wall Street Journal, "Chery Automobile Co., China's most successful independent producer and marketer of cars without a foreign partner, said January sales rose, and forecast a sales increase this year, while Honda Motor Co. said January car sales in China increased 17% from a year earlier." Total car sales dropped almost 8% in the world's most populous nation last month.

Continue reading Honda (HMC) may outrun the recession

Honda (HMC) may outrun the recession originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Companies must throw little parties and hand out bonuses when they get on one of the "most admired" lists that several magazines put out. The way that firms get on these lists is often vague and sometimes based on surveys of people who may admire companies for things that having nothing to do with making money, which should help move stock prices up.

The new Barron's "most admired" list is a fine example of why the lists make poor reading for people hoping to make money in the market. The most important factors for getting on this list were strong management and sound business strategy.

Continue reading Being a "most admired" company doesn't help shareholders

Being a "most admired" company doesn't help shareholders originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stocks in the news: PEP, TM, NSANY, ANF, CAL, MSFT, SBUX, RTP, MFE ...

Stocks in the news: PEP, TM, NSANY, ANF, CAL, MSFT, SBUX, RTP, MFE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Toyota (NYSE: TM) is not only the world largest car company, it also probably has the best balance sheet. It has only modest exposure to worker benefits and health costs, unlike its US competitors. In most cases its vehicles are still the model of "defect free" auto products.

All of that makes it especially bad news that Toyota will sharply cut employment and other costs in its North American operations. According to CNNMoney, "The company will offer "no wage increases for the foreseeable future" and a "voluntary exit program" will be set up for employees who wish to pursue other opportunities." A polite way of telling some workers that they are fired.

Continue reading In Toyota (TM) cuts, another sign of GM bankruptcy

In Toyota (TM) cuts, another sign of GM bankruptcy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Akamai Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM) earnings prospects garnered an analyst's upgrade.
• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) warned of a loss for the quarter due to the economic slowdown.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) posted lower Q2 profit and revenue that missed estimates.
• Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) Q2 profit fell but beat estimates, and it reaffirmed its full-year guidance.
• Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) swung to a Q4 loss and warned that low demand will continue.
• Hartford Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: HIG) posted a loss, cut its dividend, and offered weak guidance.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Toyota, Disney, Merck, Marathon, News Corp. and others

Earnings highlights: Toyota, Disney, Merck, Marathon, News Corp. and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.