Microsoft Stocks Decline as Sales Decreases

April 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Microsoft Stocks

Microsoft Stocks

Microsoft stocks declined recently due to a decrease in the quarterly sales of the Windows OS. However Microsoft Corp was able to meet the profit projections of Wall Street behind the solid sales of the Xbox gaming console and the MS Office applications. Recent decline in the sales of PCs and the entry of tablet PCs affected Microsoft stocks recently.

After the report on the earnings of the company, Microsoft stocks decreased by 1.2 percent during after-hours trading.

According to Channing Smith of Capital Advisors, Microsoft stocks are now more appealing as value stocks instead of growth stocks. Growth investors will gradually let go of Microsoft stocks. On the other hand value investors will also be drawn into Microsoft stocks in the future.

The decrease in PC sales by around one percent in the initial three months of 2011 has contributed to the decline of the Microsoft stocks. Peter Klein of Microsoft indicated that consumer PC spending is expected to be passed by corporate PC spending in about a year. He added that the increasing popularity of tablet PCs has also caused the decline in the sales of netbooks.

Even as Microsoft has surpassed Wall Street projections recently, the value of Microsoft stocks is still at the 2001 level. The entry of tablets caused investors to be concerned on the possible disappointment of the core buyers of Microsoft.

In the past year, Microsoft stocks have declined by 14 percent despite the increase of 16 percent at the Nasdaq.

An increase of 31 percent in net profit, at $0.61 per share or around $5.2 billion, was achieved by Microsoft for the fiscal third quarter. In comparison to the same period last year, the company had a $0.45 or $4 billion net profit.

Although Microsoft stocks decreased, total unit sales increased by 13 percent at $16.4 billion, which is higher than the $16.2 billion projection by analysts, due to the Xbox and Office sales.

The decrease of four percent in the sales of the Windows OS may have contributed to the decline of price of Microsoft stocks. MS Office sales increased by 21 percent while the gaming console unit increased by 60 percent.

Microsoft stocks are currently being traded at half its ten year average which is lesser than the average of other significant tech firms. Despite a 2.5 percent dividend yield, investors are still wary about the Microsoft stocks and how it will perform in the future.

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Blue Chip Stocks Increase Recently in the Market

April 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Blue Chip Stocks Increase Recently in the Market

Blue Chip Stocks

Blue chip stocks have continued to increase as the Federal Reserve announcement on maintaining low interest buoyed the optimism in the market. The Dow Jones increased by 0.6 percent or 72.35 point as it closed at 12,763.31, its highest level in nearly three years as blue chip stocks ended on a high note.

The blue chip stocks were led by Boeing, which increased by 3.2 percent or $2.43 closing at $78.55. Procter & Gamble also ended higher closing at $64.50 or an increase of 0.8 percent or $0.48. The positive growth of blue chip stocks also helped the Nasdaq to close at 2,872.53, increasing by 0.1 percent or 2.65 points. The S&P 500 also ended higher at 1,360.48, an increase of 0.4 percent or 4.82.

Blue chip stocks may have boosted the Russell 2000 as it closed at 861.55, an increase of 0.4 percent or 3.24 points. The increase in pending home sales did not affect the market that much as the GDP considerably slowed down despite the increase of blue chip stocks. The market was generally passive to the release of the economic date during the quantitative easing program of the Federal Reserve as blue chip stocks continued their increase.

Even as blue chip stocks increased, some analysts have indicated that the end of the quantitative easing program will be interesting since the market will remain quiet in the next few months. With the increase in blue chip stocks and earnings being in the limelight these days, Sprint Nextel indicated an increase of 6.7 percent or $0.32 as the company reduced its losses in the first quarter.

Akamai Technologies and Aetna has also increased to 34.94 and 41.45 respectively as blue chip stocks recently continued its climb.

Despite the increase in blue chip stocks, Starbucks shares went down by 0.8 percent or $0.31 as it indicated that increasing commodity expenses will likely affect its balance sheet. Shares of Microsoft Corp decreased by 1.3 percent or $0.33 hitting 25.71, while Constellation Energy increased by 5.7 percent or 1.96 at 36.26 even as blue chip stocks increased.

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Profit of Exxon Mobil Corp Reaches 69 percent

April 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Exxon Mobil

Exxon Mobil

The increase in the price of crude oil along with an improvement on the refining and chemical business of Exxon Mobil Corp allowed for an increase in quarterly earnings of the company. The quarterly earnings of Exxon Mobil Corp exceeded initial estimates as it posted an increase of around 69 percent. Average prices of crude oil during the first quarter were at $95 a barrel, which is higher by 20 percent compared to last year which helped Exxon Mobil Corp attain an increase in its earnings.

The rising demand for fuel as well as the instability in North Africa and the Middle East caused oil prices to increase to over $100 a barrel, which was advantageous to Exxon Mobil Corp.

According to Phil Weiss of Argus Research the production of Exxon Mobil Corp was higher compared to the initial estimates as the chemical business came out stringer for the company. However since chemical is not the main product of Exxon Mobil Corp , the increase in chemical production may not be reflected on the shares of the company.

Premarket trading have indicated a minor decline in Exxon Mobil Corp shares of stock. Chemical companies have benefitted from the upswing in the world economy and the low prices of natural gas. Refiners have also earned more due to the increase in the demand for fuel. First quarter income of Exxon Mobil Corp increased from last year’s $2.14 for each share or $6.3 billion to $2.14 for each share or at $10.65 billion.

The average income of Exxon Mobil Corp by analysts was at $2.07 for every share. Returns of Exxon Mobil Corp also went up to around $114 billion. A ten percent increase in gas and oil output was observed for Exxon Mobil Corp as it reached around 4.82 million barrels per day.

The profit of Exxon Mobil Corp from its chemical group increased by 21 percent as it reached $1.5 billion while its refinery earnings increased from $37 million last year to around $1.1 billion. Premarket trading at the NYSE also saw Exxon Mobil Corp shares decreasing to around $87.56 and closed at $87.78.

 

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The Canadian Mint Releases the 2011 Collectors Coins

April 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Canadian Mint, 2011 Collectors Coins

Canadian Mint, 2011 Collectors Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint has released a batch of collector coins to mark the return of spring. The coins show Canada’s ties to it’s culture and natural heritage. The new collectors release includes the $15 Sterling Silver Coins from the Crown Series, the $3 silver “Family Scene” coin, a $3 sterling gold plated Orca Whale continuing the Wildlife Conservation Series, the 25 cent Barn Swallow coin from the Birds of Canada Series, the 2011 50 cent circulation coin series and the Elk Calf wildlife Specimen Set.

Ian E. Bennett, the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Royal Canadian Mint, says that the Mint continues to produce coins that represent the culture, history and the natural heritage of Canada. The Canadian Mint is known for its innovative and appealing products worldwide. The Mint uses the latest mintage technologies combined with outstanding craftsmanship to produce coins that engages the whole coin collecting community.

The coins in the Crown Series represent Canada’s 144 years old Royal heritage. The two $15 Sterling Coins released so far feature Princes William and Harry. A third coin portraying Prince Charles would be released sometime in September as the country prepares for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. The mintage of each individual coin is limited to 10,000 coins only.

The $3 silver “Family Scene” coin portrays the image of an Inuit mother caressing her child in her amauti (conventional North Arctic warm garment). The coin is a beautiful appraisal of the love and affection of mothers all around the world. The mintage of the coin is limited to only 10,000 coins and is available for $64.95 CAD.

The Orca Whale square coin is the third coin of the Wildlife Conservation series that raises awareness regarding the vulnerable species of Canada. The coin portrays a killer whale which is the icon of the Canadian West Coast. The 25 cent Barn Swallow is a colored coin featuring an image of a Barn Swallow nourishing her young. This attractive and agile bird represents the rural landscape of Canada.

The 50 cent Circulation Coin Roll features the Canadian Coat of Arms. The coins are wrapped in a commemorative paper and buying them is the only way to posses the 50 cent silver coins as they are no longer directly injected into the market.

The Elk Calf wildlife Specimen Set features a new born elk trying to move for the first time in the summer meadow. The coin is available for a retail price of $49.95 CAD.

 

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