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Is it possible to improve your credit score with debt consolidation?

July 4th, 2011

It is advisable to seek the help of companies such as Better Business Bureau to obtain reliable information about debt consolidation services. Debt consolidation is a good opportunity to replace all high interest loans with a low interest loan. You can improve your credit score by working with one of debt relief companies. We all know how these creditors can be harassing at times. With debt consolidation loans it is easy to carry and repay the relatively low rate of interest.

If the loan is secured, your interest will probably be lower than your credit rate, and it may even be lower than those rates, if you take out a personal loan. The Internet is the best source of information when you are seeking for a suitable debt relief company to consolidate debt. They also negotiate with creditors to reduce interest rates. If you had the misfortune to do business with an unscrupulous debt consolidation company, then it can dangerous for your credit score. So be careful choosing a service provider.

Today it is difficult to find a job, and living in America is expensive. Read more…

Tags: debt consolidation services

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Endo Pharma Buying American Medical for $2.6 Billion

July 4th, 2011

Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. said Monday it is buying urology and pelvic health company American Medical Systems Inc. for about $2.6 billion.

Endo is offering $30 a share – a premium of 34 percent to the most recent closing price of American Medical Systems shares. Endo will also assume $312 million in American Medical’s debt.

American Medical Systems makes devices and therapies for pelvic health, urology, and gynecology. The Minnetonka, Minn., company reported $542.3 million in sales in 2010. Almost half its revenue comes from sales of men’s health products and drugs for urinary incontinence and impotence. It also sells urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse products for women’s health, and markets laser therapies for enlarged prostate.

Endo, of Chadds Ford, Pa., said the deal is part of its transition from a drugmaker to a health care company. It’s the latest in a string of acquisitions for Endo, which paid $1.2 billion for Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, a maker of pain treatments and generic drugs, in December. In November, Endo acquired Penwest Pharmaceuticals for $144 million.

Endo had $1.72 billion in revenue in 2010. Read more…

Tags: American Medical, Billion, Endo Pharma

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Case for a Balanced Budget Amendment; Charts of the Day: Transfer Payments (Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, etc.) vs. Total Government Receipts

July 4th, 2011

Inquiring minds are investigating Personal Transfer Receipts.

Personal current transfer receipts are benefits received by persons for which no current services are performed. They are payments by governments and businesses to individuals and nonprofit institutions serving individuals.

Personal Current Transfer Receipts Examples

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Food Stamps
• Social Security
• Unemployment Insurance

Personal Current Transfer Receipts

Note that transfer receipts are nearly $2.4 trillion.

Federal Government Receipts

Ratio of Personal Transfer Receipts to Federal Government Receipts

Notes

• Nearly every dime of federal government receipts goes to personal transfer payments.
• Between 1960 and 1970, personal transfer payments were 30-35% of federal government receipts.
• From 1980-2000 the percentage fluctuated between 50% and 65%.

Read more…

Tags: Government Receipts, Receipts

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International Business Machines Corporation – Growth & Income

July 3rd, 2011

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM – Analyst Report) just turned 100 years old on June 16, but it looks like its best years still lie ahead.

Earnings estimates have been steadily climbing over the last several months as Big Blue continues to grow revenue and expand its margins. It is a Zacks #2 Rank (Buy) stock.

IBM has also been generating tons of free cash flow which is has been using to buy back shares and raise its dividend. It currently yields a solid 1.8%.

First Quarter Results

IBM delivered better than expected results for the first quarter of 2011. Revenue rose 8% to $24.6 billion in the quarter, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24.0 billion.

IBM actually has many diverse revenue streams. Revenue for the first quarter was divided as follows:

Global Technology Services: 40%
Global Business Services: 19%
Software: 22%
Systems and Technology: 16%
Global Financing: 2%
Other: 1%

Adjusted Software revenue increased 10% in the quarter while Systems and Technology revenue rose 19%.

Read more…

Tags: Business Machines, Business Machines Corporation, Machines, Machines Corporation

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MomentumOptionsTrading.com Trade Alerts (RIMM, LNKD) for 6/21/2011

July 3rd, 2011

For those of you who use our cell phone alerts or Twitter updates, we wanted to send out a Trade Alert for two of our current trades.  This morning we set hard stops for LinkedIn (LNKD, $67.71, up $4.00) and Research In Motion (RIMM, $27.49, up $1.60). 

We had already closed half of these trades to lock in profits and the stops on the rest of the positions have been hit.  LNKD was closed for 110% return in 5 days while subscribers banked 357% on RIMM in 2 weeks.

We will be back in about an hour with a short market update and a possible NEW TRADE.  Subscribers, stay locked and loaded and be sure to check the Members Area for the updates.

Tags: Lnkd, Rimm Lnkd

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Level 3 to Acquire Global Crossing for $2 Billion

July 3rd, 2011

Level 3 Communications Inc. said Monday that it is buying Global Crossing Ltd. for $2 billion, joining two major long-distance telecommunications networks that carry massive amounts of Internet and other data traffic in the U.S. and internationally.

Both Level 3 and Global Crossing operate vast networks of optical fiber used by other telecom carriers, corporations and government agencies. The combined company’s reach would extend to 70 countries on three continents. Despite steadily increasing data traffic, the prices Level 3 and companies like it can charge for carrying that traffic have been driven down by competition, said Erik Kreifeldt, a senior analyst with the research firm TeleGeography. Meanwhile, the carriers have high fixed costs, including the cost to lay fiber-optic cables on the bottom of the ocean.

Kreifeldt said the acquisition of Global Crossing will help Level 3 gain scale, enabling it to put more traffic over its networks.

It will also let Level 3 expand its geographic reach. Read more…

Tags: Billion, Global Crossing

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