Specialized Consumer Services

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) has announced that Russ Smyth is resigning as CEO with immediate effect. Former interim CEO Alan Bennett will take over from Smyth as President and CEO of the company. In his note to clients, analyst Bill Carcache of Macquarie Securities termed Smyth’s resignation is a “...

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- CHANGE IN RATINGS Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC) rated new Buy at Pritchard Capital. $72 price target. Company has a strong portfolio of domestic onshore assets. CR Bard (NYSE: BCR) upgraded at Morgan Joseph from Hold to Buy. $97 price target. Company's buyback program...

Skilled Healthcare Group Inc (NYSE: SKH) was downgraded by Jefferies from “buy” to “hold.” SKH’s shares closed at $1.52 yesterday. Skilled Healthcare Group’s earnings may tumble 489.25% this year. Oppenheimer downgraded Nanometrics Incorporated (NASDAQ: NANO) from “outperform” to “perform.” NANO’s...

Shares of Sotheby’s (NYSE: BID) are higher on the session by 3.78%, currently trading at $23.34. The stock has been trading lower over the past few weeks, breaking down through the 50-day and 200-day moving averages along the way. Options traders are picking up some puts today. The July $22.50...

By 1:02 pm, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 241.69 points, or 2.38%, to 9,896.83, while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index had lost 28.67 points, or 2.67%. The NASDAQ composite index had also dipped 70.08 points, or 3.16%. Some of the narrow based indexes that are driving the...

Stocks that are moving higher in the after hours trading session include Sotheby's (NYSE: BID), Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS), and Denbury Resources (NYSE: DNR). Shares of Sotheby's (BID) were crushed during regular market hours today, falling 9.25% to close at $23.75. During the after hours, however...

• Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL) reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth quarter earnings of 60 cents, eight cents better than Zacks expectations, on revenues of $9.6 billion, up from the $9.5 billion expected. The firm noted, "We continue to take large chunks of market share away from SAP."  FBR...

Shares of H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) are higher on the session by 0.25%, currently trading at $15.84. The stock has been moving lower for the past six months, cratering from the $23.00 level. Options traders are buying calls on the name today. Though action has been primarily in small lots, call...

Shares of Sotheby’s (NYSE: BID) are higher on the session by 1.81%, currently trading at $32.57. The stock has been moving largely sideways for the past four months; the stock is currently above both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Options traders are buying some upside today. The July $35...

Piper Jaffray reiterated their Overweight rating on shares of Coinstar (NASDAQ: CSTR) and their $62 price target in a company note today. According to the report, Paramount and Redbox (which is owned by CSTR) have announced a long term distribution agreement that provides Redbox with access to...

Preclinical SCI Data Shows Encouraging Neuroprotection On June 3, 2010, Oxygen Biotherapeutics (OXBT) reported that two preclinical studies demonstrated Oxycyte delivered marked neuroprotective effects in a rat model of spinal cord injury. The data show histologically, Oxycyte improved the volume...

Shares of Coinstar (NASDAQ: CSTR) are back on the move today, climbing 4.63% on heavier than average volume. The stock is now trading hands for $57.59. Momentum players will definitely want to take a look at CSTR, as the stock has been one of the strongest Nasdaq securities year to date. Since the...

Shares of Sotheby’s (NYSE: BID) are higher on the session by 2.65%, currently trading $31.41. The stock has been drifting lower for the past seven weeks, but appears to have found support on the $30 strike. Calls are being purchased on the stock today with the July $35 call line purchased 1,073...