Diversified Capital Markets

Regional - pacific banks traded 9.32% higher today, as West Coast Bancorp (NASDAQ: WCBO) traded 4.69% higher. Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: PFBC) jumped 3.11%, and closed at $1.99. Foreign money center banks gained 4.66% on Wednesday, and in the space, Banco Santander, S.A. (ADR) (NYSE: STD) spiked 12.23...

The results of Portugal's bond auction are strengthening European Markets today. The Portuguese government successfully sold 1.25 Bln euros of government bonds in 3- and 10-year notes. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentina SA (NYSE: BBVA), Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: STD), and Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB...

Markets on Tuesday climbed modestly higher as the euro-zone debt crisis eased to lessen investors' nervousness. Reports of a New York appeals court ruling in favor of MBIA Inc. and upbeat earnings results also helped indices break out of the red zone.   Indices gained modestly as bond insurer...

• JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) has downgraded Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from "overweight" to "neutral" rating because of valuation concerns, setting a target price of $175 • AIG (NYSE:AIG) has planned  to sell off its Taiwan life insurance unit for $2.16 billion • Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE:CLF) has...

• JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) has downgraded Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from "overweight" to "neutral" rating because of valuation concerns, setting a target price of $175 • AIG (NYSE:AIG) has planned  to sell off its Taiwan life insurance unit for $2.16 billion • Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE:CLF) has...

Markets on Tuesday climbed modestly higher as the euro-zone debt crisis eased to lessen investors' nervousness. Reports of a New York appeals court ruling in favor of MBIA Inc. and upbeat earnings results also helped indices break out of the red zone.   Indices gained modestly as bond insurer...

• Alcoa (NYSE:AA) reported fourth quarter results of $0.21 lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.24, on revenues of $5.65 billion, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.09 billion • Lennar (NYSE:LEN) reported fourth quarter earnings of $0.17, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of  $...

• Alcoa (NYSE:AA) reported fourth quarter results of $0.21 lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.24, on revenues of $5.65 billion, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.09 billion • Lennar (NYSE:LEN) reported fourth quarter earnings of $0.17, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of  $...

Last week, MetLife Inc.'s (MET) unit, MetLife Institutional Funding II, sold 1.25-year year floating-rate notes worth approximately $500 million in the 144A private placement market, according to Reuters. These floating-rate notes were issued at a price of $100.00, maturing on July 12, 2012. ...

Last week, MetLife Inc.'s (MET) unit, MetLife Institutional Funding II, sold 1.25-year year floating-rate notes worth approximately $500 million in the 144A private placement market, according to Reuters. These floating-rate notes were issued at a price of $100.00, maturing on July 12, 2012. ...

• DuPont (NYSE:DD) reported plans to purchase Danish firm Danisco for $5.8 billion in cash, which is expected to cut 2011 earnings of $3.30-$3.60 by a range of $0.30-$0.45 per share • Playboy Enterprises (NYSE:PLA) is reportedly going private at $6.15 per share • Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) announced...

• DuPont (NYSE:DD) reported plans to purchase Danish firm Danisco for $5.8 billion in cash, which is expected to cut 2011 earnings of $3.30-$3.60 by a range of $0.30-$0.45 per share • Playboy Enterprises (NYSE:PLA) is reportedly going private at $6.15 per share • Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) announced...

Cusick's Corner The employment number didn't look big enough to keep all the bulls happy, so there's been some small profit taking. The EU is weighing down the market and the Euro. I'll be watching the Euro's close today to see if it cannot break and settle above 1.30, the currency could continue...

As expected, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Morgan Stanley (MS) have received the approval for setting up securities businesses through joint ventures (JVs) in mainland China from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). This was separately announced by these two banks on Thursday...

As expected, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Morgan Stanley (MS) have received the approval for setting up securities businesses through joint ventures (JVs) in mainland China from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). This was separately announced by these two banks on Thursday...