Investment Banking & Brokerage

Noble Corporation (NYSE: NE) was upgraded by BMO Capital from "market perform" to "outperform." NE's shares closed at $45.35 yesterday. Noble's trailing-twelve-month revenue is $2.81 billion. Goldman upgraded Nordstrom Inc (NYSE: JWN) from “neutral” to “buy.” JWN's shares closed at $42.30...

In a report published by J.P. Morgan, Charles Schwab (NYSE: SCHW) is to acquire optionsXpress. J.P. Morgan said that Schwab announced a definitive agreement to acquire optionsXpress (OXPS) for approximately $1B. “The deal looks OK at first glance; it's reported to be modestly accretive in the...

Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF) today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended February 28, 2011. Record net revenues of $758 million, up 31% versus $580 million Net income to Common Shareholders of $87 million, up 21% versus $72 million Net earnings per common share...

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Comments On Charles Schwab Deal To Acquire OXPS In a report published by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Charles Schwab & Co (NYSE: SCHW) announced that it has agreed to acquire OXPS in an all-stock transaction for $1 billion, based on a share price of $17.91. Keefe,...

Macquarie Upgrades OXPS To Neutral Analysts at Macquarie upgrade optionsXpress Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: OXPS) from “underperform” to “neutral.” OXPS shares surged 16.76% to close at $17.90 yesterday. More Analyst Ratings here

optionsXpress Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: OXPS) shares moved up 14.94% to $17.62 at 10:48 am. The volume of OXPS shares traded was 2378% higher than normal. Charles Schwab Corp (NYSE: SCHW) announced its plans to acquire OXPS in a stock-for-stock deal valued at around $1 billion. Verigy Ltd (NASDAQ:...

Curis Inc (NASDAQ: CRIS) shares surged 19.45% to $3.50 at 9:45 am. CRIS reported positive outcome in Genentech pivotal Phase II clinical trial of GDC-0449 in patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC). optionsXpress Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: OXPS) shares advanced 15.13% to $17.65. Charles...

Trading Resumes: optionsXpress Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: OXPS)

A manic, merger Monday is in effect again. Yesterday we saw the announcement of AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile merger for $39 billion in cash. This morning we just saw the merger of Charles Schwab (NASDAQ: SCHW) going after OptionsXpress (NASDAQ: OPXS) for 1.02 shares of Schwab. The deal values...

Reminder: OptionsXpress (NASDAQ: OXPS) was acquired by Schwab (NASDAQ: SCHW) for $1B. Ameritrade (NASDAQ: AMTD), E*Trade (NASDAQ: ETFC), and Interactive Brokers (NASDAQ: IBKR) may see some volatility on this news, especially when OptionsXpress re-opens for trading. Most of the bids on these...

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) and optionsXpress Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: OXPS) today announced they have signed a definitive agreement under which Schwab will acquire optionsXpress. Under the terms of the agreement, optionsXpress stockholders will receive 1.02 shares of Schwab stock...

SWS Group, Inc. (NYSE: SWS) today announced that it has entered into a definitive Funding Agreement with Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTH) and Oak Hill Capital Partners. Pursuant to the Agreement, Hilltop and Oak Hill Capital each agreed to invest in the Company through a $50 million loan, and SWS...

Warren Buffett told CNBC this morning that "odds are, [Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS)] is going higher."

I just got back from Albany, New York and wanted to share my experience with the CCSVI procedure, aka the MS 'Liberation' treatment, one of the most controversial subjects in the MS community, pitting patients against neurologists, patients against politicians, politicians against each other, and...

Trading Resumes: SWS Group (NYSE: SWS)