Investment Banking & Brokerage

Markets rose to fresh highs as bank stocks led the rally following optimistic earnings prospects and some upgrades. Benchmarks touched multi-year highs as concerns about the euro-zone debt crisis eased and the Federal Reserve released an upbeat report.   The Dow gained 0.7% and closed at 11,755....

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) has upgraded shares of NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) and added the stock to its Conviction Buy List. The firm has a price target of $37.00 on the name. During Wednesday's trading session, NYX rose 4.74% to $32.23 on heavy volume. Given the very large move in the stock prior to...

On Tuesday, JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon commented in an interview on CNBC that the company will soon increase its annual dividend to the range of 75 cents to $1 per share. The dividend hike is expected in the second quarter of 2011. According to Mr. Dimon, once the Federal...

On Tuesday, JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon commented in an interview on CNBC that the company will soon increase its annual dividend to the range of 75 cents to $1 per share. The dividend hike is expected in the second quarter of 2011. According to Mr. Dimon, once the Federal...

Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is on an acquisition spree. Its insurance unit, Wells Fargo Insurance Services, has acquired JFK Consulting Group LLC, an employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm located in Overland Park, Kansas. The acquisition closed on November 29, 2010. Terms of the...

Glimcher Realty Trust (GRT), a real estate investment trust (REIT), has recently completed its secondary offering of 14.8 million common shares at $8.30 per share, including 1.8 million shares sold to the underwriters to cover the over-allotment options. BofA Merrill Lynch, the investment...

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is spiking dramatically higher today, leading the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The stock is trading at $44.70, +1.10 (+2.52%) on the day after the CEO said it was likely a dividend hike would occur in 2011. While JPMorgan is soaring today, the stocks is near a...

Glimcher Realty Trust (GRT), a real estate investment trust (REIT), has recently completed its secondary offering of 14.8 million common shares at $8.30 per share, including 1.8 million shares sold to the underwriters to cover the over-allotment options. BofA Merrill Lynch, the investment...

Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is on an acquisition spree. Its insurance unit, Wells Fargo Insurance Services, has acquired JFK Consulting Group LLC, an employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm located in Overland Park, Kansas. The acquisition closed on November 29, 2010. Terms of the...

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...

General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) was downgraded by Bernstein from "outperform" to "market perform." GE's stock closed at $18.63 yesterday. General Electric's trailing-twelve-month ROA is 1.19%. QLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QLGC) was downgraded by Canaccord from "buy" to “hold." QLGC's shares...

• 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...