Property & Casualty Insurance

Here is a quick peek at stocks that have abnormally high daily put/call ratios today relative to their average…. 1. R.R. Donnelley & Sons (NYSE: RRD) 3,109 puts, 82 calls 2. AMAG Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AMAG) 4,657 puts, 175 calls 3. Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB) 26,357 puts, 2,107 calls 4....

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...

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...

Piper Jaffray has an Overweight rating and a $35 price target on shares of Assured Guaranty (NYSE: AGO). In a note sent to clients, Piper Jaffray writes, "As we look back on 2010 Muni issuance, we believe it noteworthy to recognize two points regarding Assured Guaranty. First, fourth quarter...

Today, CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA) announced the appointment of Mark Verheyen to senior vice president and chief risk officer.

Cusick's Corner The market continues to flirt with levels that we have not seen in almost 3 years, 1278 on the SPX. It's worth noting that near the SPY's highs of 127.72, a large seller came in quickly on no news. The market has held its gains in spite of the pullback and the market action still...

It is no secret that many of the State and Local governments are in severe fiscal trouble. In addition to the current difficulties, many are worried about the long-term implications of severely underfunded pension liabilities. This has led many to place the blame for the states' fiscal position...

It is no secret that many of the State and Local governments are in severe fiscal trouble. In addition to the current difficulties, many are worried about the long-term implications of severely underfunded pension liabilities. This has led many to place the blame for the states' fiscal position...

Shares of bond insurer MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) are currently up 13.8% at $13.97 per share during Tuesday afternoon trading. MBIA Inc's stock price rose after a New York appeals court threw out a lawsuit filed by a group of banks against the company that were challenging the company's restructuring...

Shares of MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) are skyrocketing this morning, up more than 7% on heavy average daily volume. At last check, shares of MBI were up 86 cents to 13.14. MBIA Inc. provides financial guarantee insurance and related reinsurance, advisory, and portfolio services, as well as investment...

Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today: Alliance Holdings (AHGP) Amer Oriental Bioengineering (AOB) Amer Woodmark Corp (AMWD) Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc (AHT) Assured Guaranty Ltd (AGO) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List. ASSURED GUARNTY (AGO): Free Stock...

Citi feels Allstate (NYSE: ALL) should encounter short-term pressure as Street EPS estimates need to come down for 4Q10 as well as 2011 & 2012. There is no change to $37 PT and Buy rating. Cutting $0.13 from 4Q10, $0.10 off 2011 and $0.20 off 2012. It is initiating 2013E of $4.10. There is...

Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today: Alliance Holdings (AHGP) Amer Oriental Bioengineering (AOB) Amer Woodmark Corp (AMWD) Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc (AHT) Assured Guaranty Ltd (AGO) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List. ASSURED GUARNTY (AGO): Free Stock...

Cusick's Corner The market is at excessive levels and in condition of being overbought (with no real selling except for a small amount last week); no trend reversal has materialized yet. There are two ways that this environment can work itself out: 1) by grinding in a range, which the Small Caps...

Cusick's Corner Support – that's the key term to this market in the short-term. The market is holding support even after the data missed expectations Friday, the market held critical short-term support of 1260 on the S&P. I am watching the longer term trend lines to monitor any developments if...