Specialized Finance

Moody's Corp (NYSE: MCO) reported that it acquired British risk management company Barrie & Hibbert Ltd for GBP 50 million ($77.6 million). Moody's shares gained 0.77% to close at $32.60 on Friday.

Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) announced today that it has acquired Barrie & Hibbert Limited, a leading provider of risk management modeling tools for insurance companies worldwide. The acquisition broadens Moody's Analytics suite of software solutions for the insurance and pension sectors....

Finally, it looks like the SEC is going to attempt to act on behalf of investors who were lied to repeatedly in the run-up to the mortgage meltdown. In any event, they are at least attempting to give that impression. On Friday, the SEC announced civil actions against six former top executives at...

I enjoy trolls, they are typically funny and add flavor to interactions. However, S&P seems to be taking things a bit far. It has put almost everything Europe related on Credit Watch negative, implying that everything is about to go to hell. While S&P has done its part to be as impartial...

Life Partners Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPHI) announced that on November 30, 2011, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq stating that the Company is now in compliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1). The Rule requires the Company to timely file all required periodic reports and other documents...

Life Partners Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPHI) announced today that a Texas state court has determined that a legal case filed against its subsidiary, Life Partners, Inc., for purported violations of the securities registration provisions and for securities fraud under the Texas Securities Act was...

Below are the top mid-cap business services stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of dividend yield. R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NASDAQ: RRD) has a dividend yield of 7.30%. RRD's shares closed at $13.60 on Wednesday. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated (NYSE: RBA) has a dividend...

D.I. Reports maintains its Medium Risk – Negative Bias on Moody;s Corp. (NYSE: MCO) on ongoing investigations, litigation and senior leadership positions. According to D.I., “In May-10, the company disclosed that the SEC was conducting an investigation into certain services provided to financial...

Below are the top mid-cap business services stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of cash. Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) had $867.50 million in total cash and $1.24 billion in total debt for the latest quarter. Global Payments Inc (NYSE: GPN) had $723.95 million in total cash and $690.74...

A report from J.P. Morgan reiterates its Overweight rating and raises its price target from $42 to $43 on Moody's (NYSE: MCO). The report states, “We're reiterating our Overweight rating on MCO shares. In Q3,11, revs. (+4%) were below estimates while profits (+4%) were above....

Shares of Life Partners Holdings (NASDAQ: LPHI) are lower on the session by 6.82%, currently trading at $6.15. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past three months and is currently trading above the 50-day moving average. Options traders are focusing on puts today. A short while...

Piper Jaffray has published an industry overview reiterating its Overweight ratings on Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) and The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. (NYSE: MHP). In the report it states, “Sept new issue debt volumes remained soft, as expected, rounding off a 3Q that posted modestly positive...

Piper Jaffray is out with a research report on Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO) and it has an Overweight rating and a $45 price target on shares. In a note to clients, Piper Jaffray writes, "Dismissal of a negligent misrepresentation suit brought by Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund, et al., is a...

Benchmark is out with its report today on Moody's (NYSE: MCO), downgrading MCO from Buy to Hold. In its report, Benchmark writes, "Due to the turbulent financial market conditions, bond issuance in the US and Europe has declined sharply in 3Q11, below already low expectations. As a result, we are...

This is your Benzinga news summary and traders' outlook for Tuesday, September 20, 2011, covering headlines from overnight and Tuesday's pre-market session. Today in domestic pre-market trading, U.S equity futures are trading higher. At last check, Dow futures are higher by about 75 points or 0.68...