Specialized Finance

Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRAA) today reported net income of $20.6 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010. Net income increased 66% from $12.4 million in the same period a year earlier. Earnings per diluted share were $1.20 in the fourth quarter of 2010, up 50% from $0.80 in...

Pulling back from their recent hot streak, stocks declined modestly Tuesday afternoon amid disappointment with a weaker-than-expected retail sales report. Today's Markets As of 2:01 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 47.79 points, or 0.39%, to 12220.17, the Standard & Poor's 500...

Cusick's Corner There's not much commentary to add, the market is long and there has not been a move to the upside that would be considered the pop that we have been looking for the last few weeks. We see that the S&Ps continue to challenge 2 year highs, just below a 100% retracement of the ‘...

Banking sources are telling FOX Business Network (FBN) Senior Correspondent Charlie Gasparino that the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (NASDAQ: CME) and NASDAQ “are meeting to discuss their strategy to respond to the Deutsche Boerse buyout deal for the big board. Neither CME or NASDAQ deny discussions...

Life Partners Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPHI), parent company of Life Partners, Inc., announces today's payment of a special cash dividend of $0.04 per share to shareholders of record as of January 31, 2011. Authorization of this special cash dividend was previously announced on January 6, 2011....

By 11:10 am, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 42.15 points, or 0.34%, to 12,226.04, while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index had lost 4.28 points, or 0.32%. The NASDAQ composite index fell 12.08 points, or 0.43%. Some of the narrow based indexes that are still afloat in the...

Jefferies is out with its report today on Nasdaq OMX Group (NASDAQ: NDAQ), maintaining Buy. In a note to clients, Jefferies writes, "The combination of NDAQ's strong cash flow generation and margin expansion opportunities represents a compelling backdrop, in our view. The growth outlook for NDAQ's...

NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) is trading lower today. At the time of posting, shares of NYX were trading at $36.92, down 6.41% from Monday's close. Deutsche Boerse will have a 60% ownership in the new partnership, which is disappointing for NYX shareholders.

Deutsche Boerse AG and NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) today announced that they have entered into a business combination agreement following approval from both companies' Boards. Under the agreement, the companies will combine to create the world's premier global exchange group, creating the world...

Marriott International Inc (NYSE: MAR) rose 4.88% to $43.00 in the pre-market session. MAR announced its plans to spin off its timeshare unit into a public company. United States Steel Corp (NYSE: X) added 2.50% to $61.86 in the pre-market session. Analysts at Goldman upgraded United States Steel...

NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) are currently halted.

CIT Group (NYSE: CIT) reports its Q4 EPS at $0.37, versus the consensus of $0.42. CIT shares gained 0.67% to close at $48.15 yesterday. Read more from Benzinga's Company news.

Nasdaq OMX Group's (NASDAQ: NDAQ) CFO and Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Adena Friedman will be leaving the company effective March 4, 2011. Ms. Friedman will be joining The Carlyle Group as Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Operating Committee. Former...

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NDAQ) announces that Adena Friedman, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy will be leaving the company, effective March 4, 2011. Ms. Friedman will be joining The Carlyle Group as Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and...

Shares of The NASDAQ OMX Group (NASDAQ: NDAQ) are higher on the session by 5.62%, currently trading at $29.70. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past six months and is currently trading above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Options traders are buying calls on the name today...