Casino operator Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) reported second quarter results on Wednesday after the market close that disappointed investors. The stock quickly fell to its lows over the past year. As a result, it could represent a solid buying opportunity.
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Direct-selling firm Tupperware (NYSE:TUP) counts Europe as a major market, but saw its reported sales crimped by a stronger U.S. dollar. Overall, though, its business model continues to pay dividends and should continue doing so for loyal shareholders.
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P.J. O’Rourke once famously quipped that giving money and power to the government was like giving whiskey and car keys to a teenager. Politicians and other American leaders frequently get a bad rap from business-minded individuals, but there have been quite a few that have managed to balance common sense with fiscal prudence. Below are some of the noteworthy pieces of financial advice from American leaders and other high-profile individuals throughout history.
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Money center financial titans Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) were among the first banks to report second quarter earnings results. Wells continued to be a standout, due in good part to minimal investment banking and international market exposures. Its current valuation also suggests there is minimal downside to owning the stock, as well as some additional, albeit modest, upside potential in the coming few years.
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Money center financial titans Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) were among the first banks to report second quarter earnings results. JP Morgan’s results weren’t much of a surprise given it disclosed a huge trading loss prior to the end of the quarter. However, its ability to absorb the loss was surprising, and the bank has largely seen a recovery in its profitability from the depths of the credit crisis. Based off of negative sentiment, the stock could still rally.
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The Greek economy recently reported a total gross domestic product of US$308 billion. Growth trends over the past three years haven’t been encouraging and have been accelerating into negative territory. Overall though, Greece is not one of the larger economies in the world. However, worries that it may default on its sovereign debt could have dire consequences for the rest of Europe and world. Below are five things U.S. consumers and businesses need to watch out for in the coming months.
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According to Morningstar, over the past year, the average mutual fund return in the European stock category has been negative and hovering around 17.70%. The category was much stronger over the last three years and has returned close to 7.99% annually. However, over the past five years, which includes the credit crisis, the return dips back into the negative territory with an average annual loss of more than 7%.
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Charitable organizations survive primarily from the donations they receive from organizations and individuals. For most charities, the holidays, and especially in December during the Christmas holiday, are among the most active from a donation perspective. This leaves roughly eleven months to get creative and find other ways to make money, aside from simply relying on the generosity of others. Below are five important avenues for charities to bring in money and make their donated dollars stretch further.

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Xyratex (Nasdaq:XRTX)is a key supplier to manufacturers of data storage drives and devices. Its hard drive products and solutions are used in the final products of the leading players in the storage industry. In fact, 91% of its sales are to only six customers, and they are the largest in the industry. As such, Xyratex serves as a bellwether for overall industry trends.
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Technology firm Dell Inc. (Nasdaq:DELL) recently announced a material move into the software space in the industry and will acquire Quest Software Inc. (Nasdaq:QSFT) for around $2.4 billion. The move is a good one for Dell, but investors may have another of more appealing options to consider.
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John C. Bogle, the founder of investment management firm Vanguard, has estimated that the investment industry collectively shaves around 3% from stock returns each year. This stems primarily from the fees it charges for managing assets for individuals and institutions. Bogle has also openly questioned the value of actively managed funds over index funds. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are another low-cost way to invest primarily in passive, indexed strategies. Not surprisingly, Vanguard was founded on low-cost index funds and has moved into ETFs, as have most other well-known firms in the industry.
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