| Southwest’s Ratings Go South Zacks.com submits: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its ratings on Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV), lowering the debt ratings to 'BBB' from 'BBB+’ and placing it with negative implications. However, Southwest has retained its investment grade rating.The downgrade reflects lower operating cash flow caused by record high fuel prices, low global demand for air travel and weak prices. The travel downturn has eroded the airline's flow of cash at a time when the airline faces substantial fixed obligations and declining cash balances. Southwest's cash balance fell to $902 million in the third quarter from $1.4 billion at the end of 2008.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
S&P’s Top 10 Investor Questions on Global Automakers Research Recap submits: After the turbulence that the global auto sector faced in 2009, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services answers the top 10 questions investors will have about automaker credit quality in 2010. S&P looks at the automotive outlook in key regions, the biggest hurdles automakers face in reaching profitability, how government involvement has affected credit quality, the importance of capital market conditions, the outlook for auto suppliers, and the state of credit quality for global truck makers. The article also discusses company-specific questions about Ford Motor Co. (F), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Volkswagen AG, Hyundai Motor Co., and Kia Motors Corp.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Northrop Makes Way for Boeing to Win $40 Billion Contract Andy Obermueller submits: Know when to hold 'em, Kenny Rogers taught us. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Baltic Dry Index Down 17 Days in a Row Hickey and Walters (Bespoke) submit: Since making a short-term peak on May 26th (about a month after equity markets peaked), the Baltic Dry Index has declined for 17 trading days in a row and fallen 38%. The index has now just made it down to its February lows. Equity markets hit and bounced off of their February lows a couple weeks ago. Like the ships that carry the goods whose prices this index tracks, the Baltic Dry takes awhile to switch directions, and once it picks up steam, it's hard to slow it down.click to enlargeComplete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Highlights of Global Ship Lease's Q2 Earnings Call Here is the highlights of Global Ship Lease's (GSL) Q2 2010 earnings call.Operational - Not much to report other than it seems that they have made progress in reducing the ops expenses.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |