First Thoughts: Ending the month on a high note

First Thoughts: Ending the month on a high note

Health Uncle:Should You Get In The System Now

The Supreme Court's approval of Obamacare's constitutionality will not change U.S. healthcare overnight.It just means the provisions already in place are more secure,and that the major overhaul of the system slated for January,2014 will proceed as scheduled,barring the unlikely event of repeal by Congress.A certain momentum tends to build up behind safety net programs as more and more citizens benefit from them.Untold millions of Americans will enter the health care system for the first time-a system which reportedly lacks enough primary care physicians to accomodate them.
Americans who have insurance now,but haven't entered the system themselves yet,would be well-advised to do so,while there are still openings for new patients at their local  family practices.Many of them could fill up quickly once the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented in 2014.This is an opportunity for these undoctored insured to begin taking care of themselves and the health care system itself,which will still face rising costs in the decades ahead.

Local Officials React To U.S. Supreme Court's Ruling On Obama Health Care Law « CBS New York

Local Officials React To U.S. Supreme Court's Ruling On Obama Health Care Law « CBS New York

Investing Today:Meandering Through Malaise

We're in a malaise right now,said Tobias Levkovich,Chief  U.S. Equity Strategist at Citigroup.I think that turns in the next 12-18 months.The children of the baby boomers start to save for retirement next year.It's bigger.People are using the U.S. equity market as a safe haven.
The mood on Wall Street is pretty miserable.There's worry about layoffs and compensation.Is this the place for their future?
You've got to do more and more stocks.I think good times will be here 5-10 years out.Telecom has good dividend yields and supplies much-needed mobile services.It will get its pricing power back,Mr.Levkovich predicted.
Christian Thwaites of Sentinel Investments,who was a Baker Scholar at Harvard Business School,likes Toronto Dominion Bank.It's fantastically strong,with a strong deposit franchise in the Northeast and nothing to do with Europe,Mr.Thwaites observed.
Toronto Dominion Bank(TD),iShares Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Sector Index Fund(IYZ),iShares S&P Global Telecommunications Sector Index Fund(IXP)

Airline Industry Jobs

Etihad Airways is hiring for positions in the USA.The national airline of the United Arab Emirates is expanding its operations,soon connecting Washington,DC to their network of over 80 destinations worldwide.They welcome dynamic and talented professionals to join their multi-cultural team.Roles based in DC include Sales Representative;Sales Support;Marketing Coordinator;and Finance Officer.In New York,Human Resource Specialist is needed.For more details and to apply by July 7,2012,please visit careers.etihadairways.com
Etihad Airways:From Abu Dhabi to the world.

Play Sun Smart™ with Major League Baseball | aad.org

Play Sun Smart™ with Major League Baseball | aad.org

Johnny Bench Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com

Johnny Bench Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com

From Cancer To Commitment:Baseball Great Johnny Bench Promotes Skin Cancer Awareness

Hall of Fame baseball legend Johnny Bench,64,who was the Cincinnati Reds' star catcher in the 1970s,is promoting skin cancer awareness for Major League Baseball's Play Sun Smart campaign.Bench has quite a bit of personal experience with the topic,as he himself was recently diagnosed  with,and successfully treated for,basal cell carcinoma,the most common form of skin cancer.It was found on his lower eyelids.
The problem with skin cancer is,you can easily overlook it,just dismissing those small lesions on your face or elsewhere on your body.It often takes a dermatologist to determine just what those bumps,moles or rough patches really are.They could be malignant or precancerous,even though they may not look particularly menacing to the naked eye.At his doctor's suggestion,Johnny Bench had those little bumps on his lower eyelids biopsied by a specialist.When they turned out to be basal cell carcinomas,he underwent highly sophisticated surgery called Mohs surgery,in which the surgeon basically slices off minute layers of skin cells,checking each layer under a microscope until there are no more cancerous cells left.This preserves more of the surrounding healthy tissue.
Bench fully recovered from his January operation,but he wants to make sure others don't have to go through the ordeal of skin cancer.He committed himself to the MLB skin cancer awareness program,becoming its 2012 spokesman and appearing in a Play Sun Smart video with Harlem youths.Play Sun Smart is a joint educational project of Major League Baseball;the Major League Baseball Players' Association;and the American Academy of Dermatology.
Skin cancer is linked to cumulative exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays.It is estimated that 20% of Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetimes.Organizations such as the American Academy of Dermatology and MLB are trying hard to get the word out about this potentially deadly disease.Besides basal cell carcinoma,the other,less common forms of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma,the  rarest and most dangerous form.

Should You Buy Apple Stock

There's a question as to whether Apple is still innovative enough.Daniel Ernst of Hudson Square Research says Apple is growing revenues 60%,with a 2% dividend yield.It's probably the fastest growing company in technology today.The recent Apple announcements show an improvement in their ecosystem.They significantly raised the bar for their competitors.Now Apple's Siri  feature,the digital assistant and knowledge navigator built into the iPhone 4S,can find information that's not on the web,which Google can't.Apple is also updating the Macintosh computer line.
Investors are fixated on the next big thing,but these things tend to run in cycles,Mr.Ernst points out.Hudson Square has a 700 dollar price target on Apple,with a buy recommendation.
Hudson Square Research serves institutional clients with fundamental equity research,assessing valuation,risk and opportunity.Based in New York,they focus on the technology,media,telecom and consumer sectors.The company was founded in 2004.
Apple(AAPL)

Defense Intelligence Agency Jobs

The Defense Intelligence Agency is holding an invitaion-only hiring event  July 24-26,2012 from 9 am to 4:30 pm in Washington,DC.The following occupational specialties are needed:Analysis;Acquisition and Contracts;Communications and Multi-media;Counterintelligence;Facilities and Logistics;Finance;Human Capital;Information Technology;Legal Services and Security.Apply online via the Recruiting Events page,under the Careers menu of the DIA website(http://www.dia.mil/) before 11:59 pm EST June 21,2012.U.S. Citizens only.Those selected will be contacted to schedule interviews.DIA Hiring Managers will be present at the event to conduct interviews for these current and future openings nationwide.Conditional offers of employment may be extended to qualified applicants.DIA:Committed to Excellence in Defense of the Nation.

UC San Diego Study:Prediabetes and Stroke Risk May Be Associated

A new study in the British Medical Journal by researchers at the University of California San Diego found evidence of a link between prediabetes and stroke risk.Prediabetes is the precursor condition for type 2 diabetes and is rampant in the developed world,while spreading through populations in the emerging markets as well.According to the National Diabetes Education Program,an estimated 79 million Americans age 20 and over are prediabetic.In prediabetes,the fasting glucose level is between 100-125 mg/dl.The new study analysed fifteen other studies of a total of 716,000 patients.It showed that patients with a fasting glucose level of 110-125 mg/dl,the upper range of prediabetes,have a 21% greater likelihood of having a stroke.Prediabetes has also been linked to a greater risk of developing heart disease.The good news is,prediabetics who work to reduce their risk factors for type 2 diabetes,such as overeating,poor diet and lack of exercise,have a better than 50% chance of delaying or even preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes.Prediabetes is being taken more and more seriously by health care providers as type 2 diabetes becomes more common,and evidence that prediabetes is harmful in itself gets more voluminous.Health Care Select Sector SPDR(XLV),iShares Dow Jones US Healthcare Sector Index Fund(IYH)

Media and Real Estate Reactions

We have a leadership that's anti-business,complained billionaire Sam Zell,Co-Founder and Chairman of Equity Group Investments,who is steeped in his real estate and media conglomerate businesses.You're not gonna get growth unless the business community signs on.The National Labor Relations Board went after Boeing,the biggest exporter in America.I think the whole world is slowing;the world is wondering what's next.High levels of uncertainty are not good for investment.We've moderated our risk.I don't think the office market in the U.S. is in great shape.D.C. is particularly weak.There's very little robust growth in the office market across the country.I think the single family market is different than other real estate.There's an obvious oversupply of housing units,and it's relative to affordability as well.Supply/demand is getting a little better;but the ability of people to qualify for a loan isn't getting better,Mr.Zell noted.Equity Group Investments is a diversified international holding company.Started in 1968,it is one of the largest owners of apartment buildings and manufactured homes.Its portfolio notably includes The Tribune Company,which is a major newspaper publisher and television broadcaster,as well as energy,transport and communications interests. Boeing(BA)

Asia This Day:China Wants More Godiva Chocolate

Godiva Chocolatier Inc. plans to open 15 new stores this year in China.The privately held firm has a goal of expanding to about 100 stores there over the next 3-4 years.Ding Shuang,Senior Economist at Citigroup,said industrial data from China wasn't as bad as expected.Growth has stabilized,although at a very low level.We have an estimate that GDP may fall to the 7-7.5 range for Q2.The interest rate cut last week is a very strong signal of more easing ahead by the central bank.We think they may have to cut the rate again to arrest the downward trend of growth.It is quite volatile,and policy is very much needed to stabilize growth,Mr.Ding believes.Asian shares opened higher Monday morning on optimism about China and the Spanish request for a 125 billion dollar bailout.It's not a bailout,Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insisted;it's a loan to stabilize the financial system.China's exports rose 15.3%,more than doubling the estimate.Consumer prices were below target for the fourth straight month,rising 3% versus an estimate of 4%.Passenger vehicle sales were up 22.6%.China will revive its cash for clunkers program to keep the car business rolling.Spain's Telefonica is selling half of its stake in China Unicom,unloading the shares for 11 dollars apiece,while China is buying up cheap oil for its strategic petroleum reserve.This is affecting the global market,driving the price of oil up the most in five months-along with renewed hope because of the Euro-zone help for Spain.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 1.76% on the news in early Monday trading,while the Indian Nifty Fifty gained 1.05%.China Unicom Ltd.(CHU),Citigroup(C),Telefonica SA ADR(TEF)

Biotech Firm Dismisses GlaxoSmithKline Offer

Rockville,Maryland biotech firm Human Genome Sciences has rejected a 13 dollar a share bid by British pharma titan GlaxoSmithKline,with whom it has a partnership in the promotion of lupus drug Benlysta.The offer is inadequate,the company says in a letter to shareholders,because it doesn't capture HGS' inherent value and growth opportunities.HGS listed one of these opportunities as Benlysta,which is not only a treatment for lupus;but shows promise for treating other autoimmune diseases as well.The initial market opportunity for Benlysta is approximately 7 billion dollars in the U.S. alone,the company says.HGS goes on to cite its robust pipeline of new products as underpinning its future prospects,including cardiovascular drug darapladib and diabetes treatment albiglutide.Its early stage pipeline includes potential cancer,autoimmune and Alzheimer's disease medications as well.Glaxo was opportunistically trying to purchase HGS at a low point of the company's share price,HGS said.The Board has authorized management to seek strategic alternatives such as sale to another party to increase HGS' shareholder value.Human Genome's financial advisors,Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs,both recommended against accepting the GSK offer as being inadequate. Human Genome Sciences(HGSI),GlaxoSmithKline(GSK)

Market Strategy in Tough Times

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has recently given back all its gains on the year.Fear is dominating the day,said Stephen Wood,PhD,Chief Market Strategist at Russell Investments.Liquidity is at a premium.People are accepting lower yields so they can sleep at night,losing money in the long run.This is a panic environment.Companies will have to fund pension plans,not hire workers or build facilities.They're gonna want to have dry powder so they don't have to go hat in hand in an illiquid market. What do you do?You need to look at a diversified,multi-asset strategy to generate return,in Dr.Wood's opinion. Robert Hagstrom of the Legg Mason Focus Fund thinks that,for investors,this is a very attractive time.Lower prices increase your rate of return.It's been said that,when the time to buy comes,you won't want to.Even trading is freezing up,which is a big problem for the market.The risk appetite is not very high. Seven percent of our portfolio is in financials,including JP Morgan Chase,the only money center bank in it.We are holding onto that position,Mr.Hagstrom revealed. JP Morgan Chase(JPM)

Xerox Sales Jobs

Apex Communications Corp.,an Authorized Xerox Agency,needs Xerox Authorized Sales Agents.Sell digital office equipment and software B2B.Receive Xerox "Benchmark" training and earn salary plus commission 40k+.Previous sales experience preferred,and recent college graduates are encouraged to apply.Three positions are immediately available in Northern Virginia.To apply,email your resume to kwhitley@apexcom1.com Xerox(XRX)

Commentary:The Primatene Mist Controversy Still Swirls

The Primatene Mist controversy is far from over.People are genuinely suffering from the withdrawal of this effective respiratory band-aid from the market by the FDA at the end of 2011.What is clear is that no one knows just when a reformulated product will be available.It apparently must be subjected to the full FDA approval process,including patient trials.That could take years.What is more,you're starting from a baseline of professional reservations about the product to begin with.Allergists point out that Primatene only treats symptoms of a potentially life-threatening disease.They do not regard it as a sufficient approach to dealing with asthma.Such a complex and dangerous ailment requires a personal,formal treatment plan drawn up and supervised by medical professionals.Inhaling Primatene often masks the real problem of chronically inflamed lungs which are sustaining damage over time from the underlying condition,bronchial asthma.That is why the National Institutes of Health doesn't recommend use of Primatene.It is considered to be an easy way out that has serious long term consequences for the patient's health.That being said,the lack of adequate health care for the poor and underserved,including those in rural areas,has been once again pointed up by the withdrawal of Primatene,a medication which is really only appropriate for those with occasional,mild asthma.It also illustrates a degree of bungling and foot-dragging on the part of both regulators and industry,who failed to come up with an entirely satisfactory substitute propellant in time.Some interesting articles by other authors on this topic have been posted below.Rest assured,this blog will stay on this very important case.

Recommendations for Patients Who Used Primatene Mist

Recommendations for Patients Who Used Primatene Mist

http://www.asthmaallergieschildren.com/2012/01/24/primatene-mist-pulled-off-the-market-now-what/

http://www.asthmaallergieschildren.com/2012/01/24/primatene-mist-pulled-off-the-market-now-what/