New MasterCard Initiative Designed to Drive E-commerce Through Convenient Online Tool

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by WallStSense.com

The market for initial public offerings is thawing, but retail investors shouldn't expect to find access to this notoriously exclusive market any easier -- though a few back doors are open for those who know where to look.

Global Payments finally says goodbye to its money transfer business.

Analysts at JPMorgan maintain their “overweight” rating on Visa Inc (NYSE: V) and MasterCard Inc (NYSE: MA).

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published its report on consumer credit, interchange fees and the impact on consumers and merchants. According to JPMorgan, the report indicated that merchants are paying more as a result of more swipes and appreciating interchange rates. The report also acknowledged that it will be tough to determine the benefit or damage to consumers if interchange were to be regulated.

JPMorgan believes that the results of the GAO study were positive and would not pose a risk to V and MA. JPMorgan also expressed its comfort level with the risks associated with the possible interchange regulation.

Mastercard (MA) leads the list of top gainers so far today and is now at $233.76, up $6.48 (2.85%) on volume of 2,724,499 shares traded. Over the last 52 weeks th...(Click the story link or go to http://www.marketintelligencecenter.com for the full story)

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Today’s tickers: CVS, LIZ, ITMN, MA, V, RF, KG, HW, WSM, AEP & NTAP

CVS - CVS Caremark Corp. – Shares of the pharmacy retail chain are up 1.5% to $31.11 perhaps due, in part, to the ‘buy’ rating it received at UBS today. Optimistic options activity took place in the December contract as one investor initiated a bullish risk reversal. It appears the trader sold 4,400 puts at the December 31 strike for an average premium of 94 cents apiece in order to finance the purchase of the same number of calls at the higher December 32 strike for 63 cents each. The investor pockets a 31 cent credit on the trade, which he retains in full as long as shares remain above $31.00 through expiration. Additional profits accumulate if CVS’s shares rally above $32.00.

LIZ - Liz Claiborne, Inc. – A 15,000-lot covered call in the January 2011 contract on Liz Claiborne today suggests shares are likely to recover, albeit at a glacial pace. Shares of the apparel and accessories retailer suffered a 5% decline to $4.55 during the trading session. One investor effectively purchased shares of the underlying stock for $3.30 apiece by selling 15,000 calls at the January 2011 5.0 strike for a premium of 1.25 each. Thus, the trader stands ready to accrue gains of 51% if shares of LIZ appreciate to $5.00 by expiration. The long-term positioning of the covered call play provides several advantages to the investor. One advantage is that the call options do not expire for another 13 months, which leaves ample time for LIZ’s shares to appreciate up to the strike price of $5.00. The 15,000-lot call transaction represents nearly 50% of the total existing open interest on LIZ of 31,502 contracts. Note that shares last traded above $5.00 yesterday at approximately 10:35 am (EDT).

ITMN - InterMune, Inc. – A bull call spread on the biotechnology company today suggests shares could rally significantly by expiration in April 2010. Bullish options activity on the stock belies the more than 3% decline in ITMN’s shares during the session to $10.94. The call spread involved the purchase of 3,750 calls at the April 15 strike for an average premium of 2.25 each, marked against the sale of the same number of calls at the higher April 25 strike for 75 cents apiece. The net cost of the transaction amounts to 1.50 per contract. The optimistic investor is positioned…

(CVS) - CVS Caremark Corp. - Shares of the pharmacy retail chain are up 1.5% to $31.11 perhaps due, in part, to the ‘buy’ rating it received at UBS today. Optimistic options activity took place in the December contract as one investor initiated a bullish risk reversal. It appears the trader ...

Today's tickers: MA, V, RF, KG, HW, WSM, AEP & NTAP[More...]

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 18, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: PNC Financial Services (PNC), Bank of America (BAC), Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK), MasterCard (MA) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

BofA Continues CEO Hunt

Recently, William Demchak of the PNC Financial Services (PNC) was offered the position of the next CEO of the Bank of America (BAC). However, the offer was turned down by Demchak.

We suspect Demchak declined the offer as the pay package is likely to be among the least competitive in the industry, especially since the Obama administration's pay czar took the axe to seven institutions' pay plans, chopping the average high-end salary by 50%. Moreover, the bank is also operating under a memorandum of understanding with regulators, who are scrutinizing the top gun's every decision.

The present CEO of the Bank of America, Mr. Ken Lewis, is set to leave the position, stepping down at the end of the year. It may be noted that he succumbed to the pressure to resign after his company’s Merrill Lynch acquisition.

Earlier this month, Robert Kelly of the Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK) was offered the role of CEO by the bank. Former Bear Stearns CEO Alan Schwartz is among those reportedly approached who turned down the CEO job offer, as did MasterCard (MA) President Ajay Banga. Others may include Moffett and Charlie Scharf, who runs JPMorgan Chase’s (JPM) retail operations, among others.

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Zacks Investment Research

Recently, William Demchak of the PNC Financial Services (PNC) was offered the position of the next CEO of the Bank of America (BAC). However, the offer was turned down by Demchak. We suspect Demchak declined the offer as the pay package is likely to be among the least competitive in the industry, especially since the Obama [...]

(BAC) Bank of America Continues CEO Search

Tom Dorsey and Tammy DeRosier - The Market Dropped the Baton

Schaeffer's analyst Elizabeth Harrow takes a look at the major news of the day on Wall Street.

Schaeffer's Andrea Kramer takes a look at unusual option activity on the Street

Schaeffer's Laura Houser takes a look at activity on the Street after the market close

Schaeffer's Laura Houser takes a look at activity on the Street after the market close