Investor's Business Daily articles from March 2006

Investor's Business Daily archives from March 2006

Google's Investors Hear The "S' Word, Head For The Exits; Growth Slowing, Says CFO; Highflier's stock takes a big dive after executive gives rare negative slant.(A)
March 1, 2006... Byline: PETE BARLAS When Google's George Reyes speaks, investors listen -- a little too closely perhaps. The company's stock went into a tailspin Tuesday after the chief financial officer gave some less-than-glowing remarks about...

Latest '06 Economic Reports Lackluster, But A Big Q1 Bounce Expected After Q4.(A)
March 1, 2006... Byline: KIRK SHINKLE A slew of disappointing reports Tuesday for housing, factories and consumer sentiment offset a solid revision to fourth-quarter growth. Existing-home sales hit a two-year low, while consumer optimism fell to a...

IBD'S TOP 10.(A)
March 1, 2006... Google "Slowing,' Shares Falling 1CFO George Reyes said Google has largely maxed out revenue per search, so the search engine giant will have to rely on still-strong traffic growth. "Growth is slowing and now largely organic," he said. It...

AFTER THE CLOSE.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... APPLIED SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY fell 11% after saying Q1 EPS fell 35% to 11 cents a share, 6 cents below views. The defense supplier's sales rose 12% to $34 mil. PAPA JOHN'S Q4 EPS jumped 43% to 40 cents a share ex items, topping views by 5...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... FINANCE NYSE-Archipelago deal approved The SEC gave the green light to the NYSE's merger with Archipelago, a $9 bil deal that will end the NYSE's 213-year run as a member-owned exchange. Already the world's No. 1 stock exchange, the...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... MEDICAL Hospira misses views, tumbles The hospital goods firm fell 15.5% to 39.70 after it said its Q4 EPS fell 20% to 32 cents ex items, 13 cents below views. Sales fell 8% to $646.2 mil, also sharply under estimates, as hospitals...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... MACHINERY Astec Industries cites problems The maker of construction, mining and heavy equipment fell 6% to 35.92 after it said its Q4 rose 67% to 5 cents a share, missing views by 8 cents. Sales rose 21% to $134.5 mil. In addition,...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... METALS Dynamic Materials up on report The metal-working company surged 6.5% to 32.70 after it said its Q4 profit jumped 40% to 28 cents, 4 cents above estimates. Revenue grew 16% to $23.2 mil. Order volume was so strong in Dec. that...

THE ECONOMY.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... Minn. Fed balked at discount hike Directors at the Minneapolis Fed voted to keep the discount rate at 5.25% at their Jan. 19 meeting, contrasting with decisions by other Fed banks that voted to raise the rate to 5.5%. The discount rate, in...

BUSINESS BRIEFS/IN BRIEF.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... TECHNOLOGY AOL sues under anti-phishing law The Time Warner-owned Internet portal and e-mail service is seeking $18 mil in damages from groups it claims used phony e-mail solicitations to coax AOL members to reveal financial and...

NATION.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... Senate limits Patriot Act debate The Senate voted 69-30 to end debate on the USA Patriot Act and bring the bill up for a vote, exceeding a required 60-vote threshold. Senate and House leaders are hoping to get the bill approved and sent to...

WORLD.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... Cuts may spark Palestinian crisis The U.N. warned that the withholding of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid by Israel and the West could lead to the collapse of Palestinian rule in the territories. The flow of money has been...

TRENDS & INNOVATIONS.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... Scientist urges new autism tests People diagnosed with autism are often underestimated because the widely used way of measuring autistic intelligence is inaccurate, a Canadian researcher contends. Giving autistic people the right...

TRENDS & INNOVATIONS.(TO THE POINT)
March 1, 2006... ** E-paper technology is being tested in Japanese railway stations. The plexiglass panels, thinner than a magazine, display changing information fed by a wireless link. The screens, developed by Hitachi, use little energy, so owners can charge...

His Willingness To Listen Helped Build Burger King; Have It Your Way: Founder Jim McLamore's drive to offer customers quick service set the tone at the fast-food chain.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(BEST OF LEADERS & SUCCESS)
March 1, 2006... Byline: IRA CARNAHAN Jim McLamore wasn't always a big shot. When the future Burger King honcho graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in 1947, he took a job directing food service at the Wilmington, Del.,...

TAKE ACTION Managing Managed Care.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(IBD'S 10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS)
March 1, 2006... Byline: Cord Cooper 3 Joe Anderson blended his background in government with Don Schaller's track record in health care. The result: streamlined managed-care plans in seven states -- and one of the fastest-growing health care management...

Through The Eyes Of Genius; Idea Man: Inventor Willard Boyle's vision changed the way we see the world.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)
March 1, 2006... Byline: MIKE ANGELL A demanding boss is a bane to most workers. But for Willard Boyle, that demanding boss was a springboard. Boyle's boss was Jack Morton, vice president of electronics technology for AT&T's storied research unit, Bell...

Techs, Hollywood Ratchet Up Support For Illinois Tool Works; Lawsuit Has Huge Implications; Product tying and market power are the key concepts Supreme Court will decide.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
March 1, 2006... Byline: BRIAN DEAGON The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule soon in an unusual case being closely watched by people in the entertainment and tech fields, though it involves one of the nation's old-line manufacturers. The case,...

Once Seen As Open-Source Victim, Sun Micro Becomes A Big Advocate; Opens Its Sparc Chip; Company says why stop at software; let's also open source hardware.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)(Q & A)
March 1, 2006... Byline: KEN SPENCER BROWN If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Sun Microsystems is taking the old maxim to heart when it comes to open source. The company was once seen as hostile to Linux and other open-source software, which...

Jobs Touts Mac Mini, Fine-Tunes iPod Gear; Apple Targets Stereo Market; Emphasis on living rooms underlines transformation to digital entertainment.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
March 1, 2006... Byline: NICK TURNER & PATRICK SEITZ With its eye on the home entertainment market, Apple Computer Tuesday unveiled a new version of its Mac Mini computer and a hi-fi stereo system for the iPod. Apple touted the new Mac Mini, which runs...

Web Services Could Provide Spark For Some Of Biggest Tech Names; Trend Forces Changes; Shift provides natural fit for systems integrators such as IBM, Accenture.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
March 1, 2006... Byline: J. BONASIA There's little doubt that the shift to a service-oriented architecture in business computing is transforming the software sector. The rapid growth of SOA, which relies on Web services rather than traditional software...

ACTUANT CORP. Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Manufacturer Is A Switch-Hitter On Growth.(THE NEW AMERICA)
March 1, 2006... Byline: LISA SCHMEISER Successful companies typically adopt one of two strategies for bulking up their sales: improve the performance of internal units, or acquire companies that bring a big market with them. Actuant uses both...

Plenty Of Funds Excel During Uptrend; Earnings A Key Factor; Leaders are spotted from small-cap growth to large value funds.(MUTUAL FUNDS)(INVESTMENT TRENDS)
March 1, 2006... Byline: DAVID SAITO-CHUNG They bag treasure across the different oceans of market capitalization. They use unique stock-hunting strategies. They allocate money to each stock and each industry differently. But the best growth- and...

China Funds Recharge As Reforms Take Hold.(EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS)
March 1, 2006... Byline: MURRAY COLEMAN Exchange traded funds tracking China are on the upswing after a disappointing 2005. PowerShares Golden Dragon China moved up on IBD's list of outperforming ETFs over the past week, month, three months, six months...

Hillary's Herd.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
March 1, 2006... Democrats: The primaries are two years off, but few seem to doubt that the former first lady has the nomination in the bag. Maybe that's because she so closely reflects what her party has become. Karl Rove, who knows something about...

The Indian Example.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
March 1, 2006... Foreign Affairs: It was scheduled long before the ports deal or the Cheney hunting accident, but President Bush's arrival this week in South Asia mercifully changes the subject. Welcome back, strategic thinking. South Asia, of course,...

Profiles In Hypocrisy.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
March 1, 2006... Politics: Democrats who once objected to profiling at America's airports now support profiling at America's ports. And where was Hillary Clinton when her husband wanted to let China run the port of Long Beach? In a weekend appearance, Sen....

Private Matters.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
March 1, 2006... Health Care: This page has diligently documented the horror stories of Canada's state medical system, which has been held out as the model the U.S. should follow. There's one more fact to add, but this one is promising. Private health...

LETTERS.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Missed Again Regarding "Bucking Liberty" (Editorial, Tuesday): Let us not forget that during the Carter years, the same William F. Buckley debated none other than Ronald Reagan about the merits of surrendering the Panama Canal. He was...

THE REAL MOST ACTIVE; S&P 500 Falls As NYSE Trade Accelerates.(MAKING MONEY)
March 1, 2006... Byline: PAUL WHITFIELD NYSE stocks slid 1% Tuesday, with losses spanning many sectors from defense stocks and junior growth to banks, leisure, computers and even food- and utility-related defensive plays. The S&P 500 and NYSE composite...

Analyze, Profit From IBD's Market Charts.(GENERAL MARKET & SECTORS)
March 1, 2006... Analyzing the price and volume changes in the major market averages each day is essential to successful investing. They reveal major tops and bottoms in the stock market. Most stocks follow the general market's trend. They tend to rise...

Bancolombia Leads Banks-Foreign Group.(B)(NYSE STOCKS IN THE NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Byline: Paul Whitfield Bancolombia recently found support at its 10-week moving average, bouncing off the line after bobbing around it earlier in February. Colombia's largest bank led the Banks-Foreign group with the top Overall,...

THE REAL MOST ACTIVE; Nasdaq Falls On Worries Of Google's Slowdown.(B)
March 1, 2006... Byline: TRANG HO The Nasdaq erased Monday's gains with a 1.1% loss on heavy volume Tuesday. Decliners led advancers 25-to-12. Google plummeted 27.76 to 362.62 on three times usual turnover. The stock dropped as much as 15% in intraday...

Digital River & Ventiv On Acquisition Sprees.(B)(NASDAQ STOCKS IN THE NEWS)
March 1, 2006... Byline: Trang Ho Digital River is building the right side of a deep cup base. The Minneapolis-based firm builds and manages Web sites for more than 40,000 commercial clients. Since mid-November, it acquired a 14% interest in Intraware...

IBD GLOSSARY.(INVESTOR EDUCATION)
March 1, 2006... Accumulation/Distribution Accumulation refers to instances where big-money investors are buying shares. Accumulation occurs when a stock's price rises in volume that's above average. When those volume spikes occur, that's a sign that...

How A Deceptive Breakout Unfolded.(INVESTOR EDUCATION)(INVESTOR QUIZ)
March 1, 2006... Byline: JUAN CARLOS ARANCIBIA The cup with handle is the most successful chart pattern -- as long as it's properly formed. Gymboree formed a cup-with-handle base for much of 2003 as it corrected 31% from a May peak. It broke out Oct. 9...

Growth Strategy Can Trump Income Investing.(INVESTOR EDUCATION)(INVESTOR'S CORNER)
March 1, 2006... Byline: JUAN CARLOS ARANCIBIA The idea behind income investing sounds logical: Buy bonds and dividend-yielding blue chip stocks, and live off the guaranteed income. But just how big an income can you expect going that route? Government...

Parties' Power Play At Stake As Court Mulls Redistricting; GOP Grip On House At Risk?; Arguments in Texas case spotlight contentious fight that bolstered GOP hold.(A)
March 2, 2006... Byline: JED GRAHAM The Supreme Court heard arguments in a challenge to the 2003 Texas redistricting on Wednesday. Republican control of the House of Representatives may hang in the balance. The unusual mid-decade effort to redraw the...

Border Authorities, Residents Decry Rise In Violence From Smugglers And Illegals; Armed Incursions Into Texas; Senate hearing promotes tougher border controls; what form will they take?(A)
March 2, 2006... Byline: BRIAN MITCHELL The U.S. is under attack by violent smugglers armed with assault rifles and migrants hurling "Molotov rocks" who will stop at nothing to cross the country's border with Mexico, law enforcement officials told Congress...

IBD'S TOP 10.(A)
March 2, 2006... Chips Lead Stock Market Rally 1The major indexes recouped all or most of Tues.' losses. The Nasdaq climbed 1.5% and the small-cap S&P 600 rose 1.4%. The S&P 500 gained 0.8%; the Dow added 0.5%. The Philly semiconductor index shot up 4.3%....

AFTER THE CLOSE.(TO THE POINT)
March 2, 2006... OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, which makes digital image sensors, said Q3 EPS rose 60% to 53 cents, 8 cents over views. Sales rose 35% to $137.3 mil. It forecast Q4 EPS of 35-40 cents, below views. Shares fell 11%. FLUOR's Q4 earnings rose 30% to...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
March 2, 2006... MEDICAL Medco Health rallies on Q4 profit The large pharmacy benefits management firm said its Q4 EPS rose 14% to 66 cents ex items, 5 cents above views. Revenue grew 21% to $10.8 bil on volume from new clients and higher prices of...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
March 2, 2006... TECHNOLOGY TI expected to raise Q1 guidance Goldman Sachs said a "bullish" presentation by electronics conglomerate Texas Instruments portends a higher earnings forecast at Monday's midquarter update. "TI management was adamant that...

THE ECONOMY.(TO THE POINT)
March 2, 2006... Mortgage applications fall again Volume for the week ended Feb. 24 fell a seasonally adjusted 1.2% to 571.5, despite a dip in mortgage rates. Applications for home purchases fell 1.9%; refis gained 0.1%. Refinancings now take up 38.1% of...

BUSINESS BRIEFS/IN BRIEF.(TO THE POINT)
March 2, 2006... TRANSPORTATION Northwest, attendants reach pact The No. 4 airline, operating under bankruptcy protection, reached a pay-cut deal with its flight attendants. Pilots and attendants have threatened to strike over Northwest's demands for...

NATION.(TO THE POINT)
March 2, 2006... Court rejects bid for port papers In a setback for the state of New Jersey, a federal judge refused to order an inquiry into the BUsh administration deal that allows Dubai-based DP World to oversee operations at the port of Newark and 5...

WORLD.(TO THE POINT)
March 2, 2006... Nigerian militants storm tanker Rebels intercepted a ship carrying kerosene in the Niger Delta and stole as much as $15,000. No one was hurt in the attack. The robbery occurred 12 days after militants kidnapped 9 foreign oil workers from...

TRENDS & INNOVATIONS.(TO THE POINT)
March 2, 2006... Skies to become more crowded Driven in part by lower ticket prices, the number of U.S. airline passengers will rise 45% from 738.6 mil in '05 to 1.07 bil in '17, the FAA said in its annual forecast. The skies will also be filled with more...

Milton Friedman's Free Mind Favors Free Markets; World-Class Economist: His passion for logic, respect for math and love of argument countered the Keynesian paradigm.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(BEST OF LEADERS & SUCCESS)
March 2, 2006... Byline: CHRISTOPHER L. TYNER Milton Friedman doesn't mind a good argument. In fact, he looks forward to one. "I start from a belief in individual freedom," Friedman said Tuesday from his Russian Hill apartment in San Francisco...

NEVER STOP LEARNING Firing Up The Front Line.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(IBD'S 10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS)
March 2, 2006... Byline: Adelia Cellini Linecker 4 No one sets out to sabotage their sales team. But often inexperience and long-held conventional wisdom do the damage unintentionally. Derek Johnson, an Irvine, Calif.-based marketing consultant, says...

For Him, It Was In The Details; The Art Of Success: Albrecht Durer fused old and new styles to bring us Realism.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)
March 2, 2006... Byline: DOUG TSURUOKA Albrecht Durer's worlds were colliding. The Protestant Reformation and the turmoil it triggered between Protestants and Catholics in Germany had sparked the clash. On one side, Durer, one of the world's great...

LSI's Logic: Become Bigger By Becoming Smaller; New CEO Paring Units; Sees gains by homing in on chipmaker's strength in DVD recorders, audio.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)(Q & A)
March 2, 2006... Byline: JAMES DETAR Chief Executive Abhi Talwalker is putting LSI Logic on a diet. It's not, he maintains, that the chipmaker has grown fat. It's more that it will be better able to compete if it's a lean, mean machine, he says. He...

Tech Reseller CDW Tries Healthy Focus; Likes Sector's Growth Outlook; New unit tailors packages of hardware, software to a health field that needs tech.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
March 2, 2006... Byline: DONNA HOWELL One of the largest tech product resellers has prescribed health care as a growth tonic. CDW sells everything from software to modems -- more than 1,000 brands in all. Last year it sold $6.3 billion in tech products...

Google's Entrance No Paralysis For Analysis; Not Big Fish Here, Yet; Web analytics software firms target high end, as search leader enters low.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
March 2, 2006... Byline: J. BONASIA When Internet buzz maker and hot stock Google makes a move, the market listens. So it was that many ears perked up late last year when the search engine leader said it had started to offer a free service -- Web site...

High Def's Adult Situation Favors Toshiba; HD DVD Vs. Blu-ray Heats Up; Toshiba's HD DVD group embraces a potent force in films, adult entertainment.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
March 2, 2006... Byline: PATRICK SEITZ In the battle to win favor as the standard format for next-generation video discs, a wild card could tip the scales in HD DVD's favor: porn. HD DVD is fighting a rival standard called Blu-ray Disc for supremacy...

A Unanimous Supreme Court Eases Way For Product Bundling; Ruling in Illinois Tool Works case may have implications for tech and entertainment.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)
March 2, 2006... Byline: BRIAN DEAGON The U.S. Supreme Court set a new legal precedent in "product tying" cases with a ruling on Wednesday that gives firms more leeway to bundle products for sale to customers. In an 8-0 decision, the court sided with...

TEAM INC. Alvin, Texas; Revamped Lineup Pays Off For Supplier Of Industrial Repair Services.(THE NEW AMERICA)
March 2, 2006... Byline: MARILYN MUCH Buyouts can be divided into two basic groups. If you're buying a growing company, the key is to maintain or accelerate that growth. If you're buying an ailing company, the key is bringing it back to health. The...

Lord Abbett Fund Mixes Growth, Value; Mandate For Flexibility; Managers used process to find Select Comfort, Chemed and Ryland.(MUTUAL FUNDS)(MUTUAL FUND PROFILE)
March 2, 2006... Byline: KEN HOOVER Lord Abbett Small-Cap Blend Fund shops for both growth and value stocks, a nice idea when an investor isn't sure which style will be in favor. Manager Michael Smith studies a company's valuation as measured by P-E,...

Stronger Q4 Earnings Spark Japanese Funds.(EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS)
March 2, 2006... Byline: MURRAY COLEMAN Japan exchange traded funds have taken investors on a bumpy ride. In the past 30 days, the returns of iShares MSCI Japan sank to a bottom 26 ranking of IBD's tracking of 234 ETFs. As recently as three months ago,...

Hand Of Iran?(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
March 2, 2006... Iraq: So who bombed the Golden Mosque? Sunnis are pointing the finger at Tehran, while Tehran blames the U.S. The deeper question is this: Who has the most to fear from Iraqi democracy? It may be years, if ever, before the case is closed to...

U.N. Vs. U.N.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
March 2, 2006... United Nations: The world body is proposing a new U.N. "human rights council." But there's very little new about it, and the U.N. can't stop its own personnel from committing human rights abuses. Scandal-plagued Secretary-General Kofi...

Fishy Polls.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
March 2, 2006... Public Opinion: Did you know that President Bush's popularity has plunged? Or that American GIs favor leaving Iraq by a ratio of 3-to-1? That's what some recent polls say. But we're skeptical. We have a healthy respect for polls, given...

THE REAL MOST ACTIVE; Smaller Stocks Lead As NYSE, S&P Advance.(MAKING MONEY)
March 2, 2006... Byline: PAUL WHITFIELD Midcaps led Wednesday's market as the S&P 400 rose 1.5%. Small caps followed closely behind, with the S&P 600 up 1.4%. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% and the NYSE composite 0.9%. Volume was lower on the NYSE,...

Analyzing, Profit From IBD's Market Charts.(GENERAL MARKET & SECTORS)
March 2, 2006... Analyzing the price and volume changes in the major market averages each day is essential to successful investing. They reveal major tops and bottoms in the stock market. Most stocks follow the general market's trend. They tend to rise...

Day-Labor Firm To Add 40 Branches In 2006.(B)(NYSE STOCKS IN THE NEWS)
March 2, 2006... Byline: Paul Whitfield Labor Ready could be forming a handle in a cup-shaped base. The temporary day-labor firm specializes in dispatching unskilled workers on short notice. The Tacoma, Wash.-based company has 887 branches in the...

THE REAL MOST ACTIVE; Tech And Chip Stocks Fuel Nasdaq's Rebound.(B)
March 2, 2006... Byline: TRANG HO The Nasdaq rebounded from Tuesday's steep losses with a 1.5% gain on higher volume. Advancers led decliners by an 11-to-5 ratio. Chipmakers and other technology stocks led the way up. Atheros Communications gained...

American Railcar Up Over 50% Since IPO.(B)(NASDAQ STOCKS IN THE NEWS)
March 2, 2006... Byline: Trang Ho American Railcar Industries went public Jan. 20 at about $21 a share and ran up more than 50% in just six weeks. It has yet to develop its first base. The St. Charles, Mo.-based firm makes covered hopper and tanker...

IBD'S 20 RULES FOR INVESTMENT SUCCESS.(INVESTOR EDUCATION)
March 2, 2006... These rules are not based on our personal opinion or those of Wall StreetAEs analysts and experts. InvestorAEs Business Daily built detailed models of all the most successful stocks every year from 1880 to 2005. We analyzed all...

Sell On Technical Signs, Not Fundamentals.(INVESTOR EDUCATION)(INVESTOR'S CORNER)
March 2, 2006... Byline: PAUL WHITFIELD A key tenet of IBD's CAN SLIM investing philosophy holds that investors should buy stocks based on both fundamental and technical strength. But when it comes to selling a stock, you must find your way on the...

Ask IBD Can Help You Build A Deeper Understanding Of Terms Used In Investing.(INVESTOR EDUCATION)(INSIDE INVESTORS.COM)
March 2, 2006... Byline: KEN SHREVE There's plenty of educational content at the IBD Learning Center at investors.com. Chances are, you need help in some areas more than others. Maybe it's learning how to identify the specific traits of a...

Feb. Retailers' Sales Slow Down Sharply Due To Cold Temps; 60% Of Stores Below Views; Chico's and Abercrombie among big apparel losers; department stores deliver.(A)
March 3, 2006... Byline: MARILYN MUCH February sales cooled from last month's heated pace as a shift to cold, stormy weather kept spring apparel on the racks. Overall same-store sales rose 3.1% vs. a year earlier, down sharply from January's 4.9% gain,...

Paid Search Costs Rise For Some, But Ads A Bargain, Analysts Say; A few e-tailers grouse of keyword price hikes as offline chains join in.(A)
March 3, 2006... Byline: PETE BARLAS When it comes to paid search, the price isn't right for some online retailers. Jewelry Web site Blue Nile and leading florist FTD Group said recently that their paid search costs have nearly doubled since last...

IBD'S TOP 10.(A)
March 3, 2006... Retail Sales Turned Cold In Feb. 1Retailers' same-store sales rose just 3.1% vs. a year earlier after Jan.'s 4.9% jump. Chains blamed tough comparisons and wintery weather after a hot Jan. lifted sales that month. Apparel chains were...

AFTER THE CLOSE.(TO THE POINT)
March 3, 2006... WASHINGTON GROUP said Q4 profit rose 56% to 70 cents a share, meeting views. Revenue jumped 18% to $899 mil. The construction firm announced new work in Qatar and the U.S. and forecast '06 earnings of $2.10-$2.42 a share, below views of $2.49....

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
March 3, 2006... ENERGY KCS Energy earnings beat views The oil and gas production company reported a 16% fall in Q4 earnings to 81 cents a share, a penny above views. Excluding a tax benefit in 2004, KCS Energy would have posted a 37% rise in Q4 '05...

BUSINESS BRIEFS.(TO THE POINT)
March 3, 2006... TECHNOLOGY Oracle touts Google alternative The business software maker will launch a product aimed at helping businesses quickly search databases and e-mail systems. CEO Larry Ellison said Oracle's product fills a gap left by the No. 1...

THE ECONOMY.(TO THE POINT)
March 3, 2006... Chief execs anticipate good times The heads of big U.S. companies expect continued strength in the economy over the next 6 months. The Business Roundtable's hiring outlook was the most bullish since '02. The group's survey of 125 CEOs...

IN BRIEF.(TO THE POINT)
March 3, 2006... LKQ, which recycles damaged cars, said Q4 earnings rose 36.5% to 15 cents a share, beating views by 2 cents. Revenue grew 29% to $547.4 mil.It forecast Q1 earnings of 20-21 cents a share, below views of 22 cents. Shares rose 3% to 22.50. ...

NATION.(TO THE POINT)
March 3, 2006... Senate votes to renew Patriot Act A day after lawmakers agreed to revise portions of the anti-terrorism law, the Senate voted 89-10 to approve the measure. The bill is expected to win House approval and be signed by President Bush next...

WORLD.(TO THE POINT)
March 3, 2006... Abbas: Al-Qaida in West Bank The terror network has hit the Gaza Strip, and its operations could have dire consequences for the entire region, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said. Israel said it's stepping up its campaign against...

TRENDS & INNOVATIONS.(TO THE POINT)
March 3, 2006... Papers No. 1 source for local news People looking for local news still read their hometown newspaper, but TV and the Internet are becoming more important. Market research firm Outsell found that 61% of Americans consider newspapers an...

He Made Mail Order Made-To-Order For Millions; Innovate: Richard Sears' vision helped build his small watch company into the largest mail-order retailer in the world.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(BEST OF LEADERS & SUCCESS)
March 3, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL RICHMAN Richard Sears knew opportunity when he saw it. As far as he was concerned, it could always lead to something big. Case in point: In 1887, Sears (1863-1914) saw the burgeoning of the railroads and figured his...

BE PERSISTENT AND WORK HARD The Billion-Dollar Club.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(IBD'S 10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS)
March 3, 2006... Byline: Cord Cooper 5 Companies that reach $1 billion-plus in sales share key characteristics, says marketing and leadership coach David Thomson. Among other things, they make the most of killer market segments, strategic alliances and...

American Thinker Eric Hoffer; Mental Muscle: His careful observation gave him insights into the national soul.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)
March 3, 2006... Byline: MONICA SHOWALTER As the scent of burning electrical wire and the pulverized dust settled over Manhattan in the wake of the 2001 World Trade Center attack, a certain book disappeared from New York City bookstore shelves. Within...