NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by The Bellwether Report.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by Maybach

Dose-Ranging Study Examined Apixaban in Patients Taking Commonly Used Anti-Platelet Therapies

This is a name worth buying today.

Pfizer needs to refresh its pipeline, but taking on a high-risk/high-reward experimental drug could do more harm than good.

The reasons behind this week's biggest gainers.

Pfizer inks a rich deal to get a late-stage-drug candidate.

Visit StreetInsider.com at http://www.streetinsider.com/news.php?st=p&id=3966976 for the full story.

In case its not apparent in my writing, my outlook has been, and continues to be pretty bearish for the global economy, and especially earnings power for many of our US companies now that the consumer’s spending power is shot. Rallies like we are witnessi[More...]

For shareholders of Pfizer, Inc. (PFE) stock, it has been a pretty barren decade. Like many large pharmaceutical stocks, Pfizer shares have done virtually nothing in years. Admittedly, the stock pays a generous dividend (6.5%+) which appears fairly secure[More...]

Filed under: Before the bell, Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, Deals, Microsoft (MSFT), Apple Inc (AAPL), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Pfizer (PFE), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Federal Natl Mtge (FNM), ConocoPhillips (COP), Mattel, Inc (MAT), AMR Corp (AMR), Lilly (Eli) (LLY), Analyst initiations, Economic data, Oil, Housing

U.S. stock futures were lower this morning on fear Tropical Storm Gustav's path may pose a threat to refinery activity along the Gulf of Mexico coastline and some would have to shut down. Indeed, oil prices rose to above $117 a barrel Wednesday. Also in focus today is the upcoming durable goods order to be reported before the opening bell. Meanwhile, the FDIC is considering borrowing funds from the Treasury, amid an expected wave of bank failures. Nine banks have failed so far this year, and the number of troubled U.S. banks rose 30% to 117 in the second quarter.

Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE), which stocks jumped big Tuesday, both had several ratings cut by Standard & Poor's. Still, both stocks seem to continue their climb in premarket with Fannie shares up 7.5% and Freddie's up 10%. At least two analysts, from Citigroup and Goldman said Tuesday the situation isn't as bad as it may seem.

From financials to toys: A federal jury awarded Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT) $100 million in damages on Tuesday in a federal copyright lawsuit against MGA Entertainment Inc., the maker of the saucy Bratz dolls.

Moving to pharmaceuticals, Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN) and Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) shares are down 10% and 1% respectively in premarket trading after four more patients taking their Byetta diabetes medication have died. Baird downgraded Amylin from Buy to Neutral and cut its price target from $37 to $27. Soleil downgraded AMLN from Hold to Sell.

Continue reading Before the bell: FNM, FRE, AMLN, BMY, AAPL, AMR ...

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I have not been the first nor will not be the last to point out the troubles of Big Pharma; however, how can you as an investor take advantage of the weak sub-sector and transfer your investments to another attractive area of Healthcare that will be reaping the benefits? In this article, I will point an attractive industry that will be benefiting from what I like to call, the Big Pharma Effect.What’s happening in Big Pharma?The patent expirations are building up and margins are getting squeezed. We’ll take a closer look at exactly what is coming off of patent. The following chart details the top twenty branded U.S. Drugs from May 2008.<a[More...]

I wrote earlier that the pharmaceutical industry as a whole is undervalued. One name that stands out above its peers in the $670 billion market is Pfizer. The company has taken a severe beating on wall-street and is a bargain that cannot be ignored.[More...]

Schaeffer's Colleen S. King takes a look at activity on the Street after the market close

Schaeffer's Laura Houser takes a look at today's options activity

Your retirement income could be at risk. Many companies are cutting their defined benefit plan and making life more difficult on retirees. General Motors (NYSE:GM) (Detroit, Michigan) is at the forefront, cutting health care to retirees over 65. For those being affected and for those who are looking to escape from tired mutual fund returns, BizRadio's Jack Warkenthien has an idea for you. Stocks like Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) (Charlotte, North Carolina), American Capital (NASDAQ:ACAS) (Bethesda, Maryland), Citigroup (NYSE:C) (New York, New York) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) (New York, New York) are all paying large dividends right now that could be your way to beat the market, if you're willing to be a patient investor. And finally, listen in as Mr. Warkenthien points you to the sector to watch as our angst over the sagging economy continues.

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

Companies featured in this segment: Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO), SNC-Lavalin (TSX:SNC), General Motors (NYSE:GM), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), El Paso Electric Company (NYSE:EE), (NYSE:ALY), GE Energy (NYSE:GE), Daimler AG (NYSE:DAI), Ford Motor Corporation (NYSE:F), Shell (NYSE:RDS-A), Petro-Canada (NYSE:PCZ), SNC-Lavalin International Incorporated (TSX:SNC)