United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) closed yesterday at $56.73. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $43.32 and 52-week high of $75.82. The proprietary Key Risk Ranking for UPS has declined ...(Click the story link or go to http://www.marketintelligencecenter.com for the full story)

Ignore these at your peril.

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) closed yesterday at $53.72. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $43.32 and 52-week high of $75.82. The proprietary Key Risk Ranking for UPS has improve...(Click the story link or go to http://www.marketintelligencecenter.com for the full story)

Oil hits a multiyear low. Profit from it.

Don't mess around when it comes to your wealth.

Filed under: Employees, United Parcel'B' (UPS)

Here in the Portland metropolitan area, 28 bike delivery employees will be hired -- by United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS). It may seem counterintuitive, but here in Portland, Oregon, where we crazy passionate types embrace bicycling so warmly that monthly group bike rides for kids continue even through the winter, the concept of hauling up to 200 pounds in a trailer with a mountain bike sounds like the perfect holiday vacation. UPS bike drivers will be given special training to really practice pulling 200 pounds and learn, for instance, "safe following distance in rain" (I think if you're following anyone too closely with 200 pounds in your bike trailer, you should be training for the 2012 Olympics, not delivery Amazon.com packages for UPS.)

UPS can only deliver 25-50 packages per day by bicycle, compared to up to 150 by truck, but Portland area spokesman Jeff Grant says UPS will save $38,000 in vehicle operation and upkeep costs for every three delivery bicycles used.

After all, UPS started using bicycles to deliver packages 100 years ago in Seattle, and started a pilot program in Atlanta and Seattle last year. Bicycle delivery is ideal for the holiday season as it allows the company to expand its service without having to expand its fleet of expensive delivery vehicles; bikes are about $600 each, and judging by the reaction to popular biking blogs, the company will have no trouble filling the available jobs with bikers eager to prove their mettle. It's not only sensible economics, but fantastic PR for a company that struggles with a rather stodgy image. Expanding the bike delivery program for all the company's busy seasons would be a fiscally responsible plan that could also pay big dividends in customer goodwill.

UPS delivers by bike this holiday season originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: After the bell, Earnings reports, Market matters, Citigroup Inc. (C), Bank of America (BAC), Goldman Sachs Group (GS), Lowe's Cos (LOW), United Parcel'B' (UPS)

Today was a light volume and mixed trading day where there was no real feeling for the market being up or down. The G20 meeting yielded no major score for the markets and the Empire State manufacturing number for New York's region was the worst on record.

Below are the unofficial closing bell levels:
Top Analyst Calls

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) was one of the few public companies position that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway actually trimmed its stake in by about half during the last quarter. B of A shares were down over 6% at $15.32 shortly before the close.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) didn't quite get the reaction it was hoping for. Vikram Pandit announced the new restructuring plan where the company will let go a total of about 50,000 jobs via attrition, asset sales, and layoffs. Citi announced other cost cutting measures as well. Shares were down almost 5% at $9.07 right before the close.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Dow ends 2.6% lower; BAC, C, GS drop, LOW, UPS gain

Closing Bell: Dow ends 2.6% lower; BAC, C, GS drop, LOW, UPS gain originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Competitive strategy, FedEx Corp (FDX), United Parcel'B' (UPS)

FedEx (NYSE: FDX) is going to raise the rates on many of its services in January of next year. UPS (NYSE: UPS) is planning the same thing. The price increase from FedEx will be close to 7% .

According to The Wall Street Journal, "The increases come as shipping companies benefit from slumping fuel costs but are hampered by falling demand."

The move is a very big risk. During a recession, businesses and consumers will find almost any way they can to cut corners. FedEx still has formidable competition from the United State Post Office, which offers its own ground and overnight products.

FedEx is faced with the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" puzzle that most companies in an economic downturn are scrambling to solve. It needs to keep its revenue as high a level as possible. At the same time, it risks losing customers by making clients pay more than they ca afford.

The U.S. Postal System has lost much of its relevance as people move away from sending letters and documents through the mail in favor of electronic transfers and communications. FedEx might just help the USPS pick up some customers, if the old government-supported agency keeps its rates down.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.

Can companies raise prices in a recession? UPS and FedEx will originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As I noted on Friday, Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa) has issued its third quarter 13F filing. This filing lists the company’s stock holdings as of September 20, 2008. I always enjoying reviewing these Berkshire Hathaway filings because they provide me with a glimpse at what Warren Buffett’s latest investment moves might be. Here are the latest changes. New Berkshire Hathaway Stocks The [...]

Companies featured in this segment: Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE:DAN), FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX), UPS Incorporated (NYSE:UPS), CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS), DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE), BP PLC (NYSE:BP), KBR Incorporated (NYSE:KBR), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ), Green Plains Renewable Energy Incorporated (NASDAQ:GPRE), Aventine Renewable Energy (NYSE:AVR), Reliance Industries Limited (BSE:500325), Unifi Incorporated (NYSE:UFI), Nova Chemicals Corporation (NYSE:NCX)

Companies featured in this segment: Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE:DAN), FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX), UPS Incorporated (NYSE:UPS), CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS), DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE), BP PLC (NYSE:BP), KBR Incorporated (NYSE:KBR), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ), Green Plains Renewable Energy Incorporated (NASDAQ:GPRE), Aventine Renewable Energy (NYSE:AVR), Reliance Industries Limited (BSE:500325), Unifi Incorporated (NYSE:UFI), Nova Chemicals Corporation (NYSE:NCX)

Schaeffer's analyst Colleen S. King takes a look at news on the Street before the market open.

Schaeffer's Laura Houser takes a look at activity on the Street ahead of the market open

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