02-07-2008

by Lester Young

UOMO Media, Inc. (OTCBB: UOMO) has added a Talent Management division to its entertainment and media operations. The new division will be responsible for the management of artists and producers and for maximizing the revenues that these clients generate across all available media platforms. Revenue enhancement opportunities may include live performances and touring, merchandising, sponsorships and endorsements, visual media licensing, and production and sales of recorded music. The company will, when appropriate, sign artists to all-inclusive (or "360") deals, in which the artist is aided in creating and developing multiple and recurrent streams of revenue for his or her ... Continue

0 comments

02-06-2008

by Dennis Fitter

“Oh that’s yesterday’s news”, is the old snub phrase aimed at those who are not completely in the loop. In our modern world of fast paced information exchange, for many, “Last hour’s news” seems more appropriate. Yesterday’s news was not good, and despite the speed of the era we live, yesterday’s news is going to stick around for a while. The psychology of economic downturn reared its ugly head! Some economists are saying the Fed could cut again when they meet in March. Recent cuts totaling 1.25% had a short lived positive impact on ... Continue

0 comments

02-05-2008

by Dennis Fitter

With all the recessionary talk in the news and concern over recession in the markets, I set out to do a story on my take on the things investors can do to protect themselves from financial damage during a downturn. Things like looking for companies with enough cash on the balance sheet to weather tough times, investigating recession proof industry sectors. You know, the companies producing the kind of things consumers always need. Then there’s those niche stocks of after market accessory purveyors; companies making or marketing nifty add-on enhancements consumers who are holding off on big ticket ... Continue

0 comments

02-05-2008

by Lester Young

Whether you actually drink it or not, it’s likely that you’ll be seeing quite a bit of the nutritional beverage known as NuVim on television during the coming year. Its producer, NuVim, Inc. (OTCBB: NUVM), has announced the selection of the drink by Eye on America as the "featured beverage for 2008." Beginning in the second quarter of this year, CNN Headline and Regional News networks will air the story of the unique beverage. The 5-minute spot, which will include interviews with renowned national nutrition experts, will expound on the drink's healthful benefits. NuVim is sold ... Continue

0 comments

02-05-2008

by Priya Nigam

Cash is obsolete! Okay, I’m not saying you don’t need money anymore. Here’s what I mean. Yesterday, by lunchtime, I had paid a bill via the Internet, spoken to my mother using a calling card and ordered flowers online for a friend’s birthday. No cash needed. Which brings me to the two OTCBB companies I wanted to write about today. Trustcash Holdings Inc (TCHH: OTCBB) offers anonymous payment solutions for internet shopping. Paivis Corp (PAVCE: OTCBB) is a telecommunications company specializing in selling prepaid “point-of-sale activated” and live cards. In December last year, the ... Continue

0 comments

02-04-2008

by Dan Blacharski

Jobs are down, average wages are declining, the housing market is a disaster, and the Fed slashed its key interest rates by one and a quarter percent in two steps over an eight day period. The government released data last week showing nonfarm payrolls dropping by 17,000 for January, marking the first decline since 2003, a key indicator that the US is actually on the verge of a recession. Manufacturing jobs in particular have suffered, with a loss of 269,000 manufacturing jobs over the past year. What doesn’t do well in today’s economy? Obviously, the worst ... Continue

0 comments

02-04-2008

by Brian Kline

New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $11.2 billion or 5.2% totaling $226.6 billion, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on January 29. This was the second consecutive monthly increase following a 0.5% November increase. The increase well exceeded the 1.6% estimate. Durable goods orders are a major indicator of manufacturing trends because many of these goods are based on firm orders yet to be manufactured. Often the transportation and defense portions of the indicator are excluded because they are volatile and can obscure the real trend. The largest sector increase was ... Continue

0 comments

02-01-2008

by Brian Kline

Federal, local, and state governments purchase everything from training services to guided missiles. The US Federal Government alone writes upwards of 15 million contracts every year and the lion’s share do not go to industrial giants like General Electric, IBM, and Boeing. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, approximately 11 million contracts are won by small to medium sized businesses with less than 500 employees. Still, this amounts to less than 5% of all US businesses having government agencies as clients. Many steer clear of government contracts because the competitive bidding can result in tight profit margins and ... Continue

0 comments

01-31-2008

by Lester Young

SpongeTech Delivery Systems (OTCBB: SPNG) has announced that it's received an order for 270,000 units of their new Children's and Pet cleaning sponges. Fulfillment of the $2,385,000 order is scheduled to begin July 15, 2008 and be completed on November 15, 2008. The new offerings, which join SpongeTech's "Auto Wash & Wax System," bring to a total of three the number of products that are currently being marketed to the public. The company is also working to adapt its patented technology for other cleaning applications. The sponge-based technology, which SpongeTech calls "Hydrophilic Polyurethane Matrices," ... Continue

0 comments

01-31-2008

by Dan Blacharski

The biggest news in telecom is the FCC auction of the 700 MHz spectrum, which will be freed up when television goes from analog to digital. The auction is expected to raise up to $15 billion for the government, and typically such high-dollar auctions would be the concern of the biggest incumbent telcos with the deepest pockets. But, this time around it’s a little different. Although the big guys like AT&T and Verizon will no doubt walk away with the biggest share of spectrum, Google is also in the bidding, and at that company’s urging, the ... Continue

0 comments

01-30-2008

by Dennis Fitter

Surprisingly South Africa’s electrical power supply emergency is getting only minor play in US media. The problem is critical and isn’t of a nature resolution of the problem can be expected any time soon.The crisis is and has been South Africa’s top news story since early January. Grilled in today’s (Tuesday) edition of the Johannesburg Times, ESKOM, the national electricity monopoly admits the effects of their electrical capacity expansion program will not be felt until some of their projects come into the power grid in 2011. The Times leads a page two report with, “The ... Continue

0 comments

01-30-2008

by Priya Nigam

Banks nationwide have been hurt by the credit crisis. Surging credit expenses and rising nonperforming assets have become commonplace. The bottom-line is also being eroded by loan loss provisions. Most of the heavyweights in the banking sector have reported disappointing results. In this scenario, how are the OTCBB banks performing? Let us look at some of these banks that have announced their results earlier this month. Siuslaw Financial Group Inc (SFGP: OTCBB), the parent of Siuslaw Bank, reported earnings of $4.5 million, or $1.08 per share, for the year ended December 31, up from $4.4 million, ... Continue

0 comments

01-29-2008

by Brian Kline

A recent survey by IBM Co. concludes two-thirds of consumers in developed countries are willing to pay more for energy produced with lower greenhouse emissions. Americans lead the way with a willingness to pay up to 20% more for green energy. The survey also concluded about half of Americans are willing to pay more for non-energy products. Oregon is arguably the leading state when it comes to sustainable buying. There, a full 82% of the population views buying sustainable products as important. Greeninsight.com reports that Oregonians give the following reasons for willingly paying more to buy green: • ... Continue

0 comments

01-29-2008

by Lester Young

In just its first two months on the market, the pest control product known as Riddex posted a record $10 million in sales, it was announced by the product's producer, Dynamic Response Group, Inc. (OTCBB: DRGP). The demand for the product continues to generate impressive sales from the company's short form infomercial. Upper-level management called the strong consumer demand for Riddex "truly remarkable," and they anticipate that revenues will continue to exceed early expectations as the company expands its marketing efforts. An industry leader in innovative strategic marketing solutions, DRG's foundation lies in its direct response ... Continue

0 comments

01-28-2008

by Dan Blacharski

The much-discussed Federal stimulus package may offer some help in staving off recession, but once everybody’s gone out to Best Buy and bought their new televisions, all we will have accomplished is a short-term bubble. That said, when those rebate checks start going out to every taxpayer in the country, that would be the time to invest in retail companies. But long-term, what are the best recession-proof companies to buy? As I am writing, the weather widget on the side of my computer screen says that it’s seven degrees below zero outside, and as ... Continue

0 comments