“(AP) GENEVA – The global aviation industry could run up losses of over $5 billion this year if oil prices spike by more than anticipated in light of the tensions building up over Iran’s nuclear program, the industry’s trade group said Tuesday.

The International Air Transport Association, or IATA, says it now expects earnings will likely decline to $3 billion in 2012. That’s down from December’s forecast of $3.5 billion, based on an expectation that oil prices will average $115 a barrel. At present, the benchmark New York rate is trading at nine-month highs around $107 a barrel.

Tony Tyler, IATA’s chief executive, said the industry’s diminished profit forecast for 2012 could turn to losses of more than $5 billion if oil prices spike to $150 a barrel due to Western tensions with Iran.

“I must emphasize that the industry is fragile,” he said, pointing to global growth forecasts of 2 percent for this year. “Historically, if GDP falls below 2 percent, the industry returns a collective loss. So it would not take much of a shock to turn our very modest profit projection to a net loss.”

“Indeed, that shock could be oil,” he added. “Such a shock would link to a fall in GDP growth to 1.7 percent and we could see losses in excess of $5 billion.”…

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Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) fell 4.2 percent to $33.05. The largest maker of graphic design software forecast lower profit than some analysts had projected, signaling that the new version of Creative Suite may not bring as much of a boost as anticipated.

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) decreased 0.9 percent to $183.88. The largest Internet retailer will buy Kiva Systems Inc., a material handling technology company, for $775 million in cash.

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. (KORS) (KORS US) increased 2.7 percent to $46.55. The luxury-goods maker and retailer raised its forecast of fourth-quarter earnings excluding some items to a range of 14 cents to 16 cents a share, up from 10 cents to 12 cents.

Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) : The St. Louis-based financial-services company paid $13 million to settle a lawsuit with five Wisconsin school districts.

Targacept Inc. (TRGT) decreased 11 percent to $6.59. AstraZeneca Plc (AZN US) said it won’t seek regulatory approval of an experimental antidepressant licensed from Targacept after the compound failed in its last two late-stage studies.

Tiffany & Co. (TIF) gained 2.2 percent to $70.20. The world’s second-largest luxury jewelry retailer forecast 2012 earnings per share of at least $3.95, exceeding the average analyst estimate of $3.92. The company also estimated 2012 sales of $4 billion, beating the average analyst estimate of $3.9 billion.

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) dropped 1 percent to $43.01. The largest U.S. entertainment company said the box-office flop “John Carter” will lead to a quarterly operating loss of $80 million to $120 million for its film division. The film itself is forecast to lose about $200 million, Disney said in an e- mailed statement.

Williams Partners LP (WPZ) : The U.S. pipeline operator agreed to acquire a unit of Caiman Energy for about $2.5 billion to establish a “major footprint” in the natural-gas rich area of the Marcellus Shale.

Gapping up

PSTI +7%,  BPAX +13.7%, GMAN +11.1%, KORS +4.6%, FMCN +4.5%, LGF +1.8%, WMB +1.1%,  TAT +6.3%,  VOD +1.9%,  ANF +0.9%,

BAC+1% ,  AGU +0.6%, HOG +0.6%,

Gapping down

FRO -7%, AIXG -4.2%, RGP -4.1%, ADBE -4%, MT -3.1%, ARGN -2.8%, BBL -2.8%, BHP -2.7%, ASTM -2%, DB -1.4%, DIS -1%, HBC -2.3%, ING -2.3%,

BCS -1.8%, HMY -2.1%, CLF -2%, SLV -1.8%, GOLD -1.6%, GLD -1%, GDX -0.8%, SDRL -2.4%, E -2.1%, STO -1.8%, TOT -1.8%, CHK -1.4%, BP -1.2%,

FRO -4.6%, CA -1.4% ,  DPZ -1.9%, AMZN -0.9%, ASTM -2%

In Play

On the Wires 

They bargained an investment banking fee of just 1.1% for its ipo filing. A typical fee is around 3-5%.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Apple Inc has sold 3 million units of the new iPad since sales began on Friday, setting a first-weekend record for the iPad, which for the first time came with 4G capability.

The company said in a statement on Monday, hours after it announced it would begin to pay a quarterly dividend and commence share buybacks, that the latest version of the iPad would be sold in 24 more countries by March 23, including Italy and Spain, in addition to the initial 11.

Did you expect anything less ?

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Aveo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AVEO) : The maker of an experimental medicine for kidney cancer delayed its annual report filing and said it is evaluating its allocation agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. (4503 JT).

BATS Global Markets Inc. (BATS): The company may be attractive as the third-biggest U.S. stock exchange operator prepares to sell 6.3 million shares to the public on March 22, Barron’s reported, without citing anyone.

Domino’s Pizza Inc. (DPZ) : The pizza-delivery chain completed its recapitalization and declared a special dividend of $3 a share.

LSB Industries Inc. (LXU) : The maker of chemical and climate-control products said its Pryor, Oklahoma, facility was shut down for unplanned maintenance because of excess heat. Operating income will be reduced by about $4 million.

Novartis AG (NOVN) : The Swiss drugmaker may rise if it improves earnings with a new pipeline of products and provides healthy dividend payments, Barron’s reported.

Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) : The chipmaker is poised to rise 30 percent or more during the next year as its thousands of patents give it an advantage in mobile-market expansion, Barron’s reported.

Tenet Healthcare Corp. (THC) : The hospital owner may stall until management proves it’s capable of turning around business without being acquired, Barron’s reported in its “The Trader” column.

Total SA (FP) : The American depositary receipts of France’s biggest energy company may rise to the mid-$60s within a year if the oil producer boosts output, Barron’s reported.

YPF SA (YPFD) : The Argentine oil producer may be a risky investment as the government mulls control of the company, Barron’s reported in its “The Trader” column.

Gapping up

ABVT +16.9%, DPZ +5.9%, UNH +3.1%, ADGF +7.3% , AAPL +2.8%, UPS +2%, CRESY +9.6%,  DWRE +7%, DPZ +5.7% , BRCM +1.2%, DSCO +1.8% ,

STLD +2%, E +0.8%, PCX +0.3%

Gapping down

MHS -3.4% , ESRX -1.9%, S -4.8%, LXU -3.1%, DNKN -2.2%, DB -1.9%, CLNE -1.4%, WPCS -9.8% , PURE -8.6%, PBY -0.6%,

IRE -3.4%, CS -1.6%, BCS -1.5%, IBN -1.5%, DB -1.1%, ING -1%,  FRO -5%, CHMT -4.5% , ACI -2.8%, EBAY -2.2%,  AIXG-2.5%,

In Play

On the Wires 

$11 per share and a $45 billion buy back program…

I shall not ride an Airbus….

With lower margins Starbucks will try to create a new fresh look selling juice without the gin….

“Apple Inc. (AAPL), which plans to discuss its $97.6 billion in cash and investments in a conference call today, is likely to announce a dividend, according to analysts’ predictions and data compiled by Bloomberg.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer will host the call, scheduled for 9 a.m. New York time, Cupertino, California-based Apple said in a statement yesterday. The company didn’t elaborate on its plans, and said it won’t discuss topics besides cash….”

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Now matter how ‘perty’ you make that pig; it is after all a pig…..

Enjoy your green beer weekend!

“It is a well-known fact that our society is structured like a pyramid. The very few people at the top create conditions for the majority below. Who are these people? Can we blame them for the problems our society faces today? Guided by the saying “A fish rots from the head”we set out to follow that fishy odor. What we found out is that people at the top are more likely to be psychopaths than the rest of us.

Who, or what, is a psychopath? Unlike Hollywood’s stereotypical image, they are not always blood-thirsty monsters from slasher movies. Actually, that nice lady who chatted you up on the subway this morning could be one. So could your elementary school teacher, your grinning boss, or even your loving boyfriend.

The medical definition is simple: A psychopath is a person who lacks empathy and conscience, the quality which guides us when we choose between good and evil, moral or not. Most of us are conditioned to do good things. Psychopaths are not. Their impact on society is staggering, yet altogether psychopaths barely make up one percent of the population.

Through interviews with renowned psychologist Professor Philip Zimbardo, leading expert on psychopathy Professor Robert Hare, former President of Czech Republic and playwright Vaclav Havel, authors Gary Greenberg and Christopher Lane, professor Nicholas Christakis, among numerous other thinkers, we have delved into the world of psychopaths and heroes and revealed shocking implications for us and our society.”

[youtube://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLWnB9FGmWE 450 300] [youtube://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYIP8lGBtFQ 450 300]

Zynga needs more product……

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“After cutting corners and relying on poor accounting, JPMorgan Chase shut down its legal operation against credit card debtors, some of whom may have been wrongly sued by the bank. It would appear to be another example of greed overcoming honesty. Ten years ago, Chase was recovering about $130 million a year in bad debt collections. By 2009, they were raking in $1.2 billion on credit card recoveries alone. The problem, legally and ethically, was that Chase was misrepresenting what they were selling to professional debt collectors. The increase in profits—and the decrease in ethical standards—would appear to have begun in 2008 when Edmond Helaire and his right-hand man, Jason Lazinbat, were put in charge of the credit card debt division in San Antonio, Texas.