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2014-06-04 19:45:01+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [0, 245, 588, 1897, 2057]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin Moves From $339 To $680 In Two Months: Could It Go Above $1,200?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-moves-339-680-two-194501214.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Bitcoin hit a low of $339 just two months ago and went on to hit a high of $680 on June 3, according to leading exchange Bitstamp. The question now on everyone’s mind is: is bitcoin headed higher? 2013 Price Explosion and 2014 Optimism In 2013, Bitcoin rocketed from $13 to above $1,160 in late November before ending the year at $739. At the end of the year, optimism was high. Bulls were predicting bitcoin would end 2014 in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Overstock’s January announcement, that they were accepting bitcoin, added additional fuel to the positive sentiment. Related: Top 8 Bitcoin Stories of 2014 2014 Negative News 2014 has had a lot of negative bitcoin news as well; the scope of failure at leading exchange Mt. Gox was shocking even to the most faithful bitcoin advocates. The arrest of bitcoin industry board member, Charlie Shrem, the negatively perceived IRS ruling and China’s tightened bitcoin regulations all brought bitcoin’s price far lower than believers thought it could go. 2014 Fundamental Improvements While most people have been fixated by the negative headlines, savvy investors and the bitcoin faithful have viewed these lows as a temporary discount. At a fundamental level, bitcoin has had a massive leap of utility in 2014. Here are some of the reasons: Venture capitalists have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into bitcoin this year. Circle launched to make bitcoin as easy for consumers to use as a bank. Bitreserve is launching to eliminate bitcoin’s volatility for customers. So many companies accept bitcoin it is no longer news, unless they are a multi-billion dollar company. Innovations in consumer safety are in the works on a level never seen before. Soon viruses won’t be able to steal bitcoins Silicon Valley startups like Stripe and Square and regional startups like Tech Twurl are incorporating bitcoin into their offerings. How High Could Bitcoin Go? Believers think bitcoin will be bigger than the internet. Venture capitalist Chris Dixon has gone on record stating a bitcoin could be worth 0,000. Bitcoin could easily hit a new all-time high this year -- if the SEC greenlights a bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund in the works. Story continues The only certainty about bitcoin’s price is it will continue to violently thrash about throughout the year, as investors react to developments. For retail investors, bitcoin is either the opportunity or the folly of a lifetime. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position. Related Links Matador Resources: The Answer To Playing Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Stocks Rahul Saraogi Of Atyant Capital Advisors Talks About Investment Opportunities In India Five Star Biotech Stock Watch: Illumina © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-04 19:45:01+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [0, 245, 588, 1897, 2057]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin Moves From $339 To $680 In Two Months: Could It Go Above $1,200?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-moves-339-680-two-194501214.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Bitcoin hit a low of $339 just two months ago and went on to hit a high of $680 on June 3, according to leading exchange Bitstamp. The question now on everyone’s mind is: is bitcoin headed higher? 2013 Price Explosion and 2014 Optimism In 2013, Bitcoin rocketed from $13 to above $1,160 in late November before ending the year at $739. At the end of the year, optimism was high. Bulls were predicting bitcoin would end 2014 in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Overstock’s January announcement, that they were accepting bitcoin, added additional fuel to the positive sentiment. Related: Top 8 Bitcoin Stories of 2014 2014 Negative News 2014 has had a lot of negative bitcoin news as well; the scope of failure at leading exchange Mt. Gox was shocking even to the most faithful bitcoin advocates. The arrest of bitcoin industry board member, Charlie Shrem, the negatively perceived IRS ruling and China’s tightened bitcoin regulations all brought bitcoin’s price far lower than believers thought it could go. 2014 Fundamental Improvements While most people have been fixated by the negative headlines, savvy investors and the bitcoin faithful have viewed these lows as a temporary discount. At a fundamental level, bitcoin has had a massive leap of utility in 2014. Here are some of the reasons: Venture capitalists have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into bitcoin this year. Circle launched to make bitcoin as easy for consumers to use as a bank. Bitreserve is launching to eliminate bitcoin’s volatility for customers. So many companies accept bitcoin it is no longer news, unless they are a multi-billion dollar company. Innovations in consumer safety are in the works on a level never seen before. Soon viruses won’t be able to steal bitcoins Silicon Valley startups like Stripe and Square and regional startups like Tech Twurl are incorporating bitcoin into their offerings. How High Could Bitcoin Go? Believers think bitcoin will be bigger than the internet. Venture capitalist Chris Dixon has gone on record stating a bitcoin could be worth 0,000. Bitcoin could easily hit a new all-time high this year -- if the SEC greenlights a bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund in the works. Story continues The only certainty about bitcoin’s price is it will continue to violently thrash about throughout the year, as investors react to developments. For retail investors, bitcoin is either the opportunity or the folly of a lifetime. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position. Related Links Matador Resources: The Answer To Playing Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Stocks Rahul Saraogi Of Atyant Capital Advisors Talks About Investment Opportunities In India Five Star Biotech Stock Watch: Illumina © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-04 20:23:22+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2034]}

{}

Will Formlabs announce a new 3D printer next week?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/formlabs-announce-3d-printer-next-202322409.html

Gigaom

http://gigaom.com/

Formlabs , a startup that kickstarted the boom of one of the most popular types of desktop 3D printers, is up to something. The company recently sent out invitations for events in Boston, Detroit and London next week, and my guess is that the “special announcement” is an update to the Form 1 3D printer. The invitation for Formlabs’ Tuesday event. Formlabs began shipping the $3,299 Form 1 in May of 2013, meaning it is overdue for a new printer. Since the Cambridge, Massachusetts–based startup first advertised the machine on Kickstarter in 2012, it has gone from being the first reputable low-cost stereolithographic printer to one of many . SLA printers print objects by curing liquid resin layer by layer. Most desktop printers rely on fused deposition modeling technology, which melts strands of plastic and then prints the gooey plastic in layers before it hardens. SLA printers have been slower to develop than FDM machines and remain more expensive, but prices are dropping quickly as more companies enter the market. XYZprinting, which is aggressively debuting a large lineup of printers, announced this week that it will debut an SLA machine priced at less than $2,500 next year. Software giant Autodesk is also getting into the market with an open-source SLA printer , a move that could further slash prices dramatically. So it is becoming a crowded space, and Formlabs will have to deal with both dropping costs and improving technology to compete. Any printer it might release next week would have benefited from the $19 million Series A round it raised last year, which should give it a big boost over the smaller companies that debuted a first SLA machine this year. Formlabs has been hinting at the big Tuesday reveal on its Instagram all week, so keep an eye on it for further clues. Image copyright Form 1 . Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research: Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial . The legal challenges and opportunities for 3D printing A market analysis of emerging technology interfaces Bitcoin: why digital currency is the future financial system More From paidContent.org Non-Safari iPhone browsers will soon have access to Apple’s full-speed Javascript engine

2014-06-04 20:36:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2385]}

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16 Cloud Computing Startups That Could Be Acquired For $1 Billion Or More

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/16-cloud-computing-startups-could-203636992.html

Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/

Box CEO Aaron Levie Box Box CEO Aaron Levie Cloud computing is producing a huge crop of big and successful companies . There are already 23 public cloud companies trading at more than $1 billion in market cap, tracked by Bessemer Venture Partners' BVP Cloud Index . Bessemer has also identified another 300 successful cloud startups ; among them, 16 have already hit a $1 billion valuation or on the verge of it, a concept BVP calls the "cloud unicorn." The unicorn indicates the mythical nature of crossing that $1 billion valuation milestone. BVD predicts many of these companies could hit the $1 billion valuation through an acquisition. The companies are: 1. AppDynamics: makes "application performance monitoring" software that helps developers find and fix problems. 2. Atlassian: makes software for collaborating on software development and other projects and is already valued at $3.3 billion, after it raised $150 million from T. Rowe Price in April. 3. Box: offers enterprise and consumer cloud storage. Box filed for a much-publicized IPO , but it hasn't priced shares or shared a valuation. 4. Cloudera: offers commercial support for a popular free and open source big data technology called Hadoop. 5. DocuSign : lets businesses securely sign, send and management electronic documents. 6. Domo: offers what's known as a "business intelligence" app that lets companies capture data in spreadsheets and other documents and use that data to create charts, graphs, reports. 7. Dropbox: offers consumer and business cloud storage. 8. Evernote: offers a note-taking app that is popular with enterprises and consumers. 9. HubSpot: offers marketing software. 10. Mobile Iron: offers mobile device security software used by enterprises. Filed for a $128 million IPO in April. 11. MuleSoft: offers a cloud service that connects clouds together so they can share data. 12. New Relic: offers an application performance monitoring service. 13. Shopify: offers e-commerce website hosting. 14. Stripe: turns a tablet or smartphone into a credit card payment machine. 15. SurveyMonkey: offers an online survey tool. 16. Twilio : offers software that lets companies add support for phone calls and text messages in their apps and websites. BVP Cloud Index, More From Business Insider Look How Hard Apple Is Working To Lure Business Users These Guys Are Creating A Whole New Internet Using Bitcoin And They Are Having Surprising Success CHARTS: Look How Astoundingly Cheap Cloud Computing Has Become View comments

2014-06-04 20:38:22+00:00

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{}

Market Wrap For June 4: Markets Slightly Higher On Light Volume, Beige Book

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/market-wrap-june-4-markets-203822971.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

U.S. stocks were moderately higher as the S&P 500 continues to reach new highs. Investors found plenty of positives after the Federal Reserve released its summary of commentary on current economic conditions, also known as the “ Beige Book .” “All twelve Federal Reserve Districts report that economic activity expanded during the current reporting period,” the report said. “The pace of growth was characterized as moderate in the Boston, New York, Richmond, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, and San Francisco Districts, and modest in the remaining regions. Compared with the previous report, the pace of growth picked up in the Cleveland and St. Louis Districts but slowed slightly in the Kansas City District.” Investors will be closely following Thursday's European Central Bank meeting as well as Friday's nonfarm payroll report. Recommended: Top 8 Reasons To Be A Little Nervous About Stocks At These Levels The Dow gained 0.09 percent, closing at 16,737.53. The S&P 500 gained 0.19 percent, closing at 1,927.88. The Nasdaq gained 0.41 percent, closing at 4,251.64. Gold lost 0.09 percent, trading at $1,243.40 an ounce. Oil lost 0.17 percent, trading at $102.49 a barrel. Silver gained 0.06 percent, trading at $18.77. News of Note MBA Mortgage Composite Index declined 3.1 percent after declining 1.2 percent last week. MBA Mortgage Purchase Index declined 3.6 percent after declining 1.1 percent last week. MBA Mortgage Refinance Index declined 2.9 percent after declining 1.4 percent last week. May ADP Jobs Report rose 179,000, below the consensus of 210,000 and below April's 215,000 gain. April Trade Balance widened to -$47.2 billion from -$44.2 billion in March. Analysts were expecting April's trade balance to come in at -$41 billion. First Quarter Productivity and Costs declined 3.2 percent, worse than the 2.9 percent decline expected and fourth quarters' reading of -1.7 percent. Unit labor costs rose 5.7 percent, ahead of the 5.2 percent expected. May Gallup US Job Creation Index rose to +27 from April's +25. Story continues May US PMI Services Index rose to 58.1 from 55 in April and topping estimates of 58.4. May ISM Non-Manufacturing Index rose to 56.3 from April's 55.2 and topping estimates of 55.3. EIA Crude Inventories declined 3.4 million after rising 1.7 million barrels last week. Analysts were expecting a decline of 0.3 million barrels. EIA Gasoline Inventories rose 0.2 million barrels after declining 1.8 million barrels last week. Analysts were expecting a gain of 0.3 million barrels. EIA Distillates Inventories rose 2 million barrels after declining 0.2 million barrels last week. Analysts were expecting a gain of 0.7 million barrels. The Bank of Canada left its benchmark policy unchanged at 1.0 percent. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades of Note Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus upgraded AutoZone (NYSE: AZO ) to Buy from Hold with an unchanged price target of $570. Shares gained 2.48 percent, closing at $541.23. Analysts at Drexel Hamilton upgraded Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM ) to Buy from Hold. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $37.14 before closing the day at $37.06, up 3.29 percent. Recommended: Rahul Saraogi Of Atyant Capital Advisors Talks About Investment Opportunities In India Analysts at Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating on Clovis Oncology (NASDAQ: CLVS ) with a price target lowered to $53 from a previous $109. Shares hit new 52-week lows of $36.11 before rebounding and closing the day at $38.40, up 0.44 percent. Analysts at Sterne Agee downgraded Coach (NYSE: COH ) to Neutral from Buy with a price target lowered to $41 from a previous $51. Shares hit new 52-week lows of $38.70 before closing the day at $39.00, down 2.55 percent. Analysts at Goldman Sachs upgraded Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS ) to Conviction Buy from Neutral. Shares gained 1.77 percent, closing at $29.88. Analysts at Macquarie initiated coverage of Halliburton (NYSE: HAL ) with an Outperform rating and $72 price target. Shares lost 0.26 percent, closing at $65.40. Analysts at Credit Suisse initiated coverage of Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST ) with an Outperform rating and $82 price target. Shares gained 2.07 percent, closing at $68.12. Analysts at Maxim Group initiated coverage of Oracle (NYSE: ORCL ) with a Buy rating and $48 price target. Shares lost 0.26 percent, closing at $41.70. Analysts at Macquarie initiated coverage of Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB ) with an Outperform rating and $119 price target. Shares lost 0.14 percent, closing at $103.70. Analysts at Raymond James maintained a Strong Buy rating on Skyworks Solutions (NASDAQ: SWKS ) with a price target raised to $55 from a previous $50. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $46.79 before closing the day at $46.76, up 2.43 percent. Analysts at Jefferies upgraded Under Armour (NYSE: UA ) to Buy from Hold with a price target raised to $65 from a previous $50. Shares gained 4.95 percent, closing at $53.63. Analysts at Macquarie maintained an Underperform rating on Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT ) with a price target lowered to $4 from a previous $5. Shares lost 0.46 percent, closing at $4.33. Analysts at Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating on Whole Foods Market (NYSE: WFM ) with a price target lowered to $41 from a previous $55. Shares gained 1.78 percent, closing at $38.38. Analysts at Deutsche Bank maintained a Buy rating on Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE ) with a price target lowered to $6 from a previous $8. Shares lost 4.24 percent, closing at $2.83. Equities-Specific News of Note UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH ) announced that it renewed its share repurchase program with the company authorized to repurchase 100 million shares of its stock. Additionally, the company raises its quarterly dividend to $0.375 per share from the $0.28 per share the company paid at the beginning of the second quarter. Shares gained 0.78 percent, closing at $80.50. Energi XXI (NASDAQ: EXXI ) announced that it's acquisition of EPL Oil & Gas for $2.3 billion has been finalized. The company expects its fourth quarter production to average 45,000 to 46,000 barrels of energy per day. Shares lost 1.04 percent, closing at $20.89. Recommended: Exclusive: Whitney Tilson On Why Samsung Is A Better Investment Than Apple LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD ) will begin offering a $10 per month subscription offer in addition to rolling out new features for premium subscribers. shares gained 0.35 percent, closing at $156.36. Stifel Financial (NYSE: SF ) has agreed to purchase Legg Mason (NYSE: LM ) Investment Counsel & Trust for an undisclosed amount. The Legg Mason unit provides investment advisory and trust services to institutions as well as individuals and has more than $9 billion in assets under management. Stifel will combine the division with its global wealth management business. Shares of Stifel gained 1.65 percent, closing at $45.62 while shares of Legg Mason hit new 52-week highs of $50.21 before closing the day at $50.18, up 2.01 percent. Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC ) won a five-year $9.9 billion contract to modernize the U.S. Air Force's fleet of B-2 bombers. Shares gained 0.61 percent, closing at $122.23. AT&T (NYSE: T ) plans to sell $2.9 billion worth of euro-denominated bonds with ten and 20 year maturities. Shares lost 0.43 percent, closing at $35.05. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN ) has scheduled a launch event for a mystery device on June 18. Shares lost 0.13 percent, closing at $306.78. Pandora (NYSE: P ) disclosed that its active listeners in May rose to 77 million from 76 million in April. Listener hours rose 1.7 percent month over month to 1.73 billion hours. Pandora estimates that its U.S. radio listening market share dipped to 9.13 percent from 9.28 percent in April. Shares lost 0.37 percent, closing at $24.52. Walgreen (NYSE: WAG ) reported that its sales rose six percent year over year in May to $6.57 billion. Comparable-store sales rose 4.4 percent while prescription sales comps gained 5.5 percent. The average basket size rose 3.1 percent, however traffic in comparable stores declined 0.5 percent. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $75.16 before closing the day at $74.54, up 4.16 percent. Wal-Mart's (NYSE: WMT ) Sam's Club will team up with MasterCard (NYSE: MA ) to create a new credit card with an embedded chip. Shares of Wal-Mart gained 0.55 percent, closing at $77.13 while shares of Mastercard lost 0.04 percent, closing at $76.32. Winners of Note Japanese based insurer Dai-ichi Life Insurance has offered to acquire Protective Life (NYSE: PL ) for $5.7 billion, or $70 per share. The acquisition offer represents a more than 30 percent premium from Tuesday's closing price. Shares of Protective Life hit new 52-week highs of $69.49 before closing the day at $69.36, up 18.12 percent. Recommended: Several New Low Volatility ETFs Set To Launch On Thursday (JPMV, EUMV, QEFA, QEMM) NQ Mobil (NYSE: NQ ) announced that its special committee investigating allegations of fraud had uncovered no evidence that the company's revenues were “inconsistent with public disclosures,” as claimed by Muddy Waters. Shares soared 30.93 percent, closing the day at $9.99. Decliners of Note Annie's (NASDAQ: BNNY ) announced that its accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers will no longer assume duties as the company's accounting firm. The accounting firm found “an insufficient complement of finance and accounting resources” while Annie's said that there was “material weakness in internal control over financial reporting.” Shares lost 7.76 percent, closing at $30.07. Earnings of Note This morning, Brown-Forman (NYSE: BF-B ) reported its fourth quarter results. The company announced an EPS of $0.62, beating the consensus estimate of $0.58. Revenue of $893 million missed the consensus estimate of $923.7 million. Net income for the quarter rose to $132 million from $113 million in the same quarter a year ago partly due to the strong performance of Jack Daniels family of brands that grew net sales by eight percent. The company's super and ultra-premium whiskey brands grew by 19 percent as Finlandia's family of brands grew by four percent. The company saw solid sales growth throughout the world including 21 percent rise in Russia, eight percent rise in both the U.K. and Germany, four percent rise in the U.S. and a two percent rise in Australia. Mexico, the lone declining region saw sales decline by four percent. Shares gained 0.27 percent, closing at $93.15. This morning, Hovnanian Enterprises (NYSE: HOV ) reported its second quarter results. The company announced an EPS of -$0.05, missing the consensus estimate of $0.03. Revenue of $449.9 million missed the consensus estimate of $476.7 million. Net income for the quarter turned to negative $7.9 million from a net income of $1.3 million in the same quarter a year ago as the company saw the number of deliveries decline 6.5 percent year over year to 1,331 homes. The dollar value of net contracts rose 1 percent to $703 million while the number of contracts declined 2.2 percent to 1,907 homes. Shares lost 2.18 percent, closing at $4.48. After the market closed, PVH (NYSE: PVH ) reported its first quarter results. The company announced an EPS of $1.47, missing the consensus estimate of $1.49. Revenue of $1.96 billion missed the consensus estimate of $1.98 billion. Shares were trading lower by 5.88 percent at $123.00 following the earnings report. Quote of the Day “Labor market conditions generally strengthened in the latest reporting period, with hiring activity steady to stronger across most of the country, and several Districts reporting shortages of skilled workers. In most Districts, wage increases have remained generally subdued, though Chicago and Dallas noted increased costs for health benefits. Prices of both inputs and finished goods and services were mostly steady to up slightly.” – Federal Reserve comments from its Beige Book. Related Links Groupon Down on Likely Revival of IL Sales Tax - Analyst Blog Actions By 3 Fortune 500 Companies Signal Bitcoin's Price May Surge In 2014 Mattel, Amazon to Bring Fireman Sam to US - Analyst Blog © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-05 16:21:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [4852]}

{}

How Mario Draghi Brought Out The Big Guns In Europe

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mario-draghi-brought-big-guns-162108055.html

Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/

mario draghi REUTERS/Lisi Niesner This morning Mario Draghi and the European Central Bank (ECB) took a very bold move, they pushed interest rates into negative territory . This is part of an aggressive approach to combat weak growth and low inflation that are plaguing the eurozone. Draghi had highlighted three steps to counter this weakness at an ECB forum last month; lower interest rates, targeted lending to non-financial corporates and finally a broad-based asset purchase program. Today we got two of three of these steps. Here are the key takeaways and what they mean: Negative rates The deposit rate was lowered to -0.1%, from 0%, effective June 11. The idea is that if banks aren't being rewarded for parking their reserves at the central bank, then they will be more likely to lend it to households and businesses. But George Magnus makes an interesting point in a Financial Times column, suggesting that this move won't be that powerful. "European banks’ deposits at the ECB have fallen close to zero in the past several months, and their reserve holdings at the ECB, to which negative rates will also apply, have also diminished significantly," he writes. "The negative interest rate, therefore, is unlikely to have a significant effect on banks’ behavior." Draghi added that ultimately the decision to lower rates for households is the decision of banks, not the ECB. "There is a deep misunderstanding here. The rates we've changed are for the banks, not for the people," Draghi said. It's wrong to think the ECB wants "to expropriate savers. ...The concerns of savers should be taken very seriously." Targeted LTROs The ECB unveiled targeted LTROs (Long Term Refinancing Operation), which is about €400 billion and that will mature in September 2018, or in about 4 years. Basically these are subsidized loans in targeted areas, when you look at it from the supply side, because banks are going to the ECB to get liquidity which they might not be able to get elsehwere, Vistesen told Business Insider in a phone interview, it's "passive balance sheet expansion." Story continues But the key thing is that their is impaired demand, since the non-financial corporate sector in peripheral economies aren't doing as well, he said. The TLTROs are basically intended to boost lending to the non-financial private sector, and this excludes loans for home purchases. "The cost obviously, it is very low, the term maturity is four years, and the termination that this money not be spent on sovereigns and on sectors that are already experienced or have just come out of a bubbly situation, that's what in it," explained Draghi during the press conference. "The set-up is taken straight out of the BoE’s playbook as it does not apply to house purchases—providing a nod to the BoE’s recent criticism of the Help-to-Buy program—and is instead conditioned specifically to loans for the non-financial corporate sector," Claus Vistesen at Pantheon Macroeconomics wrote in an email. The end of SMP sterilization Under the SMP program the ECB would buy securities on the secondary market (from banks and against market prices) but sterilize its purchases by removing an equivalent amount of liquidity from the system. The ECB moved to end its securities market program (SMP) sterilization, which should add €175 billion to the ECB’s balance sheet. This sends the message that the "the central bank is now ready to consider outright balance sheet expansion later this year," writes Vistesen. Outright Purchases of Asset Backed Securities (ABS) The Governing Council is working to "intensify preparatory work related to outright purchases in the ABS market to enhance the functioning of the monetary policy transmission mechanism, given the role of this market in facilitating new credit flows to the economy." The ABS will essentially see the ECB buy bundled packages of small and medium enterprise loans. Vistesen argues that the market "cannot currently accommodate the flow from an aggressive purchasing programme in this sector." No big bazooka just yet The ECB did not announce full quantitative easing — purchases of government bonds as undertaken by the Fed — but has left that option open. "The details of the announcement indicate that QE is still a thorny issue, and a step that the central bank would prefer to avoid for as long as possible," Vistesen. The ECB has thrown everything but the kitchen sink at a eurozone economy," Nicholas Spiro, managing director, at Spiro Sovereign Strategy wrote in an email to clients. "...The reality is that markets continue to expect far too much from the ECB and are letting the Eurozone's politicians, particularly those in France, off the hook. " But the last word on this comes from Draghi. "Are we finished? The answer is no," he said. More From Business Insider Mario Draghi Explains The Decision Did Bitcoin Just Have Its First-Ever Reaction To A Central Bank Announcement? The Era Of Negative Interest Rates Has Begun The June ECB Meeting Is Upon Us: Here's What To Expect Prepare For Action: Here's What Wall Street Is Saying About Next Week's ECB Meeting

2014-06-05 19:56:31+00:00

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Brazil ETF Dropping The Ball, Ahead Of World Cup

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brazil-etf-dropping-ball-ahead-195631831.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

With the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil just one week away, organizers are scrambling to put the last-minute touches on many still unfinished, structures that will support this global sporting event. An estimated one billion people around the world are expected to watch the opening match, which makes this a key showcase for the Brazilian people and economy. And while uncertainty surrounds the preparation of these new sport stadiums, the Brazilian stock market has also been on shaky ground lately. The iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF (NYSE: EWZ ) tracks 75 of the largest stocks in this Latin American country. Currently, EWZ has over $4.2 billion invested in a diversified basket of Brazilian equities and has been on the decline since hitting a year-to-date high in May. ewz.png EWZ has slipped over seven percent in just a few short weeks, and is clinging to a modest 2.75 percent gain so far this year. Brazil represents just over 10 percent of the broader iShares MSCI Emerging Market Equity ETF (NYSE: EEM ), which has also managed to gain two percent gain in 2014. Related: Bitcoin ETF Inching Closer To Reality Emerging market stocks, and Brazil in particular, have been on the decline in recent years as investors have chased performance of domestic equities here in the United States. However, EWZ had been making a strong comeback since finding a bottom in February that has many investors considering repositioning their portfolios back into Latin America and emerging market economies. The Market Vectors Brazil Small Cap ETF (NYSE: BRF ) is also at a critical crossroads of technical support that needs to hold. if the rally in Brazilian equities is going to extend higher. This ETF has $160 million invested in 75 Brazilian small cap stocks and may be considered a complimentary position to a large-cap holding such as EWZ. While the recent dip in EWZ and BRF may be the result of a short-term pull back, a strong showing of economic prosperity during the World Cup tournament may be just what this country needs to reinforce their stock market. Story continues A reflation of emerging market countries such as Brazil would be seen as a positive sign for global growth that has never been easier to tap using low-cost exchange-traded funds. Related Links Reduced Risk And Increased Return Using Country Specific Emerging Market Investing (FCHI, EWZ, ECH, TUR, EPU, VWO) ETF Outlook For Tuesday, June 3, 2014 (FXI, FXE, DXJ, EWZ) 4 ETFs To Help Bet On Brazil's Soccer Team (EWZ, BRF, EWZS, BRXX) © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-06 08:03:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [0, 226, 363, 403, 585, 689, 735, 817, 858, 966, 1102, 1163, 1242, 1314, 1752, 1816, 1861, 2243, 2342]}

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Bitcoin Binary Options Platform BTCLevels Relaunches With New User Interface And Design

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-binary-options-platform-btclevels-080300755.html

ACCESSWIRE

https://www.accesswire.com/

Bitcoin binary options platform BTCLevels relaunches with enhanced functionality, new exchange rate graph and user interface. EUROPE / ACCESSWIRE /June 6th, 2014 / Established September 2013, BTCLevels was the first dedicated Bitcoin binary options trading platform : enabling anyone worldwide to open long or short positions, speculate and potentially profit on Bitcoin’s volatile price movements. The Bitcoin binary options service has now relaunched with a new exchange rate graph and user interface, and the removal of limits on the size of positions which can be opened. The live Bitcoin exchange rate is now pulled direct from Hitbtc. BTCLevels also has a new method of distributing Bitcoin to those who correctly predict future Bitcoin price movements. After users have made a correct prediction on the future Bitcoin price, they will share the total Bitcoin of the losing side with the other participants who also made the correct prognosis. The size of the Bitcoin reward received depends on the size of the player’s original position. The earlier users made the correct prediction – the more Bitcoin they will receive. BTCLevels’ new design includes no Bitcoin limits on the size of positions which can be opened; meaning potential Bitcoin profits for punters are also unlimited. Taking its listings and Bitcoin prices directly from Hitbtc in real time, BTCLevels ensures users get an absolutely fair opportunity to make the smartest trade possible . Binary option expiration times are flexible and can be chosen by users on a newly designed rolling graph; with the average expiry time being 1440 minutes. For those who like to trade on the news, the new BTCLevels’ design also includes an integrated live news feed of the latest news in the Bitcoin space: enabling traders to make decisions on the future Bitcoin exchange value based on cutting edge Bitcoin news. Designed to be as intuitive and easy to use as possible, opening positions on BTCLevels is done in two clicks and requires no registration. Although registration is available to those users who seek facilitated functionality and a better user experience. Story continues With their new user friendly design, exchange rate graph, enhanced functionality, and removal of Bitcoin limits on the size of positions which can be opened, BTCLevels has shown that the original Bitcoin binary options platform is here to stay. To learn more please contact via feedback form: http://btclevels.com/contacts Visit http://btclevels.com for more information. Contact Info Name: BTCLevels Organization: BTCLevels SOURCE: BTCLevels

2014-06-06 08:05:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [537, 1361, 2319]}

{}

New Cryptocurrency Exchange Coinnext Offers a Fast and Secure Trading Experience

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cryptocurrency-exchange-coinnext-offers-fast-080500119.html

ACCESSWIRE

https://www.accesswire.com/

Launch of new cryptocurrency exchange Coinnext with 200 currencies, advanced safety features and total transparency. Coinnext is celebrating by offering 3 months of trading free from trading fees. Antwerp, Belgium / ACCESSWIRE / June 6th, 2014 / Cryptocurrency exchange Coinnext opened their doors for trading this week. Coinnext strives to become the ultimate exchange for alt coins ; offering the best trading experience possible within a secure and reliable environment.? Their trading platform supports numerous alt coins, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Vertcoin and many others.? The completely transparent exchange says they aim to trade over 200 currencies on their platform, with new alt coins getting added constantly. Coinnext offers bank-grade security, industry standards and absolute minimum fees. Furthermore they strive to work closely with the vast expanding crypto community to meet the popular demand from crypto enthusiasts and professionals worldwide. Coinnext is credited to offer a wide range of currencies, low fees and fast support . Trading on Coinnext is easy. The users simply puts in a buy or sell order and instantaneously get the accurate price listed and total amount, without any hidden fees. ?The site also shows trade history and recent buy and sell orders making it easy to use for day traders and enthusiasts trading Bitcoin and alt coins. Coinnext meets all industry standards to safeguard customer data. The majority of customer deposits are stored in offline wallets. All wallets are encrypted and stored in several geographically distributed vaults together with paper backups. All-network traffic is encrypted via SSL and SSH. The site also uses integrated physical firewalls, Cloudflare and regular data backups to ensure redundancy. As a launch promotion, they have scrapped all trading fees for the first 3 months. This makes it the cheapest destination for enthusiasts to trade coins currently available: presenting a good opportunity for traders worldwide to sign up and check out their markets now. Story continues Coinnext, supported by a highly experienced team of professionals, brings an interesting exchange alternative to the digital currency arena. With soon over 200 currencies, advanced safety features and total transparency; Coinnext contributes to the Bitcoin ecosystem with a fast, secure and reliable cryptocurrency exchange . They can expect Coinnext to make significant strides to become a leader in the alt coin exchange vertical. Visit https://www.coinnext.com/ for more information. Contact Info Name: Sebastian Mortelmans Organization: Coinnext Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Coinnext

2014-06-06 16:08:50+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [220, 656, 706, 818, 1018, 1087, 1432, 1689, 1780, 2485, 2711, 2738, 2746, 3160, 3497]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin Weekly Recap: Threatening Traditional Payments, Entrepreneurs And Regulatory Actions

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-weekly-recap-threatening-traditional-160850472.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

For the week ending June 6, news stories contained surprises like being able to pay for electricity with bitcoin, rapper 50 Cent accepting bitcoin and the IRS relaxing its FBAR requirement for bitcoin holders. Citi Says Bitcoin Is A Threat To Credit Card Margins In a 76-page report, Citi states “In the near term the sectors most at risk are credit/ debit card and payments services. If fraud/charge backs can be reduced or eliminated by digital currencies there is plenty of room for margins to be eroded.” The report provides a balanced perspective on bitcoin citing adoption issues, as well as bitcoin’s addressable market size. Related Story: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business Bitcoin Company Blockchain Has No Bank Account Blockchain CEO Nicolas Cary states, “My company is a 100 percent Bitcoin-based business. We don’t even have a corporate bank account.” Blockchain employees, as well as vendors, are paid in 100 percent bitcoin. Cary continued, “we do everything we can to maintain a Bitcoin economy.” Pay For Electricity And Water In South Africa With Bitcoin South African energy company Invirohub announced it lets customers pay their electricity and water bill with bitcoin. The smart meters have a 3G internet connection card to calculate the latest bitcoin price and credit the customer account when funds are received at the bitcoin address associated with the customer's meter. $15,000 MIT Bitcoin Startup Competition This Summer In advance of MIT’s $100 bitcoin giveaway to all students this fall, the university is holding a startup competition this summer . The competition is designed to create apps for students to use this fall. The May MIT Bitcoin Expo had over 400 students attend. Rap Album Animal Ambition Can Be Purchased With Bitcoin 50 Cent’s new album Animal Ambition and other items on his store can be purchased with bitcoin. 50 Cent’s store uses Shopify, which has allowed its 70,000+ customers to accept bitcoin since November 2013. Story continues On Reddit, the rapper wrote he accepts bitcoins because, “Technology is what’s changing the business gotta get with it. I take money no matter if its coins or dollars.” IRS Won’t Require FBAR Reporting This Year The IRS has waived the reporting requirement of Americans with over $10,000 in foreign financial accounts to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. This is good news for bitcoin holders as many of them may not have been unaware of this requirement. Bitcoin makes it trivial to transfer money anywhere in the world. The lack of awareness and the simplicity of transfer could have made for ugly headlines if violators were prosecuted or fined. Related Story: 3 Reasons The IRS Bitcoin Ruling Is Good For Bitcoin Bitcoin Ransomware CryptoLocker Shut Down The FBI worked with worldwide police to shut down the malicious software CryptoLocker on Saturday, May 31. The software would render victim’s computers unusable unless they quickly paid a ransom of around $300 worth of bitcoin. The FBI believes Evgeniy Mikhailovitch Bogachev is behind the malicious software, but have been unable to capture him. Missouri Regulator Halts Bitcoin Mining Business Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kandler ordered Virtual Mining Corporation (VMC) to cease operations. Kandler claimed investors weren’t made aware of the risks and investors were told they would receive a 100 percent return from global profits of his company sales. VMC had received over $200,000 in donations. Bitcoin Entrepreneur Fined $50,000 Erik Voorhees was charged with publishing prospectuses and soliciting investors to purchase shares in SatoshiDice and FeedZeBirds without registering the offerings with the SEC. Voorhees settled the charges of federal security law violations by paying a fine of just over $50,000. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position. Related Links Dropbox Acquires Startup Droptalk Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Gain On Jobs Data; VeriFone Earnings Beat Estimates Nonfarm Payrolls Report Shows Job Growth Steady © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-09 02:25:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [3384]}

{}

Cryptocurrency NXT Payment System TXT Coins Now Prepares For Launch and Tech Conference

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cryptocurrency-nxt-payment-system-txt-022500411.html

ACCESSWIRE

https://www.accesswire.com/

In a world first TXT Coins Now will enable anyone worldwide to send emerging cryptocurrencies like NXT to anyone else on the planet via text message and voice. TXT Coins Now and NXT will unveil more at PayExpo London on 11th and 12th June Miami, Florida / ACCESSWIRE / June 8th, 2014 / TXT Cash Now subsidiary TXT Coins Now is a cell phone based micro-payment system for cryptocurrency NXT , enabling anyone worldwide to send NXT to anyone else instantly with a simple text message. TXT Coins Now is launching its service in July 2014 alongside its alt coin Escrow services for traders and local agent function. The tool uses text messages and automated phone calls to securely transfer emerging digital currencies between mobile phones. The service will also offer online and offline options to securely pay bills and deposit or pickup cash worldwide via cryptocurrencies. TXT Coins Now has been under development since 2010 as a bolt on service for mobile operators and Banks who wish to extend their services into the Mobile Payment Sector. TXT Coins Now formed a ground breaking partnership with NXT two weeks ago, utilizing NXT as its dedicated and default cryptocurrency. The progressive cryptocurrency is opening its first location to accept NXT Coin in the UK, NXT Café in Shoreham By Sea, which will also be the first place to host a NXT ATM machine on the British Islands. TXT Coins Now has been working closely with the NXT community prior to launch in the coming weeks. The result is the payexpo.com platform, which demonstrates how easy it is to use NXT Coins on the TXT Coins Now backbonep . On stage at the opening of the conference at PayExpo in London, 11-12 of June, NXT is one of the main sponsors alongside Barclays bank and a few others. Crowdfunded organisation NXT Coin joins PayExpo as the Official Cryptocurrency Partner. Pete John Manglaviti is the co-founder of CoinTropolis and NXT Coin representative together with the founder of TXT Coins Now Lee Gibson Grant. On stage at 10:30 – Next generation payments: demonstrating the real-life use of the cryptocurrency NXT. In this interactive session NXTCoin, currently ranked at number five in the cryptocharts, will show the audience how cryptocurrency is not just a technology, but a user-friendly innovation. Story continues TXT Coins Now is a merger of PayPal, Western union and micropayment solutions rolled into one ; alongside its functions of Escrow. Not only can anybody around the world use TXT Coins Now to send or receive NXT coins without Internet access or an external application, but all the functions of online merchant services and the offline local agent functions of Western Union are integrated. The unprecedented tool allows users to send or receive NXT coins worldwide offline via SMS or Voice activation. The system is so scalable that it allows a variety of 3rd parties to interlink and use its backbone: - Crypto exchange - Crypto to fiat - Large chains - Crypto and normal fiat currency ATM machines - Crypto and normal fiat POS systems - Mobile Networks Bolt on - Banking bolt on - And many bolt on services to the high street market to enable consumers and crypto enthusiasts more places to use NXT Coin. Many more functions will be revealed at the launch of TXT Coins Now. TXT Coins Now will also be adding the following coins as optional currency, as well as future plans to add Bitcoin: - BTL Coin backed by environmental project www.bitenergi.com - Scotcoin Project www.scotcoin.org due to one of the founder of TXT Coins Now being British - Ukra Coin a project that will be launching this summer for 100% distribution to people of Ukraine TXT Coins Now is showcasing a broad spectrum of unprecedented services in the cryptocurrency space, such as worldwide offline money transfer, integrated escrow functions and technologies to interlink 3rd parties. Cooperating with high-ranking cryptocurrency NXT Coin; the alt coin will be hosting UK´s first NXT ATM and NXT Café in Shoreham By Sea. Together TXT Coins Now and NXT Coin will demonstrate its user friendliness at the PayExpo in London: spectators can be sure to expect many more new exciting features to be revealed at the July launch. Visit http://www.txtcoinsnow.com/ for more information. Contact Info Name: Lee Gibson Grant Organization: txtCASHSnow Inc. Phone: (+1) 703 291 8076 Email: [email protected] Address: 5201 Blue Lagoon Office No. 913 Miami, Florida 33126

2014-06-09 20:23:17+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [386, 823, 984, 2933]}

{"Bitcoin": [14]}

One Secret Of Bitcoin Bulls

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/one-secret-bitcoin-bulls-202317046.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Many people think bitcoin enthusiasts are unjustifiably excited about bitcoin’s potential. There are many reasons for this excitement; the most obvious being that bitcoin-like technologies have the potential to change every financial transaction on the planet and enable never before seen types of financial transactions. But bitcoin bulls have a secret. The Secret: Bears Become Bulls Bitcoin bulls are excited about bitcoin because nearly all were non-believers upon initially hearing about bitcoin. And many bulls believe any open-minded person who spends time learning about bitcoin will agree it has massive potential, even if they disagree on the likelihood of that occurring. Why People Convert The early bitcoin adopters were typically people in more quantitative careers like engineers, investors and programmers. Bitcoin is so different from the world as most know it that most initially rejected bitcoin as toy money, or an asset bubble destined to crash. Related: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business The difference for the early adopters was that, after hearing about bitcoin a few times, they learned more about it. Many early adopters had a "eureka" moment, when they understood the reasons why bitcoin had been successful -- and why it was likely to continue growing at a breakneck pace. What The Bears Don’t Get Most bears don’t spend time learning about bitcoin and seeking answers to their concerns. Instead, many compare a five-year-old currency to the most successful monetary units on the planet: the U.S. dollar and gold. Tesla motors was founded in 2003, and no one is asking why Tesla doesn’t have the same market share as Ford or Toyota. Investors understand Tesla is still developing and has the potential to shake up the auto industry. Investors and analysts should understand the bitcoin ecosystem is developing at breakneck speed. The ecosystem is vastly larger than it was a year ago, and is growing at an increasing rate. In five years, it might be fair to compare it to the U.S. dollar. Think how fast email overtook fax and traditional mail. That is the type of adoption curve bitcoin appears to be on. Story continues Bears Focus on Volatility and Adoption Why doesn’t bitcoin get the same understanding? The digital currency is barely five years old, is tackling a tougher problem and is growing faster than Tesla. However, bears focus on bitcoin’s price volatility and lack of adoption. And while highlighting the negative aspects of volatility, the bears do not mention bitcoin was the best investment of 2013. 2014 has brought news of a slew of companies accepting bitcoin -- including Dish Network, Overstock, the Sacramento Kings, Stripe, Square and the San Jose Earthquakes. With merchant acceptance increasing and hints of PayPal and Amazon planning to accept the currency, many are calling 2014 the year of adoption. Related: Actions By 3 Fortune 500 Companies Signal Bitcoin's Price May Surge In 2014 What About Volatility? As a nascent currency, bitcoin is going to have a lot of volatility for the foreseeable future. This is a good thing for many investors, because it provides opportunity for them to speculate and make a fortune if bitcoin becomes as ubiquitous as Visa. However, for merchants and some investors, the volatility is a big turn-off. To satisfy those use cases, startup Bitreserve , which recently launched a beta program, has an offering to eliminate volatility while providing the benefits of bitcoin. Bitreserve promises to let bitcoiners have their cake and eat it, too, letting them choose if they want exposure to volatility or not while utilizing bitcoin’s innovative features. Bears who take the time to learn about bitcoin will realize it could be fundamentally better money than anything in existence. It just lacks maturity, and that's why bears become bulls. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith had a long bitcoin position. Related Links Flaregames Raises Million To Build Free Games Are Ticketed Restaurant Reservations About To Go Mainstream? Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Edge Higher; Tyson Wins Bidding Battle To Buy Hillshire Brands For /Share © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-10 16:56:36+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [10406]}

{}

The Promise of a New Internet

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/promise-internet-165636885.html

The Atlantic

http://www.theatlantic.com/

People tend to talk about the Internet the way they talk about democracy—optimistically, and in terms that describe how it ought to be rather than how it actually is. This idealism is what buoys much of the network neutrality debate, and yet many of what are considered to be the core issues at stake—like payment for tiered access, for instance—have already been decided. For years, Internet advocates have been asking what regulatory measures might help save the open, innovation-friendly Internet. But increasingly, another question comes up: What if there were a technical solution instead of a regulatory one? What if the core architecture of how people connect could make an end run on the centralization of services that has come to define the modern net? It's a question that reflects some of the Internet's deepest cultural values, and the idea that this network—this place where you are right now—should distribute power to people. In the post-NSA, post-Internet-access-oligopoly world, more and more people are thinking this way, and many of them are actually doing something about it. Among them, there is a technology that's become a kind of shorthand code for a whole set of beliefs about the future of the Internet: "mesh networking." These words have become a way to say that you believe in a different, freer Internet. * * * Mesh networks promise the things we already expect but don't always get from the Internet: they're fast, reliable, and relatively inexpensive. But before we get into the particulars of what this alternate Internet might look like, a quick refresher on how the one we have works: Your computer is connected to an Internet service provider like Comcast, which sends packets of your data (the binary stuff of emails, tweets, Facebook status updates, web addresses, etc.) back and forth across the network. The packets that move across the Internet encounter a series of checkpoints including routers and servers along the paths your data travels. You can't control these paths or these checkpoints, so your data is subject to all kinds of security threats like hackers and snooping NSA agents. Story continues So the idea behind mesh networking is to skip those checkpoints and cut out the middleman service provider whenever possible. This can work when each device in a network connects to the other devices, rather than each device connecting to the ISP. It helps to visualize it. The image on the left shows a network built around a centralized hub, like the Internet as we know it. The image on the right is what a mesh network looks like: Commotion Think of it this way: With a mesh network, each device is like a mini cell phone tower. So instead of having multiple devices rely on a single, centralized hub; multiple devices rely on one another. And with information ricocheting across the network more unpredictably between those devices, the network as a whole is harder to take out. "You end up with a network that is much harder to disrupt," said Stanislav Shalunov, co-founder of Open Garden, a startup that develops peer-to-peer and mesh networking apps. "There is no single point where you can unplug and expect that there will be a large impact." Plus, a mesh network forms itself based on an algorithm—which again reduces opportunities for disruption. "There is no human intervention involved, even from the users of the devices and certainly not from any administrative entity that needs to arrange the topology of this network or how people are connected or how the network is used," Shalunov told me. "It is entirely up to the people participating and the software that runs this network to make everything work." Your regular old smartphone already has the power to connect to other smartphones without being hooked up to the Internet through a traditional carrier. All you need is the radio frequency of your phone's bluetooth connection, and you can send and receive data over a mesh network from anyone in relatively close proximity—say, a person in the same neighborhood or office building. (Mesh networks can also be built around cheap wireless routers or roof antennae.) "If you are trying to communicate between people who are nearby, you may be entirely off-grid and build a mesh of connections, say, within a stadium or a city square," Shalunov said. "In the same way that packets on the Internet go from node to node and reach its ultimate destination, it's the same thing but on a smaller scale. Instead, our packets go through other people's devices and reach their destination." For a bit more technical detail, here's a five-minute video about how mesh networks could "revolutionize and democratize the way people share data" from Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society: For now, there's no nationwide device-to-device mesh network. So if you want to communicate with someone across the country, someone—but not everyone—in the mesh network will need to be connected to the Internet through a traditional provider. That's true locally, too, if you want the mesh network hooked up to the rest of the Internet. Mesh networks are more reliable in a crowd because devices can rely on one another—rather than each device trying to ping the same overburdened cell phone tower. "The important thing is we can use any of the Internet connections that anybody in that mesh network is connected to," Shalunov said. "So maybe you are connected to AT&T and I am connected to Comcast and my phone is on Verizon and there is a Sprint subscriber nearby. If any of these will let the traffic through, all of it will get through." * * * Mesh networks have been around, at least theoretically, for at least as long as the Internet has existed. "The original vision of the Internet was in fact a mesh," said Michael Liebhold , a fellow at the Institute for the Future. "Unfortunately, what has happened over the 20 or 30 years we've been working on the Internet, all the traffic ends up handled by a very small number of network carriers or cloud or service operators. There's a very small number of connection points... but they're highly vulnerable and they're being attacked from all directions now." For Liebhold, who uses a mesh network to connect to the Internet at home, mesh networking isn't a way to "reinvent the web," but the natural next step toward reclaiming the kind of Internet people want. It's a way of "connecting everybody in the world and bypassing the original Internet, which is struggling in governance, cyber crime, data mining, pervasive passive surveillance, and massive hacks." And with smartphone ownership climbing—more than half of Americans now have smartphones, according to Pew Research Center's latest number s—these kinds of networks are easier than ever to roll out. One of the world's best known mesh networks is in Athens, where some 2,000 residents are connected via a mesh of rooftop antennae called the Athens Wireless Metropolitan Network . (It's faster than your typical speedy home internet connection in the United States, delivering about 150 Mbs of data per second, according to Mother Jones .) A mesh network in Brooklyn got national attention when it remained functional during Hurricane Sandy, which knocked out regular Internet and cell service in the area. Kansas City has the KC Freedom Network. Detroit has DetroitCONNECTED. It makes sense that mesh networking seems to be eking its way into the mainstream in the United States at a time when the enormous scope of data mining and government surveillance is becoming more clear. Many advocates for mesh networking talk about an Internet that's by and for the people, and the importance of being able to go online without being followed. There's some irony in the timing of all of this, too. The United States government has spent millions of dollars on the creation of shadow mesh networks—which are as easy to set up as distributing cheap wireless routers—to help people in other countries get around the Internet infrastructure of their repressive governments, according to The New York Times . In other words, while the NSA collects information about American citizens, the State Department is helping citizens in other countries evade surveillance by their governments. Here's how Ben Scott, a former State Department official, put it in a conversation with The New York Times earlier this year: “It is in my mind one of the great, unreported ironies of the first Obama administration.” Back in the States, mesh networking is emerging as something of a novelty. In most places, such networks are seen more as experiments than necessary infrastructure. The app Firechat, for instance, is a chat client that runs on a combination of mesh networking and wifi. It's marketed as a way stay in touch with people in close proximity when you don't have cell service—like communicating with a friend two tents over while you're on a camping trip. Chats are open to anyone nearby, though when I connect to Firechat in Washington, D.C., there's not much going on. (Along with topics-based threads like "Football," and "Video Games," there is also an "Everyone" chat which connects you to people using Firechat all over the world.) Here's an example of the kind of conversation going on in Firechat's football thread: It has the feeling of early AOL chatrooms from the mid-1990s—a bit haphazard, anonymous, random. That's not a bad thing—the opportunity to chat with strangers is what appeals to some Firechat users, they told me—but it's a good reminder that mesh networking has a long, long way to go if it is indeed to become a viable alternative for the current infrastructure of the Internet. Even many of the people who understand mesh networking see it as a diversion, a complement to the "real Internet." And that's the thing about mesh networks: They're really only as good as the people who are willing to join them. And you need people for the network to function. This is why groups like Commotion and The Free Network Foundation distribute software and information to teach people about mesh networking. From the foundation's website : "This is not going to happen overnight: it will be gradual, and from the inside. It is already happening, and we view its continuation and evolution as inevitable." Elsewhere, people are trying to incentivize the switch to mesh. The mesh networking protocol Open Libernet says it was inspired by Bitcoin to figure out a way to make people feel like they get something in exchange for using the network. "The concept is simple," Open Libernet explains on its site , "the more traffic you help route efficiently, the more traffic you earn for your own consumption. This serves to limit abuse, encourage the community to actively expand and maintain the network, and persuade people to join... And naturally, traffic can be earned, transferred, donated or sold, making it a valuable commodity, akin to a currency." Advocates for mesh networking maintain it's only a matter of time before mesh infrastructure expands beyond niche communities. "They are inevitable, unstoppable, unbreakable," Shalunov told me. "We all have the power to change the future of the Internet. It is happening now." Mesh networks also reflect the idea that maybe the next big Internet revolution won't be one thing. The infrastructure of a mesh network is, in a sense, a physical manifestation of the fragmented nature of the Internet as we know it. "This idea of this great unifying internet is a little bit of an early miss because I think it's going to continue to fragment in many, many ways," said the Institute for the Future's Liebhold. "The actual governance of the Internet is in wild turmoil right now. There's turmoil over who should govern then Internet and how—the chaotic management of this thing. So, meanwhile, let's pass messages around the classroom without the teacher getting them." More From The Atlantic Why Tesla Gave Up on Patents Income Inequality and the Creation of Dynastic Wealth Ta-Nehisi Coates on Not Knowing How Much You Don't Know

2014-06-10 18:06:31+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [359, 516, 583, 1260, 1270, 1646, 2315, 2462]}

{"Bitcoin": [23]}

Reggie Middleton Talks Bitcoin's Future And Why Google Is Preferred Over Apple

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/reggie-middleton-talks-bitcoins-future-180631032.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Reggie Middleton is the founder and editor of the Boom Bust Blog . According to Middleton's blog, he "is an entrepreneurial investor who guides a small team of independent analysts to uncover truths, seldom if, ever published in the mainstream media or Wall Street analyst reports." Middelton was a guest on Benzinga's #PreMarket Prep on June 3 to talk about Bitcoin , and why he is bullish on Google (NASDAQ: GOOG )(NASDAQ: GOOGL ), but not Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ). Middelton pays particularly close attention to the Bitcoin protocol. He notes that most people are not aware that the Bitcoin currency can be programmed, just like any other application. “What I have decided to do was create a company that specializes in programming the currency to make ‘smart contracts,'” Middelton said to begin the conversation on the digital currency. Related Link: Doug Kass Explains Why His Bearish Case Remains Justified A smart wallet allows individuals to design and create a smart contract for a wide variety of applications. This includes trading stocks, options, bonds, commodities and other financial instruments, in addition to advanced merchant transactions such as international trade, shipping and commerce. Middelton is a believer in the long-term success of Bitcoin. “Bitcoin is backed by math. The fiat currency, such as the U.S. dollar, is backed by the full faith of the government. And you have to believe in that government in order for that backing to be true.” The belief in governments historically comes and goes, Middleton explained, especially looking back to the demise of global empires over the centuries. A digital currency like Bitcoin can be programmed to satisfy very detailed contracts between individuals and a business. A continued wide-spread acceptance of digital currencies has the potential to radically change a business transaction. “That takes the middle-man out of the equation,” said Middleton. “The biggest middle-men today are the banks. The banks stand in between people and their money.” Story continues Middleton argued that by taking the banks out of a transaction, such as purchasing a car, users of money and businesses benefit from an extreme boost in efficiency. He added his belief that the majority of people don't grasp the potential benefits of a digital currency. The Bitcoin protocol and the back-end usage of the digital currency is more important than the actual price of the currency, Middleton said. Away From Bitcoin - Onto The Stock Market Middleton said that investors should always be careful, regardless if major indices are at all time-highs or not. “You should always be careful,” Middleton urged. “Whenever there is a time you aren't being careful is a time you are taking undue risk.” Middleton is very bullish on the tech sector because of continued advancements in mobile computing technology, backed by networking and communication advancements. Middleton specifically highlighted that he is bullish on Google and other companies that are engaged in Google's expansion into other sub-industries such as graphics, self-driving cars and personal wearable technology. On the other hand, Middleton doesn't share a similar bullish sentiment on Apple. In fact, Middleton claims on his blog that he is the only investor/analyst to publicly and timely call to short Apple at its all-time high and go long Google. “Google has an extremely rich and clear pipeline,” Middleton argued. “But Apple has lost its way. Apple is making very expensive purchases such as the purchase of Beats.” Dr. Dre and other investors involved in Beats will stand to benefit from Apple's multi-billion dollar acquisition, Middleton explained. However, Beats doesn't contribute anything substantial to Apple's pipeline when compared to Google. “I am at a loss as to what they are doing,” Middleton said referring to Apple. Related Links Family Dollar Adopts Poison Pill, Shares Surge - Analyst Blog #Premarket Prep Technical Update - Apple Trading Higher Who's Lagging? Morgan Stanley Comments On iPhone, Galaxy © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-10 19:28:24+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [7324]}

{}

Make Premium Collection Trades Everday, In Upward Bullish Markets, Using Nadex Spreads

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/premium-collection-trades-everday-upward-192824445.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Ever heard the saying "There's more than one way to skin a cat"? Well, there is more than one way to make profits in an uptrend or flat market with Nadex spreads, than just the market making a significant move up. In fact, there is a way to profit by more than the actual move up the market makes, and a way to profit if the market stays flat or even if the market moves slightly down against your trade. How, you ask? With premium collection trades using Nadex spreads in an uptrend. If you have experience or knowledge of trading options, then you may understand the basics of the concept. On normal credit spreads, a trader is limited to weekly, monthly or multi- month expirations. Traders can do premium collection trades on Nadex with an advantage of capped, defined risk. In addition, all spreads expired in 24 hours or less. And there are even spreads that are only two hours from start to expiration. This allows for day and night time and multiple premium collection opportunities throughout a day. Related: Excellent Leverage With Nadex Spreads, Compared To Future Options A Nadex spread is a derivative of an underlying market and operates like an option -- in that it has a premium or time value. Depending on where the entry price is relative to the underlying market, there may be premium that may be potentially paid or collected by the trader. The example below shows crude oil. There is time premium still in this spread, due to the time left until it expires, potential pending news, and the price of oil, CL, is in relation to the floor and ceiling. This is one example to show you how to see the premium and understand how premium collecting works. Below is a screenshot of the Apex Spread Analyzer Scanner. You can see for the highlighted spread, Crude Oil (Apr) 98.00-103.00, that this spread’s floor is 98.00 and the ceiling is 103.00. Currently, as shown below, the ask price, if you were to buy the spread, is the number listed on the right side in that column, or 102.42. Story continues When you buy a spread, your profit is the distance between your price and the ceiling. Now, the next column is called “proximity to underlying,” which means the distance between the spread price and the underlying market. (Proximity is calculated as the difference between the offer of the spread and the last price of the underlying if buying, and the difference between the bid of the spread and the last of the underlying if selling). For example, if the CL futures is priced at 102.66 and the spread is priced to buy at 102.72, then the spread is priced above the underlying market, CL, by six ticks -- so there is six ticks of premium in the spread. Most spreads will be priced this way. This means that by expiration, when all premium is gone, the buyer would need CL to move up at least six ticks by expiration. However, as a trader, you can be a payer of the premium or a collector of the premium. In this example below, the spread price is 23 ticks below where the underlying Crude Oil market is trading. This is an example of an inverted proximity on the price of the spread. So effectively, if you bought this spread, you would be buying it 23 ticks below the underlying market. If you find a spread close enough to the ceiling on a buy, look for your price proximity to be below the underlying market price. That’s when you have the opportunity to buy lower than the market. To view image click HERE 17image1.png 17image1.png In the spread example above, if the market stays flat and doesn’t move you will make money, $23. If the market goes down slightly you can still make money, depending on how far it declines. Effectively, if it moves down 23 ticks you would break even. If it moved down 23 ticks and then moved an additional 23 ticks below your entry, for 46 ticks total, then you would lose $23. Collecting premium means that, if the market does not move oe moves slightly against you, or moves in your favor, you can potentially be profitable. Therefore, if the CL futures are priced at 102.66 and the spread is priced to buy at 102.43, then the spread is price underneath the underlying market by 23 ticks. If the market just stayed flat and settled at the same time, at expiration you would collect the 23 ticks of premium ($23.00 profit per spread). This would be a 5 percent return on investment in a single day, if the market simply stayed flat. The more it moves up, the more potential profit you could make. Now, if you look in the max profit column, you see 55, so for every tick the market moves up by expiration, you can make an additional $1, up to $55 max. The market would have to move down 23 ticks plus 55 ticks more, for a total of 78 ticks down against you, as of expiration, for you to lose $55. This gives you a 1:1 risk reward ratio if the market moves, yet you can still make $55! This could yield a 12 percent return on investment in a single day, if the market moved in your favor by about 30 ticks, as of expiration. The first thing you may notice on spreads is that they show a higher max risk when you are doing a premium collection trade. However, the focus should not be on max risk when doing premium collection. The focus is on where to get out in case the market moves against your position. Just because it says max risk, doesn’t mean the spread has to be held until expiration. The more time passes, the more premium will decay and the further the market could move against you in order to be at breakeven. It may move eventually to a point of 23 ticks against you when there is no premium, as of expiration. If the market were to settle against you by 46 ticks, that would still allow you to be trading in a 1:1 risk to reward scenario, but where 3 of 4 possibilities could happen and you could still be profitable. Also, it is important to remember not only can you exit to limit loss before expiration, but you can also exit at any time you are in a profit. For instance, as time passes, even if the market stays flat or moves down some or even faster, if the market moves up, you can exit in order to limit your losses. Again, because of possible max risk in this trade and because there is so much time until expiration, this isn’t necessarily an ideal spread for a premium collection trade. There are times when premium collection trades work well for deep in the money trades. This can be true for spreads that have already gone into profit and are close to their ceilings and for times of flat markets. Consider this strategy for uptrends. We will cover doing this strategy in downtrends in the next article. After that, the third article in this series will be on how to collect money on both sides of the market enabling you to increase your profit in a strategy called an iron condor. Planned correctly, the iron condor can be a great strategy for news trades to collect premium on implied volatility, during lower volatile times when there is a decent amount of time until expiration and in a variety of other ways. For more information on Nadex spreads and how to trade them and get access to the free spread scanner, go to www.ApexInvesting.com. Related Links Mid-Afternoon Market Update; RadioShack Misses More Than Expected, BE Aerospace To Split Into Two Companies Did April Showers Bring Lululemon Earnings Power? Reggie Middleton Talks Bitcoin's Future And Why Google Is Preferred Over Apple © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-10 19:40:35+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [3078]}

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Exclusive: Oragenics CEO John Bonfiglio Talks Intrexon, Lantibiotics

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-oragenics-ceo-john-bonfiglio-194035110.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

In an interview with Benzinga, Oragenics (NYSE: OGEN ) CEO John Bonfiglio discussed the company’s business and opportunities that lie ahead. Bonfiglio started by explaining Oragenics’ most active business line: the development of a new bacteriocin called lantibiotics. Bacteriocin are produced by bacteria to inhibit the growth of similar or closely-related bacterial strain. The company uncovered the possibilities of working with lantibiotics years ago, but manufacturing difficulties had kept the company (and any competitors) from making progress with a drug that could be very effective in fighting resistant bacteria. However, a recent deal with Intrexon (NYSE: XON ) changed everything. Related Link: Exclusive: Evoke Pharma CEO Dave Gonyer Explains Opportunities “That collaboration has been very successful,” stated Bonfiglio when describing that manufacturing is now possible. “We have probably 50 to 60 new analogs, other than MU1140 [the company’s main drug], that we are screening right now. We are rapidly coming to the point of choosing one to put into the clinic; the goal is to get it to the clinic next year.” Shares of Oragenics shot up more than 10 percent after the company announced progress on identifying a lead clinical candidate in early May. Bonfiglio continued, describing how the potential multi-billion dollar drug would likely be commercialized. “I think the market will be very good to this product... taking it all the way to commercialization would be optimal, but it is very difficult to be able to get the financing to do that unless it is a very successful drug." He continued, "A lot of companies our size would be looking to find a partner for the first entity to help fund the pipeline going forward; that’s probably what we’ll do.” Bonfiglio emphasized, however, that it is too early to tell for certain and that the company is keeping all options open. Bonfiglio explained the other major part of Oragenics' business: genetically-modified probiotics. “It is essentially taking a bacteria and genetically manipulating it so it will produce a therapeutic agent," explained Bonfiglio, "and using that agent to fight symptoms of the disease.” Story continues Specifically in this case, diseases of the oral cavity. Expansion of this business line was significantly accelerated by an additional partnership with Intrexon. The purpose of these probiotics is to restore the natural balance of beneficial bacteria. Although it is not a primary focus, Oragenics also has an over-the-counter offering currently on the market to support oral health “We tried putting up a strategic marketing program with it last year," said Bonfiglio, "but unfortunately the program didn't work as well as we would have liked, so sales were disappointing. We are still looking for a way of mass marketing this ourselves, or we are willing to go other routes.” Although shares have fallen in 2014, the Street is optimistic on Oragenics’ future since the first partnership with Intrexon was announced; shares are up 62 percent. Related Links Reggie Middleton Talks Bitcoin's Future And Why Google Is Preferred Over Apple Will Sony's PlayStation Dominance Continue Throughout 2014? Microsoft's E3 Briefing Highlights The Company's Ongoing Evolution © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-10 20:41:13+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2351]}

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Market Wrap For June 10: Stocks Showed Little Change On Light Volume

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/market-wrap-june-10-stocks-204113315.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

U.S. stocks were mostly unchanged on a catalyst-light day characterized by low volume. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: SPY ) has a three-month daily average volume of over 101 million only traded hands 47.8 million times on Tuesday. With little economic or market moving catalysts due in the near-term, investors could reasonably expect Tuesday's low volume trend to continue in to the summer month. Recommended: Confused? The Current Market Is, Too The Dow gained 0.02 percent, closing at 16,945.92. The S&P lost 0.02 percent, closing at 1,950.80. The Nasdaq gained 0.04 percent, closing at 4,338.00. Gold gained 0.60 percent, trading at $1,261.40 an ounce. Oil gained 0.11 percent, trading at $104.52 a barrel. Silver gained 0.81 percent, trading at $19.22. News of Note May NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 96.6 from 95.2 in April. ICSC Retail Store Sales declined 2.8 percent week over week after gaining 2.9 percent last week. Redbook Chain Store Sales grew 3.3 percent year over year after growing 3.5 percent last week. April Wholesale Trade Inventories rose 1.1 percent to $530.6 billion, exceeding expectations for a 0.5 percent gain. Sales rose 1.3 percent to $450.2 billion while the Inventory to Sales ratio came in at 1.18. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades of Note Analysts at Barclays maintained an Equal-weight rating on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) with a price target lowered to $95 from a previous $93.57. Also, analysts at Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating on Apple with a price target raised to $82 from a previous $81.43. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $95.05 before closing the day at $94.25, up 0.59 percent. Analysts at Wolfe downgraded Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY ) with a price target set at $55. Shares lost 1.40 percent, closing at $61.28. Analysts at JPMorgan maintained a Neutral rating on CBOE Holdings (NYSE: CBOE ) with a price target lowered to $49 from a previous $52.50. Shares lost 2.20 percent, closing at $47.60. Analysts at JPMorgan maintained a Neutral rating on CME Group (NYSE: CME ) with a price target lowered to $67.50 from a previous $69.50. Shares lost 0.82 percent, closing at $70.03. Story continues Analysts at Deutsche Bank initiated coverage of Chevron (NYSE: CVX ) with a Buy rating and $142 price target. Shares gained 0.78 percent, closing at $125.34. Recommended: Reggie Middleton Talks Bitcoin's Future And Why Google Is Preferred Over Apple Analysts at Deutsche Bank initiated coverage of ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP ) with a Buy rating and $94 price target. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $81.66 before closing the day at $81.63, up 0.96 percent. Analysts at Deutsche Bank maintained a Buy rating on Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL ) with a price target raised to $48 from a previous $40. Shares gained 0.10 percent, closing at $41.91. Analysts at Jefferies initiated coverage of Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ ) with a Buy rating and $85 price target. Shares lost 0.50 percent, closing at $73.05. Analysts at UBS maintained a Buy rating on eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY ) with a price target lowered to $60 from a previous $64. Shares lost 2.58 percent, closing at $48.30. Analysts at Deutsche Bank initiated coverage of Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM ) with a Hold rating and $105 price target. Shares lost 0.02 percent, closing at $101.50. Analysts at Deutsche Bank initiated coverage of Hess (NYSE: HES ) with a Buy rating and $112 price target. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $94.58 before closing the day at $94.31, up 0.22 percent. Analysts at JPMorgan maintained an Overweight rating on IntercontinentalExchange (NYSE: ICE ) with a price target lowered to $224 from a previous $232. Shares gained 0.64 percent, closing at $190.12. Analysts at UBS downgraded Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS ) to Neutral from Buy. Shares gained 0.26 percent, closing at $73.03. Analysts at Credit Suisse initiated coverage of Michael Kors (NYSE: KORS ) with an Outperform rating and $107 price target. Shares gained 0.42 percent, closing at $94.32. Analysts at Evercore Partners upgraded Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX ) to Overweight from Equal-weight with a price target raised to $500 from a previous $400. Shares gained 1.23 percent, closing at $428.29. Analysts at Summit Research downgraded SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK ) to Hold from Buy. Shares lost 1.05 percent, closing at $97.14. Analysts at Macquarie upgraded Sprint (NYSE: S ) to Outperform from Neutral. Shares gained 0.86 percent, closing at $8.85. Analysts at Wells Fargo upgraded Twitter (NYSE: TWTR ) to Market Perform from Underperform. Shares gained 2.61 percent, closing at $35.37. Analysts at Credit Suisse downgraded Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN ) to Underperform from Neutral. Shares lost 3.81 percent, closing at $36.07. Equities-Specific News of Note Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) announced on Monday that it hired David Marcus as head of its messaging products. Marcus will be leaving his post as head of PayPal. Shares gained 4.60 percent, closing at $65.77. Sony (NYSE: SNE ) will sell a PlayStation TV set-box for $99. Users will be able to access TV episodes, movies and other content through the PlayStation store. Shares lost 0.80 percent, closing at $16.17. TD Ameritrade Holding (NASDAQ: AMTD ) reported that the average number of trades per day initiated by clients totaled 383,000, representing a decline of 15 percent from April and down eight percent from a year ago. Shares lost 1.22 percent, closing at $30.72. MetLife (NYSE: MET ) announced that it will resume a $1 billion stock repurchase plan which was put on hold in 2008. Shares gained 0.73 percent, closing at $55.06. Recommended: Because It's The Cup: StubHub Ticket Prices Go From Record Highs To Major Selloff Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO ) announced during the E3 conference that Grand Theft Auto V will launch on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PCs this fall. Shares gained 2.27 percent, closing at $20.24. Analysts at Topeka Capital Markets speculated that AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX ) is an attractive takeover candidate by a larger media company. Shares lost 0.15 percent, closing at $60.65. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN ) will launch a local services review and connection site later on in the year. Shares gained 1.50 percent, closing at $332.41. PPL (NYSE: PPL ) plans to spin off part of its domestic power generation business with private equity firm Riverstone Holdings. The newly formed company will be named Talen Energy Corp and will be the third largest publicly traded independent electricity provider in the U.S. Shares gained 1.37 percent, closing at $34.69. Allergan's (NYSE: AGN ) board of directors rejected Valeant Pharmaceuticals' (NYSE: VRX ) $72 cash offer and 0.83 shares of Valeant acquisition offer. The board stated that the deal undervalues the company. Meanwhile, Bill Ackman's Pershing Square believes that it has enough support to override the board's decision. Shares of Allergan lost 0.63 percent, closing at $163.12 while shares of Valeant lost 0.85 percent, closing at $125.55. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) purchased an analytic and imagery provider, Skybox Imaging for $500 million. Shares lost 0.28 percent, closing at $560.55. 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD ) raised its 2014 revenue guidance by $15 million to $695 million to $735 million versus a consensus estimate of $706.1 million during its analyst day. The company also reiterated its EPS guidance of $0.73 to $0.85 versus a consensus estimate of $0.81. Shares lost 1.75 percent, closing at $49.28. B/E Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV ) announced it will split itself in to two independent companies. One of the companies will sell aircraft interiors, while the other company will offer technical and logistical services. Shares lost 4.78 percent, closing at $94.15. Winners of Note Analysts at UBS commented on Zynga's (NASDAQ: ZNGA ) mid and long-term outlook. The analysts noted “We believe our core investment case (improved bookings growth, margin leverage from growth/cost cuts, & greater mobile focus) remains intact, and we expect Zynga to remain a beat/raise story going forward.” Shares gained 6.67 percent, closing at $3.20. Recommended: Brazil ETFs Rally Into World Cup (EWZ, BRXX, BRAF) According to analysts at Societe Generale, and quoted in Bloomberg, Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP ) should consider purchasing its partner MillerCoors if AB-InBev proceeds with a takeover bid for SABMiller. Shares of Molson Coors Brewing hit new 52-week highs of $71.39 before closing the day at $70.71, up 5.36 percent. Receptos (NASDAQ: RCPT ) announced on Monday night that its multiple sclerosis drug, RPC1063, met its primary endpoint of reducing MRI brain lesion activity in a Phase 2 trial. The company announced it a Phase 3 trial is underway with patient recruitment to confirm and extend the Phase 2 results. Shares surged 36.78 percent, closing at $39.94. Decliners of Note This morning, RadioShack (NYSE: RSH ) reported its first quarter results after changing its financial reporting calendar. The company announced an EPS of -$0.97, missing the consensus estimate of -$0.51. Revenue of $736.7 million missed the consensus estimate of $764.31 million. Net loss for the quarter worsened to $98.3 million from $28.0 million in the same quarter a year ago as comparable-store sales fell 14 percent in what the company described as “an industry-wide decline in consumer electronics and a soft mobility market.” The company's cash and cash equivalents fell to $61.8 million from $109.6 million last quarter and $179.8 million in the same quarter a year ago. The troubled retailer's gross margin rate dropped 370 bps to 36.5 percent. The company guided towards closing 200 stores in the coming year. Shares lost 10.39 percent, closing at $1.38. Quote of the Day “We believe returns in everything from gold, commodities and other relatively esoteric asset classes will be doomed by the lack of follow up to the once-in-a lifetime move into them from 1999 to 2012 by US investors both large and small. Interest rates rising over ten years will make LBOs much less economic and private equity returns will sour if that is true. Both private equity firms and hedge funds seem to have picked over US small cap companies looking for opportunities, making it appear to us a “crowded” trade. We contend that poor performance by hedge funds will make the mystic come off, leaving good old bread-and-butter common stock ownership to regain favor based on results and transparency.” – SMEAD Capital Management Related Links Family Dollar Adopts Poison Pill, Shares Surge - Analyst Blog #Premarket Prep Technical Update - Apple Trading Higher © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-10 22:38:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [10163]}

{}

A String Of Disasters At PayPal Has Capped eBay's Toughest Year Ever

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/string-disasters-paypal-capped-ebays-223842157.html

Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/

Ebay John Donahoe Getty / Justin Sullivan eBay CEO John Donahoe PayPal had a major executive shake-up this week when, in a matter of hours, Facebook announced that it was poaching President David Marcus and Eventbrite claimed Senior Engineering Director April Chang. Marcus is joining Facebook to work on its messaging products , and until his replacement is found, the PayPal leadership team will report directly to eBay CEO John Donhoe. This lack of leadership comes at a critical time: Mobile payments are hotter now than ever before . PayPal should be leading the charge. And in a lot of ways, it is. In the first quarter of 2014, PayPal and eBay enabled $11 billion of mobile commerce volume, up a massive 70%. However, the space is getting increasingly crowded. Despite PayPal's market head-start, a bunch of competitors — Google, Clinkle, Square, Stripe — are working on products that threaten PayPal, making this a moment when the company needs to be more innovative than ever. It's almost as if rivals regard PayPal's incumbency as a weakness, not a sign of strength. Why else would so many companies want in on PayPal's action? The ill-timed leadership loss of David Marcus isn't the only problem that PayPal, and its parent company eBay, have faced as of late. It's been a pretty tough year for both companies, which have faced a series of technical setbacks and bad press. Some have even suggested that eBay would be better off if it was broken up, with its PayPal unit spun off into a separate company. That didn't happen, but it did raise a question: Are things so bad at eBay that the company is worth more torn apart than it is whole, under CEO John Donahoe? A CEO who is "completely asleep or, even worse, either naive or willfully blind"? Carl Icahn AP Images Carl Icahn Not long after activist investor Carl Icahn bought a .82% stake in eBay in January, he penned one of his infamous open letters . In it, he completely shredded the company's board and CEO Donahoe (whom he called "completely asleep or, even worse, either naive or willfully blind"), while demanding that eBay spin PayPal into its own company. The public back-and-forth between Icahn, eBay, and board member Marc Andreessen, who Icahn targeted as not having the company's best interests in mind, raged on for nearly two months. Story continues Icahn wasn't the only one calling for a split between PayPal and eBay. Keith Rabois, an investor with Khosla Ventures and part of the " PayPal Mafia ," a famed group of early employees, said that remaining a part of eBay dramatically slows down PayPal's innovation. He even went so far as to say that this is the "John Sculley Era" of PayPal. (For those unfamiliar, Steve Jobs brought in John Sculley to provide Apple some "adult supervision," in the 1980s. Sculley ended up firing Jobs two years later, and Apple endured an infamous period of slow growth without much innovation.) Even before the Icahn spectacle, Yammer CEO and former PayPal COO David Sacks publically said that he believes that the payments company should split off from eBay, too. After eBay's 2013 Q4 earnings report, Sacks pointed out that PayPal is growing a lot faster than eBay. When PayPal sold to eBay, eBay's transactions were roughly two-thirds or more of PayPal's volume. But today, eBay is a third or less of PayPal's volume, and that percentage continues to decrease. The Icahn-eBay fight finally ended when eBay agreed to Icahn's suggestion to appoint David Dorman to its board. eBay and PayPal stayed together and a new Icahn-approved board member isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the whole debacle wasted the company's time and energy. Rabois commented on eBay's extremely defensive response: "It’s like that Shakespeare line. The lady doth protest too much, me thinks." "That’s unacceptable to me, and the rest of my team" David Marcus Facebook David Marcus Meanwhile, in February, in the midst of the Icahn debate, Venture Beat obtained an internal memo from then-president David Marcus where he angrily scolded PayPal employees for not using company products . "It’s been brought to my attention that when testing paying with mobile at Cafe 17 last week, some of you refused to install the PayPal app (!!?!?!!), and others didn’t even remember their PayPal password," he wrote. "That’s unacceptable to me, and the rest of my team, everyone at PayPal should use our products where available." While eBay was staunchly defending the importance of its synergies with PayPal, the payment company's president was caught railing on employees who were clearly unenthusiastic about its products. Not great publicity in any situation, but especially at that time. At PayPal, people "who just don't get it" Rakesh Agrawal Twitter / Rakesh Agrawal Rakesh Agrawal Then a few months later, in May, ex-PayPal director of strategy Rakesh Agrawal went on a public Twitter rampage against some PayPal employees and, eventually, the company in general . Agrawal accused PayPal of being "bogged down" by people who "just don't get it," and said that the company needed to let go of employees that don't meet high expectations. He also wrote that few people at PayPal " actually want to get stuff done ." Although the wide-view of the several week-long situation may have cast more doubt on Agrawal than PayPal, the entire episode undeniably brought on negative publicity and an unease that maybe PayPal isn't moving fast enough. After Marcus stepped down this week, Agrawal tweeted "Did David Marcus also realize that PayPal is going nowhere?" and wrote in a LinkedIn post that "At the time I quit, I had reached the point where I could no longer claim that PayPal had a huge future, that it could execute on delivering the future of mobile payments or that it was an agile company." This wasn't some random employee: Those words came from PayPal's head of strategy. And then things got worse At the end of May, eBay also had two major technical setbacks. The company revealed that a big data hack two months prior required all users to change their passwords . Hackers had gained access to a database that contained customers' names, encrypted passwords, email addresses, physical addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth, although, luckily, no financial information. eBay also took a significant hit when Google updated its search algorithm. The update, known as "Panda 4.0," stripped eBay of 80% of its best search listings , according to Larry Kim, CEO of search marketing company Wordstream. Google routinely changes its search algorithms to weed out results from lower quality or spammy websites, and Wordstream's Kim says that eBay's bad ad practices caused its results to get punished. This is huge for eBay, because it relies heavily on search traffic. When you Google a product that you want to buy, eBay wants one of its listings to be on the first page of results. Since Google's update, eBay results have lost their prime real estate. However, the update is still new and eBay will likely regain its searchability as it adapts to the algorithm changes and purchases additional product listing ads. Of course, things are not all bad for eBay and PayPal. eBay beat expectations for both revenue and EPS on its Q1 earnings call. PayPal's total payment volume grew 27% and it gained 5.8 million new active registered accounts, ending the quarter at 148 million, up 16%. That's solid growth. As CEO John Donahoe said on the company's earnings call, "despite the potential distractions of our proxy fight, our teams stayed focused and delivered strong results." Ignore the peanut gallery — the strategy may be sound With the payments industry on fire as of late, PayPal should be poised to completely dominate the space because, unlike smaller competitors like Stripe that are working on similar products, it has widespread, mainstream name-brand recognition (which is particularly important for payments: Consumers need to trust the companies they're handing over their data too). All the top tech players — including Amazon, Apple, and Google — are announcing new payment products or being rumored to have something new in the works. Now that former PayPal president David Marcus has joined Facebook, the company will likely start trying to monetize Messenger , perhaps by letting users send money to each other through messages. Both Google and Square already let users send each other money via email, and Venmo lets users send money through its app. PayPal also allows users to send each other money, but now they're not the only ones doing it. Amazon is also aggressively taking on PayPal's ubiquitous payment button by partnering with e-commerce sites for Login and Pay with Amazon. As PayPal's strategy and business is being attacked from all sides, n ow more than ever eBay and PayPal need to recover from this tough 2014 and start moving faster. Much of the two companies' problems are cosmetic rather than fundamental. Executives can be replaced. Headlines don't last long. And there are signs that the companies' underlying strategy is sound — mobile revenues are up, after all. That doesn't happen when you're failing. Moreover, PayPal acquired Braintree last September. Insiders saw it as the company trying to play catch-up in regards to mobile. With it, eBay also captured Venmo, which is owned by Braintree. Braintree processes payments for Airbnb and Uber, two huge mobile businesses. The Venmo mobile payments app was started because its young founders needed a way to send money to each other , and realized that even though PayPal made that possible, no one they knew was using the feature. So eBay and PayPal now own a massive chunk of the mobile payment space in terms of companies and clients. "eBay and PayPal are both great businesses and they support and reinforce each other," CEO John Donahoe said on eBay's earnings call. "We will continue to aggressively drive synergies that enhance our overall growth and competitive positions." More From Business Insider PayPal Moves Quickly To Integrate Apple's Fingerprint Reader Into Its Apps The CEO Of Ebay Said Something That's Making Andrew Ross Sorkin Change His Mind About Bitcoin The Quest To Kill Cash: New Apps Are Finally Getting People To Abandon The ATM

2014-06-11 14:21:22+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1445, 1961]}

{}

Expedia takes bitcoin for hotel payments in hope that currency will appeal to travelers

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/expedia-takes-bitcoin-hotel-payments-142122811.html

Gigaom

http://gigaom.com/

Every week another company tries to make a splash by saying it accepts bitcoin but, most of time, the “news” feels more like a marketing stunt rather than a revolution in consumer payments. Is Expedia any different? On Wednesday, the company said it will begin letting customers use bitcoins to make reservations at its more than 29,000 hotel partners around the world. In practice, this will mean that some consumers will use the virtual currency to pay Expedia, which will then forward the payment to the hotel in local currency. As with any other “you can pay with bitcoin” story, the question is why someone would use the currency to pay Expedia. After all, it’s equally or more convenient to pay with a credit card and, in many cases, a traveler will receive a reward from the card that they wouldn’t receive if they used bitcoin. Michael Gulmann, Expedia’s VP of Global Product, acknowledged in a phone interview that bitcoin payments are unlikely to take off anytime soon in many big cities where credit cards are the preferred way to book hotels. But he added that payment preferences vary from country to country and that, for instance, Expedia offers “10 easy payment” plans to Brazilians who like to pay in installments. It seems possible, then, that hotel bookings with bitcoin could take off in some unforeseen market. More broadly, travel is a field where virtual currency payments makes more sense than other consumer categories. Bitcoin, for instance, has the possibility of helping travelers avoid the nasty fees that can come with using Visa or Mastercard in other countries. Expedia is using Coinbase , the popular San Francisco-based wallet service, to process its bitcoin transactions. Expedia is just the latest in a list of major companies, including Overstock and Virgin Galactic , to accept bitcoin. Image copyright Flickr/Zach Copley . Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research: Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial . Bitcoin: why digital currency is the future financial system Rethinking innovation: How to manage ideas systematically The evolution of the virtual goods market More From paidContent.org It’s not just Hachette — Amazon stops taking pre-orders on Warner Bros. movies, too

2014-06-11 18:49:29+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [3590]}

{}

We Love Streaming Music. We Just Don't Like Getting Lost in It.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/we-love-streaming-music-we-just-dont-like-getting-88493273919.html

Yahoo Tech

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/

(Evah Fan) "Since you listened to Pharrell Williams recently, you might like this new release by Avicii," read Spotify’s suggestion box. That’s like saying, "Since you ate at a Mario Batali restaurant, you might like these Totino’s Pizza Rolls." But I appreciated the attempt at some sort of guidance. As much as I love all-you-can-stream music services, they’ve become a bit overwhelming. Maybe you’ve been there, too: sitting slack-jawed in front of Spotify or Rdio or Rhapsody, wanting to hear something, you’re just not sure what. New would be good. Good would be good. I used to hunt through music blogs for fresh tunes, wake up to an e-mailed song that a friend couldn’t stop playing on repeat, fall in love with an opening band whose set I’d almost skipped. That was back when I had more time—or wasted less of it staring at my Twitter feed—and being the first to find a new band held more social sway. Now I have millions upon millions of songs at my fingertips but don’t know where to begin searching for a diamond, so I cave and cue up the usual, listening to Arcade Fire or Sam Cooke or LCD Soundsystem for the 7,000th time. Which is why, eager to escape my audio rut, I started testing a few streaming-music entrants designed to help us sift through the noise to find the jams we want. More: How to Win Reservations and Influence Waiters First stop: Beats Music —yep, as in the headphones. The service launched in January, determined to separate itself from the pack not with a better price (it’s $9.99 a month or $99 a year) or a larger selection of tracks (it has 20 million, roughly equal to that of the other big guns) but a human touch. Launch the app and it asks you to choose a few artists you love and a few you hate. (The Strokes, yes; Avicii, no.) From there, Beats Music populates its constantly updating personalized front page with playlists edited by a team of live music geeks, headed by an ex-Pitchfork editor-in-chief. I might open the iPhone app to see playlists named Stevie Wonder: The 1960s; Intro to Black Lips; and The White Stripes: Deep Cuts. Story continues Aether Cone, $399. (David Rinella) Beats Music doesn’t nail everything. Its Mad Libs-ish playlist generator, dubbed The Sentence, is inane. But because I can take the reins and dig into the Beats catalog, or tap a smartly edited playlist and kick back, it’s become my go-to streaming-music service. Read the Yahoo Tech review of the Aether Cone I also tried two apps, Discovr ($1.99) and Soundwave (free), that merely suggest new music—you hear snippets, not full tracks. Discovr is simple: Plug in an artist and it’ll show an expanding spiderweb of similar artists. It’s a fun time killer, and useful. On a recent beach vacation, I’d exhausted my Desmond Dekker reserves, and using Discovr, I, well, discovered Alton Ellis, a rocksteady staple I’d never heard before. Social-centric Soundwave is like Instagram for music: It broadcasts everything you listen to, and lets you follow friends and strangers. None of my friends use it, apparently, so I checked Soundwave’s most-played artists. Number one: A-freaking-vicii. The most intriguing solution to my streaming dry spell may be the just launched Aether Cone wireless speaker ($399). It connects to music services (only Rdio for now, with more to come) and tries to become your own personal DJ. Tap the button on the front and the Cone immediately starts playing music or a podcast or Internet radio it thinks you’ll like. The speaker’s face is one big dial; twist and it’ll change the “station.” More: Sex, Drugs, and Toasters: My Life on Bitcoin From there, the Cone gathers intel on what you listen to, when you listen to it, even where in the house you’re doing the listening. It’s as if Casey Kasem and the NSA joined forces. Within a week or so, my Cone learned that I enjoy hearing BBC News on weekday mornings in my living room. Impressive, since I had no clue myself until I stumbled across the broadcasts on the Cone. Even with supercomputers parsing our every click and play, it’s nice to know that there’s still some serendipity in what catches our ears. Just as nice? The Cone never once played Avicii. More from GQ: * What Kind of Netflix Person Are You? * The 10 Habits of Highly Unflabby People * Why We Still Love Plasma TVs * How to Make a Gourmet Grilled Cheese

2014-06-11 18:55:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1134]}

{}

Twitter's TweetDeck Returns After Security Issue Derailment

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/twitters-tweetdeck-returns-security-issue-185500658.html

Entrepreneur

http://www.entrepreneur.com/

Hackers had their way with Twitter's TweetDeck tool today. This morning, a number of users reported seeing pop-up alerts with all types of strange messages. In some instances, those messages were automatically tweeted to followers. Some of the accounts that were affected include @NYTimesBusiness, @ScienceNews and @SFGate, among others. Related: 5 Steps to Keeping Your Private Communications Secure Twitter temporarily shut down TweetDeck as it worked to patch the vulnerability. The attack apparently targeted XSS (cross-site scripting) which is a common security vulnerablity for web apps. We've temporarily taken TweetDeck services down to assess today's earlier security issue. We'll update when services are back up. — TweetDeck (@TweetDeck) June 11, 2014 TweetDeck services have since been brought back online. We've verified our security fix and have turned TweetDeck services back on for all users. Sorry for any inconvenience. — TweetDeck (@TweetDeck) June 11, 2014 Related: Keep This In Mind When Buying Your Next Smartphone More From Entrepreneur This Company Wants You to Wear Your SIM Card A Beginner's Guide to Owning Bitcoin How the World Cup Is Fueling a Social Media Frenzy (Infographic)

2014-06-11 19:34:00+00:00

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{"Bitcoin": [29]}

A Beginner's Guide to Owning Bitcoin

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/beginners-guide-buying-bitcoin-193405344.html

Entrepreneur

http://www.entrepreneur.com/

By now you know enough about Bitcoin to want in, but you’re not sure how to get some of your own. Step One: Zip over to your friendly neighborhood cryptocurrency corner store. Step Two: Ask the dude behind the counter to swap your greenbacks for bitcoins and you’re golden. Done deal. Yeah, right. If only it were that easy. Even though the world’s first digital moolah debuted five years ago, getting your hands on it relatively quickly and easily is still somewhat of a chore, one that we’ll break down to basics below. Related: How a Teenage Entrepreneur Built a Startup on Bitcoin Riches First, get a digital wallet Your first step (for real this time) is to acquire a digital wallet to stash your future bitcoins in. Bitcoin wallets allow you to store, send and receive bitcoins. You can get one from an Internet-based wallet service, like Coinbase or Blockchain.info (more on wallets in a minute). Both online Bitcoin wallets are widely considered secure, though, just like any other company these days, neither can guarantee 100 percent protection against breaches. Each one also has a mobile app for Android users. Sorry, iOS users: you’re still out of luck for now. Or, if you’d rather store your digital cash locally, on your computer’s hard drive, you can download a “desktop” wallet app, like MultiBit . It’s on you, though, to regularly back it up and not lose your computer (or accidentally chuck it in the trash ). Related: Blockchain.info CEO: This Is Why You Shouldn't Fear Bitcoin With a wallet service, you can establish one or more Bitcoin addresses. Your address enables you to receive bitcoins from others. Bitcoin addresses tend to be long and convoluted. For example, mine is 182atsti1S7A2FGw6uaabfExqVKSR9YCps. People don’t need to know anything more than your address to send you bitcoins. No real world addresses necessary. Once you’re the proud, new owner of a digital wallet, there’s only one thing to do: fill it with bitcoins (or, because they're not cheap, fractions of a Bitcoin). Story continues Word of caution: Before you buy your first bitcoins, be sure to read up on Bitcoin storage best practices and the potential pitfalls of dealing in cryptocash. And remember, we’re still pretty much in the Bitcoin Wild West here. Proceed carefully. If something goes wrong à la Mt. Gox meltdown, you might be up the creek without your coins. Now for the fun part, how to land your very own bitcoins. Here are four ways: 1. Buy them from a Bitcoin exchange. This is the most straightforward, yet generally least anonymous option. Bitcoin exchanges allow users to buy and sell bitcoins for local currency at the current market rate. These often require that you link an existing traditional bank account to your Bitcoin exchange account to transfer funds between the two, typically via traditional banking’s automated clearinghouse transfer (ACH) system. Coinbase is currently the biggest, best known and overall most trusted exchange based out of the U.S. The San Francisco startup doesn’t charge a fee to accept payments from others using your Coinbase wallet. It does, however, charge a 1 percent fee (plus a 15-cent bank fee) to convert Bitcoin into your local currency based on volume, and vice versa. The company says sending or receiving bitcoins “between online wallets, friends, or merchants is free and will always be.” Related: Why Bitcoin Is 'Like Email for Money' Note that it sometimes takes two to four days or more for the *BTC to arrive in your Coinbase account due to the turnaround time for ACH bank transfers. (*BTC is the generally accepted notation for Bitcoin, though XBT is used as well.) 2. Buy them from a friend or a nearby trader. There may be more people in your local area trading Bitcoin than you’d think. Find them by stopping by LocalBitcoins.com and entering your nearest city. The Helsinki, Finland-based service connects you with people in your neck of the woods who trade their bitcoins for USD and dozens of other traditional currencies. You can meet the trader in-person, ideally at a public place. This can be sketchy if you’re not careful, just as rendezvousing with any stranger for any reason might be. We don’t recommend it, especially if you’re alone. LocalBitcoins.com says you can also buy from exchangers online via bank transfer or a host of other electronic payment methods, including PayPal, Moneygram and Western Union. The company charges a small fee per transaction. Related: Why Bitcoin's Future Is Bright Or, if you know of any friends or colleagues holding bitcoins, ask them if they’ll spot you a fraction of Bitcoin. Or, if you want to go whole hog and spend the big bucks, ask if they’ll trade you a whole BTC or a bunch. If you can’t think of anyone who owns bitcoins, try looking for people across your social networks who might be open to giving you some. 3. Accept Bitcoins as payment for goods or services you provide. Let’s say you own a donut shop. Simply let your customers know you accept Bitcoin as payment by chatting it up with them, putting up a sign or notifying them via email newsletter. But before you do, choose a merchant Bitcoin payment processing service, like BitPay , to facilitate your bitcoin payments and convert them to USD. The Atlanta-based company, which recently raised a record $30 million in Series A funding, offers monthly pricing plans starting at $30 and charges no per-transaction fees. Related: Blockchain.info CEO: In the Future, You'll Use Bitcoin Without Even Knowing It Or, if you bill your customers via invoice, just add your Bitcoin address to your invoice. Hopefully they have some BTC. Be sure not to accidentally include your private key for your Bitcoin address. A private key acts as a password, the secret number that enables bitcoins to be spent. If you expose your private key, like this Bloomberg anchor infamously did on live TV last Christmas , you’re leaving your bitcoins ripe for hacking. 4. Mine them. Mining bitcoins is incredibly complex and, honestly, probably isn’t something beginners should dabble in. The process involves using special software (and expensive mining computers that suck up tons of power) to solve mathematical algorithms in exchange for bitcoins. And it’s not nearly as lucrative as it once was. Still, if you’re adventuring and technically savvy enough to try your hand at mining, there’s no shortage of how-to information available. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Related: Why Bitcoin Is Still a Blank Slate Ripe For Disruption However you fatten up your first digital wallet, spending bitcoins from it is often an equally complicated can of worms , one that’s thankfully getting simpler every day. If you think this is a lot to wrap your head around, just think — there are new digital currencies coming online every day, each with their own intricacies, purpose and fan base. Ah, but let’s just stick to Bitcoin for now, ok? One cryptocoin at a time. Related: How Bitcoin Is Fueling a New Payments Battlefield More From Entrepreneur This Company Wants You to Wear Your SIM Card Twitter's TweetDeck Returns After Security Issue Derailment How a Teenage Entrepreneur Built a Startup on Bitcoin Riches

2014-06-11 19:39:03+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [713, 824, 1506, 1726, 1963, 2404, 2431, 3542]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin: Better Investment Than Startups

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-better-investment-startups-193903254.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

An article published Monday discussed how bitcoin gets unfairly compared against the most successful monetary units on the planet: gold and the U.S. Dollar. Instead, it should be compared to startup companies: bitcoin is disruptive, not guaranteed to succeed and needs high growth or it will die. Currencies vs. Companies It is somewhat difficult to compare currencies to companies. Companies have a valuation, while currencies have a monetary base. Companies have revenue, while currencies have a monetary supply. However both have users and an ecosystem around them. Another interesting point, since bitcoin is a currency and not a company, it has no employees, expenses or revenue. Related Link: One Secret Of Bitcoin Bulls Quick Stats (Potential Market cap is a back of the napkin calculation used for rough estimates): Bitcoin Tesla Twitter Western Union Visa Launched 2009 2003 2006 1851 1958 Market Cap $8.2 B $25B $20B $8.9B $134B Users 5 million 35,000 645 million 200 million 522 million Potential Mkt. Cap $2 T $580B $217B $311B $1.7T What could propel bitcoin to a $2 trillion (according to Wedbush ) valuation? 1) Stable store of value. Having bitcoin be a stable store of value would be great for people in countries like Argentina, Venezuela and Zimbabwe where inflation has destroyed family wealth. 2) Banking and financial services for everyone on the planet. The banking and financial systems that Americans take for granted are unavailable for about six billion people around the world. Bitcoin can give these people access to state-of-the-art financial tools at almost no cost. 3) Computer software can directly use bitcoin . Think of the way email enables computers and companies to interact with people. Bitcoin could allow companies to enable software, cars, refrigerators or anything connected to the internet to send and receive money on behalf of people. Story continues 4) Primary means of facilitating internet financial transactions. Bitcoin was built for the internet. If bitcoin had existed in the 1990s, it would have been built in as the standard way to pay for goods and services online. 5) Primary means of cross-border remittances. Today remittance services take billions of dollars from some of the poorest people in the world. If bitcoin is successfully accepted around the world, those fees would be fractions of a penny per transaction. Related Link: 3 Secrets To Bitcoin Investment Success Bitcoin vs. Startups When comparing bitcoin to startups, two things jump out: risk and reward. Startup investors are expecting their investments to be risky, but provide outsized returns to compensate for the risk. When comparing startups to bitcoin, the risk profiles are similar but the rewards for bitcoin investments are much higher if bitcoin is successful. Here are two examples. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA ) Tesla is valued at $25 billion while it expects to sell 35,000 cars this year. For comparison, Ford , General Motors and Toyota have a combined market cap of $306 billion and sold 715,000 vehicles to Americans in March. Similar to bitcoin, Tesla’s stock has a lot of expected growth built in to its current price. Neither of the companies' market caps/valuations are reasonable based on current usage. The big difference is in potential returns for investors. Someone investing in Tesla is making a bet Tesla becomes a serious player in the auto space. If it grows equal to Toyota’s $180 billion market cap, that is a 700 percent return. Tesla is an evolutionary improvement over existing technologies. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is a substantially different currency compared to traditional currencies. If it reaches a fraction of its potential, it could still return 2,500 percent to investors. Investors taking a risk on Tesla should at least be interested in bitcoin, due to the much larger comparative upside and similar risk profiles. Twitter (NYSE: TWTR ) Twitter weighs in at a $20 billion market cap with 645 million users. With about 2.5 billion internet users, Twitter can only grab about four times more eyeballs before everyone on the internet is using them. In addition to the limited growth potential, investors are also concerned about Twitter's revenue per user. If Twitter does everything right over the next few years, investors might be able to get a 10,000 percent return on their money. However, if bitcoin achieves only a fraction of its potential, investors could expect a 10,000 percent return in a similar or smaller time frame. Again, investors taking a risk on Twitter should at least be interested in bitcoin due to the much larger comparative upside and similar risk profiles. Continue reading about bitcoin and payment companies here. Related Links Tesla to Share Supercharger Design - Analyst Blog Market Wrap For June 9: Markets Higher On St. Louis Fed Comments, Low Volume Why Deep Value? Because It Works © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-11 19:41:07+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2281, 2311]}

{}

GoPro IPO Valued At $3 Billion: Is It The Next Flip Camera?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gopro-ipo-valued-3-billion-194107147.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Maker of versatile photo and video capture devices, GoPro (NASDAQ: GPRO ), released an updated S-1 filing early Wednesday morning. The company is in the process of launching its initial public offering to continue support for its mission in transforming the way consumers share life's recorded experiences. The company focuses its business on providing software and hardware solutions to capture, manage and share media content. GoPro sees its cameras as playing a supportive role in its quest to become a media brand company. The cameras are great, but sales alone won't keep the company from going the way of the Flip camera, which ceased production in 2011. GoPro seeks to tackle any future problems now, by developing an infrastructure that gives consumers what they want, with a "quick, easy way to manage, edit and share their content.” GoPro is jumping in by dedicating resources to developing intuitive tools to edit and share professional-grade footage. Related Link: IPO Lookout: IPOs For The Week Of June 9 - Is It Enough? The company will also continue to develop its media brand by forming strategic marketing partnerships with athletes, celebrities, entertainers, corporate sponsors and sporting events. Current endorsements range from Olympic superstar snowboarder Shaun White to rock bands like the Foo Fighters. Even Alton Brown, author, chef and host of the television program "Good Eats," has endorsed the GoPro. The underwriting team for GoPro's IPO consists of J.P. Morgan, Citigroup and Barclays. In Wednesday's S-1 filing, GoPro stated its intention to sell 17.8 million shares for $21 to $24 per share, valuing the company at $3 billion. If the offering goes through as planned, the company will raise $430 million in proceeds, which are slated for debt repayment and investment purposes. Founder and CEO, Nicholas Woodman will be the largest shareholder of the company, with a 47.7 percent stake after the offering. GoPro is headquartered in San Mateo, California -- and employs 718 people across the globe. Look for it to trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker, “GPRO.” Disclosure: At the time of this writing, the author holds not positions in the mentioned securities. Related Links GoPro Files 0 Million IPO In Preparation For Fundamental Business Shift Bitcoin Vs. Payment Companies Bitcoin: Better Investment Than Startups © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. View comments

2014-06-11 19:56:03+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2909]}

{}

World Banks Cuts Global Growth Forecast; U.S. Down To 2.1% From 2.8%

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/world-banks-cuts-global-growth-195603714.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

The World Bank has issued its June 2014 report -- and cut the outlook for global growth along with growth in the US, Russia and China. The organization stated emerging markets will see strengthening ahead of the anticipated Federal Reserve rate increase in H1 2015. Global growth was cut to 2.8 percent from 3.2 percent due to "poor weather in the United States, financial market turbulence and the conflict in the Ukraine". The U.S. and Europe The United States growth estimate was lowered to 2.1 percent from 2.8 percent. Developing nations will see their growth pickup, as the group has experienced sub-five percent growth for the third year in a row. The slower growth is attributed to tail-winds coming from high-income growth regions (the U.S. and EU) being countered by constraints to capacity and the coming tightening of financial conditions, or anticipated rate increases. The ECB's June 5 announced measures will likely support growth and "encourage inflation" while depreciating the euro against the other major currencies, which will cause a spillover into three areas: Rising Trade: a speedy EU recovery could increase demand and lift growth across developing European areas. Loosening global financial conditions: a drop in European yield could encourage a search for yield bringing capital inflows to emerging markets. A depreciation of the euro that could exacerbate currency mismatches: Countries combining non-euro-denominated liabilities, such as Hungary and Poland -- who have a large share of their national household wealth denominated in Swiss francs -- might be vulnerable to currency mismatch pressures caused by a depreciation of the euro. Related: Apple Split Windfall For Option Traders & Brokerages Developing Country Fiscal Policy Developing countries have also seen record fiscal debt levels, and many have increased their debt to GDP ratios by 10 percentage points. Addressing policy tightening and fiscal debts, the World Bank states: "With output gaps having closed and most developing countries growing in line with potential, this suggests that more tightening will need to be done if debt-levels are to be restored to their pre-crisis levels and if fiscal space is to be created so that countries can respond effectively to future shocks, should they arrive." The outlook is not necessarily rosy for 2015. However, the World Bank seems comfortable expecting growth to increase in 2015 and 2016, once the central banks have followed through with expectations of ceasing monetary intervention and increasing rates. These actions will be taken to mop-up the liquidity spilling all over the globe, which may be driving up asset prices well beyond intrinsic valuation because of cheap money funding M&A bidding wars. Story continues World Bank June 2014 Report Related Links Mid-Afternoon Market Update: ULTA Salon Remains Steady After Strong Results; Orexigen Still Down 15% Bitcoin Vs. Payment Companies CFOs Expect Significant Global Incidents Of Labor Unrest © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. View comments

2014-06-12 08:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [118, 222, 325, 1012, 1177, 1546, 1797, 1969, 2023, 2465, 2551, 2675, 2882, 3027, 3269, 4761]}

{"Bitcoin": [6, 49]}

First Bitcoin Capital Corp. Secures Contract for Bitcoin ATM Placement at a Luxor Hotel and Casino location in Las Vegas, Nevada

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/finance.yahoo.com/news/first-bitcoin-capital-corp-secures-080000050.html

ACCESSWIRE

https://www.accesswire.com/

VANCOUVER, B.C. / ACCESSWIRE / June, 12, 2014 / BITCoin ATM Franchise Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Bitcoin Capital Corp. ( BITCF ) is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract to place its first Bitcoin automatic teller machine (ATM) at a Luxor Resort and Casino location in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bitcoin ATM, manufactured by Interwallet, LLC, will be located in one of the high-trafficked retail establishments within the hotel, the second largest in Las Vegas, and the eighth largest in the world. The ATM will be maintained and serviced by a Nevada based distributor for Interwallet, LLC. InterWallet, LLC manufactures cutting edge ATM-like kiosks capable of providing a multitude of services to mainstream America including access to 10,000 billers (bill pay), phone cards, pre paid debit cards, movie and show tickets as well as the capability to offer a multitude of services to the under banked and un-banked customers, and also, the kiosk has the ability to sell and purchase Bitcoin and other digital currencies. Consumers will also be able to purchase products online by using a wide array of payment options such as cash, debit cards and Bitcoin to pay for every day goods and services. BITCoin ATM Franchise Corp. plans to offer customized ATM services based on the needs of visitors who frequent the hotel and Las Vegas. Company will also receive a percentage of each ATM surcharge (commission fee) on every transaction. "This is an important milestone in the company’s overall strategy to enter into the Bitcoin ATM market, this market did not exist two years ago, but is predicted to grow tenfold in just few years", the company said. "We believe the BITCoin ATM Franchise concept will be very successful." BITCoin ATM Franchise Corporation is the first Bitcoin company in the world to offer a unique turn-key franchise investment opportunity for business owners to earn additional income by getting involved in the lucrative Bitcoin industry with minimal capital investment. The Bitcoin ATM business franchise package will include: a complete service contract; site selection and lease negotiations; and cash rental and replenishment options. Franchisees will be able to enter this growing market under the guidance of a reputable company that will develop a strategy to establish an exclusive location based on population density, traffic patterns, market statistics, demographics and other key factors. Story continues Bitcoin is a digital crypto-currency that allows consumers to electronically exchange Bitcoin, or units of value, for a service or product anywhere in the world with no or minimal fees. Users can then exchange Bitcoins for other currencies by using a wallet service provider. The digital currency isn’t backed by any government entity, instead transactions are tracked and verified by a transparent online community. Bitcoins are subject to value fluctuations, which are based on what people are willing to pay for it at any given time. About the company: First Bitcoin Capital Corp. is a developing Canadian-based mining company currently holding concessions of Gold in Venezuela and is preparing to enter the crypto-currency industry. It is the first vertically-integrated consolidation company of the Bitcoin and crypto-currency marketplace. For more information please visit www.bitcoincapitalcorp.com/projects SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release includes various "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which represent the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Statements containing expressions such as "believes," "anticipates," "intends," or "expects," used in the Company's press releases and in Disclosure Statements and Reports filed with the Over the Counter Markets through the OTC Disclosure and News Service are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurances that actual results will not differ materially from expected results. The Company cautions that these and similar statements included in this report are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Contacts: [email protected] bitcoincapitalcorp.com SOURCE: First Bitcoin Capital Corp.

2014-06-12 13:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [264, 478, 926, 1296, 1538, 1895, 2417], "BTC": [1242]}

{"Bitcoin": [82]}

Brisio Innovations and Newnote Financial Form Strategic Relationship to Implement Bitcoin Virtual Currency for the Good e-Reader Appstore

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brisio-innovations-newnote-financial-form-130000747.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jun 12, 2014) - Brisio Innovations Inc. (CSE:BZI)( NTCEF ) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic relationship with Newnote Financial Corp. (CSE:NEU) to help develop and implement a Bitcoin Virtual Currency payment system for the Company's Good e-Reader Appstore. Upon completion, the Company expects that the Good e-Reader Appstore will be the largest independent Appstore in the world to allow Bitcoin and/or virtual currency transactions. In addition, through its subsidiary OakBranch Media, the Company has agreed to assist in marketing and distributing Newnote's new bitcoin app "CoinExchange" through the Good E-Reader website, Appstore, and other OakBranch Media assets. OakBranch offers a variety of marketing services to app developers and publishers to help distribute their products worldwide. CoinExchange allows investors to trade Bitcoin in a fashion similar to a stock exchange. It supports multiple order types and allows investors to enter multiple concurrent orders which are automatically executed when the criteria is met. It allows investors to get better buy and sell prices by allowing more control over the conditions under which their BTC are sold without having to always be watching the Bitcoin prices. Paul Andreola, CEO of Brisio states: "We are excited to begin accelerating the monetization of the Good e-Reader Appstore by allowing app developers and publishers the option to receive and pay for services and products using Bitcoin and potentially other virtual currencies. We look forward to developing other strategic initiatives with our new partners at Newnote." Paul Dickson, CEO of Newnote states: "We are very pleased with providing our crypto-currency expertise to Brisio. Their well-established Google Play alternative Appstore is an ideal platform for the integration of Bitcoin and AltCoin for both app purchases and in-app purchases. We look forward to working with Brisio to help secure our future plans in app development and deployment for the crypto-currency sector." Story continues About the Company Brisio Innovations is focused on the acquisition, development and marketing of software applications for mobile computing devices, such as smart phones, tablets, and wearable computers. About Newnote Financial Corp. Newnote Financial Corp. is pioneering innovative crypto-currency and Bitcoin related software products and services geared at the growing business segment of this bourgeoning market. Newnote has positioned itself to be a leading contender in delivering opportunities to startup businesses world-wide and continues to create new opportunities for its clients and its shareholders. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brisio.innovations Follow Brisio on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrisioApps OakBranch Media: http://goodereader.com Good e-Reader Appstore: http://apps.goodereader.com/ Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding potential positive effects that the acquisition of the portfolio of apps may have on the business of the Company. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and include discussion of: (i) revenue generating potential of the apps; (ii) market potential for the apps; and (iii) the Company's plans to translate the apps for Android devices. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: (i) that app purchasers may cease or fail to purchase any of the apps; (ii) that potential growth is not as expected; (iii) that the Company may be unable to successfully translate the apps for Android devices; and (iv) other factors beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Additional information about the Company is available in the Company's public filings with Canadian securities regulators, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

2014-06-12 16:54:31+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [4088]}

{}

Did Draghi just put the Dagger in the Euro Rally?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/did-draghi-just-put-dagger-165431019.html

ETFguide

http://www.etfguide.com/

Last week the ECB’s Mario Draghi again took unprecedented steps to weaken the Euro when he made bank deposit rates a negative -0.15%. In addition to the rate changes he added an additional package of $400B LTROs as well as set the table for asset backed security purchases over the coming months. Will these actions finally help the Euro fall in value after years of intervention? The Market Reacts The initial response by the markets on such inflationary practices was a counter-intuitive stronger Euro ( FXE ). WATCH: How Relative Strength Helps You to Spot Profitable ETF Trades Actually, most of the ECB’s policy actions have sent the Euro stronger as was discussed with our subscribers and shown by the below chart the day before the Euro bottomed and rallied on the ECB’s announcement Thursday, June 5. We expected the Euro to rally on whatever news Draghi released. The dashed vertical lines show that regardless what is announced by the ECB, the Euro’s trend often changes shortly afterward. The recent trend was a weakening Euro, which set the stage for a bounce in the currency on any ECB announcement. Euro and ECB 06-04-2014 Short Term Issues – Long Term Problems But, any bounce is likely to be short lived as I first discussed back in April when the Euro was 2% higher, at $1.3763. The article I wrote, “ Is the Euro about to Tank ”, outlined some of the long term Euro trends I was watching then; today they are even more relevant. The long term Euro spot chart included in that research piece is updated below and shows price continues to cooperate with our technical outlook of a weaker Euro. Euro Long Term After meeting both its long term downtrend and Fibonacci price resistance in March, prices have changed their trend and are resuming their longer term weakening trend, in place since 2008. Still worse for Euro bulls and shown in the next short term chart, even with the customary ECB announcement bounce, the Euro hasn’t been able to take out its 200 day moving average. FXE Short term This is very bearish price action, and if the ECB 6/5 announcement low at FXE $133.75 (Spot Euro $1.3550) can’t support price on this retest, it will open the door to much further downside. Story continues Implications What this shows is two things. First, it means the ECB really is not in control of the Euro’s price. In the past they have loosened policy and the Euro has still strengthened. The recent announcement saw a similar result, but thus far only for a day, before technical resistance at the 200 day held prices in check. The ECB has wanted the Euro to weaken for years, with their policies failing up until now. Just because it may happen to work now, does not mean it is because of their policies ( IEV ). Secondly, the technicals continue to be the overwhelming force driving the Euro’s price ( EURUSD ). For four months now the Euro has tried to break out from its long term downtrend, unsuccessfully. Now that prices are rolling over, it is likely the downtrend is going to pick up in speed. Does this mean Euro Zone inflation will finally pick up? That remains to be seen, but unless Euro bond yields confirm by rising, it is unlikely the decline in the Euro will be inflation driven. Instead a declining Euro may be the result of continued weakness in the Euro Zone economy and/or an increase in macro risk. We will be watching the Euro closely for a short entry as the weakening Euro trend suggested by the technicals should pick up steam. ETFs that take advantage of a weakening Euro are the ProShares Short Euro ( EUFX ), the MarketVectors Double Short ( DRR ), and the ProShares Ultra Short Euro ( EUO ). The ETF Profit Strategy Newsletter researches the world’s markets to keep you ahead of the major trends. The Euro, like the U.S. Dollar, and Yen has been strengthening as demographics remain the key driver of those economies, but the Euro may finally be weakening, although not likely because of a pickup in inflation. Follow us on Twitter @ETFguide Related Posts: Is the Euro about to Tank? Don’t Let the ‘Great Yield Slide’ Punch You in the Nose Bitcoin and the Road to Obsolescence

2014-06-12 17:02:05+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2962]}

{}

This 'Smart' Cup Knows What You’re Drinking — And Counts the Calories

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/this-smart-cup-knows-what-youre-drinking-and-88582316429.html

Yahoo Tech

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/

No matter how diligent you are about your diet, there’s likely one area where you’re a bit of a slacker: What you drink. The beverages we consume can have a big impact on our health, but tracking every ounce of liquid that passes your lips can be a huge hassle. Enter Vessyl , a smart cup that can determine not only how much liquid is inside it, but also what that beverage is. Yes, really. Vessyl was designed by Jawbone’s Chief Creative Officer Yves Behar, and is the culmination of seven years of work for CEO Justin Lee. The cup knows the difference between Tropicana OJ and the store brand, and will win the Pepsi challenge every time. Even better, if knows the caloric, caffeine and even protein content of that drink and will track that information and more throughout the course of your day. It even works with that pint of beer or glass of wine you grab with friends after work. Related: A Venture Capital Firm Just Named an Algorithm to Its Board of Directors “Tracking what you consume is as important if not more important than tracking the calories that we’re burning through exercise,” says Lee. “The goal of the Vessyl was to create something that is about what matters to you.” For a closer look at Vessyl, check out this video: Related: Radiation-Blocking Underwear Also Protect Men’s Fertility For some, their goal might be to lose weight. To others what matters might be their caffeine intake throughout the day. If you’re paying attention to every cup of joe, you can make sure you’re alert for that big meeting but not jittery. When you pour a liquid into Vessyl, information about the drink you’re consuming appears on the side, and the mobile app starts tracking every sip. Accidentally knock the cup over or decide to pour something out, and Vessyl won’t track it as consumption. The Vessyl app on iPhone. Along with nutritional information, Vessyl also keeps track of your hydration throughout the day. The cup takes into account your nutritional needs and location, creating an optimal hydration score for you it calls Pryme. Much like you might use a fitness tracker to ensure you’re moving enough, Vessyl displays Pryme as a line on the side of the cup to make sure you’re drinking enough. The white line creeps up the side the more your drink, and turns blue when you’ve hydrated enough. Wait a few hours, and the line will start creeping back down, encouraging you to grab another glass of water. Story continues While they’ve already got a prototype up and running, Vessyl isn’t quite ready for Happy Hour just yet. The company launched a pre-order campaign today to raise money for the first run of cups. When it ships early next year each one will sell for $199. Early buyers can order one now for $99. Related: Photo-Taking Contact Lenses, Giant Crab Robots and Radiation-Blocking Underwear More From Entrepreneur Intuit Releases QuickBooks App for Mac This Company Wants You to Wear Your SIM Card A Beginner’s Guide to Owning Bitcoin

2014-06-12 20:25:14+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1175]}

{}

Canada gold mine on sale for $2 mln in bitcoin

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canada-gold-mine-sale-2-202514063.html

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/

June 12 (Reuters) - Gold, the hard asset long seen as the ultimate hedge against risk, has fallen so much out of favor in recent years that the owner of a mine in Canada's historic Yukon gold belt wants to sell the property for $2 million in bitcoin, a virtual currency. The tiny, producing mine is being offered for sale by an unidentified seller on BitPremier, a self-described bitcoin marketplace for "luxury items and opportunities". The mine, located right in Dawson City, the heart of the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, has the potential to produce up to 4,000 ounces of gold a year, worth $5.9 million at current prices. The sale includes $1 million worth of equipment. "A well-respected, fully compliant and profitable company, any new buyer could recoup their initial investment in as little as two mining seasons," the sales advertisement says. It does not say whether the owner would consider any other form of payment besides bitcoins. https://www.bitpremier.com/1-other-luxury-items/540-profitable-gold-mine-dawson-city-yukon Prices for gold have slumped by a third in the past 2-1/2 years after a decade-long rally, leaving many mines struggling to stay profitable. Bitcoin is the most prominent of a group of so-called virtual currencies created by computers and accepted by some retailers as payment on the Internet or in shops. Enthusiasts are drawn to bitcoin's ideals of transparency and a lack of central or official control, and use the digital currency as a hedge against currency fluctuations. But critics say the near anonymity of transactions makes bitcoins a magnet for drug transactions, money-laundering and other illegal activities. Recent mishaps, including a bankruptcy fling from Mt Gox, a bitcoin exchange, has brought the technology under heightened scrutiny and seen the value of one bitcoin slide to about $610 from above $1,000 late last year. (Reporting by Nicole Mordant in Vancouver; Editing by Frank McGurty; and Peter Galloway) View comments

2014-06-13 12:30:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [4868]}

{}

How to Disrupt an Industry in Three Steps

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/disrupt-industry-three-steps-123000024.html

Entrepreneur

http://www.entrepreneur.com/

It’s one thing to invent something cool. It’s another matter entirely to turn inventions into real products people can use to make their lives easier or better. Everyone tries to be different, but it’s a far greater challenge to make a differentiated product that customers value head and shoulders above the competition. By that logic, changing the world sounds downright impossible. And yet, we hear people talk about it all the time. Everyone seems to be out to change the world these days. Sounds like a pretty big disconnect, doesn’t it? Yes and no. Making a dent in the universe is no walk in the park, but it’s not impossible either. It happens. Real people make it happen. And I can certainly shed some light on how the thought process generally works. So how does a company come along and, seemingly out of the blue, come up with a way of doing something so much better than before that it captures a huge chunk of market share and disrupts a big industry that’s been around forever? Take Uber, for example. In its last round of funding, the five-year-old transportation network company raised $1.2 billion on a valuation of $17 billion – nearly the equivalent of Hertz and Avis combined. How did its founders do that? What’s the real difference between Uber and a taxi or limousine service? Related: Never Turn Down a Paying Customer To a user, it seems so easy. It’s just an app. You tell it where you are and where you’re going, pick an option, and, voila, a car shows up. But that seamless and reliable user experience required a complete top-down reimagining of how people get from one place to another when they don’t have a vehicle. Not to mention the software development, logistics deployment, and rapid recruiting and operations ramp-up in dozens of cities around the world. Sure, it’s groundbreaking, but in a “why didn’t I think of that, it’s so obvious” or “how did we ever live without it” sort of way that’s reminiscent of FedEx, Tivo or the iPod. A lot has to happen behind the scenes, but the end result always seems simple and easy. Story continues That’s just how it is with groundbreaking products. They may be rare events, but when you look at companies as diverse as Uber, GrubHub, WhatsApp, Alibaba, and Apple, they disrupted their respective industries in more or less the same way. It always starts with a problem. Why isn’t there a simple way to get someone to take me from point A to point B? There’s no one-stop website for ordering takeout and delivery food. How do we connect a billion Chinese people to the products they want to buy without brick-and-mortar infrastructure? Why isn’t there a multipurpose handheld computer? Related: How to Know When to Change Direction Some problems seem immensely complicated while others appear to be downright impossible. Funny thing is, the key is always asking the right question or defining the problem in just the right way – usually a way that nobody’s ever thought of it before. In nearly every case, that’s the way a disruptive product begins. With a problem. Next, of course, is a solution. That means figuring out what it will take to solve the problem and putting a team together that can capably handle all the pieces of the puzzle. Of course, if you want to disrupt a market and change how people do things, the solution has to be ten times better, easier, cheaper, whatever, than anything else out there. While that may sound overly simple – in some cases, it is – it’s not always complicated, either. Look at GrubHub. It’s a creative solution but, you’ve got to admit, it isn’t rocket science. Neither is WhatsApp, for that matter. And yet, the 55-person messaging company got half a billion users and $19 billion from Facebook. That’s pretty disruptive, if you ask me. Once you have the problem and solution defined, the only thing left is to start doing it. Whether that’s getting to work on an app, designing a website, developing a logistics or ecommerce platform, envisioning a new kind of consumer electronics device, raising some seed funding, or all of the above in concert, it always starts the same way: with a first step. If the enormity of the task freaks you out, congratulations, you’re human. Just get your team together, come up with a plan, and set the wheels in motion. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying any of this is easy. If it was, everyone would be doing it and we’d be disrupting markets every day. And while the rate of change in our modern high-tech world is rapid, it’s not that rapid. But if you really want to change the world, now you know what it takes. If you can face that and still be inspired and motivated to take the first step, then go for it. You’ll never know how things would have turned out unless you do. Related: How an Entrepreneur Should Never Behave More From Entrepreneur The Future of the Sharing Economy Is a World Built Like Bitcoin When Passion Is a Pitfall and Seeking Bliss Is Bogus These 4 Pitfalls Could Crush Your Startup

2014-06-13 17:28:08+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [673]}

{}

Greenwich Associates' Kevin McPartland Talks Market Structure, Growing Demand For Research

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/greenwich-associates-kevin-mcpartland-talks-172808390.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Kevin McPartland leads Greenwich Associates' market structure and technology practice. McPartland, a former director of BlackRock's Electronic Trading and Market Structure group, has nearly 15 years of capital markets industry experience with expertise in OTC derivatives and financial services technology. McPartland on June 9 was a special guest on Benzinga's #PreMarket Prep to talk about about market structure, dark pools, demand for market research and more. Equity Volume McPartland recently completed research involving nearly 600 institutional investors about how they interact with their brokers and how much they are paying. Related Link: Reggie Middleton Talks Bitcoin's Future And Why Google Is Preferred Over Apple “For the first time in five years, the total amount of commissions paid by institutional investors to brokers on trades of U.S. equities increased from 2013 to 2014,” McPartland posted on his blog . “The studies, based on 590 interviews with US institutional equity traders and portfolio managers in the first quarter of 2014, also found that customer electronic trading has remained relatively flat while mid-tier brokers have gained share on the bulge bracket, providing both sector specific trading and research services to institutional clients.” As it turns out, for the first 12 months ending in February 2014, the pool of U.S. cash equity commissions rose 10 percent to $10.34 billion. McPartland explained that volume in the U.S. equity markets is “unbelievably low” compared to historical levels. However, McPartland noted that demand for quality-based research of individual companies and sectors is booming. McPartland noted that demand really picked up following the release of the controversial book Flash Boys , which claims the stock market is rigged. “Customers seem to be willing to pay up for good information,” McPartland explained, adding that investors want to understand more about where their buy and sell orders are routed. Story continues McPartland said that both large and smaller brokerage firms have benefited from the trend in customer demand for research. “As the larger firms have seen their margins bleed quite a bit, they have spent quite a bit [of time and money] focusing on the electronics offering, the algorithm and such,” McPartland explained. “They have unfortunately had to scale back on their research department, especially for small-caps stocks, lower volume stocks.” And this is where mid-tier brokers come in, McPartland explained. “If we take a look at the market share of the mid-tier brokers as compared to the top bucket, it's been a dramatic change since 2007.” McPartland explained that 70 to 80 percent of the research market in 2007 was occupied by the biggest names. That share has now dropped to 60 percent, as specialized smaller-tiered brokers are less focused on electronic trading and more focused on satisfying a growing demand. Big Boys Changing It Up? Names like Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS ) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS ) are still controlling a large portion of the market and provide some of the best execution and research. Nevertheless, McPartland believes that these large-tier banks will make drastic, never-before-seen changes to their business model in order to protect their market share. McPartland gave an example of Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS ), who is looking to split part of its fixed-income business. “The mid-tiers are certainly rising, but the big banks aren't going anywhere.” Complicated, Not Rigged As for the topic of rigged markets? McPartland argues that the markets are not rigged, rather it is “complicated.” The FCC in 2010 mentioned the concept of the “trade-at” rule which would prevent sell-side firms from internalizing orders unless they could provide a half-cent improvement in price over the market's best offer. The rule, which takes a swipe at dark pools, is not something that McPartland expects to see implemented any time soon. Instead, McPartland pointed out the IEX exchange could serve as an interesting experiment. “They are coming to the market with a new model,” said McPartland, referring to IEX exchange that is intended to eliminate advantages high-frequency traders hold. “If the model works if the market likes it, it will do well. If the markets has other priorities, then it won't.” That's sort of the free market approach, rather than putting on more regulations, McPartland argued before adding that it's up to the users of the market to make a final decision on what products and services they want to use. Related Links Goldman Sachs & Bain Capital In Settlement Worth 1M - Analyst Blog First Republic Prices Senior Notes Offering - Analyst Blog Balanced View On Goldman - Analyst Blog © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-13 18:02:44+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [98]}

{"Bitcoin": [42]}

U.S. Marshals Are Selling 29,656.51306529 Bitcoin

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-marshals-selling-29-656-180244588.html

The Atlantic

http://www.theatlantic.com/

The United States government finds itself in possession of an odd asset that it must now auction: Bitcoin, the digital currency. And we're not talking about a couple of spare bitcoin, but rather 29,657 bitcoin—which converts to more than $17 million based on today's exchange rate . Marshals get their hands on (and subsequently auction off) all kinds of seized assets—luxuries like Lamborghinis, fur coats , and mansions —but this auction represents a new kind of wealth. Under federal law, the government is required to auction the assets seized by Justice Department agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Drug Enforcement Agency. According to the U.S. Marshals website, more than 9,000 items of forfeited property bring in some $99 million a year. The government seized this particular cryptocurrency windfall in a raid on servers for Silk Road, the black market website, last year. (The bitcoin being auctioned doesn't include the personal stash of Ross William Ulbricht, the suspected mastermind of Silk Road.) Bidder registration opens on June 16 and closes June 23, according to a notice posted on the U.S. Marshals website. Only registered bidders can participate in the auction, which will take place over a 12-hour period on June 27. Participants will be able to fight for nine blocks of 3,000 bitcoin—each block worth about $1.8 million based on today's conversion—and a single block of 2,657 bitcoin worth about $1.6 million. " All bids," the government stipulates, "must be made in U.S. dollars." More From The Atlantic Flowers From Alaska How Dairy Milked by Prisoners Ends Up on Whole Foods Shelves How a Convicted Felon Became 'Mr. Gold'

2014-06-13 18:38:09+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [617, 960, 1093, 2023, 2542, 2679, 2900], "BTC": [249, 1285, 1735, 1933]}

{"Bitcoin": [0, 33, 54]}

Bitcoin Weekly Recap: Big Money, Bitcoin Ubiquity & A Bitcoin Rap Song

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-weekly-recap-big-money-183809737.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

For the week ending June 13, the exciting stories were about the flash crash, millionaire bitcoin investors, more places to spend bitcoins, bitcoin being recognized as a financial asset in software and the release of a bitcoin rap song. $18 Million BTC Auction Sparks Flash Crash Thursday, the U.S. Federal Marshals issued a press release stating they are auctioning off 29,656.51 bitcoins this month. At current prices, that is around $18 million worth of bitcoin. The news sent bitcoin’s price tumbling from a high of $642 to a low of $575 before it recovered to above the $600 level. Related Article: 3 Secrets To Bitcoin Investment Success Pantera Capital’s Fund Raised $96 Million in 8 Months Pantera Capital filed a regulatory document showing it has raised $96 million in eight months. With 45 investors participating so far, the average investment size is $2.1 million meaning big money is getting serious about bitcoin. Related Article: One Secret Of Bitcoin Bulls Expedia Accepts bitcoin for Hotel Bookings Expedia began accepting bitcoin for hotel bookings this week. Expedia has a Bitcoin Terms & Conditions page which describes some of the usability challenges and solutions when using bitcoin for payment, such as transaction fees, refunds and incorrect payment amounts. BTC to Bling at REEDs Jewelers REEDs Jewelers announced this week it is accepting bitcoin for all purchases at its 65 plus stores and online using Coinbase. REEDs has a press release page , a help page and a bitcoin favorites page. The favorites page is interesting as it primarily lists items in the $2,000 to $4,000 range. It would appear that they believe the bitcoin demographic has a higher than average order amount. Yahoo and Google now quote BTC prices Yahoo and Google now quote bitcoin prices. This also instantly plugs bitcoin into other financial apps. For example, the iOS native stocks app and the Mac Stocks widget can now both show BTC prices since they use Yahoo as the provider. Story continues Related Article: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business Coinbase Enabling Automated Discounts To spur usage of bitcoin, Coinbase announced it is enabling merchants to apply a discount for bitcoin purchases. One of the questions about bitcoin is why use it for commerce? It is a hassle to buy and hold bitcoin just to use it. Credit cards or debit cards perform the same function but in a more convenient manner. Coinbase is attempting to address that hurdle by incentivizing customers to use bitcoin. Rap Continues Exploring Bitcoin One upping 50 Cent's acceptance of bitcoin, Rappers Murs and Mayday’s latest album Mursday has a catchy, explicit song entitled “Bitcoin Breezy.” The hook ends with “I got 50 bitcoin worth about a hundred grand.” The song is available on Spotify and has been added to a Spotify bitcoin playlist with other titles such as “Ode to Satoshi” and “10,000 Bitcoins.” Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position. Related Links Vlad Karpel, Founder of Tradespoon.com Talks Option Strategies Can One Startup Raise Billion? Visier Lands Another .5 Million, Brings Total Financing To .5 Million © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-13 19:03:49+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [5896, 5929, 5950]}

{}

How To Determine Intrinsic Value Of A Nadex Binary Option

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/determine-intrinsic-value-nadex-binary-190349723.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Options are different creatures than plain old markets. They move closely to, but do not exactly follow, the market their price is derived from. If their price or premium is not exactly like their underlying markets, how can traders understand their value? There is a term for it. It’s called "moneyness", which is the intrinsic value. By determining the moneyness of an option, one can form a conceptual value of an option, thereby helping decision making while trading. Moneyness can also be used when conceptualizing the value of Nadex binary options and spread options. To determine the moneyness of a Nadex binary, traders look at the price of the binary. There are three forms or expressions of moneyness. Each of the expressions has a price level associated with it. There is “in the money”, ITM or I for short. That means if the binary expired now, it would make money. There is also “at the money”, ATM or A for short, which means the strike price is at or around the underlying market price. Finally, there is “out of the money”, OTM or O for short, which means if the binary expired now, it would not make money. Related Link: Using Nadex Spreads To Do Premium Collection Trades Everyday In Downward Markets How do traders know when looking at the price, which form of moneyness a binary is in? To find the answer to this question, one can look at an example of a Nadex binary. A Nadex binary, in brief, is a simple true or false question with a yes or no answer. For example: Gold (Aug) > 1260 (1:30PM) 43.00/48.00 The question is: Will gold be greater than 1260 at 1:30PM? If a trader thinks no, or this statement is false, and they sell the binary, then the bid price is 43.00 (the price above on the left). If a trader thinks yes, or this statement is true, and they buy the binary, then the ask price is 48.00 (the price above on the right). The price will fluctuate up and down and then settle at 1:30PM. If, at settlement the price of Gold is >1260, the statement is true and the price settles at $100. If the market is at or below 1260, the statement is false and the price settles at 0. Profit or loss is then the difference between the settlement amount of $100 less the entry price for profit, or the difference between the settlement of 0 less the entry price for loss. For a Nadex Binary Option, the price of the binary can also be a percentage expression of how likely the binary statement is to actually occur. In the Money When Buying and Selling If the ask price of a binary to buy it is $80, how likely might it be that the indicative market (Nadex derived market of the underlying) will expire greater than the binary strike price? It’s fairly close to $100, not considering time, one could say it currently has an 80 percent chance of expiring greater than the strike. Therefore, one could also say the ask price is currently “in the money”. Story continues Now, consider the bid price of the same binary to sell it is $30? So, it is very far away from $100, not considering time, one could say the indicative market currently has only a 30 percent chance of expiring greater than the strike. In this case however, the binary can also be sold. If a trader sold the binary, they are saying the binary statement is false, that the indicative market will not be greater than the strike price, but it will be equal to or lower than the strike price! Therefore, in this case it is also “in the money”. To view image click HERE 19image1.png At the Money Recall the gold binary example from above. The ask price to buy it was $48. There is an approximately 48 percent chance that the Nadex Gold will settle greater than the strike of 1260 or >1260. Turning it around, one could also say there is an approximately 52 percent chance it will not expire above the strike. In this case, it’s almost 50/50 that it could win or lose. When the underlying market price is right at or near the strike price, that is called “at the money” The market is at the strike price so it could go either way. To view image click HERE 19image2.png Out of the Money What if the ask price of the binary to buy it was only $30, but a trader really thought the market was going to move up and stay past the strike, so they bought the binary? When they entered the trade, there was only an approximate 30 percent chance that would happen? Unfortunately, it didn’t go up and stay above the strike and it expired as a loss. What would the moneyness be then? When the trader entered or opened the trade it was “out of the money”, and when it expired it was also “out of the money.” To view image click HERE 19image3.png Of course, traders can exit the binary at any time. Traders can exit before expiration for a profit, if the price has moved favorably. Traders can also exit for a loss, if they believe the trade will expire against the position. In this case, the profit loss calculation would be as follows: To view image click HERE 19image4.png Here is the complete chart of moneyness for Nadex binary options. To view image click HERE 19image5.png For more information on Nadex binaries and spreads and how to trade them and get access to the free binary and spread scanners, go to www.apexinvesting.com. To practice trading binaries and spreads on a free demo account, go to www.nadex.com and click on trading demo, trading account. Apex Investing Institute offers free education, effective tools and a room community of seasoned as well as up-and-coming traders. Together in a supportive environment, along with tools to trade with ease and convenience, traders of all levels can learn how to trade Nadex binaries and spreads as well as futures, forex, stock and options, and gain an edge for successful trading overall. To learn more about how to trade binary options in-depth and for binary options signals, trading strategies, tools and trade rooms see www.ApexInvesting.com. Related Links Bitcoin Weekly Recap: Big Money, Bitcoin Ubiquity & A Bitcoin Rap Song Vlad Karpel, Founder of Tradespoon.com Talks Option Strategies Week In FX Americas – Loonie Looking For Excuse To Retreat © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. View comments

2014-06-14 19:37:58+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [283, 601, 1117, 1806]}

{"Bitcoin": [28]}

iPhone No Longer Barrier To Bitcoin Adoption

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/iphone-no-longer-barrier-bitcoin-193758174.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

While most of the world was focused on the first day of Apple’s June 2 Worldwide developer conference, Apple changed their iOS policies to permit iOS apps that transmit virtual currencies. Begging the question: was the change to allow bitcoin wallets? Apple has Approved Coin Pocket Bitcoin Wallet The question on everyone’s mind was Will banned wallet functionality from apps like Gliph, Blockchain, and Coinbase be allowed in the app store? Now, Coin Pocket bitcoin wallet app has been approved answering the question. Why Apple’s Approval Matters Apple’s ban was a barrier to adoption for bitcoin. Bitcoin is heralded as a great technology that can send money between two people anywhere in the world instantly. With many thought leaders, executive, and early adopters using iPhone, the wallet ban makes that message hard to convey. Instead of convenience and simplicity bitcoin was inconvenient and complicated for iPhone users. Making bitcoin a non-starter for many. It is hard to think how bitcoin can benefit your company and developing countries when bitcoin doesn’t work on a $600 smartphone. Related Story: Bitcoin's Shocking Resilience and Achilles' Heel This change in policy makes it easier for everyday people to participate in the bitcoin economy. Before Blockchain.info’s app was banned in February, it had already been downloaded 120,000 times. Apple’s change in policy will let those customers receive updates to their app as well as enable more people to participate in the now larger and growing bitcoin ecosystem. Why Apple Reversed Course Apple’s ban enraged bitcoin fans, who claimed the move was antithetical to Apple's image of being innovative and anti-establishment. There was even a campaign for bitcoiners to smash working iPhones and switch to Android. Related Story: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business It is speculated Apple reversed their stance before this trickle of a migration became a mass exodus to Android as bitcoin continues to explode in usage. This also hints Apple sees a bright future for digital currencies. Story continues Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position Related Links © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Market Wrap For June 13: Despite Rising, Dow And S&P 500 Lower For The Week LinkedIn's Legal Troubles (Revised) - Analyst Blog LinkedIn To Face Lawsuit For Hacking Customers' External E-mail - Analyst Blog

2014-06-16 11:43:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [903]}

{}

ETF Outlook For The Week Of June 16, 2014 (FPX, IHI, XHB, GULF, MDT, COV)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/etf-outlook-week-june-16-114300973.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

ETF Outlook for the week of June 16, 2014 First Trust U.S. IPO Index ETF (NYSE: FPX ) This week will see the introduction of 14 new IPOs that will begin trading. The biggest name is Markit Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRKT), a financial information company based in the U.K. The total number of IPOs will rise to 124, a 57 percent increase over last year at the same time. The IPOs do not immediately make their way into the FPX portfolio, but many will be added in the future rebalancings. Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) remains the ETFs largest holding in the ETF with a 9.4 percent allocation. iShares Dow Jones U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSE: IHI ) The rumors have proven true as Medtronic (NYSE: MDT ) is buying medical equipment peer Covidien (NYSE: COV ) for $42.9 billion. Both stocks fall into the top five holdings for IHI, making up a combined 17 percent of the portfolio. Related Link: iPhone No Longer Barrier To Bitcoin Adoption There is no doubt that the ETF and entire health care sector will be on the move tomorrow regardless if the deal is made official. Rumors alone can move stocks and entire sectors. SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE: XHB ) On Wednesday the May housing starts are released and they are expected to fall to a 1.04 million pace from one month earlier. The homebuilding stocks and the secondary plays will be on the move after the number is released. A better than expected reading could send the ETF to retest the multi-month high set earlier this month. The ETF is currently in the midst of a four-session losing streak heading into the new week. WisdomTree Middle East Dividend ETF (NYSE: GULF ) The tensions in Iraq have escalated over the weekend and this has pushed the price of Brent Crude oil higher by nearly a dollar. Stocks in the region have held up well thus far, but investors may start to worry as it appears there is no end in sight to the violence. GULF does not own any companies based in Iraq but it does have exposure to the region with the majority of the portfolio in Qatar, U.A.E., Kuwait, and Egypt. The ETF had a great start to the year before slowing the last couple of months. Story continues Related Links Medtronic's CoreValve TransCatheter Is Now FDA Approved - Analyst Blog Euro Under Pressure As Fed Meeting Approaches Iraqi Oilfields Safe For Now © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-16 12:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [195, 2325]}

{}

WPCS Announces Adjournment of Special Meeting and Rescheduling of Special Meeting to June 24, 2014

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wpcs-announces-adjournment-special-meeting-120000230.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

EXTON, PA--(Marketwired - Jun 16, 2014) - WPCS International Incorporated ( NASDAQ : WPCS ), which specializes in contracting services for communications infrastructure and the development of a Bitcoin trading platform, today announced that its special meeting of stockholders scheduled for, and convened on June 11,2014, was adjourned due to the lack of a requisite quorum. Only stockholders of record on the record date of April 25, 2014 are entitled to, and are being requested to, vote. The date of the special meeting has been rescheduled for June 24, 2014. Sebastian Giordano, Interim Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Management and the Board believe it is important to allocate additional time for stockholders who have not yet voted ample time to do so. As we have reiterated before, we are asking and strongly suggest shareholders to support our initiatives and vote 'FOR' all the proposals. Doing so will allow us to enact our strategic initiatives which are in the best interest of the Company's future." The special meeting will take place on June 24, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP at 61 Broadway, 32 nd Floor, New York, NY 10006 to allow additional time for the stockholders to vote on the proposals set forth in the Company's proxy statement filed with the SEC, which is available at http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1086745/000114420414025401/v376074_def14a.htm . The Company encourages all stockholders who have not yet voted to do so before June 23, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). The stockholders may vote by internet at http://www.cesvote.com , or by telephone at (888) 693-8683, or by returning your proxy card to Alliance Advisors LLC, PO Box 2400, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-9762. No changes have been made in the proposals to be voted on by stockholders at the special meeting. The Company's proxy statement and any other materials filed by the Company with the SEC remain unchanged and can be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . About WPCS International Incorporated WPCS operates in two business segments including: (1) providing communications infrastructure contracting services to the public services, healthcare, energy and corporate enterprise markets worldwide; and (2) developing a Bitcoin trading platform. For more information, please visit www.wpcs.com and www.btxtrader.com . Statements about the company's future expectations, including future revenue and earnings and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are "forward looking" statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. The company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. In reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

2014-06-16 14:10:34+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [569, 911, 1053, 1087, 1982, 2117]}

{"Bitcoin": [19]}

3 Reasons Grasping Bitcoin's Investment Potential Is Difficult

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-reasons-grasping-bitcoins-investment-141034014.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Everyone is initially skeptical of bitcoin . It isn’t until one spends time learning about why bitcoin works that bears become bulls . If bitcoin is so great, why is it so hard to see the potential? New Paradigm The first reason it is hard to see bitcoin’s potential is because bitcoin is unlike any money people are used to using. People are used to using money that is issued by a government and doesn’t wildly fluctuate in value. On top of that, bitcoin is digital first whereas other currencies are physical first and only digitized by banks and payment companies. Bitcoin is so different that people initially reject the idea of bitcoin. The idea of bitcoin challenges assumptions about money that people have never thought about before like: why does money have value? Few Practical Applications Today The second reason it is hard to see bitcoin’s potential is because there are no great use cases today. Bitcoin is just starting to be adopted as a payment option for Fortune 500 companies. Related Link: Actions By 3 Fortune 500 Companies Signal Bitcoin's Price May Surge In 2014 Bitcoin’s current value of about $8 billion is based on the future expectation that people will recognize the superiority of bticoin compared to other currencies and adopt it en masse. In the future bitcoin bulls believe bitcoin will be used for money remittance, dominate online payments, and become as ubiquitous as email. With an estimated 5 million users today and mainstream companies just beginning to accept the currency it is hard to initially envision bitcoin being as pervasive as cell phones. Network Effect A third reason clouding people’s ability to see bitcoin’s potential is because the ecosystem is still developing. With an estimated 5 million users worldwide bitcoin is tiny. Like the telephone, Facebook and email, bitcoin gets more valuable the more people use it. Every new user, every new company accepting bitcoin, and every bitcoin startup increase the value of bitcoin. Bitcoin’s small size now and that makes it hard for investors to envision bitcoin changing finance. Story continues Related Link: Will Bitcoin Be A Champion Like The Connecticut Huskies? The Investment Opportunity Digital currencies have the potential to revolutionize finance in the same way the internet revolutionized communications. Digital currencies theoretically could change every single financial transaction on the planet. If the shift happens, bitcoin may be the core technology driving it. If so bitcoin bulls will receive unprecedented rewards for their foresight. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position Related Links The Best And Worst Of E3 2014 Fusion-IO Peers Moving Higher After Announced Takeover IPO Lookout: 14 IPOs For The Week Of June 16 © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-16 14:30:53+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2453]}

{}

Options Outlook For The Week Of June 16: A Fair Fight Between Bull And Bear

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/options-outlook-week-june-16-143053040.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Last week the bears did just enough to remind the bulls that it's not a straight shot to the moon this year. On Thursday, the bears got more help in the form of a new source of scary headlines--the Iraq situation. Iraq is a legitimate threat with global repercussions. The fighting has the potential to involve Syria, Iran, Turkey and Israel. The extension to Israel would also involve Lebanon since it's the final leg of the physical conduit from Iran to Hezbollah. Iraq has the potential to create a real mess in the whole region. Traders have reason to fret about this latest development and they showed it. VIX calls were bought three to one. Also, apart from Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ), more puts than calls were bought in companies. Even Yelp, which leaped over 13 percent on Friday, saw more puts than calls. Related Link: Apple Split Windfall For Options Traders & Brokerages This week is heavy on major events from the Federal Reserve and economic reports; traders should specifically pay attention to the inflation data. This volatility is likely to fuel the fight between bulls and bears. The bears have not yet given up on the 1860 levels so there will likely be a good fight. The bulls will need a positive catalyst in order to continue the push upward. An extremely low VIX leaves no room for error. Apple had an incredible rocket ship ride and dragged the NASDAQ with it. But it's inching towards the all time highs, and investors got hurt badly last time the stock got there. As such, traders are likely to lose enthusiasm for buying Apple the closer it gets to the old 700 level. Friday may not be the last red day for Apple. Given its heavy weighting in the indices, it's likely to create drag and help the bears. One should continue to set slower moving trades via credit spreads but also try to buy a few debit spreads based on specific situations. Last week, a few tickers were highlighted and they paid immediately. This week, traders should consider debit put spreads in EQIX and AA. Story continues It may also be worth trying some SPY debit put spreads purely based on open interest in the June contracts. Traders may also look to pick on Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX ), but should do some research before making the decision. Traders may continue to profit by collecting premium via selling iron condors or leap strangles where profits can be big without the minute headaches of day to day moves. Related Links iPhone No Longer Barrier To Bitcoin Adoption Market Wrap For June 13: Despite Rising, Dow And S&P 500 Lower For The Week LinkedIn's Legal Troubles (Revised) - Analyst Blog © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-16 17:10:09+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [112, 434]}

{"Bitcoin": [16]}

Expedia Accepts Bitcoin for Hotel Reservations

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/expedia-accepts-bitcoin-hotel-reservations-171009947.html

Zacks

http://www.zacks.com/

Expedia ( EXPE ) has recently announced that it will allow users to pay for hotel accommodations using bitcoin. Bitcoin is a digital currency platform with no central regulating authority involved in the transactions. Transactions involving the electronic currency are carried out directly between the involved parties. It is also called crypto currency because it utilizes military-grade cryptography to protect users against fraud. Bitcoin payments can be conducted through different apps via smartphones or its online versions. This is generally used for transferring funds electronically and does not require a credit card or PIN. The online travel booking company will work with Coinbase — a third-party bitcoin payment processor — to integrate the payment system for hotel reservations on Expedia.com. The company stated that the new payment option will be offered along with Visa, MasterCard and PayPal at checkout. The usage of bitcoin could increase the hotel bookings for the company due to its wide acceptance and enormous popularity. Moreover, the integration of the platform will offer increased safety to end users. Expedia has been trying to strengthen its competitive position in the online booking space by introducing new features and updating products on a continuous basis. The addition of the bitcoin platform will not only boost the whole process of online payment for hotel accommodations but also help the company better compete with the likes of Priceline.com ( PCLN ) and Orbitz Worldwide ( OWW ). Expedia is one of the world's leading travel services companies connecting offline retail travel agents to travelers looking for hotel bookings and places to visit. The company reported decent first-quarter results, with revenues of $1.20 billion increasing 4.2% sequentially and 18.6% year over year. However, the company continues to face challenges from players like Priceline and Orbitz Worldwide, as well as a growing number of other local players making expansion difficult. Currently, Expedia has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Another better-ranked stock that is performing well at the current levels includes Vipshop Holdings Ltd. ( VIPS ) sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Read the Full Research Report on EXPE Read the Full Research Report on PCLN Read the Full Research Report on OWW Read the Full Research Report on VIPS Zacks Investment Research View comments

2014-06-17 14:41:02+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1420]}

{}

UPDATE: UBS Initiates Coverage On Orbitz Emphasizing Loyalty Program, Growth Opportunities

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ubs-initiates-coverage-orbitz-emphasizing-144102269.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

In a report published Monday, UBS analyst Eric Sheridan initiated coverage on Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW ) with a Buy rating and $10.00 price target. Sheridan noted that Orbitz is well-positioned among its peers. The company's loyalty program encourages users to use its mobile app and hotel bookings, leading to lower marketing costs and higher take rates for the company. UBS wrote, “We believe Orbitz provides investors with exposure to a leading player in the domestic online travel market, with a long runway ahead for its hotel business, particularly given the recent introduction of a new loyalty rewards program (incentivizes both hotel & mobile mix shift). Additionally, we see opportunities for revenue growth residing within Orbitz's business-to-business operations (Orbitz for Business, Orbitz Partner Network) and within International markets.” Although the company's international segment is seeing benefits from the technology replatforming, the analyst remarked that Orbitz “remains subscale on a global basis.” UBS' 2013-2016 revenue CAGR is seven percent versus the street's six percent. The three-year estimates for EBITDA CAGR is 11 percent, ahead of the street's nine percent estimate. Shares of Orbitz closed at $8.12 on Monday. The stock is currently up 4.31 percent an hour after Tuesday's opening bell. View more ratings on OWW See more from Benzinga Benzinga's Top Initiations Expedia Accepts Bitcoin For Hotel Reservations - Analyst Blog Deutsche Bank Sees Modest Upside Potential On Orbitz © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-17 19:49:02+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [37, 52, 2474, 2873]}

{"Bitcoin": [18]}

Can You Travel on Bitcoin Alone?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/can-you-travel-on-bitcoin-alone-89082775759.html

Yahoo Tech

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/

Tech Nerd Tuesday: Can You Travel on Bitcoin Alone? Bitcoin is being accepted by more and more travel companies. (Thinkstock) We haven’t yet reached the point where you can seamlessly book an entire vacation using bitcoin, but it is getting easier for consumers to use the virtual currency to pay for various bits and pieces of their travel and even to keep track of their rewards points. (Check out this FAQ on bitcoin if you want to brush up on the currency.) Last month the online travel agency CheapAir.com started accepting bitcoins to make reservations at more than 200,000 hotels around the world. Shortly afterward, CheapAir announced that its customers could also book their Amtrak train travel using bitcoins. For luxury hotels, back-end revenue management engine Revpar Guru has built an entire booking widget around bitcoin in preparation for its adoption by globetrotters. Its tech platform not only allows for hotel payments at locations like D Casino Hotel and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino , but it also allows international customers to deposit bitcoins into accounts that can be used for sundry items so that they never need to exchange currency. A visualization of bitcoins. (Thinkstock) The rewards site PointsHound , which aggregates your points and miles when you book travel, is now offering bitcoin as a reward redemption option. This was all pretty small potatoes in the travel world until very recently. Traveling on bitcoin’s virtual dime got an added air of legitimacy last week, when one of the major players in the travel market finally began accepting the currency. Expedia.com now accepts the virtual currency for payments for hotel rooms on its website. “We’re continually looking at ways consumers want to pay for their travel; bitcoin is a great example of how Expedia is investing early in an array of payment options to give our customers and partners more choice in the ways they interact with us,” said Michael Gulmann, vice president of Expedia Global Product. (Jo Piazza) Companies accepting bitcoin typically contract a third-party payment processor to integrate a bitcoin support system into the customer experience and to mitigate their risks. Expedia partnered with Coinbase as its third-party bitcoin payment processor. Customers who want to use bitcoin as a form of payment can select it as an option along with the other traditional methods, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, and PayPal. “Bitcoin is very attractive to merchants of all kinds because it is cheaper and faster,” said Jerry Brito, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. “With bitcoin, the fees are also much smaller.” Story continues Brito noted that bitcoin also opens up a travel merchant’s market to countries that may not have extensive credit card industries or the use of PayPal. “Bitcoin is international,” Brito said. “There is no limit. Wherever there is Internet connection, there is the ability to send payments, and that is attractive to a lot of folks.” We still have a ways to go before you can book an entire trip on bitcoin. Major airlines and car rental companies have yet to hop on board, but we could see movement in those areas by the end of the year. Talk to us in the comments. Would you book a vacation using bitcoins? Want more like this? Follow Yahoo Travel on Facebook and Twitter for the very best in travel writing and exploration every single day. View comments

2014-06-17 20:49:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1122]}

{}

Your Customers Can Now Direct Message You on Yelp

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/customers-now-im-yelp-204918055.html

Entrepreneur

http://www.entrepreneur.com/

With a just-announced direct messaging feature, Yelp is aiming to make communication between business owners and customers even more seamless. For specific inquiries unlikely to appear on general listings -- or for when customers simply don’t feel like picking up the phone -- users can now click on a link appearing beneath each claimed company’s contact information to compose a direct message. Business owners receive these messages as emails but can respond directly without having to log in to their Yelp accounts, the company explained in a blog post . Related: Facebook Lets Restaurants Post Menus to Pages; Yelp Announces New Video Feature Upon sending a message, consumers will be notified of each business’ average response time. Though the feature bypasses in-person interaction, one business owner found that it actually increased contact. “It almost always leads to further correspondence or a phone conversation,” said Wade Lombard, founder of Square Cow Movers in Austin, Texas. The feature is optional for businesses and can be disabled, Yelp said. Related: Yelp Now Points Users to Businesses That Accept Bitcoin as Payment More From Entrepreneur Facebook Launches Slingshot, Its Snapchat Competitor 5 Tips for Building Strong Relationships With Clients Apple Settles Over eBook Lawsuit, Avoids a Jury Trial

2014-06-18 15:55:56+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [63, 125, 344, 595]}

{"Bitcoin": [33]}

Get Ready for College Football's Bitcoin Bowl

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/get-ready-for-college-footballs-bitcoin-bowl-89165347949.html

Yahoo Tech

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/

Next season, the college football bowl season will welcome the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl thanks to a sponsorship deal from Bitcoin processing company BitPay and ESPN Events. Yes, they’re serious about this. The Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl, as the December game used to be known, now has a new sponsor and a new logo to boot with the Bitcoin symbol. ESPN’s Brett McMurphy broke the news on Twitter, and the Wall Street Journal followed up with more details of the four-year deal. Tickets to the game, set for Dec. 26, will cost $40. Obviously, they will be available for purchase with Bitcoin through BitPay’s services. College bowl games are notorious for bizarre sponsorships and naming conventions. (Little Caesar’s Pizza bowl? The AdvoCare V100 Bowl?) But this one might have set a new standard for ridiculousness. (It won’t help that the CEO of BitPay has had a questionable past on the internet.) There were plenty of jokes to go around — see here , here , and here — but ESPN’s Bomani Jones smartly pointed out the irony of an amateur athletics game sponsored by, literally, currency. RELATED: Richard Linklater’s Lovely ‘Boyhood’ Kicks Off 2014 BAMcinemaFest This article was originally published at The Wire . Read more from The Wire • Jon Stewart Breaks Down the Recent State-by-State Battles over Marriage Equality • Are Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Back Together?

2014-06-18 20:34:15+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [3743]}

{}

Market Wrap For June 18: Markets Rally On Fed Comments And Tapering

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/market-wrap-june-18-markets-203415881.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

U.S. stocks rose as investors and traders digested comments from the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve Open Committee announced that it will further taper its asset purchases by another $10 billion. The Fed is now committing towards purchasing $35 billion of assets per month. The Fed also hinted that its Fed Funds rate will be closer to 1.25 percent by the end of 2015, higher than previous guidance of 1.0 percent. By the end of 2016, the Fed Funds rate is now guided to be 2.5 percent from a previous 2.25 percent. The Fed lowered its 2014 GDP growth forecast to 2.1 percent to 2.3 percent from a previous guidance of 2.8 percent to 3.0 percent growth. 2015 GDP projections for a growth of 3.0 percent to 3.2 percent remain unchanged. The Fed also left its 2016 GDP growth forecast unchanged at 2.5 percent to 3.0 percent growth. The Fed sees the unemployment rate falling to 6.0 percent to 6.1 percent in 2014. The Fed expects the unemployment rate to decline even further to 5.4 percent to 5.7 percent in 2015 and 5.1 percent to 5.5 percent in 2016. Finally, The Fed's Chief Janet Yellen confirmed that interest rates will remain low. for a "considerable time after the asset purchase program ends" and that there is “no mechanical formula for what a considerable time means." Recommended: Democratic Legislation Would Force FCC To Ban Internet Fast Lanes The Dow gained 0.58 percent, closing at 16,906.62. The S&P 500 gained 0.77 percent, closing at 1,956.99. The Nasdaq gained 0.59 percent, closing at 4,362.84. Gold gained 0.17 percent, trading at $1,274.20 an ounce. Oil lost 0.09 percent, trading at $105.77 a barrel. Silver gained 0.52 percent, trading at $19.83 an ounce. News of Note U.S. First Quarter Current Account declined further to -$111.2 billion from -$87.3 billion in the fourth quarter. EIA Crude Inventories declined 0.6 million barrels, less than the decline of 1.1 million barrels expected. EIA Gasoline Inventories rose 0.8 million barrels, exceeding expectations for a gain of 0.2 million barrels. Story continues EIA Distillates Inventories gained 0.4 million barrels, exceeding expectations for a gain of 0.3 million barrels. The rating agency S&P downgraded Argentina's long-term foreign currency rating to CCC- from CCC+ due to the rising probability the country will default on its foreign currency debt. A pipeline which carries gas from Russia exploded in central Ukraine. Supplies to Europe were unaffected as they were rerouted through other pipelines. According to Reuters , Sunni militants now control 75 percent of Iraq's Baiji refinery. The Bank of England's latest minutes hint of an imminent rate increase by the end of the year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades of Note Analysts at Morgan Stanley reinstated coverage of Actavis (NYSE: ACT ) with an Overweight rating and $246 price target. Shares gained 0.90 percent, closing at $217.00. Analysts at Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY ) with an Equal-weight rating. Shares gained 2.98 percent, closing at $8.29. Analysts at Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating on BlackRock (NYSE: BLK ) with a price target raised to $340 from a previous $315. Shares gained 2.50 percent, closing at $319.85. Analysts at Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO ) with an Overweight rating and $30 price target. Shares gained 0.53 percent, closing at $24.63. Analysts at Barclays maintained an Equal-weight rating on Coach (NYSE: COH ) with a price target lowered to $45 from a previous $48. Shares lost 3.97 percent, closing at $39.19. Analysts at Buckingham Research upgraded DIRECTV (NYSE: DTV ) to Buy from Neutral with a price target maintained at $95. Shares gained 0.78 percent, closing at $84.31. Recommended: Bitcoin Enters American Pop Culture, Partners With ESPN & NCAA Football Analysts at Canaccord Genuity upgraded The Gap (NYSE: GPS ) to Buy from Hold with a price target raised to $51 from a previous $47. Shares gained 1.24 percent, closing at $41.75. Analysts at Barclays upgraded Medtronic (NYSE: MDT ) to Overweight from Equal-weight with a price target raised to $73 from a previous $67. Shares gained 3.56 percent, closing at $63.77. Analysts at Morgan Stanley assumed coverage of Pandora Media (NYSE: P ) with an Equal-weight rating and $28 price target. Shares gained 1.10 percent, closing at $27.53. Analysts at JPMorgan downgraded SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR ) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target maintained at $40. Shares gained 0.34 percent, closing at $40.36. Analysts at BMO Capital upgraded Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN ) to Outperform from Market Perform with a price target maintained at $43. Shares gained 1.61 percent, closing at $36.04. Analysts at Macquarie maintained an Outperform rating on Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ ) with a $53 price target. Shares gained 0.43 percent, closing at $49.42. Analysts at Barclays upgraded Walgreen (NYSE: WAG ) to Overweight from Equal-weight with a price target raised to $92 from a previous $56. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $76.17 before closing the day at $76.08, up 4.08 percent. Analysts at Argus Research maintained a Buy rating on Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB ) with a price target raised to $65 from a previous $54. Shares gained 0.07 percent, closing at $57.35. Equities-Specific News of Note According to Bloomberg , V.F Corp (NYSE: VFC ) or Adidas may be interested in acquiring Lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU ). Shares of V.F. gained 0.84 percent, closing at $62.36 while shares of Lululemon gained 3.02 percent, closing at $39.88. AIG (NYSE: AIG ) will launch a commercial line of property insurance in several countries worldwide later this year. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $55.68 before closing the day at $55.59, up 0.67 percent. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN ) unveiled its Fire phone with a 4.7 inch display and a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and a 13MP camera. The phone features a “dynamic perspective” providing depth effects for apps. A 32GB model will sell for $199 on a two-year contract with AT&T (NYSE: T ) who is the exclusive carrier for the Fire phone. Shares of Amazon gained 2.69 percent, closing at $334.38 while shares of AT&T gained 0.51 percent, closing at $35.20. General Motors (NYSE: GM ) CEO Mary Barra returned to Capitol Hill to answer inquiries from a House subcommittee over the company's ignition switch recall. Shares lost 0.17 percent, closing at $36.30. Related: General Motors CEO Mary Barra Steps Up To Congress Once Again Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: VRX ) announced that it began an exchange offer for the common stock of Allergan (NYSE: AGN ). Allergan shareholders would be able to elect to exchange each of their Allergan shares for $72 in cash and 0.83 Valeant shares. Allergan's Board of Directors will review the offer and respond in a 14D-9 filing. Shares of Valeant lost 0.37 percent, closing at $118.43 while shares of Allergan gained 1.77 percent, closing at $162.41. Statoil (NYSE: STO ) announced that it discovered an addition two to three trillion cubic feet of natural gas in its offshore well near Tanzania. Shares gained 1.47 percent, closing at $31.83. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) revealed a new 21.5 inch iMac which it plans to sell for $1,099. Shares gained 0.11 percent, closing at $92.18. General Electric (NYSE: GE ) is expected to present a new and improved offer to acquire France based Alstom whose board is set to finalize its decision by Monday. Shares gained 0.07 percent, closing at $26.89. According to Reuters, JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM ) took top spot among investment banks by recording $5.9 billion in revenue in the first quarter. Shares gained 0.63 percent, closing at $57.78. Winners of Note This morning, FedEx (NYSE: FDX ) reported its fourth quarter results. The company announced an EPS of $2.46, beating the consensus estimate of $2.36. Revenue of $11.8 billion beat the consensus estimate of $11.64 billion. Net income for the quarter rose to $730 million from $679 million in the same quarter a year ago as the company saw a two percent rise in express package shipments and an eight percent rise in ground shipments during the quarter. FedEx saw its operating margin improve by 40 bps to 10.0 percent. The company issued guidance and sees its full year fiscal 2015 EPS being $8.50 to $9.00 versus a consensus estimate of $8.76. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $149.37 before closing the day at $148.95, up 6.16 percent. Air Products (NYSE: APD ) announced that Seifi Ghasemi will serve as the company's new chairman, president and CEO as of July 1. Currently, Ghasemi is the chairman and CEO of Rockwood Holdings . The management shuffle comes at the expense of increasing pressure from Bill Ackman's Pershing Square who holds a 6.7 percent to overhaul its management team. Ackman previously stated that a new management team could double the stock's price over the next few years. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $131.48 before closing the day at $130.72, up 7.50 percent. Recommended: Will Destiny Be The Biggest Game Launch In History? Decliners of Note ConAgra Foods (NYSE: CAG ) issued a warning that it will fall short when the company reports its fourth quarter results. The company said that it expects its EPS to be $0.55, below the consensuses estimate of $0.62 due to a seven percent decline in its consumer foods segment. The company revealed that its Chef Boyardee brand is partially responsible for the decline in sales forcing the company to take a non-cash impairment charge of $681 million due to the brand's decline in relevance and goodwill. Shares lost 7.25 percent, closing at $30.47. Earnings of Note After the market closed, Jabil Circuit (NYSE: JBL ) reported its third quarter results. The company announced an EPS of -$0.06, beating the consensus estimate of -$0.08. Revenue of $3.8 billion beat the consensus estimate of $3.6 billion. Shares were trading higher by 1.04 percent at $20.31 following the earnings report. Quote of the Day “I still don't see that for equity prices broadly." - The Fed's Janet Yellen responding to whether she believes current equity prices are overvalued. See more from Benzinga Amazon's Fire Phone Is Like Something 'Only Steve Jobs Could Do' Amazon Unveils 'Fire Phone' At Seattle Conference Will Apple's iPhone 6 Charge Wirelessly? © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-19 11:55:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [48, 142, 194, 2020, 2302, 2543, 2604, 2730, 2962, 3345]}

{"Bitcoin": [42]}

BitPay and CoinVox Connect Politicians to Bitcoin

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitpay-coinvox-connect-politicians-bitcoin-115500957.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Jun 19, 2014) - [Bitcoin in the Beltway Conference] -- BitPay , the world leader in business solutions for the Bitcoin digital currency, and CoinVox , the leading Bitcoin services firm for political organizations, partner to offer an all-in-one solution for political candidates, political action committees and political organizations who want to accept donations in bitcoin. The integration enables political groups to securely accept bitcoin contributions and easily stay compliant with all relevant campaign finance regulations. "Some of BitPay's first customers were political candidates and a national party. With their extensive experience in dealing with political contributions, partnering with BitPay was the best option for CoinVox ," said Christopher David, CEO of CoinVox . BitPay has worked hard to ensure that any political campaign accepting bitcoin donations can be completely compliant with campaign finance laws. Using the BitPay- CoinVox integrated service, a campaign is able to create a button for the donation webpage which transfers the bitcoin donation as well as collects the donor's name, address, and email address. The campaigns also have the option of choosing to collect higher dollar amounts and program the button to collect additional information required by law. The real-time exchange rates are recorded and logged for each transaction. Funds are settled daily via direct bank deposit, so campaigns accepting bitcoin receive all of the same reports and bank settlement information that would be received from a credit card processor. "Politicos benefit from joint teams who have expertise and understand the needs of candidates and campaign treasurers, as well as service partners, legal advisors, consulting and support as does CoinVox ," said Tony Gallippi, BitPay's co-founder and Executive Chairman. The strategic partnership between BitPay and CoinVox gives campaigns a market-leading bitcoin payment processing solution coupled with access to top Bitcoin political consultants and compliance experts. Legal leadership and counsel on crypto issues is being provided by international law firm Perkins Coie . The partnership allows CoinVox to expand beyond the midterm elections and into international politics and causes, bringing Bitcoin's benefits of transparency and security to governing institutions around the world. "A BitPay- CoinVox partnership is another step to give a voice to all people who want to support a cause, candidate, committee or party. Because the Bitcoin blockchain provides a transaction history, political Bitcoin donations bring greater transparency to the political process," said Elizabeth Ploshay, account manager at BitPay and Bitcoin Foundation board member. Story continues Those interested in signing up for CoinVox or learning more can do so at http://coinvox.org . About CoinVox CoinVox is a digital currency services firm offering the first nonpartisan Bitcoin donation platform for political organizations. CoinVox also provides technical support and consulting services to help political and nonprofit organizations connect to the digital currency economy. For more information, please visit http://coinvox.org . About BitPay BitPay is a Payment Service Provider (PSP) specializing in eCommerce, B2B, and enterprise solutions for the Bitcoin digital currency. All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. View comments

2014-06-20 17:59:41+00:00

{"BTC": [77]}

{}

Benton Capital Amends and Finalizes Terms of Private Placement Offering With Jacob Securities

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/benton-capital-amends-finalizes-terms-175941452.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jun 20, 2014) - Benton Capital Corp. ( BTC.V ) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a further update to its June 11, 2014 news release wherein it announced that it had signed an engagement agreement with Jacob Securities Inc. ("JSI") to arrange, on a best efforts basis, a financing of up to $5 million to be completed on or before August 15, 2014 (the "Financing") related to the Company's binding letter of intent ("LOI") to acquire a 100% interest in Folium Life Science Inc. ("Folium"), a private medical marijuana company, with its head office located in Abbotsford, British Columbia (the "Transaction"). The Financing shall be completed at a minimum price of $0.25 per unit subsequent to a 2:1 consolidation of Benton's shares (the "Consolidation"), each unit consisting of one common share and one half of a share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.50 for 24 months. In addition, the terms were amended to include a clause that increases the unit to include an additional one half of a share purchase warrant if the Ready to Build approval is not received from Health Canada by Folium by August 31, 2014. Warrant exercise price and expiry terms remain unchanged. The proceeds from the financing will be held in trust until the closing of the Transaction. The offering terms were also amended to reflect that if the conditions precedent to closing the Transaction are not met by November 15, 2014, then the gross proceeds of the Financing held in escrow, together with any accrued interest, will be returned to the original subscribers. As contemplated in the LOI, Benton has now entered into a formal share exchange agreement to give effect to the Transaction. Pursuant to the terms of the share exchange agreement which supersedes the LOI (the "Share Exchange Agreement"), Benton will acquire all of the shares of Folium from the Folium shareholders in exchange for 13.5 million common shares of Benton post Consolidation resulting in Folium becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Benton. Benton anticipates that it will commence trading on the CSE in mid-July 2014. Story continues The closing of the Transaction is subject to obtaining all applicable regulatory and shareholder approvals. About Jacob Securities Inc. Jacob Securities Inc. is an independent full-service investment bank providing underwriting and financial advisory services to companies in the renewable power, infrastructure, energy and mining sectors. The firm, which is headquartered in Toronto, primarily services small and mid-cap issuers in North America and around the world. About Folium Life Science Inc.: Folium Life Science Inc. is a private company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), which is in the business of creating a facility for the production and distribution of medical marijuana with the intention of ultimately becoming a Licensed Commercial Producer pursuant to the Health Canada's Marihuana for Medical Purpose Regulations (MMPR). Folium's head office is located in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Folium has planned and negotiated for a medical marijuana production and distribution facility outside of Victoria, BC. Folium's application to be issued a "Ready to Build" letter entitling it to build a production facility for the growing of medical marijuana, under Health Canada's Marihuana for Medical Purpose Regulations (MMPR) is currently under final review by Health Canada. About Benton Capital Corp.: The Company currently has approximately $1.5 million in cash. In addition to the cash, the Company holds 61,000,000 shares (approximately 38%) of Coro Mining Corp. ("Coro"). The Company also holds 1,566,623 warrants of Coro exercisable at $0.15 until December 20, 2016. In addition, Benton holds no debt and has a very low burn rate. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Capital Corp, Stephen Stares, President and CEO THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

2014-06-20 17:59:46+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [0, 264, 557, 811, 911, 1234, 1251, 1705, 2044, 2355, 2873, 2914, 3426, 3906]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin Weekly Recap: Australian Stock Market, NCAA Football And iPhone Wallets

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-weekly-recap-australian-stock-175946154.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Bitcoin was packed with news this week. A bitcoin company listed on the Australian stock market, bitcoin was embraced on the Apple platform, bitcoin was announced as coming to the NCAA and it was determined that bitcoin is even less anonymous than people thought. Bitcoin Goes to the Australian Stock Market On June 15, digitalBTC was listed on the Australian stock exchange trading under the ticker DCC . digitalBTC is involved in a range of products and services including a wallet, a marketplace, mining, payment services and trading. Related Link: Will Bitcoin Be A Champion Like The Connecticut Huskies? The listing enables institutions and retail investors to get exposure to the bitcoin asset class and the regulatory reporting requirements will provide additional transparency to the bitcoin ecosystem. Bitcoin Coming to NCAA Football in December The former Beef O'Brady's Bowl will now be known as the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl, ESPN Events and BitPay announced Wednesday morning. In line with the bitcoin branding of the event, tickets and merchandise will be available for purchase with bitcoin. A wildcard is whether or not fans will be holding up bitcoin signs hoping for digital donations. iPhone No Longer Barrier To Bitcoin Adoption Bitcoin wallets started being accepted into the Apple app store. To the surprise of many, Coin Pocket was the first wallet in the store and not the wallets offered by Blockchain, Gliph or Coinbase. Apple’s policy change is important because a key bitcoin-use case is using bitcoin as a wallet replacement. Unable to use a bitcoin wallet on their iPhone meant those users couldn’t use bitcoin when out shopping or traveling. New York Holiday Inn Piloting Bitcoin A Holiday Inn Express in New York is accepting bitcoin. There was confusion this week when bitcoin businessman Charlie Shrem said the location would accept, but the hotel general manager said they were not currently taking bitcoin ; the location confirmed Friday that it accepts bitcoin. Another 10 Billion Revenue Company Accepts Bitcoin Digital River, an e-commerce payment provider announced it will let customers accept bitcoin for U.S. payments. Digital River has clients such as Microsoft , Spotify, University of Phoenix and Trend Micro. Digital River uses Coinbase to process the bitcoin transactions. Related Link: PayPal Should Use Bitcoin, Not Compete U.S. Marshals Accidentally Disclosed Private Bidders Next Friday, June 27, the U.S. Marshals will be auctioning off around $18 million worth of bitcoins. This week, as part of the auction process, the USMS inadvertently sent an email disclosing the identities of parties likely intending to bid on the bitcoins. The list is not a complete list of interested parties, but it includes a range of bidders and many prominent names from bitcoin company executives and investment firms. Story continues Bitcoin Even Less Anonymous than Thought Bitcoin was initially trumpeted as an anonymous currency. That myth has largely been debunked; this week, the University of Luxembourg published a study detailing how the bitcoin network may be able to reveal a user’s home address or street. Fortunately for mainstream users, this attack won’t apply to them. The nature of the attack means users of popular wallet services like Coinbase and Blockchain are immune. Only those running a bitcoin node on their computer are vulnerable to the information disclosure. Bitcoin Wallet Startup Raises $12 million BitGo announced that it raised $12 million in financing. BitGo is a security platform, offering a wallet as well as a cloud security service for customers. It claims to be “the world’s most secure bitcoin wallet.” Investors included SecondMarket, Redpoint Ventures, Ashton Kutcher’s A-Grade Investments and others. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position. See more from Benzinga 3 Reasons Grasping Bitcoin's Investment Potential Is Difficult © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. View comments

2014-06-21 03:41:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [129, 210, 381, 510, 1278, 2853, 3267], "BTC": [1635, 1775]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin and Litecoin Auction Site CryptoThrift.com – eBay Alternative For Cryptocurrencies

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-litecoin-auction-cryptothrift-com-034100442.html

ACCESSWIRE

https://www.accesswire.com/

CryptoThrift is the largest, fully transparent, online platform for buying, selling and trading goods and services worldwide for Bitcoin and Litecoin. Australia / ACCESSWIRE / June 21th, 2014 / Australia based Bitcoin and Litecoin auction site CryptoThrift.com is an online marketplace for small businesses and the general public to buy and sell goods and services in exchange for Bitcoin and Litecoin. Since launching at the end of 2013 CryptoThrift has become the largest and most active auction site in the Bitcoin community with over 6000 members. The transparent Australian ASIC registered business strives to offer a secure and progressive marketplace for the ultimate buying and selling experience. The platform offers a similar service to eBay but with the secure, anonymous, charge-back free, and low fee payment environment cryptocurrencies provide. Uniquely it offers an inbuilt and automated escrow system, securing buyers funds until they are happy with their received purchase. A large variety of products are listed on CryptoThrift ranging from Starbucks gift cards and books, to a Cessna airplane currently up for grabs. Due to the tech oriented nature of cryptocurrency; CryptoThrift.com is a good option for enthusiasts looking for specific computer hardware, Bitcoin miners, games and Xbox accessories. The motivated team of IT professionals, web developers, editors and system admins have established a user friendly platform – striving to add new features every week without compromising excellent customer service. CryptoThrift offers both `buy it now´ and auction sale formats. Both options display the price in BTC and LTC with the Dollar amount as reference. Constantly updated price tickers are displayed in the left hand corner with currency pairs BTC/USD and LTC/USD. Users can search the site in the search bar or browse by category. Other necessary information is also easy accessible such as the location the item will be shipped from, condition and time remaining on the auction. CryptoThrift also has a `Watch List´ function, gallery, a history section where the user can view posted bids as well as a public question field. Story continues CryptoThrift has increased rapidly in popularity with over 6000 new users in less than 8 months, currently attracting an average of 100k visitors and 750k page views a month. All items on the site are public however registration is needed to buy, sell or bid. Registering on the site is easy and only takes a few minutes. Other options for registration are to login by using popular social media networks Facebook, Windows Live, Twitter or Google; similar to the login system used by the popular sites Pinterest and IMDB. With cryptocurrency adoption increasing daily CryptoThrift provides a necessary marketplace for buying, selling and trading goods and services worldwide for Bitcoin and Litecoin . CryptoThrift has already established itself as the largest most frequently used cryptocurrency auction site, with over 6000 registered members. The fully transparent platform provides a user friendly experience and a convenient interface with embedded currency pair tickers, personal watch lists and bidding history; with new improvements implemented constantly. As the market leader in the Bitcoin, Litecoin and cryptocurrency auction space, CryptoThrift no doubt has a bright future ahead. Visit https://cryptothrift.com for more information. Contact Info Name: Ahmad Aoun Organization: CryptoThrift Email: [email protected]

2014-06-21 07:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [84, 348, 708, 817, 833, 1042, 1051, 1225, 1256, 1373, 1546, 1656, 1995], "BTC": [443]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin Soon Accepted at Niwali Test-O-Boost Health Store

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-soon-accepted-niwali-test-070000771.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

MIAMI, FL--(Marketwired - Jun 21, 2014) - Thanks to Apple's policy shift last week, Bitcoin wallets are now available for download in the iOS App store again. Previous iPhone wallet apps such as Coinbase or Blockchain are now replaced by the brand-new 'Coinpocket', which offers the same features as its predecessors, such as sending and receiving Bitcoin on iOS, exporting encrypted paper wallets as well as multiple sources for US dollar to BTC conversion. In addition to that, the new Coinpocket app also allows for full access to the camera hardware, thus enabling QR code scanning within the app and is able to generate a BIP38 encrypted version of the private key. Now that Apple's policy is approving Bitcoin wallets, customers can expect a plethora of new apps to be developed soon, than will make use of the Bitcoin system. Bitcoin is a payment system that was first introduced in 2009 as open-source software by Satoshi Nakamoto. Payments made through the system are recorded in a public ledger, which uses its own currency, called Bitcoin. Bitcoins can be earned through payment processing work, called mining, whereas companies and individuals record payments into the public ledger in exchange for newly created Bitcoins. Other ways to obtain Bitcoins are exchanging flat money, products or services for the virtual currency. Given the anticipated increase in Bitcoin-friendly apps that can be used for transactions on personal computers, mobile devices or web applications, Niwali Test-O-Boost Health Store decided to get ready for Bitcoins as well -- the company is currently working on plans to implement the system with the goal to accept Bitcoins as a method of payment within the next three months. For Niwali Test-O-Boost Health Store's customers this will mean easy payments without the need of a credit card that can be made from any country in the world. Thanks to the military-grade cryptography, customers are protected against unauthorized charges. The introduction of Bitcoins is only one of many steps that Niwali has been taking since the beginning of the year in order to optimize the shopping experience for its customers both, with regards to state-of-the-art software that has been implemented to streamline processes and with regards to the expansion and improvement of its product portfolio. Most noteworthy amongst those technical innovations are the launch of SugarCRM, a renowned customer relationship management system, and Gazelles, a rhythm coaching software. Story continues Meanwhile Niwali's product portfolio will soon be completed by a new Multivitamin Green Blend, a superfood blend based on whole foods such as organic fruits and vegetables, tonic herbs and probiotics that ensures that the body's daily vitamin needs are met. Products will soon be procured from a NSF-certified laboratory, to guarantee the highest manufacturing standards possible. And just recently Niwali switched from animal-based gelatin capsules to vegetable caps that are not only healthier, but also suitable for vegans. Niwali uses natural remedies for all its supplements, based on extensive scientific studies and century-old knowledge from Chinese, Ayurvedic and Shamanic medicine. In the online store customers can select from a wide array of weight management, detox and cleansing, disease fighting, immune boosters & personal care products as well as vitamins and other supplements. Niwali Test-O-Boost News: http://www.niwalinews.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/niwalihealth Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NiwaliHealth

2014-06-23 13:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [46, 282, 1061, 1420, 1440, 1691, 1902]}

{"Bitcoin": [0, 65]}

Bitcoin Shop Submits Registration With U.S. Marshals Service for Bitcoin Auction

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-shop-submits-registration-u-130000765.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

ARLINGTON, VA--(Marketwired - Jun 23, 2014) - Bitcoin Shop, Inc. ( OTCQB : BTCS ) (the "Company"), a virtual currency ecommerce marketplace www.bitcoinshop.us , today announced that it has submitted its registration with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in connection with the USMS Bitcoin Auction. The USMS is auctioning approximately 30,000 bitcoins currently valued at approximately $18 million. The bitcoins were confiscated from Silk Road, an online marketplace shut down by the U.S. Government in October 2013. An online auction will take place on June 27, 2014 with potential buyers required to make a refundable deposit of $200,000 for eligibility. The Company has wired $200,000 to the USMS and submitted the applicable registration forms for the opportunity to participate in the auction, however, our registration is still subject to the approval of the USMS. In the event that our registration is not approved, the $200,000 deposit will be returned to us and we will not be able to bid in the USMS auction. Charles Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Bitcoin Shop, commented, "We believe in the future of virtual currencies and have made a strategic decision to participate in this unprecedented opportunity by wiring the deposit and submitting a registration application to the USMS. We look forward to updating shareholders on the status of our application and any subsequent bid after June 27, 2014." About Bitcoin Shop, Inc.: Bitcoin Shop, Inc. operates an ecommerce website ( www.bitcoinshop.us ) where consumers can purchase products using virtual currency such as bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin, by searching through selection of over 400 categories and over 140,000 items. Bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin are virtual currencies that use peer-to-peer networks to facilitate instant payments. They are all categorized as cryptocurrencies, as they use cryptography as a security measure. Bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin issuances and transactions are carried out collectively by the network, with no central authority, and allow users to make verified transfers. Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its virtual currency business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

2014-06-23 13:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [147, 320]}

{"Bitcoin": [58, 149]}

NaturalNano Announces the Submission of an Application by Bitcoin Bidder, Inc., Its Newly Formed Subsidiary, to Participate in the Public Auction of Bitcoins

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/naturalnano-announces-submission-application-bitcoin-130000755.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

ROCHESTER, NY--(Marketwired - Jun 23, 2014) - NaturalNano, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : NNAN ) ( www.naturalnano.com ) announced today that its subsidiary, Bitcoin Bidder, Inc. has submitted an application to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and has wired a refundable $200,000 deposit to the USMS, for the opportunity to bid on Bitcoins which have been seized by the FBI and which will be sold at auction June 27th, 2014. The application is subject to review by the USMS, however in the event it is not approved, the deposit will be returned and we will not have an opportunity to bid at the auction. Jim Wemett, NNAN CEO, commented, "This is a great opportunity for NaturalNano to enter the new digital currency market. Virtual currencies are growing in use and value." The auction information can viewed at: http://www.usmarshals.gov/assets/2014/bitcoins/ NaturalNano, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : NNAN ) located in Rochester, New York, is engaged in the development and commercialization of material additives based on proprietary nanomaterial technology utilizing Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs). The company provides industry with additives designed to improve the processing characteristics and mechanical properties of engineering thermoplastics, and additives designed to optimize the release of active agents such as vitamins and fragrance in cosmetic products. NaturalNano holds patents relating to the commercial use of HNTs in composite materials as well as specialized techniques used in the refinement and processing of HNTs and intermediaries that it ships to customers worldwide. HNT materials used as a surface treatment have also shown promise in medical research devoted to stem cell collection and in trapping circulating cancer cells. The company is also exploring surface treatments relating to improved adhesion of protective coatings for polymer components used in numerous commercial applications. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and future performance that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factors disclosure contained in certain of NaturalNano's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The most recent annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed by NaturalNano provide information about these factors, which may be revised or supplemented in future reports to the SEC on those forms or on Form 8-K. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other such factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where expressly required by law.

2014-06-23 16:45:35+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [0, 214, 643, 1185, 1563, 2878, 3419, 3820]}

{"Bitcoin": [26]}

3 Strategies To Avoid For Bitcoin Investment Success

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-strategies-avoid-bitcoin-investment-164535725.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Bitcoin has provided spectacular returns for buy and hold investors. However, some investors have lost money in bitcoin. This article discusses some of the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them. Panic Selling Bitcoin is a volatile asset because it is in a price discovery phase. One bitcoin will either be worth hundreds of times its current value or it will be worth much less. When news breaks, bitcoin can react very quickly and inexperienced bitcoin holders often panic the first time they see their bitcoin investment drop 10 percent in an hour. People wonder: Why is this happening? How low will it go? Should I sell? Related Link: Bitcoin Is Not Just A Volatile Bubble Unrealistic Expectations Many investors buy bitcoins thinking they will be rich within a week or two. If bitcoin doesn’t make their dreams come true, they exit their investment or buy into newer and more volatile digital currencies seeking faster returns. The bitcoin investors who have made millions from small investments did so over a few years. Yes, bitcoin returned 60,000 percent last year, but most of the millionaires minted from that increase had already owned bitcoin for a year or two before. Bitcoin has made many people rich, but it doesn’t happen overnight. Investors also need to understand that the reward potential is going down every year because the investment risk is going down. The bitcoin ecosystem is gaining users, credibility, entrepreneurs and venture capital. As each of these components increases, the risk bitcoin will crash decreases. Scams and Fraud Bitcoin technology lets users transfer funds anywhere in the world as easily as sending an email. That fact, coupled with the irreversible nature of bitcoin transactions and the tendency for bitcoin investors to be risk takers, has led to many investors being fleeced by scams, fraud and theft. To avoid scams, follow the rule of 'if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is'. The most common scam involves offering interest on bitcoin deposits. Investors need to think - is this realistic? How are they making money? Who are these people? Is it worth the risk? Story continues Fraud and theft are harder to avoid. One technique is for investors to determine credibility of those they are doing business with and to ensure that they can take legal action if problems arise. Well publicized founders of venture backed companies are very unlikely to defraud customers and work very hard to prevent theft of customer funds. Companies like BitPay, Coinbase, Circle and Bitreserve are all reputable companies with well known executive teams. These companies will not defraud customers because it could very well lead them to jail. Investors should also ensure that they can take legal action against a company by avoiding foreign companies for the time being. Related Link: Mt. Gox Bankruptcy Will Force Changes In Bitcoin Security Practices The last way investors lose their investment is through bad security practices. There are two forms of bad security practices. Unfortunately, as the first digital currency, bitcoin has exposed the poor state of computer security. Today, mainstream users cannot store bitcoins in the same cavalier manner they can hold dollars in a bank or securities in a trading account. It is better to think of bitcoins like a pile of cash. If one has $10,000 of cash or more in their house, they treat it differently than $50. Bitcoins need to be thought of the same way. It is important for today’s early adopters to spend an amount of time learning about bitcoin security commensurate to the value of bitcoins they are holding. There are companies like Circle, Trezor and BitGo working to make bitcoins as easy and safe to use as a bank account, but those services are not widespread, so investors need to educate themselves. Bitcoin provides what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for retail investors to achieve their financial goals. By controlling emotion, avoiding fraud and following good security practices, bitcoin investors can position themselves to benefit if bitcoin is as disruptive a technology as the internet was. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position . See more from Benzinga Violin Memory Up, Named 'Gold Partner' By Oracle Facebook Optimizes Android App To Attract Emerging Market Users Goldman Sachs Downgrades Alstom On Heels Of GE Offer © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-23 18:10:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [742]}

{}

Asset Turnover Ratio

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/asset-turnover-ratio-181000743.html

Investopedia

http://www.investopedia.com/

The asset turnover ratio is a measure of a company’s ability to use its assets to generate sales or revenue, and is a calculation of the amount of sales or revenue generated per dollar of assets. The formula for the ratio is as follows: Sales or Revenues ÷ Total Assets A higher number is preferable, since it suggests that the company is using its assets efficiently to make money. A lower number may convince a company to try other methods to help maximize the efficiency of its assets. Nevertheless, this ratio varies between industries and can only be compared effectively between businesses in the same sector. More From Investopedia Supply, Demand and Interest Rates: Why One thing Leads to Another The Six Biggest Misconceptions About Bitcoin The Biggest IPO Flops

2014-06-24 14:04:09+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [364, 506, 555, 691, 1064]}

{"Bitcoin": [44, 168]}

NaturalNano and Its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Bitcoin Bidder Close $2.15 Million Financing; Uses Proceeds to Submit an Application to Make a Bid at the Auction of 30,000 Bitcoins by the U.S. Marshals Service

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/finance.yahoo.com/news/naturalnano-wholly-owned-subsidiary-bitcoin-140409593.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

ROCHESTER, NY--(Marketwired - Jun 24, 2014) - NaturalNano, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : NNAN ) ( www.naturalnano.com ) announced today that it has closed on a $2,150,000 cash financing from investors through the issuance of Secured Convertible Promissory Notes. The transaction closed on June 20, 2014. The funds were used in part by NaturalNano's wholly owned subsidiary, Bitcoin Bidder Inc, in connection with its application submission to participate in the auction by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) of 30,000 Bitcoins seized by the FBI. The USMS will inform Bitcoin Bidder of its eligibility to participate by June 26, 2014, and, if eligible, bids must be placed by June 27, 2014. If accepted, Bitcoin Bidder will use the balance of the proceeds of the financing to place its bid. The auction information can viewed at: http://www.usmarshals.gov/assets/2014/bitcoins/ Jim Wemett, NNAN CEO, commented, "The closing of this financing has placed NaturalNano in a unique position of potentially being able to participate in the U.S. Marshals Service auction of bitcoins. Bitcoins themselves are an exciting virtual currency technology and I believe NaturalNano shareholders will benefit from the company attempting to gain exposure to this technology." NaturalNano, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : NNAN ) located in Rochester, New York, is engaged in the development and commercialization of material additives based on proprietary nanomaterial technology utilizing Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs). The Company provides the industry with additives designed to improve the processing characteristics and mechanical properties of engineering thermoplastics, and additives designed to optimize the release of active agents such as vitamins and fragrance in cosmetic products. NaturalNano holds patents relating to the commercial use of HNTs in composite materials as well as specialized techniques used in the refinement and processing of HNTs and intermediaries that it ships to customers worldwide. HNT materials used as a surface treatment have also shown promise in medical research devoted to stem cell collection and in trapping circulating cancer cells. The Company is also exploring surface treatments relating to improved adhesion of protective coatings for polymer components used in numerous commercial applications. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and future performance that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factors disclosure contained in certain of NaturalNano's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The most recent annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed by NaturalNano provide information about these factors, which may be revised or supplemented in future reports filed with the SEC on those forms or on Form 8-K. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other such factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where expressly required by law.

2014-06-25 12:00:37+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [59, 810]}

{"Bitcoin": [40]}

This Family Is Road-Tripping Using Only Bitcoin

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/this-family-is-road-tripping-using-only-bitcoin-89813939049.html

Yahoo Tech

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/

Tech Nerd Tuesday: This Family is Road Tripping Using Only Bitcoin 4,400 miles across the country on zero U.S. dollars. (Thinkstock) Each June, John Bush packs up his family truckster (a Honda Odyssey) and drives with his wife, Catherine Bleish, and two young children from San Marcos, Texas, to the Porcupine Freedom Festival in Lancaster, New Hampshire. This year, Bush decided to do things a little differently. As an experiment, the Bush family is trying to use nothing but bitcoin, the digital currency, to pay for everything on the road, including hotels, meals, gas, and even tips at hotels. “We’ve been into bitcoin heavily for about six months, and we thought this would be a good opportunity to use travel to inspire people about the practical uses of bitcoin,” Bush said. RELATED: Can You Travel on Bitcoin Alone? Bush, who uses Blockchain as his virtual bitcoin wallet, detailed for me the trials and tribulations of taking a road trip using a currency that has yet to reach mass-market acceptance. family-travels-cross-country The Bush family will find creative ways to travel, eat, and sleep without using dollar bills. (Catherine Bleish) So far on their nine-day journey, the family has managed to use bitcoin for absolutely everything except for paying for the toll roads in New York. “We probably could have mapped around them, but it got really late,” Bush said. RELATED: 3 Kids, 2,058 Miles, and 1 Tired Mother on a 12-Day Road Trip To Boca The family will spend about $6,000 total over the course of the trip. Traveling on bitcoin alone requires a lot of advance planning and some creative hacks. Here’s how they’re paying for things: Gas: The family thought that gas would be the biggest hurdle, until they found a service called CoinFueled.com . You send them bitcoin, and then two weeks later the service sends you gift cards for specific gas stations. This meant the family had to map out the entire trip (gas stations included) in advance. On the way up, there were a lot of ExxonMobil stations, and on the trip back they found a lot of BPs, so they had two different kinds of cards delivered before they left. Story continues coinfuel-gas CoinFuel allowed the family to pay for gas using bitcoin. (Catherine Bleish) Hotels: The booking website Expedia recently started accepting bitcoin to book hotel rooms, taking advantage of the third-party processor Coinbase . RELATED: 5 Patriotic Places to Visit This Summer Bush and family hit a small snag in Asheville, North Carolina, when he says Coinbase took an additional 30 minutes to process his purchase. “By then the hotel had sold out of the room we reserved, and all that was left were smoking rooms,” Bush said. After hopping on the horn with Expedia, the family was able to find a new room. They will be trying to book hotels using CheapAir.com (also accepting bitcoin) in the coming weeks. expedia-bitcoin Booking hotels has been surprisingly easy during the trip. (Catherine Bleish) They have taken advantage of the website Gyft.com , which allows consumers to purchase gift cards using bitcoin. Gyft also works with Global Hotel Card , a room booking site operated by Orbitz. At the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C., Bush was worried about how he would tip the bellhops. He circumvented the roadblock by borrowing three singles from his friend and then reimbursing him through his bitcoin app. In New York, the family stayed at the Holiday Inn in Park Slope, which is part of a pilot program of hotels accepting bitcoin that was created by entrepreneur Charlie Shrem. Food: Gyft came in handy once again to buy gift cards at a number of chain restaurants along the road. Bush says he’s able to order Gyft cards about as quickly as it takes the server to bring the check. For snacks, they have been purchasing a lot of Whole Foods gift cards from the service. whole-foods Both the tray and the flaxseed cookies were purchased using bitcoin. (Catherine Bleish) The family also searched CoinMap.org to find restaurants that accept bitcoin. In Washington, D.C., they discovered the restaurant Thomas Foolery , and in Brooklyn they were presented with a plethora of options close to their hotel, including Lean Crust and Oxford Kitchen . coinmap Bush found this D.C. restaurant on CoinMap. (Catherine Bleish) Their most sinful stop on the trip so far, according to Bush, was a meal at Cracker Barrel. At the end of the day, even though the trip has had its pitfalls, Bush, whose family is working on a reality TV show called Sovereign Living , has been pleasantly surprised by just how possible the entire thing has been. He hopes it will become even more possible by the time the family makes this 4,400-mile trip next year. “Every year more and more businesses are catching on,” Bush said. “I really feel like this whole thing is just going to get exponentially easier.” You can follow their live blog over at www.uncoinventional.com . Want more like this? Follow Yahoo Travel on Facebook and Twitter for the very best in travel writing and exploration every single day.

2014-06-25 15:44:55+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [132, 424, 1089, 1106, 1810, 1837, 1917]}

{"Bitcoin": [51]}

What You Need To Know About Friday's $16.7 Million Bitcoin Auction

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/know-fridays-16-7-million-154455316.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

The U.S. Marshals on Friday will auction off 29,656 bitcoins, worth roughly $16.7 million, they seized from the Silk Road website . Bitcoin is a volatile asset easily moving five percent or more on a day with no news. This auction will add additional volatility to the price. When The auction period runs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET Friday. The winning bidder will be notified Monday, June 30, by 5:00 p.m. Related Link: Bitcoin Moves From 9 To 0 In Two Months: Could It Go Above ,200? What Bidders need to have wired $200,000 from a U.S. Bank to the Marshals as a deposit to participate in the auction. There are nine blocks of 3,000 coins and one block of 2,656 coins. At current prices, the smallest block has a worth around $1.5 million. Who Those large capital requirements mean bidders will either be wealthy individuals, organizations with U.S. bank accounts or group buys. Helping identify bidders, the U.S. Marshals accidentally released a list of potential bidders' email addresses. The list included bitcoin executives from companies like SecondMarket, Coinbase, DigitalBTC, Bitcoin Shop and Bitcoins Reserve. Implications The bitcoin price has been on a slide since the auction was announced June 12, dropping about 15 percent. Coindesk and Forbes have written that the price will continue to slide and there will be increased selling pressure on Friday. With respected outlets like those and the slide that has already taken place, there will probably be an additional drop in price through Friday. This drop may provide an opportunity for bitcoin investors to pick up coins at a perceived discount, as nothing has fundamentally changed about bitcoin as an asset. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position. See more from Benzinga 3 Strategies To Avoid For Bitcoin Investment Success Bitcoin Weekly Recap: Australian Stock Market, NCAA Football And iPhone Wallets Bitcoin Enters American Pop Culture, Partners With ESPN & NCAA Football © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. View comments

2014-06-25 18:10:00+00:00

{"BTC": [182, 643, 753, 903, 1188]}

{}

Microelectronics Technology Corporation 100TH/s Server Order Update

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microelectronics-technology-corporation-100th-server-181000386.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

MONARCH BAY, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 25, 2014) - Microelectronics Technology Corporation (OTC Pink: MELY) ( PINKSHEETS : MELY ) previously announced it had ordered one hundred, 1TH/s BTC mining servers. The Company is pleased to announce it has received all one hundred servers and is currently in the process of deploying a portion of them to the data center in the Vancouver, Canada area. The company has also been building out its own data center in Washington State which is anticipated to be operational July 11, 2014 or earlier. This facility, once completed and operational, will allow for the company to expand up to five hundred (500) BTC Mining Servers in one facility. Once this facility is operational the company will then apply all 100TH/s BTC Mining to the company's BTCpoolparty mining pool. https://www.btcpoolparty.com/index.php The company will be installing and testing all 100-1TH/s BTC Servers during this time period to determine power consumption and hash rate consistency. These 100 servers are reported by the manufacturer to be 25% more power efficient than the previous servers the company has currently online. The company expects significant results from the BTC Pool Party mining pool once the 100TH/s have been installed and are operational. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these statements are made to convey Company progress, business opportunities and growth prospects, readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements represent management's opinion. Whereas management believes such representations to be true and accurate based on information and data available to the Company at this time, actual results may differ materially and are subject to risk and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ include without limitation: dependence on key personnel and suppliers; MELY's ability to commercialize its technology; ability to defend intellectual property; material and component costs; competition; economic conditions; consumer demand and product acceptance, and availability of growth capital. Additional considerations and risk factors are set forth in reports filed on Form 8-K and 10-K with the SEC and other filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward-looking statements; historical information is not an indicator of future performance. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements.

2014-06-25 19:45:22+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [752]}

{}

Coinbase teams up with Intuit’s QuickBooks to open up bitcoin payments to small businesses

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coinbase-teams-intuit-quickbooks-open-194522352.html

Gigaom

http://gigaom.com/

Pay-by-bitcoin will be a new payment option for invoices, thanks to a free service from Intuit announced today. Small businesses who use QuickBooks Online can register for a wallet with Coinbase and link it to their account. Intuit’s new PayByCoin service then allows customers to pay with bitcoin (in addition to all the normal ways) and the business records the transaction as usual. How many people will use the service? It will depend on how many existing customers already have quantities of bitcoin laying around to spend, but it’s still a move that makes it just a little bit easier for businesses to accept the cryptocurrency. Image copyright . Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research: Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial . Bitcoin: why digital currency is the future financial system Cloud-based ERP: finally time for back office as a service? Best practices in optimizing content for social engagement More From paidContent.org Coinbase teams up with Intuit’s QuickBooks to open up bitcoin payments to small businesses

2014-06-25 20:01:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [195, 2259]}

{}

WPCS Announces Adjournment of Special Meeting and Rescheduling of Special Meeting to July 1, 2014

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wpcs-announces-adjournment-special-meeting-200100498.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

EXTON, PA--(Marketwired - Jun 25, 2014) - WPCS International Incorporated ( NASDAQ : WPCS ), which specializes in contracting services for communications infrastructure and the development of a Bitcoin trading platform, today announced that its special meeting of stockholders scheduled for, and convened on June 24,2014, was adjourned due to the lack of a requisite quorum. Only stockholders of record on the record date of April 25, 2014 are entitled to, and are being requested to, vote. The date of the special meeting has been rescheduled for July 1, 2014. Sebastian Giordano, Interim Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The Company is very close to gaining a quorum so every vote is important. As we have reiterated before, we are asking and strongly suggest shareholders to support our initiatives and vote 'FOR' all the proposals. Doing so will allow us to enact our strategic initiatives which are in the best interest of the Company's future." The special meeting will take place on July 1, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP at 61 Broadway, 32 nd Floor, New York, NY 10006 to allow additional time for the stockholders to vote on the proposals set forth in the Company's proxy statement filed with the SEC, which is available at http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1086745/000114420414025401/v376074_def14a.htm . The Company encourages all stockholders who have not yet voted to do so before June 30, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). The stockholders may vote by internet at http://www.cesvote.com , or by telephone at (888) 693-8683, or by returning your proxy card to Alliance Advisors LLC, PO Box 2400, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-9762. No changes have been made in the proposals to be voted on by stockholders at the special meeting. The Company's proxy statement and any other materials filed by the Company with the SEC remain unchanged and can be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . About WPCS International Incorporated WPCS operates in two business segments including: (1) providing communications infrastructure contracting services to the public services, healthcare, energy and corporate enterprise markets worldwide; and (2) developing a Bitcoin trading platform. For more information, please visit www.wpcs.com and www.btxtrader.com . Statements about the company's future expectations, including future revenue and earnings and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are " forward-looking " statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. The company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. In reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

2014-06-25 20:47:38+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [364]}

{}

Markets Close Higher Despite A Contraction In GDP

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/markets-close-higher-despite-contraction-204738614.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

U.S. stocks rebounded from a two-day decline despite the fact that the U.S. economy contracted 2.9 percent in the first quarter. Investors showed little concern to the GDP figure which was negatively impacted by weather. The second quarter GDP figure, when released, may prove to be more market moving. Recommended: What You Need To Know About Friday's .7 Million Bitcoin Auction The Dow gained 0.29 percent, closing at 16,867.51. The S&P 500 gained 0.49 percent, closing at 1,959.53. The Nasdaq gained 0.68 percent, closing at 4,379.76. Gold lost 0.07 percent, trading at $1,320.40 an ounce. Oil gained 0.56 percent, trading at $106.62 a barrel. Silver lost 0.06 percent, trading at $21.08 an ounce. News of Note MBA Mortgage Composite Index declined 1.0 percent after declining 9.2 percent last week. MBA Mortgage Purchase Index declined 1.0 percent after declining 4.7 percent last week. MBA Mortgage Refinance Index declined 1.0 percent after declining 12.7 percent last week. First Quarter GDP contracted 2.9 percent, worse than the 1.8 percent expected. In the fourth quarter, GDP contracted 1.0 percent. First Quarter Corporate Profits rose 6.8 percent, better than the 5.3 percent rise in the fourth quarter. May Durable Goods declined 1.0 percent to $238 billion. Analysts were expecting a gain of 0.4 percent in the quarter. June U.S. Services PMI Flash Index rose to 61.2 from 58.1 in May. EIA Crude Inventories rose 1.74 million barrels, higher than the decline of 1.6 million barrels expected. EIA Gasoline Inventories rose 0.7 million barrels, lower than the gain of 1.5 million barrels expected. EIA Distillates Inventories rose 1.2 million barrels, higher than the gain of 0.7 million barrels expected. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades of Note Analysts at Credit Suisse maintained a Neutral rating on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) with a price target raised to $96 from a previous $85.71. Shares gained 0.09 percent, closing at $90.36. Analysts at Macquarie maintained an Underperform rating on BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY ) with a price target raised to $7.25 from a previous $7.07. Shares gained 1.42 percent, closing at $9.98. Analysts at Deutsche Bank maintained a Buy rating on Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD ) with a price target raised to $175 form a previous $160. Shares gained 1.03 percent, closing at $163.87. Recommended: 10 Reasons To Give Marissa Mayer A Break Analysts at Deutsche Bank maintained a Hold rating on Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG ) with a price target raised to $575 from a previous $550. Shares gained 0.65 percent, closing at $599.50. Analysts at Bank of America downgraded Coach (NYSE: COH ) to Underperform. Shares hit new 52-week lows of $33.60 before slightly reversing and closing the day at $34.10, up 0.03 percent. Story continues Analysts at Buckingham Research initiated coverage of Footlocker (NYSE: FL ) with a Buy rating and $58 price target. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $50.33 before closing the day at $49.86, up 0.79 percent. Analysts at KeyBanc downgraded Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG ) to Hold from Buy while removing a previous $80 price target. Shares lost 1.68 percent, closing at $69.47. Analysts at Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of Kroger Company (NYSE: KR ) with an Overweight rating and $60 price target. Shares gained 0.10 percent, closing at $49.22. Analysts at FBR Capital maintained a Market Perform rating on Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS ) with a price target lowered to $80 from a previous $85. Shares gained 0.80 percent, closing at $75.42. Analysts at Cowen & Company upgraded Men's Wearhouse (NYSE: MW ) to Outperform from Market Perform with a price target raised to $65 from a previous $52. Shares gained 1.39 percent, closing at $55.98. Analysts at Jefferies upgraded Walgreen (NYSE: WAG ) to Buy from Hold with a price target raised to $87 from a previous $69. Meanwhile, analysts at FBR Capital maintained a Market Perform rating on Walgreen with a price target raised to $73 from a previous $68. Shares gained 2.39 percent, closing at $74.19. Analysts at Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of Whole Foods (NYSE: WFM ) with an Overweight rating and $50 price target. Shares gained 0.36 percent, closing at $39.09. Analysts at FBR Capital maintained a Market Perform rating on Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN ) with a price target lowered to $215 from a previous $235. Shares gained 0.97 percent, closing at $203.60. Analysts at JMP Securities maintained a Market Outperform rating on Zillow (NYSE: Z ) with a price target raised to $150 from a previous $114. Shares gained 6.11 percent, closing at $140.36. Equities-Specific News of Note During its I/O conference, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) revealed that Android has more than one billion active monthly users and that tablet app installs are up 236 percent year over year. Google also claimed that its Android tablets have a 62 percent market share. Google also detailed its Android Wear technology, Android Auto, Android TV and a Google Drive service with unlimited cloud storage for $10 a month. Shares gained 2.48 percent, closing at $578.65. Related: 4 Ways Google Wants Your Home To Be More Sensitive To Your Needs Valeant's (NYSE: VRX ) CEO Michael Pearson believes he can secure enough shareholder support for an Allergan (NYSE: AGN ) bid. Shares of Valeant gained 4.50 percent, cloisng at $125.94 while shares of Allergan gained 2.25 percent, closing at $169.07. Petrobras (NYSE: PBR ) is considering selling some of its assets as part of its obligations to pay $6.7 billion to the Brazilian government. Shares lost 1.60 percent, closing at $14.74. Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG ) announced that its da Vinci Xi Surgical System received a CE Mark certification in Europe. The company can now sell its devices in Europe and other countries that rely on the CE Mark certification. Shares gained 0.70 percent, closing at $405.08. General Motors (NYSE: GM ) will set up a fund to compensate families and victims that suffered due to faulty ignition switch. Shares gained 1.39 percent, closing at $37.09. Ford (NYSE: F ) announced a recall of more than 5,500 F-150 trucks due to a motor position sensor magnet potentially installed incorrectly. Shares gained 1.36 percent, closing at $17.20. The European Union authorities is set to approve Vodafone's (NYSE: VOD ) $9.8 billion acquisition of ONO. Shares gained 1.13 percent, closing at $32.36. Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF ) plans to idle its Pinnacle met coal mine for more than six months starting in late August. Shares gained 1.13 percent, closing at $14.36. During an analyst presentation, Home Depot (NYSE: HD ) said that it expects comparable sales growth of around 4.6 percent, operating margin to improve by 70 bps to 12 percent and EPS growth to grow by 17.6 percent. Shares gained 0.12 percent, closing at $80.53. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT ) won a $1.9 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force to produce missile-warning satellites. Shares lost 0.04 percent, closing at $162.45. Winners of Note The Supreme Court ruled that Aereo's streaming TV service is a violation of Copyright laws. This led to gains in CBS (NYSE: CBS ) as its CEO Leslie Moonves told CNBC the decision is a “terrific victory” as Aereo previously hinted that an unfavorable ruling would spell the end of its service. Moonves also hinted that it would not necessarily be open to a partnership with Aereo but would consider it, providing they get paid for its content. Shares of CBS gained 6.19 percent, closing at $62.48. Shares of other broadcasters also saw strong gains such as Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI ) whose shares gained 15.60 percent, closing at $33.80. Related: 2 Reasons Why Aereo's Downfall Is Bad For Netflix Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB ) said that it sees its EPS rising to $9 to $10 through margin expansion, revenue growth and share repurchases. The company is expected to renew its focus on exploration only in 2016 or 2017. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $114.44 before closing the day at $113.85, up 6.42 percent. This morning, Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS ) reported its fourth quarter results. The company announced an EPS of -$0.72, missing the consensus estimate of -$0.59. Revenue of $1.32 billion beat the consensus estimate of $1.19 billion. Net loss for the quarter improved to $42.55 million from $119.5 million in the same quarter a year ago as the company grew its College business through new contract acquisitions and implemented initiatives to improve its Retail store sales. The company's board of directors authorized a split of its retail segment from the NOOK business and will create two separate public companies by the end of the next quarter. Also, the company said that its full year fiscal 2015 comp bookstore sales will be down in the low-single digits as will college comps. Finally, the company said that it sees its losses in the NOOK segment to continue decreasing. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $22.75 before closing the day at $21.65, up 5.30 percent. George Soros disclosed that he raised his ownership stake in Penn Virginia (NYSE: PVA ) to 9.53 percent stake from 9.15 percent in March. Soros said that that a sale of the company is the best action the company could take to maximize value. Shares gained 12.39 percent, closing at $16.60. Decliners of Note A lift of the ban on U.S. oil exports is expected to show its toll on refiners' bottom line. The U.S. government granted permission for Pioneer Natural Resources and Enterprise Products Partners to export oil to foreign counties. Several refining stocks were lower today including Valera Energy (NYSE: VLO ) whose shares lost 8.29 percent closing at $51.35.. Also, shares of Marathon Petroleum (NYSE: MPC ) lost 6.34 percent closing at $80.97.. Refiners with smaller market caps also saw heavy selling such as PBF Energy (NYSE: PBF ) whose shares lost 10.72 percent, closing at $28.07. Earnings of Note This morning, General Mills (NYSE: GIS ) reported its fourth quarter results. The company announced an EPS of $0.67, missing the consensus estimate of $0.72. Revenue of $4.2 billion missed the consensus estimate of $4.42 billion. Net earnings for the quarter rose to $404.6 million from $366.3 million in the same quarter a year ago despite the fact that revenue was 2.9 percent lower than a year ago. U.S. branded goods retail saw its sales fall 1.4 percent to $2.44 billion while international sales fell 6.8 percent to $1.34 billion. However, revenue from convenience stores saw a 1.1 percent gain to $507.5 million. The company said that it will review its North American manufacturing and distribution networks to cut costs and generate $40 million in pretax savings. The company also guided towards a mid-single digits growth in net sales, a high single-digit rate rise in EPS. Shares lost 3.61 percent, closing at $51.76. Recommended: Cannabis Investors Awaiting WeedStock Conference Tours This morning, Monsanto Group (NYSE: MON ) reported its third quarter results. The company announced an EPS of $1.62, beating the consensus estimate of $1.56. Revenue of $4.25 billion missed the consensus estimate of $4.40 billion. Net income for the quarter fell to $858 million from $909 million in the same quarter a year ago as the company operates in what it calls the toughest macro agriculture environment in several years. Nevertheless, the company raised its full year EPS guidance to $5.10 to $5.20 from a previous guidance of $5.00 to $5.25. The company guided its free cash flow to be in the upper end of a $700 million to $800 million range. Also, the company approved a $10 billion share buyback program over the next two years. The company is committing towards buying $6 billion worth of stock in the near term. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $128.79 before closing the day at $126.73, up 5.06 percent. After the market closed, Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY ) reported its first quarter results. The company announced an EPS of $0.93, missing the consensus estimate of $0.91. Revenue of $2.66 billion missed the consensus estimate of $2.69 billion. Shares were trading lower by 5.68 percent at $57.64 following the earnings report. Quote of the Day “You are a totalitarian company that builds machines to kill humans.” - A heckler yelling during Google's demonstration of its Google Cloud. See more from Benzinga Consumer Confidence And Housing Data Take A Back-Seat To Markets Market Wrap For June 18: Markets Rally On Fed Comments And Tapering Market Wrap For June 13: Despite Rising, Dow And S&P 500 Lower For The Week © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. View comments

2014-06-26 16:18:00+00:00

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{}

Do You Really Want to Learn Investing from These Guys?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/really-want-learn-investing-guys-161800689.html

Investopedia

http://www.investopedia.com/

An unlikely new champion of the little guy and gal says it’s heading into 2014 with plans to make things right for the small investor. Before you get too excited, check to see if your wallet is still in your purse. The effort to do right by Mom and Pop comes not from the bleeding hearts at some consumer-friendly advocacy group, but from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association , or SIFMA, the Wall Street lobbying group that’s often on the other side of the proposals that investor advocates are rooting for. With an institutional straight face, SIFMA unveiled its new battle cries - “Customers First” and “Helping Main Street Prosper” among them - before 900 industry types gathered at the group’s annual meeting in New York last November. Never mind that the chatter about devotion to customers at the confab came amid other talk about too much regulation and the evils of populism. The financial industry’s trade group is on a mission, and the public relations tour de force begins this month with the launch of a capital markets literacy effort that SIFMA calls “Invest it Forward.” Wall Street is apparently so freaked out by the loss of confidence of Main Street since the 2008 financial crisis that it’s willing to get out there and meet with the little people. (See " The 2007-2008 Financial Crisis in Review .") Stock Market Games I mean that figuratively and literally. SIFMA is putting together a curriculum that will be used by industry executives to give one-hour presentations on financial topics to school kids, said Cheryl Crispen, executive vice president for communications and marketing at SIFMA. The group already sends volunteers to speak with students who trade $100,000 virtual portfolios in its popular Stock Market Game , played by 700,000 fourth-to-twelfth graders each year, according to SIFMA. The attendees at the New York Marriott Marquis event in November were given pamphlets that appealed for volunteers to visit with the tykes in their educational milieu to help “create an atmosphere of authenticity and excitement about the industry,” as one flyer said. Story continues If nothing else, a visit from a rich Wall Street guy - the honchos are of course mostly guys - might prompt a practical personal finance discussion of where you need to work if you want to dress in $2,000 suits. Goodness knows that kids these days need to match their lifestyle expectations with careers that can support their expectations. In fairness to the group that the activists at Occupy the SEC once called “Darth Vader,” some good has resulted from SIFMA's efforts. Lewis Mandell, professor emeritus at University of Buffalo's management school, began measuring the results of financial literacy education in 1997, and said in an interview that play-money stock market games like the one SIFMA runs actually turn out kids who are “significantly more financially literate” than those who don’t play the game. That, though, is no guarantee that games run by SIFMA or anyone else don’t get little traders a bit too enamored of finance’s casino mode. A fifth grader from East Brunswick, N.J., took to the stage at the Marriott to receive her SIFMA award for investment prowess, and said the teamwork approach to investing sometimes cramped her style. “I hated when my team was arguing because we were just wasting time, and time wasted is virtual money lost,” she said. Could somebody spring for a copy of Graham and Dodd ’s “Security Analysis” for this child? The precocious East Brunswick trader may be a winning ambassador for SIFMA, but Americans as a group are not so sanguine about the industry that imploded and then needed their money for a bailout. Profit from TARP At the rah-rah-for-Main-Street meeting, SIFMA's former chief executive Judd Gregg argued that lucky taxpayers had gleaned a $27 billion profit from the 2008 TARP program, more formally known as the federal government's Troubled Asset Relief Program that bailed out the banking industry after Lehman Brothers and several other financial institutions went under thanks to their ill-advised investments in mortgage backed securities. (See " Case Study: The Collapse of Lehman Brothers .") It’s a stretch to think taxpayers wanted to take the TARP risk in the first place and it was a coin-toss as to whether they’d profit. Even five years later, there’s little love lost between the public and the industry that brought us to our financial knees. Two years before the crisis, 41% of Americans polled by Harris Interactive agreed that people on Wall Street “are as honest and moral as other people.” In 2012, that number had declined to 28%. The public’s opinion of Wall Street is playing out in its investment decisions. New sales of mutual funds declined from $26.1 billion in 2008 to $16.8 billion in 2012, according to the Investment Company Institute , trade group for the fund industry. In the same period, the number of funds dropped from 8,022 to 7,596. (See " Are Mutual Funds a Relic? ") It all makes for a compelling backdrop to inspire ambitious public relations efforts, and SIFMA will be planting seeds of goodwill with investors and business people at Rotary Clubs and local Chambers of Commerce as the year unfolds. Separate from the beefing up of its efforts with school kids, SIFMA has launched something called “Our Partnership With You,” a feel-good effort anchored by a 900-word document that tells investors they have the right to such things as fair and ethical treatment, but have the responsibility to read and understand the sometimes indecipherable investment documents their brokers provide. First stop on the “partnership” road show will be Minneapolis and St. Paul in late February or early March, said Crispen. Memphis, St. Louis and an undetermined location in Florida will follow in March and April. Mandell said that while stock market games such as SIFMA's can be linked with a rise in students’ financial literacy; other literacy efforts have been a bust. Although Mandell was a believer in literacy programs when he started researching the programs more than 20 years ago, over time he discovered that most programs had either no effect, or were followed by declines in literacy. Problem with Funding The problem could be linked to the source of their funding: Most literacy programs have benefactors who aren’t necessarily interested in telling the whole story. “From almost the beginning of the financial literacy movement, it was funded primarily by the financial services industry,” Mandell says. With that in mind, ask yourself this: What’s the upside for Wall Street to pass on wisdom about the merits of avoiding expensive products with hidden fees? Or advice about the most effective ways to find out if your broker has been fleecing customers? Or impart that there’s a slew of studies that have shown that investors do best by buying an index fund - preferably from a no-load outfit that doesn’t even need brokers to enter your orders? At that SIFMA meeting, big shots like Mary Jo White, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and former President Bill Clinton graced a stage with a huge backdrop that read “Helping Americans succeed. Helping Main Street Prosper.” Before you buy into the notion that Wall Street is having a kumbaya moment with its customers, consider Mandell’s take: Wall Street “has piled into financial literacy” because it’s looking to send a message that education can remove the need for regulation. And if you wind up in one of those Rotary Club meetings with a SIFMA representative extolling the virtues of his industry, ask him/her whether maybe next year s/he’ll put you and some other Main Street folks up on that stage. Wall Street could use a dose of plain talk from real people who think its practices stink. The Bottom Line The Wall Street lobbying group SIFMA has become an unlikely champion for the average person-on-the-street investor, and has put money behind educational programs aimed at teaching people of all ages about making wise investment choices. The move comes none too late, as consumer confidence in Wall Street and its denizens is at a low. More From Investopedia Supply, Demand and Interest Rates: Why One thing Leads to Another The Six Biggest Misconceptions About Bitcoin The Biggest IPO Flops

2014-06-26 16:23:00+00:00

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Pharmaceutical Vs. Biotech Investing: Is It Worth The Risk?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pharmaceutical-vs-biotech-investing-worth-162300045.html

Investopedia

http://www.investopedia.com/

The decision to invest in pharmaceutical (pharma) or biotech stocks is a confusing one unless you have a keen knowledge of the basic operations and products of the company and how its securities trade on the market. Pharmaceutical companies range from large to small, and they engage in a full array of activities from research and development (R&D) to manufacturing and marketing medicines. The compounds pharmaceutical companies manufacture are small molecules based on chemical or plant synthesis. Conversely, biotech companies, except for a few, are generally small enterprises that engage solely in R&D of medicines. These companies use biotechnology to recreate the function of cells; they use microorganisms and enzymes to develop large-molecule drugs that are used for a specific purpose . Because biotechs mimic cellular processes, the length of time from research and development is extremely long, averaging 10-15 years. The R&D process for both involves many clinical testing trials that yield specific data. These trials are “blind” so that neither the companies, nor the investors, have any knowledge of the outcomes. R&D and Stock Impact Biotech companies tend to be small with only one to a few compounds in development. Most of these companies operate with losses, because the time to develop is so long and the R&D processes are extremely costly. Because of this dynamic, biotech companies tend to find partners for financial support, usually through venture capital, universities, pharmaceutical companies or the government. Despite this, when a company’s compound is in clinical trials, if the “endpoints” (expected data) are not met, the stocks can plummet. But if the endpoints are exceeded, the stocks can soar many-fold. As a result, investors in biotech companies need to be willing to tolerate a great deal of volatility. While pharmaceutical companies also experience the costly and lengthy R&D process, including the ups and downs during clinical trials, they are usually able to withstand the volatility better because these companies tend to have many more product lines producing revenue that covers the R&D costs. Therefore, their stocks are comparatively more stable and considered safer investments. When a biotech company finally has a marketable drug, it needs to get a marketing and sales arm. This is accomplished by either building one or, in many cases, partnering with a larger biotech or pharma company. Many pharmaceutical companies have alliances with biotech companies, adding revenues through the sale of the biotech’s drug without the costs or time associated with development - a nice boost to their top line. Story continues Competition Competition is one area that impacts pharma companies to a greater degree than biotech companies, because pharmaceuticals are chemical processes thought to be more easily replicated. Competition generally comes in the form of generic drugs, which can be introduced to the market after the branded drugs' patents expire. The length of each patent varies, but it is usually long enough for pharma companies to recoup R&D costs and produce healthy profits. When a generic drug is introduced to the market, the branded drug pricing is 100% lost. Drug prices for the generic can be up to 90% lower than the branded pricing. “Me too” drugs, competitive products that work in a different manner for the same disease, can erode market share and pricing as well. Biotech companies had not been faced with any “biosimilar” or generic competition. But since the passage of legislation in 2010, biosimilars can become an increasingly competitive threat to biotech companies. Many issues exist in terms of determining the course of development for biosimilar competitors. So biotech companies, because they face such steep costs and lengthy processes associated with R&D, are hoping that biosimilars will not be a near-term competitive threat. Investment Theses There are two basic investment theses based on time horizon and risk tolerance: Pharmaceutical Investment: If you are less risk tolerant and not willing to wait for long-term drug development, then an investment in a pharmaceutical company makes more sense. The drivers of pharmaceutical stocks include prescription data, new drug pipelines, strategic alliances and M&A activity, competition and reimbursement changes. These stocks tend to be more stable because some of these drivers are predictable. In addition, drug companies tend to have a larger revenue base with multiple product lines so they trade based on profits. Unforeseen short-term threats include changes to Medicare pricing, which tend to impact the pricing for many consumers. Unforeseen long-term threats include negative medical impacts from taking the drugs (such as death/lawsuits) as well as loss of patents (allowing competitors to come to market sooner). Biotech Investment: If you are a risk taker and willing to wait for drug development while withstanding the potential volatility generally associated with biotech stocks, then an investment in a biotech company may suit your style. Biotech stocks generally trade based on drug data including clinical trial failures, competition or regulatory obstacles. If the drug data misses its expected endpoint, a biotech's stock can lose most of its value in one day. Conversely, if a drug meets its expected endpoint, a stock can soar by double and triple digits that day. Some companies that have strong partners or are financially stable may be able to withstand setbacks, but many companies may not, and the investment can go bust. Valuation Pharmaceutical stocks typically trade at a large discount to biotech stocks. The historical mean forward P/E multiple is 16x from 1976 through March 2013 for pharma as compared to the high 20x to 30x or more for biotechs. Because many biotechs are small and operating with losses, they are valued using price-to-sales ratio (PSR) or enterprise-value-to-sales (EV/Sales). However, according to one Wall Street analyst, “There is no meaningful relationship [between valuation] and market cap or revenues.” (Source: Merrill Lynch Back to Basics presentation.) As such, valuation is a bit unreliable and meaningless with some of these stocks. The Bottom Line Both pharma and biotech stocks face a costly process that, when successful, can produce extremely profitable products. However, the process is extremely unpredictable, which for a small biotech firm can prove all too detrimental and un-recoverable. Pharmaceutical companies, due to their larger size and diversified revenue base, are typically able to withstand setbacks and failures. Competition is more relevant and costly to pharmaceutical companies, creating a need for strong pipelines and non-organic revenues (such as through M&A or alliances). Consideration of these key themes can provide the basis for making a prudent investment. More From Investopedia Supply, Demand and Interest Rates: Why One thing Leads to Another The Six Biggest Misconceptions About Bitcoin The Biggest IPO Flops View comments

2014-06-26 18:28:37+00:00

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The Bitcoin ETF You Haven’t Heard About

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-etf-haven-t-heard-182837276.html

ETF Trends

http://www.etftrends.com/

When it comes to bitcoin exchange traded funds, the one that gets the most attention is the yet-to-be listed Winkelvoss Bitcoin Trust, an ETF sponsored by twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winkelvoss. SecondMarket’s Bitcoin Investment Trust could beat its Winkelvoss rival to market. In fact, the Bitcoin Investment Trust has been available to accredited investors and has already amassed $70 million in assets under management, SecondMarket’s Barry Silbert told ETF Trends . The bulk of those inflows have come courtesy of family offices, tech entrepreneurs and Wall Street professionals, according to Silbert. The Bitcoin Investment Trust is expected to list on the OTCQX in the fourth quarter and Silbert says the goal is to eventually list the Trust on a major U.S. exchange. SecondMarket’s Bitcoin Investment Trust is comparable to commodities ETFs such as the SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) and the iShares Silver Trust ( SLV ) in that the Trust ensures storage and safekeeping while focusing exclusively on a single asset. “ Because the BIT already complies with FINRA statutes, it will be able to file to open the exchange on a much more accelerated timeline than the Winklevosses,” Business Insider reported in March. Silbert said the Trust is receiving increased interest from registered investment advisors and wirehouses because, at the moment, bitcoin cannot be placed on traditional brokerage statements, but ETFs do not have that problem. Accredited investors can invest in the Trust through their IRAs and 401(k)’s, according to SecondMarket. [ Bitcoin ETF to List on Nasdaq ] “Through established relationships our Authorized Participant has with the major bitcoin exchanges and large private pools of bitcoins, the BIT is able to offer a weighted price that reflects a more accurate market view. Investors can buy shares in the BIT at a set price and without having to transact in a fragmented and highly illiquid market with unregulated and newly established entities,” according to the Trust’s web site. Story continues On Friday, the US Marshals Service will auction off nearly $18 million worth off seized bitcoin, an event that some market observers believe could further legitimize the digital currency. ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this post. Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of GLD and SLV. The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.

2014-06-27 04:03:00+00:00

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{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin Exchange HitBTC Opens Second Open Voting Challenge For Aspiring Cryptocurrencies

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-exchange-hitbtc-opens-second-040300507.html

ACCESSWIRE

https://www.accesswire.com/

Innovative Bitcoin exchange HitBTC opens their second open voting challenge allowing the community to choose the next cryptocurrency to be added to the exchange. The first round winner was popular altcoin Dogecoin. USA / ACCESSWIRE / June 27th, 2014 / Bitcoin exchange HitBTC , launched in February 2014 features comprehensive trading software which replicates the features of world-renowned exchanges such as NYSE, NASDAQ and LSE. The exchange is now hosting their second open voting challenge allowing the community to choose the next cryptocurrency to be added to the exchange. The democratic voting process allows the majority to decide which currency that deserves to be traded among the most popular digital currencies on the market. To vote users simply go to hitbtc.com/vote, find their favorite currencies on the list and click the vote button featured on the side. The voting doesn’t exclude non-members, so everyone is free to participate Currently the list offers a wide range of new currencies to promote like the increasingly popular NXT and Darkcoin. If an alt coin is not one of the 110 coins on the list HitBTC also encourages anyone to nominate a coin by clicking the “Suggest currency” button. The first round winner was Dogecoin, showing its increasing popularity with more than 15 000 votes outnumbering the 2nd challenger with almost twice the votes. Dogecoins are successfully added to HitBTC.com and the voting continues to see which alt coin gets to join DOGE on HitBTC’s Bitcoin exchange platform. Dogecoin enthusiasts who sign up to HitBTC before July 20th 2014, will receive a 0% fee on all trades made in DOGE for a duration of 1 month. This will be extended another 2 months, for a total of 3 months 0% fee DOGE trading; as long as the customer makes at least one trade on HitBTC’s platform during the first month. The user-friendly exchange platform HitBTC brings cutting-edge technology to the Bitcoin ecosystem . The site features four types of orders; market, limit, stop and stop limit as well as a verity of popular trading pairs like BTC/USD, BTC/EUR, LTC/USD, DOGE/BTC and many others. HitBTC offers low fees with free Bitcoin transfers, minimal delays tributed to ground breaking technology placing and matching orders in milliseconds and flexible payment validation resulting in fast payments; making the site ideal for both experienced and novice Bitcoin traders. Story continues The exchange ensures users a secure trading experience with implemented SSL protection, state of the art cryptography, passes FIPS validation, is fully compliant with AML guidelines and enables use of Google Authenticator for two-step verification and offers 24/7 customer service. HitBTC is also accessible for algorithmic traders and features a constantly updated news-feed ticker. The cryptocurrency community can expect to see many new features introduced in the near future such as responsive desktop and mobile trading applications for iPhone and Android, and additional language choices such as French, Chinese, Spanish and German to support the expanding crypto community. With its industry grade Bitcoin trading platform analogous to the NYSE, 24/7 customer service, 0% fee trading for DOGE fans, and plans for mobile cryptocurrency trading in the near future – HitBTC is quickly establishing itself as one of the premier online cryptocurrency trading platforms . It is not hard to see why many cryptocurrencies are currently vying to get listed on HitBTC’s exchange platform, through its democratic voting process. Visit https://hitbtc.com/ for more information. Contact Info Name: HitBTC.com Organization: HitBTC Email: [email protected]

2014-06-27 11:29:00+00:00

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10 Things You Need To Know This Morning

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-things-know-opening-bell-112912732.html

Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/

andrew wiggins REUTERS/Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) walks off the stage after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Good morning! Here's what you need to know: French Bank Mega-Settlement Coming . "BNP Paribas is set to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay an $8.9 billion penalty to state and federal authorities, according to people briefed on the case," report DealBook's Ben Protess and Jessica Silver-Greenberg . "The move would be the culmination of a widespread investigation into the French bank for transferring billions of dollars on behalf of Sudan and other countries blacklisted by the United States. The plea deal, which authorities hope to announce on Monday, will include a statement of facts that outlines how France’s largest bank hid the names of Sudanese clients when processing transactions through its American operations, according to the people briefed on the case who spoke on condition of anonymity." Barclays Is Losing Business . The British banking giant is feeling the aftermath of the NY Attorney General's lawsuit against it and its dark pool . "Investors and brokers cut ties with the stock-trading venue run by Barclays PLC, disconnecting from one of Wall Street's biggest so-called dark pools as the firm battles allegations of fraud and misleading its customers," report the WSJ's Bradley Hope and Scott Patterson . "Broker-dealers, including Credit Suisse Group AG, Deutsche Bank AG, Royal Bank of Canada, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. and Investment Technology Group Inc. removed connections to the dark pool, called Barclays LX, from their routing systems on Thursday, according to people familiar with the decisions." Japanese Households Slammed By Abe Tax Hike . Japan's household spending plunged by 8.0% in May as a new consumption tax hike went into effect. This was much worse than the 2.3% decline expected by economists. Meanwhile, Japan's unemployment rate declined to a 16-year low of 3.5% . Story continues France Is Miserable . GDP was unchanged or 0.0% year-over-year in Q1. "In one line: Miserable first quarter in France," said Pantheon Macroeconomics' Claus Vistesen. "The only real positive aspect in the report is that household income is growing steadily, but this is mainly driven by lower taxes which cannot provide lasting support to income growth." Eurozone Sentiment Is Deteriorating . The Eurozone's economic confidence index unexpectedly fell to 102.0 in June from 102.7 in May. Economists were expecting an increase to 103.0. "The drop in the June sentiment reading from the European Commission was notable relative to the consensus, but it was not completely unexpected if we factor in the poor survey releases this week from France and Germany," said Vistesen. "All the sub-components of the EC survey weakened in June with especially business climate and industrial confidence weakening noticeably, but the services sector remained a bright spot, though, increasing above the consensus forecast." Chemical Giant Disappoints . DuPont cut its outlook for earnings on Thursday afternoon. "The revised outlook in Agriculture reflects lower than expected corn seed sales and higher than expected seed inventory write-downs," said management. "Given favorable soybean economics, soybean sales volumes in North America are higher than expected. However, the higher soybean volume will not fully offset the decline in corn volume, especially given the transition under way in the company's soybean lineup to newer, higher performing products. The company believes this is a short-term negative trend, and there will be strong demand for its next generation soybean products. The revised outlook also reflects lower than expected crop protection herbicide sales, largely due to weather." Management expects to earn $4.00 to $4.10 per share, which is below analysts' expectation for $4.30 per share. Nike Did It . Nike reported quarterly revenue of $7.43 billion and earnings of $0.78 per share, beating analysts' expectations for $7.34 billion and $0.75, respectively. Worldwide orders were up 12%, which was a bit higher than the 11.7% expected. Global Football, or soccer, jumped 21% in fiscal 2014 to $2.3 billion as fans stocked up ahead of the World Cup. Markets Are In The Red . U.S. futures are negative with Dow futures down 25 points and S&P 500 futures down 4.2 points. Europe is mixed, with Britain's FTSE 100 up 0.1%, France's CAC 40 flat, Germany's DAX flat, and Spain's IBEX down 0.1%. American Sentiment . The final June University of Michigan confidence report will be published at 9:55 a.m. ET. Economists estimate this measure of sentiment improved to 82.0 in June from 81.2 in May. This "would reflect equity markets, which have moved higher and experienced a modest reduction in volatility relative to May, as well as gasoline prices, which have largely moved sideways after increasing through the first quarter," said Barclays economists . "A rise in consumer confidence would also be in line with recent steadily improving labor market indicators such as initial jobless claims." No, Those Mt.Gox Bitcoins Aren't Coming Back . The WSJ's Takashi Mochizuki and Eleanor Warnock have an interview with Mark Karpelis, CEO of the Tokyo-based exchange that lost around 850,000 bitcoins to hackers. "Mr. Karpelès said in addition to hacking attacks taking advantage of a system weakness called transaction malleability, there were physical break-ins at the company's offices and that at least one former employee pilfered electronic data," they reported. Here's Karpelès: "If anyone wants to start a bitcoin exchange, I would say, 'Be sure to have 24-hour security guards.'" More From Business Insider Luis Suarez Suspended For World Cup, Banned From The Sport For 4 Months For Biting Incident 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning

2014-06-27 18:51:14+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [17, 462, 549, 1083, 1297, 1801, 1828, 2205, 2536, 2578, 2605]}

{"Bitcoin": [46]}

Disruption, Advocacy And Regulation: A Weekly Bitcoin Review

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-weekly-recap-disruption-advocacy-185114426.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

X Prize Founder: Bitcoin Moving to Disruptive Phase Peter Diamandis wrote why bitcoin will be entering the disruptive phase in 2014 and 2015 before hitting mass adoption in 2016. He is accepting bitcoin for his Abundance 360 CEO Summit and he is trading in his gold for bitcoin. Diamandis explained bitcoin and then explained why it will be so transformative. He finished by providing action items for readers to understand the technology. Related Link: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business Overstock To Donate Three Percent of Bitcoin Sales to Support Digital Currencies Starting in September, Overstock (NASDAQ: OSTK ) will begin to donate a portion of bitcoin sales to support digital currency adoption, according to CoinDesk . Overstock now forecasts sales at $10 million for the year, doubling its original $5 million estimate. The digital currency advocacy program will roll out around the same timeframe as Overstock's expansion of bitcoin acceptance to international users. New ATM Manufacturer on Track to Ship 1,000 Units this Year Skyhook, a low-cost Bitcoin ATM manufacturer, announced it has shipped 150 ATMs since launching in May. The units sell for $999 and are open source. Skyhook anticipates it will ship 1,000 units this year. Intuit Lets Customers Accept Bitcoin Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU ) launched its Pay By Coin service, letting merchants receive bitcoin or U.S. dollars from bitcoin payments. The service does not take a fee, although the partner in the offering, Coinbase, charges a one-percent conversion fee if the business opts to receive U.S. dollars instead of bitcoin. The service touts the primary benefit as getting paid faster but also lists low fees, no chargebacks, quick deposits and no exchange risk as benefits. Related Link: 3 Reasons The IRS Bitcoin Ruling Is Good For Bitcoin Canada Will Regulate Virtual Currency Businesses CoinDesk reported that Canada passed an amendment to regulate businesses dealing in virtual currencies. The businesses will be regulated as Money Services Businesses and be required to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. Story continues California Passes Legislation Good for Bitcoin Users Reuters reported that California repealed a law outlawing commerce using anything besides U.S. currency. The law also potentially applied to things like gift cards. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position. See more from Benzinga What You Need To Know About Friday's .7 Million Bitcoin Auction 3 Strategies To Avoid For Bitcoin Investment Success Bitcoin Weekly Recap: Australian Stock Market, NCAA Football And iPhone Wallets © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-27 22:24:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [34, 1181, 1309, 1523]}

{"Bitcoin": [47]}

Mt. Gox revival threatens customer's remaining Bitcoins, says CEO

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/2014-06-27-mt-gox-ceo-talks.html

Engadget

https://www.engadget.com/

First, one of the world's largest Bitcoin exchanges went dark , then it filed for bankruptcy , suffered further hacking attacks and even faced a lawsuit . Now Mark Karpelès, Mt. Gox's CEO, tells the Wall Street Journal that he's liquidating what's left of the company assets to make ends meet. "As the company head, my mission was to protect customers and employees," he said in the interview, his first public appearance since Mt. Gox collapsed. "I'm deeply sorry. I'm frustrated with myself." A court-appointed trustee now holds all of the exchange's remaining funds and assets, and is preparing to auction off domain names owned by the companies to help repay creditors and keep Tibanne -- Karpelès' other business -- alive. This includes selling bitcoins.com and akb.com. Karpelès didn't say if mtgox.com itself would be up for sale, but he is worried about its future. Multiple parties are interested in taking over Mt. Gox and rehabilitating the service, Karpelès says, but he's worried these organizations might cannibalize customer's surviving funds to revive it. "Remaining customer money should not be touched," he told the Wall Street Journal , referring to the 200,000 Bitcoins (about $117 million) that were found in an old wallet earlier this year. Karpelès himself is keeping his distance from Bitcoin for now, but he says he wants to return to the community one day so he can tell others to learn from his mistakes. "My experience would be valuable to them, especially if they are thinking of starting up a Bitcoin business. I can tell them what they should do and shouldn't." Check out the full piece at the source link below.

2014-06-27 22:51:28+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [701, 1864]}

{}

U.S. auctions some 30,000 bitcoins from Silk Road raid

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-auctions-30-000-bitcoins-225128527.html

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/

By Nate Raymond NEW YORK, June 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Marshals Service on Friday auctioned off about 30,000 bitcoins seized during a raid on Silk Road, an Internet black-market bazaar where authorities say illegal drugs and other goods could be bought. An online auction took place over a 12-hour period on Friday for the bitcoins, valued at nearly $17.7 million. It consisted of nine blocks of 3,000 bitcoins and one block of 2,657 bitcoins. The Marshals Service has said it would notify the winning bidders on Monday. A spokeswoman for the Marshals Service declined to say how many bids the office received. Among those who said they registered to participate in the auctions were SecondMarket and Bitcoin Shop Inc. Silk Road was shutdown after an FBI raid in September 2013 as agents took control of its server and arrested a Texas man, Ross Ulbricht, that the authorities said owned and operated the website. The auction was for 29,655 bitcoins contained in files residing on its servers, which were forfeited in January. Chris DeMuth, a partner at Rangeley Capital who had been considering bidding, said last week the chance the Marshals Service gets the market price for the bitcoins is low. "Anyone could pay market prices on existing exchanges," he said. "So the key question is how much of a discount do bidders want." The Marshals are holding about 144,342 additional bitcoins found on computer hardware belonging to Ulbricht that were subject to a civil forfeiture proceeding. Ulbricht, 30, is scheduled to face trial Nov. 3. He has pleaded not guilty to the four counts against him, including money laundering conspiracy and engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. U.S. authorities have separately charged three men - Andrew Jones, Gary Davis and Peter Nash - in connection with their alleged roles in assisting Ulbricht in operating Silk Road. Bitcoin prices were up 3.1 percent Friday at $597.41 per coin, according to the digital currency exchange CoinDesk. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Andre Grenon) View comments

2014-06-28 03:05:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [4416], "BTC": [4482]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin Alternative HYPER Launches Minecraft Server, Space MMO, 1000+ MintPal Votes Daily

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-alternative-hyper-launches-minecraft-030500249.html

ACCESSWIRE

https://www.accesswire.com/

HYPER has a Minecraft server where players earn HYPER. A space MMO has been launched and another strategy MMO is under development: it will include HYPER trading and galactic securities in-game. ACCESSWIRE / June 27th, 2014 / Emerging cryptocurrency HYPER has just launched a Minecraft server running a custom RPG sandbox worldbuilding mod, as well as a Counter-Strike server where players earn HYPER for fragging other players, and a space strategy MMO game with plans to add an in-game HYPER exchange and galactic securities. HYPER, the game currency, is also currently receiving over 1000 votes per day to be added to MintPal; one of the highest volume and professional cryptocurrency exchange platforms in the world. HYPER has recently resurrected the cult MMO space strategy game Zandagort ; an extremely complex and deep MMO strategy game on a cosmic scale. The team has recently added a Zandagort developer to the team who will be adding an in-game galactic HYPER exchange and plans exist to implement a galactic securities exchange. The server may need to be reset to implement these changes but the community will have plenty of notice. The HYPER Minecraft server Chaos is Moocrafts custom written HYPER RPG title that allows any person with no experience to rise up in the ranks to dominate the world of Chaos. Users will have the ability to start towns and mature them into prosperous cities as well as collecting the rarest items and becoming the strongest warrior. HYPER is the currency in the world of Chaos, players earn HYPER by Killing Players & Monsters, Collecting Bounties placed by other users, becoming a mayor of a town or a king of a nation, and collecting taxes from their citizens, as well as completing daily quests and joining community events. The server can be found at mc.moocraft.org. HYPER’s Counter-Strike server has seen over 50 new players join in the last 2 days; as more and more gamers vie to earn the free HYPER on offer for fragging other players and more. The HYPER Counter-Strike 1.6 server can be joined at 72.249.76.122:27015 Story continues The HYPER team is also working on an original space based MMO where players will be able to build a galactic that earns them HYPER, and trade HYPER and galactic securties in game on a custom exchange platform. The core HYPER MMO development team has over 10 members including science fiction authors, artists, gamers, coders, game designers and more. The ETA for the Alpha is June 2014 with public updates on the MMO development progress being made regularly. A sneak peek from the HYPER MMO game concept document: “HYPER is a space based 4X MMO space strategy game where players get paid the emerging cryptocurrency HYPER, through managing, growing and expanding their own intergalactic empire from humble beginnings. Classic 4X games (such as Master of Orion, Sins of a Solar Empire, Endless Space) are big picture space strategy games with a focus on world building, technology research, expansion, diplomacy, resource management, economic management and more. Typically, as is the case with the HYPER MMO, players can choose from a number of Alien Races to play, each with different strengths and weaknesses which has a direct impact on the playing experience and the growth of their empire. MMOs are Massively Multiplayer Online games which feature a persistent gameworld where thousands of players from anywhere on Earth interact, trade, work together, form agreements, break such agreements, earn virtual commodities, buy and sell these virtual commodities, and more. The game world is persistent in the sense that when players log back in, the world will still be there with the thousands of other players, and the resources and achievements the player has accumulated thus far in the MMO. Half Game and half Galactic Empire Simulation, HYPER blends both 4X and MMO game tropes into a gaming experience whereby players establish, build and grow their own empire in a universe consisting of thousands of other players interacting, trading, forming and breaking alliances with each other and more.” With it’s 5% monthly proof of stake, over 1000 votes to be added to MintPal daily, projects such as the HYPER Counter Strike server, original RPG Minecraft server, original HYPER MMO project and more; HYPER is one of the more promising, original and driven cryptocurrencies to emerge for quite some time. To trade HYPER for Bitcoin please go to: https://bittrex.com/Market/Index?MarketName=BTC-HYPER Official HYPER bitcointalk thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624651.0 Visit http://www.hypercrypto.com/forum/ for more information. Contact Info Name: HYPER Media Organization: HYPER

2014-06-28 19:25:13+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [194, 220, 642, 1032, 1073]}

{}

$16.7 Million Government Auction Did Not Cause Panic Selling

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/16-7-million-government-auction-192513616.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Surprising some in the bitcoin community, U.S. Marshals bitcoin auction did not trigger the predicted price slide. The auction was for 29,656 bitcoins roughly worth about $16.7 million dollars. Bitcoin Relatively Stable Bitcoin traded in a relatively stable range of $570 to $590 on Bitfinex before breaking over $600 after the auction’s 6:00 PM close. Investors Wondering Who Won? Investors are scrambling trying to find out the price the $17 million worth of coins settled at and who got them. A high sales price could catalyze a price runup while a below market price could dampen buyer sentiment. Related Story: 3 Strategies To Avoid For Bitcoin Investment Success Most expect SecondMarket, a hedge fund, or venture capital firm to win the sealed bid. The U.S. Marshals will notify the winning bidder Monday and it is widely expected the winner will announce their winning bid. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position. See more from Benzinga Disruption, Advocacy And Regulation: A Weekly Bitcoin Review 3 Strategies To Avoid For Bitcoin Investment Success © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-30 11:04:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2771]}

{}

10 Things You Need To Know This Morning

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-things-know-opening-bell-110457421.html

Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/

brazil REUTERS/Eddie Keogh Good morning and welcome to the biggest economic week of the summer . Here's what you need to know. BNP Paribas To Pay Record Fine. The $8.9 billion penalty will be the most paid by any European bank. The French firm is accused of violating U.S. sanctions. Bloomberg reported its dollar trading ban won't begin until 2015. Blackstone Is Making A Hedge Fund. It will be designed to handle "large, risky bets," the Wall Street Journal's Rob Copeland reported . " In one way, Blackstone's model resembles SAC Capital Advisors LP, the fund led by Steven A. Cohen ," he writes. " Blackstone's trading teams will pitch their best ideas to a group including new hire Parag Pande, formerly of closed hedge-fund firm Ziff Brothers Investments, risk officer Gideon Berger and Mr. Hill. If it likes the ideas, Blackstone will give the team additional cash to piggyback on the trades or use the ideas in other firm products." GM Is Readying Payouts For Crash Victims' Families. The automaker has hired a compensation expert to determine how much will be required to settle with families who lost loved ones in crashes allegedly linked to faulty ignition switches. The New York Times says the total amount is likely to end up in the billions. Goldman Sachs Lifted Its 2014 UK GDP Estimate To 3.4%. At one point it was as low as 2.7%, citing the "persistent" strength of the country's various economic indicators this year. But it also brought forward its rate hike estimate, suggesting the Bank of England will lift rates to 1% by the end of next year. Mortgage approvals hit an 11-month low as tighter lending standards took hold. Argentina May Miss A Payment Today. It will get a 30-day grace period though, and bonds are trading at levels suggesting investors believe a deal will be reached with debt-holding hold-outs. From WSJ: " Gorky Urquieta, co-head of emerging-market debt at Neuberger Berman, holds a variety of Argentine bonds in his portfolio and says any potential selloffs could offer buying opportunities. He says he expects the country to miss the interest payment on Monday but ultimately settle with holdout creditors before a default. ' I like the fact that Argentina is under the gun,' Mr. Urquieta said. 'That's going to make them come to the table.'" European inflation goes nowhere. Data for June showed core inflation climbed to just 0.8% from 0.7%. We are still at a four-year low. We get three datapoints today . First is Chicago PMI at 9:45 a.m.. Consensus is for a decrease to 64.0, versus 65.5 in May. Next is pending home sales at 10 a.m., with consensus for a 1% increase. Finally, we get the Dallas Fed's manufacturing survey at 10:30 a.m. — it's the last of the regional Fed manufacturing surveys for June. Story continues Bitcoin Prices Surge. The cryptocurrency is seeing a nearly 5% pop this morning to $625 as users await the results of the U.S. Marshals auction held Friday. Global M&A Activity Hits An 11-year High. The $1.75 trillion-worth of deals is the most ever through the first half of the year. "Companies have strategic imperatives to do deals, they have the cash to do deals, and they can borrow additional cash at record-low rates," said Frank Aquila, a mergers and acquisitions lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. "It really is a bit of a perfect storm when it comes to dealmaking." Markets are flat. Asian indexes were mostly higher. European stocks were marginally higher. U.S. futures were doing nothing. More From Business Insider 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning View comments

2014-06-30 15:55:30+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [694, 1607, 1624, 2214, 2832, 2968, 3031]}

{"Bitcoin": [18]}

How History Shows Bitcoin Could Transform Finance

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/history-shows-bitcoin-could-transform-155530028.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

It's hard to envision the future bitcoin bulls do - where bitcoin is more ubiquitous than Visa , used for more than just purchases and accepted around the globe. But the difficulty sharing the vision doesn't make it a mirage. The general lack of foresight about technology is an old tale. Johannes Gutenberg's printing press, the telephone and Internet were all laughed at and discounted before changing the world. Understanding Requires Imagination Understanding these revolutionary technologies requires suspending disbelief and imagining the future. Transformative technologies don’t work right away. They require infrastructure and industries to be built around them. Related Link: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business When Gutenberg introduced the printing press, only 30 percent of European adults could read; those who could were primarily wealthy individuals who already had access to books. To many, the invention appeared worthless. Visionaries, on the other hand, could see the potential of the printing press - that it would increase literacy and increase access to human knowledge. Even the visionaries, however, probably didn’t foresee the role it would play in the scientific revolution and sparking knowledge-based economies. The same is true of the telephone. Believing that the telephone would one day enable people to talk across a city, country, or around the globe may have seem impossible when first introduced by Alexander Graham Bell. Obstacles like needing to run cables across the ocean and identifying the phone to connect to would seem insurmountable. Where Bitcoin Is Today Bitcoin, or rather digital currencies, are in that early phase today. At five years old, bitcoin is a big idea with the potential to impact every financial transaction in the world. From reading the news in the morning to purchasing a house or financial stock, everything could be improved by bitcoin. Therein lies the problem: it can improve all financial transactions, but today's use cases are fringe. For people to understand bitcoin as an investment, they need to spend some time learning about it, understanding the myths, the realities and the challenges. Story continues Where Will Bitcoin Go? Similar to the printing press, telephone and Internet, no one knows the full impact of digital currencies. Frictionless financial transactions and programmable money may one day provide unforeseen benefits to society. History tells us most revolutionary technologies overcome the obstacles. Digital currencies are on the verge of success and bitcoin is the current market leader. Spend five minutes learning about bitcoin, suspend disbelief and dare to imagine. It may be the best investment of a lifetime. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position and owns So What’s Bitcoin? See more from Benzinga .7 Million Government Auction Did Not Cause Panic Selling Disruption, Advocacy And Regulation: A Weekly Bitcoin Review What You Need To Know About Friday's .7 Million Bitcoin Auction © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-06-30 21:43:18+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1511, 1720, 2091]}

{}

Second Market outbid in U.S. Marshals bitcoin auction

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/second-market-outbid-u-marshals-214318554.html

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK, June 30 (Reuters) - Second Market, one of the more prominent bidders in the U.S. Marshals bitcoin auction, on Monday said it was outbid in its attempts to buy some of the nearly 30,000 coins sold late last week. The rejection of one of the biggest names in the bitcoin industry is a potentially encouraging sign for the long-term prospects of the crypto-currency because this means the auction drew a lot of interest from other institutional investors. On Friday, the U.S. Marshals Service auctioned off about 30,000 bitcoins seized during a raid on Silk Road, an Internet black-market bazaar where authorities say illegal drugs and other goods could be bought. The Marshals Service said it was notifying winners on Monday evening. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Marshals Service said on Monday the 12-hour auction for about $17.7 million in bitcoin drew 45 registered bidders and received 63 bids but would not disclose the bidding price of the coins. "The award process is ongoing, and we will have no further announcements today," said Lynzey Donahue, a spokeswoman for the Marshals Service. Barry Silbert, founder and chief executive officer of Second Market Holdings, which runs a bitcoin investment platform, confirmed in an email to Reuters on Monday that he tweeted earlier that his firm had been outbid for the bitcoin auction on all blocks. Silbert had made no secret of his desire to bid in the auction, so his firm being outbid suggests interest was likely strong. Bitcoin prices were up 6.8 percent on Monday at $639.32, according to the digital currency exchange CoinDesk. The currency's price rose late in the afternoon in advance of expectations for the sale's results. Bitcoin is a virtual currency that has gained a following but also come under scrutiny due to scams related to virtual currencies. However, its acceptance has grown, with satellite operator Dish and online travel agency Expedia recently saying they would accept payment in bitcoin. Story continues Among those who said they registered to participate in the auctions were Bitcoin Shop Inc., Coinbase and Pantera Capital. None of those three would comment on whether they had been informed of the results. Silbert had attracted a group of investors interested in getting a share of the bitcoin auction by offering lower bid sizes and a reduced upfront commitment. In a tweet last week he said he received 186 bids from 42 bidders. Silk Road was shut after an FBI raid in September 2013 as agents took control of its server and arrested a Texas man, Ross Ulbricht, that the authorities said owned and operated the website. The auction was for 29,655 bitcoins contained in files residing on its servers, which were forfeited in January. (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss and David Gaffen; Editing by Diane Craft)

2014-07-01 07:01:27+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2890]}

{}

Soundrop launches Show.co, a kind of About.me for digital music promotion

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/soundrop-launches-show-co-kind-070127418.html

Gigaom

http://gigaom.com/

Norwegian digital music startup Soundrop launched a new service called Show.co that wants to help musicians promote their latest releases and grow their email lists. Show.co is kind of like an About.me for digital music – a very minimal and clean site with a basic player that gives visitors access to a track right away. Once you hit play, you gain access to additional cards that offer access to additional content in exchange for an email address, prompt you to subscribe to a YouTube channel or follow the artist on Soundcloud, Twitter or Facebook. Artists can also redirect users to streaming music services like Spotify or Deezer or offer an option to buy digital downloads on iTunes, Amazon or elsewhere. Show.co can be used as a standalone mini-site, or embedded into other websites. Check out a Show.co embed below: Show.co is a bit of a departure for Soundrop, which has been building the collaborative listening app by the same name ever since Spotify first allowed apps on its service in late 2011. Over the years, Soundrop has brought its app to additional platforms , and struck partnerships with a number of labels and bands for live events on music services like Spotify and Deezer. However, while Soundrop has been a success with users and labels, it hasn’t exactly resulted in a windfall for the company. Soundrop’s Chief Marketing Officer Thomas Ford told me Monday that the company has generated some revenue through branded events and apps, but added that the opportunity for a marketing tool like Show.co could be potentially much larger. “We think a lot of labels in particular have been looking for a way to promote content in a way that they get most of the value.” he said. “Right now, they often share content through other consumer services that keep a lot of the data, for instance.” Show.co on the other hand is giving labels complete control over their data. Show.co will have to compete with a number of other digital music marketing and promotion tools, including some built by Topspin, the company that got recently acquired by Beats Music , as well as BitTorrent’s artist bundles . And while some of those marketing tools are free, Show.co will only be available to artists and labels that pay between $20 and $400 a month. Story continues However, the service could stand out once it adds some of the features the company developed for its Soundrop app. Ford told me that adding Soundrop-like live chats with artists is already on the roadmap. “You could imagine a scenario where an artist wants to do a chat to promote a new album,” he said, adding: “They haven’t put it on Spotify, but they can put it here and make it available for just the length of the chat.” Image copyright . Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research: Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial . How public policy changed the consumer tech space in first-quarter 2014 Bitcoin: why digital currency is the future financial system How to compete with Facebook in 2013 More From paidContent.org Encryption race continues as Microsoft bulks up protection for email and file storage

2014-07-01 11:05:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [3344, 3522]}

{}

10 Things You Need To Know This Morning

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-things-know-opening-bell-110549763.html

Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/

usmnt REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci The U.S. men's national team plays Belgium at 4 p.m. today. Good morning, welcome to July! Here's what you need to know. BNP Paribas Shares Pop. The firm's stock opened up 3.4% higher in Paris after it announced it had sufficient funding to pay for its record $8.9 billion settlement over U.S. fraud charges, and that it would still be able to support its dividend of $1.50. We documented some of the howlers contained in the New York Department of Financial Services' consent order against the firm. Moody's kept its credit rating unchanged but noted its internal controls need work. China PMI Expands For The First Time In Six Months. The purchasing manager's index reading from HSBC/Markit came in at 50.7 , a bit below the preliminary reading but rising above 50 for the first time since December. "The economy continues to show more signs of recovery, and this momentum will likely continue over the next few months, supported by stronger infrastructure investments," said Qu Hongbin, chief economist for China at HSBC. " However there are still downside risks from a slowdown in the property market, which will continue to put pressure on growth in the second half of the year. We expect both fiscal and monetary policy to remain accommodative until the recovery is sustained.” Two Manufacturing Readings. At 9:45 a.m. we get Markit's purchasing manager's index for manufacturing. And at 10 a.m. we get ISM's manufacturing reading. Consensus is for an increase to 55.6 from 55.4 in May. In May the employment index was at 52.8%, and the new orders index was at 56.9%. "An array of survey evidence, along with the latest hard production data, indicates that the manufacturing sector is recovering quite strongly," Pantheon Macro's Ian Shepherdson writes in a note Monday. "The weather hit over the winter was much less severe than in some of the other data, and output rose at a 6.3% annualized rate in the three months to May, compared to the previous three months. We see no reason for these favorable trends to weaken in the near-term, but we are wary too that the next few months’ ISM surveys will overstate the pace of the rebound." Story continues A Better Siri. Apple is beefing up hiring in its Siri division to improve the speech recognition service. “Apple is not hiring only in the managerial level, but hiring also people on the team-leading level and the researcher level,” Abdel-rahman Mohamed, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto, who was courted by Apple, told Wired. “They’re building a very strong team for speech recognition research.” Auto Sales. All day, we get auto sales data for June. Analysts are expecting a reading of 16.4 million, down slightly from 16.7 million. Construction Spending. Also at 10 a.m. we get construction spending data from the Census. C onsensus is for a 0.5% increase. Eurozone Unemployment Goes Nowhere. The reading for May held at 11.6%. German unemployment was 5.1%, while Italy's was 12.6% and Spain's was 25.1%. UK Pound At Highs. The British sovereign hit its highest level since 2008, trading at $1.7147. The move came as UK PMI hit 57.5, topping expectations and signaling that a rate hike could come before the end of the year. Markets. U.S. futures were higher. Stocks in Asia were mixed. European stocks were up across the board. Bitcoin Auctions Results Still Unknown. Prices climbed to multi-week highs on word from major institutions that they'd been outbid at the U.S. Marshals' auction of nearly 30,000 Bitcoins from the Silk Road case Monday, but the service itself hasn't announced anything yet. Some have their own theories about what may have happened... More From Business Insider 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning 10 Things You Need To Know This Morning

2014-07-01 11:54:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [241, 386, 499, 977, 1253, 1390, 1580, 2701, 2766, 2925, 2948, 3322]}

{"Bitcoin": [45]}

Rivetz Teams With Trustonic to Secure Mobile Bitcoin Wallets

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rivetz-teams-trustonic-secure-mobile-115400377.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

NEW YORK, NY and LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - Jul 1, 2014) - Security innovator Rivetz ( www.rivetz.com ) today announced it was joining the Trustonic developer program to create the first, state-of-the-art embedded protection for Bitcoin wallets on mobile devices. The first products with this combined powerhouse technology are expected in Q4 2014. The rapid rise in use of Bitcoin on mobile devices has fueled the increase in malware, key-loggers and targeted attacks designed to steal Bitcoins. Users expect a built-in, seamless, simple and safe experience for transactions on their devices. Using the Trustonic ‹t™-base Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), Rivetz is addressing these concerns and expectations. ‹t-base is a hardware-isolated security platform that protects user's data and application integrity on Android smartphones and other ARM-powered devices. Rivetz will use the ‹t-base-enabled features in smart devices to protect the use and storage of Bitcoins. Hardware isolation for cryptography, a trusted user interface for protection of PINs, secure display of transaction data, and a fast processing environment will enhance the performance, safety and integrity of instructions to the blockchain. Rivetz will enhance its Bitcoin wallet security by integrating a standard API with a "Trusted App" executing on the ‹t-base TEE. The Trusted App will use Rivetz Bitcoin instruction technology for access by all wallet providers, including features for online wallets. ‹t-base will provide secure storage of users' private keys and secure processing of Bitcoin instructions, including secure input of PINs and other authentication data. The API will enable any third-party wallet provider to benefit from the protections embedded in ‹t-base-enabled devices, independent and irrespective of operating system integrity. Trustonic ‹t-base is already integrated in over 250 million smart devices and builds trust directly into the heart of a device. This provides a great opportunity for people to have a simple, fast and safe way to use cryptocurrency on the devices they already own. Story continues "‹t-base TEE technology is one of the most powerful tools available to combat global financial cyber fraud," said Steven Sprague, Rivetz's CEO "It presents a unique opportunity to marry secure devices with modern crypto-based currencies and address the nagging security challenges that threaten to hold back adoption. We believe that it is now possible to meet consumers' need for simple, safe transactions and the emerging demand for hardware-based protection of financial transactions. Our partnership with Trustonic will provide a critical piece to enhance the adoption of Bitcoin globally." "All money transfer systems need security and Bitcoin is no different," said Ben Cad, Trustonic's CEO "The more security, the better the user experience. We are excited to see Rivetz use ‹t-base to secure Bitcoin, and by making Bitcoin simpler, faster and safer to use, Rivetz will accelerate mainstream adoption." DApps Fund managing director David Johnston added, "Rivetz brings a fresh new approach and an experienced team to address end-users' security concerns around cryptocurrency. The leveraging of the built-in security in over 250 million smart devices will help users securely interact with Bitcoin and other decentralized applications." About Rivetz Rivetz Corp. is a new startup focused on improving consumers' relationships with financial and other online services. Rivetz provides a safer and easier-to-use model for all users to protect their digital assets and online transactions using hardware-based device identity. The device plays a critical role in automating security and enabling the controls that users need to benefit from modern services. Rivetz leverages state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools to develop a modern model for users and their devices to interact with services on the Internet. For more information, visit www.Rivetz.com About Trustonic Trustonic integrates hardware-level security and trust directly into the devices through which we access today's connected world. Trustonic simplifies user experiences in everything from mobile shopping and Internet banking to entertainment and collaboration in the workplace. Trustonic Limited is a privately held company between three shareholders: ARM, Gemalto and Giesecke & Devrient (G&D). Trustonic technology is embedded in over 100 million smart connected devices, partnering with market leaders such as 20th Century Fox, Cisco, Samsung, Qualcomm and Good Technology. To learn more about Trustonic and how it's making your connected world a better place, visit us at www.trustonic.com.

2014-07-01 16:17:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2602]}

{}

'Community' Fans Rejoice: Yahoo Is Resurrecting the Axed NBC Comedy

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/community-fans-rejoice-yahoo-resurrecting-161723646.html

Entrepreneur

http://www.entrepreneur.com/

Fear not, Community diehards. Greendale Community College is making a comeback after all. Yahoo is giving new life to the cancelled NBC cult comedy. The Sunnyvale, Calif. tech giant-come-content-whisperer has partnered with Sony Pictures Television to bring back Dan Harmon’s clever ensemble satire for a sixth season this fall. Thirteen all-new episodes will be available for streaming exclusively on Yahoo Screen , the company’s ad-supported free streaming video platform. Yahoo scooped up the show after cable, Hulu and Netflix didn’t bite. Related: Ad-Hungry Yahoo Hopes to Strike Gold With an Original Comedy Series The 11th-hour move -- which came down yesterday, the day the show’s cast contracts were set to expire -- is all part of Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s battle to lure back users and revive ad revenues with decent on-demand video programming . pic.twitter.com/TQpqj41gss — Ken Jeong (@kenjeong) July 1, 2014 NBC canned the meta-humor hit (hit with fans, not so much in prime-time ratings) last month. Community devotees successfully waged a campaign to save Community a year ago and their efforts have paid off again. Disappointed fans took to social media to protest, organizing petitions on Change.org and retweet-storming the rally cry hashtag #sixthseasonandamovie on Twitter. (Sorry, no deal yet on a movie. Six new episodes will have to do for now.) Related: Will Katie Couric Provide More Firepower in Yahoo's Fight for Ad Dollars “#SixSeasonsAndaMovie is real,” Community star Joe McHale said in Yahoo’s official announcement . “Thank you Sony. Thank you Yahoo. Thank you Dan Harmon. And thank you to the greatest f%$#ing fans in the history of the human race. It’s the Internet. We can swear now." So, yes, as Ken Jeong (who plays evil genius Ben Chang on Community ) tweeted yesterday, “the band’s getting back together.” Class is almost in session again in Greendale and the wait won’t be long. Yahoo chief marketing officer Kathy Savitt told The Hollywood Reporter that Community will debut on Yahoo “before the end of the year.” Story continues Sixth season. #CommunitySixthSeason — Joel McHale (@joelmchale) June 30, 2014 Community isn’t the only comedy offering up Yahoo’s sleeve. The company said it will premiere two original programming comedies , Paul Feig’s Other Space and Mike Tollin’s Sin City Saints , some time in the first quarter of next year. Related: Rumored: Yahoo Might Launch Its Own YouTube, Allegedly Snatching Up Viral YouTube Talent More From Entrepreneur Boston Installs Phone-Charging Solar Benches Across City Parks Cyber Safeguard Faces Big Hurdle Bitcoin in 10 Years: 4 Predictions From SecondMarket's Barry Silbert

2014-07-01 19:36:58+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [153, 303, 1937, 2091, 2320, 2726]}

{}

Expresscoin Expands Into Canada, Offers Payments Through INTERAC

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/expresscoin-expands-canada-offers-payments-193658331.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

SANTA MONICA, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 1, 2014) - Expresscoin ( http://www.expresscoin.com ), creators of the fastest and easiest way to buy and sell both Bitcoin and other altcoins, today announced the launch of their digital currency retailer in Canada, providing one of the world's largest markets for Bitcoin investment easy access to the most convenient and secure way to purchase and sell digital currencies. Expresscoin will offer digital currency payments through DebitWay ( http://www.debitway.ca/ ), a recognized leader in Debit Card services, that accepts all issued bank cards using the most popular banking networks. DebitWay offers merchants INTERAC® Online Payment services, which allow consumers to pay for goods and services online, directly from their own bank account in real time, with the utmost security and confidence. "With DebitWay, expresscoin is dedicated to providing fast and secure transactions for our customers," said expresscoin CEO and co-founder Will Wheeler. "We felt it only made sense to offer our safe digital currency retail service through Canada's most trusted fiat exchange service so Canadian customers can participate in the digital currency economy and experience the same trust and security they have in their fiat exchange service with expresscoin." Expresscoin's ease of use and superior customer service enables anyone with a Canadian bank account to get access, making it the ultimate bridge between digital and fiat currency for everyday consumers. Using a simple and secure system that features multiple payment options, expresscoin allows customers to buy digital currency while keeping track of balances and activity from a central dashboard. Customers simply create an account, submit an order, make a payment and receive coins. Canada is the first of many countries expresscoin will be expanding its services to. Expresscoin currently enables customers to conveniently buy and sell Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin and other altcoins in Canada with more currencies being added. Expresscoin has also taken the latest Canadian regulations for Bitcoin into consideration and registered expresscoin and Canadian subsidaries with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). "We provide a great service for bringing everyday consumers into the Bitcoin space by making digital currency purchases as easy as possible," said Wheeler. "We're excited to open a new platform for our Canadian friends and expand our services to more regions around the world." About expresscoin Expresscoin is the ultimate global bridge to digital currencies for consumers. The federally registered service enables the fastest, easiest, and safest methods to access and buy Bitcoin and various other altcoins. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, expresscoin provides a simple user experience with a central dashboard to keep track of all digital currency balances and activity, and lets users bring their own wallet and purchase more coins at any time. For more information, visit http://www.expresscoin.com/ .

2014-07-01 20:49:55+00:00

{}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin auction had one winner: U.S. Marshals Service

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-auction-had-one-winner-204955532.html

Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/

(Reuters) - There was one winner in the U.S. Marshals Service auction of nearly 30,000 bitcoin, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday, without naming the successful bidder. The U.S. Marshals Service auctioned off bitcoin seized from the Silk Road drug ring. There were more than 40 bidders in the auction, with a number of well-known players in bitcoin saying they were unsuccessful. (Reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by James Dalgleish)

2014-07-01 21:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [193, 2739]}

{}

WPCS Announces Adjournment of Special Meeting and Rescheduling of Special Meeting to July 15, 2014

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wpcs-announces-adjournment-special-meeting-210000422.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

EXTON, PA--(Marketwired - Jul 1, 2014) - WPCS International Incorporated ( NASDAQ : WPCS ), which specializes in contracting services for communications infrastructure and the development of a Bitcoin trading platform, today announced that its special meeting of stockholders scheduled for, and convened on July 1, 2014, was adjourned due to the lack of a requisite quorum. To date, the Company has received approximately 30.6% of the required 33 1/3% shareholder vote necessary to conduct the special meeting. Only stockholders of record on the record date of April 25, 2014 are entitled to, and are being requested to, vote. The date of the special meeting has been rescheduled for July 15, 2014. Sebastian Giordano, Interim Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The Company is very close to gaining a quorum and, and the majority of the votes cast are in favor of the proposals. Whether you are in favor of the proposals or not, every vote is very important. The strategic initiatives include the approval of the sale of the unprofitable Australia Operations and to stem future losses related to this business, and to eliminate the future cash payments of the remaining severance due the Company's former CEO. In addition, the proposal to increase our authorized shares will enable the Company to potentially eliminate its senior secured convertible notes and provide for future growth capital." The special meeting will take place on July 15, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP at 61 Broadway, 32 nd Floor, New York, NY 10006 to allow additional time for the stockholders to vote on the proposals set forth in the Company's proxy statement filed with the SEC, which is available at http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1086745/000114420414025401/v376074_def14a.htm . The Company encourages all stockholders who have not yet voted to do so before July 14, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). Stockholders should follow the instructions printed on their proxy card in order to vote. If you need any assistance in voting your shares, please call our proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, at (888) 750-5834. Story continues No changes have been made in the proposals to be voted on by stockholders at the special meeting. The Company's proxy statement and any other materials filed by the Company with the SEC remain unchanged and can be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . About WPCS International Incorporated WPCS operates in two business segments including: (1) providing communications infrastructure contracting services to the public services, healthcare, energy and corporate enterprise markets worldwide; and (2) developing a Bitcoin trading platform. For more information, please visit www.wpcs.com and www.btxtrader.com . Statements about the company's future expectations, including future revenue and earnings and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are "forward looking" statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. The company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. In reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

2014-07-02 05:59:49+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2764]}

{}

PRESS DIGEST- New York Times business news - July 2

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/press-digest-york-times-business-055949867.html

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/

July 2 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. * A Canadian anti-spam law requiring proof that a recipient has consented to be sent emails has resulted in a torrent of messages from companies, non-profits and government agencies to everyone on their mailing lists. It is the unintended byproduct of a new Canadian law designed to declutter inboxes. ( http://nyti.ms/1qj2ua7 ) * Twitter's Chief Executive Dick Costolo brought in Anthony Noto, the star Goldman Sachs banker who helped Twitter sell its initial stock offering last fall, as the Chief Financial Officer of the micro-blogging company. ( http://nyti.ms/1jIb6kQ ) * Troubled automaker General Motors said that its sales in June rose by 1 percent over the same month a year earlier, to 267,461 vehicles, and keeping pace with an overall strong industry performance. ( http://nyti.ms/1z6EACY ) * The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday brought a legal action accusing T-Mobile of illegally earning hundreds of millions of dollars by placing bogus charges on customers' cellphone bills for premium texting services that the consumers never ordered. Regulators said that T-Mobile had been allowing the third-party charges, and taking a hefty cut of the revenue, since 2009. ( http://nyti.ms/1iWLTIl ) * Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase , has throat cancer and will begin treatment shortly at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, he said in a note to the bank's employees and shareholders late on Tuesday. ( http://nyti.ms/1qwHKNM ) * Puerto Rico's electrical utility is running out of money and time to negotiate a deal with its lenders, part of a broad reckoning for an island that relies on Wall Street to finance some of its most basic functions. ( http://nyti.ms/1qPpaOC ) * Whitney Wolfe, a former executive at the popular dating start-up Tinder, has filed a lawsuit against the company, along with its majority owner, IAC/InterActiveCorp, on sexual harassment and discrimination claims. ( http://nyti.ms/1m7zSPm ) Story continues * Under pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Graco Children's Products has agreed to recall about 1.9 million rear-facing infant seats with a faulty buckle that can make it difficult to free a child during an emergency. ( http://nyti.ms/VaL6J2 ) * President Obama called on congressional Republicans on Tuesday to take quick action to fund infrastructure projects throughout the country, arguing that failing to do so could mean huge layoffs for Americans this year. ( http://nyti.ms/1mj6rM1 ) * The United States Marshals Service announced on Tuesday that one bidder had won all of the nearly 30,000 Bitcoins auctioned on Friday. But the Marshals Service did not identify the winner or disclose the winning bid. ( http://nyti.ms/1mIePPm ) * A judge on Tuesday dismissed two securities fraud counts against Rengan Rajaratnam, the younger brother of the Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam, in a surprise development in an insider trading case. ( http://nyti.ms/1pIslud ) * J. C. Penney appealed a New York state court ruling on Monday that found it had interfered with a contract between Macy's and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia by selling the celebrity's home goods, according to a filing. ( http://nyti.ms/TNPFYR ) (Compiled by Ankush Sharma in Bangalore)

2014-07-02 06:50:04+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1885]}

{}

Gold appetite at 4½-year low in June

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/finance.yahoo.com/news/gold-appetite-4-low-june-065004804.html

CNBC

http://www.cnbc.com/

Getty Images Investor sentiment for the precious metal gold fell to a 4 ½- year low last month after a moderate price rally in mid-June, according to new research by London-based online exchange BullionVault. Gold added $76 to its price during the month of June, a rise of 6 percent, with dovish central banks and concerns over Ukraine and the Middle East giving it support. That jump subsequently deterred new buyers and spurred investors holding the metal to sell. The precious metal is traditionally seen as a "safe-haven" during geopolitical crises and its lack of yield means it also performs well in low rate environments. Gold was still trading near three-month highs on Wednesday. Traders told Reuters physical demand from Asia - the biggest bullion buying region - has been weak due to the rise in prices. Inflows into the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEArca: GLD , have supported prices however. The sheer size of the fund means it has a significant impact on prices. Read More Blame the media for gold's decline: Marc Faber BullionVault - a company that holds $1.4 billion worth of gold bullion for more than 52,000 people that have used its service - said on Tuesday that its monthly buying index had hit its lowest level since February 2010. Beginning in October 2009, the gold investor index shows the balance of net buyers over net sellers and usually averages at 55.4, peaking at 71.7 in September 2011. June's figure came in at 51.2, down sharply from May's reading of 52.4. "Sentiment towards gold amongst the investing public has scarcely been lower since the metal began making headlines during the financial crisis. Last month's price jump through $1,300 per ounce deterred new buyers and also saw a sharp rise in the number of sellers," Adrian Ash, the company's head of research said in Tuesday's press release. Read More Bitcoin hater Schiff now selling gold for bitcoins Story continues Ash added that while the ratio of buyers to sellers had fallen, overall client holdings rose by weight due to larger investors choosing to grow their holdings. In some cases, he had seen several larger users, who'd previously sold out, coming back to start rebuilding their positions. Gold surged around 400 percent between 2002 and 2012, helped by low interest rates, extra liquidity from the U.S. Federal Reserve and concerns over the global economy, which drove investors towards perceived safe-haven assets like bullion. Read More Fed is behind gold's surge: RBC's George Gero But in late 2012 and 2013, with the Fed looking to take its foot off the gas in terms of its $85 billion per month asset purchases, the precious metal lost its luster and slipped nearly 30 percent last year. Many analysts predicted gold could continue its move lower this year but it has been surprisingly resilient. Year-to-date spot gold has moved 10 percent higher and held close to a three-month peak on Wednesday at $1,325 per ounce. Meanwhile SPDR Gold Trust, continues to indicate that its total holdings have risen with increased investor inflows. Its historical data shows that total holdings rose 5.69 tons to 796.39 tons on Tuesday, its highest level since mid-April. More From CNBC Blame the media for gold's decline: Marc Faber Payrolls to test gold's resilience after gains Singapore carves out gold hub that may rival London

2014-07-02 12:51:19+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [935, 2654, 2741]}

{"Bitcoin": [0]}

Bitcoin holds price gains as VC Tim Draper wins all bids in US Marshals’ auction

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-holds-price-gains-vc-125119939.html

Gigaom

http://gigaom.com/

A single bidder obtained all of the nearly 30,000 bitcoins that once belonged to the online drugs bazaar Silk Road, according to the U.S. Marshal Service, which held an unusual auction for the virtual currency on Friday. Under the terms of the auction, the Marshal Service divided the Silk Road booty into ten blocks and invited would-be bitcoin owners to make secret bids on one or more of them. On Tuesday, it announced that a single bidder had scooped up all ten blocks but, under the terms of the auction, did not say who the winner was. On Wednesday morning, Reuters reported that Venture capitalist Tim Draper identified himself as the winner. Draper is a backer of Varaum , “a Palo Alto-based company that facilitates over-the-counter bitcoin trading for financial institutions and high-net-worth traders.” Draper’s news came after several established players in the bitcoin world — including Pantera Capital, Second Market and Bitcoin Shop — earlier claimed that their bids did not succeed. Virtual currency watchers are taking this a positive sign for bitcoin, suggesting it means there is increased demand for bitcoin and that a new big player has entered the market. Following news of the auction result, bitcoin has maintained its recent price gains and, as of Wednesday morning, is selling for around $647 on the Coinbase exchange . The currency has been on a recent rally, jumping from the $570 range it had been trading at before the auction. Here’s a screenshot of prices in the last month: As with so many things related to bitcoin, it’s hard to say for sure what the auction really means. In theory, the Silk Road bitcoins should have sold for very close to market value since bitcoin, as its champions point out, is money and money is fungible — it’s like asking how much people would pay at auction for a $100 bill. But as, blogger TwoBit Idiot points out, it probably is a good sign for the currency’s value that the established players do not appear to have won the auction: those players already have their own procurement channels, and their only incentive in bidding would have been to acquire bitcoins at below-market rates. (A list of those interested in the auction was released in June thanks to an email foul-up by the Marshals Service). Story continues The currency will get an even bigger test down the road if the Marshal Service auctions off the approximately 144,000 bitcoins it seized from Silk Road owner Dread Pirate Roberts . This story was updated at 9:13am ET to note that Draper was the winner. Image copyright . Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research: Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial . Bitcoin: why digital currency is the future financial system More From paidContent.org Bitcoin holds price gains as VC Tim Draper wins all bids in US Marshals’ auction

2014-07-02 13:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [210, 1472]}

{}

WPCS Receives Favorable NASDAQ Listing Determination

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wpcs-receives-favorable-nasdaq-listing-130000315.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

EXTON, PA--(Marketwired - Jul 2, 2014) - WPCS International Incorporated ( NASDAQ : WPCS ) (the "Company"), which specializes in contracting services for communications infrastructure and the development of a Bitcoin trading platform, today announced that on July 1, 2014, the Company received notice from The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC that the NASDAQ Hearing Panel (the "Panel") has determined to grant the Company's request for continued listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market, subject to certain conditions, including the solicitation of proxies and the holding of a combined annual meeting for fiscal 2013 and 2014 by September 30, 2014. As previously disclosed, on May 2, 2014, the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Staff notified the Company that it did not timely satisfy the annual meeting and proxy solicitation requirements, as set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rules 5620(a) and 5620(b), respectively, and that the Company's securities were subject to delisting unless the Company timely requested a hearing before the Panel. On June 12, 2014, the Company appeared before the Panel, at which it requested an extension through September 30, 2014 to satisfy the proxy solicitation and annual meeting requirements. About WPCS International Incorporated: WPCS operates in two business segments including: (1) providing communications infrastructure contracting services to the public services, healthcare, energy and corporate enterprise markets worldwide; and (2) developing a Bitcoin trading platform. For more information, please visit www.wpcs.com and www.btxtrader.com . Statements about the company's future expectations, including future revenue and earnings and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are "forward looking" statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. The company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. In reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

2014-07-02 14:00:12+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [134]}

{"Bitcoin": [19]}

1-800-Flowers Uses Bitcoin as Payment Method

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/1-800-flowers-uses-bitcoin-140012962.html

Zacks

http://www.zacks.com/

Leading floral retailer 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. ( FLWS ) recently announced that it will start accepting bitcoin as a mode of payment. Bitcoin is a popular form of digital currency, used extensively across the world. 1-800-Flowers collaborated with Coinbase, a California-based bitcoin exchange company, to process this new form of payment. Beginning with this fall season, bitcoins will be added as another mode of payment by 1800-Flowers, apart from the familiar options like PayPal, Visa, American Express and Mastercard. These payment options will be available for use on the various gifting websites of the company including FannieMay.com, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, ThePopcornFactory.com, Cheryls.com, 1-800-Baskets.com, Stockyards.com and FruitBouquets.com. The strategic move was intended to enhance customers’ convenience. The use of bitcoins will simplify the payment process for customers and reflect 1-800-Flowers’ commitment towards seamless, easy and hassle-free transactions. Over the years, 1-800-Flowers has been dedicated towards e-commerce innovations. This retailer was the first floral company to initiate mobile gift center in the U.S. Also, it pioneered in performing transactions on America Online. Moreover, it was the first company to facilitate consumers to make purchases via Facebook, Inc. ( FB ). Based in New York, 1-800-Flowers is a leading e-commerce provider of floral products and gifts, in terms of number of customers and revenue. With the development of the online business and the strategic acquisition of DesignPac Gifts LLC, the company has expanded its product offerings to include gourmet foods, home and garden merchandise. Although most of the company’s revenues come from floral purchases, its gourmet section also contributes a decent chunk to the top line. 1-800-Flowers currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Other better-ranked retail stocks include Nautilus Inc. ( NLS ) and Citi Trends, Inc. ( CTRN ), each carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Read the Full Research Report on CTRN Read the Full Research Report on FB Read the Full Research Report on NLS Read the Full Research Report on FLWS Zacks Investment Research View comments

2014-07-02 15:49:53+00:00

{}

{"Bitcoin": [53]}

Gold Coast Tickets Launches First Direct-to-Consumer Bitcoin Promotion for Beyonce and Jay-Z at Soldier Field via Full-Page Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Reader Ads

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gold-coast-tickets-launches-first-154953839.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Jul 2, 2014) - Gold Coast Tickets, Chicago's premier online ticket seller, is encouraging the use of bitcoin currency by offering 24 customers the opportunity for a 25 percent discount on Jay-Z and Beyoncé tickets. The tickets are purchasable via bitcoin wallet addresses, printed only in a full-page ad run in both the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Reader July 3rd, 2014 issues. The 25 percent discount promotion will allow people who are excited about the new peer-to-peer currency to experience Jay-Z and Beyoncé's "On the Run" tour at Soldier Field on July 24. The deal exposes Gold Coast to new clients and is a stepping stone for Gold Coast to remain one of the most tech savvy ticket brokers. "Jay-Z and Beyoncé are some of the biggest musical artists today, and bitcoin is one of the hottest topics of conversation in the ecommerce community," said Seth Sharin, Vice-President and Partner at Gold Coast Tickets. "Rewarding people for accepting new technology is a company priority and we hope this gets the word out about bitcoin." Gold Coast, with Coinbase and Blockchain.com, will be offering reduced-prices for 24 seats. The 25 percent bitcoin discount will be for 8 tickets in Soldier Field Section 211, 8 in Soldier Field Section 138, and 8 seats in Field A5 row 9. The selection will allow a variety of Beyoncé and Jay-Z fans to get a great price for amazing seats. On May 22 Gold Coast Tickets became the first ticket seller to offer bitcoin as an acceptable form of payment. The ticket seller will continue to grow in the U.S. and bitcoin allows them stay ahead of the curve when it comes to new technologies. About Gold Coast Tickets, Ltd.: Founded in 1994, Gold Coast Tickets, LTD. is Chicago's #1 ticket provider, with the largest in-stock inventory of all Chicago sports, concerts, and theatre tickets. They offer customers competitive ticket prices to local and national events with no additional service fees and a 200% guarantee. With Gold Coast Tickets, LTD. no matter the event "You got a guy."

2014-07-02 17:53:01+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [573, 1323, 1748, 1798, 1934]}

{"Bitcoin": [40]}

Tim Draper Buys Nearly 30,000 Silk Road Bitcoins

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tim-draper-buys-nearly-30-175301175.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

The New York Times reported Wednesday Tim Draper’s Silk Road Auction bid for 29,656 bitcoins was accepted by the U.S. Marshals. Monday announcements by losing bidders that their below market bids had been rejected ignited heavier volume than usual for bitcoin and drove the price from a low of $595 to a high of $647 on Bitfinex. There had been rumors and articles written that there would be heavy volume last Friday and significant selling pressure. With one winner and many losers it appears the final sales price will be above last Friday’s market price. Related Link: Bitcoin's Shocking Resilience and Achilles' Heel Coindesk reported 45 registered bidders submitted 63 bids. Unsuccessful bidders included SecondMarket, Pantera Capital, Circle and Binary Financial. SecondMarket put together a syndicate of bidders to participate in the auction. The syndicate had more flexible participation rules and had 42 participating bidders enter 186 bids. SecondMarket announced on Monday their syndicate didn’t win any blocks in the auction. Some bidders thought this would be a typical property auction or that bidders would be disqualified. This led to thinking that the coins may sell below market prices. Draper instead used this auction as a unique opportunity to provide bitcoin liquidity to emerging markets. Impact on Bitcoin This auction has placed a stamp of legitimacy on bitcoin, generated media buzz and set the price on an upward trajectory. Valued around $18 million, this is one of the largest auctions in history and has generated a lot of positive attention on bitcoin. The big question now is how far will this news take the price? Disclosure: At the time of this writing, David Smith has a long bitcoin position and owns So What’s Bitcoin? See more from Benzinga How History Shows Bitcoin Could Transform Finance .7 Million Government Auction Did Not Cause Panic Selling Disruption, Advocacy And Regulation: A Weekly Bitcoin Review © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-07-02 20:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [3159, 3242]}

{}

STOCKS GO NOWHERE: Here's What You Need To Know

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/stocks-nowhere-heres-know-200027820.html

Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/

Rafael Nadal REUTERS/Scott Heavey/AELTC/Pool Rafael Nadal of Spain attends a news conference after being defeated by Nick Kyrgios of Australia in their men's singles tennis match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Stocks went nowhere on the last full trading ahead of the holiday-shortened week, but by virtue of closing with gains, the Dow and S&P 500 each made new all-time closing highs. First, the scoreboard Dow: 16,976.24, +20.2, (+0.1%) S&P 500: 1,974.62, +1.3, (+0.07%) Nasdaq: 4,457.73, -1, (-0.02%) And now, the top stories of the day: 1) ADP said private payrolls climbed 281,000 , the biggest increase since November 2012. Economists were expected additions of 205,000, up from May's gain of 179,000. Following the report, Ian Shepherdson at Pantheon Macro said, "In one line: Looks great but ADP's predictive powers are very limited." Shepherdson added that, "Still, this is a bigger rebound than we expected. It does not change our payroll forecast, though, which remains at a decent but unspectacular 200K. We worry that the seasonal factors in the official data — which are entirely separate from those used by ADP — were too generous in June last year and will now correct. Any hit will be temporary, though; the labor market is improving steadily despite the short-term noise." Following the report, Chris Rupkey at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi said, "The economy has big momentum going for it now as uncertainty over the outlook diminishes." 2) U.S. factory orders for May fell 0.5%, worse than expectations for a decline of 0.3%. This was the final economic data report before the jobs report , set for release at 8:30 am EST tomorrow morning. At the same time as the jobs report, we'll also get weekly initial jobless claims and the balance of trade report for May. 3) Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen spoke in front of the IMF in Washington , and said she sees, "pockets of increased risk-taking across the financial system." Among other things, BI's Rob Wile noted that Yellen said, "credit levels do not suggest borrowers are taking on excessive debt, and that improved capital and liquidity positions at lending institutions should ensure resilience against potential losses due to their exposures." Yellen also said that monetary policy faces limitations as a tool used to promote financial stability. 4) In corporate news, Tyson Foods and Hillshire Brands reached a definitive merger agreement under which Tyson will acquire Hillshire for $8.55 billion, or $63 per share. The agreement also includes Tyson paying $163 million to Pinnacle Foods as part of that company's dissolved merger agreement with Hillshire. Story continues 5) GoPro lost more than 12% , the first negative day for the wearable camera maker since its debut last Thursday. The tumble in GoPro comes after yesterday the stock traded above $48, or more than double its $24 IPO price. Karl Loomes, a market analyst with SunGard's Astec Analytics, said data showed that short sellers are beginning to circle GoPro . Loomes noted that most all of the shares available for borrow to be shorted have been spoken for. 6) On Friday, the government auctioned off 30,000 Bitcoins, which were all purchased by legendary VC investor Tim Draper. At current Bitcoin prices of around $640, Draper's haul is worth about $19 million. 7) A new research note from Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas said that despite its massive recalls , General Motors sales have been increasing because, Parker writes, dealers flooded with customers bringing in recalled cars have lead to new sales when there normally wouldn't be. Don't Miss: This Man Says He's Building The 'Healthcare Internet' And He's Started A Huge Controversy On Wall Street » More From Business Insider Pepsi CEO's Mother Had A Brutally Honest Reaction To Her Daughter’s New Job DOW, S&P MAKE RECORD HIGHS: Here's What You Need To Know STOCKS GO NOWHERE: Here's What You Need To Know STOCKS CLIMB, NASDAQ LEADS: Here's What You Need To Know STOCKS GO NOWHERE: Here's What You Need To Know View comments

2014-07-02 20:34:16+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2826]}

{}

Markets Little Changed Ahead Of 4th Of July Break

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/markets-little-changed-ahead-4th-203416472.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

U.S. stocks were little changed despite an ADP jobs report showing better-than-expected numbers. The ADP report comes ahead of the non-farm payrolls due on Thursday. Analysts are expecting the payrolls to confirm 212,000 jobs were added in June. The markets will close at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday and re-open Monday, giving investors and traders an extra-long July 4th weekend. Recommended: 3 Reasons The 'Recovery' Will Be Challenged Through 2015 The Dow gained 0.12 percent, closing at 16,976.24. The S&P 500 gained 0.13 percent, closing at 1,974.61. The Nasdaq lost 0.02 percent, closing at 4,457.73. Gold gained 0.13 percent, trading at $1,328.30 an ounce. Oil lost 1.04 percent, trading at $104.24 a barrel. Silver gained 0.46 percent, trading at $21.22 an ounce. News of Note MBA Mortgage Composite Index declined 0.2 percent after declining 1.0 percent last week. MBA Mortgage Purchase Index declined 0.7 percent after declining 1.0 percent last week. MBA Mortgage Refinance Index gained 0.1 percent after declining 1.0 percent last week. June ADP Jobs Report gained 281,000, higher than the 213,000 expected and May's gain of 179,000. June Gallup U.S. Job Creation Index remained unchanged from May at 27. May Factory Orders declined 0.5 percent, worse than the decline of 0.3 percent expected and noticeably lower than April's 0.8 percent gain. Canada's PMI rose to a six-month high of 53.5 in June. The rating agency S&P has placed Argentina's CCC-/C long and short-term foreign currency rating on watch as the country may be on track towards defaulting on certain debts. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades of Note Analysts at JPMorgan maintained a Neutral rating on 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD ) with a price target raised to $54.50 from a previous $37. Shares lost 1.92 percent, closing at $62.24. Analysts at Barclays upgraded AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV ) to Overweight from Equal-weight with a price target raised to $69 from a previous $44. Shares gained 2.14 percent, closing at a new 52-week highs of $58.11. Story continues Analysts at CRT Capital maintained a Buy rating on Actavis (NYSE: ACT ) with a price target raised to $275 from a previous $245. Shares lost 1.03 percent, closing at $221.70. Analysts at Evercore Partners maintained an Overweight rating on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) with a price target raised to $115 from a previous $100. Shares lost 0.07 percent, closing at $93.45. Analysts at Deutsche Bank upgraded Bank of America (NYSE: BAC ) to Buy from Hold with a price target raised to $18 from a previous $16.50. Shares gained 1.60 percent, closing at $15.85. Analysts at Barclays downgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY ) to Equal-weight from Overweight with a price target lowered to $46 from a previous $65. Shares gained 0.25 percent, closing at $48.24. Recommended: Tim Draper Buys Nearly 30,000 Silk Road Bitcoins Analysts at JPMorgan maintained an Overweight rating on EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG ) with a price target raised to $137 from a previous $106. Shares lost 0.27 percent, closing at $116.23. Analysts at Northland Securities initiated coverage of FireEye (NASDAQ: FEYE ) with a Market Perform rating and $37 price target. Shares lost 4.41 percent, closing at $39.23. Analysts at Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Intercept Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ICPT ) with a Neutral rating and $265 price target. Shares lost 0.78 percent, closing at $246.21. Analysts at Barclays maintained an Equal-weight rating on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ ) with a price target raised to $102 from a previous $99. Shares lost 0.01 percent, closing at $105.86. Analysts at Barclays maintained an Equal-weight rating on Merck & Company (NYSE: MRK ) with a price target raised to $61 from a previous $50. Shares gained 0.92 percent, closing at $59.05. Analysts at Atlantic equities upgraded Oracle (NYSE: ORCL ) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target raised to $48 from a previous $39. Shares gained 0.44 percent, closing at $40.95. Analysts at Barclays maintained an Equal-weight rating on Pfizer (NYSE: PFE ) with a price target raised to $34 from a previous $32. Shares gained 0.96 percent, closing at $30.37. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage of SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY ) with a Buy rating and $94 price target. Shares gained 1.25 percent, closing at $72.11. Analysts at JPMorgan maintained an Overweight rating on Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS ) with a price target raised to $138 from a previous $104. Shares gained 0.05 percent, closing at $116.28. Analysts at Nomura maintained a Neutral rating on Time Warner (NYSE: TWX ) with a price target raised to $74 from a previous $72. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $71.19 before closing the day at $70.93, up 0.51 percent. Analysts at Macquarie upgraded Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ: URBN ) to Outperform from Neutral with a price target raised to $43 from a previous $37. Shares gained 1.89 percent, closing at $34.05. Analysts at Nomura maintained a Buy rating on Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS ) with a price target raised to $95 from a previous $94. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $86.71 before reversing and closing the day at $86.44, down 0.03 percent. Equities-Specific News of Note Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM ) plans to invest $1 billion and build a new facility in Belgium that will convert heavy oil into diesel. Shares gained 0.21 percent, closing at $101.57. The board of directors of both Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN ) and Hillshire Brands (NYSE: HSH ) have officially approved merging together. Shares of Tyson Foods gained 2.88 percent, closing at $38.96 while shares of Hillshire Brands hit new 52-week highs of $62.81 before closing the day at $62.77, up 0.22 percent. Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX ) said that it has no plans to enter an international arbitration over its dispute with the government of Indonesia. Shares gained 2.66 percent, closing at $37.83. Recommended: 4 ETFs With Upside Potential Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF ) offered Casablanca Capital three seats on its reconstituted board which consists of nine directors. IF the activist hedge fund does not accept the offer, the company said that the board will remain at 11 members. The company also said that it believes that at least two Casablanca nominees would be elected. Shares gained 4.80 percent, closing at $15.72. UPS (NYSE: UPS ) plans to invest $1 billion over the next three to five years to expand its European operations. Shares gained 0.68 percent, closing at $103.55. AutoNation (NYSE: AN ) reported that it sold 25,450 new vehicles in June, representing a one percent rise from a year ago. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $60.43 before closing the day at $60.41, up 1.05 percent. A spokesman for JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM ) confirmed that the company has a short-term, medium-term and long-term succession plan for its CEO Jamie Dimon who was diagnosed with throat cancer. Shares lost 1.04 percent, closing at $56.97. According to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) is introducing new tailored ad formats for its users in emerging markets. Separately, Facebook has purchased LiveRail, a video ad tech platform that connects content providers with video ad inventory for an undisclosed sum. Shares lost 2.37 percent, closing at $66.45. Winners of Note Kroger (NYSE: KR ) has agreed to acquire Vitacost.com (NASDAQ: VITC ) for $280 million or $8 per share. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter and will provide Kroger with an e-commerce presence and new products for its grocery aisles. Shares of Kroger lost 0.20 percent, closing at $49.43 while shares of Vitacost.com surged 26.91 percent, closing at $7.97. According to Bloomberg, Shutterfly (NASDAQ: SFLY ) is working with a boutique investment bank to explore a buyer for the company. While still in an early stage, sources close to the deal told Bloomberg that Shutterfly could be sold to a private-equity firm or e-commerce and Web storage companies. Shares gained 14.92 percent, closing at $50.00. According to TechCrunch, Rackspace Hosting (NYSE: RAX ) is in talks with a private-equity firm to take the company private. TechCrunch also noted that Hewlett-Packard had presented a $43 price per share after a bid from IBM fell through. However, TechCrunch issued an update and said "we've tried to make clear that we're reporting an unconfirmed source here, but an interesting angle nonetheless." Shares of Rackspace Hosting gained 6.31 percent, closing at $35.88. Recommended: 4 Top Performing Health Care Stocks With More Upside Potential Decliners of Note Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL ) reported that its June passenger revenue per available seat mile rose less than expected at 4.5 percent. Shares lost 5.14 percent, closing at $38.24. After strong gains following its IPO, shares of GoPro (NASDAQ: GPRO ) lost 13.85 percent, closing at $42.04. Earnings of Note This morning, Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ ) reported its first quarter results. The company announced an EPS of $1.07, beating the consensus estimate of $0.93. Revenue of $1.53 billion beat the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. Net income for the quarter rose to $206.7 million from $52.9 million in the same quarter a year ago as the company saw a 14 percent increase in beer sales. As a result, operating margin improved to 26.5 percent from 25.7 percent. The company raised its full year fiscal 2015 EPS guidance to $4.10 to $4.25 from a previous $3.95 to $4.15 as the company expects beer net sales growth to be approximately ten percent translating to an operating income growth of 25 percent to 30 percent. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $94.77 before closing the day at $90.45, up 2.34 percent. After the market closed, Synnex (NYSE: SNX ) reported its second quarter results. The company announced an EPS of $1.52, beating the consensus estimate of $1.36. Revenue of $3.45 billion beat the consensus estimate of $3.17 billion. Shares were trading lower by 1.33 percent at $72.95 following the earnings report. Quote of the Day "Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." -Abraham Lincoln See more from Benzinga Dow Flirts With 17,000, S&P 500 Inches Closer To 2,000 In First Trading Day Of The Third Quarter Markets Slightly Lower As Bullard Hints Higher Rates Could Come Sooner Than Expected Markets Close Higher Despite A Contraction In GDP © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-07-02 22:36:09+00:00

{"BTC": [2923]}

{}

Venture capitalist Draper wins U.S. bitcoin auction

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-venture-capitalist-draper-wins-124945796.html

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK (Reuters) - Venture capitalist Tim Draper, sole winner of an auction last week of 30,000 bitcoins by the U.S. Marshals Service, called the sale a vote of confidence by the government in the nascent crypto-currency. The well-known Silicon Valley investor partnered with Palo Alto-based Vaurum, which facilitates over-the-counter bitcoin trading, for the sale but would not discuss how much he paid. Draper, a major backer of Vaurum, will partner with the startup to use the coins as a liquidity source for Vaurum's trading platforms in emerging markets, Draper told reporters in Palo Alto on Wednesday. "If they thought that they were going to try to put the kibosh on bitcoin, I think they would have just buried these," Draper said, referring to the government's stance on the currency. "Instead, they decided that this was of real value to society." The bitcoins, a virtual currency that is "mined" by computers solving complex algorithms, were seized last year by the Marshals Service in a crackdown on illegal online activity. Acceptance of bitcoin has been growing as more merchants allow customers to pay for goods and services with the currency. The U.S. Marshals Service auctioned off 29,655 bitcoins at an estimated worth of about $18 million in an online, sealed-bid auction that drew more than 40 bidders, including a number of well-known players in the crypto-currency. Terms of the sale have not been disclosed, but the success gives the virtual currency more legitimacy as a means of exchange. The bitcoins auctioned off were part of 144,000 bitcoins seized in October in a raid on Silk Road, an Internet black-market bazaar that authorities said had been used for illegal drug transactions and other goods. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Marshals Service said it will not conduct another auction of bitcoins unless there is a court order for the agency to do so. Draper told reporters his next fund will sport "a very high concentration" of bitcoin related investments. Story continues "Of course, no one is totally secure in holding their own country’s currency. We want to enable people to hold and trade bitcoin to secure themselves against weakening currencies," the Vaurum statement said. Draper is from a prominent Silicon Valley family, the son of one of the nation's first venture capitalists and father of another. In 1985 he founded Draper Associates, which would grow into Draper Fisher Jurvetson, known for investments such as online communication service Skype, electric carmaker Tesla and Chinese web services company Baidu. Like many in Silicon Valley, Draper has embraced bitcoin. With its open internet architecture and growing use as an alternative currency, it appeals to venture capitalists fond of open and disruptive technologies. Andreessen Horowitz and Union Square Ventures back bitcoin wallet Coinbase and Lightspeed Ventures backs bitcoin exchange BTC China. In addition to Draper, Vaurum has backing from former AOL Chief Executive Officer Steve Case and Battery Ventures. (Additional reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Cynthia Osterman and David Gregorio)

2014-07-03 05:06:34+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1199, 1310]}

{}

PRESS DIGEST- New York Times business news - July 3

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/press-digest-york-times-business-050634514.html

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/

July 3 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. * Standard General, a little-known hedge fund backing Dov Charney, the ousted executive of American Apparel, is in talks with the company's board over the possibility of bringing in new leadership, including a cadre of experienced board members, while keeping the company's signature manufacturing in the United States. ( http://nyti.ms/1z9cI12 ) * Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, the federal privacy board that sharply criticized the collection of the phone records of Americans by the National Security Agency, has concluded that the surveillance program is largely in compliance with both the Constitution and a surveillance law that Congress passed six years ago. ( http://nyti.ms/1s0Jcpt ) * Security researchers at the RSA Security division of the EMC Corp have uncovered what they believe is a significant cyber-crime operation in Brazil that took aim at $3.75 billion in transactions by Brazilians. ( http://nyti.ms/1iYg9Tn ) * Venture capitalist Tim Draper, winner of the government auction of nearly 30,000 Bitcoins on Friday, intends to make the coins available for use in emerging markets via a partnership with the Bitcoin exchange start-up Vaurum. ( http://nyti.ms/1mmAkei ) * The Weinstein Company, best known for its Oscar-winning film operation, is exploring plans to spin off its TV division into a separate company that could be sold to a strategic partner or taken public. ( http://nyti.ms/1iYgF41 ) * Federal auto regulators, criticized recently for not acting aggressively enough on safety issues, turned some of their fire on Chrysler on Wednesday, saying in a harshly worded letter that the automaker was taking too long to repair 1.6 million recalled Jeep sport utility vehicles. ( http://nyti.ms/1oqkA8K ) * Target is "respectfully" asking its customers to not bring firearms into its stores, even where it is allowed by law. Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman, said that Target's move was a "request and not a prohibition." ( http://nyti.ms/1masx1n ) * The Wall Street Journal has cut between 20 and 40 staff members in recent weeks, according to people with knowledge of the matter, as part of a re-evaluation of its newsroom that came at the end of its financial year. ( http://nyti.ms/VfVwY7 ) * China said it would permit banks to set their own exchange rates for the renminbi against the dollar in deals with clients, in a step to relax controls to make the currency more market-driven. ( http://nyti.ms/1iZgK71 ) (Compiled by Ankush Sharma in Bangalore)

2014-07-03 12:00:45+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [29]}

{"Bitcoin": [68]}

Venture Capitalist Prevails at Auction for $19 Million in Silk Road Bitcoins

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/venture-capitalist-prevails-at-auction-for-19-billion-90598067549.html

Yahoo Tech

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/

Hand holding a coin with the Bitcoin logo Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper has snapped up nearly 30,000 bitcoins in a U.S. government auction and now plans to sell the digital currency in countries trying to build stronger economies. The U.S. Marshals Service says Draper prevailed over 44 other bidders registered for an auction of bitcoins seized last year from Silk Road, a website that stockpiled the currency while selling illegal drugs. The auction took place last week, but the winner wasn’t identified until Wednesday. Draper says he is using a system that has set up trading platforms in emerging markets to circulate the bitcoins. Unlike most forms of money, bitcoins aren’t backed by any government. The amount Draper paid for the bitcoins isn’t being revealed. Their current market value is roughly $19 million. View comments

2014-07-03 14:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [387, 427, 728, 776, 1179]}

{}

Gwinnett Business RadioX's On the Money Explores Digital Currency

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gwinnett-business-radioxs-money-explores-140000971.html

Marketwired

http://www.marketwired.com/

ATLANTA, GA --(Marketwired - July 03, 2014) - On the Money , the Business RadioX radio show that focuses on Atlanta's small business financial services, featured Bitpay CFO Bryan Krohn. He was interviewed by host Joe Moss, president of Embassy National Bank , on June 11, 2014. Bitpay is an Atlanta-based company that provides processing services for merchants and consumers that accept Bitcoin. Using peer-to-peer technology, Bitcoin operates with no central authority or banks. Managing transactions and the issuing of bitcoins is carried out collectively by the network. "Bitpay was the idea of co-founders Stephen Pair and Tony Gallippi," explained Krohn. "In 2011 they developed a technology based on the idea of using the Bitcoin technology to allow merchants to accept Bitcoin payments." An international company, Bitpay is a border-less payment system accepted globally, and has its European headquarters in the Netherlands. Bitpay uses a cryptocurrency, which is a counterfeit-proof digital currency. It is available as units, or bitcoins, measured by the US dollar value, and can be used to purchase items globally. Bitpay currently has over 35,000 merchants accepting Bitcoin, and the monthly volume of transactions equal roughly 30 to 40 million dollars. To learn more about Bryan Krohn and Bitpay, listen to this entire interview at On the Money . About On the Money: http://onthemoney.businessradiox.com On the Money focuses on topics and issues allowing small businesses to better navigate the financial services minefield, with analysis and opinions from today's industry experts on banking and loans. On the Money introduces listeners to some of the top small business leaders in the Atlanta market. Hosted by Joe Moss and sponsored by Embassy National Bank, On the Money airs live every Wednesday at 3:00 PM Eastern from the Gwinnett Business RadioX® studio. About Embassy National Bank: Embassy National Bank was founded in 2007 to meet a need of its community: a truly business-friendly local partner who could make lending and banking accessible, straightforward and grounded. A local group of businessmen with backgrounds in finance, banking and hospitality created that partner for the greater Atlanta area, especially the communities of Lawrenceville, Duluth, Suwanee and Norcross. To support that vision, Embassy National Bank has assembled a team of managers and bankers with both local and nationwide experience to support the bank's mission: to be the community partner small businesses want, and neighbors need. For more information, visit http://www.embassynationalbank.com About Business RadioX®: Business RadioX® interviews dozens of innovative entrepreneurs and successful leaders each week. Its mission is to help local businesses Get The Word Out about the important work they're doing for their market, their community, and their profession. With a pro-business slant and a long-form interview format, guests don't have to worry about being ambushed or talking in "sound bites." Guests have enough time to tell their whole story and to share their insights and experience without interruptions. Business RadioX® hosts are business professionals interviewing their peers, drilling down on the critical issues, and delivering practical information to an engaged business audience. Business topics that are frequently covered include: Law, Finance, Healthcare, Technology, Trade Shows, B2B Marketing, Venture Capital, Training and Development and other issues impacting the business community. For more information, visit: http://www.businessradiox.com .

2014-07-04 07:47:17+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [776]}

{}

BMW workers get thumb protection courtesy of 3D scanning and printing

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bmw-workers-thumb-protection-courtesy-074717748.html

Gigaom

http://gigaom.com/

BMW is 3D-printing “finger cots” for some of its factory workers, the German carmaker said this week. Working alongside ergonomics researchers from the Technical University of Munich , BMW uses mobile 3D hand scanners to create tailored thumb-protectors for each worker. The printing is done with a selective laser sintering (SLS) process, using a precisely targeted laser to form a pre-modelled solid mass out of a thermoplastic polyurethane powder. The cots act as splints to counter thumb joint stress, helping workers who are fitting rubber plugs. Image copyright . Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research: Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial . A market analysis of emerging technology interfaces The legal challenges and opportunities for 3D printing Bitcoin: why digital currency is the future financial system More From paidContent.org Suspected double agent spied on German NSA committee for the U.S., reports claim

2014-07-04 09:00:00+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [229]}

{}

EU banks watchdog advises lenders to shun bitcoins

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/eu-banks-watchdog-advises-lenders-090000071.html

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/

By Huw Jones LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) - Banks in the European Union should stop offering customer accounts in virtual currencies like bitcoins until regulatory safeguards are in place, the bloc's banking watchdog said on Friday. Bitcoin, the best known of the 200 or so computer-generated currencies, started circulating in 2009, and acceptance has been growing as more merchants allow customers to pay for goods and services in the currency. Virtual currencies, which unlike conventional money are not backed by a central bank or government, have come under scrutiny after Tokyo-based exchange Mt. Gox went bankrupt in February after losing an estimated $650 million worth of customer bitcoins. The European Banking Authority (EBA) in a study published on Friday proposed a new regulatory framework along with the advice to banks to steer clear of virtual currencies until rules are in place. "This immediate response will 'shield' regulated financial services from virtual currency schemes, and will mitigate those risks that arise from the interaction between virtual currency schemes and regulated financial services," EBA said. The advice to banks would still allow financial firms to maintain a current account relationship with businesses active in virtual currencies, it added. Among the new rules it wants to see in place is a requirement for the currency exchanges to hold capital so that if they go bust as in the case of Mt. Gox, there are resources to cushion customers. The EBA study identifies more than 70 risks to users, market participants and to the financial system such as money-laundering and other financial crimes from using virtual currencies in an unregulated market. The watchdog is particularly alarmed at how a group of so-called miners - who unlock new bitcoins online - have taken control of the currency, allowing them to block transactions if they want to. The EBA said rules are needed so that when a virtual currency scheme is created, it cannot be changed at a whim just because someone has enough computer power. Story continues It is also concerned that miners, payers and payees can remain anonymous, while IT security cannot be guaranteed and the financial viability of some market participants remains uncertain. Rules were also needed on how virtual currencies are operated, ensure that customer money is kept separate, and require the setting up of bodies that are accountable for each virtual currency, the EBA said. "Based on this assessment, the EBA is of the view that a regulatory approach to address these risks would require a substantial body of regulation," the watchdog said. EBA said daily transactions in virtual currencies has never exceeded 100,000 globally compared with 295 million conventional payments a day in Europe alone. It will be up to the EU's executive body, the European Commission, to propose draft rules that would need approval from the bloc's member states and European Parliament. Given that such steps would take time, the EBA decided an immediate response. Banking regulators from all 28 EU states have approved the EBA advice. So far there is no coordinated, global approach to regulating virtual currencies, making the EBA plans the first comprehensive approach. No country has given virtual currencies legal tender status. (Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Foo Yun Chee)

2014-07-05 13:21:20+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [1100, 1161, 1478, 3038, 3108, 3393, 3876, 3948, 3975]}

{"Bitcoin": [13]}

This Week In Bitcoin: Investments, E-Commerce Newspapers & Increased Security

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/week-bitcoin-investments-e-commerce-132120928.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

This was full of big news. Highlights include the silk road auction winner, the first e-commerce-enabled newspaper, enhanced security, and ongoing bitcoin mainstreaming. Tim Draper wins U.S. Marshal's Silk Road Auction Venture Capitalist Tim Draper won the U.S. Marshal's 29,656 bitcoin auction. Draper said he will not disclose the price he paid. Draper said he will use the bitcoins to launch a new product to “provide liquidity to emerging markets.” In particular they will be targeting India, Brazil, Argentina and Turkey because those countries have a high GDP and high inflation. Chicago Sun Times First E-commerce Enabled Newspaper The Chicago Sun-Times made history this week by being the first newspaper to run an ad consumers could directly purchase from. One of the exciting bitcoin features is the ability to send money to a QR code. This is primarily done by displaying QR codes on laptops, tablets and smartphones. Other potential applications of this payment technology are e-commerce enabled billboards and magazines, and parking meters that don't require any power. Related: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business Winklevoss Bitcoin ETF gets Ticker COIN The Winklevoss bitcoin ETF moved closer to regulatory approval. The 4th S-1 registration amendment was filed July 1. The amendment includes that the fund will be traded on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker COIN. Bloomberg now lists the security as “pending listing.” Coinbase Advances Bitcoin Security with a “Vault” This week Coinbase announced a new type of bitcoin account is being rolled out to early testers: a vault. The vault will be a place to put large amounts of bitcoin in storage so they cannot be stolen by hackers. The vault has additional security measures like multiple signers, multiple authorizations, and time delays. Most bitcoin wallet services today use two factor authentication which means an attacker must not only get the wallet username and password, but also get the user's smartphone to steal their coins. The vault's features could make it so the attacker also has to compromise the owner's email, the owner's co-signers accounts, and ensure the owner doesn't notice the fraudulent withdrawal request for two days. Definitely a lot more secure than my bank accounts and credit cards. Story continues BitPay Advances Web Security with BitAuth Since bitcoin is the first digital cash system it is showing how inadequate modern security procedures are. Multi Signature wallets and hardware wallets are solutions coming to provide unprecedented levels of financial security to consumers using bitcoin. This week BitPay released free software to the community that eliminates an attack vector. Using their BitAuth software it becomes impossible for a vendor to lose your password, because they never receive it. If this system had been in place at Adobe, they couldn't have leaked 150 million passwords last year, and the Heartbleed vulnerability wouldn't have enabled attackers to steal credentials this year. Related: Bitcoin Vs. Payment Companies Overstock Encouraging Vendors to Accept Bitcoin CoinDesk reported that Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne stated he will be giving “special deals to vendors who want to be paid in bitcoin.” Those vendors may get discounts or favorable terms. Byrne said Overstock is considering offering employees payment in bitcoin. Newegg Accepts Bitcoin Joining Overstock.com, TigerDirect, Dish Networks, Virgin Galactic and many others, Newegg began accepting bitcoin this week. Newegg partnered with BitPay to handle receiving the bitcoins. Newegg advertises the benefits to consumers as giving people power and control over their finances, eliminating the risk of identify theft, and being usable across international borders. Disclosure: At the time of this writing David Smith has a long bitcoin position and owns So What's Bitcoin? See more from Benzinga Tim Draper Buys Nearly 30,000 Silk Road Bitcoins How History Shows Bitcoin Could Transform Finance .7 Million Government Auction Did Not Cause Panic Selling © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-07-07 19:39:48+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [505, 807, 1129, 1137, 2924, 3465, 3510, 3615]}

{"Bitcoin": [6]}

Could Bitcoin Disrupt More Than Finance?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/could-bitcoin-disrupt-more-finance-193948828.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

Many people are still trying to understand bitcoin. The underlying technology -- a person-to-person digital exchange -- appears to be moving forward at a breakneck pace. And this year, unprecedented business models are being built on top of bitcoin-like technologies. Many investors have a hard time buying into bitcoin because of a similar reluctance seen during the birth of the telephone - a willingness to have a vision of the technology's future applications. But that won’t be the case much longer. Bitcoin Is Mainstreaming This year several large companies like Expedia, Dish Networks, and Overstock have started to accept bitcoins. And while bitcoin is an efficient payment network, the technology will be much more disruptive as other services start to come online. Related Link: How History Shows Bitcoin Could Transform Finance Here are some examples of innovative bitcoin services: Chicago Sun Times newspaper ads accept payments from consumers. Proof of Existence - a nearly free notary service. ChangeTip - letting people send money through Social Media BitPesa’s London to Kenya low-cost remittance service Beyond Bitcoin Bitcoin-like technologies are on the cusp of being even more disruptive. “Instead of paying an inflated cost to a corporate behemoth, users will pay other users directly for services they utilize on the network,” according to Storj’s Shawn Wilkinson. Dropbox Replacement Storj Entrepreneurs like Shawn envision a future where service providers like dropbox “adapt or become obsolete.” How does it work? Storj is a service that is like Dropbox. However instead of a huge server farm, technicians, a human resources department, etc, Storj is simply software. Storj pairs people with extra computer storage space to consumers who want that storage space. The storage providers get paid by the storage users. Storj anticipates their model will reduce the costs of storage by a factor of 10 to 100 for consumers. In addition to being substantially cheaper Storj provides better security and privacy for users. The Storj team and users cannot access anyones files for any reason. Competitive offerings from Dropbox, Microsoft, Apple, and Google all allow the company to access files stored with them and have had security holes. Story continues Twitter Replacement Twister Another service out to kill a big brand is Twister . Like Storj, Twister removes the expense of having a company run a service. Twister, like Storj, is merely software -- and relies on users to provide the computers necessary for the service. Unlike Storj, Twister does not pay users for running the network. In the current model users are rewarded by being able to promote posts, similar to Twitter’s promoted tweets feature. And just like Storj, Twister claims to be better for users because direct messages are encrypted, ip addresses aren’t recorded, and users have complete freedom of speech. Related Link: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business Just The Beginning Proof of Existence, Storj, Twister -- these apps are just an early taste of what is coming. Thousands of developers and entrepreneurs around the globe are envisioning new business models and services that are cheaper and better than competitors. If these models are successful, bitcoin will disrupt not only finance, but may reshape the way many businesses are organized. Disclosure: At the time of this writing, David Smith has a long bitcoin position and owns So What’s Bitcoin? See more from Benzinga This Week In Bitcoin: Investments, E-Commerce Newspapers & Increased Security Tim Draper Buys Nearly 30,000 Silk Road Bitcoins © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

2014-07-07 20:37:25+00:00

{"Bitcoin": [2725]}

{}

Markets Marginally Lower Ahead Of Earnings Season

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/markets-marginally-lower-ahead-earnings-203725422.html

Benzinga

http://www.benzinga.com/

U.S. stocks were slightly lower as investors digested a report by Goldman Sachs speculating that the Fed Funds rate may be increased in the third quarter of 2015, earlier than expected. Earnings season unofficially kicks off this week with Alcoa (NYSE: AA ) reporting on Tuesday. Many Dow components will follow suit in the coming days. Finally, on Wednesday the Federal Reserve will release its June policy session minutes. Recommended: 3 Things To Know Heading Into Earnings Season The Dow lost 0.26 percent, closing at 17,024.21. The S&P 500 lost 0.39 percent, closing at 1,977.65. The Nasdaq lost 0.77 percent, closing at 4,451.53. Gold lost 0.08 percent, trading at $1,319.50 an ounce. Oil lost 0.64 percent, trading at $103.39 a barrel. Silver lost 0.51 percent, trading at $21.03 an ounce. News of Note June Gallop U.S. Consumer Spending fell to $91 from $98 in May. Analysts at Goldman Sachs are forecasting the Fed will increase the Fed Funds rate in the third quarter of 2015. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades of Note Analysts at Standpoint Research downgraded Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF ) to Hold from Buy. Shares lost 1.50 percent, closing at $42.59. Analysts at Macquarie upgraded Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS ) to Outperform from Neutral. Shares lost 1.06 percent, closing at $14.95. Analysts at Bank of America downgraded Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY ) to Underperform from Neutral. Shares lost 0.15 percent, closing at $59.26. Analysts at FBR Capital upgraded Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ ) to Outperform from Market Perform. Shares lost 3.19 percent, closing at $29.73. Analysts at Deutsche Bank maintained a Buy rating on Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX ) with a price target raised to $45 from a previous $40. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $38.90 before closing the day at $38.67, up 0.42 percent.. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity downgraded GT Advanced Technologies (NASDAQ: GTAT ) to Hold from Buy with a price target maintained at $20. Also, analysts at UBS also downgraded GT Advanced Technologies to Neutral from Buy with an unchanged price target of $22. Shares lost 15.60 percent, closing at $16.50. Analysts at Piper Jaffray upgraded King Digital Entertainment (NYSE: KING ) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target raised to $28 from a previous $19. Shares lost 5.22 percent, closing at $20.72. Analysts at Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating on Merck & Company (NYSE: MRK ) with a price target raised to $57 from a previous $44. Shares lost 1.15 percent, closing at $58.52. Analysts at Deutsche Bank maintained a Hold rating on Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM ) with a price target raised to $24 from a previous $23. Shares lost 1.83 percent, closing at $24.73. Story continues Recommended: Could Bitcoin Disrupt More than Finance? Analysts at Bank of America upgraded Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM ) to Buy from Neutral. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $73.45 before closing the day at $73.04, up 0.98 percent. Analysts at Barclays maintained an Overweight rating on Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN ) with a price target lowered to $235 from a previous $240. Shares lost 1.57 percent, closing at $208.58. Equities-Specific News of Note Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE ) has agreed to acquire Australian based Wotif.com for $660 million to expand its reach in Asia-Pacific. Separately, Expedia confirmed it is a long-term investor in Chinese based eLong (NASDAQ: LONG ). Shares of Expedia lost 1.65 percent, closing at $80.85 while shares of eLong gained 0.65 percent, closing at $21.76. After a two year test period, SodaStream (NASDAQ: SODA ) closed its flagship store in Brighton, England. Shares hit new 52-week lows of $32.03 before closing the day at $32.22, down 2.51 percent. Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY ) approved an additional $2 billion share repurchase program expected to be completed during fiscal 2016. The company has $861 million remaining in its current repurchase authorization. Shares lost 0.15 percent, closing at $59.26. Lions Gate (NYSE: LGF ) announced a long-term distribution deal with StudioCanal covering Austria, Germany and Hungary. Shares lost 0.69 percent, closing at $28.99. Atmel (NASDAQ: ATML ) has agreed to acquire Newport Media, a maker of TV broadcast and Wi-Fi Bluetooth chips for $140 million in cash. Shares lost 2.31 percent, closing at $9.29. Ford (NYSE: F ) reported that its sales in China rose 35 percent in the first half of 2014 to 549,256 from the same period a year ago. Shares finished the day unchanged at $17.32. Petrobras (NYSE: PBR ) cautioned investors that it stands to miss out on $15 billion in profits through 2018 if it suspends an oil platform contract with Holland based SBM Offshore. Shares lost 0.28 percent, closing at $14.45. Recommended: Activision's Million TV Promo Budget Could Double In 2014 Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA ) confirmed it will investigate the events leading up to a stolen Tesla Model S sedan that split into two pieces and then involved in a fiery crash. Shares lost 2.87 percent, closing at $222.66. Apache (NYSE: APA ) may be seeking a buyer for its 13 percent stake in the Wheatstone liquefied gas project for around $2.5 billion. Shares lost 0.98 percent, closing at $99.05. Citrix (NASDAQ: CTXS ) has hired Brian Dye, Symantec's former head of Information Security to lead Citrix's Mobile Platforms Group. Shares of Citrix lost 0.14 percent, closing at $63.45. PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM ) confirmed it is reviewing potential changes to its structure (including returning capital to shareholders) following the disclosure that Jana Partners holds a 13.5 percent activist stake. Separately, Longview Asset Management, another stakeholder in PetSmart supports the company going private, noting that a private buyer will place a higher valuation than the trading public. Shares gained 2.48 percent, closing at $68.95. According to Barron's , shares of Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH ) could see a 20 percent upside going in to the FCC's wireless spectrum auction in November. ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE ) has agreed to acquire the corporate P&C insurance business of Itau Unibranco (NYSE: ITUB ) for $685 million. Following the acquisition, ACE Limited will now become the largest P&C insurer in Brazil. Shares of ACE Limited gained 0.09 percent, closing at $105.20 while shares of Itau Unibranco lost 0.28 percent, closing at $14.23. Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management proposed a list of six board of director candidates for Allergan (NYSE: AGN ) in advance of a potential special meeting. Shares lost 1.94 percent, closing at $165.85. American Apparel (NYSE: APP ) is in talks with Standard General (who owns 43 percent of the company) to secure financing following its failure to repay $10 million in debt to Lion Capital. The company is also looking to replace members of its board. Shares gained 1.72 percent, closing at $0.88. Recommended: 5 Options For Playing The Still Bullish Market Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX ) has agreed to a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesian government relating to contract renegotiation. Shares hit new 52-week highs of $38.90 before closing the day at $38.67, up 0.42 percent. According to Recode, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) plans to invest $500 million in setting up a local/same-day delivery service across the U.S. Google will partner with Whole Foods Market , Staples and others to handle warehousing. Shares of Google lost 0.42 percent, closing at $582.25. Telefonica (NYSE: TEF ) has agreed to acquire an 11.1 percent stake in Italian based Mediasset's pay-TV business for $136 million. Shares lost 1.45 percent, closing at $17.04. Winners of Note BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY ) announced it won three Red Dot Awards for its Q10, Q5 and Z30 devices. Separately, the BlackBerry plans to develop a healthcare service that will utilize mass amounts of data from medical devices to enable early detection of illnesses. The company has partnered with NantHealth, a clinical software designer that spreads across 250 hospitals and connected to 16,000 medical devices. Shares gained 5.66 percent, closing at $11.21. Kandi Technologies (NASDAQ: KNDI ) has received $31.8 million in subsidies from the Chinese government after selling more than 4,000 electric vehicles over the previous year. The company also stated that it plans to introduce a local subsidy policy for new energy vehicles in the city of Hangzhou. Shares gained 6.07 percent, closing at $14.87. Decliners of Note Goodrich Petroleum (NYSE: GDP ) announced that it completed its its Beech Grove 94H-1 well in Louisiana, with a maximum production rate of 740 barrels of energy per day. Shares lost 9.30 percent, closing at $22.92. Arena Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: ARNA ) CEO Jack Lief sold 223,525 shares of Arena stock at an average price of $5.85, representing just under 40 percent of his total holdings, according to an SEC filing. Shares lost 9.42 percent, cloisng at $5.29. Quote of the Day "If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight, and if not split and reevaluate." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War . See more from Benzinga Dow Trades Above 17,000 While S&P 500 Inches Closer To 2,000 Markets Slightly Lower As Bullard Hints Higher Rates Could Come Sooner Than Expected Market Wrap For June 17: Markets Higher Ahead Of Fed Decision © 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. View comments