Ronbowlens - Ron's Blog

Remembering Nelson Mandela’s 1993 visit to Chicago:

“It was emotional for all of us. To be in the presence of someone so committed to a cause, you rarely meet people in your life like that.” Via Crain’s Chicago Business

Lazard hits new 52 week high

Zachs Equity Research

November 16th 2013.

Shares of Lazard Ltd.  reached a new 52-week high, touching $41.66 at the second half of the trading session on Nov 18. However, the stock closed the session at $41.26, which reflects a solid year-to-date return of 34.7%.The trading volume for the session was 0.5 million shares. Despite the strong price appreciation, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has plenty of upside left, given its strong estimate revisions over the last 30 days and expected long-term earnings growth of 12.0%. Growth Drivers Impressive third-quarter 2013 results comprising a positive earnings surprise of 31.64%, top-line growth, a strong capital position and higher assets under management (AUM) were the primary driving factors for Lazard. On Oct 24, Lazard reported third-quarter 2013 adjusted earnings of 46 cents per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents. Moreover, this compared favorably with 26 cents earned in the prior-year quarter. On a year-over-year basis, Lazard experienced 10.0% rise in both revenues and AUM, which acted as positives for the quarter. AUM growth resulted from market appreciation and rise in net inflows. Additionally, the company’s capital ratios depict its strong position. However, a 4.3% increase in expenses was the headwind for the quarter. Further, Lazard has delivered positive earnings surprises in 3 out of the last 4 quarters with an average beat of 35.95%. Estimate Revisions Show Potency Over the last 30 days, 3 out of 7 estimates for 2013 have been revised upward, lifting the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.7% to $1.77 per share. For 2014, 4 out of 7 estimates moved north, helping the Zacks Consensus Estimate advance 6.1% to $2.44 per share.

Lazard Ltd : Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund Declares Monthly Distribution

Lazard

http://www.4-traders.com/LAZARD-LTD-13358/news/Lazard-Ltd--Lazard-World-Dividend--Income-Fund-Declares-Monthly-Distribution-17474880/

The Board of Directors of Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") (NYSE:LOR) has authorized the Fund to declare today, pursuant to a level distribution policy, a monthly distribution of $0.07822 per share on the Fund's outstanding common stock. The distribution is payable on December 23, 2013 to shareholders of record on December 12, 2013. The ex-dividend date is December 10, 2013.

Portfolio data as of October 31, 2013, including performance, asset allocation, top 10 holdings, sector weightings, regional exposure, and other Fund characteristics have been posted on Lazard Asset Management LLC's ("LAM") website, www.LazardNet.com. Additionally, the notice required by Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which provides information regarding the respective estimated amounts of each monthly distribution derived from net investment income, net realized capital gains (short- and long-term) and return of capital, will also be available on www.LazardNet.com.

The Fund's objective is total return, through a combination of dividends, income, and capital appreciation. The Fund's net assets are invested in a portfolio of approximately 60 to 90 world equity securities, consisting primarily of stocks selected from the current holdings of other accounts managed by LAM. The equity portfolio is broadly diversified in both developed and emerging market countries and across the capitalization spectrum. The Fund seeks enhanced income by investing in short duration (typically less than one year) emerging market forward currency contracts and other emerging market debt instruments.

An indirect subsidiary of Lazard Ltd (NYSE:LAZ), LAM, the Fund's investment manager, offers a range of equity, fixed-income, and alternative investment products worldwide. As of September 30, 2013, LAM and affiliated asset management companies in the Lazard Group managed $176 billion worth of client assets. For more information about LAM, please go to www.LazardNet.com.

So true.

#quote #sky #limit #limitless #moon #achieve #strive #goals #inspiration

[Credit scores as a basis for hiring is] one more way in which the system is rigged. If you’re rich and you get divorced, it’s not going to hurt your credit rating. If you’re rich and you have a medical problem, it’s not going to hurt your credit rating. If you’re rich and you end up quitting your job or losing your job, you walk out with a whole lot of savings, you walk out with a nice package. It’s not going to hurt your credit rating. But how about families who work hard every day, who live a lot closer to the economic margin? Those are the ones who get hit with a problem, with a medical problem, with a job loss. And boy, it’s not only the hit, it’s the financial fallout from that hit. And here’s the deal: it stays on their credit report for seven years, in some cases even longer. So what does that really mean? This is a problem that hits hardworking families who are struggling to get back on their feet. It’s not one that hits the rich, and I think that’s just wrong.

Elizabeth Warren, commenting on credit scores being a rigged way to deny poor people employment, as reported by Common Dreams.  (via america-wakiewakie)

Don’t say “student loans” three times fast or else a debt collector might appear!! #TheLivingDebt bit.ly/1biOrYy 

A strong year for gay-marriage advocates ends with a surprise

We’ll always have… Utah?

When scholars write the history of America’s gay-marriage battles, they may declare 2013 the year the balance tipped. For in the past 12 months the president has compared the campaign to America’s other great civil-rights struggles, the Supreme Court has declared that the federal government has no business denying equal treatment to legally wedded gay couples, and the number of states in which people may marry whom they please has doubled, from nine to 18 (plus Washington, DC), covering 39% of the population.

Most of the 18 are the sorts of progressive places one might expect. The last is anything but; as home to the Mormon church, a firm foe of gay marriage, Utah is among America’s most conservative states. Yet on December 20th Robert Shelby, a federal judge, gave Utah’s gay couples an early Christmas present by scrapping the state’s same-sex marriage ban, approved by 66% of voters in 2004. Caught out, state officials are appealing against the ruling, but Judge Shelby and an appeals court declined to suspend his decision in the meantime. (Utah has asked the Supreme Court to do so, and was awaiting its decision as The Economist went to press.) Hundreds of couples flocked to the altar.

If the decision stands Utah will become the seventh state to have gay marriage delivered by judges (the day before Judge Shelby’s ruling, New Mexico’s Supreme Court legalised gay marriage in that state). Eight legislatures have passed pro-marriage laws, as have voters in three states. But, says Fred Sainz of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay-rights group, “all the low-hanging fruit is gone”. Most of the 32 outstanding bans are in state constitutions and cannot be overturned by legislatures. So bar a few states, mainly in the West, which may hold public votes in the coming years, advocates are likely to enjoy most of their advances, and surely some setbacks, in courtrooms. And that could mean more Utah-style surprises.

Altared states: a world map of gay marriage rights

At least 35 lawsuits are making their way through federal courts in various states—including the curious case of two gay couples married in Massachusetts now seeking divorce in Texas, which does not allow gay marriage. Many plaintiffs have drawn succour from the Supreme Court’s decision in June to strike down Section 3 of the Defence of Marriage Act, which had denied federal benefits to married gay couples. Anthony Kennedy’s decision said nothing about the legality of state bans, but its anti-discrimination argument strengthened the case for opposing them.

Ultimately one or other of the state cases will make it to the Supreme Court. When that will happen is anyone’s guess. In June the justices declined to hear a challenge to California’s gay-marriage ban on procedural grounds; they may prefer to let the issue unfold further in lower courts before taking on another case with national implications. Meanwhile, the court of public opinion appears to have reached its verdict; in July 54% of voters said gays should be granted the same marriage rights as heterosexuals, 12 percentage points higher than when Utah passed its ban.

It finally happened: a federal judge ruled that the NSA’s ravenous “metadata” collection of telephone calls made in, to, or from the US in order to prevent terrorist attacks violated the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.

Continued