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Tag: HLF

Stock Market Today: April Set to Continue 2013 Winning Streak – Money Morning

U.S. equities followed Europe’s lead and headed higher when the stock market today (Monday) opened.

Wall Street’s mood was lifted after Enrico Letta was sworn in as Italy’s prime minister, ending weeks of political gridlock in the ailing European nation. The news also propelled Italian stocks up more than 1%.

Shortly before noon, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 68.55 points, or 0.47%, at 14,781.10. The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index was higher by 8.59, or 0.54%, at 1,590.83. The Nasdaq climbed 26.72, or 0.81% at 3,305.98.

Another lift to the stock market today came from a report on March consumer spending. The read was 2%, much better than and 0.1% rise economists had expected and up from a 0.7% gain in February and a 0.4% advance in January.

With just two more trading sessions left in the month, U.S. stocks are set to end April with gains. That would mark the fourth consecutive positive month for equities.

But it’s about that time when the familiar spring swoon weighs on stocks in the near term.

According to data from Bespoke Investment Group, over the past 30 years, an investor who bought the S&P 500 Index every Oct. 31 and sold the following April 30 would have reaped a 898% gain. In contrast, buying every April 30 and selling every late October would have returned just 56%.

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Why We Can’t Stop Watching the Epic Herbalife Battle – Money Morning

The battle between hedge fund titans William Ackman and Carl Icahn over Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) is becoming one of the most entertaining Wall Street clashes.

Icahn has fired the latest shot: In a filing Thursday, he revealed he has a 13% long position in the nutritional supplement maker Herbalife. He said the thinks the company is undervalued and has great potential.

That can’t be good news for Icahn’s longtime nemesis, Ackman, who is betting heavily on Herbalife’s failing.

Ackman announced a $1 billion short position in Herbalife on Dec. 19, then detailed on Dec. 20 in a more than three-hour presentation why he believed Herbalife is a multilevel marketing pyramid scheme.

But Icahn couldn’t disagree more, highlighted in this latest regulatory filing. Icahn said he plans to have discussions with Herbalife management about business and strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value and mentioned going private.

Shares of Herbalife spiked 20% before the opening bell Friday and ended the day up 1.2%.

With Icahn’s $214 million stake in Herbalife, the stage is set for an epic Wall Street showdown.

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