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Property managers are constantly trying to find new ways to attract tenants, especially in areas with high turnover rates like areas surrounding universities, with residents coming and going every year. According to a recent, Realty Times article, unique design elements like petrified wood flooring, spiral staircases, and tiled bathrooms can be a low-maintenance way to impress tenants and keep the unit looking sharp for years to come.
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From:: Property Management
Back-to-school spending, including shopping for both grade school and college students, is expected to reach $75.8 billion this year, up from $68 billion last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Families with children in kindergarten through grade 12 are expected to spend an average of $673.57 on everything including apparel, electronics and school supplies. That’s up from $630.36 last year. Total spending for this age group is expected to total $27.3 billion. College students and their families are expected to spend an average of $888.71, down from $899.18 last year. Spending will total $48.5 billion versus $43.1 billion last year. Half of college students are expected to spend on electronics, for a total of $11.5 billion.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
From:: Stock Market News
Cigna Corp. said Thursday that a Department of Justice lawsuit would likely prevent its merger with Anthem Inc. from closing this year, with the earliest closing occurring in 2017 “if at all.” The company also said it was “currently evaluating its obligations consistent with its obligations under” the merger agreement. Anthem said Thursday it planned to complete the merger, calling the Justice Department lawsuit “unfortunate and misguided.” Cigna shares rose 5.4% over the last month, and Anthem shares dropped 2.9%, compared with a 4.0% rise in the S&P 500 .
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
From:: Stock Market News
Health insurer Humana Inc. said Thursday it is raising its second-quarter and full-year guidance to reflect a better-than-expected performance at its individual Medicare Advantage and healthcare services businesses, which was partially offset by continued weakness in its individual commercial medical business. Humana, which is currently trying to merge with Aetna Inc. , said it now expects full-year adjusted per-share earnings of at least $9.25, up from prior guidance of at least $8.85. The FactSet consensus is for a reading of $8.86. For the second quarter, Humana is expecting EPS of about $2.28, up from earlier guidance of at least $2.15, and compared with a FactSet consensus of $2.18. “Higher projected individual Medicare Advantage pretax results of approximately $185 million, or $0.76 per diluted common share(a), are primarily due to operating initiatives resulting in favorable prior period medical claims development and lower current-year utilization than was anticipated in pricing,” the company said in a statement. Shares were halted for news pending, but have fallen about 12% in the year so far, while the S&P 500 has gained about 7%.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
From:: Stock Market News
Anthem Inc. said Thursday it plans to challenge a Department of Justice lawsuit aimed at preventing a merger with Cigna Corp. . Anthem called the lawsuit “unfortunate and misguided,” based on “a flawed analysis and misunderstanding” of the health care landscape. The company said it is also open to a settlement with the Department of Justice so long as it would allow the merger to proceed. The merger, one of two proposed by four large U.S. health insurers, is being disputed on antitrust concerns. Aetna and Humana Inc. also said Thursday they would dispute a Justice Department lawsuit in court. Anthem shares dropped 2.9% over the last month, and Cigna shares rose 5.4%, compared with a 4.0% rise in the S&P 500 .
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
From:: Stock Market News
Natural-gas futures added to earlier gains on Thursday after the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that supplies of the commodity rose 34 billion cubic feet for the week ended July 15. That was below the average rise of 40 billion cubic feet expected by analysts polled by S&P Global Platts. Total stocks now stand at 3.277 trillion cubic feet, up 471 billion cubic feet from a year ago and 559 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, the government said. August natural gas rose 4.7 cents, or 1.8%, at $2.705 per million British thermal units from Wednesday’s settlement. It traded at $2.664 before the data.
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From:: Stock Market News
Aetna and Humana Inc. said Thursday they would “vigorously” defend a planned merger against a Department of Justice lawsuit. The companies said that the merger has “tremendous value” to customers and thus “the facts do not support the basis for DOJ action.” The $34 billion merger of Aetna and Humana, and a $48 billion deal for Anthem to buy Cigna, have encountered resistance from the Justice Department on grounds of reduced competition. All four companies’ shares dropped amid reports of a planned Justice Department lawsuit. Humana shares dropped 17.1% over the last month, and Aetna stock dropped 3.2%, compared with a 4.0% rise in the S&P 500 .
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
From:: Stock Market News
Earnings reports are undercutting the Dow Jones Industrial Average Thursday, as shares of the three components that reported since Wednesday’s close are currently the three biggest percentage decliners. Intel Corp.’s stock was the biggest loser, shedding $1.55, or 4.3%. American Express Co. shares shed $1.07, or 1.7%, while Travelers Companies Inc.’s stock lost $1.30, or 1.1%. The $3.92 combined price decline was shaving about 27 points off the price of the Dow, which was down 35 points. All three companies beat earnings expectations, but revenue fell short.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
From:: Stock Market News
Experts believe the impact of Brexit is coming to an end, and this week’s average mortgage rates may just prove them right. Once again the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up slightly. …read more
From:: Real Estate Wire
Tyco International Plc said Thursday it expects its merger with Johnson Controls Inc. to close on September 2. The company said it will pay an accelerated dividend of 23 cents a share on August 26 to shareholders of record as of August 5. Shares rallied 4.9% in early trade, while Johnson Controls shares rose 3.6%. The S&P 500 was down 0.03%.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
From:: Stock Market News