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TD Ameritrade's Investor Movement Index: March Numbers Rise as Low Market Volatility Continues

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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TD Ameritrade’s Investor Movement Index: March Numbers Rise as Low Market Volatility Continues

Investors remain bullish as IMX trends upward for seven of the past nine months

OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”), a broker-dealer subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NYS: AMTD) , is today revealing the Investor Movement IndexSM score for March 2013. The Investor Movement Index, or the IMXSM, is a proprietary, behavior-based index created by TD Ameritrade that aggregates Main Street investor positions and activity to measure what investors are actually doing and how they are positioned in the markets.

The March 2013 Investor Movement Index for the five weeks ending March 28, 2013, reveals:

  • Score: 5.37 (compared to 5.14 in February)
  • Trend direction: Positive
  • Trend length: 2 months
  • Score relative to historic ranges: High

Following a spike in February, the IMX numbers for March are currently the highest the Company has on record since June 2011, adding to an ongoing bullish trend among the Company’s retail investor base spanning seven of the past nine months. TD Ameritrade’s retail clients continued to rotate their positions throughout the month, selling securities at highs and buying into lows. March also saw an increased number of clients seeking out stocks with higher dividend yields and holding positions with higher relative volatility compared to that of the general market.

“March’s IMX score indicates that our retail clients remain diligent in increasing their exposure carefully,” said Steve Quirk, senior vice president of TD Ameritrade’s Trader Group. “In this period of low volatility and a rising market, clients are leaning toward selection of yields and individual equities.”

The IMX value is calculated based on a complex proprietary formula. Each month, TD Ameritrade pulls a sample from its client base of 6 million funded accounts that includes all accounts that completed a trade in the past two months. The holdings and positions of this statistically significant sample are evaluated to calculate individual scores, and the median of those scores represents the monthly IMX.

For more information on the Investor Movement Index, including historical IMX data going back to December 2010, to view the full …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

TD Ameritrade Provides Free Investor Education to Help Promote Financial Literacy

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TD Ameritrade Provides Free Investor Education to Help Promote Financial Literacy

Introduces F.A.M.E. – a simple way to help demystify investing

OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– April is Financial Literacy Month and TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”), a broker dealer subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NYS: AMTD) is encouraging investors to take time out to expand their financial knowledge with access to free financial education tools, research and webinars on their education center.

April is also a great time to do a little financial spring-cleaning. Many of the same documents, papers and files you go through to complete your taxes are the same documents you need for assessing your retirement preparedness. Whether you’re just starting out or nearing retirement, knowing your level of readiness for retirement is critical to your financial well-being.

“When it comes to planning and investing for the future, starting early is key,” says Lule Demmissie, managing director, investment products and retirement, TD Ameritrade. “But, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do it all at once. By breaking your planning and investing into steps, you can build upon it in stages and make the task a lot less daunting.”

It can help if you put the right positive perspective on planning and investing. Demmissie suggests investors use F.A.M.E. to reframe how they think about saving and investing for the future.

Step 1 Framing – The lenses with which you view your goals can have a profound effect on how you save for retirement. If you focus on being behind on your savings goals it’s easy to feel defeated. Instead of thinking “I have a 30% chance of not reaching my savings goals,” think, “I have a 70% chance of reaching my goals.” It’s the same mathematically, but it’s all in how you look at it.

Step 2 Action – Take action. Don’t get paralyzed or overwhelmed by the end goal of what you must do. And, instead of focusing on what you can’t control – budget cuts, the fiscal cliff, social security – focus on the positives and what you can do. Remember that the first step is often the hardest. Don’t think “I will never be able to accumulate $2 million dollars by the time I retire.” Say “I …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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Bond Labs Reports Record 2012 Results

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Bond Labs Reports Record 2012 Results


Revenue Increases 50%, Net Income Increases 673%

OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Bond Laboratories, Inc. (OTCBB:BNLB) (“Bond Labs“), an international provider of innovative and proprietary nutritional supplements for health conscious consumers, announced year end results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 increased to $18.1 million as compared to $12.1 million for the comparable period last year, an increase of $6.0 million, or 49.6%. Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 increased to $2.5 million as compared to $0.3 million for the comparable period last year, an increase of $2.2 million, or 672.8%. Basic and fully-diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 were $0.03 and $0.03, respectively, as compared to $0.0 and $0.0 for the comparable period last year. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2012 included a $0.6 million income tax benefit. Without the income tax benefit, net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 increased to $1.9 million as compared to $0.3 million for the comparable period, an increase of $1.5 million or 471.6%. Additional key highlights include the following:

  • Over the last three fiscal years revenue has increased by $10.0 million from a base of $8.1 million in 2010 to $18.1 million in 2012; over that same time period net income improved more than $5.7 million from a net loss of $3.2 million in 2010 to net income of $2.5 million in 2012.
  • Bond remains debt free, other than $437,089 under a revolving credit line.
  • Bond began its major push into international markets during 2012, beginning with australia with additional markets scheduled to launch in 2013.

“Our strategic initiatives remain focused on both expanding the number of retail locations and increasing average revenue per location,” commented John Wilson, CEO of Bond Labs. “To that end, we remain dedicated to developing and marketing high-quality and innovative products that address the needs of our loyal customer base. The expansion of our reach into international markets, while still a relatively small percent of our total revenue, represents a compelling opportunity that I believe will be a critical driver of Bond Labs‘ …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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ConAgra Foods Program Conserves Nearly 650 Million Gallons of Water, Eliminates 3 Million Pounds of

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ConAgra Foods Program Conserves Nearly 650 Million Gallons of Water, Eliminates 3 Million Pounds of Packaging Material and Reduces Carbon Emissions


Ninety Sustainable Development projects reduce water, waste, energy and costs

OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYS: CAG) announced today the winners of its 2013 Sustainable Development Awards, an internal awards program that drives and rewards innovative approaches to sustainability and produces tangible business results. The 90 entries collectively:

  • reduced carbon emissions by more than 26,700 metric tons;
  • reduced landfill waste by 23,000 tons;
  • optimized and improved packaging while using 3 million pounds less material;
  • and conserved 646 million gallons of water.

Additionally, the projects delivered more than $22 million in savings, demonstrating the economic value of the company’s commitment to sustainability.

ConAgra Foods started the Sustainable Development Awards program in 1992 to encourage and incentivize employees to proactively look for ways to eliminate waste, reduce energy and conserve water through smart design. Winning teams are each awarded a $5,000 grant from ConAgra Foods to apply toward a sustainable community service project.

“Employee engagement, imagination and innovation played an even bigger part in this year’s applications,” said Gail Tavill, vice president, Sustainable Development, ConAgra Foods. “It reflects an ongoing evolution of ownership and commitment at every level in the company, further integrating sustainability into how we do business every day.”


2013 Winners

Climate Change & Energy Efficiency – ConAgra Foods’ popcorn facility in Rensselaer, Ind.

  • The facility’s newly formed Energy Use Reduction team improved efficiency through simple, low-cost changes fueled by employee engagement resulting in action.
  • The team’s grassroots efforts cut electricity use by 920,647 kilowatt hours, a reduction of 12 percent per pound compared to the …read more
    Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

TD Ameritrade Named Best for Novices and Long-Term Investing

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TD Ameritrade Named Best for Novices and Long-Term Investing


Annual Barron’s Online Broker Survey names TD Ameritrade #1 in multiple categories

OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NYS: AMTD) today is pleased to announce that its brokerage subsidiary TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”), has been named “Best for Novices” and “Best for Long-term Investing” by Barron’s 2013 online broker survey, published in its Mar. 9, 2013 issue.

The annual study surveyed the capabilities of 24 online brokers in eight categories from the perspective of the wealthy, active trader: Trading Experience & Technology, Usability, Mobile, Range of Offerings, Research Amenities, Portfolio Analysis & Reports, Customer Service & Education, and Costs. TD Ameritrade received an overall rating of 4 stars (out of a possible 5 stars) and received the highest point total in the Research Amenities, Range of Offerings and Customer Service & Education categories.*

The study also ranked brokers in six sub-categories, naming a “best” in each. TD Ameritrade received top billing in:

The broker was also named one of the top five best in three other sub-categories: Best for Frequent Traders, Best for In-Person Service and Best for Options Traders.

“Investors today come in all shapes and sizes, whether you’re just starting out or an experienced trader, and we cover the whole gamut very well,” said Steve Quirk, senior vice president of TD Ameritrade’s Trader Group. “We’re not just interested in providing our clients with innovative, cutting edge technology. All of our offerings are coupled with comprehensive education and best-in-class service as well. We want our clients to be successful in every stage of their financial journey. While we’re never satisfied, these results show that we’re working extremely hard for our clients and that our offering has broad appeal for today’s investors.”

These accolades are …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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TD Ameritrade Client Assets Surpass $500 Billion

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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TD Ameritrade Client Assets Surpass $500 Billion

Milestone reached as company reports monthly operating metrics

OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NYS: AMTD) today announced company metrics for February 2013, which marks the first time that total client assets at the company have surpassed $500 billion.

“Over the past five years, our associates have worked tirelessly to make TD Ameritrade not only a leader on the trading side of our business, but a premier asset gatherer as well. We implemented a new sales and service model, delivered new products and invested in marketing and technology to improve the investing experience for our clients. Those initiatives helped us achieve this important milestone: half a trillion dollars in client assets,” said Fred Tomczyk, president and chief executive officer. “Over the last five years, in the midst of difficult market and economic conditions, our client assets are up over 60 percent, as we have gathered more than $170 billion in net new client assets.”

Monthly activities for February 2013 included:

  • An average of 386,000 client trades per day in February 2013, down 6 percent from February 2012 and essentially flat from January 2013.
  • $502.5 billion in total client assets as of Feb. 28, 2013, up 14 percent from February 2012 and up 1 percent from January 2013.
  • Average spread-based balances of $81.8 billion, up 11 percent from February 2012 and down 2 percent from January 2013.(1)
  • Average fee-based balances of $110.8 billion, up 30 percent from February 2012 and up 3 percent from January 2013.(1)

More financial information, including historical results for each of the above metrics, as well as information detailing upcoming financial events and presentations, can be found on the Company’s corporate Web site, www.amtd.com. You can also follow the Company on Twitter, @TDAmeritradePR.

AMTD-G

About TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

Millions of investors and independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) have turned to TD Ameritrade’s (NYS: AMTD) technology, people and education to help make …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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ConAgra Foods, Cargill and CHS Announce Agreement to Form Joint Venture Combining Flour Milling Busi

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ConAgra Foods, Cargill and CHS Announce Agreement to Form Joint Venture Combining Flour Milling Businesses into New Company, Ardent Mills

Ardent Mills will:

  • Combine the operations of ConAgra Mills and Horizon Milling to create a premier flour milling company.
  • Connect the strengths and capabilities of ConAgra Foods, Cargill and CHS to benefit bakery and food company customers with innovative flour and grain products, services and solutions.

OMAHA, Neb. & MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ConAgra Foods, Cargill and CHS announced today a definitive agreement to combine their North American flour milling businesses to form Ardent Mills, a new flour milling company that will serve customers in the baking and food industries.

Ardent Mills will bring together two of the nation’s leading and most respected flour milling companies: ConAgra Mills and Horizon Milling, a Cargill-CHS joint venture formed in 2002. The new company will take advantage of the combined assets, capabilities and experience of ConAgra Foods, Cargill and CHS to bring innovative flour and grain products, services and solutions to the marketplace.

Ardent Mills‘ vision will be to help customers increase their growth and profitability in an ever-changing marketplace. Its products will be backed by an extensive network of wheat sourcing capabilities and flour milling and bakery mix facilities across North America. The company will offer a unique set of services, including product development resources, technical and application support, supply chain management and commodity price risk management. Ardent Mills also will tap the market knowledge, transportation logistics, consumer insights, food ingredients and culinary expertise currently available through ConAgra Foods, Cargill and CHS.

Suppliers, including the many farmers and cooperatives that currently provide wheat to the milling operations of ConAgra Mills and Horizon Milling, are expected to benefit from the additional sourcing opportunities provided by Ardent Mills‘ asset base, as well as from more opportunities to make value-adding connections to consumers.

Ardent Mills will operate as an independent joint venture of its three parent companies, Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra Foods, Minneapolis, Minn.-based Cargill and St. Paul, Minn.-based CHS. Dan Dye, who currently serves as president of Horizon …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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TD Ameritrade's Investor Movement Index: February Numbers Spike as a Result of Increased Equity Expo

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TD Ameritrade’s Investor Movement Index: February Numbers Spike as a Result of Increased Equity Exposure and Low Market Volatility

IMX posts highest month-over-month increase as investor bullishness continues

OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”), a broker-dealer subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NYS: AMTD) , is today revealing the Investor Movement IndexSM score for February 2013. The Investor Movement Index, or the IMXSM, is a proprietary, behavior-based index created by TD Ameritrade that aggregates Main Street investor positions and activity to measure what investors are actually doing and how they are actually positioned in the markets.

The February 2013 Investor Movement Index for the four weeks ending Feb. 22, 2013, reveals:

  • Score: 5.14 (compared to 4.71 in January)
  • Trend Direction: Positive
  • Trend Length: 1 Month
  • Score relative to historic ranges: High

February’s IMX score is the highest seen since June 2011 and part of an increasingly bullish trend spanning much of the last seven months. In February, retail investors at TD Ameritrade continued to show signs of bullishness. Net buyers in the markets, investors were rotating their equity exposure, selling securities at highs and buying into lows. Portfolio positioning also played a role in the higher monthly score. Volatility across the broad market, as measured by indicators like the VIX, was quite low in February. TD Ameritrade clients held or increased their exposure to securities with higher relative volatility compared to that of the general market. This was a key factor in the higher IMX score seen in February.

“This score is a contrast to January’s IMX number, which dipped slightly from December after several months of gains,” said Steve Quirk, senior vice president of TD Ameritrade’s Trader Group. “Given the circumstances around that time frame, such as uncertainty regarding the fiscal cliff and annual portfolio adjustments typically made at that time of year, it likely reflected unique conditions at year end. Now that those events are behind us, we are seeing results more aligned with national consumer sentiment indices.”

The IMX value is calculated based on a complex proprietary formula. Each month, TD Ameritrade pulls a sample from its client base of 6 million …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance