Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Intel, Citigroup, Syngenta and Watson Wyatt

Business Wire, March 5, 2008

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Intel (Nasdaq: INTC), Citigroup (NYSE: C), Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) and Watson Wyatt (NYSE: WW).

See the latest posts to the Analyst Blog here: http://www.zacks.com/blog/post_info.html?g=6

Here are highlights from Tuesday's Analyst Blog:

Today's Market Volatility

Earlier today, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, Vice Chairman Donald Kohn and Governor Fred Mishkin all gave speeches. Bernanke prodded lenders to work more with borrowers; Kohn said the banking system faces more challenges, but should be alright; and Mishkin said economic risks remain to the downside, while inflationary pressures should "wane."

The speeches followed a lowered guidance from Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) and cautious comments about Citigroup (NYSE: C) from a covering brokerage analyst. (Notably, those of you who paid attention to the negative revisions in earnings were already avoiding those two stocks.)

The news was not new or surprising. Housing remains in a slump and credit conditions are tight. The Fed is likely to cut rates, again, when it meets on Mar. 20 and Mar. 21.

There is no doubt that the current economic conditions are uncertain. It is precisely this volatility that is leading to the volatility in stock prices. On the other hand, there are stocks that continue to hold up. For example, Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) and Watson Wyatt (NYSE: WW) are two Zacks #1 Rank ("Strong Buy") stocks that are trading essentially at 52-week highs.

There are plenty of tools on Zacks.com designed to help you find such stocks. A good place to start is our Custom Screener, which allows you to quickly identify stocks with the characteristics you want. And if you're not sure what to put in the screen, there are plenty of free, pre-built strategies that you can use as well.

About Zacks Equity Research

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Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

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