Chief Financial Officer Craig Owens said Monday that the price increases are coming because the soup giant expects input costs to continue rising, although at more moderate levels than over the last year.

The price increases will not apply to Campbell’s ready-to-serve soups.

Owens made the comments on Campbell’s earnings call for the fiscal third-quarter. Profit fell 5.4% as the food company was hit by rising commodities prices and higher marketing and selling expenses.

Campbell is in the midst of a multi-year plan to turn around its soup business after several years of declines.

Campbell shares were down 2.3% in recent trading to $32.62.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/campbell-to-hike-list-prices-for-condensed-soup-5-2012-05-21

In Germany, Corsa models are currently produced in Eisenach. Should that be stopped, it might benefit the Spanish city of Zaragoza, according to Focus.

In Zaragoza in 2011, around 216,000 Corsa models were produced, besides the minivan Meriva and pickup truck Combo, Focus says, adding, that according to its information, the Zaragoza plant is currently running at a 59% capacity use, due to weak demand for Opel models.

An Opel spokesman tells Focus that the question about the future Corsa plant is not on the agenda “because the car is in the middle of its life cycle.”

Without the Corsa model, the future of the Eisenach plant would depend on the success of the small car “Adam,” the serial production of which begins in 2013 with annual planned sales of at least 100,000 units, Focus says.

Adam Opel recently said that from 2015, the next generation of Astra compact models will be produced in the U.K. and Poland, and no longer in the German production site of Ruesselsheim.

-By Frankfurt newsroom; Dow Jones Newswires; +49 69 2972 5500

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/opels-eisenach-plant-may-lose-corsa-production-2012-05-19

Axion International Inc. designs, develops, and manufactures industrial grade, eco-friendly building materials.

Using patented technologies, Axion transforms everyday consumer and industrial plastic waste into standard structural products strong enough to support trains and tanks. Compared to traditional materials like wood, steel or concrete, Axion‟s American-made products are more durable, significantly longer lasting and comprised of 100% recycled plastic.

Perhaps the World’s Best Building Material

 
• Axion‟ Recycled Structural Composite installs much quicker than concrete. It„ lighter than steel, and is virtually impervious to the elements.
• Much of Axion‟ technology is both lab and field tested by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Military purchasing departments, Rutgers, the University of Illinois, and the American Association of Railroading Test Track.
• Recycled structural composite is designed not to rust, splinter, crumble, rot, absorb moisture or leach toxic chemicals into the environment.
• Axion‟ intellectual property portfolio currently contains multiple patents and patents pending for not only polymer blends but also fields of use. This technology concentrates on structural building products and fire retardants.

180 South Street, Suite 104
New Providence, NJ 07974
Phone: 908.542.0888
www. axionintl.com

Selected Financials (AXIH.OB)

Sector: Basic Materials
Fiscal Year End: Dec 31
Recent Price (as of 2.21.2012) $0.80
52-week range: $0.63 – $1.50
Shares Outstanding: 25.20M
Float: 21.49M
Market Cap: 20.16M
Total Debt: (mrq) 514.57K
Avg. Volume (3 month): 44,668

Leadership Team

President & CEO
Steve Silverman
Co-founder & CTO
James Kerstein

Investor Relations

Jim Blackman – President
PR Financial Marketing LLC
Tel: 713.256.0369
Fax: 713.481.0200
jim@prfmonline.com

HOUSTON -(MarketWatch)- Chesapeake Energy Corp. CHK -13.80% said Friday that it could delay or change some of its planned asset sales in order not to endanger compliance with the conditions set out by creditors.

In a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Oklahoma City, Okla.-based oil and gas producer said that while asset sales generate cash, they decrease the cash flow generated by the company, and “reduce the amount and value of collateral available to secure our obligations, both of which are exacerbated by low natural gas prices.” In order to comply with the requirements of its $4 billion corporate credit facility, the company “may delay one or more of our currently planned asset monetizations, or select other assets for monetization.” As of March 31, the company had $2.5 billion outstanding in its corporate credit facility.

The language, which Argus Research analyst Phil Weiss says is new, puts a damper on Chesapeake’s unrelenting strategy of raising money from asset sales to keep drilling in new areas and bring down its high levels of debt. At times when natural gas prices were high, the company was able to keep aggressively growing while selling stakes in its fields. But with prices near decade-low levels, “at least there may have to be a change in the asset monetization strategy,” Weiss said.

The company says it expects to obtain $11.5 billion to $14 billion from asset transactions in 2012, which will be enough to fund its capital expenditures and reduce debt.

Chesapeake shares tumbled Friday after the company filed a notice that it would not be able to produce an annual report on time with the SEC, followed shortly by the quarterly report, which had been expected Thursday. In 46 minutes, Chesapeake’s market capitalization lost $1.05 billion, as shares fell from $16.39 to their $14.81 closing price. Total market capitalization now sits at $9.8 billion, falling below $10 billion for the first time since the financial crisis. In July 2008, Chesapeake was worth about $49 billion.

Chesapeake has recently come under scrutiny due to the extraordinary complexity of its financial operations, which concerns many analysts. In addition, Chief Executive Aubrey McClendon has borrowed personally up to $1.4 billion to finance his participation in a controversial Chesapeake program that gives him a small stake in every well drilled by the company; he borrowed money from financial institutions that had done business with Chesapeake, prompting investors and analysts to decry a lack of oversight at the top echelons of the company. The program has since been scrapped, and McClendon was removed from his chairman role on Chesapeake’s board, although he remains CEO.

Ben Casselman of The Wall Street Journal contributed to this article.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chesapeake-says-may-delay-asset-sales-2012-05-11

MINERAL              EXPLORATION

Mineral exploration can be a golden investment opportunity worth taking a closer look at. It is the process of finding a viable ore body, or concentrations of minerals. This differs from mineral prospecting due to its greater intensity and more extensive nature. The process of mineral exploration can be divided into several stages, depending on the size of the region being explored, the desired outcome, and the specific minerals being sought. Mineral exploration is largely influenced by the region that is chosen for the project as well as the available resources.

Toron Inc. prides itself on being a new mineral exploration company focusing its attention on projects involving gold and other valuable metals. It is based in Quebec, one of Canada’s richest mining provinces. This Nevada Company incorporated its wholly owned subsidiary – Toron Resources Inc., which was formed for the sole purpose of exploring mining projects in Canada, and specifically, in Quebec.

In 2008, the Fraser Institute ranked Quebec the number one jurisdiction among the top 68 in the world for mining investment, due mainly for its favorable mining policies and mineral potential. As Quebec’s Premier Jean Charest said about the region, “It is one of the world’s last virgin territories. It’s also a fragile territory and a territory of great richness…” This area is rich in rare earth minerals and various mineral deposits such as gold, nickel, cobalt, and platinum. BBC News reports that “Northern Quebec has incomparable mining potential,” as summed up by Sege Simard, natural resources minister. Mineral exploration in the Quebec region has huge potential, as the hunger for raw materials leads to company investments in the projects.

The first and most vital step in mineral exploration is exploring a region in order to find out whether the area is mineral rich through a theory known as ore genesis. This theory supports knowledge of ore and its occurrences, and helps in selecting the area with the most ore deposits. It is also crucial to determine what is to be explored. The exploration of gold differs from that of other metals in two profound ways: first in the selection criteria for the area to be explored and second in the exploration techniques used. An area prosperous in gold doesn’t necessarily have to prosper in other metals.

This is why mineral exploration isn’t something the average Joe or Jane can do, and this is when companies, like Toron Inc., come into play. Toron Inc. concentrates mainly on valuable metals such as gold. The company’s first acquisition is the Tiblemont Gold Property, located in the south eastern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt – the largest greenstone belt of Canada’s Superior Province, well known for its important volcanogenic massive sulfides and orogenic lode gold deposits. These properties are made up of 255 claims that are 33,984 acres in size, and lies mainly in the Tiblemont and Senneterre townships, with a few claims in the Pascalis and Courville townships In addition  Toron has contracted to purchase an additional 140 claims that are 19,563 acres in size . These are located in the same area of the Tiblemont and Senneterre townships. More info can be found in the Projects section. The Company has currently closed the acquistion of  255 claims, and has the remaining 140 under contract with a total of 395 claims that are 21,677 hectares or 53,543 acres in size.

Besides focusing on the exploration of rich minerals, Toron Inc. is also in the midst of building a new strong management team, fixated on leading the company forward. The company hopes to make a name for itself in the near future and to be recognized as a valuable mineral exploration company.

Toron Inc. is listed on the OTC Bulletin Board and will strive to build shareholder value rapidly. Its quarterly reports and financial information can be found in the Investor Infosection.

SOURCE: http://toroninc.com/

Exelon, the largest operator of nuclear plants in the U.S., completed its acquisition of Constellation in March. The merger, an all-stock deal valued at nearly $8 billion, allows Exelon to absorb Constellation’s nuclear fleet and large retail power business. However, the deal prompted Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade its investment-grade rating on Exelon by a notch, noting the companied company will likely see negative free cash flow for several years.

Exelon owns Illinois utility Commonwealth Edison, but its largest business is operating power plants across the U.S. an selling the electricity on the wholesale market. The recent plunge in U.S. natural gas prices has forced wholesale power prices lower, threatening Exelon’s bottom line.

President and Chief Executive Christopher Crane said that as expected, the latest results reflected unfavorable market conditions and mild weather.

Exelon reported a profit of $200 million, or 28 cents a share, down from $668 million, or $1.01 a share, a year earlier. Excluding mark-to-market adjustments, merger-related costs and other items, earnings fell to 85 cents a share from $1.17 a share. Revenue slipped 5.4% to $4.69 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast earnings of 81 cents a share on revenue of $7.67 billion.

Operating margin narrowed to 7.7% from 24.3%. Total operating expenses jumped 15%.

The company said the equivalent availability factor for its hydroelectric facilities fell to 96.6% from 97.8%.

Exelon’s generation business, which includes its nuclear operations, saw its earnings fall 66% to $168 million.

Shares closed at $38.82 Thursday and were inactive premarket.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/exelons-net-skids-on-merger-costs-weaker-margins-2012-05-04

The largest publicly traded engineering and construction company in the U.S. has posted revenue growth for five consecutive quarters.

Though construction spending remains weak, Davidson Research last month expected that most engineering and construction companies would see year-to-year improvements in revenue, backlog and earnings during the first quarter. Prospects for oil-and-gas projects–the largest end market–and mining appeared particularly strong, Davidson Research said.

In the latest quarter Fluor’s industrial-and-infrastructure segment reported that revenue soared 40%, while its oil-and-gas business posted revenue growth of 23%.

Chairman and Chief Executive David Seaton said Fluor’s strong international presence helped drive new awards, including sizable awards in oil and gas production, refining and mining.

New awards rose to $8.39 billion from $6.2 billion a year earlier. As of March 31, backlog grew to a record $42.45 billion from $37.19 billion a year earlier and $39.48 billion in the fourth quarter.

Fluor reported a profit of $154.9 million, or 91 cents a share, up from $139.7 million, or 78 cents a share, a year earlier.

Revenue jumped 24% to $6.29 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently projected earnings of 87 cents on revenue of $6.3 billion.

Gross margin fell to 4.4% from 5.3%.

Shares of Fluor, which affirmed its 2012 earnings guidance, were up 2 cents at $56.66 and were inactive in after-hours trading. Through the close, the stock remains down 17% in the past year, despite rising 13% since the start of 2011.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fluor-posts-11-higher-profit-orders-grow-2012-05-03

“Today, Hynix will submit its proposal to join in the second [round] bidding to the lead manager Nomura,” the report said, quoting the unnamed SK Hynix official.

The final auction will close Friday at noon, the report added.

SK Hynix spokesman declined to comment on the report.

Elpida filed for bankruptcy protection in February, in the largest corporate failure in Japan since the end of World War II.

The South Korean chip maker, which swung to a net loss in the first quarter due to oversupply and weak demand for personal computers, submitted a preliminary bid proposal for Elpida in March, but said last week that it has to maintain “the minimum level” of cash holding so the company is only considering possible investment that “won’t incur too much of a burden” on its financial status.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sk-hynix-reportedly-to-join-bid-for-japans-elpida-2012-05-03

WSGI’s airships, when integrated with electronics systems and other high technology payloads, are designed for use by government-related, military, defense and commercial entities in missions that require real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) or communications. With the 100% acquisition of Global Telesat Corp.
(GTC), WSGI is now also involved in mobile voice and data services for satellite communications.
WSGI’s UAVs operate across all ranges of altitudes – from low altitude airships (LAAs) and medium altitude (MAAs) to high altitude (HAAs).The product line includes the ARGUS ONE (MAA),SkySat (LAA/MAA), STRATELLITE (HAA) and ARGUS MTS UAVs. WSGI’s current focus is on ARGUS ONE, which is expected to be brought tomarket by Q3-2011. WSGI’s products have a number of advantages relating to cost benefits, augmented endurance and easy mobility.
WSGI is currently working with partners on the ARGUS ONE development: L-3 Communications Inc., a leading U.S.DoD contractor, for communications equipment development and Eastcor Engineering for technical development. WSGI was awarded a US$200,000 contract from Space Florida to create a Performance Data Package in connection with the flight testing of the ARGUS ONE in the U.S. WSGI also received approval from the Department of Defense for the testing of the ARGUS ONE.

GTC specializes in services related to the Globalstar satellite constellation, including ground station construction, satellite telecommunications voice airtime and tracking services. The acquisition of GTC is expected to add a revenue stream and will help WSGI in diversifying its product strategy. This should accelerate the company’s access to the rapidly growing global surveillance and communications market and to certain clients of GTC in particular. GTC is already
qualified to conduct business with the U.S. Government. In April 2011, WSGI received a capital commitment of US$1.5MM from Space Florida and in May and June 2011,WSGI raised US$1.7MM from a group of private investors.

In Arrowhead’s view, the dynamics of the UAV market,the company’s product portfolio and strategic partnerships are major positives for WSGI’s commercial prospects. Given due diligence and valuation estimations based on intrinsic revenue capacity of the existing product portfolio,Arrowhead believes that the company’s fair share value lies in the US$0.64to US$2.33bracket.

SOURCE: http://www.wsgi.com/index.php

The company and other orthopedic manufacturers like Biomet Inc. and Zimmer Holdings Inc. (ZMH) have been affected as patients postponed elective surgeries such as hip and knee replacements amid uncertainty about the economy and a weak job market. However, there have been signs that the joint-reconstruction market is strengthening. Last week, privately held rival Biomet reported modestly higher sales of hip and knee replacements for its most recent quarter.

Stryker said in November it would shed about 5% of its global workforce by 2013 in response to sector-wide challenges and a new tax on medical-device makers.

The company is also searching for a successor to Stephen MacMillan, who resigned in February as its chairman, president and chief executive. Questions emerged about MacMillan’s abrupt resignation and the company’s discussion with analysts that he had a romantic relationship with an ex-employee. Chief Financial Officer Curt Hartman was named as interim CEO.

For the latest quarter, Stryker reported a profit $350 million, or 91 cents a share, up from $307 million, or 78 cents a share, in the comparable period a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings were 99 cents a share, matching the estimate from analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.

Revenue increased 7.2% to $2.16 billion, above analysts’ expectations of $2.12 billion.

The company’s joint-reconstruction business, its largest by revenue, reported sales rose 5.2% to $958 million. Sales at Stryker’s MedSurg unit, which makes products including surgical equipment, hospital beds and stretchers, were up 7.5% to $821 million.

Gross margin rose to 67.2% from 65.8%.

Shares of the company, which affirmed its forecast for 2012, were up 9 cents in after-hours trading. The stock is has risen 10% so far this year.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stryker-profit-up-14-on-sales-strength-2012-04-17