WSJ.com: Heard on the Street

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Latest Articles in this Channel:

02/15/12--04:30: Westfield Has Deep Australian Roots (chan 2205423)

Australia's Westfield is rightfully rationalizing its portfolio of overseas malls and starting on an emerging-markets strategy—but its immediate future is still largely Australian.


02/15/12--13:45: Coming to America No More (chan 2205423)

China hasn't put together a long enough string of Treasury sales to declare a trend. But it has put together a long enough string to get investors thinking.


02/15/12--17:23: Sob Story for China's Equity Investors (chan 2205423)

Chinese stocks have rallied on expectations for looser policy on housing and bank lending. Now that those assumptions look doubtful, the market's run looks unsustainable.


02/15/12--19:31: Is Yahoo Ready for a Loebotomy? (chan 2205423)

How many activists does it take to screw in Yahoo's light bulb? Dan Loeb of Third Point is the latest hedge-fund manager to try his hand at forcing change at the struggling Internet giant.


02/15/12--19:33: Greek Exit Offers No Easy Way Out (chan 2205423)

Despite warnings that a Greek default would have catastrophic consequences, several policy makers and economists have taken a more relaxed view. But this relies on some optimistic assumptions.


02/15/12--19:34: Once Kellogg Pops, It Might Not Stop (chan 2205423)

The walnut scandal that crushed Diamond Foods has created an opportunity in the snack industry.


02/16/12--00:53: India's ONGC---a Very Rough Diamond (chan 2205423)

When New Delhi sells a piece of the crown jewels, investors are bound to be interested. Buying into state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp. is a bet on government policy—in India, that means investors should be wary.


02/16/12--02:08: Yamaha's Rough Road Ahead (chan 2205423)

Yamaha Motor has taken many of the right turns to lessen its dependence on the stagnant Japanese market and reduce currency exposure, but the motorcycle maker is forecasting a profit decline of 37% in 2012.


02/16/12--09:04: No Linsanity for Li Ning (chan 2205423)

Investors are counting on private-equity giant TPG for a quick turnaround at China's flagging flagship sports brand, Li Ning, but it's no slam dunk.


02/16/12--11:43: Nestlé Sticks to a Rewarding Recipe (chan 2205423)

Nestlé shares are trading at around a 10% premium to its peers. The question is whether the Swiss food maker can keep nourishing their confidence.


02/16/12--16:14: Central Bankers Rub Gold Bugs the Right Way (chan 2205423)

Increasingly, central banks, especially in emerging markets, have been the marginal buyers of gold.


02/16/12--19:35: Spain Feels the Pain of Rising Debt (chan 2205423)

Heard on the Street: Spain and Italy have spent months swapping places on the front line of the crisis, and now it may be Spain's turn again in the spotlight.


02/16/12--22:21: Vive la French Bank Résistance (chan 2205423)

French banks have been among the biggest casualties of the euro crisis, and shares of BNP Paribas and Société Générale halved in value in a few weeks last summer. Six months later, their balance sheets are in far better shape.


02/17/12--06:11: Can Billabong Ride the Wave? (chan 2205423)

The sale of a stake in its accessories brand will bring in about $285 million for Australian surfwear company Billabong and give it room to breathe, but now the pressure is on management to grow earnings.


02/17/12--06:12: India's Sputtering Airlines Show Sector's Headwinds (chan 2205423)

The debate over foreign investment in India's aviation industry should be grounded. The sector is hardly flying high.


02/17/12--09:08: Stock and Awe at Facebook and Zynga (chan 2205423)

When it comes to profits, a big chunk of what is generated in Silicon Valley stays in Silicon Valley. Investors anxious to jump on the social-media bandwagon should keep that in mind.


02/17/12--11:09: ECB Teaches Bondholders Greek Lesson (chan 2205423)

Greece's debt restructuring is becoming reality—and the reality of a sovereign-debt restructuring is that sovereigns have powers that other debtors don't.


02/17/12--18:10: Facebook, Google Risk Invasion of Privacy From Regulators (chan 2205423)

Internet giants may be cruising for a privacy bruising. The latest evidence that the online ad industry is falling short when policing itself on privacy raises the chance a regulatory hammer comes down on their profit party.


02/17/12--20:12: Deal but No Deal on Foreclosures (chan 2205423)

More than a week after the government trumpeted a $25 billion settlement with banks over mortgage foreclosure abuses, investors and taxpayers are left to wonder if the bad news has been buried.


02/17/12--21:00: Taking Stocks at Face Value (chan 2205423)

On a simple price/earnings multiple, stocks look cheap. But things aren't so simple.


02/19/12--14:55: Europe's Insurers Are in Capital Denial (chan 2205423)

New rules designed to better judge the risks that European insurers take had threatened to leave the industry with a $48.6 billion capital shortfall. Now, they have been so watered down that this gap has disappeared. Investors should question why.


02/20/12--07:02: Wynn's Okada Buyout Is a Big Governance Gamble (chan 2205423)

Steve Wynn says he doesn't like to gamble, but the forced buyout of Wynn Resorts's biggest shareholder at a discount looks like a bet that investors will overlook the governance implications of the move.


02/20/12--12:41: Maersk Bets on Better Shipping Forecast (chan 2205423)

Despite weak global trade and high fuel prices, shares in Maersk are up 25% this year, buoyed by cuts to industry capacity. Now Maersk is merging some of its Asia to Europe services with rival CMA CGM, further reducing capacity.


02/20/12--15:30: Iceland and Ireland: A Tale of Two Islands (chan 2205423)

Who has had the better crisis: Ireland or Iceland? Short-term, Iceland, which just won a Fitch upgrade, is probably right. But longer-term, Ireland's euro membership may bring benefits.


02/20/12--16:11: Rising Chinese Pay Toughens Fed's Job (chan 2205423)

The cost of China-made goods has begun to go up. That is bound to continue, and as it does the U.S. economy will look a little more inflation-prone.


02/20/12--17:32: Carlsberg Needs Russian Beer Revolution (chan 2205423)

Like an alcoholic who thinks the cure for a hangover is another drink, Carlsberg is increasing its bet on Russia.


02/20/12--22:24: The China Crisis That Wasn't (chan 2205423)

With the fallout from the splurge in local government loans set to take place outside the view of the markets, what are the implications for investors in China's banks?


02/21/12--01:50: With Incentives, Japan Car Sector Is Spinning Tires (chan 2205423)

Japan's last round of subsidies, in 2009 and 2010, managed to boost sales immediately without devouring future sales—but odds are against their working so well this time.


02/21/12--02:18: Aussie Politics Is Much Ado About Nothing (chan 2205423)

Australian federal politics has turned into a soap opera. This week's episode: Ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd may oust the woman who deposed him at the head of the ruling Labor Party.


02/21/12--09:31: Cheap Gas Fuels Utility Stocks (chan 2205423)

Being boring paid off last year: Utilities, up 15%, beat every other S&P 500 sector. Despite being the worst performers so far in 2012, giving up 3%, investors should stick with the quiet life.


02/21/12--10:26: Greek Swap Offers Investors Few Options (chan 2205423)

Greece is close to making bondholders an offer they probably can't refuse. The deal isn't great, but the alternative may well be worse.


02/21/12--10:48: BC Partners' First-Mover Advantage (chan 2205423)

Private equity finally has something to celebrate, as BC Partners has closed an $8.61 billion buyout fund. But rivals seeking cash may not be so lucky.


02/21/12--11:51: TNT Express Delivers Unconvincing Defense (chan 2205423)

TNT Express's plan to retreat to its core market might look like a sensible strategy. But with the company facing a takeover bid from UPS at a 42% premium to Friday's close, it looks unlikely to deliver in time for investors.


02/21/12--18:15: Euro Zone Votes to Stick Together (chan 2205423)

Those who hoped and believed the euro zone would collapse under pressure continue to misjudge the political determination to hold it together.


02/21/12--18:17: The Time Isn't Now for Groupon (chan 2205423)

When a chief executive says he needs to instill "a different type of behavior" in his customers, that probably means they aren't buying. That is a problem confronting Groupon CEO Andrew Mason.


02/21/12--18:18: Contemplating Life After Frannie (chan 2205423)

For all the tough talk about getting rid of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, there is still no political will to change the housing-finance system. Thankfully, one regulator is at least willing to think about a day when there might be.


02/21/12--18:18: Apple's Bigger Slice of China Pie (chan 2205423)

China Telecom is making the iPhone 4S available on its network—good news for Apple, more-nuanced news for China Telecom.


02/21/12--19:09: Myanmar's Allure Is Complex (chan 2205423)

Myanmar's transformation from pariah state to the next big thing has happened at light speed. Those looking to move in are finding a place ripe with potential, but riddled with potholes too.


02/22/12--10:49: Shell Lands in Expensive Cove (chan 2205423)

Royal Dutch Shell's $1.58 billion offer for Cove Energy makes it the favorite to acquire the small exploration company, with its 73% premium to Cove's presale share price. Still, Shell's shareholders will be wary.


02/22/12--15:45: Telecom's New Dividend Strike (chan 2205423)

Telecom dividends are falling like bowling pins in Europe. Cuts have been made by France Télécom, Telefónica and Telekom Austria and are one way telecom firms are addressing concerns over debt. More could be on the line.


02/22/12--20:20: Discovering the Riches of TV Advertising (chan 2205423)

While advertisers still look to the most successful TV channels as a rare place to reach large, captive audiences, the TV industry isn't sharing the ad dollars evenly. What sets Discovery Communications apart?


02/22/12--21:12: Bond Myths Exposed by Greece (chan 2205423)

It used to be so simple. Developed-country government bonds were risk-free, while corporate bonds carried credit risk to varying degrees. The euro-zone crisis has exposed that assumption to be false.