“Gallagher opens automotive business in Vero Beach - Jupiter Courier” plus 4 more

Gallagher opens automotive business in Vero Beach - Jupiter Courier
Sonic Automotive Executives to Speak at Investor Conference - WKBT
NXP Strengthens Management Team - Stockhouse
Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: China Fire & Security ... - Stockhouse
CEO: Nissan Will Not Build a Dedicated Hybrid - All Cars Electric

Gallagher opens automotive business in Vero Beach - Jupiter Courier

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 06:20 PM PDT

VERO BEACH — Joseph Gallagher has opened Gallagher Automotive and Camino Real Towing at 510 S.W. Old Dixie Highway in Vero Beach. Besides auto repair, U-Haul rentals and towing, Gallagher also rents outside storage space, sells propane and is a dealer for used cars.

For information, call (772) 569-4449 or e-mail Camino1@bellsouth.net.

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Sonic Automotive Executives to Speak at Investor Conference - WKBT

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 02:52 PM PDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH), a leader in automotive retailing, announced that Company executives will present at the 33rd Annual Gabelli & Company Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. The presentation will cover Sonic's operating strategy and financial results.

The Company's presentation will be at 12:00 PM Pacific on November 3, 2009 at the Bellagio hotel. A webcast of the presentation will be available at http://www.wsw.com/webcast/gabelli29/sah/.

Presentation slides will be available at http://www.sonicautomotive.com by clicking on the For Investors tab and choosing Webcasts & Presentations.

About Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 300 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States operating 153 franchises. Sonic can be reached on the Web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

SOURCE Sonic Automotive, Inc.
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NXP Strengthens Management Team - Stockhouse

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 11:35 PM PDT

Appoints New Heads of Automotive and Standard Products Businesses

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, Oct 23, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

NXP Semiconductors today announced the extension of its management team with the appointments of Kurt Sievers as general manager for the automotive business and Frans Scheper as general manager for the standard products business. Both executives will report directly to President and CEO Rick Clemmer. The positions will enable NXP to further deliver on its strategy of building leadership in High Performance Mixed Signal (HPMS) technology, while maintaining a strong standard products business.

Kurt Sievers and Frans Scheper collectively bring more than 20 years' of relevant management experience with proven track records in the semiconductors industry. Mr. Sievers previously managed the automotive safety and comfort business line, while Mr. Scheper served as general manager of the general applications (discretes) business line within the multimarket semiconductors business.

"These new appointments bring added strength to the team, providing the leadership skills, specialist market knowledge and operational rigor that are essential in enabling us to grow our automotive and standard products businesses as part of our ambition to focus and lead in High Performance Mixed Signal while delivering excellence in standard products," said Rick Clemmer, President and Chief Executive Officer of NXP.

Kurt Sievers will take on responsibility for the overall automotive business unit from Rick Clemmer, who was holding the position on an ad interim basis. Frans Scheper's role as general manager for standard products is a newly created position.

About NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions that leverage its leading RF, Analog, Power, Digital Processing and manufacturing expertise. These innovations are used in a wide range of automotive, industrial, consumer, lighting, medical, computing and identification applications. Headquartered in Europe, the company has about 29,000 employees working in more than 30 countries and posted sales of USD 5.4 billion in 2008. News from NXP is located at www.nxp.com

SOURCE: NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors Lieke de Jong-Tops, +31 40 27 25202 (Media) lieke.de.jong-tops@nxp.com Albert Hollema, +31 40 27 25610 (Investors) albert.hollema@nxp.com

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Zacks Releases Four Powerful ''Buy'' Stocks: China Fire & Security ... - Stockhouse

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 03:00 PM PDT

CHICAGO, Oct 22, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry's leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: China Fire & Security Group Inc (Nasdaq: CFSG), Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST), China Automotive Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAAS) and Cott Corporation (NYSE: COT).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=88.

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% -- but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here is a summary of today's selected stocks that are now highly rated by Zacks:

Aggressive Growth -- China Fire & Security Group Inc (Nasdaq: CFSG)

China Fire & Security Group Inc continues to capitalize on the booming Chinese economy.

Zacks Guide to Aggressive Growth Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4309

Growth & Income -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST)

Ross Stores, Inc. recently announced September sales of $629 million, a 12% increase year-over-year. Same store sales jumped 8%. The company also hiked its third-quarter earnings guidance to a range of 75 to 77 cents per share. Analysts polled by Zacks are in agreement, boosting forecasts from last month's 63 cents to 77.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4310

Momentum -- China Automotive Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAAS)

China Automotive Systems, Inc. is posting huge year-over-year revenue gains, driving its share price to a new 52-week and all-time high.

Zacks Guide to Momentum Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4311

Value -- Cott Corporation (NYSE: COT)

Cott Corporation has posted big earnings surprises of 240% and 528% the last two quarters. With third quarter results due on Oct 29, will it keep its streak intact?

Zacks Guide to Value Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4312

How to Regularly Access Picks from the Zacks Rank Discovery for Free: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Underlying the four free stock picks is a simple truth that first appeared in a Financial Analysts Journal article published in 1979. Leonard Zacks, a Ph.D. in Mathematics from M.I.T. found that "earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Zacks #1 Rank is awarded to a stock when analysts sharply upgrade their estimates of what the company will earn.

Today, Zacks is promoting its stock recommendations by offering four daily picks free to those who register at http://at.zacks.com/?id=88.

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Len Zacks. The company continually processes stock reports issued by 3,000 analysts from 150 brokerage firms. It monitors more than 200,000 earnings estimates, looking for changes.

Then, when changes are discovered, they're applied to help assign more than 4,400 stocks into five Zacks Rank categories: #1 Strong Buy, #2 Buy, #3 Hold, #4 Sell, and #5 Strong Sell. This proprietary stock-picking system continues to outperform the market by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.

More Free Stock Picks

Each weekday, new Zacks #1 Rank or Zacks #2 Rank stock picks are released on the free email newsletter, Profit from the Pros. Investors are invited to register for their free subscription at http://at.zacks.com/?id=91.

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts.

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

SOURCE: Zacks.com

Zacks.com Aggressive Growth Stocks: Bill Wilton, 312-265-9277 or Growth & Income Stocks: Alex Kolb, 312-265-9149 or Momentum Stocks: Michael Vodicka, 312-265-9226 or Value Stocks: Tracey Ryniec, 312-265-9232 Email: pr@zacks.com Visit: www.zacks.com

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CEO: Nissan Will Not Build a Dedicated Hybrid - All Cars Electric

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 08:14 PM PDT

Nissan President and Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn

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Nissan CEO Carols Ghosn has been aggressive in moving his company to market electric vehicles. The Nissan LEAF has been unveiled, is soon to go on a US tour and will go on sale in selected markets late next year. The 100 mile range pure EV reportedly has a waitlist of 20,000 people.

Nissan has not yet developed its own dedicated hybrid and has been licensing Toyota's Synergy Drive parallel hybrid system for use in the Altima Hybrid.

According to Ghosn, Nissan has no plans to develop a standalone dedicated hybrid vehicle similar to, for example, the Toyota Prius.

"We are not intending to play a leadership role in hybrids," Ghosn told Automotive News. "One company already assumed leadership in the technology. We want leadership on EVs."

Source (Automotive News, sub req.)

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