Archives for September 1, 2019

Windows 10 will let you reinstall the OS from the cloud

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You won’t need a local copy to start fresh.

To date, reinstalling Windows has meant using a local copy — either something already stored on your PC (and thus at risk of going bad) or something external. Soon, though, it might just be a matter of grabbing it online. On top of changing tablet mode, the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build on the Fast ring includes a “download Windows” option when you want to reset your PC. Much like the feature Macs have had for years, you can use your broadband connection to grab a fresh install from the cloud. You don’t need a backup partition or a thumb drive to get back in business.

The company stressed that this will wipe your existing apps, and your data you choose “remove everything.” And remember, this is pre-release software. You’ll likely want to wait until there’s a polished version before trusting the fate of your PC to the cloud option. When it does arrive, though, it could offer a valuable failsafe if Windows is falling apart and you want a more reliable fix.

Tariffs hit Apple and other tech companies tomorrow

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It will also affect cameras, flash storage and other common tech items.

Some of the tech you like is about to get more expensive — at least for the companies that design them, if not you. True to earlier plans, the Trump administration has formally enacted a new round of tariffs against China-made products that will take effect September 1st. The measures will hit tech companies with 15 percent tariffs on a range of goods, with Apple potentially feeling the pinch harder than most. The hikes will affect AirPods, the Apple Watch, some Beats earphones, the HomePod and iMacs.

The tariffs will also affect a range of components, including cameras, flash storage, optical discs (like Blu-ray and DVD) and lithium-ion batteries. A further wave of tariffs affecting prices for phones, laptops, consoles and other tech is due on December 15th barring negotiation.

It’s uncertain if Apple or other companies will raise prices to compensate for the tariffs. Apple has historically maintained its profit margins whenever possible, but it also hasn’t had to contend with tariffs like this before. There may be pressure to swallow some or all of the added costs, though. Apple in particular is dealing with slowing revenue growth — preserving its margins might not help if the higher prices result in fewer buyers.

‘Astroneer’ brings planetary exploration to PS4 on November 15th

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Ruin the landscape using your platform of choice.

You don’t have to use a Microsoft-powered platform to play Astroneer. System Era has announced that its procedurally generated planet explorer will be available on PS4 as of November 15th for $30, with pre-orders open now. It’ll include everything released for the PC and Xbox One versions to date, including the September 4th Explorer Update’s jetpack, jump-jet and player camera.

There’s no mention of cross-platform play. It will include multiplayer for up to four people, though. And really, the hook remains the same — your goal is to mine planets by reshaping them however you see fit, whether it’s digging deep tunnels, building ramps or expanding your base to harvest more resources and develop more tech. It’s not as free-form as Minecraft, but it may be alluring if you’ve dreamed of setting foot on other worlds.

Paris is testing ‘noise radar’ that will automatically ticket loud cars

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A newly installed “noise radar”, a measuring device that can precisely measure and locate sounds from a moving vehicles as well as register their licence plates, is seen at Villeneuve-le-Roi, a town next to Paris airport Orly, France, August 30, 2019.

Revving a noisy engine could get you in trouble.

Parisians with powerful cars might want to think carefully before showing off their rides. Parts of the city (most recently the suburb of Villeneuve-le-Roi) are testing a “noise radar” system from Bruitparif that can pinpoint loud vehicles and, eventually, ticket them. The system uses four microphones to triangulate the origins of a sound and link it with CCTV footage to pinpoint whoever’s making the racket.

Just shy of 40 of the devices are in use so far, primarily near bars in Paris’ entertainment regions as well as 17 around major buildings.

The two-year trial isn’t meant to fine anyone. Rather, it’s meant to both test the viability of the technology and determine the noise levels that lead to penalties. However, people with souped-up rides might not want to get too comfortable. A draft law due for a vote this fall will let local officials experiment with noise radar fines, and Villeneuve-le-Roi intends to take advantage of it if and when the law takes effect. You might have one more incentive to drive a quiet EV — you’ll hardly make a sound even if you mash the throttle.

Stocks to Watch: ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW)

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Analysts often provide buy/sell/hold recommendations for companies that they cover. Investors have the ability to follow these sell-side ratings in order to assist with stock analysis. Wall Street analyst ratings may have various interpretations. According to analysts taken into consideration by Zacks Research, the current average broker recommendation on shares of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is currently 1.35. This rating lands on a scale between 1 and 5. Following this scale, a rating of 1 would indicate a Strong Buy, and a rating of 5 would indicate a Strong Sell recommendation. Out of all the analysts providing ratings, 22 have rated the stock a Strong Buy or Buy, according to Zacks Research.

Many investors are concerned with the proper portfolio diversification. Stock portfolio diversification entails spreading the investment dollars around to help minimize risk. When investors are creating a portfolio, they may be looking to add a combination of growth, value, income, dividend, and foreign stocks. They may also be spreading out stock picks among various industries. Keeping a mix of stocks that perform differently under certain market conditions can help keep the portfolio afloat when the environment shifts. Holding a few large positions in a small number stocks may lead to trouble if the market turns sour and stock prices decline drastically.

Taking a quick look at the current quarter EPS consensus estimate for ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW), we can see that the most recent level is sitting at .89. This EPS projection uses 15 Sell-Side analysts polled by Zacks Research. For the previous reported quarter, the company posted a quarterly EPS of .71. Covering analysts have the tough job of following companies and offering future estimates. These estimates are often closely followed on the Street, and earnings beats or misses revolve around these projections. Sometimes these predictions are extremely close to the actual reported number, and other times they may be way off. When a company posts actual earnings numbers, the surprise factor can lead to sudden stock price fluctuations. If a company meets and beats estimates and posts a positive earnings surprise, the stock may see a near-term bump. On the other end, a negative surprise may send the stock in the opposite direction. Many investors will choose to trade with caution around earnings releases and wait to make a move until after the major activity has subsided.

Zooming in on recent stock price action for ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW), we note that shares are trading near the 261.84 level. Investors will often follow stock price levels in relation to the 52-week high and low levels. The 52-week high is presently 302.31, and the 52-week low is sitting at 156.8. When a stock price is getting close to either the 52-week high or 52-week low, investors may track activity to watch for a move past the established mark. Over the last 12 weeks, shares have seen a change of -2.48%. Heading further back to the start of the year, we note that shares have seen a change of 47.06%. Focusing in closer to the last 4 weeks, shares have seen a change of -4.44%. Over the past five trading days, the stock has changed -1.06%.

When conducting stock research, some investors will choose to start from the top-down while others may choose to begin from the bottom-up. Starting from the top-down typically includes studying the overall economy, industries, and multiple markets. Stocks tend to perform differently at certain points in economic cycles. Figuring out where the economy is can help find the sectors that will outperform. Once specific sectors are identified, investors might be able to then select certain stocks within those sectors. Investors who start with from the bottom-up may start by analyzing individual stocks first. This may include looking for stocks that are undervalued in relation to the perceived value of the company. Many investors will use a combination of both styles when undertaking detailed stock research.

Stocks to Watch: Evercore Partners Inc (EVR)

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Monitoring the technical signals for Evercore Partners Inc (EVR), we have recently viewed the Percentage Price Oscillator Histogram line above zero. Traders may be using a PPOH reading above zero as a buy indicator.

Even with the stock market still riding high, investors may be looking for some bargain stocks to add to the portfolio. Although nobody can say for certain if stocks will continue to climb the ladder, investors may be preparing for the temporary dips in order to get into some positions at more reasonable prices. Always being prepared can help make the tough decisions a bit easier to stomach when the time comes. Coming at the stock market from multiple angles may help investors spot some future winners.

Sharp investors may be looking to examine the Williams Percent Range or Williams %R. Developed by Larry Williams, this indicator helps spot overbought and oversold market conditions. The Williams %R shows how the current closing price compares to previous highs/lows over a specified period. Evercore Partners Inc (EVR)’s Williams Percent Range or 14 day Williams %R is sitting at -12.31. Typically, if the value heads above -20, the stock may be considered to be overbought. On the flip side, if the indicator goes under -80, this may signal that the stock is oversold.

Keeping an eye on Moving Averages, the 50-day is 84.02, the 200-day is at 85.41, and the 7-day is 77.82 for Evercore Partners Inc (EVR). Moving averages have the ability to be used as a powerful indicator for technical stock analysis. Following multiple time frames using moving averages can help investors figure out where the stock has been and help determine where it may be possibly going. The simple moving average is a mathematical calculation that takes the average price (mean) for a given amount of time.

We can also take a look at the Average Directional Index or ADX of the stock. For traders looking to capitalize on trends, the ADX may be an essential technical tool. The ADX is used to measure trend strength. ADX calculations are made based on the moving average price range expansion over a specified amount of time. ADX is charted as a line with values ranging from 0 to 100. The indicator is non-directional meaning that it gauges trend strength whether the stock price is trending higher or lower. The 14-day ADX is 21.63. In general, and ADX value from 0-25 would represent an absent or weak trend. A value of 25-50 would indicate a strong trend. A value of 50-75 would indicate a very strong trend, and a value of 75-100 would signify an extremely strong trend.

Evercore Partners Inc (EVR) currently has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of 102.89. Active investors may choose to use this technical indicator as a stock evaluation tool. Used as a coincident indicator, the CCI reading above +100 would reflect strong price action which may signal an uptrend. On the flip side, a reading below -100 may signal a downtrend reflecting weak price action. Using the CCI as a leading indicator, technical analysts may use a +100 reading as an overbought signal and a -100 reading as an oversold indicator, suggesting a trend reversal.

Traders may also be paying close attention to RSI levels on shares of Evercore Partners Inc (EVR). The current 14-day RSI is presently sitting at 48.57, the 7-day is 58.38, and the 3-day is 78.86. The RSI, or Relative Strength Index is a popular oscillating indicator among traders and investors. The RSI operates in a range-bound area with values between 0 and 100. When the RSI line moves up, the stock may be experiencing strength. The opposite is the case when the RSI line is heading lower. Different time periods may be used when using the RSI indicator. The RSI may be more volatile using a shorter period of time. Many traders keep an eye on the 30 and 70 marks on the RSI scale. A move above 70 is widely considered to show the stock as overbought, and a move below 30 would indicate that the stock may be oversold. Traders may use these levels to help identify stock price reversals.

Individual investors may tend to become more bullish at market tops and more bearish at the bottoms. This goes against the buy low sell high mantra that is widely preached in the investing community. The two emotions that come into play here are greed and fear. Investors tend to get greedy when they see stocks flying to new highs. It can be very tempting to get in on a name that has been running hot for a time. On the other side of the coin, investors often get fearful when the market is tanking. The fear of losing becomes prevalent when this occurs, and investors may be tempted to sell like the rest. Although this goes against logic, many investors will still end up buying high and selling low.