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In personal finance, some moves are better than others. Saving is better than spending. Having a budget is better than impulse buying. Paying off your credit card balance every month is better than getting nailed with finance charges.
But there’s one move that almost never makes sense: Cash advances on credit cards. When you borrow for cash, you get walloped with some of the highest finance charges imaginable.
How obnoxiously high are cash-advance rates? It’s almost like you’re being punished for using a credit card for cash, although banks love their profit margins on these high-rate loans.
According to a recent survey by creditcards.com, here’s how you get bamboozled:
— “High interest, no grace period: The average cash advance Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is 23.68%, much higher than the average purchase APR of 15.79%. Most cash advances have a flat APR irrespective of the individual cardholder’s creditworthiness. There is no grace period for cash advance transactions, meaning borrowers instantly start accruing interest.
corporate stock: DarioHealth Corp. (DRIO)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Jim Robertson]
On Tuesday, our Under the Radar Moversnewsletter suggested going long small cap digital health (mHealth) stock DarioHealth Corp (NASDAQ: DRIO):
The entry here is rooted in the rebound’s “second wind,” which materialized today. You can see the late-Janaury/early-February rally was nice, but went too far, too fast. Sure enough, the profit-takers dug in. There weren’t a ton of profit-takers though – there was just a distinct lack of buyers. The next wave of buyers are diving in today, seeing last week’s support at the 20-day moving average line. We know there are more buyers than sellers here because today’s sizeable gain is unfurling on huge volume.
corporate stock: CIRCOR International, Inc.(CIR)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
CIRCOR International, Inc. (NYSE: CIR) was down, falling around 15 percent to $60.91. CIRCOR reported Q4 adjusted earnings of $0.48 per share on revenue of $158 million. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Circor from Buy to Hold.
corporate stock: DSP Group Inc.(DSPG)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Technology shares rose by 2 percent in the US market on Friday. Top gainers in the sector included Fabrinet (NYSE: FN), and DSP Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSPG).
corporate stock: Xplore Technologies Corp(XPLR)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Monica Gerson]
General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) is expected to report its quarterly earnings at $0.60 per share on revenue of $3.86 billion.
Pier 1 Imports Inc (NYSE: PIR) is projected to post a quarterly loss at $0.05 per share on revenue of $420.05 million.
Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is estimated to report its quarterly earnings at $2.03 per share on revenue of $847.79 million.
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is projected to report its quarterly earnings at $2.40 per share on revenue of $4.49 billion.
Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR) is expected to report its quarterly earnings at $0.64 per share on revenue of $692.48 million.
Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) is projected to post its quarterly earnings at $0.29 per share on revenue of $94.64 million.
UniFirst Corp (NYSE: UNF) is estimated to report its quarterly earnings at $1.34 per share on revenue of $366.28 million.
Exfo Inc (NASDAQ: EXFO) is expected to post its quarterly earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $60.87 million.
OMNOVA Solutions Inc. (NYSE: OMN) is projected to report its quarterly earnings at $0.14 per share on revenue of $205.40 million.
8Point3 Energy Partners LP (NASDAQ: CAFD) is estimated to post a quarterly loss at $0.01 per share on revenue of $11.60 million.
Park Electrochemical Corp. (NYSE: PKE) is expected to report its quarterly earnings at $0.22 per share on revenue of $35.30 million.
Xplore Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: XPLR) is projected to post its quarterly earnings at $0.01 per share on revenue of $24.00 million.
Investors Real Estate Trust (NYSE: IRET) is expected to post its quarterly earnings at $0.14 per share on revenue of $56.87 million.
Tel-Instrument Electronics Corp. (NYSE: TIK) is estimated to post earnings for the latest quarter.
Aethlon Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: AEMD) is expected to post a quarterly loss at $0.20 per share.
Ossen Innovation Co Ltd (ADR) (NASDAQ: OSN) is projected to post ea
corporate stock: Comp En De Mn Cemig ADS(CIG)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Friday afternoon, the utilities sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais CEMIG-ADR (NYSE: CIG) and Pampa Energia S.A. (ADR) (NYSE: PAM).
- [By Lisa Levin]
In trading on Friday, utilities shares fell by 0.33 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais CEMIG-ADR (NYSE: CIG), down 3 percent, and Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ADR) (NYSE: ELP), down 3 percent.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Non-cyclical consumer goods & services sector was the top gainer in the US market on Wednesday. Top gainers in the sector included Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais CEMIG-ADR (NYSE: CIG), Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ADR) (NYSE: ELP), and NRG Energy Inc (NYSE: NRG).
corporate stock: PetSmart Inc(PETM)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows Blue Buffalo Pet Products now roughly back up to its IPO close for retail investors while fresh pet food peer Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) is well below IPO levels and pet stocksCentral Garden & Pet Co (NASDAQ: CENT) andPetmed Express (NASDAQ: PETS) have been the best performers in the pet sector after PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM) was acquired by a private equity group:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows Blue Buffalo Pet Products roughly back up to its IPO close for retail investors while fresh pet food peer Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) isstill below IPO levels and pet stocksCentral Garden & Pet Co (NASDAQ: CENT) andPetmed Express (NASDAQ: PETS) have been much stronger performers in the pet sector after PetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM) was acquired by a private equity group:
