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7 Best Mutual Funds to Buy With Your Stimulus Check




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Coronavirus latest: Friday, May 8

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel stated that the company’s new coronavirus vaccine, which was clear for a phase 2 trial on Thursday by the FDA, would not be ready for immediate release to the public and that the distribution of the potential vaccine would need to be handled carefully between Moderna and the White House. Yahoo Finance’s Anjalee Khemlani joins The Final Round panel to break down the latest news about the coronavirus.





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3 Big Dividend Stocks Yielding at Least 10%; Maxim Says ‘Buy’

Does history repeat? Many of us, no doubt, remember the crash of the doc.com bubble back in 2000, and at least one analyst sees that pattern repeating before our eyes. Will Meade, who built his reputation in stock analysis with Goldman Sachs, believes that the current rally is only temporary, and that the markets are likely to fall again in 2H20 – by as much as 40%.Meade points that, like in 2000, we have the risk and uncertainty of a Presidential election coming up, and then adds, “The NASDAQ in 2000 did a similar bear market bounce as stocks this year — dropped 40%, then bounced 42% off the bottom retracing 61.8% of its drop. It stalled then fell 43%, making a new low four months later.” If Meade is right, then the true market bottom is due to hit us in late July or early September.The analyst is not all doom and gloom, however. While he is predicting bad news and tough times for the stock markets, he also points out that investors can act now to buffer their personal positions. His advice: move to liquid assets and build a cash savings buffer.Shoring up the savings account is only part of a strong defensive strategy. Investors can also shift their portfolio toward dividend stocks, relying on the steady income from the dividend payments to compensate for lower share price appreciation.We’ve used TipRanks database to find three high-yielding stocks that offer reliable payments – and all three have gotten the thumbs up from Maxim analyst Michael Diana.Ellington Financial, Inc. (EFC)We’ll start in the financial sector, with a small-cap company in the mortgage finance niche. Ellington operates as an investor, putting money into consumer loans, equity investments, mortgage backed securities, and both residential and commercial mortgages. It’s a standard portfolio for a mortgage-focused real estate investment trust.As an REIT, Ellington naturally offers a high dividend. REITs are required to a return a high percentage of profits to investors, and dividends are a sure way to comply with that regulatory provision. In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, and consequent economic damage, Ellington had to reduce its monthly payment starting with the April 29 payout. However, the company is maintaining a 54% payout ratio – returning more than half of earnings to investors. The 8-cent per share payment annualized to 96 cents, and offers investors a yield of 10%.Right now, the Fed’s key interest rate is down to the 0 to 25 basis point range, and Treasury bonds are yielding less than 1%. Even among dividend stocks, the average yield is just 2%. So, EFC’s 10% dividend yield is a fantastic return. Looking ahead, the company is expected to show 40 cents per share in earnings for Q1, more than enough to maintain the new monthly dividend.Maxim’s Michael Diana has tagged EFC as a ‘top pick,’ particularly noting the company’s strong management team: "Managing an mREIT even in 'normal' times is a difficult task, as the manager must balance leverage, prepayment protection, interest income, hedging, and diversity of financing sources to position the investment portfolio to withstand unexpected shocks without giving up too much income. When an unexpected shock does occur, crisis management skills are required to dynamically hedge and reposition the portfolio. We have followed EFC longer than any other analyst and, in our view, EFC management possesses all of these skills."Diana puts an $18 price target on EFC shares, implying a whooping 82% upside potential that fully supports his Buy rating. (To watch Diana’s track record, click here)Wall Street agrees with Diana’s assessment here. The analyst consensus on this stock is a Strong Buy, and it is unanimous, based on 4 Buy reviews set in recent weeks. Shares are selling at a comfortable entry point, just $9.87, and the average price target of $14.38 suggests room for a robust 46% upside growth this year. (See Ellington stock analysis on TipRanks)AGNC Investment (AGNC)Based in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC, AGNC is another REIT. The company’s portfolio is centered on residential mortgage-backed securities, but with a twist. Most of AGNC’s portfolio investments are guaranteed by the US government. The company’s portfolio includes $70.7 billion in such agency-supported securities, out of a total value of $93 billion.AGNC reported fiscal Q1 earnings at the end of April, and beat the forecast on EPS. Per-share earnings came in at 57 cents, based on $65 million in net interest income. The income interest figure is down significantly from the previous quarter, reflecting the economic troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On a positive note, AGNC’s cash holdings increased 55% in the first quarter, reaching $1.29 billion by March 31.A solid cash position and safe guarantees on the portfolio make AGNC an attractive investment, and the reliable monthly dividend adds icing to that cake. Like EFC above, AGNC lowered its monthly payment in Q1. The new payment is 12 cents per share per month, which annualized to $1.44 and gives a strong yield of 11.5%. At 63.2%, the payout ratio shows that the dividend is easily sustainable at current income levels – and has room to raised back to previous rates when conditions warrant.Diana is bullish on this stock and upgrades his rating from Hold to Buy. The analyst noted, "While turmoil in the mortgage markets at the end of March resulted in losses and lower book values for all mREITs, AGNC was able to meet all of its margin calls and, importantly, take relatively fewer realized losses, and therefore retain more earnings power post-turmoil. This is why we believe the dividend, currently yielding 11.7% (vs. ~5% for peers) is safe."Along with the Buy rating, Diana gives AGNC a $15 price target, indicating a potential for 20% upside appreciation in the coming 12 months.The analysts are somewhat cautious on AGNC, a sentiment caught by the 8 to 3 split between Buy and Hold reviews. The consensus rating on the stock remains a Moderate Buy, while the $14.53 average price target implies a 14% upside potential. (See AGNC stock analysis on TipRanks)Manhattan Bridge Capital (LOAN)Last on our list is a NYC-based micro-cap lending company, Manhattan Bridge Capital. The company offers short-term financing and collateralized loans. Typical collateral includes real estate and tradeable stock, and the loans are usually used as first mortgages. LOAN originates, services, and manages its loan portfolio, and most of its customers are professional real estate investors and developers.The coronavirus epidemic has hurt real estate development and construction – exactly the type of projects that LOAN finances – in general, but that hit has been especially hard in New York City. At both the State and City levels, lockdown restrictions have been severe, and the mortgage loan environment is described by Diana as ‘challenging.’On a positive note, LOAN has covered its quarterly dividend payment, despite lower Q1 earnings. At 11 cents per share, the quarterly dividend annualized to 44 cents and offers investors a yield of 10.8%. Again, this compares favorably to most investment return yields out there.The high dividend yield alone makes this an attractive investment opportunity, but Diana also points out the stability of Manhattan Bridge’s portfolio, writing, “LOAN has never had to foreclose on a property and has never experienced a loan default.”With the stable portfolio in mind, Diana goes on to say, “We believe LOAN deserves to trade at a P/E premium to [peers] because of its: 1) lower leverage; 2) higher profitability; 3) better credit quality; 4) lower earnings volatility; and 5) dividend growth (which is possible in 2021, in our view, if the environment improves and stabilizes).”Diana’s $6 price target on the stock implies a healthy 46% one-year upside potential, and fully backs his Buy rating on the stock. Diana’s is the only recent Wall Street review of this stock – but should his thesis prove correct, expect LOAN to attract both stock analysts and investors in the near future. It offers a low cost of entry with a high potential return – an unbeatable combination. (See LOAN stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.





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Ex-Google Engineer Who Became Right-Wing Hero Quietly Ends Suit




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Is Smithfield Farms owned by China?




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JPMorgan: 3 Stocks That Could Surge Over 30%

Investors are still uncertain just where the stock market is headed. Essentially, there are two competing opinions right now. One says that we’re just in a bear market rally, and that the worst is yet to come. The other thesis states that the current rally is real, and will mature into a new bull cycle as the economy restarts in the second half.Writing from JPMorgan, Marko Kolanovic, the investment bank's quant analyst, holds fast to that optimistic view. Kolanovic believes that epidemiological data suggests we are past the worst of the coronavirus spread, justifying the lifting of social and business restrictions. And that will open up economic activity, which will then find stimulus from low Fed interest rates and increased government ‘pump priming’ spending.Kolanovic sees the stimulus policies as more important than Q1’s weak earnings, writing, “The combined suppression of the risk free rate and credit spreads by the Fed likely has a bigger positive impact on equity valuation, compared with the negative impact of the temporary earnings loss.”Kolanovic is not the only JPM analyst who sees potential in the stock markets. The firm’s equity analysts have been working overtime to find the stocks best positioned to lead a potential bull rally. We’ve used the TipRanks database to pull up three of their stock picks, to find out why the JPM experts are tapping them for over 30% growth.KAR Auction Services (KAR)The first stock on our list belongs to a company in the second-hand vehicle market. KAR Auction Services operates a marketplace – both online and in the physical world – for used vehicles. The company sells to both individual and business buyers, people looking for a car to drive and garages looking to source parts for the shop floor. KAR sold over 3.7 million vehicles in 2019, bringing in $2.8 billion in auction revenue.KAR shares have been hit hard by the coronavirus epidemic. The combination of economic shutdowns and social lockdowns have not just put a hold on car sales – they have simply reduced the need for vehicles.Q1 earnings showed a 6% reduction in revenue, to $645.5 million, and a collapse in net income to $2.8 million from $15.3 million in the year-ago quarter. As noted, these steep reductions are attributable to the effects of the pandemic response. KAR shares are still down 38% year-to-date, badly underperforming the broader markets.However, JPM’s analyst Ryan Brinkman believes the current downturn is the time to buy in to KAR shares. The low price offers an attractive point of entry, and the stock has a clear path forward when economic activity resumes. Brinkman writes, “We believe that once stay-at-home orders are lifted and the situation moves from being one of a unique public health crisis to that of a more familiar economic downturn, aftermarket end-markets, including auctions, will earn their reputation for resiliency. People will drive again substantially similar to before, and volumes will return to salvage auctions.”Along with that optimistic assessment, Brinkman upgrades KAR from Neutral to Buy. His $19 price target suggests a strong 46% upside potential in the next 12 months. (To watch Brinkman’s track record, click here)Overall, KAR shares hold a Moderate Buy rating from the analyst consensus, which breaks down into 4 Buy reviews and 3 Holds. While the analyst corps is somewhat divided, their average price target is in line with Brinkman’s. (See KAR stock analysis at TipRanks)J2 Global Communications (JCOM)Next up is an internet communications company. J2 Global owns a diverse portfolio of 40+ online content brands, including IGN, Mashable, PCMag, BabyCenter, Everyday Health among others. In addition, J2 also runs a Cloud Service business, offering eFax and eVoice among other online services. The company boasts nearly $1.5 billion in annual revenue, and saw Q4 earnings rise to $2.19 per share.The Q4 earnings were the highest in two years, and capped a full year of rising earnings. Q4 is typically J2’s strongest quarter, while Q1 is typically the weakest, so the $1.35 estimate for Q1 earnings is less indicative of poor performance than one may think at first. On an important note, that Q1 estimate represents a modest increase of 1.5% year-over-year.JCOM shares’ price performance has roughly mirrored the broader market’s during the past three months. JCOM lost 35% in the initial slide, and has risen 21% from its trough.Initiating coverage of the stock for JPM, Cory Carpenter set a Buy rating, with a $105 price target that indicates room for 32% upside growth. (To watch Carpenter’s track record, click here)Supporting his stance, Carpenter notes the company’s strong Cloud position, writing, “We believe Cloud Services is well positioned to capitalize on growing security & privacy needs, with bundling & cross-sell potential, and we like that Digital Media monetizes through multiple rents—ads, subs, & affiliate commerce.”Key drivers for Carpenter's bull thesis include: "1) Total growth strategy drives sustainable growth, with $1B+ capital to deploy [...] 2) Diversified portfolio of leading Cloud Services & Digital Media brands. [...] 3) Strong FCF generator with M&A flywheel. JCOM prioritizes FCF, not growth at all costs, which it largely redeploys into M&A. JCOM’s 40% EBITDA margin is driven by Cloud Services’ ~50% margin and Digital Media’s ~35% margin."Carpenter is broadly in line with the rest of Wall Street, which has assigned JCOM more "buy" ratings than "holds" over the past three month -- and sees the stock growing about 26% over the next 12 months, to a target price of $101.30. (See J2 Global stock analysis on TipRanks)Montage Resources Corporation (MR)Last on our list is a small-cap hydrocarbon exploration and production company. Montage is based in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, where it operates natural gas and crude oil drilling wells. Montage holds over 195,000 undeveloped core acres, and operates 325 actively producing horizontal wells. The value of the company’s holdings is clear from its stock performance; in the last three months, while the markets have generally slid into a bear cycle, MR shares have gained 55%.Even with the COVID-19 epidemic and the collapse of oil markets, MR was able to increase its net daily production during Q1, reaching 6610.7 MMcfe. This was above both company guidance and analyst estimates. Quarterly income of $62.7 million also beat the expectations. The company has curtailed some production in low-margin crude oil, to compensate for the soft oil market prices.Analyst Arun Jayaram, reviewing MR for JPM, upgraded his stance on the shares from Neutral to Buy. His $8 price target implies a 43% upside growth potential for the coming year. (To watch Jayaram’s track record, click here)Jayaram is clear on his reasons for upgrading this stock. He says of MR, “We expect the market to largely look through negative estimate revision risk to 2020 forecasts to the emerging bullish natural gas narrative in 2021… Meanwhile, the company’s FCF yield of 23% leads the peer group and is well above the peer group average of 10%...”The Strong Buy analyst consensus on MR shares is based on 5 recent reviews, including 4 Buys and a single Hold. The company’s strong natural gas production is tangible asset, and its enviable free cash flow is attractive for investors. Shares are selling for $5.59, while the average price target of $6.22 suggests a modest upside of 1.6%. (See MR stock analysis at TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.





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U.S. to allow states to distribute Gilead's remdesivir to fight COVID-19




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Trump doubles down on capital gains, payroll tax cuts to stimulate economy




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New GitHub Features Help Find Vulnerabilities and Secrets in Code

GitHub on Wednesday announced two new security features designed to help developers identify vulnerabilities and potential secrets in their code.

The company announced several new products at its Satellite virtual conference, including ones aimed at helping customers write and consume more secure code.

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Nearly 1 Million WordPress Sites Targeted via Old Vulnerabilities

A large-scale attack campaign has targeted over 900,000 WordPress websites through vulnerabilities in plugins and themes, WordPress security company Defiant revealed this week.

read more




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Another Stuxnet-Style Vulnerability Found in Schneider Electric Software

Researchers have found another vulnerability in software made by Schneider Electric that is similar to the one exploited by the notorious Stuxnet malware.

read more




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Zoom Acquires Keybase to Bring End-to-End Encryption to Video Platform

Popular communications platform provider Zoom Video announced on Thursday that it has acquired secure messaging and file-sharing service Keybase for an undisclosed sum. The move is the latest by the company as it attempts to bolster the security of its offerings and build in end-to-end encryption that can scale to the company’s massive user base.

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Chinese Naikon APT Rediscovered After New Five-year Stealth Campaign

Naikon, a Chinese APT group that disappeared after its activities were disclosed in 2015, has been rediscovered and may have remained active but unrecognized since the 2015 reports. Researchers have uncovered evidence of a five-year stealth campaign against similar targets in the same geographical area that they believe to be conducted by Naikon.

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Recorded Future Releases Free Threat Intelligence Browser Extension

Recorded Future this week announced the availability of Express, a free web browser extension designed to help security teams prioritize vulnerability patching and alerts from security information and event management (SIEM) tools.

read more




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North Korean Hackers Release Mac Variant of Dacls RAT

North Korea-linked hacking group Lazarus has been leveraging a Mac variant of the Dacls Remote Access Trojan (RAT), Malwarebytes reports.

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Search Company Algolia Hacked via Recent Salt Vulnerabilities

A couple of Salt vulnerabilities addressed last week were abused over the weekend to hack Algolia’s infrastructure, the search-as-a-service startup revealed.

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Critical Flaw in CODESYS Industrial Controller Software Allows Code Execution

Cisco’s Talos threat intelligence and research group revealed on Wednesday that one of its researchers discovered a critical remote code execution vulnerability in the CODESYS Control SoftPLC industrial controller software.

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Cisco Patches High Severity Vulnerabilities in Security Products

Cisco Patches High Severity Vulnerabilities in Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD)

Cisco this week released security updates to address more than 30 vulnerabilities in various products, including 12 high severity flaws impacting Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) and Firepower Threat Defense (FTD).

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Elementor Plugin Vulnerabilities Exploited to Hack WordPress Sites

Threat actors are actively targeting a vulnerability in the Elementor Pro plugin for WordPress to compromise websites, WordPress security company Defiant warned this week.

read more




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Industry Reactions to Alliance for Open 5G Systems: Feedback Friday

More than 30 technology and telecom companies announced this week that they have formed a new alliance, the Open RAN Policy Coalition, that calls for open and interoperable 5G systems.

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Google Authenticator Users Can Now Transfer 2SV Secrets Between Devices

Google this week announced that Google Authenticator users can now transfer 2-Step Verification (2SV) secrets between devices.

The new feature is meant to make it easier for users to manage their Google Authenticator 2SV codes across multiple devices.

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  • NEWS & INDUSTRY
  • Identity & Access

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Healthcare, Government Organizations Targeted in BEC Attacks With COVID-19 Lures

Nigerian cybercriminals specialized in business email compromise (BEC) attacks were observed leveraging COVID-19 lures in recent attacks on healthcare and government organizations, Palo Alto Networks reveals.

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Cloud Security Company Ermetic Emerges From Stealth Mode

Cloud security company Ermetic emerged from stealth mode this week with a platform that automates detection and remediation of identity and access-based risks.

read more



  • NEWS & INDUSTRY
  • Identity & Access
  • Cloud Security
  • Management & Strategy

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Growing Kale in your garden

Growing Kale: Tips on How to grow kale in your garden Kale also known as borecole is a plant that belongs to the species Brassica Oleracea. Kale plant comes in green or purple leaves. Though it belongs to the same family of cabbage, Kale plant doesn’t form a head. Kale plant is very nutritious and […]




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Happy World Environment Day 2016

Happy Environment Day 2016 As the title says, I would like to wish all of you an very happy environment day. Ideally speaking, every day of the year should be environment day isn’t it? You bet! Well we are definitely not in an ideal world. So we really need to think ways we can contribute to […]




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Growing Swiss chard in your garden

Guide to growing Swiss chard with pictures and step by step explanation. Learn to grow swiss chard in the ground, container or in Hydroponics.




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Growing Romaine Lettuce or Cos Lettuce in Hydroponics

What lettuce comes to your mind, when I say the word lettuce? Go on, take a minute. If you thought Iceberg lettuce, you aren’t alone. Iceberg is (or used to be) the defacto standard when it comes lettuce.  Iceberg lettuce has its crunch but if you look beyond the crunch, nutrient values that is, you will […]




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What are pelleted seeds?

 Have you tried sowing lettuce seeds in a 100 cell propagation tray with exactly one seed per cell? if you did, you will know what I am talking about. It takes a lot of time to just sow one seed per cell, it is almost like meditation. Now scale it up to hundreds of such […]




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DIY Hydroponics – What is the difference between TDS and EC

TDS vs EC meter – Which one to buy? If you are a beginner in Hydroponics, it is certain, at some point, you would have had this question in your mind. Should I buy an EC meter or a TDS meter? While the users are split on which one is better, it is good to […]




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Step by step guide on how to grow microgreens with pictures

Microgreens are everywhere these days. You see them in the toppings, in the garnishes and hey also in your friend’s Instagram page.   So what is so great about microgreens that makes everyone go gaga over it? The answer is very simple. More nutrition at fraction of a time! Needs very small space to grow […]




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Guide to Trellising tomato plants – How to train tomato plants

Trellising tomatoes using the tomato hook and tomato clips Please check out this video I made on Trellising tomato plants. If you are growing indeterminate or vine tomatoes, they will have to be supported due to their tall growing nature. Trellising tomato plants is done either by a stick or a twine. Twine is the […]




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Make your own pollinator for under INR 100

  Pollination and its importance Without pollination, you can’t have the fruits of your effort (pun intended as always ;-). Pollination is a process where the pollen from the male parts of the flower are transferred to female flower or female parts of the flower. This step has to happen for fruit set to happen. […]




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Beginner’s guide to pH in Hydroponics

Understanding pH in Hydroponics Hydroponics is all about precision. The health of the plants in your growing system depends on various factors – design of your system, crop selection, key parameters such as pH, EC, temperature, humidity among others. These parameters have a range in which they need to be kept in order to get […]




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Pendleton Bike Week Lands Easy Rider Bourbon as Major Sponsor

Motorcycle Rally Grows




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Triton Awarded Key US Patent Broadly Protecting its Fiber Reinforced Aluminum FRA Composites

Underpins company plan to expand commercialization and definitive manufacturing relationships




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Los Angeles-Based American Eagle Auto Body Wins Coveted Spectrum Award For Customer Service Excellence

American Eagle Auto Body, a Los Angeles-based auto shop, is the winner of the City Beat News Spectrum Award for Excellence in Customer Service.




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Snag a Great Deal: 4 Tips in Buying a Used Car Online

Buying a used car online does not have to be intimidating. With these four easy tips, you can make sure that you are getting the best vehicle for your money.




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Seminole PowerSports Located In Sanford, Florida Announces Generators For Sale

Generators for sale in preparation for Hurricane Matthew




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Carl Reese Attempting 24-Hour Guinness World Record on Motorcycle

Extreme endurance motorcycle rider to attempt 9th world record, "Greatest Distance on a Motorcycle in 24 Hours (Individual)" this weekend in Uvalde, Texas. Follow live at www.carlreese.net starting on February 24, 2017.




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Seminole PowerSports Offers 2017 YZF-R6 Yamaha Priority Delivery Program

Sanford, Florida Power Sports dealership participates in Yamaha pre-order program.




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BeepUAE, A Promising, Instant Cash Car Buying Service Launches in Dubai

BeepUAE guarantees to finalize all of their car buying deals in just 30 minutes while paying the seller with instant cash at the rendezvous.




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Seminole PowerSports Hosts Meet and Greet with Cristy Lee from All Girls Garage

Sanford, Florida Power Sports Dealership Welcomes Cristy Lee for the Kickoff of "Tour de Florida"




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Hayes Law Releases Custom Infographic Illustrating the 5 Steps to Take After an Auto Accident

Visual content demonstrates the best way to protect an accident injury case




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The Roadside Assistance Revolution Offering Better Peace Of Mind

There is a one in three chance that a motorist will require roadside assistance in the next 12 months due to battery failure or a related electrical system issue.




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RIDE Adventures Announces Addition of the "RIDE the 3 Corners" Trip to Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia

Motorcycle enthusiasts can now experience another bucket-list journey of a lifetime.




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RIDE Adventures Reminds Motorcyclists of the Upcoming Prime European Riding Season and the 2017 Motorrad Days in Germany

Motorcycle enthusiasts are encouraged to take advantage of the European riding season and attend the world's largest BMW motorcycle party.




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Better Business Bureau Recognizes Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law with Winner of Distinction Award

This marks the 3rd consecutive award the Houston personal injury firm has received for the quality of service it offers clients.




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Texas is the Third Most Dangerous State for Motorcyclists

Austin personal injury attorney Chip Evans said the state ranks among the worst in the nation for motorcycle safety. Texas is behind only South Carolina and Mississippi in the number of number of motorcycle fatalities per registered motorcycles.




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College Students Store Your Car Here for the Summer

Dallas Car Storage Wants to Help You




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Kentucky Attorney Urges Caution During 100 Deadly Days

Billy Johnson of the Billy Johnson Law Firm in Pikeville, Ky., says highways are especially dangerous during summer months.