Bradenton Times News Articles

In serious situations, minutes can be the difference between life and death for patients with severe injuries. But before November 13, no trauma center was located within Manatee, Sarasota or Desoto counties. Patients involved in serious motor vehicle accidents, falls and assaults were airlifted to St. Petersburg or Tampa. Hardships were not only placed on the victim, but also their family, who had to travel great distances to visit an injured, loved one.

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Feld Entertainment, Inc., in conjunction with the Manatee Economic Development Corporation, officials from the State of Florida and Manatee County Government, today are pleased to announce the new location for the company’s worldwide production headquarters in Ellenton, Fla.  Feld Entertainment produces the most well-known brands in live family entertainment, including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Monster Jam and other Feld Motor Sports productions. 

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Stocks rode the promise of continued support from the Federal Reserve to new highs for the year last week. While finishing off of its highest levels, the S&P 500 still managed to post a gain for the fourth week in a row. The Dow Industrials posted their first losing week of the year. While stocks no longer benefit from the widespread pessimism and oversold conditions that were present at the mid-December lows, the popular averages now enjoy improving intermediate-term trends, gathering momentum and increasingly broad support.

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A California-based consulting firm has ranked Lakewood Ranch as one of the top selling master planned communities in the United States. The community reported 391 new-home sales in 2011, putting them at number 9, and ahead of some marquee developments and up from 14 last year.

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The equity markets rose for the third consecutive time last week supported by mounting evidence the U.S. economy is gaining positive momentum. The market also benefited from the fact that the news out of Europe was less threatening, which was reflected in the better than expected performance by the financial sector. The rally last week carried the S&P 500 over the 1300 hurdle, which was felt to be resistance.

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Foreclosures have increased across the region, but many houses are not being released into the market because of overburdened court dockets. As a result, home prices may rise temporarily because of the declining inventory of forclosable homes tied up in the court system. The houses trapped somewhere between foreclosure and "on the market" are called the shadow inventory and may provide area sellers with a small window of welcome relief.
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The equity markets rose for the second week in a row last week despite negative economic news both at home and in Europe. Stocks broke through resistance early in the week, which was near the 1285 level using the S&P 500, but quickly ran into stubborn resistance as news on the U.S. economy turned from cautious optimism to renewed skepticism. Problems in the Eurozone also resurfaced with new bond issues failing to find investor support followed by much anticipated debt downgrades for France, Austria, Italy and Spain by S&P.
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In the Lewis Carroll classic, Alice, fresh off her adventures in Wonderland, finds herself one snowy evening wondering about life on the other side of the mirror that hangs over the fireplace. She climbs atop the mantelpiece and discovers that she can step through into a looking-glass world. Once there, Alice encounters a reality that is anything but normal. Left is right, forward is backward and a new set of rules applies. We too find ourselves pulled into a new environment, one that if not so real would seem to be a farce. more»

If you've been wondering what all of the construction has been about on the corner of the Northwest Promenade shopping plaza at 67th Street and Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton, wonder no more – it's the future site of a new The Fresh Market location. The upscale grocer has announced that it will be opening its second Manatee County location this fall, after finding success in Lakewood Ranch at the Kohls Plaza on the corner of University and Honore. more»

Stocks began the year in rally mode, although virtually all of the gains for the week came on the opening session of the year. Small-caps continue to lag large-caps, and breadth is becoming more problematic. While the S&P 500 closed up 1.6% last week, the percentage of industry groups in up trends actually contracted (from 56% to 52%). Absent a significant broadening in rally participation, the ability of the major indexes to move significantly higher is likely limited.
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