Secondary activity was light again last week, a result of what one investor described as a "hangover" from the holiday weekend. The market backed up with stronger than expected CPI data, which followed the positive job report. Here are a few notable movers.
Tenet Faces New Investigations
Tenet Healthcare 7 3/8% notes of '12 fell to 91, down 1.5 points after news was announced that federal officials have launched two new investigations into Tenet-owned hospitals in Southern California. The investigation centers on coding and billing practices at one hospital, and the relationship between another hospital and an independent home health placement company.
Report Gives Adelphia An 'A'
Adelphia Communications Corp.'s 10 7/8% notes of '10 traded up a couple points to 102. One trader noted the increase came after Merrill Lynch equity analysts released a positive report on the company, adding that valuations in the cable industry, led by Comcast Corp. and Cox Communications, are increasing and have led to the upswing for Adelphia. The report predicts that Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications will look to acquire Adelphia shortly after it emerges from bankruptcy or in a reorganization effort. One investor noted that the report was an excellent piece on the cable industry with a prediction of further consolidation. He added that "usually, bankrupt companies are not a focus within an industry, but the acquisition of Adelphia could change how analysts value the acquirer."
Levi's Isn't Wearing Out
Levi Strauss & Co. continued to see its bonds move up, after a positive earnings report was released last Tuesday. The 12 1/4% notes of '12 traded as high as 88 hours after the report came out and by Thursday had settled back to around 85, which was up from the high two weeks ago of 82. While investor confidence grew with the report and conference call last week, some are still questioning the growth of the company, with one investor asking, "Do you wear Levi's? I don't know anyone that wears Levi's anymore."