Savings accounts at banks and trust companies pay annual interest rates as low as 0.20% and require minimum balances or monthly service plan charges to avoid transaction fees and maintenance charges. But these two institutions offer you much better deals:

ING Direct (1-800-464-3473) offers a no-fee, high-interest savings account that currently pays 3.00%. ING’s Investment Savings Account has no minimum deposit …read more »

MOTOROLA INC. $23 (New York symbol MOT) had to stop shipping its popular Razr mobile phone due to a problem with a component. Most of the phones were still in the inventory of two leading mobile service providers, so the delay will have little impact on sales. Buy.

C.R. BARD INC. $68 (New York symbol BCR) has agreed to buy privately …read more »

NOVA CHEMICALS CORP. $36 shut down a major plastics plant in Ontario last September for an upgrade. However, problems with new machinery kept the plant closed until just a few weeks ago. The company hopes to recover some of these extra costs from its equipment suppliers. Earnings should rebound in 2006, and the stock now trades at just 7.4 times …read more »

CANADIAN TIRE CORP., LTD. $64 (Toronto symbol CTR.NV; SI Rating: Above average) is a good example of a Canadian retailer that has successfully dealt with the Wal-Mart threat. It closed older stores, and upgraded its checkout and inventory systems.

Thanks to its new stores, which feature wider aisles, better signage and faster checkouts, Canadian Tire earned $1.30 a share before unusual …read more »

INCO LTD. $54 (Toronto symbol N) struggled as the Asian economic crisis led to lower nickel demand and prices.

In light of the bleak outlook, it seemed that Inco overpaid for the huge Voisey’s Bay nickel deposit in Labrador. The Newfoundland government’s demand that Inco build a smelter in the province to process the ore also threatened the project’s feasibility. The …read more »

SUN LIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES $49 (Toronto symbol SLF; SI Rating: Above average) offers savings, retirement, pension and life and health insurance products and services to individuals and corporate customers. The company operates primarily in Canada, the U.S. and the UK, and also in Asia and India.

In the three months ended December 31, 2005, Sun Life’s earnings rose 9.1%, to $478 …read more »

BECKMAN COULTER INC. $55 (New York symbol BEC; WSSF Rating: Average) is a long-time favorite of ours due to its rare combination of strong growth at moderate risk. It also operates in a growing field, and every system it sells gives it a new long-term supplies customer. It should also gain from an increased emphasis on early detection and treatment …read more »

J.P. MORGAN CHASE & CO. $38 (New York symbol JPM; WSSF Rating: Above average) is the third-largest bank in the United States, after Citigroup and Bank of America.

The company provides a wide range of personal financial services including deposits, checking, loans and mortgages, through over 2,500 branches in 17 states. Other businesses include corporate banking, brokerage and wealth management services. …read more »

NORDSTROM, INC. $41 (New York symbol JWN; WSSF Rating: Average) operates 155 stores in 27 states, including 98 full size department stores. Nordstrom stores specialize in upscale fashions and home décor items.

In its third fiscal quarter ended October 29, 2005, Nordstrom earned $0.39 a share (total $107.5 million), up 44.4% from $0.27 a share ($77.8 million) a year earlier. Sales …read more »

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $31 (New York symbol VZ; WSSF Rating: Average) provides local and long distance phone service to 145 million customers in 29 states. Through 55%-owned Verizon Wireless, it offers wireless service to 49 million customers across the United States. It also provides Internet access to homes and businesses, and publishes telephone directories.

In January 2006, Verizon acquired long distance …read more »