Top Takes From RealMoney

The RealMoney contributors are in the business of trading and investing all day on the basis of ongoing news flow. Below, we offer the top five ideas that RealMoney contributors posted today and how they played those ideas.

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Lorillard Needs to Take Pre-Emptive Action

By Christopher Atayan
05/15/09 7 a.m. One of the companies I am keeping a careful eye on is Lorillard(LO Quote). This is a very conservative enterprise that has always had a vigilant eye on the bottom line. The company has one very strong brand, Newport, which dominates the menthol cigarette market, and I am confident that management will milk this asset for as long as it can. However, that is not the reason I am following the company. Rather, I believe the enterprise is going to be forced to confront the reality that menthol may be outlawed if the FDA has the power to regulate the tobacco industry.

Positions: None

Baltic Dry Index Trade

By James Altucher
05/15/09 7:56 a.m. Despite the healthy pullback in stocks (50 or so S&P handles), it is worth pointing out that the Baltic Dry Index just "broke out" to a six-month high yesterday, closing at 2432. Over the last 10 days, the BDI has increased by 560 points (32%), and over the last 25 days the index has increased by 869 points (59%).

Here is the trade: I find the July copper contract interesting under $2; Euroseas(ESEA Quote), which is one of a handful of dry bulk shippers with relatively low leverage, Star Bulk Carriers(SBLK Quote) and Freeport-McMoRan(FCX Quote) in the low $40s.

Positions: None