InvestSource, Inc.: Chang-On International Inc. Now Listed in InvestSource Index

Aug 01, 2008 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- PM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Stocks in the News: Chang-On International Inc. (OTC BB: CAON), GFI Group Inc. (NASDAQGS: GFIG), Central Pacific Financial Corp. (NYSE: CPF), Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BRL), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM)

July 31, 2008 -- Chang-On International Inc. (OTC BB: CAON), a company engaged in green architectural products made of its innovative SF brand of synthetic resin, is pleased to announce the coverage by InvestSource Inc. in its rapidly growing ''InvestSource Index'' of publicly traded securities. Chang-On is the latest in a line of companies to recognize the potential benefits of placement in the InvestSource Index, a robust and feature-rich platform that incorporates the latest communications tools to create the most interactive environment for issuers and investors to interact, research, and communicate. InvestSource, Inc., a multimedia relations/investor relations firm specializing in bringing small- and micro-cap issuers to the attention of the broader public. In an attempt to establish its U.S. credibility and develop market visibility, Chang-On has also retained InvestSource for its market-rich platform and interactive environment for investors. A full profile of Chang-On International, including expanded company description, trading charts, and market highlights is now available on the InvestSource website at: http://www.investsourceinc.com.

July 31, 2008 -- GFI Group Inc. (NASDAQGS: GFIG), an inter-dealer brokerage, market data, trading platform and analytical software provider for global cash and derivative markets, announced that it is engaged in non-exclusive discussions with Tullett Prebon plc regarding a possible business combination involving the two companies. There can be no assurances that an agreement will be reached or that a transaction will be consummated. GFI does not intend to comment further until an agreement is reached or discussions are terminated. GFI Group Inc. (http://www.GFIgroup.com) is a leading inter-dealer broker specializing in over-the-counter derivatives products and related securities. GFI Group Inc. provides brokerage services, market data, trading platform and analytics software products to institutional clients in markets for a range of credit, financial, equity and commodity instruments. Headquartered in New York, GFI was founded in 1987 and employs more than 1,700 people with additional offices in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, Cape Town, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Calgary, Englewood (NJ) and Sugar Land (TX). GFI provides services and products to over 2,200 institutional clients, including leading investment and commercial banks, corporations, insurance companies and hedge funds. Its brands include GFI(tm), GFInet(r), CreditMatch(r), GFI ForexMatch(tm), EnergyMatch(r), FENICS(r), Starsupply(r), Amerex(r), and Trayport(r).

July 31, 2008 -- Central Pacific Financial Corp. (NYSE: CPF), parent company of Central Pacific Bank, announced that Ronald K. Migita, Chairman of the Board of Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Central Pacific Bank, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank. Migita will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of both Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Central Pacific Bank. The Board of Directors had been actively engaged in searching for a successor for the Company since March 2008 after President and CEO Clint Arnoldus announced his plans to retire. "Ron Migita is the right leader for the job at the right time," said Crystal Rose, Chair of the Board's search committee. "After conducting an extensive national search for the past four months, and interviewing a number of internal and external candidates, we selected Ron because he brings more than 40 years of banking experience to the table, has an in-depth understanding of the Hawaii market, and knows Central Pacific Bank's customers, employees and shareholders. The Board looks forward to working with Ron to ensure a smooth and seamless transition."

July 31, 2008 -- Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BRL | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) confirmed that its subsidiaries, Barr Laboratories, Inc. and PLIVA-Hrvatska D.O.O., have initiated a challenge of the patent listed by UCB Inc. in connection with its Xyzal Tablets (levocetirizine dihydrochloride), 5mg. The Company filed its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) containing a paragraph IV certification for a generic Xyzal product with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2008. Following receipt of the notice from the FDA that its ANDA had been accepted for filing, the Company notified the New Drug Application (NDA) and patent holder. On July 30, 2008, Sepracor Inc., UCB S.A., and UCB, Inc. filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to prevent the Company from proceeding with the commercialization of its product. This action formally initiates the patent challenge process under the Hatch-Waxman Act.

July 31, 2008 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) The U.S. Department of Defense has released $1 billion of funding to acquire six Lockheed Martin F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft as part of the second Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for the F-35. The LRIP 2 contract, worth $2.2 billion for a total of 12 aircraft, was awarded in May. At that time the government authorized six conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35As, with release of $933 million, and gave provisional approval for the STOVL jets pending certain requirements. Those stipulations were met by the first flight of the initial F-35B test aircraft on June 11 and by completion of a propulsion system review on July 22. The government exercised the option for the STOVL aircraft and released the $1 billion on July 22. The government had previously released long-lead funding of $158 million in July 2007 for the 12 LRIP 2 aircraft. An additional $110 million of sustainment options remains to be authorized in the 4th quarter of 2008.

July 31, 2008 -- Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) announced that the company has entered into an agreement with Rothmans Inc. (Rothmans) to purchase, by way of a tender offer, all of the outstanding common shares of Rothmans. The agreement and related offer have the full support of the Board of Directors of Rothmans. Rothmans' sole holding is a 60% interest in Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. (RBH). The remaining 40% interest in RBH is currently owned by PMI and, as a result of this transaction, RBH will become wholly owned by PMI. PMI and Rothmans have been joint shareholders of RBH since 1986. PMI agreed to make the offer following Rothmans' and RBH's finalization of the CAD $550 million settlement, announced today in a separate release issued by Rothmans, with the Government of Canada and all ten provinces. The settlement resolves the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's investigation relating to products exported from Canada by RBH during the 1989-1996 periods.

Wall Street sank Thursday, after weak readings on economic growth and the job market touched off renewed concerns about the financial health of businesses and consumers. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 200 points. The Commerce Department's report that gross domestic product grew at a 1.9 percent pace in the second quarter disappointed investors. Economists polled by Thomson Financial/IFR had expected growth of 2.4 percent in the broad measure of the economy's health. Investors were also concerned about Labor Department data saying that the number of people seeking jobless benefits jumped to the highest level in five years. Economists warned the weekly figures can be volatile, however, and some dismissed them as an aberration. A $4.5 billion cash offer from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. for its cancer drug partner ImClone Systems Inc. kept the Nasdaq composite index from falling as sharply as other indexes. In other positive news, oil prices declined, and an index of Midwestern business activity indicated growth. But Wall Street could not shake off its worries about the economy -- particularly after sobering remarks from Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on CNBC late in the afternoon. Greenspan said he would be more surprised if the United States did not enter recession than if it did. The comments came after Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said in a speech in Washington that the economy will continue to grow at a moderate pace for the rest of the year, and the government's $168 billion stimulus package had helped grease the economy's wheels. But Larry Smith, chief investment officer at Third Wave Global Investors in Greenwich, Conn., said tightness in credit markets and high oil prices continue to weigh on the economy and the stimulus package won't deliver a permanent fix. "Tax rebates have been a very effective way of propping up the economy in the second quarter, and less so in the third quarter," Smith said. "To fix the economic growth problems, you have to restore liquidity to the system." According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 205.67, or 1.78 percent, to 11,378.02, continuing its string of erratic, triple-digit daily swings. Broader stock indicators also declined. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 16.88, or 1.31 percent, to 1,267.38, while the Nasdaq fell 4.17, or 0.18 percent, to 2,325.55.

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To hear "The Fastest 60 Seconds in the Small-Cap Market," please go to www.ceo-corner.com This opinion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. InvestSource, Inc. has prepared all material herein based upon information believed to be reliable. The information contained herein is not guaranteed by InvestSource, Inc. to be accurate, and should not be considered to be all-inclusive. The companies that are discussed in this release have not given an opinion or approved the statements made in this release.

InvestSource, Inc. is not a licensed broker, broker dealer, market maker, investment banker, investment advisor, analyst or underwriter. InvestSource, Inc. affiliates, officers, directors and employees may also have bought, or may buy the shares discussed in this opinion and may profit in the event of a rise in value. InvestSource, Inc. will not advise as to when it decides to sell and does not, and will not, offer any opinion as to when others should buy or sell; each investor must make that decision based on his or her judgment of the market. Please consult your broker before purchasing or selling any securities mentioned herein. InvestSource has agreed to be compensated 140,000 of free trading shares of CAON for services rendered. To view full disclaimers, please go to http://investsourceinc.com/php/disclaimer.php (disclaimers).

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