Shares were up 5 percent in morning trading on Wednesday, hitting a new 52-week high, as the company also announced a 44 percent increase in its quarterly dividend and a new $6.5 billion share buyback.

The leading U.S. cable TV provider added 336,000 Internet subscribers and lost just 17,000 video customers — its best quarterly video numbers in five years.

Analysts at Collins Stewart had expected Comcast to add 242,000 Internet subscribers and lose as many as 140,Cheap Gucci,000 video subscribers.

“I really believe these improvements are sustainable because they are the result of our scale and our intensified focus on service and innovation,” said Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts on a conference call with analysts.

U.S. cable companies have been losing traditional video subscribers at an increasing rate over the last five years and have been relying mainly on Internet and phone additions for subscriber growth. The cable industry has been hit by a triple whammy of a weak housing market, stiffer competition from satellite TV and phone companies and cheaper entertainment alternatives from Web video services like Netflix Inc (NFLX.O).

Cable executives have disputed that they are losing customers to online video services in a phenomenon known as “cord-cutting,” which is expected to see new entrants from Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) and Google Inc (GOOG.O). Comcast and Time Warner Cable Inc (TWC.N) have led a push to expand their programming agreements to include Web access so customers can see their shows wherever they are, and on most devices.

“We may not get back to full growth in video for a while because we don’t see housing growth, but someday that’s going to happen,” said Roberts.

Comcast also added 146,000 phone customers, below Collins Stewart’s forecast of 170,000 additions.

“I thought these were pretty strong results,” said Collins Stewart analyst Thomas Eagan. “They could possibly grow video subscribers in the current quarter. We think this reflects better overall execution across the cable business.”

Comcast, which took control of NBC Universal a year ago, said strong cash flow growth at its cable networks was offset by a weaker performance at the NBC broadcast business and its Universal studio.

Cable networks, including USA, Bravo and E!, saw operating cash flow jump 16.2 percent to $930 million, but NBC cash flow turned negative at $52 million. Universal’s operating cash flow nearly halved to $91 million. The theme park business posted flat operating cash flow performance at $191 million.

Comcast is doing well in spite of NBC Universal’s weaker performance, said Bernstein Research analyst Craig Moffett in a note to clients.

“Comcast remains a distribution company, not a media company, and by a huge margin. NBCU, in other words, just needs to stay out of the way.”

Fourth-quarter net income rose to $1.29 billion, or 47 cents a share from $1.02 billion, or 36 cents a share, a year before.

Analysts had on average forecast profit of 41 cents per share, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue rose 3 percent to $15 billion.

The cable company raised its dividend by 44 percent to 16.25 cents a quarter, or 65 cents a year, and announced a new share buyback program of $6.5 billion, with a pledge to spend $3 billion in 2012. Analysts said they had been expecting Comcast to buy back around $3.5 billion in stock in 2012.

Comcast is the latest media company to announce a major buyback and dividend increase at the start of the year. Viacom Inc (VIAB.O), Time Warner Inc (TWX.N) and Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) all have put more focus on returning cash to shareholders for 2012 rather than on major acquisitions or capital intensive projects.

Comcast shares rose by $1.36 to $28.61 in late-morning trade on Nasdaq.

(Reporting By Yinka Adegoke; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

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PRODUCT DETAILS
Tube style
Slight ruching at the bust’s side seams
Below the knee
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Color: Black
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Assembled in Country of Origin: Imported
Origin of Components: Imported
Wal-Mart No.: 007888898

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Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

To be honest, unless you’re long and lean, this isn’t an easy look to pull off. The key is to choose the right colors and proportions. Steer clear of daisy duke shorts in a light wash and choose a longer style in a medium or dark rinse. Pull on a pair of opaque tights in a slimming shade such as black, gray, or navy and go for sexy suede pumps or tall sleek boots in a similar color. The less contrast, the thinner you’ll look so stick to a monochromatic effect.

On the top,Discount Miss Sixty jeans, try a long boyfriend cardigan or a blazer with a flowing tunic. Think of your shorts like you would a mini skirt. How would you work that out?

American Eagle and H&M are showing inexpensive denim cutoffs in their pre spring lines, but I’m especially loving the Gap’s cuffed version, which comes in sizes 4-18 ($24.50, gap.com).

By Sasha Charnin Morrison for UsMagazine.com. To read more of the Recessionista blog, click here.

That was certainly true of a giant, wide-brimmed sun hat (available in that same cat print, among others) that folded up onto itself to fit into a tiny cloth purse. And it was true of raffia hats, cotton sweaters, and the biggest Japanese denim offering O.C. has yet proposed. That’s not to say there weren’t expensive treatments here, too, like the hand-done embroidery on day dresses or the hand-stitched leopard panels that tufted up on a mustard-colored sweatshirt and skirt.

Eclectic was the right word for the collection, which veered about as widely as your average three-day fest. Not a bad thing. And much of it did look throw-and-go, just as the duo had suggested. You can imagine they appreciate that as much as any of their customers. The newly appointed creative directors of Kenzo are now spending every other week in Paris, where they’ve just shown their first women’s collection, and are gearing up for their first men’s presentation in January.
—Matthew Schneier

Photo: Courtesy of Opening Ceremon

Celebs like Demi Lovato, Kristin Bell, Angelina Jolie (remember the infamous backward dress?) love Max Azria’s stuff, and so do I! Every time I go on a shoot, I am loaded with dresses from his line because they work on everyone. And when you roam the site or go into the store, there are so much great pieces that you will find yourself leaving with a full wardrobe for a season. There are accessories galore, shoes, handbags, evening wear,Replica Cartier Sunglasses, day dresses…I mean, if they offer you water, you never have to go home again!

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By Sasha Charnin Morrison for UsMagazine.com. To read more of the Recessionista blog, click here.

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An exhibition by Chinese artist Song Dong has just opened at the Barbican in London. Waste Not is a collection of over 10,000 household objects saved by the artist’s mother over half a century.

Like many in China during the Cultural Revolution, Song Dong’s mother used and re-used everything – nothing was wasted.

Song Dong’s work explores ideas of family life,Discount Versace, love and the memories in everyday objects.

Song Dong was interviewed for BBC World Service.

Helps when mom Gwen Stefani and dad Gavin Rossdale are all that and a bag of chips. Stefani has dressed both her little men in cool kids clothes from Old Navy: the camo shorts and the Mickey tee! So chic, so attainable and hello, so affordable,wholesale Dolce Gabbana jeans!

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By Sasha Charnin Morrison for UsMagazine.com. To read more of the Recessionista blog, click here.

The little feature that makes me insane is the gathering and the layer at the bustline,wholesale Gucci jewelry! So elegant, so chic! Kate Beckinsale’s version is from Susie Rose and available at Wal-Mart stores. Sized from small to XL, this dress and a stop at your local Wal-Mart is a must!

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