Best Japanese Stocks To Invest In 2014

General Motors headquarters in Detroit. Photo Credit: General Motors Company.

It's been a solid year for Detroit's Big Three automakers in the U.S and each has gained market share at the expensive of their Japanese rivals Toyota (NYSE: TM  ) and Honda. Ford (NYSE: F  ) was the big winner halfway through the year; it increased U.S. market share from 15.7% to 16.5%. That doesn't seem like a big jump, but a fraction of a percentage is a big deal in the auto industry and Ford's gain was the most of any full-line automaker. When we look at global sales though, there's a different winner for the first half of 2013.

GM gains on Toyota
Toyota still ranks No. 1 in global sales for the first half of 2013, having sold 4.91 million units which is 1.2% fewer than last year. General Motors (NYSE: GM  ) came in just under its global rival at 4.85 million vehicles sold, and managed to top Toyota in quarterly sales for the first time in over a year. Part of the reason is that domestic automakers are surging in the U.S. market, whereas Toyota's sales declined 8.4% in its home market Japan ��and that looks to continue.

Top 5 Quality Stocks To Own For 2015: Micrel Incorporated(MCRL)

Micrel Incorporated, doing business as Micrel Semiconductor, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets high-performance analog power, mixed-signal, and digital integrated circuits (ICs) primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. It offers power management products, including cloud, single-board, and enterprise servers; network switches and routers; storage area networks; and wireless base stations for the networking and communications infrastructure markets. The company also provides power management standard products for industrial, consumer, defense, and automotive electronics markets. In addition, it manufactures custom analog and mixed-signal circuits; and provides wafer foundry services for the customers who produce electronic systems for communications, consumer, and military applications. Further, the company offers general linear parts; power analog circuits; high speed physical media devices and interface ICs; and Ethernet products, which comprise physical l ayer transceivers, media access controllers, switches, and system-on-chip devices. Additionally, it provides radio frequency (RF) data communications products, including QwikRadio family of RF receivers and transmitters, which include garage door openers, lighting and fan controls, automotive keyless entry, and remote controls; and RadioWire transceivers for applications, such as remote metering, security systems, and factory automation. The company?s products address a range of end markets, including cellular handsets, portable computing, enterprise and home networking, wide area and metropolitan area networks, digital televisions, and industrial equipment. Micrel Incorporated sells its products through a network of independent sales representatives, independent distributors, and stocking representative firms, as well as through a direct sales staff. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of Micrel (NASDAQ: MCRL  ) jumped temporarily this morning, up by as much as 10% before giving back nearly all of those gains, following first-quarter earnings.

Best Japanese Stocks To Invest In 2014: ISA Internationale Inc (ISAT)

ISA Internationale Inc. (ISAI),), incorporated on June 2, 1989, is a business development company. The Company�� business is to acquire relationships with the business community to develop into client companies that can lead to consulting contracts and the providing of services to assist American client companies in complying with the reporting requirements to the government and in communicating with shareholders, customers and the public and the accessing of needed growth capital.

The Company also did use third party agencies and attorneys to collect its portfolios. The Company is in the process of changing its business plan of operation. As of September 30, 2012, the Company has not generated and sales and gross profit from any of its new operations as a Business Development Company. The Company is seeking additional sources of debt financing other than additional convertible notes payable issued by a related party.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Inmarsat Plc (ISAT) gained 5.4 percent to 732.5 pence. Morgan Stanley upgraded the world�� biggest supplier of maritime satellite services to overweight from equal weight, meaning that investors should hold more of the shares than are represented in benchmark indexes. Morgan Stanley said the outlook for the company�� core business has improved.

Best Japanese Stocks To Invest In 2014: Belo Corp (BLC)

Belo Corp. (Belo), incorporated on October 27, 2000, is a television company. The Company owns 20 television stations, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and MyNetwork TV (MNTV) affiliates, and their associated websites, in 15 markets across the United States. The Company also has three local and two regional news channels. Belo also has a services agreement with the owner and operator of KFWD-TV, licensed to Fort Worth, Texas. Belo has six stations in the 13 U.S. markets and 13 stations in the 50 U.S. markets. Belo�� stations are concentrated primarily in three regions: Texas, the Northwest and Arizona. Six of the Company�� stations are located in four metropolitan areas in the United States: ABC affiliate WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth; CBS affiliate KHOU-TV in Houston; NBC affiliate KING-TV and independent KONG-TV in Seattle/Tacoma, and Independent KTVK and The CW Network (CW) affiliate KASW-TV in Phoenix. Belo�� television stations have been recognized with numerous local, state and national awards for news coverage and community service. The principal source of revenue for Belo�� television stations is the sale of airtime to local, regional and national advertisers. In 2012, 82.0 % of the Company�� total revenues were derived from spot advertising.

The Company has a portfolio of broadcast network-affiliated stations, with four ABC affiliates, five CBS affiliates and four NBC affiliates, and at least one station associated with each network. As such, Belo�� revenue streams are not significantly affected by which broadcast network leads in the primetime ratings. Belo also owns two independent (IND) stations, two CW affiliates, two MNTV affiliates, and one FOX affiliate. Company also has two regional news channels, Texas Cable News (TXCN) in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and Northwest Cable News (NWCN) in Seattle/Tacoma, Washington, and three local news channels, 24/7 NewsChannel in Boise, Idaho, NewsWatch on Channel 15 in New Orleans, Louisiana and the 3TV 24/7 news channel in Pho! enix, Arizona. These operations provide news coverage and certain other programming in a comprehensive 24-hour a day format using the resources of the Company�� television stations in Texas, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Louisiana and Arizona.

Websites of each of the Company�� television stations provide consumers with news and information as well as a variety of other products and services. Belo obtains immediate feedback through online communication with its audience, which allows the Company to tailor the way in which it delivers news and information to serve the needs of its audiences. The Company has network affiliation agreements with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and MNTV. The Company�� network affiliation agreements generally provide the station with the exclusive right to broadcast over the air in its local service area all programs transmitted by the network with which the station is affiliated. As of September 30, 2012, the Company also operated, through a joint venture, a cable news channel in partnership with Cox Communications and other parties that provided local news coverage in Phoenix, Arizona (Arizona NewsChannel).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon Friedman]

  Editor's note: A previous version of this article referred to A.H. Belo (NYSE: AHC) instead of Belo Corp. (NYSE: BLC). The Fool regrets the error.�

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Gannett (GCI) rose 3.6% to $26.67 after Belo (BLC) shareholders approved a merger of the two companies. Belo’s stock fell 0.6% to $13.72.

  Carnival (CCL) fell 5.3% to $32.70 today, a day after falling nearly 8% on disappointing earnings. Barron’s says it’s time to buy.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  The main catalyst for Gannett's rise was its June announcement that it would acquire television broadcaster Belo (NYSE: BLC  ) in a $2.2 billion deal. The purchase will add Belo's 20 television stations to Gannett's existing broadcasting portfolio, nearly doubling Gannett's station count to 43, and giving it nine more stations in key top-25 markets. Even though the company paid a 28% premium for Belo, Gannett's stock also soared on the news, rising as much as 35% on hopes that diversifying its media exposure will prevent it from suffering the fate of a declining newspaper industry.

Best Japanese Stocks To Invest In 2014: Powershares Water Resource Portfolio (PHO)

PowerShares Water Resources Portfolio (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Palisades Water Index (the Index). The Palisades Water Index includes water companies drawn from sectors, which include water utilities, treatment, analytical and monitoring, infrastructure and distribution, water resource management, and conglomerate water companies. The Index includes companies that focus on the provision of potable water, the treatment of water and the technology and services that are directly related to water consumption. The Palisades Water Index was created by Hydrogen Ventures, LLC.

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in American depositary receipts (ADRs) and common stocks of companies in the water industry. For purposes of this 80% policy, a company will be considered to be in the water industry if at least 50% of its revenues come from water-related activities. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in ADRs and common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Index. The Fund generally will invest in the stocks comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  Given just how many different water stocks there are, investors may be better suited in a broad portfolio. With nearly $1 billion in assets, the PowerShares Water Resources (PHO) is the largest exchange-traded fund (ETF) that covers the sector.

Best Japanese Stocks To Invest In 2014: Antares Pharma Inc (ATRS)

Antares Pharma, Inc. (Antares) is a pharma company that focuses on self-injection pharmaceutical products and technologies and topical gel-based products. The Company�� subcutaneous and intramuscular injection technology platforms include Vibex disposable pressure-assisted auto injectors, Vision reusable needle-free injectors, and disposable multi-use pen injectors. In the injector area, it has licensed its reusable needle-free injection device for use with human growth hormone (hGH) to Teva, Ferring Pharmaceuticals BV (Ferring) and JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (JCR), with Teva and Ferring being its two primary customers. The Company has also licensed both disposable auto and pen injection devices to Teva for use in certain fields and territories and is engaged in product development activities for Teva utilizing these devices.

In the gel-based area, it received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in December 2011 for its oxybutynin gel 3% product, Anturol, for the treatment of overactive bladder. Antares also has a licensing agreement with Watson Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Watson) under which Watson will commercialize its topical oxybutynin gel 3% product in the United States and Canada. Its gel portfolio also includes Elestrin (estradiol gel) in the United States for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Antares has designed disposable, pressure assisted auto injector devices to address acute medical needs, such as allergic reactions, migraine headaches, acute pain, emesis and other daily therapies.

Pressure Assisted Injection Devices

The Company�� Pressure Assisted Injection Devices consists of three products: reusable needle-free injectors, disposable pressure assisted auto injectors and disposable pen injectors. Reusable needle-free injectors deliver precise medication doses through high-speed, pressurized liquid penetration of the skin without a needle. The injector employs a disposable pl! astic needle-free syringe, which offers liquid medication delivery through an opening that is approximately half the diameter of a standard, 30-gauge needle.

Disposable pressure assisted auto injectors is a technology of controlled pressure delivery of drugs into the body utilizing a spring power source. The Vibex is designed to provide fast subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of up to 0.5ml with minimal discomfort and improved convenience in conjunction with the enhanced safety of a shielded needle. Disposable pen injectors are needle-based devices designed to deliver multiple injections from multi-dose drug cartridges. The devices contain mechanisms that specify the dose to be delivered by defining the amount of movement by the stopper in the cartridge with each device actuation.

The Vision/Tjet has been sold for use in more than 30 countries to deliver either insulin or hGH. The product features a reusable, spring-based power source and disposable needle-free syringe, which acts as the pathway for the injectable drug through the skin and allows for viewing of the medication dose prior to injection. The product is also reusable, with each device designed to last for approximately 3,000 injections (or approximately two years) while the needle-free syringe, when used with insulin or hGH, is disposable after approximately one week when used by a single patient for injecting from multi-dose vials. The Vision/Tjet administers injectables by using a spring to push the active ingredient in solution or suspension through a micro-fine opening in the needle-free syringe. The opening is approximately half the diameter of a 30-gauge needle. The Vision/Tjet is primarily used in the United States, Europe, Asia and Japan.

Antares has designed disposable, pressure assisted auto injector devices to address acute medical needs, such as allergic reactions, migraine headaches, acute pain, emesis and other daily therapies. Its Vibex disposable product combines a low-energy, spr! ing-based! power source with a hidden needle, which delivers up to 0.5ml of the needed drug solution subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Antares is also developing a Vibex MTX auto injector for delivery of methotrexate for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The Company�� multi use, disposable pen injector complements its portfolio of single-use pressure assisted auto injector devices. The disposable pen injector device is designed to deliver drugs by injection through needles from multi- dose cartridges. The disposable pen is in the stage of development where devices are being used in clinical evaluations.

Transdermal Products

The Company�� ATD system penetrates the skin to deliver a variety of treatments. The gels consist of a hydro-alcoholic base, including a combination of permeation enhancers. Products being developed/ commercialized include Anturol, Elestrin and Nestragel. Elestrin is a transdermal estradiol gel for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Its other injectable drugs that are presently self-administered and may be suitable for injection with its systems include therapies for the prevention of blood clots and treatments for multiple sclerosis, migraine headaches, inflammatory diseases, impotence, infertility, acquired immune deficiency symdrome (AIDS) and hepatitis.

The Company competes with Ypsomed AG, SHL Group AB, OwenMumford Ltd., West Pharmaceuticals, Becton Dickinson, Haselmeir GmbH, Elcam Medical, Vetter Pharma, Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., The Medical House PLC, Watson, Abbott, Eli Lilly, Auxillium, Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Teva, Mylan, Roxane, Bedford Labs, APP Pharmaceuticals, Hospira, Pfizer, GSK/Astellas, Warner Chilcott and Allergan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  This is NOT a judgment call on the drug. This isn't a judgment call on the company either. This is a judgment call on how emotional and distracted traders can get from time to time, and we only have to look at Antares Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:ATRS), Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AVNR), and VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) to see how drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid ultimately punished anyone who bought rather than sold ATRS, VVUS, and AVNR right when the news seemed to incredibly encouraging.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Antares Pharma (NASDAQ: ATRS) shares tumbled 3.09% to touch a new 52-week low of $3.14. Antares Pharma's PEG ratio is -0.29.

  eGain (NASDAQ: EGAN) shares fell 3.76% to reach a new 52-week low of $6.40. eGain's trailing-twelve-month ROE is -8.92%