New Hire Roundup: Gamble Named Managing Director at F-Squared

This week in new hires, F-Squared Investments named Paul Gamble managing director; Sean Curry and Kimberly Palleon moved up at BMO Global Asset Management; Commonfund welcomed back Paul McKiernan; Prequin added George Segulin to its board; Jennifer Putney went to Prudential Retirement; and Highland Capital grew by 13.

Also, Casey Wamsley joined Collins Capital; Dan Cupertino went to Frontier Asset Management; Envision Business Consulting added Alan Arney and promoted Kelly Bolin; Saybrus Partners welcomed D. Steve Shirley and Geoffrey Ward; Scott Schuetz went to The Phoenix Cos.; and Prairie Capital Advisors welcomed Cecilia Loftus to its Philadelphia office.

F-Squared Names Paul Gamble Managing Director

F-Squared Investments announced the appointment of Paul Gamble as managing director, head of retirement solutions. He will be joining the management committee and play a critical part in guiding the firm's overall strategy. As president of retirement solutions, he will be responsible for the firm's full suite of next-generation investment solutions targeted towards the defined contribution and retirement markets, including customized and private-labeled target-date strategies and funds, collective trust funds and subadvisory partnerships in the retirement market.

Gamble has more than 20 years of experience in the retirement industry, most recently serving as executive vice president of distribution and institutional services at Financial Engines, where he spent 13 years. Before joining Financial Engines, he was vice president of institutional retirement sales at Scudder Investments, as well as vice president of institutional retirement sales at Fidelity Investments.

BMO Global Asset Management Advances Curry, Palleon

BMO Global Asset Management announced the expansion of its institutional sales team with the addition of Sean Curry as relationship manager, consultant relations, and of its trust and custody team with the appointment of Kimberly Palleon as manager for trust and custody services. Curry will be based in Chicago, and will provide dedicated relationship management to investment consultants based in the central and eastern U.S., while Palleon will oversee the trust and custody relationship management team.

Curry has more than 13 years of experience in investment and institutional relationship management. He joined in 2005 and has focused on relationship management for asset management clients in the U.S. In addition, he has played a key role in identifying new institutional opportunities with current clients and national consultants. His past experience includes roles with multiple leading financial services companies.

Joining in 1999, Palleon first served as a relationship coordinator on the retirement services relationship management team. In 2005, she became a relationship manager on the newly-established not-for-profit services team. She has over 13 years of experience administering custody, foundation, endowment and master custody relationships and has extensive experience with securities lending.

Paul McKiernan Returns to Commonfund

Commonfund announced Monday that Paul McKiernan has rejoined its institutional sales team as a managing director. He will focus his efforts on cultivating new relationships, as well as renewing previous client relationships in the midwest region, and will work with mission-based nonprofit institutions and pension plans.

McKiernan previously worked at Commonfund from 2007 to 2012, and most recently was director of U.S. institutional and consultant relationship management at QS Investors, where he was responsible for U.S. institutional business development and consultant relations. Earlier, he held institutional business development positions at Deutsche Asset Management from 2000–2006. George Siguler Appointed as Non-Executive Director of Preqin

Preqin announced the appointment of George Siguler as a non-executive director. He joined the board effective July 9.

Siguler is a managing director and founding partner of private equity firm Siguler Guff. He was a founding partner of Harvard Management Co. in the early 1970s; during this time, he also served as associate treasurer of Harvard University. In 1983–1984, he served as chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Reagan administration. Instrumental in founding Commonfund Capital in 1988, he served for many years as one of its directors. He was president of Associated Capital Investors (formerly Bank of America Investment Management Company), serving as CIO from 1985–1991, and was a managing director and head of PaineWebber’s private equity group from 1991 until 1995, when Siguler Guff became independent.

Prudential Retirement Names Putney Head of TRS B2C Marketing Strategy

Prudential Retirement, a business unit of Prudential Financial, has named Jennifer Putney vice president and head of its total retirement solutions (TRS) B2C marketing strategy. In her new role, she will be responsible for the overall marketing strategy and execution for TRS’s participant and retiree programs.

Best Sliver Companies To Own For 2015

Putney joins from Transamerica/Diversified Investment Advisors, where she ran participant communications and strategy for the last four years. Prior to that, she worked in the retirement services division at Pentegra and led Guardian's marketing area for their group pension business. She also has earlier history with Prudential, building out the marketing function in Scranton, Penn., in 1993, and overseeing its C&E program team 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans from 1995-1999.

Highland Capital Adds 13

Highland Capital Management announced Monday that it has hired six regional sales directors in the Pacific Northwest, Florida, North Texas, Long Island, the Midwest and Southeast, and has also expanded its sales team at its Dallas home office.

Anthony Wilson (San Francisco), Derek Andersen (Florida), Kevin Wentworth (Texas), Joseph Kearney (Long Island), Chris Shahda (Atlanta) and Tom Antonovich (Minneapolis) have joined as sales professionals.

Based in San Francisco and covering northern California, Oregon and Washington, Wilson brings two decades of experience as an investment management sales executive. Most recently, he was western division director for Artio Global Management; he previously held similar levels of responsibility at IndexIQ and Turner Investment Partners.

Andersen joins with eight years of experience as a financial adviser and wholesaler, most recently with The Hartford, where he was regional marketing director for south Florida and Puerto Rico. Prior to working in finance, he played professional baseball for the Tampa Bay Rays and coached baseball at the college level.

Wentworth covers North Texas, Austin, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He brings more than 14 years of combined experience in sales, management and service, most recently serving as regional vice president/external wholesaler for Hartford Mutual Funds. Prior to that, he was with JP Morgan Asset Management for 10 years.

Kearney has 16 years combined experience in sales and financial consulting. Most recently, he served as regional wholesaler/assistant vice president for AllianceBernstein. He held similar positions with Prudential Investments and First Investors Corporation, serving as an internal sales consultant for Prudential for four years and financial consultant for First Investors for three years.

Shahda leads external sales efforts in the southeast region, encompassing Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He comes from Hartford Mutual Funds, where he was an advisor consultant since 2005, working in the DC, Virginia and Maryland area and later in Georgia and South Carolina.

Antonovich oversees sales in the midwest, covering Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas. Earlier he had been an advisor consultant since 2005 for Hartford Mutual Funds, where he served independent, bank, and regional firms in Minnesota. He previously served as regional director for Walls Fargo Funds for six years.

In addition, Highland has also relocated and expanded its internal sales team to its home office in Dallas, adding seven new members to the team led by Justin O’Brien, formerly of Fidelity. His team comes from leading financial services firms, including Hartford Funds, Merrill Lynch, and Invesco.

Collins Capital Appoints New Director to Team

Collins Capital announced that it has appointed Casey Wamsley as director. In his role, he will focus on both the mutual fund and limited partnership sides, and will work very closely with Dorothy Weaver, cofounder, CEO and CIO of the firm.

Wamsley has more than 18 years of experience in the financial markets. He most recently served as founder and president of Phoenician Capital, where he specialized in alternative investment consulting to RIA firms and institutional clients. He also has previously held prominent positions at investment consulting and advisory firms including Schwab Institutional.

Dan Cupertino Joins Frontier Asset Management

Frontier Asset Management announced that Dan Cupertino has joined the firm as vice president, regional director. His primary responsibility will be to cultivate new business relationships with financial advisors for the firm and provide service to existing clients. He will work with advisors in the east.

Cupertino has worked in the financial services industry since 1998, and began his career managing relationships with retirement benefits clients for Northern Trust Retirement Consulting, which later became Hewitt Associates. Most recently he was a regional vice president for Wells Real Estate Funds, where he was responsible for raising capital through financial representatives of selling broker-dealers.

Arney Joins Envision Business Consulting; Bolin Promoted

Alan Arney has been hired as a director by enVision Business Consulting, and Kelly Bolin has been promoted to vice president, client partner. As a director, Arney is involved with developing the firm’s business strategy. Bolin now serves on the firm’s executive team, managing current client relationships and creating new ones.

Arney is a 25-year veteran of the consulting and corporate management world, delivering consulting projects on four continents for Accenture.

Bolin joined in 2010 as organization and human performance leader. Previously he held leadership positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, North Highland Worldwide Consulting and Ernst & Young Management Consulting.

Saybrus Partners Announces Two New Hires

Saybrus Partners announced Tuesday that D. Steve Shirley has joined the company as managing director, national accounts, and Geoffrey Ward has joined as managing director, business development. Shirley will be responsible for managing key account relationships, helping drive successful sales execution and identifying and securing new institutional partnership opportunities. Ward will be responsible for identifying new distribution channel opportunities for middle market product offerings.

With a career that spans over 30 years, Shirley was previously national accounts vice president for institutional accounts, John Hancock Life Insurance Co., and held senior sales management positions at Merrill Lynch.

Ward, previously national director for MetLife, held senior sales positions at Travelers Life and Annuity. He brings nearly three decades of experience working with registered representatives, investment advisors and independent agents, and has a substantial background in estate, business continuation and retirement planning, as well as ERISA plans including defined contribution plans.

Scott Schuetz Joins Phoenix Cos.

The Phoenix Cos. announced that Scott Schuetz has joined as vice president, growth delivery and operations. In this role, he will be responsible for quality and efficiency of operations for all actively sold lines of business from submission through claims. In addition, he will be responsible for bringing new products to market and improving processes and technology to meet distributor needs cost effectively.

Schuetz was previously senior vice president, life and annuity operations and services, Aviva Life & Annuity Co., and held senior positions at Wells Fargo Bank and Citigroup. He began his career in business development, sales and marketing at Procter & Gamble.

Cecilia Loftus Joins Prairie Capital Advisors' New Philadelphia Office

Prairie Capital Advisors announced that it has hired Cecilia Loftus as vice president, based in its new Philadelphia office. There she will head up a variety of business development and growth initiatives centered on new and mature ESOP opportunities.

Prior to joining, Loftus was vice president and shareholder at ESOP Economics, Inc., where she was focused on issues involving repurchase obligation planning. She was also responsible for business development, project management and training junior staff members. Earlier, she was a retirement plan consultant for The Standard (Formerly Investmart, Inc.) where she consulted clients on a wide array of planning issues related to all types of qualified retirement plans.

Read the July 10 New Hire Roundup at AdvisorOne.

High risk = high return mantra: Does it always hold true?

In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Harsh Roongta, Apnapaisa.com says if you want low risk, it is necessarily accompanied by low return. "If I want the low risk of an SBI fixed deposit, I am not going to get high returns. If I want high returns, it is invariably going to have much higher risk. There is no instrument that can defy this economic principle. It is a very basic economic principle," he adds.

Hidden gems: Ashish Chugh's 2 low risk bets

Below is the edited transcript of his interview on CNBC-TV18.

Q: In your experience, do you think this always holds true because we have seen a lot of investments into the infrastructure, real estate space, in the equity markets not yielding with high returns at all?

A: Any investment has three parameters — risk, return and liquidity. If you want low risk, it is necessarily accompanied by low return. If I want the low risk of an SBI fixed deposit, I am not going to get high returns. If I want high returns, it is invariably going to have much higher risk.

Obviously infrastructure or the other investments, which people have made, were high risk investments. So far, they have not paid off. So, I think that actually goes to prove the fact that when the returns expected are high, it is accompanied by a high risk. There is no instrument that can defy this economic principle. It is a very basic economic principle.

Q: Investor says that she has received an offer to invest in a pre-sale property wherein she has been promised a guaranteed buyback at double the price after four years under a proper stamped and registered agreement with the company. She now wants to know if this is a possibility in terms of an investment option for her. Would you like to comment on that?

A: I think this is a perfect example. Doubling of your money in four years, it's roughly 18 percent per annum compounded return. You do not get that kind of return without some risk. The return of the money as she says is guaranteed. There is a proper agreement. There are probably lawyer stamps all over the paper, but who is guarantying the guarantor? Obviously, if it was so safe, they would not be offering 18 percent. So, I think the point that she needs to realise is that this is an investment that is riskier.

She needs to evaluate the risk. She should not get in saying because it is guaranteed, it is low risk. It is guaranteed by somebody who you need to evaluate. As long as she goes into it with her eyes open and on a certain percentage of your portfolio, you could probably take higher risk, especially if your portfolio is higher. But I think like any other lay consumer she is unlikely to have the stomach for high risks. If she does not have that stomach, I do not think this would be the right investment for us.

Top Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014

For those seeking safe, reliable income in the current low interest rate environment, Jack Adamo sees opportunity in high-quality preferred stocks; here, the editor of Insiders Plus highlights two favorite bank-issued preferred stocks.

Steve Halpern: Joining us today is Jack Adamo, editor of Insiders Plus. How are you doing today, Jack?

Jack Adamo: I'm well Steve, thank you.

Steve Halpern: In your latest newsletter, you note that bonds don't currently offer the return investors are seeking, while dividend stocks appear to be getting increasingly overvalued. To overcome this challenge, you've been looking at a less traditional area, preferred stocks. Can you tell us a little about that?

Jack Adamo: Yes. The important thing to remember about preferred stocks is you're looking at different metrics than you are with other stocks. Normally, with other stocks, even dividend stocks, you're concerned with growth.

With preferred stocks, you're not looking for growth in earnings. What you're looking for is solidity and consistency, financial strength of the company paying. Growth is of a secondary concern. It's only an indication that the company is financially healthy.

Top 5 Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Paychex Inc.(PAYX)

Paychex Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small-to medium-sized businesses in the United States and Germany. It offers payroll processing services, including calculation, preparation, and delivery of employee payroll checks; production of internal accounting records and management reports; preparation of federal, state, and local payroll tax returns; and collection and remittance of clients? payroll obligations. The company also provides payroll tax administration services; employee payment services; and regulatory compliance services, such as new-hire reporting and garnishment processing. Its human resource outsourcing services include payroll, employer compliance, human resource and employee benefits administration, risk management outsourcing, and the on-site availability of a professionally trained human resource representative, as well as provides employee handbooks, management manuals, and r equired regulatory forms. In addition, the company offers retirement services administration; workers? compensation; business-owner policies; commercial auto; and health and benefits coverage, including health, dental, vision, and life. Further, it provides online human resource administration software products for employee benefits management and administration, and time and attendance solutions. As of May 31, 2010, the company served approximately 536,000 clients in the United States; and 1,700 clients in Germany. Paychex, Inc. was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Carlson]

  Another stock I own that benefits from higher rates is Paychex (PAYX). The firm provides payroll processing and other human resources services primarily for small- and mid-sized companies. Paychex, too, holds clients��funds, primarily for taxpaying.

• [By Caroline Bennett]

  HR and payroll-solutions provider Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX  ) has increased its regular quarterly dividend by $0.02. This 6% rise is the company's largest since July 2007, and brings its quarterly payout to $0.35 a share.

• [By Brian O'Connell]

  It looks very much like American investors are hunkering down and looking for value, after a week that saw a a decline of almost 3 percent in the U.S. gross domestic product during the first quarter of 2014, and after hints the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in early 2015 to combat rising inflation.
  
  That�� where good, old-fashioned value investing ��the term that made Warren Buffett famous ��comes into play these days. Why Buffett? He is the classic ��low and steady wins the race��investor, and he habitually seeks to take risk out of the equation with his stock picks.
  
  That�� the model investors want to emulate now, especially with the economy in such a precarious position, and one value play that stocks to the script is Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX), the Rochester, N.Y.-based provider of payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses.
  
  Why Paychex? The stock is exactly the type of steady, dependable growth company that investors want and need in a risk-heavy trading environment.
  
  A thumbnail sketch of what exactly Paychex does is a good indicator of why it fits the value model right now. It�� the boring, but money-making, model that businesses absolutely have to have to keep their finances in order, and Paychex does it all in a thorough and efficient way.
  
  This from the company�� web site:

Top Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: Pitney Bowes Inc(PBI)

Pitney Bowes Inc. provides mail processing equipment and integrated mail solutions worldwide. It offers a suite of equipment, supplies, software, services, and solutions for managing and integrating physical and digital communication channels. The company?s Small & Medium Business Solutions group engages in the sale, rental, and financing of mail finishing, mail creation, and shipping equipment and software; provision of supply, support, and other professional services; and provision of payment solutions. Its Enterprise Business Solutions group sells, supports, and offers other professional services for high-speed production mail systems, and sorting and production print equipment; and sells and provides support services for non-equipment-based mailing, customer relationship and communication, and location intelligence software. This group also offers facilities management services; secure mail services; reprographic document management services; and litigation support and eDiscovery services, as well as provides presort mail services and cross-border mail services; and direct marketing services. Pitney Bowes Inc. markets its products and services through its sales force, direct mailings, outbound telemarketing, and independent distributors and dealers to various business, governmental, institutional, and other organizations. The company, formerly known as Pitney Bowes Postage Meter Company, was founded in 1920 and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Apparently, the majority of analysts like the stock. That�� surprising. The best chance investors have is that Pitney Bowes continues to cut costs so the stock can stay afloat while large dividends are paid out. However, over the long haul, there is no business without growth.

• [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]

  AP, Showtime From a high-end apparel retailer making a down-market move to the leading video service adding to its growing library, here are the wonders and blunders of the week. Amazon.com (AMZN) -- Winner Apple (AAPL) may have hit the market with the new iPad Air on Friday, but it was Amazon making the most of the launch -- to promote its own platform. Amazon has spent most of the week pushing its new 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX tablet at the top of the popular e-tailer's home page, pitting it against the iPad Air. Amazon points out that its Kindle Fire HDX is 20 percent lighter, packs 950,000 more pixels, and will set shoppers back $120 less than the somewhat comparable iPad Air. You have to admire Amazon's moxie here. Apple just moved more than 14 million iPads in its latest quarter -- and that was the older models during a non-holiday quarter. Amazon's willing to butt heads with the top brand in tablets, and it's doing it on a site that it knows will be getting very busy in the coming weeks as holiday shoppers begin to research the best tablet to buy this season. Well played, Amazon. lululemon ahtletica (LULU) -- Blunder When it comes to selling high-end yoga clothing, no one does it as well as lululemon athletica. Sure, there was that embarrassing episode earlier this year where its black Luon yoga pants were too sheer, resulting in the departure of its head of merchandising. However, how do you justify filling that opening by bringing in Kmart's head of apparel to be your new chief products officer? Kmart has struggled with years of declining comps, and it's a lackluster discount department store chain. Even if she was more than qualified for the gig, investor -- and more dangerously customer -- perceptions may mark down lululemon's image. Pitney Bowes (PBI) -- Winner Metered mail may be a fading industry, but that didn't stop Pitney Bowes from hitting a fresh 52-week high this week after posting encouraging quarterly results. The key here is tha

Top Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings(LH)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as an independent clinical laboratory company in the United States. The company offers a range of testing services used by the medical profession in routine testing, patient diagnosis, and in the monitoring and treatment of disease, as well as specialty testing services. Its routine tests include blood chemistry analyses, urinalyses, blood cell counts, thyroid tests, Pap tests, HIV tests, microbiology cultures and procedures, and alcohol and other substance-abuse tests. The company?s specialty tests and related services comprise viral load measurements, genotyping and phenotyping, and host genetic factors for managing and treating HIV infections; cytogenetic, molecular cytogenetic, biochemical, and molecular genetic tests for diagnostic genetics; oncology tests for diagnosing and monitoring certain cancers and treatments; clinical trials testing for pharmaceutical companies, which conducts clinical research trials on diag nostic assays; forensic identity testing used in criminal proceedings and parentage evaluation services, as well as testing services in reconstruction cases; allergy testing; and occupational testing for the detection of drug and alcohol abuse. Its customers include independent physicians and physician groups, hospitals, managed care organizations, governmental agencies, employers, pharmaceutical companies, and other independent clinical laboratories. The company operates a network of 51 primary laboratories and approximately 1,700 patient service centers. In addition, it delivers a co-branded electronic health records Lite solution for physician practices. The company works with university, hospital, and academic institutions, such as Duke University, The Johns Hopkins University, the University of Minnesota, and Yale University to license and commercialize new diagnostic tests. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Burlingto n, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Motley Fool Staff]

  Currently, traditional lab tests are handled by laboratory diagnostic companies such as�Laboratory Corp. of America� (NYSE: LH  ) and�Quest Diagnostics� (NYSE: DGX  ) . These companies use expensive, older technology to turn around blood samples in a few days -- at relatively high cost, as vials need to be transported to central testing centers.

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  Medical testing giants Quest Diagnostics (DGX) and Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (LH) were among the S&P 500′s biggest gainers on Friday after upgrades from Raymond James analysts.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  We purchased a previous holding in our mid ca p fund, Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (LH). LabCorp maintains a leading market position in an indust ry that continues to show promising growth potential du e to technological advances, aging demographics, health care cost containment, and preventative medicine. LabCorp maintains a solid balance sheet, generates a significant amount of free cash flow and has been returning value to shareholders through share repurchases. The company operates with an experienced management team that is conservative yet willing to take slight risks in order to grow the business long-term.From John Rogers (Trades, Portfolio)' Ariel Appreciation Fund first quarter 2014 letter. Also check out: John Rogers Undervalued Stocks John Rogers Top Growth Companies John Rogers High Yield stocks, and Stocks that John Rogers keeps buying Currently 0.00/512345

  Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes)

Top Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: UniSource Energy Corporation(UNS)

UniSource Energy Corporation engages in the electric generation and energy delivery businesses. The company?s TEP segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 403,000 retail electric customers, including residential, commercial, industrial, and public sector customers in southeastern Arizona. It also sells electricity to other utilities and power marketing entities. As of December 31, 2010, this segment owned or leased 2,245 MW of net generating capacity, as well as owned or participated in electric transmission and distribution system consisting of 512 circuit-miles of 500-kV lines; 1,087 circuit-miles of 345-kV lines; 379 circuit-miles of 138-kV lines; 478 circuit-miles of 46-kV lines; and 2,621 circuit-miles of lower voltage primary lines. TEP segment generates electricity from coal, gas, oil, and solar sources. The company?s UNS Gas segment distributes gas to approximately 146,500 retail customers in Mohave, Yavapai, Coconino, and Navajo c ounties in northern Arizona, as well as Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona. As of December 31, 2010, this segment?s transmission and distribution system consisted of approximately 30 miles of steel transmission mains, 4,211 miles of steel and plastic distribution piping, and 136,439 customer service lines. The company?s UNS Electric segment transmits and distributes electricity to approximately 91,000 retail customers consisting of residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties. As of December 31, 2010, UNS Electric?s transmission and distribution system consisted of approximately 56 circuit-miles of 115-kV transmission lines, 271 circuit-miles of 69-kV transmission lines, and 3,599 circuit-miles of underground and overhead distribution lines. This segment also owns the 65 MW Valencia plant, as well as 39 substations having an installed capacity of 1,788,050 kilovolt amperes. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Tucson, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Fortis Inc.(FTS.T) agreed to acquire UNS Energy Corp.(UNS) for about $2.5 billion, as the Canadian utility moves to boost exposure within the U.S. by acquiring a firm with a presence in the U.S. southwest. Shares of UNS jumped 30% to $59.02 premarket.

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2015

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2015: Emerson Electric Company(EMR)

Emerson Electric Co. operates as a diversified manufacturing and technology company. The company engages in appliance solutions, climate technologies, industrial automation, motor technology, network power, process management, professional tools, and storage solutions businesses. Its appliance solutions business provides appliance controls, appliance motors, heating products, and white-rodgers; climate technology business provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) solutions for residential, industrial, and commercial applications; and industrial automation business offers bearings and power transmission products, electrical power generation products, electric motors, variable speed drives and servos, electrical products, material joining solutions, fluid automation products, and wind turbine systems. The company?s motor technology business provides appliance motors, HVACR motors, DC motors, fractional horsepower motors, integral horsepower a nd larger motors, and drives; network power business provides power, precision cooling, connectivity, and embedded solutions; and process management business provides various wireless related products from self-organizing field networks to wireless asset and people tracking. Its professional tools business offers pipe working and threading equipment, pressing technology, utility locating and visual diagnostics systems, drain maintenance tools, power tools, air tools, general purpose hand tools, wet/dry vacs, job site storage equipment, truck tool boxes and equipment, and van storage equipment; and storage solutions business provides shelving and storage products for residential, commercial, and foodservice needs, as well as offers specialized carts, mobile computer workstations, and cabinet fixtures. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  Eato! n's been moving higher all year, but this is just the continuation of a longer bullish trend that's followed the company's efforts to both deepen and broaden its reach. A $12 billion acquisition last year put Eaton in direct competition with Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR  ) and ABB (NYSE: ABB  ) in energy infrastructure. That acquisition provided a double benefit for Eaton's bottom line, as the acquired Cooper Industries provided a low-tax domicile in Ireland that's projected to save Eaton many millions each year. Every advantage counts, as Eaton has to contend with super-conglomerate General Electric (NYSE: GE  ) in several of its most important segments. Eaton and ABB are also both at risk of disruptive innovation from electrical integration systems that could replace several green-car charging components in one fell swoop.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/best-clean-energy-stocks-to-own-for-2015-3.html

Top 5 Dow Dividend Stocks To Buy For 2015

Top 5 Dow Dividend Stocks To Buy For 2015: Nuveen Senior Income Fund (NSL)

Nuveen Senior Income Fund is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. It is co-managed by Nuveen Asset Management and Symphony Asset Management LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in adjustable rate senior secured loans. Nuveen Senior Income Fund was formed on October 26, 1999 and is domiciled in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Dowdee]

  The following 10 funds satisfied all of these conditions:

  BlackRock Float Rate Strategies (FRA). This CEF sells at a discount of 3%, which is low compared to an average premium of 2% over the past year. The distribution has been managed at 6.1% and a small amount (less than 10%) has been return of capital (ROC). However, this has not negatively affected net asset value (NAV) so has not been destructive. The fund holds 447 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. FRA utilizes 27% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.7%, including interest payments. Eaton Vance Floating Rate (EFR). This CEF sells at a 1% premium, which is low compared to an average premium of 5% over the past year. The distribution is 6.2%, none of which was ROC. The fund holds 800 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. About 85% of the securities are from U.S. companies. EFR utilizes 35% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.8% including interest payments. ING Prime Rate Tr ust (PPR). This CEF sells for a premium of 2%, which is below the average premium of 5%. It has a distribution of 6.8%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 350 holdings, virtually all in senior loans and from US companies. PPR utilizes 29% leverage and has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Dynamic Credit Opportunities (VTA). This CEF sells for a discount of 5%, which is below the average discount of 1%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of whic! h was ROC. The fund has 495 holdings, with 76% in floating rate loans. About 25% of the loans are from non-US companies. VTA utilizes a relatively low 20% leverage but still has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Senior Income (VVR). This CEF sells for a discount of 1%, which is below the average premium of 3%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has over 500 holdings, with 89% in floating rate loans. Almost all (95%) securities are from US companies. VVR ut

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-5-dow-dividend-stocks-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

5 Best Wireless Telecom Stocks To Buy Right Now

5 Best Wireless Telecom Stocks To Buy Right Now: TechnoConcepts Inc (TCPS)

TechnoConcepts, Inc. (TCI), incorporated in May 2003, is in the business of designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing wireless communications semiconductors. The Company has begun manufacturing wireless transmitter and receiver microchips, based on its technology, and produced its engineering run in August 2006. The technology, which TCI calls True Software Radio, is designed to improve the way that wireless signals are received and transmitted, by making possible device-to-device communication across otherwise incompatible networks and wireless standards. On October 17, 2005, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Asante Acquisition Corp. completed reorganization with RegalTech Inc. RegalTech's name was changed to Asante Networks Inc. (Asante).

In December 2005, the Company formed Jinshilin Techno Ltd. (Jinshilin Techno) as its wholly owned subsidiary based in Shanghai, China. The Company organized Jinshilin Techno to provide marketing, sa les and technical support for True Software Radio technology in China. On April 21, 2006, Jinshilin Techno acquired Internet television (IPTV) set-top box (STB) technology through license agreements with Jinshilin Technologies Development Company Ltd. (Jinshilin). Jinshilin Techno offers an IPTV set-top box that features voice over Internet protocol (VOIP), capability and can receive Internet protocol (IP) data transmissions through the household electrical power grid.

Asante Networks Inc. provides Ethernet networking solutions for Apple Computer and the small-to-medium business retail markets, offering the IntraCore and FriendlyNET product families, integrating voice, data, and video over wireless and wired networks with unified management and authentication. In April 2006, Asante announced the release of 2-chip switch solution, the IntraCore 38480. The IntraCore 38480 provides no frame loss and full-wire speed with minimized latency.! With 96-gigabit switching fabric, the IntraCore 38480 supports full-wire speed on all ports. It has advanced traffic control based on L2-L7 data of incoming frames.

The Company's True Software Radio technology makes possible for wireless transmitters and receivers, as well as the radio signal processing, to be fully controlled and reconfigured by software commands across a range of frequencies and frequency bands. Its True Software Radio technology is a delta-sigma microchip architecture that converts radio frequency signals directly into digital data for the wireless receiver and directly from digital data into radio signals for the wireless transmitter. True Software Radio microchips replace the analog front end, intermediate frequency (I/F) processing, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), and digital filtering sections of conventional wireless transmitters and receivers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap tech stocks TechnoConcepts, Inc (OTCMKTS: TCPS), Unisource Corporation (OTCMKTS: USRC) and Strategic Global Investments, Inc (OTCMKTS: STBV) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters thanks to promotions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed promotions, but they can backfire on the unwary as its really up to investors or traders alike to do their own due diligence before investing or trading. With that in mind, here is a quick reality check about three small cap tech stocks getting a bit of attention lately:

  TechnoConcepts, Inc (OTCMKTS: TCPS) Has the Yield Sign Replaced on Its OTC Page

  Small cap TechnoConcepts is a wireless technology company currently holding patents and other intellectual property. On Friday, TechnoConcepts fell 0.45% to $15.58 for a market cap of $415.28 million plus TCPC is up 1.1% over the past year and up 6% since April 2012 according to Google Finance.

source from Top Penny Stocks For ! 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/5-best-wireless-telecom-stocks-to-buy-right-now.html

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2015

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2015: DTE Energy Company(DTE)

DTE Energy Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in Michigan. It also involves in non-utility operations. The company?s Energy Utility segment engages in the generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity from various fuels, including coal, as well as from nuclear and hydro facilitates. As of December 31, 2010, this segment owned and operated approximately 674 distribution substations and approximately 412,100 line transformers; and supplied electricity to 2.1 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. The company?s Gas Utility segment engages in the purchase, storage, transmission, distribution, and sale of natural gas in Michigan. As of December 31, 2010, this segment?s distribution system included approximately 19,000 miles of distribution mains, 1,036,000 service lines, and 1,319,000 active meters. It also o wned approximately 2,000 miles of transmission lines that deliver natural gas; and supplied natural gas to approximately 1.2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout Michigan, as well as to approximately 17,000 customers in Adrian, Michigan. The company?s non-utility operations include natural gas pipelines and storage; unconventional gas exploration, development, and production; power and industrial projects, and coal transportation and marketing; and energy marketing and trading operations. Its customers include electric utilities, merchant power producers, integrated steel mills, and industrial companies. DTE Energy Company was founded in 1995 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE  ) is going to make its shareholders a little richer. The company has declared a dividend of $0.655 per share of its common stock. This will be di! spensed on July 15 to shareholders of record as of June 17.This amount is almost 6% higher than the previous quarterly payout of $0.62, which was handed out in mid-April.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-10-dividend-stocks-to-watch-for-2015-3.html

Stateless Income: What It Means for the Stocks You Own

With taxes having risen for most people at the beginning of 2013, ordinary Americans are increasingly angry about the steps that many well-known U.S. companies have used to minimize or eliminate their tax bills. By creating what's become known as stateless income, companies have navigated the complexities of international tax law to earn more money free of tax than many Americans believe reflects their fair share of the nation's overall tax burden.

Now, though, the IRS has said that it plans to clamp down on companies using stateless income strategies, with the intent to pursue enforcement claims against users of the controversial techniques. Let's take a closer look at how companies create stateless income and whether IRS moves will hurt them in the near future.

Who's earning stateless income?
Two months ago, Congressional hearings focused on tax strategies that many multinational corporations have successfully used to minimize their corporate tax liability. A Senate subcommittee report found that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) successfully saved billions of dollars in potential U.S. tax liability by using foreign business entities. Because those units didn't have any legally determinable country of origin for tax purposes, the earnings they generated became stateless income.

Several other companies use similar strategies to cut their tax bills in high-tax jurisdictions. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) has used units based in Ireland and the Netherlands to help greatly reduce taxation on the money it earns, while Professor Edward Kleinbard's recent paper "Through a Latte, Darkly" goes into great detail about the methods that Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) used to minimize tax payments to the U.K. through the use of affiliates in the U.S., the Netherlands, and Switzerland. A Bloomberg article from 2011 cited Forest Labs (NYSE: FRX  ) as using a strategy similar to Google's involving an Irish unit headquartered in Bermuda, while the same article said Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO  ) attributed half its profits to a unit in Rolle, Switzerland.

The unsolvable problem
The problem that countries have in collecting taxes from multinational corporations is that it's increasingly difficult in the global economy to attribute income to particular business units accurately. When global divisions of large corporations used to act largely autonomously and separately, it was reasonable to assume that reported revenue and earnings reflected actual sales and profits that each country's business division brought in. Now, though, with global commerce having become commonplace, it's much easier for companies to manipulate their tax liability with intra-company transactions that produce huge tax savings by shifting income to lower-tax jurisdictions.

Moreover, the rise of intangibles like intellectual property makes it even easier to relocate income-producing assets at will. Simply by assigning a valuable asset to a subsidiary in a low-tax environment, a company can make a massive shift in where taxable income comes from that has huge implications for total tax liability.

One world, one tax rate?
The best theoretical solution to the stateless income problem is also the most unrealistic one: setting a uniform global tax rate that would remove the incentive for companies to prefer one jurisdiction over another and the barriers to repatriating profits. Without such incentives, companies would presumably pay taxes wherever it made sense to do so rather than to produce tax savings.

Absent that solution, though, the IRS and other tax authorities in high-tax jurisdictions will have no choice but to fight big corporations under broad and somewhat vague laws challenging the true business purpose of tax-motivated moves to create stateless income. That will prove to be an uphill battle for the IRS unless Congress moves to create tighter laws on international tax enforcement. With that being unlikely in the current political environment, shareholders of companies like Apple, Starbucks, Forest Labs, Cisco, and Google probably don't have much to worry about in the near future.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to create stateless income to avoid the personal tax increases that took effect at the beginning of 2013. But with the right planning, you can take steps to take control of your taxes and potentially create at least some tax savings. In our brand-new special report "How You Can Fight Back Against Higher Taxes," the Motley Fool's tax experts run through what to watch out for in doing your tax planning this year. With its concrete advice on how to cut taxes for decades to come, you won't want to miss out. Click here to get your copy today -- it's absolutely free.

10 Best Sliver Stocks For 2015

10 Best Sliver Stocks For 2015: ESSA Bancorp Inc. (ESSA)

ESSA Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for ESSA Bank & Trust that provides a range of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses in Pennsylvania. The company provides deposit accounts comprising savings accounts, NOW accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, club accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs, and other qualified plan accounts, as well as commercial checking accounts for businesses. It also offers residential first mortgage loans, including one-to-four family residential loans and construction mortgage loans; commercial real estate loans; home equity loans and lines of credit; and commercial and consumer loans, as well as various unsecured or secured loans, loans secured by deposits, personal loans, and automobile loans. In addition, the company provides asset management and trust services, and investment services, as well as insurance benefit consulting services, including health insurance, life insurance, short term and lo ng term disability, dental, vision, and 401(K) retirement planning, as well as individual health products. As of September 30, 2013, it operated 26 full-service banking offices, including 13 offices in Monroe County, 6 offices in Lehigh County, and 7 offices in Northampton County in Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1916 and is based in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  I get somewhat amused every day by the thousands of traders who spend all day trying to figure out what the hot stocks like Twitter (TWTR) and Facebook (FB) are going to do every day. Owning stocks like these two banks — or ones I have mentioned before, like ESSA Bancorp (ESSA) and Charter Financial (CHFN) — will be a far more profitable and relaxing endeavor over the next few years.

• [By Tim Melvin]

  Right now I know ! that silver miners like Pan American Silver (PAAS) and Coeur Mining (CDE) are very cheap on an asset basis. I know that oil and gas producers like Swift Energy (SFY) and WPX Energy (WPX) are priced as if no one will ever use the stuff again. I know that small banks like Cape Bancorp (CBNJ) and Essa Bancorp (ESSA) are crazy-cheap — and if the world does not end, those stocks will be a lot higher in a few years.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/10-best-sliver-stocks-for-2015-2.html

10 Best Asian Stocks To Own Right Now

10 Best Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: Discovery Communications Inc(DISCA)

Discovery Communications, Inc. operates as a non fiction media and entertainment company worldwide. The company provides original and purchased programming across various distribution platforms. Its content covers science, exploration, survival, natural history, sustainability of the environment, technology, docu-series, anthropology, paleontology, history, space, archaeology, health and wellness, engineering, adventure, lifestyles, forensics, civilization, and current events. The company owns and operates nine national television networks in the United States, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, Planet Green, Discovery Fit & Health, and Velocity. Discovery Communications also has interests in Oprah Winfrey Network, a pay-television network and Web site; The Hub that features original programming, game shows, and live-action series and specials; and 3net, a three-dimensional network. In addition, it o ffers network branded Web sites, and mobile and video-on-demand services; and distributes various national and pan-regional television networks. Further, the company develops and sells curriculum-based products and services to public and private K-12 schools, such as access to an online VOD service that includes curriculum-based tools, professional development services, and student assessment and publication of hardcopy curriculum-based content; and postproduction audio services to motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies, and interactive producers. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 150 distribution feeds in 40 languages. The company is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Discover Communications operates as a non-fiction media company worldwide.The company recently released earning that l! eft investors happy.The stock has been trending higher over the last couple of years and is currently trading at highs for the year.Earnings and revenue figures have been steadily growing so investors have been very satisfied. Relative to its peers and sector, Discover Communications has been an under-performer leader, year-to-date. Look for Discover Communications to continue to OUTPERFORM.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/10-best-asian-stocks-to-own-right-now-3.html

Top Oil Service Companies To Buy For 2015

Top Oil Service Companies To Buy For 2015: BanColombia S.A. (CIB)

Bancolombia S.A., a full service financial institution, provides various banking products and services to individual and corporate customers in Colombia, as well as in Panama, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, Peru, Brazil, the United States, and Spain. The company offers savings and checking accounts, fixed term deposits, and investment products; and trade financing, loans funded by domestic development banks, working capital loans, credit cards, personal loans, vehicle loans, payroll loans, and overdrafts. It also provides mortgage banking, factoring, treasury, cash management, foreign currency, and bancassurance and insurance; and asset management and trust services that comprise money market accounts, mutual and pension funds, private equity funds, payment trust, custody services, and corporate trust. In addition, the company offers brokerage, investment advisory, and private banking services, including selling and distributing equities, futures, foreign cu rrencies, fixed income securities, mutual funds, and structured products; and investment banking services, including advising and assisting companies from various economic sectors in project finance, capital markets, capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and corporate lending. Further, it provides financial and operational leases, including cross-border and international leasing services; and pension plan administration services. The company offers its services through a traditional branch network, and sales and customer representatives, as well as through mobile branches, non-banking correspondents, an ATM network, online and computer banking, telephone and mobile phone banking, and electronic funds transfer at point of sale (PACs). As of September 30, 2012, it had 978 branches and 3,703 ATMs. Bancolombia S.A. was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Medellin, Colombia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Smi! th]

  Bancolombia appears attractively priced
  Another Colombian company that appears under-valued is the Andean country's largest commercial bank Bancolombia (NYSE: CIB  ) . For the year-to-date Bancolombia's share price fell 17% because of a weak second quarter bottom-line. This decline was primarily caused by the bank's net income plunging by 41% year-over-year because of mark-to-market losses caused by the value lost in the bank's securities portfolio.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Bancolombia SA (NYSE: CIB) shares touched a new 52-week low of $47.94. Bancolombia's trailing-twelve-month ROA is 1.45%.

  Posted-In: 52-Week LowsNews Movers & Shakers Intraday Update Markets

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-oil-service-companies-to-buy-for-2015.html

Best Food Stocks To Own For 2015

Best Food Stocks To Own For 2015: Post Holdings Inc (POST)

Post Holdings, Inc., incorporated on September 22, 2011, is a holding company. The Company is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded ready-to-eat cereals in the United States and Canada. The Companys portfolio of brands includes Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, Great Grains, Grape-Nuts, Shredded Wheat, Raisin Bran, Golden Crisp, Alpha-Bits and Honeycomb. It markets and sells ready-to-eat cereal products in three different categories: sweetened, balanced and unsweetened. Its sweetened products include Pebbles, Honeycomb, Golden Crisp, Alpha-Bits and Waffle Crisp. Its balanced products include Honey Bunches of Oats, Post Selects, Great Grains and Shreddies. The Companys unsweetened products include Post Shredded Wheat, Post Raisin Bran and Grape-Nuts. Effective January 1, 2014, the Company announced it has completed the acquisition of private label pasta manufacturer Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc. Effective January 2, 2014, Post Holdings Inc acquired Ag ricore United Holdings Inc from Viterra Inc, a unit of Glencore Xstrata PLC, and the transaction also included Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc. Effective January 1, 2014, Post Holdings Inc acquired Dymatize Enterprises LLC, a Farmers Branch-based manufacturer and wholesaler of nutrition supplement. Effective January 1, 2014, it acquired Dymatize Enterprises LLC and Golden Boy Foods Ltd.

Honey Bunches of Oats is in the ready-to-eat cereal market. The Companys Pebbles brands include Cocoa and Fruity Pebbles. The products are manufactured through a flexible production platform consisting of four owned primary facilities and sold through a variety of channels, such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and drug stores.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ali Berri]

  Shares of Post Holdings (NYSE: POST) were down 17.52 percent to $36.71 after the company reported a Q3 loss of $0.30 per share on revenue of $633.0 million. The com! pany also announced its plans to acquire American Blanching Company. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey downgraded Post Holdings from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target from $70.00 to $45.00.
  

• [By Michael Calia]

  Post Holdings Inc.(POST) agreed to acquire the PowerBar and Musashi brands from Nestle SA(NESN.VX), further expanding the cereal maker’s position in the active nutrition category.

• [By Ali Berri]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Post Holdings (NYSE: POST) were down 23.99 percent to $33.83 after the company reported a Q3 loss of $0.30 per share on revenue of $633.0 million. The company also announced its plans to acquire American Blanching Company. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey downgraded Post Holdings from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target from $70.00 to $45.00.

• [By Maureen Farrell]

  The first bit came from Herbalife bull William Stiritz, the CEO of Post Holdings(POST).

  The market has viewed Post as a potential buyer of Herbalife, after Post’s CEO William Stiritz personally purchased a 6.7% stake in Herbalife. Last week one ofWall Street’s most bullish analystson Herbalife joined Post Holdings as an adviser, raising even more questions about whether the cereal company might bid for Herbalife.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/best-food-stocks-to-own-for-2015-2.html

Hot Information Technology Stocks To Buy For 2015

Hot Information Technology Stocks To Buy For 2015: Balfour Beatty PLC (BIH)

Balfour Beatty plc is a global infrastructure company that delivers services essential to the development, creation and care of infrastructure assets; from finance and development, through design and project management to construction and maintenance. The Company operates in four segments: Professional Services segment is engaged in the provision of project management; Construction Services segment is engaged in the activities resulting in the physical construction of an asset; Support Services segment is engaged in the activities, which support existing assets or functions, and Infrastructure Investments segment is engaged in the acquisition, operation and disposal of infrastructure assets, such as PPP concessions and airports. In July 2013, it announced the disposal of its 50% interest in the Salford Hospital PFI asset. In December 2013, Balfour Beatty Plc completed the sale of its UK facilities management business to GDF Suez Energy Services. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vanina Egea]

  A few companies excel over their market peers, granting them an unconventional competitive advantage. Everybody knows the market leaders, or the mammoth companies, but there are other particular services that can give a firm greater exposure. No other example is more relevant than the rotary rig count offered by Baker Hughes (BIH). The Baker Hughes Rig Counts provides a weekly count of U.S. and Canadian drilling activity to the industry since 1944, and has become an important business barometer for the drilling industry and its suppliers. Most importantly, the index allows industry analysts to identify industry trends, while providing valuable information to prospect investors beyond Baker Hughes itself. After experiencing a decline in performance from mid-2011 to the end of 2012, the company saw great improvement in ov! erall performance during 2013. Can the trend be expected to continue?

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-information-technology-stocks-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Own For 2015

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Own For 2015: Galectin Therapeutics Inc (GALT)

Galectin Therapeutics Inc., formerly Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on January 26, 2001, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in drug development to create therapies for cancer and fibrotic disease. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has two compounds in development, one is to be used in cancer therapy and the other intended to be used in the treatment of liver fibrosis and fatty liver disease. These two compounds are produced from different natural starting materials, both possessing the property, which lends itself to binding to and inhibiting galectin proteins. GM-CT-01, the Company's product candidate for cancer therapy, is a linear polysaccharide polymer consisted of mannose and galactose that has a defined chemical structure and is derived from a plant source. GR-MD-02, the Company's product for treatment of liver fibrosis and fatty liver disease with inflammation and fibrosis, is a polysaccharide polymer possessing both linear and globul ar structures, which also is derived from a plant source.

GM-CT-01 has in development for the therapy of colorectal cancer and is in a Phase I/II clinical trial as a combination therapy with a tumor vaccine in patients with advanced melanoma. Based on the completed Phase I and partially completed Phase II clinical trials, the Company is exploring two additional potential indicia for the use of GM-CT-01 in combination with cancer chemotherapy. There are two additional pathways for the development of GM-CT-01 for use in treatment of cancer. GM-CT-01 was found to be generally safe when studied in a Phase I clinical trial in end-stage cancer patients with multiple tumor types alone and in combination with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), which is an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved chemotherapy used for treatment of various types of cancer.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

   

  Galectin Thera! peutics (GALT) offers drug research and development to create new therapies for fibrotic disease and cancer. This stock closed up 9.6% to $12.06 in Monday's trading session.

   

  Monday's Volume: 674,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 222,171
  
  Volume % Change: 149%

   

  Shares of GALT jumped higher on Monday after Ascendiant initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation.

   

   

  From a technical perspective, GALT spiked sharply higher here with strong upside volume. This stock has been uptrending for the last three months, with shares ripping higher from its low of $3.95 to its recent high of $13.21. During that move, shares of GALT have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of GALT within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if GALT manages to take out Monday's high of $12.44 and then once it clears its 52-week high at $13.21 with high volume.

   

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GALT as long as it's trending above some near-term support levels at $11 or at $10 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 222,171 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then GALT will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $13.21, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $15 to $16.

   

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-biotech-companies-to-own-for-2015.html

Best Asian Companies To Watch For 2014

Having long been a tech geeky girl, I am always on the lookout for the latest technology trends. When I met Bill Gates in the 1980s, it was difficult to fathom that the IBM personal computer running DOS would not always be the dominant hardware, but, as we have seen, every piece of technology is merely a fad. I expect the iPad, the iPhone, etc., will eventually go the way of the IBM PC and be replaced by the next big thing.

But change is not news anymore; it is expected.

I am traveling in Asia now, having attended the Asian Financial Forum, the continent's largest financial services conference, and then to Shanghai to speak at a high-net-worth wealth management conference. One of the common themes is how competition in wealth management is going to continue to come from places we may not have expected.

Best Promising Companies To Watch In Right Now: Cinemark Holdings Inc(CNK)

Cinemark Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries engage in the motion picture exhibition business. As of June 30, 2011, it operated 436 theatres with 4,983 screens in 39 states of the United States, as well as in Brazil, Mexico, and 11 other Latin American countries. The company is headquartered in Plano, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang]

  Cinemark Holdings Inc. (CNK) : The movie theater company is well positioned to capitalize on the film�� popularity with movie goers with operations both in the U.S. and Latin America. Shares of Cinemark are up 26% so far this year.

Best Asian Companies To Watch For 2014: Forest Oil Corporation (FST)

Forest Oil Corporation, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company primarily has interests in the properties in the Texas Panhandle; the east Texas/north Louisiana; and the Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas. As of December 31, 2011, its total estimated proved oil and gas reserves were approximately 1,904 billion cubic feet equivalent. The company was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with an additional office in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang and William L. Watts]

  Forest Oil Corp. (FST) �shares slid 5.4%. The company said late Thursday that it would sell its Texas Panhandle assets for $1 billion. The sale price exceeds Forest�� roughly $770 million market cap, based on the value of shares at Thursday�� close.

• [By Canadian Value]

  <p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"> The Value Case For Forest Oil (FST) - Aquitania Capital

• [By Mark Hulbert]

  The stocks are C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) �, a freight-transportation company; chip maker Cirrus Logic (CRUS) �; independent oil company Forest Oil (FST) �; investment bank Greenhill & Co. (GHL) �; Intrepid Potash (IPI) �, a fertilizer company; retailer J.C. Penney (JCP) �; Quest Diagnostics (DGX) �, a medical diagnostic company; Strayer Education (STRA) �, a for-profit college; Tower Group International (TWGP) �, an insurance company; and Windstream Holdings (WIN) �, a rural telecommunications firm.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Tuesday morning, the energy sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Forest Oil (NYSE: FST) and Swift Energy Co (NYSE: SFY). Financial shares declined around 0.57 percent in Tuesday's trading.

Best Asian Companies To Watch For 2014: Targa Resources Partners LP (NGLS)

Targa Resources Partners LP is a limited partnership formed by Targa Resources, Corp (Targa). The Company is a provider of midstream natural gas and natural gas liquid (NGL) services in the United States and is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing and selling natural gas and storing, fractionating, treating, transporting, terminaling and selling NGLs, NGL products, refined petroleum products and crude oil. It operates in two divisions: Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, which include Field Gathering and Processing and Coastal Gathering and Processing, and Logistics and Marketing, which includes Logistics Assets and Marketing and Distribution. On March 15, 2011, it acquired a refined petroleum products and crude oil storage and terminaling facility in Channelview, Texas. On September 30, 2011 it acquired refined petroleum products and crude oil storage and terminaling facilities in two separate transactions. On December 31, 2012, the Company acquired Saddle Butte Pipeline, LLC.

Natural Gas Gathering and Processing Division

The Company�� natural gas gathering and processing division consists of gathering, compressing, dehydrating, treating, conditioning, processing, transporting and marketing natural gas. The gathering of natural gas consists of aggregating natural gas produced from various wells through small diameter gathering lines to processing plants. It sells its residue gas either directly to such end users or to marketers into intrastate or interstate pipelines. The Field Gathering and Processing segment gathers and processes natural gas from the Permian Basin in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and the Fort Worth Basin, including the Barnett Shale, in North Texas. The natural gas it processes is supplied through its gathering systems which, in aggregate, consist of approximately 10,400 miles of natural gas pipelines. The segment�� processing plants include nine owned and operated facilities. During the year ended December 31! , 2011, the Company processed an average of approximately 612 million cubic feet/day (MMcf/d) of natural gas and produced an average of approximately 74 million barrels per day (MBbl/d) of NGLs.

The Field Gathering and Processing segment�� operations consist of the Permian Business, Versado, SAOU and the North Texas System. The Permian Business consists of the Sand Hills gathering and processing system and the West Seminole and Puckett gathering systems in West Texas. These systems consist of approximately 1,400 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines. Versado consists of the Saunders, Eunice and Monument gas processing plants and related gathering systems in Southeastern New Mexico. Versado consists of approximately 3,200 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines. Covering portions of 10 counties and approximately 4,000 square miles in West Texas, SAOU includes approximately 1,667 miles of pipelines in the Permian Basin that gather natural gas to the Mertzon, Sterling, and Conger processing plants. SAOU has 31 compressor stations to inject low pressure gas into the high-pressure pipelines.

The North Texas System includes two interconnected gathering systems with approximately 4,200 miles of pipelines, covering portions of 15 counties and approximately 5,700 square miles, gathering wellhead natural gas for the Chico and Shackelford natural gas processing facilities. The Chico gathering system consists of approximately 2,100 miles of primarily low-pressure gathering pipelines. Wellhead natural gas is either gathered for the Chico plant located in Wise County, Texas, and then compressed for processing, or it is compressed in the field at numerous compressor stations and then moved through one of several gathering pipelines to the Chico plant. Its Coastal Gathering and Processing segment assets are located in the onshore region of the Louisiana Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. LOU consists of approximately 875 miles of gathering system pipelines, covering approximately 3,800 ! square mi! les in Southwest Louisiana. The gathering system is connected to numerous producing wells and/or central delivery points in the area between Lafayette and Lake Charles, Louisiana. The processing facilities include the Gillis and Acadia processing plants, both of which are cryogenic plants.

Logistics and Marketing Division

The Company includes the activities necessary to convert mixed NGLs into NGL products and provide certain value added services, such as the fractionation, storage, terminaling, transportation, distribution and marketing of NGLs, as well as certain natural gas supply and marketing activities in support of its other businesses. Its Logistics Assets Segment uses its platform of integrated assets to receive, fractionate, store, treat, transport and deliver NGLs typically under fee-based arrangements. Its logistics assets are connected to and supplied in part by its Natural Gas Gathering and Processing assets and are primarily located at Mont Belvieu and Galena Park near Houston, Texas and in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Across the Logistics Assets segment, it owns or operates a total of 39 storage wells at its facilities with a net storage capacity of approximately 64 million barrels of oil (MMBbl), the usage of which may be limited by brine handling capacity, which is utilized to displace NGLs from storage. It operates its storage and terminaling facilities based on the needs and requirements of its customers. Its fractionation, storage and terminaling business is supported by approximately 940 miles of company owned pipelines to transport mixed NGLs and specification products.

The Company markets its own NGL production and also purchases component NGL products from other NGL producers and marketers for resale. During 2011, the Company�� distribution and marketing services business sold an average of approximately 273 MBbl/d of NGLs. Its wholesale propane marketing operations primarily sell propane and related logistics services to multi-state retailer! s, indepe! ndent retailers and other end-users. Its propane supply primarily originates from both its refinery/gas supply contracts and its other owned or managed logistics and marketing assets. In its refinery services business, the Company provide NGL balancing services through contractual arrangements with refiners to purchase and/or market propane and to supply butanes. It uses commercial transportation assets and contract for and use the storage, transportation and distribution assets included in its Logistics Assets segment to assist refinery customers in managing their NGL product demand and production schedules.

The Company�� NGL transportation and distribution infrastructure includes a range of assets supporting both third-party customers and the delivery requirements of its marketing and asset management business. It provides fee-based transportation services to refineries and petrochemical companies throughout the Gulf Coast area. As of December 31, 2011, its transportation assets include approximately 565 railcars that it lease and manage; approximately 74 owned and leased transport tractors and approximately 100 company owned tank trailers, and 18 company owned pressurized NGL barges.

The Company competes with Atlas Gas Pipeline Company, Copano Energy, L.L.C. (Copano), WTG Gas Processing, L.P. (WTG), DCP Midstream Partners LP (DCP), Devon Energy Corp (Devon), Enbridge Inc., GulfSouth Pipeline Company, LP, Hanlon Gas Processing, Ltd., J W Operating Company, Louisiana Intrastate Gas, Enterprise Products Partners L.P., DCP, ONEOK and BP p.l.c.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Laundon]

  It's a pure play Permian oil stock. It's also a fairly pure oil investment. The company's production split is 75% oil, 14% natural gas liquids (NGLs) and 11% natural gas. On a revenue basis, 90% of revenues come from oil, while 6% and 4% come from NGLs and natural gas, respectively.

• [By Matthew Skelly]

  The technology of fracturing (and the horizontal style of drilling), is changing America's needs on the energy front. At the epicenter of this infrastructure build-out is Atlas Pipeline Partners (NYSE:APL), a midstream gathering and processing company that trades as a Master Limited Partnership, (MLP). Atlas Pipeline is essentially a middle man between the drillers and long-haul transportation pipelines. It gathers mixed volumes of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) such as ethane, propane, and butanes, etc. from the thousands of wells drilled by its drilling customers, back through pipelines to its processing plants, which will separate the gas from the NGLs. Both are then sold to long-haul transportation pipelines, which take the two products downstream to the next part of the energy supply chain.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Targa Resources Partners LP (NYSE: NGLS) and Targa Resources Corp (NYSE: TRGP) announced the purchase of Atlas Pipeline Partners LP and Atlas Energy LP (NYSE: ATLS) for $7.7 billion.

Best Asian Companies To Watch For 2014: Ishares Silver Trust (SLV)

iShares Silver Trust (the Trust) owns silver transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist primarily of silver held by the Trust�� custodian on behalf of the Trust. The sponsor of the Trust is iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the Sponsor). The trustee of the Trust is The Bank of New York Mellon (the Trustee) and the custodian of the Trust is JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., London branch (the Custodian).

The activities of the Trust are limited to issuing Baskets of Shares in exchange for the silver deposited with the Custodian as consideration, selling silver as necessary to cover the Sponsor�� fee, Trust expenses not assumed by the Sponsor and other liabilities and delivering silver in exchange for Baskets of Shares surrendered for redemption. Each deposit of silver for the creation of Baskets of Shares and each surrender of Baskets of Shares for the purpose of withdrawing Trust property (including if the trust agreement terminates) must be accompanied by a payment to the Trustee of a fee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Mack]

  Small speculators, also known as individual investors, have had their net long positions in gold (GLD) and silver (SLV) completely wiped out over the last two weeks. As of last Tuesday, these small investors held a mere 133 net long gold contracts, and 2163 net long silver contracts. As recently as September, when we turned cautious on the metals, small speculators held over 60,000 net long gold contracts and 20,000 silver contracts. If the small speculators were to sell anymore gold and silver, they would become net short.

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  Traditionally, the lack of responsible economic leadership has been good for SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD), the exchange traded fund for gold, and iShares Silver Trust (NYSE: SLV), the exchange traded fund for silver (NYSE: SLV). After the first two rounds of quantitative easing, the buying of bonds to keep interest rates low by central banks, iShares Silver Trust and SPDR Gold Shares soared. But after Quantitative Easing III was announced by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in September 2012, the GLD and SLV fell after an initially rally. But there is a more bullish outlook for gold and silver securities such as Wishbone Gold PLC (WISHY), Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX), SPDR Gold Shares, and iShares Silver Trust due to the Federal Government shutdown.

Best Asian Companies To Watch For 2014: Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp.(SNTA)

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule drug candidates for treating severe medical conditions, including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. The company has two drug candidates in clinical trials for treating multiple types of cancer and various drug candidates in the preclinical stage of development. Its oncology product portfolio includes Ganetespib, an Hsp90 inhibitor in various phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trail programs for various types of cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, hematologic cancers, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, small cell lung cancer, ocular melanoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, hepatocellular cancer, and solid tumors; Elesclomol, a mitochondria-targeting agent in phase 2 clinical trails for non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer, as well as in phase 1 clinical trail for acut e myeloid leukemia; STA-9584, a vascular disrupting agent in preclinical development stage for prostate cancer; and various Hsp90 inhibitors in preclinical development stage for cancers. The company?s inflammatory diseases product portfolio includes calcium release activated calcium modulator (CRACM) channel inhibitors in preclinical development stage for autoimmune diseases, respiratory conditions, and transplantation; and IL-12/23 inhibitors in lead optimization stage for autoimmune diseases. It has a license agreement with Hoffman-La Roche for the development and commercialization of compounds from CRACM. Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  Bracing for bad news?
  Unlike Sequenom and Sarepta, Synta Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SNTA  ) didn't announce earnings or a major decision about a drug. But its shares still sank by nearly 12% this week. What gives?

• [By Grace L. Williams]

  Synta Pharmaceuticals (SNTA) also caught our attention after four insiders, including the company�� billionaire director Bruce Kovner bought over five million shares for $14.2 million.� He was joined by Co-Founder and CEO Safi Bahcall, who bought 50,000 shares for $213,700.

• [By Keith Speights]

  Hard to say goodbye
  Synta Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SNTA  ) found out how hard it can be to say goodbye. The company's head of research and development left abruptly this week. Shares of the biotech sank 18% on the news.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap NASDAQ stocks Vera Bradley, Inc (NASDAQ: VRA), Ebix Inc (NASDAQ: EBIX) and Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: SNTA) had the highest short interest as of late September according to HighShortInterest.com with short interest of 57.46%, 52.28% and 47.09%, respectively. However, shorting a stock can be a dangerous business as the bears can and do sometimes get mauled by the bulls. With that in mind, let�� take a look at why the bulls or the bears may be right or wrong about these three shorted small cap stocks:�

Best Asian Companies To Watch For 2014: Crosstex Energy Inc.(XTXI)

Crosstex Energy, Inc., through its partnership interests in Crosstex Energy, L.P., engages in the gathering, transmission, processing, and marketing of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and crude oil in the United States. The company connects the wells of natural gas producers in its market areas to its gathering systems; processes natural gas for the removal of NGLs; fractionates NGLs; and markets and transports natural gas and NGLs. It also purchases natural gas from natural gas producers and other supply sources; and sells that natural gas to utilities, industrial consumers, other marketers, and pipelines. In addition, the company operates processing plants that process gas transported to the plants by interstate pipelines or from its own gathering systems. Further, it purchases natural gas from producers not connected to its gathering systems for resale, as well as sells natural gas on behalf of producers; and through its crude oil terminal facilities in south L ouisiana provides access for crude oil producers. As of February 8, 2012, the company operated approximately 3,300 miles of pipeline, 9 processing plants, and 3 fractionators. Crosstex Energy, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Utilities sector was the only decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL), off 2.1 percent, and Crosstex Energy (NASDAQ: XTXI), down 2.2 percent.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Utilities sector was the only decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL), off 2.1 percent, and Crosstex Energy (NASDAQ: XTXI), down 2.2 percent.

Best Asian Companies To Watch For 2014: rue21 inc.(RUE)

rue21, inc. operates as a specialty apparel retailer in the United States. It provides fashion apparel and accessories for girls and guys, including graphic T-shirts, denim, dresses, shirts, hoodies, belts, jewelry, handbags, footwear, intimate apparel, and other accessories. The company sells its apparel and accessories under the brand names of rue21, rue21 etc!, tarea by rue21, Carbon and CJ Black, and Carbon Elements; and fragrances under the rue by rue21, revert eco rue21, CJ Black, sparkle rue21, Pink Ice by rue21, MetroBlack rue21, tarea by rue21, twentyone black, runway21 by rue21, Carbon Elements, Intense by rue21, and rue21 etc! brand names. As of January 28, 2012, it operated 755 stores in 713 cities in 46 states. rue21, inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Warrendale, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on rue21 (Nasdaq: RUE  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of rue21 (NASDAQ: RUE) surged 23% today after private equity firm Apax Partners agreed to acquire the specialty apparel retailer for $1.1 billion.

• [By John Del, Vecchio,]

  Teen apparel retailer�rue21� (NASDAQ: RUE  ) recently announced its intention to be acquired by Apax Partners in a buyout valued at $1.1 billion, or $42 a share. Apax already owns 30% of rue21, but the announcement delighted investors and the stock shot up nearly 23% to just under the target acquisition price.

5 Best Food Stocks To Watch For 2015

5 Best Food Stocks To Watch For 2015: Barry Callebaut AG (BARN)

Barry Callebaut AG is a Switzerland-based producer of cocoa, chocolate and confectionery products. The Company's manufacturing process involves all stages of the cocoa and chocolate value chain from the sourcing of raw materials to the delivery of the finished products. The Company operates three geographical segments, including Europe, Americas and Asia-Pacific, as well as its business segment Global Sourcing & Cocoa. The Global Sourcing & Cocoa business segment is responsible for the procurement of ingredients for chocolate production, including mainly cocoa, as well as sugar, dairy and nuts as common ingredients, as well as the Company's cocoa processing business. The Company serves the food industry, from industrial food manufacturers to professional or artisanal users of chocolate. The Company operates more than 50 chocolate and cocoa factories, and is present in over 30 countries. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Elan Corp. jumped 8.4 percent in Dublin after authorizing the process of its sale. Hochtief AG gained the most in four months after the German builder said it will buy as much as 260 million euros ($346 million) of its own shares. Michelin & Cie, Europe's largest tiremaker, added 4.7 percent after data on its website showed tire demand surged in Brazil last month. Barry Callebaut AG (BARN) lost 3.4 percent after the maker of bulk chocolate sold about $302 million of new shares.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-food-stocks-to-watch-for-2015.html