The question on every investor's lips is, ��hen will the Fed raise interest rates?��/p>
Global currency markets continue to flounder in an environment of low volatility and volume despite being punctuated by periods of geopolitically induced risk events.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict remains a significant concern that was heightened by a Malaysian jetliner being was shot down by a missile in Ukrainian airspace in mid-July, as does Israel's military foray into the Gaza Strip. While distressing events such as these predictably prompt investors to charge into safe-haven assets such as the yen, gold, and U.S. Treasurys, financial market indifference to both long-running conflicts is such that risk-averse sentiment doesn't last long.
The U.S. dollar's performance has been mixed against a number of currencies in the first half of the year. The greenback gained broad support in July from the Federal Reserve's monthly Beige Book that showed the U.S. economy is expanding at a moderate pace with consumer spending rising and manufacturing expanding. Questions abound over when the Fed will tighten interest rates, with hawkish members on the Federal Open Market Committee hinting at mid-2015.
Top 5 Clean Energy Companies To Buy For 2015: SWS Group Inc.(SWS)
SWS Group, Inc., a diversified financial services holding company, provides a range of investment and commercial banking, and related financial services to individual, corporate, and institutional investors, as well as broker/dealers, governmental entities, and financial intermediaries in the United States. It operates in four segments: Clearing, Retail, Institutional, and Banking. The Clearing segment provides clearing and execution services for general securities broker/dealers, bank affiliated firms, and firms specializing in high volume trading. The Retail segment offers retail securities products and services, such as equities, mutual funds, and fixed income products; insurance products; and managed accounts. The Institutional segment provides securities lending, investment banking and public finance, fixed income sales and trading, proprietary trading, and agency execution services to institutional customers. The Banking segment offers various banking products and se rvices, including certificates of deposit, money market accounts, interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, federal home loan bank advances, federal funds purchased, and non interest-bearing demand accounts, as well as one to four family residential loans and construction loans, lot and land development loans, commercial real estate loans, multi family loans, commercial loans, and consumer loans. SWS Group, Inc. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tim Melvin]
SWS Group (SWS) also catches my eye at the current valuation. The Dallas-based company is in the brokerage, investment banking and banking business in the Southwest. They struggled with losses at the banking subsidiary and eventually had to find a capital infusion. They ended up borrowing $100 million from noted investors Gerald Ford and Robert Bass. The core brokerage and investment banking business are well positioned and should do well over the next few years. I wouldn�� be shocked if this firm was eventually sold off, with Mr. Ford keeping the banking assets and selling the brokerage and I-Bank units to a larger firm. With the stock trading at just 65% of book value, the long-term potential is very high for this stock.
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Hilltop Holdings Inc.(HTH) offered to buy the rest of SWS Group Inc.(SWS) that it doesn’t already own, valuing the financial-services company at about $231 million. Hilltop, a regional banking and insurance company, offered $7 a share, a 16% premium over Thursday’s close. SWS surged 19% to $7.20 premarket,�topping the offer price.
Top 10 Rising Stocks To Watch Right Now: Vanguard Intermediate Term Bond ETF (BIV)
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (the Fund) seeks to track the performance of a market-weighted bond index with an intermediate-term, dollar-weighted average maturity. The Fund employs a passive management or indexing strategy designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 5-10 Year Government/Credit Bond Index (the Index). The Index includes all medium and larger issues of the United States Government, investment-grade corporate, and investment-grade international dollar-denominated bonds that have maturities between 5 and 10 years and are publicly issued. The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximate the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. All of the Fund�� investments will be selected through the sampling process, and at least 80% of its assets will be invested in bonds held in the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is The Vanguard Group, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:- [By GURUFOCUS]
In addition to individual stocks several funds pay a monthly dividend. Below is a sampling of these:
Monthly Bond Funds- iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond (CSJ) | Yield: 1.29%
- Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV) | Yield: 1.25%
- Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV) | Yield: 2.96%
- Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) | Yield: 4.42%
Top 10 Rising Stocks To Watch Right Now: Baidu Inc.(BIDU)
Baidu, Inc. provides Chinese and Japanese language Internet search services. Its search services enable users to find relevant information online, including Web pages, news, images, multimedia files, and blogs through the links provided on its Websites. The company also offers online community-based products and entertainment platforms; an instant messaging service; and a consumer-oriented e-commerce platform. In addition, it designs and delivers online marketing services and auction-based P4P services that enable its customers to reach users who search for information related to their products or services. The company serves online marketing customers consisting of small and medium sized enterprises, large domestic corporations, and Chinese divisions or subsidiaries of multinational corporations primarily operating in the medical, machinery, education, franchising, electronic products, e-commerce, ticketing, tourism, information technology, consumer products, real estate, entertainment, and financial services industries. It sells its online marketing services directly, as well as through its distribution network. The company was formerly known as Baidu.com, Inc. and changed its name to Baidu, Inc. in December 2008. Baidu, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Bleeker, CFA, Lyons George, and Alison Southwick]
Chinese search giant�Baidu� (NASDAQ: BIDU ) stole headlines this week, when it popped more than 10% after earnings. The catalyst for the surge in Baidu's share price was mobile; the company had been struggling to find traction with mobile advertising to offset slowing desktop spending. After being coy about how much mobile ad spend it was collecting, Baidu revealed that mobile was now contributing 10% of revenues and is growing fast.�
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Briefly in the news
Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF ) moved higher after posting results that may not seem all that inspiring at first. Revenue slipped 6% and adjusted earnings plunged 74% . However, the iron ore pellets producer was expected to each just half as much as it did. After seeing its stock shed nearly roughly half of its value this year, the bounce was more than overdue. Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM ) also posted better-than-expected results, proving that being a content delivery network doesn't have to be a cutthroat business. J.P. Morgan upgraded Akamai on the strong report. Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU ) was a rare tech loser on the week, slipping on Friday after posting a quarterly profit that fell well short of Wall Street's forecast. Sometimes even a stock trading at an earnings multiple in the teens yet sporting net profit margins of 34% and growing revenue at a 40% clip isn't good enough.
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week. - [By Rick Munarriz]
Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU ) invaded Baidu's (NASDAQ: BIDU ) home turf of Chinese search, and now Baidu is relishing the chance to be the away team.
Top 10 Rising Stocks To Watch Right Now: Herman Miller Inc.(MLHR)
Herman Miller, Inc. engages in the research, design, manufacture, and distribution of interior furniture systems, products, and related services worldwide. It also provides modular systems under the Action Office, Canvas Office Landscape, Ethospace, Resolve, My Studio Environments, and Vivo Interiors brand names; seating products under the Embody, Aeron, Mirra, Setu, Celle, Equa, and Ergon brand names; and storage products under the Meridian and Tu brand names. In addition, the company offers wooden casegoods under the Geiger brand name; freestanding furniture products under the Abak, Intent, Sense, and Envelop brand name; and ergonomic solutions. It markets its products for office, healthcare, industrial, educational, and residential settings through its sales staff, own dealer network, independent dealers and retailers, and independent contract office furniture dealers, as well as through Internet. The company was founded in 1905 and is based in Zeeland, Michigan.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Shares of Herman Miller (NASDAQ: MLHR) got a boost, shooting up 8.92 percent to $31.27 after the company reported in-line FQ3 adjusted earnings. The company expected Q4 earnings of $0.43 to $0.47 per share on revenue of $485 million to $505 million. However, analysts were projecting earnings of $0.43 per share on revenue of $487.5 million.
- [By John Kell and Tess Stynes var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); p]
Herman Miller Inc.(MLHR) said its fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 18% on broad sales growth and stronger margins. The office-furniture company projected fiscal-fourth-quarter results that were mostly higher than expectations. Shares rose 6.2% to $30.50 premarket.
- [By Rex Moore]
But today Jim's company is the largest craft brewer in the nation, with almost 1% of total beer sales. Many at the recent Craft Brewers Conference count Boston Beer among their most-admired companies. Our Rex Moore took on the tough assignment of covering the conference, and asked about other companies these brewers learned from. Today, New Belgium Brewing CEO Kim Jordan talks about Patagonia, Herman Miller (NASDAQ: MLHR ) , and Interface (NASDAQ: TILE ) .
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Shares of Herman Miller (NASDAQ: MLHR) got a boost, shooting up 11.96 percent to $32.14 after the company reported in-line FQ3 adjusted earnings. The company expected Q4 earnings of $0.43 to $0.47 per share on revenue of $485 million to $505 million. However, analysts were projecting earnings of $0.43 per share on revenue of $487.5 million.
Top 10 Rising Stocks To Watch Right Now: Banro Corp (BAA)
Banro Corporation (Banro) is a Canada-based gold exploration company. The Company holds, through four wholly owned subsidiaries, a 100% interest in four gold properties, which are known as Twangiza, Namoya, Lugushwa and Kamituga. These properties are covered by a total of 13 exploitation permits and are found along the 210 kilometer-long Twangiza-Namoya gold belt in the South Kivu and Maniema Provinces of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Company also holds 14 exploration permits covering an aggregate of 2,638 square kilometers. Its 10 of the permits are located in the vicinity of the Company's Twangiza property and four are located in the vicinity of the Company's Namoya property. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company was engaged in the construction of the Company�� Twangiza Phase I oxide mine, and continued its exploration activities at its Twangiza, Namoya and Lugushwa properties. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
With the weekend just around the corner - and with folks looking to close the books on what's been a miserable week - most traders have already closed shop and gone home. Big mistake. Some of the best trades I've ever found were uncovered when nobody else cared, or was interested. Enter Banro Corporation (NYSEMKT:BAA)... a name I stumbled cross today when few other were even looking. I think BAA could be an explosive bullish mover over the course of the next few weeks. Though I don't want to get married to it, I sure wouldn't mind dating it for a while.
- [By Anthony Mirhaydari]
I’ve added shares of BVN to my Edge Letter Sample Portfolio.
Breakout Gold Stocks to Buy: Banro (BAA)
Click to Enlarge Banro (BAA) is a gold mining outfit with operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company recently announced a 15% increase in gold production in the fourth quarter thanks to expansion and efficiency gains at its Twangiza facility. - [By Bryan Murphy]
Looking for a couple of long (bullish) trading ideas on a day when the market is dragging pretty much everything lower? There are two names that fit the bill...CombiMatrix Corp. (NASDAQ:CBMX) and Banro Corporation (NYSEMKT:BAA). CBMX is an "almost" small cap stock that deserves a place on your watchlist while we wait for it to do one more thing. Meanwhile, BAA is something worth going ahead and taking a swing on now, not despite the market's tumble, but because of it.
Top 10 Rising Stocks To Watch Right Now: On Assignment Inc.(ASGN)
On Assignment, Inc., a diversified professional staffing firm, provides flexible and permanent staffing solutions in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The company?s Life Sciences segment provides contract and permanent life science professionals to clients in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, personal care, chemical, medical device, automotive, municipal, education, and environmental industries. Its contract professionals include chemists, clinical research associates, clinical lab assistants, engineers, biologists, biochemists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, biostatisticians, drug safety specialists, SAS programmers, medical writers, food scientists, regulatory affairs specialists, lab assistants, and other skilled scientific professionals. The company?s Healthcare segment offers locally-based and traveling contract professionals that include nurses, specialty nurses, respiratory therapists, surgical technicians, imaging technicians, X-ray technicians, medical technologists, medical assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, coders, billers, claims processors, and collections staff, as well as dental professionals. This segment serves hospitals, integrated delivery systems, imaging centers, clinics, physician offices, reference laboratories, universities, managed care organizations, and third-party administrators. Its Physician segment provides short and long-term locum tenens services, and full-service physician search and consulting services. The company?s IT and Engineering segment offers high-end contract and direct placement services of information technology and engineering professionals with expertise in specialized information technology; software and hardware engineering; and mechanical, electrical, validation, and telecommunications engineering fields. On Assignment, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Calabasas, Cali fornia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Despite a lukewarm economy and jobs situation, the staffing industry along with small cap staffing stocks like On Assignment, Inc (NYSE: ASGN), Kforce Inc (NASDAQ: KFRC) and up and coming Staffing 360 Solutions Inc (OTCBB: STAF) have actually put in pretty decent performances since the end of the financial crisis. I should mention that globally, staffing companies generate about $280 billion in annual revenue and there�are approximately 70,000 private employment services agencies around the world with the top 10 companies accounting for about a third of total industry sales while in the USA there are an estimated 15,000 staffing companies generating less than $20 million in revenues. Overall, Europe is the largest regional staffing services market with 40% of annual revenue, followed by the United States.
Top 10 Rising Stocks To Watch Right Now: Brown-Forman Corp (BFB)
Brown-Forman Corporation, incorporated on October 19, 1933, primarily manufactures, bottles, imports, exports, markets, and sells a variety of alcoholic beverage brands. The Company�� principal brands are Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Whiskey, Pepe Lopez Tequilas, Jack Daniel�� Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve Bourbons, Jack Daniel�� Ready-to-Drinks, Canadian Mist Blended Canadian Whiskies, Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Honey, Chambord Liqueur, Jack Daniel�� Winter Jack Chambord Vodka, Gentleman Jack, Collingwood Canadian Whisky, Southern Comfort, Early Times Bourbon, Southern Comfort Ready-to-Drinks, Early Times flavored line extensions, Southern Comfort flavored line extensions, Early Times Kentucky Whisky, Finlandia Vodkas, Korbel California Champagnes, Finlandia Ready-to-Drinks, Little Black Dress Vodkas, Antiguo Tequila, Maximus Vodkas, el Jimador Tequilas, Old Forester Bourbon, el Jimador New Mix Ready-to-Drinks, Sonoma-Cutrer Wines, Herradura Tequilas, and Tuaca Liqueur.
The Company�� products are sold in more than 150 countries around the world. The Company�� international markets include Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, Poland, France, Russia, Japan, Turkey, Canada, Spain, Czech Republic, South Africa, Brazil and Italy.
The Company competes with Bacardi Limited, Beam Inc., Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., Diageo plc, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A., Pernod Ricard S.A., and Remy Cointreau S.A.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Wednesday
Earnings Expected From: Christopher & Banks Corporation (NYSE: CBK), Brown Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFB), Express, Inc. (NYSE: EXPR), Avago Technologies (NASDAQ: AVGO) Economic Releases Expected: US nonfarm employment change, US trade balance, Canadian trade balance, US new home sales, US ISM non-manufacturing PMIThursday
- [By Seth Jayson]
Brown-Forman (NYSE: BFB ) reported earnings on June 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended April 30 (Q4), Brown-Forman met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
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