The Five Things at CES We Wish We'd Seen in Person

With CEOs being kicked out of hotels and a barrage of wearable-tech products, we wish we were among the 152,000 visitors at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2014.

The biggest reason for attending: the innovation, especially wearable tech. Everything from "smart" watches to glasses to golf gloves were on display.

But the four-day tech extravaganza featured a lot more than just futuristic gadgets. Some events, personalities, and simply odd products ended up stealing the show.

For example, video of Director Michael Bay's on-stage meltdown when his teleprompter failed quickly went viral. And considering how awkward watching the video online is, sitting front-row view at the debacle must have been really bizarre.

Aside from Bay's on-stage flub, here are five things we wish we had seen firsthand.

The Best of CES 2014

T-Mobile CEO Shown the Door:
"I just wanted to hear Macklemore," T-Mobile Chief Executive Officer John Legere told Re/code after being escorted away from AT&T's party at the Palms Hotel. Sadly, Legere was not allowed to hear "Thrift Shop," or any other of the Seattle-based hip-hop artist's songs.

As Forbes pointed out after the incident, it could be that Legere just wanted to be the talk of the event. Supporters took to Twitter after the party-crashing news broke to tweet about his bold move (which took some attention away from embarrassed Michael Bay).

Legere claimed he wasn't trying to start a commotion. AT&T officials didn't care. The sight of Legere in his bright pink T-Mobile shirt was clearly not welcome.

The two companies are fiercely competitive. Just last week, AT&T began offering customers a $450 credit to switch to their service from T-Mobile. During CES 2014, Legere fired back by offering $650 to customers who switch to T-Mobile.

AT&T representatives have not commented on the matter.

Yahoo's New Media Strategy:
Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer took the stage at CES 2014 and revealed two additions: "Yahoo News Digest" and "Yahoo Magazines." Mayer projects they will factor heavily in Yahoo's media strategy moving forward.

Yahoo News Digest will deliver a small feed of news stories to readers twice daily. It involves much of the technology Yahoo! purchased when it acquired the app Summly in 2013.

Yahoo's acquisition of Tumblr is at the forefront of Yahoo Magazines, which will deliver articles through a Tumblr-powered interface. Yahoo Magazines is said to modernize the news content Yahoo offers online.

An Endless Supply of Chocolate in Your Home:
3D printers have met chocolate - and that sound you hear is the standing ovation from techies and chocoholics at CES 2014.

The "countertop-sized" ChefJet 3D by 3D Systems Corp. (NYSE: DDD) creates edible items using flavored sugar. It uses the same substance to create chocolate. A "color" version of the printer (Pro model) is also available, which allows users to print materials in the following flavors: chocolate, vanilla, mint, sour apple, cherry and watermelon.

Because the device works with a sugar substance, it's not like any food can be created with the printer. A pizza won't come out of that machine - that technology may take a few years.

The ChefJet 3D is expected in the second half of 2014 and will be priced in the "sub-$5,000 range," according to 3D Systems. The Pro model will cost closer to $10,000.

A Bendable TV? A Bendable TV!:
Earlier this week, we mentioned the 105-inch curved television from LG Display Co. (NYSE: LPL). That's pretty tame compared to Samsung's 85-inch bendable television.

Users hit a button on their remote to bend the screen, which is optimal for widescreen viewing. The TV has a plastic frame and a 4K resolution LCD screen. According to Samsung, the TV is only a prototype, and there is no timetable set for commercial release.

SNL Cast Members Love CES 2014:
"Saturday Night Live" cast members Cecily Strong and Keenan Thompson made an appearance during Yahoo's exhibition. Strong, reprising her role as a "Weekend Update" cohost, told some tech news-inspired jokes before welcoming Thompson to the stage.

Thompson played his SNL recurring role of Reverend Al Sharpton and immediately told the crowd "Yeah I don't know what the hell I'm doing here either," before thanking "Yoo-hoo" for having him.

Tanning Meets Fashion:
At least, we think that's the point of the Netatmo JUNE bracelet.

The bracelet (tailored to women) is designed to monitor the amount of UV rays the user gets. Rather than looking like a traditional wearable-tech health bracelet, the JUNE uses a trendy looking "jewel" to capture UV rays.

The bracelet connects with an app on the user's smartphone and notifies her when she should apply more sunscreen or start wearing a hat.

The product will be available by the second quarter of 2014 and is expected to retail at $99. No word on how tanning women will conceal their bracelet tan lines.

Intel missed the boat when it came to the mobile revolution, but it won't make that mistake again... See how Intel plans to profit off the "wearable tech" movement.

Related Articles:

Re/code:
T-Mobile CEO on Being Thrown Out of AT&T's Party: "I Just Wanted to Hear Macklemore" Yahoo!:
Marissa Mayer Reveals Yahoo's Big Plans for 2014 Mashable:
Samsung Shows Off a TV That Bends

Stay Away from Angie’s List – ANGI Stock Upgrade Is Overly Optimistic

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While most social stocks performed extremely well last year — such as Twitter (TWTR), Facebook (FB), Pandora (P) and LinkedIn (LNKD) — there was one company that got left out: Angie’s List (ANGI).

Since July of 2013, ANGI stock has slid over 45%.

Today, though, shares of ANGI got a little boost. Angie’s List is up around 6% as of this writing, while shares gained as much as 10% during early trading.

ANGI stock jumped in the wake of a bullish report from Aaron Kessler, an analyst at Raymond James. He upgraded his rating on the stock from "outperform" to "strong buy."

This was based on his view that Angie’s List is poised for stronger sales growth. Keep in mind that ANGI charges consumers subscriptions for access to reviews on service providers like plumbers, carpet cleaners, roofers and so on.

Don’t Bet on ANGI Stock

But Kessler's take is a bit contrarian. Short sellers are swarming around ANGI stock, with a whopping 45% of the float in short positions.

After all, ANGI is facing intense of competition from names like RedBeacon, Google (GOOG), Yelp (YELP) and HomeAdvisor. Even eBay (EBAY) has recently entered the U.S. market. Plus, all these services are free to consumers, which puts ANGI in a tough spot. To deal with this, Angie’s List has been investing aggressively in marketing, especially TV commercials. But that can be expensive.

And already, ANGI has been feeling the pressure. Revenues came to $55.5 million in the most recent quarter, while the loss was 23 cents per share. Meanwhile, Wall Street was looking for a loss of 20 cents per share on revenues of $66.1 million. The outlook was also weak. Angie’s List posted fourth-quarter sales guidance of $68 million to $69 million, while the analyst consensus was for $70.4 million.

While it’s hard to pin down which headwind in particular is causing the weakness, it is always concerning when a subscription-based business sees deceleration. Further erosion is often likely, since there is lots of churn.

Maybe Kessler will be right, and ANGI stock will get its mojo back. But based on the dicey Angie’s List business model, growing competition and weak earnings, his take appears overly optimistic.

Tom Taulli runs the InvestorPlace blog IPO Playbook. He is also the author of High-Profit IPO Strategies, All About Commodities and All About Short Selling. Follow him on Twitter at @ttaulli. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Top 10 Construction Material Stocks To Invest In 2015

Top 10 Construction Material Stocks To Invest In 2015: Eagle Materials Inc (EXP)

Eagle Materials Inc., incorporated on January 27, 1994, manufactures and distributes gypsum wallboard and also manufactures and sells cement. Gypsum wallboard is distributed throughout the United States with particular emphasis in the geographic markets nearest to its production facilities. The Company sells cement in six regional markets, including northern Nevada and California, the greater Chicago area, the Rocky Mountain region, the Central Plains region and Texas. Its gypsum wallboard business is supported by its recycled paperboard business, while its cement business is supported by its concrete and aggregates business. The Company operates in Cement and Concrete and Aggregates, and Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard segments. As of March 31, 2013, the Company operated six cement plants (one of which belongs to its joint venture company), five gypsum wallboard plants, one recycled paperboard plant, seventeen concrete batching plants and four aggregates faciliti es. The Company's products are used in the construction and renovation of houses, roads, bridges, commercial and industrial buildings and other, newer generation structures like wind farms.

Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Operations

The Company's cement production facilities are located in or near Buda, Texas; LaSalle, Illinois; Laramie, Wyoming; Sugar Creek, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fernley, Nevada. The Company's cement subsidiaries are wholly-owned except the Buda, Texas plant, which is owned by Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP, a limited partnership joint venture owned 50% by the Company and 50% by Lehigh Cement Company LLC, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement AG. Its LaSalle, Illinois plant operates under the name of Illinois Cement Company; the Laramie, Wyoming plant operates under the name of Mountain C! ement Company; the Fernley, Nevada plant operates under the name of Nevada Cement Company and its Sugar Creek, Missouri and Tulsa, Okla homa plants operate under the name Central Plains Cement Com! pany. The Company produces and distributes ready-mix concrete from Company-owned sites north of Sacramento, California; Austin, Texas and the greater Kansas City area. The Company's activities in its frac sand business are in the Utica, Illinois area and in south Texas. The Company sells aggregates to building contractors and other customers engaged in a variety of construction activities.

Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard Operations

The Company owns five gypsum wallboard manufacturing facilities. As of March 31, 2013, the Company's gypsum wallboard production totaled 1,950 million square feet. Total gypsum wallboard sales were 1,909 million square feet during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013). The Company also manufactures alternative products, including containerboard grades (such as linerboard and medium) and lightweight packaging grades (such as bag liner). In addition, recycled industrial paperboard grades (tube/cor e stock and protective angle board stock) are produced to maximize manufacturing efficiencies. The Company's manufactured recycled paperboard products are sold to gypsum wallboard manufacturers and other industrial users.

The Company competes with USG Corporation, National Gypsum Company and Koch Industries.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, and Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

  Top Headline
  Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right! . The dea! l is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, and Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

  Top Headline
  Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Tomorrow, Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-construction-material-stocks-to-invest-in-2015.html

New Hire Roundup: CFTC Names Goelman Enforcement Chief

This week in personnel announcements and new hires, the CFTC named Aitan Goelman director of its division of enforcement, Grace Vogel joined PwC’s financial services regulatory practice, Schroders welcomed Seth Finkelstein, the Hedge Fund Association named three women to leadership positions, and David Shepherd joined the Phoenix Cos.

Also, Clearbrook Advisors announced three staffing changes; U.S. Bank announced three additions; Quovo added Zohar Swaine to its board; and Dorothy Militar joined Advisor Partners.

Goelman Named Director of Enforcement at CFTC

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has named Aitan Goelman director of its division of enforcement.

Goelman, an adjunct professor at George Washington Law School, joins from law firm Zuckerman Spaeder LLP. Previously he served in the Department of Justice for nine years, including as an assistant U. S. attorney in the southern district of New York and as a special attorney to the U.S. attorney general.

Vogel Goes to PwC

Grace Vogel has joined PwC U.S.’ financial services regulatory practice as a senior strategy and policy advisor.

Prior to joining, Vogel was the Financial Industryt Regulatory Authority's executive vice president for member regulation since the organization’s inception in 2007. She had previously served as EVP for member firm regulation at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) until its regulatory operations merged with the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) to form FINRA. Earlier she served for more than a decade in key financial roles at large global banks, including deputy controller at Citigroup and controller at Citibank. Before that she was the chief accounting officer at JPMorgan and chief financial officer at J.P. Morgan Securities.

Schroders Welcomes Finkelstein

Schroders has announced that Seth Finkelstein has joined in the newly created role of U.S. product manager, portfolio solutions, within its multiasset and portfolio solutions business (MAPS). He will be based in the New York office and report to Adam Farstrup, U.S. product manager, multiasset.

Finkelstein spent more than 7 years at ING Investment Management as SVP and client portfolio manager. Prior experience includes senior positions at Seneca Capital Management, Cohen & Steers and J.P. Morgan Investment Management.

Hedge Fund Association Adds Three Female Leaders

The Hedge Fund Association announced that it has named three women to leadership positions in the organization. Deirdre Brennan, FINalternatives publisher, was named U.K. regional chapter director; Amy Poster, C&A consulting director, was named to the regulatory and government advisory board; and April Rudin, HFA high-net-worth chairwoman and CEO of the Rudin Group, was named to the board of directors. In recognition of these members’ accomplishments, the HFA also announced that it is offering a complimentary six-month membership to all female hedge fund professionals worldwide including managers, investors and industry service providers. Brennan founded FINalternatives in 2005 as the premier independent source for news on the alternative investment industry. Earlier she was an editor at Institutional Investor News, where she developed a series of online newsletters including Hedge Fund Daily.

Poster was previously a senior policy advisor at the Treasury Department's Office of the Special Inspector General-TARP (SIGTARP). Earlier, she spent more than 15 years at four investment banks including Credit Suisse; Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette; Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers.

Rudin founded the Rudin Group, an UHNW/HNW financial services marketing firm, in November 2009. She began her career at Kelly Services, where she initiated and led global technology programs and marketing. She has been HFA's HNW advisory board chairwoman since December 2012.

Shepherd Joins The Phoenix Cos.

The Phoenix Cos. Inc. announced that David Shepherd has joined as vice president and corporate auditor. He reports to Bonnie Malley, EVP and CFO, and the audit committee of the board of directors.

Shepherd, with more than 15 years of audit, financial reporting controls and risk management experience in the insurance industry, was most recently assistant vice president, internal audit, at Lincoln Financial Group.

Clearbrook Advisors Appoints Three

Clearbrook Global Advisors has announced that Timothy Ng has been named CIO, Jay Tubianosa has been appointed chief risk officer and Mark Hong has been named head of research.

Ng has been in the financial industry for 32 years and has been responsible for placing investments on behalf of corporations, pension funds, endowments and foundations, banks, investment advisory firms, and family offices. Tubianosa has more than 24 years of investment experience and Hong, who joined the firm in 2010, has more than 17 years of investment experience.

U.S. Bank Adds Three

U.S. Bank has announced that Amy Foo has been named wealth management advisor for the Private Client Reserve in Los Angeles, Joseph Lombardo has been appointed wealth management consultant for the Private Client Reserve in New York and Joseph Haas has been appointed wealth management consultant for the Private Client Reserve in Milwaukee.

Foo, with an extensive background in finance including alternative investments and asset management, previously served as a consulting group analyst with Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles.

Lombardo, with more than 15 years of financial services experience, previously was SVP at PNC Wealth Management. He also worked for Deutsche Bank and Scudder Investments.

Haas, with more than 18 years of sales and services experience, previously held the position of corporate vice president and officer for PS-Companies.

Quovo Adds Swaine to Board

Quovo has announced that Zohar Swaine has joined its advisory board.

Since 2012, Swaine has been providing consulting services to the industry, serving both as outside advisor and as interim executive for several fintech firms. Earlier, he was managing director at TD Ameritrade from 2007 to 2012. Prior to that, he held various leadership positions at JPMorgan and First Manhattan Consulting Group. His experience spans retail banking, lending, card, brokerage, and securities services.

Militar Joins Advisor Partners

Advisor Partners announced that Dorothy Militar has joined as director of client services and operations.

Prior to joining, Militar was executive director for JPMorgan’s prime brokerage unit. Before that, she had spent most of her career at AXA Rosenberg in a variety of leadership positions within their operations function.

---

Read the June 4 New Hire Roundup on ThinkAdvisor.

 

FSI gives revised Finra BrokerCheck link rule the thumbs down

An interest group representing independent broker-dealers continues to object to a proposal by Finra — despite the regulator’s modifications to the measure — that would require links to a broker database on firms’ websites and online communications.

Under the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.’s revised proposal, a brokerage firm must include a prominent reference and link to BrokerCheck, an online repository of broker background information, on their websites available to retail investors. A firm also must include a BrokerCheck link in online profiles of their registered representatives.

The revised proposal, designed to increase investor use of BrokerCheck, eased requirements put forth in the original January 2013 proposal that related to social media and third-party websites. It also removed a requirement that the links go directly to a broker’s summary page on BrokerCheck.

The changes were not enough to win over FSI, which wants Finra to entirely eliminate the requirement that a BrokerCheck link be included on third-party websites and social media, the group said in a June 12 comment letter.

“Firms will incur significant costs and operational burdens to implement the requirements and monitor for compliance,” wrote David Bellaire, FSI executive vice president and general counsel. “While Finra’s goals with the requirements related to third-party websites are laudable, many aspects of these requirements may not be feasible, and it is unclear whether they will actually increase traffic and awareness of BrokerCheck.”

The deadline for comment letters is June 16.

Firms would have to create new written materials and policies for the BrokerCheck link rule and would have to ensure that their financial advisers are properly adding links to their websites and social media, Mr. Bellaire said in describing additional regulatory costs. In addition, there’s no automated way to add a BrokerCheck link to each of their advisers’ social media accounts.

Hot Mid Cap Companies To Invest In Right Now

Although the revised proposal doesn’t require a BrokerCheck link on individual messages on social media platforms, it does say that a link should be posted in the “about” sections of profile pages on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest and in the “background summary” section of LinkedIn.

The FSI said that suggestion is unworkable because social media platforms will continually evolve.

“While Finra has provided helpful guidance with respect to the locations on existing social media sites where the BrokerCheck link can be placed, future social media platforms utilized by the public and advisers may not have room for the BrokerCheck link or may require additional guidance from Finra,” Mr. Bellaire! wrote. “In addition, existing social media platforms may change the fields and locations where Finra has suggested the required link to BrokerCheck appear.”

Finra wants to elevate the profile of BrokerCheck, which contains professional and disciplinary information about brokers. But FSI suggested it evaluate whether the link proposal is the best way to do it.

“FSI believes Finra should conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether adding the proposed link to BrokerCheck in the designated locations will in fact increase traffic to the site,” Mr. Bellaire wrote.

Hot Oil Stocks To Watch Right Now

Hot Oil Stocks To Watch Right Now: Target Energy Ltd (TEXQY)

Target Energy Limited is an Australia-based company engaged in the development, production and exploration of oil and gas in the United States of America. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, the Company continued to develop and explore its oil and gas prospects in Texas and Louisiana. The Snapper wells in St Martin Parish, the Pine Pasture #1 and #2 wells in the East Chalkley field, the Merta #1 well at the Highway 71 prospect continued to produce. The Merta #1 well at the Highway 71 prospect continued to produce. Drilling commenced in the Fairway project on September 10, 2011, with the BOA 12 #1 well being completed as a producer. On August 12, 2012, the Darwin #1 well was drilled to a total depth of 3,070 meter. It is located three kilometer north-east of the BOA wells and will test both the Wolfberry and Fusselman formations. The Companys subsidiaries include TELA (USA) Inc, TELA Louisiana Limited Inc, TELA Texas Holdings Limited Inc and Target Energy Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Target Energy Limited (OTCQX:TEXQY, ASX:TEX) (http://targetenergy.com.au/)is an oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and trading under ticker “TEX” and OTC Marketstrading underticker “TEXQY”.

  Today (June 20), Target Energy Limited ticker (OTCQX:TEXQY)has remained(0.00%) +0.000 at $7.90 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 3:45PM EDT June 20, 2013), and Target Energy Limited on the Australian Securities Exchange ticker (ASX:TEX)has surged(+7.69%) +0.005 at $.070 (ref. google finance June 20, 2013 – Close).

  Target Energy Limitedpreviously reported that the company is continuing drilling operations at the Pine Pasture #3 oil well on their East Chalkey Oil Field in Parish, Louisiana. The Company had independent studies which indicated that put upside recoverable reserves f! or Pine Pasture #3 range between 250,000 and 450,000 barrels of oil. In addition, the report also revealed that the East Chalkey Field has an upside estimate of 4 million barrels of oil.

• [By CRWE]

  Target Energy Limited (OTCQX:TEXQY, ASX:TEX) (http://targetenergy.com.au/)is an oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and trading under ticker “TEX” and OTC Marketstrading underticker “TEXQY”.

  Today (June 19), Target Energy Limited ticker (OTCQX:TEXQY)has remained(0.00%) +0.000 at $7.90 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 3:45PM EDT June 19, 2013), and Target Energy Limited on the Australian Securities Exchange ticker (ASX:TEX) remained(0.00%) +0.000 at $.065 (ref. google finance June 17, 2013 – Close).

  Target Energy Limitedpreviously reported that the company is continuing drilling operations at the Pine Pasture #3 oil well on their East Chalkey Oil Field in Parish, Louisiana. The Company had independent studies which indicated that put upside recoverable reserves for Pine Pasture #3 range between 250,000 and 450,000 barrels of oil. In addition, the report also revealed that the East Chalkey Field has an upside estimate of 4 million barrels of oil.

• [By CRWE]

  Target Energy Limited (OTCQX:TEXQY, ASX:TEX) (http://targetenergy.com.au/)is an oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and trading under ticker “TEX” and OTC Marketstrading underticker “TEXQY”.

  Today (June 21), Target Energy Limited ticker (OTCQX:TEXQY)has remained(0.00%) +0.000 at $7.90 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 12:00PM EDT June 21, 2013), and Target Energy Limited on the Australian Securities Exchange ticker (ASX:TEX)remains (0.00%)+0.000 at $.070 with 60,514 shares in movement thus far (ref. google finance June 21, 201! 3 –! Close).

  Target Energy Limitedpreviously reported that the company is continuing drilling operations at the Pine Pasture #3 oil well on their East Chalkey Oil Field in Parish, Louisiana. The Company had independent studies which indicated that put upside recoverable reserves for Pine Pasture #3 range between 250,000 and 450,000 barrels of oil. In addition, the report also revealed that the East Chalkey Field has an upside estimate of 4 million barrels of oil.

• [By CRWE]

  Target Energy Limited (OTCQX:TEXQY, ASX:TEX) (http://targetenergy.com.au/) is an oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and trading under ticker “TEX” and OTC Markets trading under ticker “TEXQY”.

  Today(July 11), Target Energy Limited ticker (OTCQX:TEXQY) has surged (+1.23%) up +0.08 at $6.56 with 200 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance 12:08PM EDTJuly 11, 2013), and Target Energy Limited on the Australian Securities Exchange ticker (ASX:TEX) had surged (+1.47%) +0.001 at $.069 with15,000 shares in play at the close (ref. google finance July 11, 2013 – Close).

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-oil-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

Dollar edges lower with Fed decision on deck

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) — The U.S. dollar was flat against most major rivals Wednesday, with investors preparing for a decision from the Federal Reserve about what it plans to do with its bond-buying program.

The Fed is slated to release a statement on monetary policy at 2 p.m. Eastern time . While many analysts expect there will be no change in the central bank's program of purchasing $85 billion a month in assets, investors will be looking for, at least, some insight about when a tapering of purchases will begin.

The ICE dollar index (DXY)  , which compares the U.S. unit with six rivals, inched down to 80.049 from 80.060 late Tuesday. The WSJ Dollar Index (XX:BUXX)  , however, edged up to 73.41 from 73.38.

Getty Images Enlarge Image

The Fed's purchases of U.S. government debt and mortgage-backed securities have been seen as hurting the greenback's value.

Speculators are holding "massive" amounts of long-dollar positions against the Japanese yen, the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar (USDCAD) , according to the latest data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, cited by BK Asset Management managing director of foreign exchange strategy Kathy Lien in a note Tuesday.

"If the central bank fails to be as hawkish as the market expects, profit-taking on those positions could drive the dollar quickly and aggressively lower, even if the Fed ends up being one of the few central banks unwinding stimulus next year," she said.

Top China Companies To Invest In 2015

A recent round of better-than-expected economic data have raised the prospect that the Fed is getting closer to reducing the pace of its asset buys. Wednesday's policy announcement will mark the bank's last under Chairman Ben Bernanke, whose second term ends in January.

In May, he told Congress that "in the next few meetings," the bank could slow the pace of stimulus, though a widely anticipated move in September didn't materialize.

Click to Play If 2014 is 'average,' will markets rise 10%?

If 2014 is an "average" year, the stock market will rise 10%, right? Not necessarily. It depends on what about 2014 you think will be average. Marketwatch columnist Mark Hulbert explains. Photo: Getty Images.

Renewed strength of jobs growth in the past few months may be just enough to lead the Fed to begin tapering asset purchases, said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics, on Wednesday.

"It will be a close call, however," he said.

The central bank may make a "small" reduction of $10 billion, evenly split between Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities, wrote Ashworth. "We also expect the Fed to take steps to strengthen its forward guidance on rates, in an attempt to offset the impact of tapering on long-term borrowing costs," he said.

While the Fed decision is likely to be highlight of Wednesday's session, reports on U.S. housing starts and building permits are also due.

In other currency action Wednesday, the euro (EURUSD)  rose to $1.3772 from $1.3765 during Asian trade ahead of a December business-sentiment survey from the Ifo institute in Germany. Sentiment in November rose on improved sales expectations.

Meanwhile, the British pound (GBPUSD)   rose to $1.6283 from $1.6265. Minutes from the Bank of England's policy meeting earlier this month are due out, as well as a government report on employment.

The dollar (USDJPY)  , however, gained ground against the yen, rising to ¥102.91 from ¥102.67 late Tuesday, while the Australian dollar (AUDUSD)  bought 89.06 U.S. cents, up from 88.95 U.S. cents.

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Top 5 Forestry Companies To Watch For 2015

Late last year, just before the Federal Reserve began its scaling back on monthly Treasury bond purchases, the conventional wisdom was that interest rates would rise and bond prices would fall. Invariably, the consensus opinion was – at it has been since QE began in 2008 –“interest rates have nowhere to go but up.”

In this case, the widespread belief was a simple measure of supply and demand. Logically, if the Fed is buying fewer Treasuries, it would create less demand for U.S. debt and cause bond prices to trade at lower prices.  

Yet, like so many times before, the logic of conventional wisdom was dead wrong. And this time is no different.

In January, the Fed reduced its monthly QE-bond purchases to $65 billion per month. Instead of crashing like many people expected, ETFs tied to the performance of long-term Treasury bonds like the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) suddenly jumped almost 6% in January. The SDPR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), by comparison, fell 2.59%. Who could’ve foreseen such a berserk outcome?

Top 5 Forestry Companies To Watch For 2015: DexCom Inc.(DXCM)

DexCom, Inc., a medical device company, focuses on the design, development, and commercialization of continuous glucose monitoring systems for ambulatory use by people with diabetes, and for use by healthcare providers in the hospital for the treatment of both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The company offers FDA approved SEVEN, which includes a disposable sensor that can be inserted by a patient and used continuously for up to seven days; a transmitter; and a small handheld receiver. Its SEVEN system also received CE Mark approval for commercialization in the European Union and the countries in Asia and Latin America that recognize the CE Mark. The company also provides the SEVEN PLUS, which incorporates additional user interface and algorithm enhancements that are intended to make its glucose monitoring function customizable. Its SEVEN PLUS has FDA and CE Mark approvals. DexCom has a collaboration agreement with Edwards Lifesciences LLC to develop products for conti nuously monitoring blood glucose levels in patients hospitalized for various conditions. It also has development agreement with Insulet Corporation to integrate its continuous glucose monitoring technology into Insulet?s wireless, handheld OmniPod System Personal Diabetes Manager; and a joint development agreement with Animas Corporation to integrate its continuous glucose monitoring technology into Animas insulin pumps. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Where's the beef, DexCom?
  Sometimes a company's products make a lot of sense on paper, but the practical application doesn't go nearly as smoothly. This is how I'd describe medical monitoring device maker DexCom (NASDAQ: DXCM  ) , which has an array of glucose monitoring devices to help diabetes patients better manage their disease. Make no mistake about it; the number of diabetes diagnoses in this country is rising in accord with our obesity rate. Therefore, a company like DexCom, which makes the DexCom G4 System monitor, could be a big hit, and certainly has a wide enough audience to cater to.

Top 5 Forestry Companies To Watch For 2015: Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC)

Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited is financing by way of loans for the purchase or construction of residential houses, commercial real estate and certain other purposes in India. The Company has a network of approximately 330 offices (which includes 83 offices of its wholly owned distribution company HDFC Sales Private Limited) catering to over 2,400 towns & cities spread across the country. It also has offices in Dubai, London and Singapore and service associates in the Middle East region, to provide housing loans and property advisory services to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). Its product range includes loans for purchase and construction of a residential unit, purchase of plot, home improvement loans, home extension loans, non-residential premises loans for professionals and loan against property, while its flexible repayment options include Step Up Repayment Facility (SURF) and Flexible Loan Installment Plan (FLIP). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  Vanguard favors India with investments in Infosys Ltd. (NSE: INFY), Reliance Industries Ltd. (NSE: RELIANCE), and Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. (NSE: HDFC) ranking among its top 20.

Best Construction Material Companies To Invest In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charley Blaine]

  The week's earnings and economic events may not provide the fuel for a big rebound. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) reported better-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter, even if sales were sluggish. There's Apple's earnings ahead and the Fed meeting, starting Tuesday. Most analysts see the Fed continuing to reduce its bond buying.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) took the cake today among Dow stocks, gaining 2.3%, as the construction-equipment maker bumped up its quarterly dividend 15%, to $0.60, or a 2.9% yield. It was the company's third consecutive annual dividend increase and, on a bullish day, that was enough to push the macro-economically sensitive stock up over 2%. Caterpillar has been one of the worst-performing on the Dow this year as it has actually fallen 5% in 2013. Given its sluggish performance recently, the stock may be due for a gain.

Top 5 Forestry Companies To Watch For 2015: Poseidon Nickel Ltd (POS)

Poseidon Nickel Limited is an Australia-based company engaged in exploration, mining and production of Nickel and other minerals. The Company�� Windarra nickel project, includes an implied ore reserve (mineable resource) of 3,446,000 ore tons at an average grade of 1.79% nickel for 61,500 nickel metal tons and has a mine life of six years. Cerberus is closely located to Poseidon�� existing operations approximately 10.5 kilometers south of the Mt Windarra nickel mine. In September 2011, Poseidon entered into an earn-in agreement with Magma Metals Limited (Magma) for nickel, copper and PGE rights to a tenement package adjoining its Windarra Nickel Project (WNP). The new tenements cover 203 square kilometers. The Company�� subsidiaries include Poseidon Nickel Atlantis Operations Pty Ltd, Poseidon Nickel Olympia Operations Pty Ltd and Wells Gold Corporation (International) Pty Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By jaggom]

  NetSuite acquired Retail Anywhere recently that sells point of sale (POS) retail software and software solutions to multi-channel retail stores. The acquisition allowed NetSuite to grow its presence in stores. Retail Anywhere�� cloud capabilities will compile transactions from across stores, and integrate them with back-end support systems of businesses and offer customers a complete solution.

Top 5 Forestry Companies To Watch For 2015: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MTU)

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFJ), incorporated on April 2, 2001, is a holding company for The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU), Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (MUTB), Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Holdings Co., Ltd. (MUSHD), Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd.( MUMSS), Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS Co., Ltd. (Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS) and other companies engaged in a range of financial businesses. Its services include commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, leasing and fields of financial services. In May 2010, the Company and Morgan Stanley formed two joint ventures in Japan by integrating our respective Japanese securities companies engaged in investment banking and securities businesses. The Company converted the wholesale and retail securities businesses conducted in Japan by the former MUS into one of the joint venture entities, which is named MUMSS. Morgan Stanley contributed the investment banking operations conducted in Japan by its formerly wholly owned subsidiary, Morgan Stanley Japan Securities Co., Ltd. (MSJS) into MUMSS and converted the sales and trading and capital markets businesses conducted in Japan by MSJS into a second joint venture entity called Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd.

Integrated Retail Banking Business Group

The Integrated Retail Banking Business Group covers all domestic retail businesses, including commercial banking, trust banking and securities businesses, and enables the Company to offer a range of banking products and services, including financial consulting services, to retail customers in Japan. This business group integrates the retail business of BTMU, MUTB and MUMSS, as well as retail product development, promotion and marketing in a single management structure. Many of its retail services are offered through its network of MUFG Plazas providing individual customers with access to its financial product offerings of integrated commercial b! anking, trust banking and securities services.

The Company offers a range of bank deposit products, including a non-interest-bearing deposit account that is redeemable on demand and intended for payment and settlement functions, and is insured without a maximum amount limitation. It also offers a variety of asset management and asset administration services to individuals, including savings instruments, such as current accounts, ordinary deposits, time deposits, deposits at notice and other deposit facilities. MUFJ also offers trust products, such as loan trusts and money trusts, and other investment products, such as investment trusts, performance-based money trusts and foreign currency deposits.

The Company creates portfolios by combining savings instruments and investment products. It also provide a range of asset management and asset administration products, as well as customized trust products for high-net-worth individuals, as well as advisory services relating to the purchase and disposal of real estate and effective land utilization, and testamentary trusts. The Company provides a varied line up of investment trust products allowing its customers to choose products according to their investment needs through BTMU, MUTB and MUMSS, as well as kabu.com Securities, which specializes in online financial services. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, BTMU offered a total of five investment trusts. As of the end of March 2010, BTMU offered its clients a total of 73 investment trusts.

The Company offers securities, including publicly offered stocks, foreign and domestic investment trusts, Japanese government bonds, foreign bonds and various other products. The Company offers housing loans, card loans and other loans to individuals. With respect to housing loans, in addition to housing loans incorporating health insurance for seven major illnesses, BTMU began offering in June 2009 preferential interest rates under its Environmentally Friendly Support program ! to custom! ers who purchase environment-conscious houses (like houses with solar electric systems), which meet specific criteria in response to increasing public interest in environmental issues. In September 2009, BTMU launched housing loans with home mortgage insurance, which BTMU jointly developed with the Japan Housing Finance Agency, a governmental agency under the Japanese government�� economic stimulus measures, under which the agency indemnifies BTMU for losses from housing loans.

The Company offers products and services through a range of channels, including branches, automated teller machines (ATMs) (including convenience store ATMs shared by multiple banks), Mitsubishi-Tokyo UFJ Direct (telephone, Internet and mobile phone banking), the Video Counter and postal mail. It offers integrated financial services combining its banking, trust banking and securities services at MUFG Plazas. These Plazas provide retail customers with integrated and flexible suite of services at one-stop outlets. As of March 31 2010, the Company provided those services through 47 MUFG Plazas. The Company offers MUTB�� trust related products and advisory services through its trust agency system not only for MUTB customers but also for BTMU and MUMSS customers. As of March 31, 2010, BTMU engaged in eight businesses as the trust banking agent for MUTB: testamentary trusts, inheritance management, asset succession planning, inheritance management agency operations, business management financial consulting, lifetime gift trusts, share disposal trusts, and marketable securities administration trusts.

Integrated Corporate Banking Business Group

The Integrated Corporate Banking Business Group covers all domestic and overseas corporate businesses, including commercial banking, investment banking, trust banking and securities businesses, as well as UnionBanCal Corporation (UNBC). UNBC is a wholly owned subsidiary of BTMU and a US bank holding company with Union Bank being its primary subsidiary. T! he Compan! y provides various financial solutions, such as loans and fund management, remittance and foreign exchange services. It also helps its customers develop business strategies, such as inheritance-related business transfers and stock listings.

It offers advanced financial solutions to companies through corporate and investment banking services. Product specialists globally provide derivatives, securitization, syndicated loans, structured finance and other services. It also provides investment banking services, such as merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory, bond and equity underwriting. It provides online banking services that allow customers to make domestic and overseas remittances electronically. It also provides a global cash pooling/netting service, and the Treasury Station, a fund management system for a multi-company group. The Company�� global Corporate and Investment Banking business (Global CIB), primarily serves companies, financial institutions, and sovereign and multinational organizations with a set of solutions for their financing needs.

Integrated Trust Assets Business Group

The Integrated Trust Assets Business Group covers asset management and administration services for products, such as pension trusts and security trusts by integrating the trust banking expertise of MUTB and the international strengths of BTMU. The business group provides a range of services to corporate and pension funds, including stable and secure pension fund management and administration, advice on pension schemes, and payment of benefits to scheme members. Its Integrated Trust Assets Business Group combines MUTB�� trust assets business, comprising trust assets management services, asset administration and custodial services, and the businesses of Mitsubishi UFJ Global Custody S.A., Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co., Ltd. and KOKUSAI Asset Management Co., Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Carroll]

  Mitsubishi UFJ (NYSE: MTU  ) also plunged in the Japanese financial sector's sell-off, with the firm's stock dropping 12.3% over the week. This firm faced more of a threat from Thursday's action, however: Japan's benchmark bond yield climbed to its highest level in more than a year, and Mitsubishi is the largest lender by assets in the country and holds more than 48 million yen in government bonds. Bond yields are still coming off of record lows, so Mitsubishi's hardly in a dangerous place. The firm's attempts to expand recently may also help boost revenue at a company that posted declining net income in its most recent quarter.

U.S. stock futures plunge on jobs report

U.S. stock futures plunged Friday after the Labor Department said 203,000 new jobs were added in November and the unemployment rate fell to 7% from 7.3% a month earlier.

Dow Jones industrial average index futures reversed course and fell 0.4% from a gain of 0.4% ahead of the report's release. The Standard & Poor's 500 index futures followed suit, falling 0.4% from a gain of 0.4%. The Nasdaq index futures were down 0.2% from an earlier gain of 0.3%.

Economists had forecast that employers added 180,000 jobs last month. The unemployment rate was expected to just dip to 7.2%.

JOBS: Unemployment rate falls to 7% from 7.3%

On Thursday, the Dow fell 0.4% to 15,821.51. The S&P 500 dropped 0.4% to 1,785.03. The Nasdaq composite 0.1% to 4,033.16.

Hot China Stocks To Invest In 2015

MARKETS: Stocks end lower for fifth straight session

A 23,000 fall in weekly U.S. jobless claims to 298,000 added to the evidence that the U.S. economy is growing strongly and that stimulus from the Federal Reserve, which has kept interest rates low to spur recovery, will be reduced.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average rose 0.8% to 15,299.86 on Friday. Benchmarks in Europe mostly advanced.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude for January delivery was up 3 cents at $97.41 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 18 cents to close at $97.38 on Thursday.

Contributing: The Associated Press

5 Best Media Stocks To Watch For 2015

5 Best Media Stocks To Watch For 2015: News Corporation(NWSA)

News Corporation operates as a diversified media company worldwide. Its Cable Network Programming segment produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment, and movie programming for distribution through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators primarily in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in entertainment media, as well as produces and licenses television programming worldwide. Its Television segment operates 27 broadcast television stations in the United States. The company?s Direct Broadcast Satellite Television segment distributes programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. Its Publishing segment provides newspapers and information services, such as publishing national newspapers in the United Kingdom, approximately 146 newspapers in Australia, and a metropolitan and a national newspaper in the United States; book publishing services, including the publishing of English language books worldwide; and integrated marketing services comprising the publishing of free-standing inserts, which are marketing booklets containing coupons, rebates, and other consumer offers, as well as provides in-store marketing products and services, primarily to consumer packaged goods manufacturers in the United States and Canada. The company also sells advertising, sponsorships, and subscription services on the company?s various digital media properties and outdoor advertising space on various media primarily in Russia and eastern Europe; and provides data systems and professional services that enable teachers to use data to assess student progress and deliver individualized instructions. News Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• ! [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  News Corp (NWS) (NWSA) added 8.4%. The media company said late Thursday its fiscal second-quarter profit slid to $150 million, or 26 cents a share, from $1.4 billion, or $2.42 a share, a year ago. Last years earnings were affected by a $1.3 billion gain from an acquisition. But on an adjusted basis, it earned 31 cents a share, ahead of the 21-cent profit forecast by analysts. News Corp is the parent of MarketWatch, the publisher of this report.

• [By Corey Rosenbloom]

  We’ll skip News Corp. (NWSA) and focus on the other names for candidates.

  Specifically, Newmont Mining (NEM) has formed an interesting retracement to compress again between the 20- and 50-day EMAs:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  News Corp. (NASDAQ: NWSA) boasts a cable-leading news operation and a host of additional entertainment properties. The consensus target for the stock is $17.30.

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

How to Save Money With Pinterest

Getty ImagesPinterest can provide inspiration for DIY home decor. Pinterest has inspired millions of people to have DIY courage, cook meals from scratch, ramp up their workouts and make home sweet home a little sweeter through simple decorating techniques. Most people, though, still don't realize how they can save money through this virtual pin board. Below, Pinterest enthusiasts share their money-saving secrets about this image-based platform. Find inspiration. You can learn to turn random items around your house into creative home decor -- inexpensively. "I'm fickle when it comes to home decorating, which means I change my mind frequently about styles and accessories. This can get expensive, so I turn to Pinterest for ideas. Arranging something differently or using common household items as props can be all you need to freshen up a space. For example, I started using liquor bottles as vases after seeing it on Pinterest, and have a newfound appreciation for produce crates as decorating pieces," says Kendal Perez of Hassle-Free Savings. "Pinning home decorating ideas also helps me hone in on what I really want, so I don't waste money trying items that don't actually fit within my vision. I'm an obsessive planner so having as many visual reminders of what I'm looking for helps me make better purchasing decisions. Pinterest is also great for finding DIY tutorials on everything from laying tile to arranging flowers like a pro to safely removing your washer or dryer. This helps you avoid paying a premium for services you can do yourself!" she adds. Learn new strategies. Do you realize that getting organized and implementing an orderly system saves you money? If you can't keep track of paying your bills, it's easy to get a late fee or two. Follow pinners who share their organizational know-how to save money indirectly by staying organized. Mridu Parikh is a simplicity and organization junkie for women who are sick and tired of feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. She suggests keeping track of payments by using a calendar to write important payment due dates. Digital calendars work best since you can set up repeat reminders for ongoing payments. Set alerts a few days before payment is due to ensure you get them paid on time and avoid late fees. Vow to avoid the dreaded tax scramble next year by keeping all of your tax information for the year in one place. Have a clearly marked folder or box where you put all your tax-related documents and forms as you get them. Use folders separated by categories like end-of-year bank statements, receipts, business expenses, pay stubs, charitable donation forms and office supplies to make everything easier to find later. Gaining insight from those who decorate on a dime can have your home looking beautiful for less, too. The Thrifty Decor Chick gives you a ticket to savings through her fabulous IKEA finds. She inspires others to make their home a haven without it costing a fortune. If you're reaching for takeout after a hard day's work because you think you don't have time to cook, think again. Get a savings plan baked into your recipes. Erin Chase of "Five Dollar Dinners" does just that. She cooks on a budget. By pinning her low-cost recipes you can find economical meal to cook. She shares them on Pinterest and even has a board devoted to budget-friendly recipes for those with food allergies. Many of which are made in a slow cooker which actually frees up your time. How's that for saving money and time? Now you have no more excuses! Embrace more DIY ideas. Brianna Merrick is a social media specialist who puts her know-how about the photo sharing platform to good use at work and in her own life. She realized that DIY is possible. Get inspired, get instructions and get savings on tasks including home decor and cooking. "When I got my new apartment, I turned to Pinterest for guidance and it showed me unique and low-cost ways to decorate without blowing my budget," she says. She was able to successfully decorate without spending a bundle. Don't miss out on the cost-effective information that Pinterest has to offer. Take advantage of the many inexpensive ideas found on this social media platform and make savings pin-worthy. Then, you can share your own tips with your new Pinterest friends. .

4 Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

>>5 Stocks Poised to Break Out

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

>>5 Toxic Big Pharma Stocks You Need to Sell

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume recently.

CoStar Group

CoStar Group (CSGP) provides information, analytics, and marketing services to the commercial real estate industry in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and France. This stock closed up 4.5% to $169.51 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 1.59 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 280,597

Volume % Change: 462%

From a technical perspective, CSGP ripped higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $164.09 with heavy upside volume. This move briefly pushed shares of CSGP into breakout territory, since this stock flirted with some near-term overhead resistance at $169.81. Shares of CSGP tagged an intraday high of $171, before closing just below that level at $169.51. Market players should now look for a continuation move higher in the short-term if CSGP manages to take out Friday's high of $171 with strong volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CSGP as long as it's trending above Friday's low of $163.48 and then once it sustains a move or close above Friday's high of $171 with volume that hits near or above 280,597 shares. If that move begins soon, the CSGP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $174.85 to $179.80. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give CSGP a chance to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $193.37.

E*Trade Financial

E*Trade Financial (ETFC), a financial services company, provides brokerage and related products and services primarily to individual retail investors under the E*TRADE Financial brand name in the U.S. This stock closed up 4.3% at $20.74 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 9.45 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 5.15 million

Volume % Change: 68%

From a technical perspective, ETFC spiked higher here right above its 200-day moving average of $19.55 with strong upside volume. This spike higher on Friday is starting to push shares of ETFC within range of triggering a big breakout trade above a key downtrend line. That trade will hit if ETFC manages to take out its 50-day moving average of $21.14 to some more key near-term overhead resistance levels at $21.48 to $21.90 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ETFC as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $19.55 or above more near-term support at $19.24 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 5.15 million shares. If that breakout kicks off soon, then ETFC will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $22.95 to $23.25. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give ETFC a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $23.87 to its 52-week high at $25.58.

Autohome

Autohome (ATHM) operates as an online destination for automobile consumers in the People's Republic of China. This stock closed up 3.5% at $35.71 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 683,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 381,997

Volume % Change: 65%

From a technical perspective, ATHM trended higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $34.45 with above-average volume. This spike higher on Friday is starting to push shares of ATHM within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if ATHM manages to take out some key overhead resistance levels at $36.80 to $37.79 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ATHM as long as it's trending above Friday's low of $34.11 or above $33 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 381,997 shares. If that breakout gets underway soon, then ATHM will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $42.68 to $45, or even $46.96.

VeriFone Systems

VeriFone Systems (PAY) designs, markets, and services electronic payment solutions at the point of sale (POS) worldwide. This stock closed up 8.5% at $36.72 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 6.17 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.72 million

Volume % Change: 277%

From a technical perspective, PAY gapped up sharply higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $33.20 with heavy upside volume. This sharp spike higher on Friday pushed shares of PAY into breakout and new 52-week-high territory, after this stock took out some key near-term overhead resistance at $35.38. Market players should now look for a continuation move higher in the short-term if PAY manages to take out its new 52-week high at $36.84 with strong upside volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PAY as long as it's trending above Friday's low of $34.95 and then once it sustains a move or close above $36.84 with volume that's near or above 1.72 million shares. If that move starts soon, then PAY will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are its next major overhead resistance levels at $39 to $40. Any high-volume move above $40 will then give PAY a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from May of 2012 that started just above $47.50.

To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>5 Big Stock Trades to Buy in June

>>4 Stocks Under $10 to Keep an Eye On

>>5 Stocks With Big Insider Buying

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

Top Medical Stocks To Watch For 2015

Top Medical Stocks To Watch For 2015: Atossa Genetics Inc (ATOS)

Atossa Genetics Inc., incorporated on April 30, 2009, is a development-stage healthcare company focused on the prevention of breast cancer through the commercialization of diagnostic tests that can detect precursors to breast cancer, and through the research, development, and ultimate commercialization of treatments for pre-cancerous lesions. The Companys diagnostic tests consist of medical devices cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which can collect fluid samples from the breast milk ducts, where over 95% of breast cancers arise. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, the tests that the Company offered and that are in development consist of ForeCYTE, ArgusCYTE, FullCYTE and NextCYTE. In September 2012, the Company acquired all of the assets of Acueity.

The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test provides personalized information about the 10-year and lifetime risk of breast cancer for women between ages 18 and 73. The ArgusCYTE Breast Health Test provides information to help inform breast cancer treatment options and to help monitor potential recurrence. The FullCYTE Breast Health Test is designed to assess the individual breast ducts for pre-cancerous changes in women previously identified to be at high risk for breast cancer. The NextCYTE Breast Cancer Test is designed to profile breast cancer specimens for prediction of treatment outcomes and distant recurrence in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. MASCT, Oxy-MASCT, and its name and logo are the trademarks. ForeCYTE, FullCYTE, NextCYTE, and ArgusCYTE are its service marks.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rebecca McClay]

  Atossa Genetics Inc. (Nasdaq: ATOS) shares are up about 6% in midday trading due to a cancer breakthrough it plans to showcase this weekend...

  Atossa will exhibit its ForeCYTE Breast Health Test at the 2013 Breast Cancer Symposium in San Francisco, CA, which starts Saturday.

[By Virginia Harrison]

The other big Olympic sponsors are Visa (V, Fortune 500), Samsung (SSNLF), Panasonic (PCRFF), General Electric (GE, Fortune 500), Dow Chemical (DOW, Fortune 500), Procter & Gamble (PG, Fortune 500), Omega (OCFN) and Atos (ATOS). They're staying tight-lipped about the issue in public but a senior official at the International Olympic Committee said this month that several had raised concerns about how the law could affect the Games.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  I have little doubt that what I'm about to say could inflame some fans and followers of Atossa Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ:ATOS). But, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't call 'em like I see 'em. So, here goes. ATOS is on the verge of a substantial meltdown. It's possible the stock could circumvent this pullback, but the odds don't favor it.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-medical-stocks-to-watch-for-2015-2.html

Achieving Private Equity Returns, Minus the Drawbacks

What are the main problems that advisors try to solve in a client’s portfolio? 

To justify your own fees, performance that consistently outpaces the broader market indexes would be nice. However, you’re not willing to take on undue risk or volatility. Moreover, as an advisor you’re always focused on the cost of those investments, and an investment with high turnover goes against the long-term investing goal that most advisors have on behalf of their clients, not to mention the tax consequences of higher-frequency trading.

So perhaps you’re thinking that certain alternative investments would fit the bill. The problem with many alts, however, is that your clients may need to be part of the high-net-worth cohort. Burned by the 2008-2009 hyper-correlation and crash-and-burn of many private vehicles, you demand liquidity and transparency. Oh, you also can’t stomach the costs of 2-and-20 managers.

Enter Ben Warwick of QES Investments and a pairing of two investing vehicles — in ETF and mutual fund formats — that appears to go a long way toward meeting client needs for performance and diversification while assuaging advisors’ concerns about alternatives’ costs, transparency and liquidity.

Last month, an ETF was launched based on a QES private equity strategy on the London Stock Exchange, Source Nomura Modeled PERI ETF (PERI:LN). This past week, Hatteras Partners launched a mutual fund, Hatteras Private Equity Intelligence Fund (HPEIX). Both are built to deliver the benefits of private equity investing without the drawbacks of direct investing in listed or unlisted PE.

As CIO for the multi-office family office Sovereign Wealth Management, Warwick — a ThinkAdvisor and Investment Advisor contributor — and his team sought to use alternatives in performing asset allocation for larger portfolios. However, he found that there were “some negatives to what we were using,” the primary drawback being the “the delivery mechanism of the limited partnership.” Looking to deliver to his clients “access to risk premia that they wouldn’t have been able to access,” QES started by using futures, especially managed futures in portfolios as a strategic tilt away from the typical 60/40 portfolios.

Warwick realized that QES wanted to “build products that solve problems for advisors.” First up: the Aspen Managed Futures mutual fund (MFBTX), a low-cost index-based managed futures ’40 Act fund using both trend and countertrend strategies. He says the “low cost and the sensible structure of the index gave us some success with that product,” which has attracted $160 million in assets in just two years.

Around that time, however, “we started to see if we could make available the returns of private equity, specifically buyout funds.”

Why private equity? Simple, Warwick says. “Because the returns are better,” delivering 3% to 5% better returns than an unmanaged S&P 500 strategy. However, PE also requires that a HNW investor “tie up your money for a decade” more often than not.

So QES started conducting attribution analysis on PE returns to determine the source of those extra returns. While some observers would expect the returns come from “levered equity," Warwick said, "that doesn’t explain why private equity investments show a bigger upside with lower drawdowns.”

It turns out that individual managers’ alpha isn’t the primary driver, either, though he admits “there’s some of that.” Instead, what QES’ research found was that the “surprising driver” of PE returns is timing — “when you get in and when you get out” — and sector selection.

“Private equity managers are like hedge fund managers,” argues Warwick, in that they exhibit “herd behavior; if you see one or two deals in utilities,” for example, “you’ll see all these private equity managers going into utilities."

Since there’s a “momentum effect in capturing the money flows of PE, if you could capture that momentum effect and mirror the leverage, which changes with credit spreads, you could get close” to the returns of private equity funds. So QES needed to find the data on private equity funds to determine that momentum and timing.

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Enter Preqin, which Warwick calls the “Morningstar of PE,” which has a “huge database” containing “30,000 transactions and 600 buyout funds.” Its data allowed QES to build portfolios that mimic the private equity buyout space.

Warwick says its PE index “went live a year ago, published on Bloomberg,” and true to QES’ research, “is providing good returns with less volatility.” The ETF, based on the Nomura QES Modeled Private Equity Returns Index, launched last month while the Hatteras mutual fund, HPEIX, launched last week.

How do the funds help advisors? “Lots of advisors” want to follow the endowment model, Warwick says, and allocate 30% to private equity, “but clients can’t afford that, so these funds allow you to cover the PE allocation.”

Moreover, the benefits of buying an index-based PE fund include ameliorating the “significant timing risk” of buying just one “vintage year” of PE. “If you buy into our funds, you get every vintage year in one trade; we look at the asset allocation of every vintage year in the database.”

Why not buy listed private equity, then? “Contrast our approach — trying to give returns from actual buyout funds — to listed PE, which buys the service providers of funds.” Listed PE, he says, is “very illiquid; ours (the ETF and mutual fund) are more liquid than the funds they’re wrapped into.”

The downside to PE index approach? “The big risk with our strategy is that we’re tied to how buyout funds do: if they don’t do well, then we won’t do well.”

However, Warwick says that “historically their downside participation in equity pullbacks is much more muted than the S&P 500,” partly because “we’ll always be a combination of long equity and cash.”

Why the cash? It’s all about the private equity need for ‘dry powder’ in the portfolio, i.e., the cash necessary to fund future buyouts. If the QES funds are mimicking the private equity funds, they’ll also mimic the amount of dry powder being held by PE funds. “Last year,” says Warwick, the average level of cash in the portfolio was 35%, but the portfolio yielded “S&P returns with 30% less volatility.”

What’s the role of the funds? “Some people are looking to use our fund as a smart beta, others put it in the alternatives bucket; pension plans see these as return drivers,” while “private banks see it as portfolio diversifiers.”

The cost? “The index has a 1% fee embedded in it,” plus trading costs.

The mutual fund’s final expense ratios are still to be determined by Hatteras, but it will provide, says Warwick, “far cheaper access to private equity.” Warwick himself says he’s a “significant investor in both the managed futures fund” and the private equity funds. “I’m a big believer in eating my own cooking,” he says.

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Ben Warwick is a frequent contributor to Investment Advisor and writes the monthly Searching for Alpha index newsletter for ThinkAdvisor.com.

Ben also presented during a Nov. 12 ThinkAdvisor webinar on how to manage risk in a portfolio now.