What Microsoft Could Learn From the Worst Company in America

Golf clap for Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA  ) . The video game developer just won the unfortunate distinction of "Worst Company in America" this year in an online poll of readers at Consumerist.com. 

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) did much better in the survey. It never made it out of round one of the March-Madness-style contest that pits companies against one another over which one has offended the most consumers lately.

Still, Mr. Softy should be paying close attention. EA's dominating win highlights the risks around video gaming that Microsoft would be smart to avoid. As it puts the final touches on its latest Xbox console, Microsoft needs to get these issues right -- or else it could find itself a real contender for next year's title.

Make it work
EA boosted its chances for a win this year by severely botching the rollout of its latest SimCity title. The company's servers just weren't up to the challenge at the launch. And it admitted as much recently, saying, "We owe gamers better performance than this."

But EA could have avoided the problem if it gave its users the ability to play SimCity without an Internet connection. Instead, it forced every player onto a system that wasn't ready for the influx.

Microsoft hasn't confirmed any details about its new gaming console, but one of the biggest rumors floating around has it that the next Xbox will require an Internet connection to function. That could be an exaggeration. However, if Mr. Softy is going to tie any functionality at all to its own platform, it'd better be ready to handle all the users that need it. And it'd better have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. You only get one chance at a product launch.

Make it flexible
What angered EA customers even more about the online connection requirement for SimCity, though, was that many saw it as an intrusive digital rights management scheme, or DRM. Users thought EA was trying to strictly limit play so that it could sell more copies of the title. EA denies that charge:

Many continue to claim the Always-On function in SimCity is a DRM scheme. It's not. People still want to argue about it. We can't be any clearer -- it's not. Period.

EA users apparently weren't accepting that explanation. And the controversy over just the potential of tighter DRM schemes shows how little consumers like the idea. Microsoft and Sony are rumored to be considering locking their new systems from the ability to play used games. Obviously, it's a tempting idea to cut out middlemen like GameStop and centralize gaming purchases through your own platform. But the firestorm of complaints aimed at EA is more evidence that the move would turn many of the console makers' customers against them.

Bottom line
Consumers value flexibility and reliability in their game systems. Mess up even a bit in either of those areas and you'll hear about it from your users. Hopefully, Microsoft won't have to learn that lesson the hard way.

What you can learn about Microsoft
It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched the company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In this special premium report on Microsoft, our analyst explains that while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are many. He's also providing regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report and stay up-to-date on the latest news by clicking here.

Unemployment Continue To Cripple 4 States

Unemployment in the United States dropped to 6.7% in February, well below the 10% level it reached at the worst of the Great Recession. While the figure is not as low as economist would like, it represents a rebound which, along with housing and consumer spending, has indicated a modest recovery. However, the unemployment rate has stayed above 8% in four states, and that number may not improve in the near future.

The jobless rates in California, Illinois, Nevada, and Rhode Island were higher than 8% last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a matter of fact, the figure was 9% in Rhode Island. The reasons for the high numbers and the lack of recovery vary from state to state.

Rhode Island relied on manufacturing and the financial industry for its prosperity. Some of the big banks which were based in Providence haves left or were bought by larger financial companies. The manufacturing sector was hurt as many jobs left the state for areas where costs were based on better efficiency. None of the jobs lost because of these trends is likely to be replaced soon.

California’s jobless rate is based to some extent on extremely high joblessness in the Central Valley, well inland from Los Angeles and San Francisco. While tech jobs have caused a rebound in the area around San Francisco, the downturn in agriculture jobs has left the unemployment rate above 10% in several inland cities which include Riverside and Fresno.

In Nevada, the collapse of the real estate market and the construction jobs which went with it plunged home prices by well over a third in some parts of the state. People who relied on the value of their homes for their net worth lost all of that equity in some cases. The recession also dented traffic to the casinos in Las Vegas.

Illinois stands as a reminder that heavy industry manufacturing jobs are gone and will probably not return. It is part of the crescent of states where car, steel and auto parts companies drove the economies, including Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Some large cities in these areas have still not recovered. The best known of these is Detroit, which has been forced into Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

Unemployment in these four states will almost certainly stay higher than in the balance of the country, and the jobs the four states have lost may never come back

Mid-Day Market Update: Restoration Hardware Surges On Earnings; Endocyte Shares Drop

Midway through trading Friday, the Dow traded up 0.73 percent to 16,382.66 while the NASDAQ surged 0.93 percent to 4,189.98. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.78 percent to 1,863.49.

Leading and Lagging Sectors
Technology stocks gained Friday, with Parametric Sound (NASDAQ: PAMT) leading advancers after the company provided post merger update and outlook. Among the leading sector stocks, gains came from 21Vianet Group (NASDAQ: VNET), BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY), Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ), and Veeco Instruments (NASDAQ: VECO).
In trading on Friday, utilities shares rose by just 0.06 percent. Among the sector stocks, Exterran Partners LP (NASDAQ: EXLP) was down more than 4.8 percent, while PG&E (NYSE: PCG) tumbled around 3.75 percent.
Top Headline
BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY) posted a narrower-than-expected fourth-quarter loss.
BlackBerry posted a quarterly net loss of $423 million, or $0.80 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $98 million, or $0.19 per share. Its loss from continuing operations came in at $423 million, or $0.80 per share, compared to a year-ago profit of $94 million, or $0.18 per share. BlackBerry's adjusted loss from continuing operations came in at $0.08 per share.
Its revenue slipped 64% to $976 million. However, analysts were estimating a loss of $0.56 per share on revenue of $1.17 billion. BlackBerry sold around 3.4 million smartphones in the quarter.
Equities Trading UP
Finish Line (NASDAQ: FINL) shares shot up 3.64 percent to $27.44 after the company posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings.

Shares of Restoration Hardware Holdings (NYSE: RH) got a boost, shooting up 12.30 percent to $71.66 after the company reported adjusted Q4 earnings of $0.83 per share on revenue of $471.7 million. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.82 per share on revenue of $491.3 million. The company also issued a strong first-quarter profit forecast.

Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARIA) was also up, gaining 7.43 percent to $8.16 on a report from the UK Daily Mail that Jazz Pharmaceuticals is willing to pay $20.00 per share for the maker of Iclusig.

Equities Trading DOWN

Shares of Aviva plc (NYSE: AV) were down 5.40 percent to $15.24 after the company announced its plans to sell US equity manager River Road to Affiliated Managers Group.

Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR) shares tumbled 6.83 percent to $19.64 after the company announced an offering of 7 million shares of common stock.

Endocyte (NASDAQ: ECYT) was down, falling 5.16 percent to $21.88 after the company priced 4.5 million shares of its common stock at $21.00 per share.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded up 0.38 percent to $101.66, while gold traded down 0.19 percent to $1,292.30.
Silver traded up 0.31 percent Friday to $19.77, while copper rose 1.64 percent to $3.04.

Eurozone
European shares were higher today. The Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.95 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index gained 1.30 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX surged 1.05 percent and the French CAC 40 climbed 0.51 percent while U.K. shares gained 0.35 percent.

Economics
US consumer spending rose 0.3%, while personal income climbed 0.3% in February. However, economists were expecting a 0.3% increase in spending and a 0.3% gain in personal income.
The final reading of the Reuter's/University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index rose to 80.00 in March, versus a preliminary March reading of 79.90. However, economists were expecting a reading of 80.50.
Data on farm prices for March will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Posted-In: News Eurozone Futures Commodities Options Economics Intraday Update Markets

© 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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3 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 With Big Insider Buying

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 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

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

AOL

AOL (AOL) provides various digital brands, products and services to consumers, advertisers, publishers and subscribers worldwide. This stock closed up 3.7% to $43.83 in Wednesday's trading session.

Wednesday's Volume: 3.61 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.47 million

Volume % Change: 165%

From a technical perspective, AOL spiked higher here right above some near-term support at $41.71 with above-average volume. This move briefly pushed shares of AOL into breakout territory, after the stock flirted with some near-term overhead resistance levels at $44.34 and its 50-day moving average of $45.30. Shares of AOL hit an intraday high of $45.86 before closing below those breakout levels at $43.83. Market players should now look for a continuation move higher in the short-term if AOL manages to take out Wednesday's high of $45.86 with strong volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AOL as long as it's trending above Wednesday's low of $42.66 or above more support at $41.71 and then once it sustains a move or close above $45.86 with volume that hits near or above 1.47 million shares. If we get that move soon, then AOL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $48 to $52, or even its 52-week high at $53.28.

NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) provides high-performance mixed signal and standard product solutions for radio frequency, analog, power management, interface, security and digital processing products worldwide. This stock closed up 2% to $58.09 in Wednesday's trading session.

Wednesday's Volume: 5.04 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 3.24 million

Volume % Change: 56%

From a technical perspective, NXPI jumped notably higher here with above-average volume. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $55.90 to $56.13. Following that bottom, shares of NXPI have started to uptrend and move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if NXPI manages to take out Wednesday's high of $60.31 to its 52-week high at $60.48 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in NXPI as long as it's trending above Wednesday's low of $57.43 or above more support at $55.90 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 3.24 million shares. If that breakout gets underway soon, then NXPI will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $65 to $70.

Bio-Reference Laboratories

Bio-Reference Laboratories (BRLI) provides clinical laboratory testing services for the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring and treatment of diseases primarily in the greater New York metropolitan area. This stock closed up 3.6% at $28.26 in Wednesday's trading session.

Wednesday's Volume: 473,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 323,530

Volume % Change: 65%

From a technical perspective, BRLI jumped sharply higher here and broke out above some near-term overhead resistance at $27.89 with above-average volume. This move briefly pushed shares of BRLI back above its 200-day moving average of $28.32 before the stock closed just below that level at $28.26. Market players should now look for a continuation move higher in the short-term if BRLI manages to take out Wednesday's high of $29.02 with strong volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BRLI as long as it's trending above Wednesday's low of $27.39 or above its 50-day at $26.28 and then once it sustains a move or close above $29.02 with volume that's near or above 323,530 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then BRLI will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from last November that started near $35.

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:

>>3 Hot Stocks to Trade (or Not)

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>>5 Big Tech Stocks to Trade for Gains

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 Canadian Companies For 2014

Top Canadian Companies For 2014: (AUQ)

AuRico Gold Inc. engages in the exploration, development, and production of gold and silver projects and properties in Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Its principal property includes the Ocampo mine covering approximately 15,000 hectares located in Chihuahua State. The company was formerly known as Gammon Gold Inc. and changed its name to AuRico Gold Inc. in June 2011. AuRico Gold Inc. was founded in 1986 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  AuRico Gold (NYSE: AUQ  ) plunged 44%, having posted some disappointing results lately, and is also suffering from a competitive disadvantage, with its costs above those of some peers. On the plus side, though, the company recently initiated a dividend, which now yields about 2.8%.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Endeavour has also suffered company-specific issues. In January, the company lowered its production guidance for its key El Cubo mine. As Motley Fool contributor Christopher Barker noted at the time, former mine owner AuRico Gold (NYSE: AUQ  ) did a poor job of managing and operating El Cubo, leaving Endeavour with a massive opportunity to refurbish and expand the mine. Yet at least in the short run, the company still faces a big challenge there, especially in light of a recent fatality of a contractor employee at the mine last month.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-canadian-companies-for-2014.html

A Perfect Trade for Increased Volatility: TVIX

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- U.S. equities are under selling pressure today, with the Dow Jones off by more than 50 points and the S&P 500 down by 13 points. The tech-heavy Nasdaq is taking the brunt of the selling, plunging by a whopping 70 points.

>>5 Toxic Stocks to Sell Now

It's been a long time since the market has had a healthy correction. When you look at the chart for the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), you'll notice that we now have a failed breakout from the recent test of the SPY's highs. The selling for stocks could easily pick up the pace to the downside if the SPY takes out its 50-day moving average of $182.59 a share with high volume soon.

The PowerShares QQQ (QQQ) which represents a basket of the biggest Nasdaq stocks, has also failed to take out its recent highs and is now breaking below its 50-day moving average of $88.19 a share with heavy downside volume. The iShares Russell 2000 (IWM), a popular ETF to follow the small-cap market, has also failed to take out its recent highs and is breaking down here. The IWM is quickly approaching its 50-day moving average of $115.45 a share.

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

Considering that the QQQ has now broken below its 50-day moving average, which is bearish technical price action. The next stop for 50-day breaks could very well be coming for the SPY and the IWM. If that does occur, then we're going to see volatility in the markets pick up dramatically. This could be a good time to look for ways to play an increase in volatility if U.S. equities are finally getting ready for the much-needed correction. This could be a meaningful correction since we haven't had one in a very long time.

If volatility is now getting set to spike dramatically higher, then one trading vehicle that could be a great way to play this is with the VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX (TVIX).

This ETF was designed to provide investors with exposure to one or more maturities of futures contracts on the VIX, which reflects implied volatility of the S&P 500 Index at various points along the volatility forward curve. The TVIX is a more highly leveraged way to play a spike in volatility, but this by no means is a trading vehicle you invest in for the long-term. This is purely something you use if you think volatility can spike dramatically in the short-term, which could lead to some quick profits. If the markets want to correct in a meaningful way, then you can use the TVIX for a trade since volatility and fear should spike notably in that environment.

It's hard to apply straight technical analysis to leveraged ETFs and especially to VIX-based ETFs. That being said, the chart for the TVIX has shown over the last month and change a bottoming pattern, with shares forming a triple bottom chart pattern at $6.62, $6.95 and $7.05 a share. As long as that bottom holds, then we have a technical situation here that could be setting the TVIX up for a major breakout trade. If that breakout does trigger, then the TVIX has a great chance to spike sharply higher.

>>5 Stocks Ready for Breakouts

Best Asian Stocks To Invest In 2014

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TVIX as long as its trending above those major support zones at around $7.05 to $6.62 a share and then once it breaks out above some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $8 to $8.68 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 9.04 million shares. If that breakout gets underway soon, then TVIX could easily hit $11 to $12 a share.

Keep in mind that we're going to need some elevated fear to creep back into the markets and all of those major indices must take out their 50-day moving averages in order for volatility to dramatically spike and give the TVIX some momentum to send it significantly higher from current levels. It's key that we get closes below those 50-day moving averages as well, not just intraday breaks. Also, if we get any rebound rallies in equities, look for those rallies to fail at lower highs for potential entry points into the TVIX for the coming correction.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>4 Stocks Breaking Out on Big Volume

>>5 Big Trade Signals After Yellen's Surprise Message

>>Hedge Funds Are Selling These 5 Stocks -- Should You?

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.

Morning Market Losers

Top High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now

Related RENN UPDATE: Morgan Stanley Reiterates on Renren Following 4Q13 Results Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Edge Higher; FedEx Profit Misses Estimates Related CETV Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Losers Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Losers

Renren (NYSE: RENN) shares declined 9.42% to $3.42 after the company reported Q4 results. Renren expected Q1 sales of $23.0 million to 25.0 million, versus analysts' estimates of $30.20 million.

Central European Media Enterprises (NASDAQ: CETV) shares dropped 8.35% to $3.95 in pre-market trading after gaining 6.95% on Tuesday.

Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW) slipped 7.93% to $8.24 after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock from Neutral to Sell.

Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) shares tumbled 3.44% to $37.51 after the company reported weaker-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings. Oracle's quarterly profit surged to $2.57 billion, or $0.56 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $2.5 billion, or $0.52 per share. Its revenue jumped to $9.31 billion versus $8.96 billion. Its adjusted profit came in at $0.68 per share.

Kandi Technolgies Group (NASDAQ: KNDI) shares tumbled 3.21% to $20.48 after the company entered into an agreement for registered direct placement of $11.05 million of common stock and warrants.

Posted-In: market losersNews Movers & Shakers Intraday Update Markets

© 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Grocery stores square off in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS -- Grocers are waging a fierce food fight in Indiana, and if you happen to be a foodie — or just frugal — there's a good chance they're fighting over you.

Food retailers from supercenter operator Wal-Mart to the four-aisle stores of Aldi are grabbing for bigger shares of the consumer's food dollar with a new round of store expansions in the Indianapolis area.

At least 18 stores are under construction or planned, plus numerous store remodelings, at a construction tab that likely tops $200 million.

The surge in bricks-and-mortar investment is in response to a growing "foodie" culture, in which consumers shop more often, frequent multiple stores and increasingly search out gourmet, organic and other specialty items. At the same time, shoppers want low prices — and reward stores that offer them — forcing retailers to keep costs down even as they spend heavily on new stores.

"Indianapolis is an intensely competitive market. The pressure to survive has increased," said Jeff Burt, a regional president for Kroger Co., which will spend $45 million on Indianapolis store expansions this year, double its normal capital budget. Among Kroger's new offerings: an in-store cheese shop run by Murray's Cheese, a Greenwich Village, N.Y., cheesemonger.

What's sure to come out of this wave of expansions is a renewed focus on price-cutting and product promotions, as retailers try to lure shoppers into their new or remodeled stores.

"You'll get more item price promotions, and it will get fairly aggressive," predicts Peter Whitsett, executive vice president for merchandising and marketing for Michigan-based Meijer, which is opening two more megastores this spring to add to its nine stores in Indianapolis. More than half of Meijer's store sales come from groceries.

Best Small Cap Companies To Buy For 2014

Indy a tough market

The grocery business has always been a l! ow-margin, intensely competitive affair, especially in Indianapolis. Its central location in the country puts it in line for geographic expansions by numerous regional chains, while its stronger-than-average economy makes it a place grocers want to be.

"Grocery chains are like sharks," said Richard Feinberg, a professor of consumer sciences and retailing at Purdue University. "They move and grow or they die. They have to continue to expand, and Indianapolis is a ripe market for the growth of new chains and the rebirth of old chains."

The latest major new entrant entering Indianapolis' waters: Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle Inc. The 218-store regional chain has staked out a spot in Carmel for its first area store.

Foodies are clearly the kind of customers Giant Eagle has in mind. Its new supermarket is "inspired by the open-air markets of Europe" and "will help customers to cultivate their passion for food" with appearances by celebrity chefs, said Giant Eagle spokesman Rob Borella.

Cooking enthusiast and vegetarian Melissa Rice, 54, Carmel, said she's eager to see what Giant Eagle has to offer.

"I'm excited about it," said Rice. Rice shops for her family primarily at Whole Foods, but hits Kroger and Marsh for certain brands and Meijer for non-grocery items.

"I think the (existing) local grocery stores have something to be concerned about," Rice said. "It'll definitely be an opportunity for them to step up their game."

Fragmented market

Even having an attractive new grocery concept in town, however, won't cause cost-conscious shoppers to suddenly start spending a lot more on groceries. So that leaves grocery chains vying to grab market share from each other, even as many are expanding.

Tracking grocery market shares is tricky because consumers spread their shopping dollars around multiple stores and often shift their shopping patterns. But it's clear that Indianapolis is a fragmented grocery market.

According to one measure by Scarborough, whi! ch tradit! ionally has been used by The Star to reflect market share in the grocery industry, four chains controlled about 80 percent of primary grocery store spending in 2013.

The Scarborough data show Kroger has increased its leading market share from 35 percent to 37.6 percent in the past two years in a survey that asks grocery shoppers where they spent the most money in the previous week. Wal-Mart, which is adding eight smaller neighborhood market stores locally, had a 22.6 percent share in that survey, with Meijer at 13.3 percent and Marsh at 7.8 percent.

With so much new grocery construction underway, market shares can shift quickly, given how today's consumers eagerly embrace retailers that offer novel food shopping concepts, said Michael Bills, a retail specialist and executive in residence at Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business.

"The average consumer today knows a lot more about food tastes than they did 10 years ago," he said. "There's a willingness to shop other formats and a demand for quality and freshness."

Jason Borneman, a 36-year-old software engineer, said he and his wife

are hardly loyal to one store. They shop at a neighborhood Kroger, subscribe to Green BEAN Delivery of organic and natural foods, and drive regularly to a Trader Joe's on the Northeastside for specialty items.

To compete against the large chains that dominate the Indianapolis market, plus a growing number of natural foods stores, even small grocers must innovate and offer the specialty foods many shoppers want.

The German-owned Aldi Inc. discount chain added a 40-product organic and natural food line in January. Aldi will break ground this year on three stores, bringing its Indianapolis-area store portfolio to 18.

.

Officials at Kroger, which has operated in Indianapolis for 90 years, say they're ready for a renewed breakout of cut-rate pricing as happened during the recession of 2007-09.

"We will strive ... to protect our strong capital base" that inclu! des $160 ! million spent on Kroger's 45 Indianapolis area stores since 2008, said Burt of Kroger.

The Cincinnati-based national chain is hardly averse to using price-chopping to lure and keep customers, said Kroger spokesman John Elliott.

One Kroger advantage: It operates its own dairy and commercial bakery in Central Indiana, so it controls prices back to the wholesale level. "We can really drive our pricing," Burt said.

Market strategies differ

Wal-Mart decided to carry out its latest expansion by recently opening five of its smaller, 38,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market brand stores, with three more coming. They are a quarter of the size of a Wal-Mart supercenter.

"We're looking at accelerating the growth of our smaller format stores, driven by the fact that our customers are really responding to these formats in a favorable way." said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Erica Jones. "But we're also not scaling back the location of larger retail stores."

Meijer, on the other hand, will stick with its megastores. The nearly 200,000-square-foot locations stay open 24 hours a day and combine a full-service grocery with a department store that lets people combine all their shopping in one trip, Whitsett said.

The Meijer executive sees Indianapolis as a market where "all the A-listers" in the grocery business butt heads. His attitude toward that heightened competition: Bring it on.

"Competition really is healthy," he said. "As the market becomes more and more competitive, folks will be fighting for their share."

Contributing: Chris Sikich of The Star

3 Huge Tech Stocks on Traders' Radars

Top Up And Coming Stocks To Own Right Now

 

BALTIMORE (Stockpickr) -- Put down the 10-K filings and the stock screeners. It's time to take a break from the traditional methods of generating investment ideas. Instead, let the crowd do it for you.

>>5 Stocks Insiders Love Right Now

From hedge funds to individual investors, scores of market participants are turning to social media to figure out which stocks are worth watching. It's a concept thats known as "crowdsourcing," and it uses the masses to identify emerging trends in the market. Crowdsourcing has long been a popular tool for the advertising industry, but it also makes a lot of sense as an investment tool. After all, the market is completely driven by the supply and demand, so it can be valuable to see what names are trending among the crowd. While some fund managers are already trying to leverage social media resources like Twitter to find algorithmic trading opportunities, for most investors, crowdsourcing works best as a starting point for investors who want a starting point in their analysis. Today, we'll leverage the power of the crowd to take a look at some of the most active stocks on the market today. >>5 Rocket Stocks Worth Buying This Week These "most active" names are the most heavily-traded names on the market -- and often, uber-active names have some sort of a technical or fundamental catalyst driving investors' attention on shares. That's especially true now that earnings season is officially underway. And when there's a big catalyst, there's often a trading opportunity. Without further ado, heres a look at today's stocks. Frontier Communications Nearest Resistance: N/A

Nearest Support: $5

Catalyst: Technical Setup >>5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts Mid-cap communications stock Frontier Communications (FTR) is up 1.3% on high volume this afternoon, following through to new highs after breaking out above $5 resistance on Monday. That price action makes $5 a new support level for shares, and makes more upside the likely trade for shares. Making new highs is significant from an investor psychology standpoint because it means that everyone who has bought shares in the last year is sitting on gains. As a result, the "back to even" mentality is less of a concern than it would be for a name with a higher proportion of shareholders sitting on losses. If you decide to be a buyer here, I'd recommend keeping a stop under the lower support level at $4.90. FTR still pays out a whopping 7.6% dividend yield at current prices.

Stock quotes in this article: ORCL, FSLR, FTR 

Oracle

Nearest Resistance: $39.50

Nearest Support: $37.50

Catalyst: Earnings

>>5 Stock Charts Screaming "Buy" in March

Large-cap enterprise software firm Oracle (ORCL) is off 1.2% on high volume this afternoon, following news that the firm missed fourth quarter earnings by 2 cents. Analysts were expecting profits to reach 70 cents per share, but they came in at 68 cents. It's a modest miss, and from a technical standpoint, shares are holding up that it's not a particularly significant one. In short, the uptrend in Oracle remains intact. Shares are re-testing trend line support at $37.50 this afternoon, but that resembles a buying opportunity more than a cause for concern. The fact that buyers are stepping in at support bodes well for ORCL's upside in the next month. First Solar Nearest Resistance: N/A

Nearest Support: $65

Catalyst: Earnings Guidance First Solar (FSLR) is up more than 13% this afternoon, following the firm's release of guidance for 2014 and beyond. The firm expects revenue to fall between $3.7 and $4 billion this year, besting the consensus estimate that falls at the bottom of that range. Most important, it forecasts impressive numbers for 2015 and 2016 that include much higher levels of profitability than the firm sees today. FSLR is testing a key breakout to new highs this afternoon as shares press up through previous resistance at $65. That $65 level has acted like a price ceiling in the past, so the fact that First Solar is catching a bid above it bodes well for buyers. If shares can hold $65 through the close, consider FSLR a buy. To see these stocks in action, check out the at Most-Active Stocks portfolio on Stockpickr.

 -- Written by Jonas Elmerraji in Baltimore. RELATED LINKS:   >>Hedge Funds Are Selling These 5 Stocks -- Should You?   >>5 Big Health Care Stocks to Trade for Gains   >>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Stock quotes in this article: ORCL, FSLR, FTR  At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned. Jonas Elmerraji, CMT, is a senior market analyst at Agora Financial in Baltimore and a contributor to TheStreet. Before that, he managed a portfolio of stocks for an investment advisory returned 15% in 2008. He has been featured in Forbes , Investor's Business Daily, and on CNBC.com. Jonas holds a degree in financial economics from UMBC and the Chartered Market Technician designation. Follow Jonas on Twitter @JonasElmerraji

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Watch Right Now: Chevron Corporation(CVX)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy operations worldwide. It operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment involves in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas; processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as holds interest in a gas-to-liquids project. The Downstream segment engages in the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing of crude oil and refined products primarily under the Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex brand names; transportation of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car; and manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives. It a lso produces and markets coal and molybdenum; and holds interests in 13 power assets with a total operating capacity of approximately 3,100 megawatts, as well as involves in cash management and debt financing activities, insurance operations, real estate activities, energy services, and alternative fuels and technology business. Chevron Corporation has a joint venture agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation. The company was formerly known as ChevronTexaco Corp. and changed its name to Chevron Corporation in May 2005. Chevron Corporation was founded in 1879 and is based in San Ramon, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The sales big spender was Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) which posted 16 high bids, totaling just over $321 million. Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) offered six high bids, tota! ling $106 million, followed by Murphy Oil Corp. (NYSE: MUR) with 16 high bids, totaling nearly $50 million, and Royal Dutch Shell PLC (NYSE: RDS-A) with four high bids, totaling more than $45 million.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) is down some 7.4% so far year to date, but it is down 10.2% from its 52-week high of $127.83. It is trading at $114.60, and the consensus target of $129.56 implies upside of just over 13% for the oil giant. While Exxon was barely behind this one, Chevron does at least have that higher 3.5% dividend yield, and that dividend is likely to rise yet again. The company’s capex and drilling outlook failed to excite Wall Street, but that happens sometimes, and vast fields are getting harder to find at economical levels.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  After falling nearly 1.2% yesterday after announcing that production would be falling and capex spending would be lower, Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) trades up 0.96% today at $115.61 in its 52-week range of $109.27 to $127.83 shortly before the closing bell. Trading volume for Chevron's shares was about 12% below the daily average of around 6.5 million shares.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-blue-chip-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

Get a Grip: 10 Steps To Controlling Your 401k Investments

At Investing Daily, we have grown increasingly concerned with the national trend toward underfunded retirement plans. As a service to our readers, for the next few weeks we'll send you a complimentary series of focused briefs to get you thinking about new ways to maximize performance both inside and outside of a structured 401k or similar plan. 

This is the third installment in a five-part series.

"Ask People's Advice, but Decide For Yourself." – Old Ukrainian Proverb

I heard the refrain all the time in my trading days on Wall Street.

The client, a little nervous and apprehensive, would say, "I don't trust my instincts with my portfolio – you guys do everything for me."

My job was to trade, but I had enough contact with clients to know they really didn't trust their instincts, and were only too happy to turn 100 percent control of their financial fortunes to fund managers, stockbrokers, and investment bankers.

Yes, you want to go with a professional, but it's never a good idea to relinquish 100 percent control of your investment portfolio, and that goes double for your 401k plan.

The sad fact is, some people just don't want to take control over their investment portfolio.

That's a big mistake.

Nobody is impacted by investment decisions as much as the person whose name is on the portfolio. And nobody is going to step in for you and make good on a lousy asset allocation strategy or a misguided risk assessment that leads to massive portfolio losses.

No, taking control of your investment portfolio is all on you – as it should be.

Fortunately, getting a grip on your 401k investments is easier than you think. In fact, you can get the job done in these 10 easy steps:

Step #1: Know your net worth

In a global economy where information is as much a commodity as widgets or weed whackers, it pays to know what you�! �re worth.

That's where knowing your net worth comes in handy.

Your net worth, also known as a personal balance sheet, gives you a blueprint for your financial life, one that you can work from again and again as you make lifetime financial decisions. It's a fluid document that you'll need to revisit every six months or (at the outer limits) every year, but you'll be glad you have it.

Quantifying your financial goals is critical in the investment process and your personal balance forms the yardstick by which you can measure the success of your financial plan. As time marches on, you can tweak the strategy for your financial plan along the way to achieve your defined goals.

Step #2: Know your objectives

Any good marksman will tell you the key to hitting a target is having a target. Having something to aim at, to work towards, gives you the framework for a successful personal portfolio plan.

Step #3: Know your risk factor

Risk assessment is easy, although investment advisors try their hardest to make it complicated. Always know going in what you can afford to lose and, going forward, manage your portfolio correspondingly.

Knowing your risk tolerance will help you decide which investment strategy is right for you. For example, if you have a low risk tolerance, you may want to invest in a more conservative portfolio even though your time horizon indicates you could be more aggressive. Evaluating your timeframe can be critical, particularly when building a portfolio based upon a projected retirement date.

Step #4: Diversify your assets

The best way to have avoided being caught up in market volatility is to have your money spread around among different investments.

When your investments are diversified, or spread across different asset classes or types of securities, they work together to help reduce risk. So go ahead and enjoy the benefits of slow and steady blue chip stocks along with potentially higher-flying growth stocks.! Mix in s! ome US Treasury Notes with those international bonds. Spread the wealth and secure portfolio performance in the process.

Step #5: Allocate your assets

In Wall Street terms, asset allocation is more like investment diversification on steroids.

One Wall Street trader compares asset allocation to earning two quarters and then putting the coins not only in different pockets, but in different pants. That's as good a definition as any.

In more formal terms, asset allocation means investing across a variety of asset classes, with the objective of determining the optimal mix of assets for your portfolio to properly withstand – and adjust to – changing market conditions. Usually that means branching out among the four main asset classes – stocks, bonds, cash and metals. The difference between diversification and asset allocation is that the former is the "macro" big picture theme and the latter is the "micro" nuts-and-bolts theme to building your mutual fund.

So yes, you should diversify your portfolio. But how you do that is what's known as asset allocation.

Step #6: Find a "comfort zone" with a financial advisor

Having a professional shoulder to lean on once in a while can be a source of comfort to an independent-minded investor, especially one without significant portfolio management experience. Hire a good advisor but continue to do your own homework and pick your own stocks. Run those picks by your advisor to see if they pass the smell test.

Always feel free to drop me a line here at the 401k Millionaire – I'm happy to take a look at your portfolio and offer any help and guidance on getting you where you need to be, investment-wise.

Step #7: Properly research investments

This one's a no-brainer – you've got to do your homework.

Read prospectuses, check company financial statements, watch CNBC, and check out the 401k Millionaire on a regular basis. In short, do anything you can to bone up on the fin! ancial ma! rkets and the companies that trade on them.

Also, take advantage of on-demand investment tutorial web casts and webinars and use any real-time information offered by your investment firm. Join and participate in online trading communities and swap investment strategies with like-minded investors. In the investment world, understand that knowledge really is power.

Step #8:  Be the boss

Never give a financial advisor the right to buy or sell without your prior approval. That way you won't have any surprises and you'll have control over what enters and leaves your personal portfolio. Remember that you're the one who has to live with the decisions made on your personal portfolio – it's your investment "brand" and nobody else's.

Step #9: Check your ego/emotions at the door

One of the biggest errors average investors make is investing with their emotions.

When stocks rise, they buy; when they fall, they sell. That's exactly the opposite of what a successful investor should do. If you can't trust your emotions then by all means run your portfolio selections by a professional advisor – or even trusted family member, friend, or spouse.

Step #10: Lastly, have fun

You're your own boss now and the 401k investment brand you create will have your personal stamp on it. So enjoy all the benefits and all the power that genuine financial independence provides.

As you do so, consider how far you've come in taking control of your financial life. After all, nobody has as much invested in your financial future as you do.

Brian O'Connell is an investment analyst at Investing Daily, and the chief investment strategist of the 401K Millionaire. An ex-Wall Street bond trader, he has appeared as an expert financial commentator on CNN, NPR, Fox News, Bloomberg, CNBC, C-Span, CBS Radio, and many other media broadcast outlets, and is the author of two best-selling books on retirement investing.

Stock Talk

We encourage you ! to engage! with our analysts and your fellow subscribers on our website. To ask a question or post a comment related to a particular article, please do so in the Stock Talk field at the bottom of that article.

Or to ask a general question, please go to the main Stock Talk page found under the Resources menu for each publication.

Top 5 Undervalued Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Top 5 Undervalued Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  This isn't some growing new industry set to take the world further into the 21st century. It's an old concept that hasn't innovated, won't innovate, and will slowly but surely die out over this century. When I walk into a Walgreens, I see a miniature Target (TGT), a more expensive Dollar Tree (DLTR), and a provider of prescriptions in a world where everything is becoming mail order.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The other stock the firm likes is Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR). The company's shares have lost about 4.6% since reporting an earnings per share (EPS) miss for the third quarter and the Sterne Agee analysts see the lower price as a "great entry point" for buying the stock. Dollar Tree raised fiscal year 2013 EPS guidance from a range of $2.66 to $2.77 to a new range of $2.72 to $2.78, effectively raising the mid-point by $0.04. Sterne Agee re! iterated its Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $63. Dollar Tree's shares are trading down nearly 0.4% at $55.99 in a 52-week range of $37.47 to $60.19.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-undervalued-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Best Asian Stocks To Own For 2014

Best Asian Stocks To Own For 2014: BioMed Realty Trust Inc (BMR)

BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., incorporated on April 30, 2004, operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT), and the general partner of BioMed Realty, L.P. As of December 31, 2011, BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. owned an approximate 98.1% partnership interest and other limited partners. It owns, acquires, develops, redevelops, leases and manages laboratory and office space for the life science industry. Its tenants include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, scientific research institutions, government agencies and other entities involved in the life science industry. Its properties are located in markets with well-established reputations as centers for scientific research, including Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Maryland, New York/New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Seattle. In June 2013, BioMed Realty Trust Inc and Wexford Science & Technology, LLC announced that they have completed their previously announced merger. In December 2013, Wexford Science & Technology, a Bio Med Realty Trust, Inc. company, announced the acquisition of the Chesterfield Building site in downtown Durham, North Carolina.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company executed 87 leasing transactions representing approximately 1.6 million square feet, including 52 new leases totaling approximately 1.1 million square feet and 35 leases amended to extend their terms. During 2011, the Company acquired approximately one million rentable square feet of laboratory and office space. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or had interests in a portfolio with an aggregate of approximately 12.4 million rentable square feet. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's stabilized property included 97 buildings, leased up included 34 buildings and long term leased up included 10 buildings. As of December 31, 2011, its consolidated and unconsolidated properties we! re leased to 174 tenants.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company's Boston properties r epresented 34.2% of its annualized base rent and 23.4% of it! s total leased square footage. As of December 31, 2011, its California properties located in San Francisco and San Diego represented 31.9% of its annualized base rent and 37.9% of its total leased square footage. As of December 31, 2011, its Maryland properties represented 14.8% of its annualized base rent and 15% of its total leased square footage.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bill Stoller]

  After a banner 2013, the overall market has had a challenging start to 2014. However, these four companies have been crushing it: Alexander Real Estate (NYSE: ARE  ) , BioMed Realty Trust (NYSE: BMR  ) , CommonWealth REIT (NYSE: CWH  ) , and Sun Communities (NYSE: SUI  ) early on in 2014 vs. the S&P 500. Their relative out-performance can also be seen when compared to the Vanguard REIT Index ETF (NYSEMKT: VNQ  ) a good yardstick to measure sector performance.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Biomed Realty Trust Inc (NYSE: BMR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) offering an alternative way to gain exposure to the biotech or life sciences sector, meaning it might be worth taking a closer look at it along with a few benchmarks like the Vanguard REIT ETF (NYSEARCA: VNQ), iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (NASDAQ: IBB) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA: XBI). Of course, it should be mentioned that REITs have had a rough ride lately given all the "tapering" talk, but there is still a place for them in your portfolio with Biomed Realty Trust being one of the more unique offerings.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-asian-stocks-to-own-for-2014.html

Best Insurance Stocks To Invest In 2014

Best Insurance Stocks To Invest In 2014: CNA Financial Corp (CNA)

CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF), incorporated in 1967, is an insurance holding company. The Company's core business commercial property and casualty insurance operations operate in two segments: CNA Specialty and CNA Commercial. Its non-core businesses are managed in two business segments: Life & Group Non-Core and Corporate & Other Non-Core. The Company's insurance products primarily include commercial property and casualty coverages, including surety. Its services include risk management, information services, and warranty and claims administration. Its products and services are marketed through independent agents, brokers and managing general underwriters to a wide variety of customers, including small, medium and large businesses, associations, professionals and other groups. CNA's property and casualty and remaining life and group insurance operations are primarily conducted by Continental Casualty Company (CCC), The Continental Insurance Company, Western Surety Company and Continental Assurance Company (CAC). On June 10, 2011, CNA completed the acquisition of CNA Surety Corporation. In July 2012, the Company acquired Hardy Underwriting Bermuda Ltd. On December 14, 2012, the Company sold SUR Insurance Agency, Inc. and The Bond Exchange to California Contractors Insurance Services.

CNA Specialty

CNA Specialty provides professional and management liability and other coverages through property and casualty products and services, both domestically and abroad, through a network of brokers, independent agencies and managing general underwriters. CNA Specialty provides solutions for managing the risks of its clients, including architects, lawyers, accountants, health care professionals, financial intermediaries and public and private companies. Product offerings also include surety and fidelity bonds and warra! nty services.

CNA Specialty includes four business groups: Professional & Management Liabilit y, International, Surety, and Warranty and Alternative Risks! . Professional & Management Liability provides management and professional liability insurance and risk management services and other specialized property and casualty coverages in the United States. This group provides professional liability coverages to various professional firms, including architects, real estate agents, small and mid-sized accounting firms, law firms and technology firms. Professional & Management Liability also provides D&O, employment practices, fiduciary and fidelity coverages. Products within Professional & Management Liability are distributed through brokers, agents and managing general underwriters. Professional & Management Liability, through CNA HealthPro, also offers insurance products to serve the healthcare delivery system. Products include professional liability and associated standard property and casualty coverages, and are distributed on a national basis through brokers, agents and managing general underwriters. Customer segments include l ong term care facilities, allied health care providers, life sciences, dental professionals and mid-size and large health care facilities.

International provides similar management and professional liability insurance and other specialized property and casualty coverages in Canada and Europe. Surety consists primarily of CNA Surety Corporation (CNA Surety) and its insurance subsidiaries and offers small, medium and large contract and commercial surety bonds. CNA Surety provides surety and fidelity bonds in all 50 states through a combined network of independent agencies.

Warranty and Alternative Risks provides extended service contracts and related products that provide protection from the financial burden associated with mechanical breakdown and other related losses, primarily for vehicles and portable electronic communication devices. ! These pro! ducts are distributed through and administered by a wholly owned subsidiary, CNA National Warranty Corpo ration, or through third party administrators.

! CNA Comme! rcial

CNA Commercial works with an independent agency distribution system and a network of brokers to market a range of property and casualty insurance products and services to small, middle-market and large businesses and organizations domestically and abroad. Products include standard and excess property coverages, as well as marine coverage, and boiler and machinery. Casualty products include standard casualty insurance products such as workers' compensation, general and product liability, commercial auto and umbrella coverages. It also offers pecialized loss-sensitive insurance programs to those customers viewed as higher risk and less predictable in exposure.

The Business insurance group serves smaller commercial accounts and the Commercial insurance group serves middle markets and larger risks. In addition, CNA Commercial provides total risk management services relating to claim and information services to the insurance marketplace, through a wholly owned subsidiary, CNA ClaimPlus, Inc., a third party administrator. The International insurance group primarily consists of the commercial product lines of its operations in Europe, Canada, as well as Hawaii.

CNA Select Risk (Select Risk) includes excess and surplus lines coverages. Risk provides specialized insurance for selected commercial risks on both an individual customer and program basis. Select Risk's products are distributed throughout the United States through specialist producers, program agents and brokers.

Life & Group Non-Core

The Life & Group Non-Core segment includes the results of the life and group lines of business that are in run-off. It retains block of group reinsurance and life settlement contracts.

Corporate & Other Non-Core

Corporate & Other Non-Core pr! imarily i! ncludes certain corporate expenses. This also includes interest on corporate debt, and the results of certain prop erty and casualty business in run-off, including CNA Re and ! A&EP.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Amanda Alix]

  Take Berkshire's purchase of CNA Financial's (NYSE: CNA  ) and AIG's asbestos liability in 2010 and 2011, respectively. For a total of $3.65 billion, Buffett took on $3.5 billion of liability in AIG's case, and $1.6 billion from CNA. This gave Berkshire a nice big bag of cash to invest, while asbestos cases continued to wend their way through the courts for years. Meanwhile, two troubled insurers received the Berkshire Hathaway brand of security regarding their own future liability in that arena.

• [By Amanda Alix]

  This is the beauty of the insurance model, and its charm has attracted investing greats like Warren Buffett, who may have pioneered this latest trend through his own company, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  )   (NYSE: BRK-B  ) . In 2010, Berkshire took on AIG's asbestos liability for a hefty fee, and did the same for CNA Financial (NYSE: CNA  ) the following year. There's little doubt that Buffett added to his wealth by wisely investing the $3.65 billion he received in those two deals.

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Centrica Plc (CNA), the largest energy supplier to U.K. homes, lost 2.3 percent to 366.9 pence. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded the shares to neutral from overweight, citing proposals from Britain's Labour Party to freeze energy bills and break up the country's six biggest power suppliers.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-insurance-stocks-to-invest-in-2014.html

Herbalife Plunges as FTC Opens Probe

Herbalife (HLF) shares have plunged after the muli-level seller said that the FTC has opened an investigation of the company. Herbalife said it will cooperate with the probe but will not comment “unless and until there are material developments.”

Shares of Herbalife have dropped 11% to $57.63 at 1:53 p.m. The stock had been trading up 4.5% at $68.30 when it was halted at 1:18 p.m.

Yesterday, William Ackman accused Herbalife of breaking Chinese laws, while Herbalife responded by saying it “remains confident in its business in China.”

Interactive Brokers’ Andrew Wilkinson notes that the implied volatility of Herblife’s shares surged from 50% before the halt to 99% after, while the bottom of its range fell to $30 from $50 by next week's expiration.

Top Companies To Own In Right Now

Shares of NuSkin (NUS), which has its own China problems, have fallen 2.6% to $71.10 at 1:38 p.m. after being up much of the day, while Usana Health Sciences (USNA) has dropped 5.78% to $68.80 after being up as well. Prices are moving fast, so these will have changed by the time you read this.

Top Safest Stocks To Own For 2015

Top Safest Stocks To Own For 2015: Pebblebrook Hotel Trust(PEB)

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, through Pebblebrook Hotel, L.P., operates as a real estate investment trust. The company acquires and invests primarily in hotel properties located in the United States. It holds interests in the Doubletree Bethesda Hotel and Executive Meeting Center located in Bethesda, Maryland; Sir Francis Drake Hotel located in San Francisco, California; and InterContinental Buckhead Hotel located in Atlanta, Georgia. As a REIT, the company is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  In a perfect world, an investor could simply look at a company's history and its plausible earnings forecasts, and jump in (or out) knowing the stock's current price basically made sense with respect to past and future performance. We don't live or trade in a perfect world though. In the world we're actually in right now, most stocks, sectors, and industries have run up far beyond a justifiable value... perhaps except for hotel and lodging REIT stocks Host Hotels and Resorts Inc. (NYSE:HST), Strategic Hotels and Resorts Inc. (NYSE:BEE), and Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB).

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Hotel operator Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB  ) announced today its second-quarter dividend of $0.16 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout 33% from $0.12 per share.

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  Small-cap hotel investment REIT Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB) is setting up a similar pattern to the one in EXR -- with a few exceptions.

  PEB isn't forming an ascending triangle; support isn't in the same sort of uptrend in this stock. Instead, PEB is formi! ng a rounding pattern with resistance at $28. Rounding patterns look just like they sound -- they indicate a shift in control from sellers to buyers. While this setup is most common as a "bottoming" pattern, PEB's price action doesn't change the implications if shares can break out above $28. That's our buy signal.

  Whenever you're looking at any technical price pattern, it's critical to think in terms of buyers and sellers. Triangles, rectangles and other price pattern names are a good quick way to explain what's going on in this stock, but they're not the reason it's tradable. Instead, it all comes down to supply and demand for shares.

  That resistance line at $28 is a price where there's an excess of supply of shares; in other words, it's a place where sellers have been more eager to take recent gains and sell their shares than buyers have been to buy. That's what makes the move above it so significant -- a breakout indicates that buyers are finally strong enough to absorb all of the excess supply above that price level. Wait for that signal to happen before you jump into this stock.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-safest-stocks-to-own-for-2015.html

Top Performing Stocks To Own Right Now

Top Performing Stocks To Own Right Now: Global Mediacom Tbk PT (BMTR)

PT Global Mediacom Tbk is an Indonesia-based integrated media company. The Company has three business segments: content and advertising-based media, subscribers-based media, and media support and infrastructure. Its operations include content production, content distribution, television and radio broadcasting, newspaper, magazine, tabloids, telecommunication operator, mobile content aggregator, value added services provider and information technology system integrator. The Company has six direct subsidiaries, namely PT. Media Nusantara Citra Tbk, PT. MNC Sky Vision, PT. Sky Vision Networks, PT. Infokom Elektrindo, PT. Citra Kalimantan Energi and Global Mediacom International Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Weiyi Lim]

  The Jakarta Composite Index surged 2.2 percent as Global Mediacom (BMTR) climbed the most since October 2010. The rupiah slumped 5.9 percent in August, the biggest drop since November 2008. Malaysia's ringgit posted its fourth monthly drop. South Korea's Kospi Index posted the best week in a year as Samsung rallied a sixth day. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.1 percent, adding to a 2 percent gain this week.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-performing-stocks-to-own-right-now.html

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015

Last Thursday, United Continental (NYSE: UAL  ) attempted to raise fares by $10 per round-trip on most routes within the continental U.S. This represented the eighth time in 2013 that an airline instituted a broad-based fare increase, but the first since Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL  ) tried to raise fares in April.

However, by Monday, United had rolled back the fare increase after other carriers -- particularly Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV  ) -- did not match it. After this failure, airlines have a pretty poor "batting average" this year in terms of price increases; of the eight attempted fare hikes this year, just two have stuck!

Clearly, airlines have no appetite for fare hikes right now due to sluggish demand. With oil prices starting to creep up again, this could crimp profitability during the second half of 2013.

A legacy of fare hikes
The airline industry's renaissance over the last few years can be attributed in part to improved capacity discipline and pricing power. Even though oil prices rose steeply from 2009 to 2012, most of the major airlines were able to stay profitable by cutting unprofitable routes when necessary and raising fares on the remaining ones.

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: Allegiant Travel Co (ALGT)

Allegiant Travel Company, incorporated on April 4, 2006, is a leisure travel company focused on providing travel services and products to residents of small, underserved cities in the United States. The Company operates a passenger airline marketed primarily to leisure travelers in small cities, allowing it to sell air transportation both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with the sale of air-related and third party services and products. In addition, it provides air transportation under fixed fee flying arrangements. The Company provides scheduled air transportation on limited frequency nonstop flights between small city markets and leisure destinations. As of February 1, 2013, its operating fleet consisted of 58 MD-80 aircraft and six Boeing 757-200 aircraft providing service on 191 routes to 85 cities including 13 leisure destinations and 72 small cities and including cities served seasonally. In January 2012, the Company took ownership of two MD-80 aircraft. In October 2012, the Company announced the formation of Allegiant Systems, a joint venture with AvIntel and Lixar IT.

The Company provides unbundled air-related services and products in conjunction with air transportation for an additional cost to customers. These optional air-related services and products include use of its Website for purchases, use of its call center for purchases, advance seat assignment, baggage fees, priority boarding, its own travel protection product, change fees, food and beverage purchases on board and other air-related services. The Company offers third party travel products, such as hotel rooms, ground transportation (rental cars and hotel shuttle products) and attractions (show tickets) bundled with the purchase of its air transportation.

The Company provides air transportation through fixed fee agreements and charter service on a seasonal and ad-hoc basis for other customers. As of February 1, 2013, its operating aircraft consisted of 58 MD-80 aircraft and six Boeing 757-200 aircraft. D! uring the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company has entered into purchase agreements to acquire seven Airbus A320 aircraft and operating lease agreements for an additional nine Airbus A319 aircraft.

The Company competes with AirTran, Frontier, Spirit, Southwest, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, Delta, Xtra, United and American.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Allegiant Travel (Nasdaq: ALGT  ) reported earnings on July 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Allegiant Travel met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  The "reformed" airlines
  However, not every airline follows the failed policies that have justified Buffett's negative opinion of the sector. Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL  ) and Allegiant Travel (NASDAQ: ALGT  ) have both distinguished themselves in recent years through their use of used aircraft to reduce capital expenditures.

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: Gogo Inc (GOGO)

Gogo Inc incorporated on December 14, 2009, is a holding company. The Company operates through its two operating subsidiaries, Gogo LLC and Aircell Business Aviation Services LLC. The Company provides in-flight connectivity and wireless in-cabin digital entertainment solutions. It provide turnkey solutions for passengers to extend their connected lifestyles to the aircraft cabin. It operates in two segments: commercial aviation (CA) and business aviation (BA). Its CA business provides in-flight connectivity and digital entertainment solutions to commercial airline passengers through their personal Wi-Fi enabled devices.

The Company provides Gogo Connectivity to passengers to nine North American airlines that provide Internet connectivity to their passengers. It provide Gogo Connectivity to passengers on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Virgin America, Alaska Airlines, US Airways, Frontier Airlines and Air Tran Airways. It also provide Gogo Connectivity to passengers on a small number of aircraft operated by United Airlines and Air Canada. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had equipped 1,177 commercial aircraft, representing approximately 85% of Internet-enabled North American commercial aircraft, which were operated on more than 4,200 daily flights.

The Company�� BA segment sells equipment and provides services for in-flight Internet connectivity and other voice and data communications under its Gogo Biz and Aircell branded products and services. BA�� customers include original equipment manufacturers of private jet aircraft such as Gulfstream, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, NetJets, Flexjets, Flight Options and CitationAir. It sells equipment for three of the primary connectivity network options in the business aviation market: Gogo Biz, through which it delivers broadband Internet connectivity over its (air-to-ground )ATG network, and the Iridium and Inmarsat SwiftBroadband satellite networks. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had m! ore than 700 Gogo Biz systems in operation and more than 4,600 aircraft with Iridium satellite communications systems in operation, and it has sold more than 100 Inmarsat SwiftBroadband systems. It provides in-flight broadband connectivity across the contiguous United States and portions of Alaska through 3 MHz of FCC-licensed ATG spectrum and its network of cell sites.

Through its Gogo platform, the Company provides passengers with a convenient and easy way to access the Internet, view video content, send and receive email and instant messages, and access corporate VPNs on Gogo-equipped commercial aircraft. It provides Internet access through Gogo Connectivity, on-demand streaming video offerings through Gogo Vision and access to a variety of free entertainment and service offerings, customized for each airline, through Gogo Signature Services.

The Company competes with Panasonic Avionics, Row 44, OnAir, LiveTV and Thales.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Shares of Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO) were on the rise as well, gaining 11.33 percent to $24.12, despite little news on the name.

  AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) was also up, gaining 19.50 percent to $37.92 after the company reported upbeat Q3 earnings.

• [By Anna Prior]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are ViroPharma Inc.(VPHM), Transocean Ltd.(RIGN.VX) and Gogo Inc.(GOGO)

Top 10 Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2015: Global Eagle Entertainment Inc (ENT)

Global Eagle Entertainment Inc., formerly Global Eagle Acquisition Corp., incorporated on February 2, 2011, is the full service platform offering both content and connectivity for the worldwide airline industry. Through its combined content, distribution and technology platforms, the Company provides airlines and the millions of travelers they serve with the offering of in-flight video content, e-commerce and information services. Through its Row 44 subsidiary, the Company utilizes Ku-band satellite technology to provide airline passengers with Internet access, live television, shopping and travel-related information. As of February 1, 2013, the Company installed on more than 450 aircraft, Row 44 has the fleet of connected entertainment platforms operating over land and sea globally. In addition, through its AIA division, the Company provides film and television content, games and applications to more than 130 airlines worldwide. In July 2013, the Company announced the acquisition of Post Modern Group, LLC. In October 2013, Global Eagle Entertainment Inc announced that it has acquired Travel Entertainment Group Equity Limited, the United Kingdom-based parent company of IFE Services Limited (IFE Services) from GCP Capital Partners LLP.

The Company�� Row 44 subsidiary provides satellite-based broadband service to the global airline industry. The Company�� Advanced Inflight Alliance (AIA) business is the provider of content services, products and solutions for the global inflight entertainment market. AIA also serves as the exclusive representative in sourcing Hollywood content for 60 airline customers and is the exclusive distributor of content from select Hollywood studios and independent producers to the airline market. In addition, AIA is the airline distributor of Asian, Bollywood, European, Latin American and Middle Eastern content.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Richard Stavros]

  This was particularly the view of Leo Denault, CEO of Entergy Corp (NYSE: ENT). Mr. Denault and his fellow panelist, James Robo, CEO of NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE: NEE), offered rather refreshing perspectives on the industry’s challenges, as they are pursuing strategies that are directionally opposed.

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: WestJet Airlines Ltd (WJA)

WestJet Airlines Ltd. (WestJet) provides airline service and travel packages with scheduled service to more than 85 destinations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, and has partnership agreements with over 30 airlines around the world. WestJet operates a fleet of more than 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737 and Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft. The Company�� subsidiaries include WestJet Investment Corp., WestJet Operations Corp., WestJet Vacations Inc. and WestJet Encore Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Gerrit De Vynck]

  Closely held Porter unveiled plans in April to add as many as 30 CSeries jets in an order valued at as much as $2.1 billion from Montreal-based Bombardier to reach as far as Los Angeles and the Caribbean as it challenges the country�� two biggest carriers, Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd. (WJA) The order, which would be Bombardier�� first for the aircraft with a Canadian carrier, is conditional on the runway extension and a removal of the jet ban.

• [By Eric Lam]

  BlackBerry, the smartphone maker looking to sell itself, lost 3.6 percent to pace declines among technology stocks. WestJet (WJA) Airlines Ltd. dropped 2.5 percent as load factor slipped in September. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. rose 1.4 percent after receiving approvals for products in the U.S. and Canada. Agrium Inc. added 0.7 percent after naming a successor for its retiring chief executive officer.

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV (VLRS)

Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV (Volaris Aviation Holding Company) is a Mexico-based company principally engaged in the airline passenger transportation industry. The Company is a law-cost carrier airline. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV offers direct, point-to-point flights. The Company serves through secondary, lower cost airports and provides a single class of service. The Company utilizes such aircraft as the Airbus A319 and A320 families, among others. The Company has such subsidiaries as Comercializadora Volaris SA de CV, Servicios Corporativos Volaris SA de CV, Concesionaria Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAPI de CV, Deutsche Bank Mexico SA Trust 1484, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  When most American investors think of discount airline stocks, they probably think of relatively large capped Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV)�or sort of small cap�JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) rather than�small cap Controladora Vuela Co Avcn SA CV (NYSE: VLRS) which owns Volaris���a discount airline serving the�Mexican market. However, any investor who has read Benjamin Graham�� Intelligent Investor might want to remember his sage advice about avoiding airline stocks���mainly because airlines were such a new and unproven sector that had yet to make money. But could Controladora Vuela Co Avcn SA CV actually be an airline stock worth owning?

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: Air France KLM SA (AFLYY.PK)

Air France-KLM SA (Air France-KLM), incorporated on April 23, 1947, is an airline engaged in the business of passenger transportation. It has four segments: Passenger, Cargo, Maintenance and Other. The Company�� primary business is to hold direct or indirect interests in the capital of air transport companies and, more generally, in any companies in France or elsewhere whose purpose is related to the air transport business. Air France-KLM activities also include cargo, aeronautics maintenance and other air-transport related activities including, principally, catering and charter services. At March 31, 2011, the Air France-KLM group fleet consists of 609 aircraft, of which 593 were operational. At March 31, 2011, 274 aircraft were fully owned (45% of the fleet), 117 aircraft were under finance lease representing 19% of the fleet and 218 under operating lease representing 36% of the fleet.

Passenger

Passenger operating revenues primarily come from passenger transportation services on scheduled flights with the Company�� airline code, including flights operated by other airlines under code-sharing agreements. They also include commissions paid by SkyTeam alliance partners, code-sharing revenues, revenues from excess baggage and airport services supplied by the Company�� to third party airlines and services linked to information technology (IT) systems.

Cargo

Cargo operating revenues come from freight transport on flights under the companies��codes, including flights operated by other partner airlines under code-sharing agreements. Other cargo revenues are derived principally from sales of cargo capacity to third parties. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, the Company transported more than 1.5 million tons of cargo, of which 66% in the bellies of passenger aircraft and 33% in the cargo fleet, to a network of approximately 254 destinations in approximately 111 countries. Air France-KLM Cargo has a product range organized around four prod! uct families, Equation, Cohesion, Variation and Dimension.

Maintenance

Maintenance operating revenues are generated through maintenance services provided to other airlines and customers globally. The Company�� two engine shops are located in Amsterdam and Paris. CFM56 engine shops support the fleet of CFM56-5 power plants in the world, with nearly 400 engines operated by numerous airlines. CF6-80E1 provides full-service maintenance. KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) provides an alternative to the manufacturer�� services in terms of overhaul and services on this engine with its offering supported by technological infrastructure.

Other

The revenues from this segment come primarily from catering supplied by the Company to third-party airlines and to charter flights operated primarily by Transavia. The catering business is regrouped around Servair, an Air France subsidiary which generates more than 90% of the revenues of this activity, and KLM Catering Services, a subsidiary of KLM.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By El Torero]

  The airline will undoubtedly pounce on the likely failings of rival companies, though this is also an area where easyJet will be eager to move in. Spanair is gone as is Malev Zrt, two former Ryanair rivals. Air France-KLM (AFLYY.PK) and Iberia are in trouble, among other European airlines. Ryanair will take advantage of such weaknesses in its aim of becoming Europe's out-and-out dominant short-haul carrier. As other airlines cut routes, airports are now looking to Ryanair to take up the newly available airport space. As a result of this, with "opportunities opening up in Germany, Scandinavia and Central Europe" in particular, Ryanair's deputy chief executive, Howard Millar sees the Irish company increase its market share from 15 percent to 20 percent before the end of the decade.

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (GOL)

Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (GoL) is a low-cost, low-fare airline in the world providing service on routes connecting all of Brazil�� cities and from Brazil to cities in South America and select touristic destinations in the Caribbean. As of March 31, 2010, GoL offered approximately 800 daily flights per day to 61 destinations connecting cities in Brazil, as well as destinations in Argentina, Bolivia, Curacao, Aruba, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. GoL is a holding company, which owns directly or indirectly shares of five subsidiaries: VRG Linhas Aereas S.A. (VRG) and four offshore finance subsidiaries, Gol Finance Cayman and GAC Inc., which owns Sky Finance and Sky Finance II. VRG is the Company�� operating subsidiary, under which it conducts its business. Gol Finance, GAC Inc., Sky Finance and Sky Finance II are off-shore companies established for the purpose of facilitating cross-border general and aircraft financing transactions.

GoL�� passenger transportation services include ticketless travel; online sales, check-in, seat assignment and flight change and cancellation services; online flight status service; Web-enabled cell phone ticket sales and check-in; self check-in at kiosks at designated airports; designated female lavatories; friendly and efficient in-flight service; modern aircraft interiors; quick turnaround times at airport gates; free or discounted shuttle services between airports and drop-off zones on certain routes; buy on board services on certain flights; mobile check-in and boarding pass (100% paperless boarding), and iPhone application for check-in, electronic boarding pass and Smiles account management. On December 31, 2009, the Company had an operational fleet of 108 operational aircraft and a total fleet of 127. As of March 31, 2010, one of its Boeing 767 aircrafts was subleased to a charter company in the United States, one is under final formalization process for a wet lease to a Brazilian company for flights connecting Brazil to! Angola and three are under final stages of negotiation to be chartered to operate intercontinental flights. At December 31, 2009, GoL had a total of 127 aircraft, 94 of which were under operating leases and 33 were under finance leases.

The Company competes with TAM Linhas Aereas S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  One place to look for it this week has been in the ADRs, the New York traded ADRs, American Depository Receipts of GOL. One of the two big Brazilian airlines is the only one that is not owned by somebody else. The symbol is (GOL). It went up like 9.5% on October 21; it went up about 4.5% on October 22, pulled back a tiny little bit on October 23, but still a major, major move. This is basically on the effect of a weaker dollar versus the Brazilian real, since GOL is basically a domestic airline and almost all their revenue is denominated in real, which means that when the real gets cheap against the dollar, it hurts their revenue, especially because most of their costs, a lot of their costs, probably about 80% of their costs are denominated in dollars. A strong dollar means what they pay for oil, kerosene, jet fuel, what they pay for debt service, what they pay on airplane leases, all denominated in dollars, goes up, so GOL has been getting hammered on this. The reversal of this is a big deal for the stock.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE: GOL) was down, falling 6.31 percent to $4.0850 after the company posted a loss in the third quarter.

  Commodities
  In commodity news, oil traded up 1.33 percent to $94.28, while gold traded up 0.28 percent to $1,274.70.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Gol Linhas A茅reas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL) is a Brazilian airline carrier, as well as a mail and cargo carrier. At $4.65, the 52-week trading range is $2.74 to $7.67.

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYA)

Ryanair Holdings plc (Ryanair Holdings), is a holding company for Ryanair Limited (Ryanair). Ryanair operates a low-cost, scheduled-passenger airline serving short-haul, point-to-point routes between Ireland, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and Morocco. As of June 30, 2012, the Company offered approximately over 1,500 scheduled short-haul flights per day serving approximately 160 airports largely throughout Europe with an operating fleet of 294 aircraft flying approximately 1,500 routes. Ryanair sells seats on a one-way basis. The Company also holds a 29.8% interest in Aer Lingus Group plc. As of June 30, 2012, Ryanair�� operating fleet was composed of 294 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, each having 189 seats. Ryanair�� fleet totaled 294 Boeing 737-800s at March 31, 2012. As of June 30, 2012, Ryanair owned and operated four Boeing 737-800 full flight simulators for pilot training. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA), the discount airline operator that�� the second-biggest stock in Ireland�� ISEQ index, declined 1.7 percent to 7.23 euros in Dublin. Kerry Group, a supplier of food ingredients, sank 1.4 percent to 45.24 euros.

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: AMR Corp (AAMRQ.PK)

AMR Corporation (AMR), incorporated in October 1982, operates in the airline industry. The Company�� principal subsidiary is American Airlines, Inc. (American). As of December 31, 2011, American provided scheduled jet service to approximately 160 destinations throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia. AMR Eagle Holding Corporation (AMR Eagle), a wholly owned subsidiary of AMR, owns two regional airlines, which do business as American Eagle - American Eagle Airlines, Inc. and Executive Airlines, Inc. (collectively, the American Eagle carriers). American also contracts with an independently owned regional airline, which does business as AmericanConnection (the AmericanConnection carrier). As of December 31, 2011, AMR Eagle operated approximately 1,500 daily departures, offering scheduled passenger service to over 175 destinations in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

American, AMR Eagle and the AmericanConnection airline served more than 250 cities in approximately 50 countries with, on average, 3,400 daily flights and the combined network fleet numbered approximately 900 aircraft as of December 31, 2011. American Airlines is also a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, LAN Airlines, Iberia, Qantas, JAL, Malev Hungarian, Mexicana, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines. Together, oneworld members serve 750 destinations in approximately 150 countries, with about 8,500 daily departures. American is also one of the scheduled air freight carriers in the world, providing a range of freight and mail services to shippers throughout its system onboard American�� passenger fleet.

To improve access to each other�� markets, American has established marketing relationships with other airlines and rail companies. As of December 31, 2011, American had marketing relationships with Air Berlin, Air Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines , British Airways, Cape Air, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern ! A! irlines, Dragonair, Deutsche Bahn German Rail, EL AL, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, GOL, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), Jet Airways, JetStar Airways, LAN (includes LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru), Niki Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.

American has established the AAdvantage frequent flyer program (AAdvantage). AAdvantage members earn mileage credits by flying on American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection carrier or by using services of other participants in the AAdvantage program. Mileage credits can be redeemed for free, discounted or upgraded travel on American, American Eagle or other participating airlines, or for other awards. American sells mileage credits and related services to other participants in the AAdvantage program. There are over 1,000 program participants, including a credit card issuer, hotels, car rental companies, and other products an d services companies in the AAdvantage program. As of December 31, 2011, AAdvantage had approximately 69 million total members.

The Company competes with Alaska Airlines (Alaska), Delta Air Lines (Delta), Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways (JetBlue), Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines (Southwest) and AirTran Airways (Air Tran), Spirit Airlines, United Airlines (United) and Continental Airlines (Continental), US Airways and Virgin America Airlines.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Insider Monkey]

  Last but not the least is US Airways Group (LCC), in which Y/Cap slightly increased its position, now owning around $7.9 million. U.S. Airways is currently on the minds of many investors, mainly due to its plans to merge with American Airlines parent AMR Corp (AAMRQ.PK). While European regulators approved the merger, the U.S. Department of Justice put a spoke in the wheel, and is trying to block the move. The companies filed a motion to the court to set the trial date for November 12. Amid these actions, U.S. Airways and American Airlines prolonged the outside date at which one of the companies can terminate the proposed merger.

• [By Tom Sandlow]

  Synopsis: As a result of the terms of its bankruptcy and the proposed merger with U.S. Airways (LCC), an equity investment in AMR Corp (AAMRQ.PK) is equivalent to a series of derivatives on LCC. At current market values, AAMRQ is undervalued by approximately 40%. It is possible to create an arbitrage position that should capture this pricing differential over the next 6 months.

Top Airline Companies To Own For 2015: Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd (VBHLF)

Virgin Australia Holdings Limited (VAH) is an Australia-based company engaged in the development and operation of domestic and international airlines. VAH�� fleet includes ATR-72, Embraer 190, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, AIRBUS A330 and Boeing 777-300ER. It product includes Airbus A330 Business Class. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, the Company carried 19,468,929 guests on 216 city pairs to 52 destinations, and operated 162,817 flights. On February 22, 2012, under the proposal, all of the shares in the international airline business of Virgin Australia were transferred to a new holding company, Virgin Australia International Holdings Pty Ltd. In April 2013, it acquired 100% of the issued share capital in Skywest Airlines Ltd. In July 2013, Virgin Australia Holdings Limited announced that it has acquired 60% interest of Tiger Airways Australia Pty Limited from Tiger Airways Holdings Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks gave ground in early Friday trading, with banks broadly lower after overnight losses in the U.S., where investors worried that better-than-expected data would prompt the Federal Reserve to roll back stimulus soon. The S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) lost 0.4% to 5,178.30, as National Australia Bank Ltd. (AU:NAB) (NAUBF) fell 1.8%, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (AU:ANZ) (ANEWF) lost 0.8%, and Macquarie Group Ltd. (AU:MQG) (MCQEF) retreated 1.3%. Among the resource shares, losses for gold both in New York and in early Asian electronic trade helped send Evolution Mining Ltd. (AU:EVN) (CAHPF) down 1.9% and Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd. (AU:KCN) (KSKGF) off 4.5%, though Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) held the drop to 0.4%. Oil prices managed a modest gain, however, resulting in a 0.2% rise for Oil Search Ltd. (AU:OSH) (OISHF) and Karoon Gas Australia Ltd. (AU:KAR) (KRNGF) , while Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (AU:WPL)