U.S. stocks traded in a narrow range today, ending the day essentially unchanged as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) and the narrower, price-weighted Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) fell 0.05% and 0.28%, respectively.
Consistent with that small loss, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) (VOLATILITYINDICES: ^VIX ) , Wall Street's "fear index," rose just 0.4% to close at 16.44. (The VIX is calculated from S&P 500 option prices and reflects investor expectations for stock market volatility over the coming 30 days.)
Zynga: Don't play this game
The shares of social games developer Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA ) are up by nearly a fifth in two days (see graph) on news that founder Mark Pincus is stepping down as CEO to make way for Don Mattrick, who had been the president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Division. Is that "pop" justified?
Top 5 High Tech Companies To Watch In Right Now: Astea International Inc.(ATEA)
Astea International Inc. develops, markets, and supports service management software solutions worldwide. The company licenses its solutions to various companies that sell and service equipment, and/or sell and deliver professional services. It offers Astea Alliance suite that includes series of applications to address lead generation, project quotation, service and billing, and asset retirement services. Astea International Inc. integrates and optimizes business processes for campaigns, call center, depot repair, field service, logistics, projects, and sales and order processing applications; provides mobile, dynamic scheduling, portals, and business intelligence solutions; and offers infrastructure tools and services. It also provides FieldCentrix Enterprise suite, a service management solution that runs on various mobile devices, such as handheld computers, laptops and PCs, and pocket PC devices, as well as integrates with CRM and ERP applications; and features a Web-ba sed customer self-service portal, workforce optimization capabilities, and equipment-centric functionality. In addition, the company offers consulting, implementation, training, and maintenance services. Its solutions are used in information technology, medical devices and diagnostic systems, industrial controls and instrumentation, retail systems, office automation, imaging systems, facilities management, telecommunications, and other industries with equipment sales and service requirements. Astea International Inc. markets its products through a network of direct and indirect sales and services offices; and through distributors consisting of value-added resellers, system integrators, and sales agents, as well as original equipment manufacturer partners. The company was formerly known as Applied System Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Astea International Inc. in 1992. Astea International Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania.
Top 5 High Tech Companies To Watch In Right Now: AsiaInfo-Linkage Inc.(ASIA)
AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. provides telecommunications software solutions and information technology (IT) products and services to telecommunications carriers and other enterprises in the People?s Republic of China. The company offers business and operation support systems product suites, including OpenBilling, a billing solution for telecommunications operators; OpenCRM, a CRM solution suite for telecommunications operators; OpenBOSS, a carrier-class business operation support system solution; OpenBI, a carrier-class operating analysis and decision support system platform; OpenPRM, a system that calculates, manages, and reconciles payment for intercarrier network access. It also provides network management solutions comprising NetXpert, a data and Internet protocol network management solution; and OpenXpert, an integrated telecommunications network management system. In addition, the company offers service applications products, such as Mail Center, an online messaging softwa re; Spam Patrol software for real time anti-spam control; and Net Disk, a network hard disk product, which facilitates Internet-based file transfer, sharing, and management, as well as supports other functions, such as data processing of short message folders and synchronization of mobile devices. Its service applications products also include Internet Short Messaging Gateway, a business support platform for value-added short messaging services; and Device Management Platform that enables mobile operators to manage various mobile devices and perform remote mobile device management, such as remote diagnosis and parameter setup. In addition, it offers software enhancement and maintenance, system integration, and other value-added IT consulting and planning services. The company was formerly known as AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. in July 2010. AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republ ic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rajhkumar K Shaaw]
BNP Paribas Securities (Asia) Ltd., Macquarie Capital Securities (India) Pvt. and Ambit Capital Pvt. cut their Sensex targets as the Reserve Bank of India unexpectedly increased its benchmark interest rate to stem a record decline in the rupee and curb consumer prices in the world�� second-most populous nation. Strategists reduced their average profit estimate by 4.5 percent as higher borrowing costs threaten to worsen the slowest economic expansion since 2009.
Top 10 Value Stocks To Buy For 2014: Precision Castparts Corporation(PCP)
Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) manufactures and sells metal components and products worldwide. Its Investment Cast Products segment offers aerospace structural and airfoil castings; industrial gas turbine (IGT) castings; artificial hips and knees; parts for satellite launch vehicles; landing gear struts and engine inlets for unmanned aerial vehicles; impellers for pumps and compressors; components for armament systems; and alloys for other manufacturers of investment castings. The company?s Forged Products segment provides forged components for jet engines, including fan discs, compressor discs, turbine discs, seals, spacers, shafts, hubs, and cases; airframe structural components, such as landing gear beams, bulkheads, wing structures, engine mounts, struts, tail flaps, and housings; discs, spacers, and valve components for steam turbine and IGT engines; shafts, cases, and compressor and turbine discs for marine gas engines; mechanical and structural tubular forged produ cts for energy markets; and forged components for propulsion systems on nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, as well as forgings for pumps, valves, and structural applications. PCC?s Fastener Products segment offers aerospace fasteners comprising bolts, nuts, nut plates, latches, expandable diameter fasteners, quick release pins, hydraulic fittings, bushings, inserts, collars, and other precision components. It also provides refiner plates and screen cylinders for the pulp and paper industry; metal-injection-molded and ThixoFormed components; grinder pumps and components for sewer systems; gas monitoring systems for the power generation industry; and thread-rolling and trimming dies, pins and steel, and carbide forging tools for fastener production. PCC sells its fastener products and services through a network of distributors and independent sales representatives, as well as through a direct sales and marketing staff. The company was founded in 1949 and is based in Por tland, Oregon.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Precision Castparts Corp. (NYSE: PCP) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform and it was given a price range of $240 to $248 at Wells Fargo.
Regeneron�Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) was started with an Outperform rating and a $300 price target at Oppenheimer.
- [By Selena Maranjian]
Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP ) , up 38%, has been busy. The aerospace components maker recently acquired Permaswage for $600 million, and sold Primus Composites to Triumph Group. Its last quarter featured double-digit revenue and earnings growth, benefiting from the acquisition of Titanium Metals. One catalyst for the company is expected growth in commercial airplane sales.
- [By Eric Volkman]
Triumph Group (NYSE: TGI) now holds a new asset following a deal inked with Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP). Triumph has acquired Primus Composites from its counterpart. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP ) will release its quarterly report on Thursday, and judging from the movement of its stock, investors are expecting good results. With activity in the aerospace industry helping the aircraft components maker's business, Precision Castparts earnings look poised to produce strong growth both this quarter and well into the future.
Top 5 High Tech Companies To Watch In Right Now: Blue Dolphin Energy Company (BDCO)
Blue Dolphin Energy Company operates as an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products. The company separates crude oil and condensate into off-road diesel and jet fuel for sale into nearby markets, as well as naphtha and atmospheric gas oil for sale to nearby refineries for further processing. It also provides pipeline transportation services comprising gathering and transporting oil and natural gas for producers/shippers operating offshore in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the company engages in the oil and gas exploration and production activities. It holds leasehold interests in the North Sumatra Basin-Langsa field located offshore Indonesia; and High Island Block 115 located to the southeast of Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston Area Block 321 located to the southeast of Galveston, and High Island Block 37 located to the south of Sabine Pass in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Blue Dolphin Energy Company operates as a subsidiary of Lazarus Energy Holdings, LLC.
Top 5 High Tech Companies To Watch In Right Now: ARMOUR Residential REIT Inc (ARR)
ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc.( ARMOUR), incorporated on February 5, 2008, is an externally-managed Maryland corporation managed by ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. The Company invests primarily in hybrid adjustable rate, adjustable rate and fixed rate residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS). These securities are issued or guaranteed by a United States Government-sponsored entity (GSE), such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), or are guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Administration (Ginnie Mae) collectively, Agency Securities. From time to time, a portion of its portfolio may be invested in unsecured notes and bonds issued by United States Government-chartered entities, collectively, Agency Debt. As of December 31, 2012, Agency Securities account for 100% of its portfolio.
The Company seeks long-term investment returns by investing its equity capital and borrowed funds in its targeted asset class of Agency Securities. The Company�� assets have been invested in Agency Securities or money market instruments, primarily deposits at federally chartered banks. The Company borrows against its Agency Securities using repurchase agreements. Its borrowings generally have maturities that may range from one month or less, up to one year, although occasionally it may enter into longer dated borrowing agreements to more closely match the rate adjustment period of its Agency Securities.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Amanda Alix]
All mREITs are taking it on the chin
The agency crew, led by heavy hitters Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY ) , American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC ) , and Armour Residential (NYSE: ARR ) , have all been close to hitting 52-week lows, but the blood-letting hasn't stopped there. Even hybrid mortgage REITs, which also buy some non-agency paper, have plunged, as well. Two Harbors (NYSE: TWO ) , which enjoyed such a nice lift post-earnings about a month ago, recently sunk to new lows, and Invesco Mortgage Capital (NYSE: IVR ) has also slipped, even after its CIO's recent show of faith, making a sizable insider purchase�of stock less than two weeks ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment