Almost There: S&P 500 Gains, Still Down in 2014

Earlier today, the S&P 500 looked like it would close at an all-time high. Then the bears roared, and S&P 500 gave back about half its gains despite big moves in United Health (UNH), Humana (HUM), Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD), ExxonMobil (XOM) and  Regeneron (REGN).

Yoshikazu Tsuno/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 103.84 points, or 0.6%, to 16,207.14 today, while the S&P 500 Index 0.6% today to 1,847.6. The S&P 500 is down 0.04% this year.

United Health rose 3% to $76.01 and Humana gained 11% to after Medicare payment cuts were less severe than expected. Pioneer Natural Resources jumped 4.1% to $194.74 and ExxonMobil rose 1.5% to $96.44 as the price of oil stayed above $100 a barrel for the eighth consecutive day. Regeneron finished up 3.8% at $347.62 after the FDA said it would review Eylea. Wells Fargo’s Gary Thayer notes that “investors still appear to be cautious.” He explains:

Looking ahead, we believed that cyclical stocks will outperform defensive stocks again later this year if our long-term positive outlook on the U.S. economy and the U.S. stock market is correct. However, the recent better performance of defensive stocks suggests that investors are still cautious even though several U.S. stock market indexes are near record highs again.

The exception to the strong defensive performance: consumer staples. The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) has dropped 2.9% this year, making it the worst-performing sector in the S&P 500. Barclays’ Barry Knappexplains what’s gone wrong:

Consumer Staples is the worst performing sector year to date, acting less than defensive even during the ~5% recent correction in the S&P and a rally in 10y rates. We upgraded the sector in early December 2913, in anticipation of an equities sell-off in 1H14, but also looking to avoid exposure to rising rates—Staples are by far the least rate sensitive of the
four defensive sectors—and to take advantage of significantly cheaper valuations. We expected a Fed-related correction to spill over into emerging markets, but expected much of the currency impacts to be translation. However, the severity and speed of the drops in emerging-market currencies has had transaction effects as companies can't raise prices fast enough to offset the drop in currency or were unable to hedge in certain markets. But the other idiosyncratic factors have severely hampered performance. As we look at the stocks now, earnings season significantly discounted these concerns and the sector screens all the more attractive on valuations, with compelling dividend yields.

Sometimes, even being defensive can backfire.

What Retailers Are Saying That Makes Me Believe Economic Growth Is Slowing

Conditions in the U.S. economy are deteriorating fairly quickly. The economic data suggests it’s slowing down. We already saw the U.S. economy decelerate in 2013 compared to 2012; now, investors are asking if this is going to be the case in 2014 as well.

All sorts of businesses in the U.S. economy are worried. This is not a good sign when you are hoping for robust growth.

Homebuilders in the U.S. economy have become very skeptical. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) witnessed a massive drop in February. The index, which looks at the confidence of homebuilders in the U.S. economy, plunged from 56 in the previous month to 46. Any reading below 50 on the HMI means homebuilders expect market conditions to be poor. (Source: “Poor Weather Puts a Damper on Builder Confidence in February,” National Association of Home Builders web site, February 18, 2014.)

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Also Read: NYSE holidays 2014

Unfortunately, homebuilders aren’t the only ones who are worried and suggesting the U.S. economy isn’t going in the desired direction.

Retailers with major operations in the U.S. economy are feeling the same. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)—one of the largest retailers—lowered its profit guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter, ended on January 31, 2014. The CEO of the company, Charles Holley, said, “We now anticipate that our underlying EPS [earnings per share] for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 will be at or slightly below the low end of our range of $1.60 to $1.70.” He added, “For the full year, we expect underlying EPS to be at or slightly below the low end of our range of $5.11 to $5.21.” (Source: “Walmart updates FY14 underlying EPS guidance for fourth quarter and full year,” Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. web site, January 31, 2014.) In other words, the company feels that it will not be earning the same profits as it previously predicted. Wal-Mart’s fourth-quarter results were due out this morning.

We have also heard from other major retailers in the U.S. economy, such as Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE/M), regarding their plans to cut costs by reducing their labor force and closing down their retail outlets.

You see, businesses are good at seeing which direction the U.S. economy is heading because they are closest to the consumers and can tell quickly if the trend changes. If they are worried, it means consumer spending in the U.S. economy—a major portion of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)—isn’t as robust.

Looking at the sentiment of businesses in the U.S. economy, I am not convinced in the notion that the economy will grow at a faster pace; to me, it will not be a surprise if the U.S. GDP grows at an even slower rate in 2014 than it did in 2013.

Investors should be looking at what businesses are saying as a sign of caution. It’s also a good time for investors to take some profits off the table if they have any. In addition, if investors are holding a losing position, they may want to consider taking a loss and raising some cash instead.

This article What Retailers Are Saying That Makes Me Believe Economic Growth Is Slowing was originally published at Daily Gains Letter

The following article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

Posted-In: Economics Markets

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Average 30-year mortgage rate up to 4.33%

WASHINGTON — Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week but remained near historically low levels.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate for the 30-year loan increased to 4.33% from 4.28% last week. The average for the 15-year mortgage edged up to 3.35% from 3.33%.

Mortgage rates have risen about a full percentage point since hitting record lows roughly a year ago. The increase was driven by speculation that the Federal Reserve would reduce its $85 billion-a-month bond purchases. Deeming the economy to be gaining strength, the Fed proceeded last month with planned reductions of its bond purchases, which have helped keep long-term interest rates low.

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The housing market is expected to deliver another year of solid gains, helped by an improving economy. Most economists expect home sales and prices to keep rising this year, but at a slower pace. They forecast that both will likely rise by about 5%, down from double-digit gains in 2013.

Government data released Wednesday showed that U.S. home construction fell in January for a second straight month, but the weakness in both months reflected severe winter weather in many parts of the country.

Top 5 Machinery Companies To Own For 2015

In a similar vein, U.S. homebuilders' confidence in the housing market declined sharply this month as the rough weather battering much of the nation keeps many would-be buyers at home, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index issued Tuesday.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and Wednesday each week. The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1% of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was unchanged a! t 0.7 point. The fee for a 15-year loan also remained at 0.7 point.

The average rate on a one-year adjustable-rate mortgage rose to 2.57% from 2.55%. The average fee declined to 0.3 point from 0.4 point.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable mortgage increased to 3.08% from 3.05%. The fee held at 0.5 point.

Australia wages rise 0.7% in fourth quarter

SYDNEY--Australian wages rose modestly in the final quarter of last year as the resource-rich economy softens and unemployment ticks up as a long mining boom slows.

Wages excluding bonuses rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in the fourth quarter from the prior quarter and rose 2.6% from a year earlier, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is counting on relatively benign wage growth to help keep inflation under control, as consumer prices rise more strongly than expected.

The central bank kept rates steady this month at a record-low 2.5% but appeared to close off the likelihood of future interest-rate cuts as a sharp fall in the local currency has driven up the price of imports, contributing to higher inflation. At the same time, labor costs are falling as investment in new resources projects slows, reducing demand for workers.

In the private sector, wages excluding bonuses rose 0.6% in the quarter from the immediately prior quarter and rose 2.5% from a year earlier. Public-sector wages rose 0.9% in the quarter and increased 2.7% from a year earlier.

-Write to James Glynn at james.glynn@wsj.com

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires

Alcoa, Sears, Abercrombie & Fitch are stocks to watch

Top 5 High Dividend Stocks To Buy For 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Friday's session are Alcoa Inc., Sears Holdings Corp., Abercrombie & Fitch Co., and Gap Inc.

After Thursday's closing bell, Alcoa (AA)  reported it swung to a fourth-quarter loss of $2.3 billion, or $2.19 a share, on revenue of $5.59 billion. Excluding special items, Alcoa would have earned 4 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast earnings of 6 cents a share. Earlier, the aluminum producer said it will pay $384 million to settle corruption charges with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice. Shares of Alcoa fell almost 4% in after-hours trading.

Sears (SHLD)   late Thursday said its quarter-to-date same-store sales at Kmart and Sears fell 7.4% while sales at Sears Canada slid 4.4%. The department store also forecast an adjusted loss of $2.01 a share to $2.98 a share in the fourth quarter. For the year, it projected an adjusted per-share loss of $7.64 to $8.61. Sears shares skidded 12% in extended trading.

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF)  raised its per-share adjusted earnings outlook for the year to a range of $1.55 to $1.65 from $1.40 to $1.50 previously. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast $1.47 a share. Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch surged 16% in after-hours trading.

Gap (GPS)  on Thursday said same-store sales in December were flat, below the 1.5% growth forecast in a Thomson Reuters survey. However, comparable sales rose 2% during the holiday shopping season in November and December. Gap shares rose 2% in after hours.

Seven different paths to take in retirement

When Carolee Duckworth, 67, of Sherrills Ford, N.C., retired as a Web design professor, she took a close look at her personality, passions and interests and decided to write non-fiction books, including travel books.

When Marie Langworthy, 65, of Columbia, Conn., retired as a school administrator, she also did a self-analysis and decided to supervise student teachers during the day, teach technology skills to adults at night and work as a writer on the side.

People who are retiring sometimes just think about getting another job doing the same thing they've done all their lives, Langworthy says. "But they really need to step back and go through a self-discovery and self-assessment process and ask: 'What do I really want to do? What do I enjoy doing? What am I good at?'"

Langworthy and Duckworth have written Shifting Gears to Your Life and Work After Retirement to help people take a look at themselves in a totally different way. "We want people to open themselves up to possibilities they never knew existed," Langworthy says.

Duckworth agrees. She worked for years as a career-change counselor helping displaced workers, homemakers and 55-plus career changers find new job opportunities. And she and Langworthy interviewed hundreds of retirees.

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STORY: Preparing yourself for retirement

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People need to put careful thought into what they're going to do in retirement, Duckworth says. They need to research it, read about it and determine exactly what they want to do.

The authors suggest asking yourself a series of questions: Do you have a creative side that has gone unfulfilled? An interest you have never been able to explore? Do you have an entrepreneurial urge? Humanitarian interests? An adventurous streak? Have you dreamed of a role as a teacher, guide or mentor that you'd like to fulfill?

"Our goal is to help you come up with a mission statement for the ! rest of your life," Duckworth says.

The authors have identified seven different paths that retirees might take. Most pursue a combination of several of these:

• Life of leisure. Many retirees cultivate at least a partial life of leisure, pursuing hobbies, sports, passions or interests, such as fishing, golfing, sailing, gardening and writing, Langworthy says.

This is one of the traditional views of retirement, and a lot of people stop there when they could combine this with other things, Duckworth says. For example, she says, "I met a man who retired as a corporate executive, and his dream was to move to the mountains and have time to read. That was as far as his dream went. Before the first year was out, he had read 232 books, and then he closed the last book and said, 'Now what?' He needed a longer dream, so he became a real estate agent."

• Life of the volunteer. Volunteerism can provide structure, meaning and purpose to retirees' lives, can offer opportunities to establish social contacts and can lead to fulfilling paid employment. "Volunteers often say it's more rewarding to give than receive," Langworthy says.

• Life of a traveler. Some people enter retirement with a bucket list of places they want to visit and experiences they want to have. Rather than just travel as a visitor to places, "I suggest staying in places for a week or more so you get to know the people, not just see the museums," Duckworth says.

• Life of engaging new work. This is work that's something completely different from what you did most of your lifetime. "I know a retired accountant who got a job doing landscaping at a golf course, and he loved it," Langworthy says.

• Life as an entrepreneur. Retirees are often primed and ready to create a business that may contribute to the health, happiness and well-being of others. This involves identifying a need that could be fulfilled and going after it. Give yourself permission to explore ideas, Duckworth says.

• Life as a c! reative. ! These are people who create art, music, new ideas, services and solutions to complex problems. They may be doing this to make a living or for pleasure or for both. "Coming back to your creative self is one of the glories of retirement," Duckworth adds.

• Life of a student. Some study for the pleasure of learning or to train in a new area of work or to become skilled or knowledgeable in an area of interest. "There is a thrill that comes with learning new things," she says.

If you don't like the first few paths you pursue, then try something else, Langworthy says.

She told her grandson the other day that what she really wanted to be was a film editor or cartographer, and he said, "Well, why don't you?"

Retirees "have so much to contribute," Duckworth says. "We've got tremendous experience. We need a social movement where every retiree is planning the next phase of their lives and making contributions until they're 80, or even 90 or 100."

Europe sees first annual growth since 2011

Italy managed its first quarter of growth in over two years and Spain's economy also accelerated, helping drive a modest pickup in the eurozone economy.

LONDON (CNNMoney) Europe's economy grew on an annual basis for the first time in two years, as a recovery picked up pace slightly in the last three months of 2013.

Eurozone GDP rose by 0.3% in the fourth quarter, compared with the third quarter, and by 0.5% over the same period of 2012, according to figures released Friday by Eurostat.

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The acceleration was driven by a return to growth in France and Italy, which saw its first quarterly expansion in two and a-half years, and a stronger performance in key economies such as Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

France managed growth of 0.3% over the quarter, slightly stronger than expected, after zero growth in the third quarter.

Germany, the eurozone's biggest and strongest economy, reported growth of 0.4% quarter-on-quarter, coming in slightly ahead of expectations thanks to robust exports.

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The eurozone is still not out of the woods. Inflation is slowing, raising the risk of a slide into deflation, and the economy is still not generating jobs fast enough to bring down unemployment.

Consumer price inflation is less than half the European Central Bank's target. The bank said earlier this month it was ready to take decisive action if necessary to stimulate activity.

Jim Cramer's 6 Stocks in 60 Seconds: AXP STJ MDP FUEL FWM REGN

Check out Jim Cramer's latest trading recommendations on "Action Alerts Plus".

(Updates from 11:24 a.m. ET with closing information.)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here's what Jim Cramer had to say on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Monday.

Morgan Stanley upgraded American Express (AXP) to buy from hold. Cramer said the stock sold off following a "remarkable quarter," allowing investors a great opportunity to buy the stock. AXP ended higher 1.56% at $88.36.

William Blair upgraded St. Jude Medical (STJ) to buy from hold. The stock is going to move much higher by the end of the year "because of new products," Cramer said. St. Jude closed up 2.56% at $63.39. 

Cramer said Citigroup acknowledged that Meredith (MDP) could buy Time, which will likely be spun off by Time Warner (TWX). Meredith declined 0.16% to $44.26.  Goldman Sachs says to buy Rocket Fuel (FUEL) and initiated its price target at $69. Cramer seemed to like the company, saying it has figured out how to programmatically place ads all over the Internet. Rocket Fuel soared 8.10% to $55.10. Merrill Lynch/Bank of America downgraded Fairway Group (FWM) to sell from hold as analysts are "taking it to the woodshed" following its earnings release, Cramer said. Fairway Group closed unchanged at $8.12. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals'  (REGN) Eylea treatment has had positive results following its Phase III trials. Cramer said CEO Leonard Schleifer "continues to amaze," and suggested that the stock could take out its more recent high near $310. Regeneron rose 1.4% to $304.00. To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter, with all of his latest articles and videos, please click here. -- Written by Bret Kenwell in Petoskey, Mich. Follow @BretKenwell

At the time of publication, Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS, which he co-manages as a charitable trust, had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Stock quotes in this article: AXP, STJ, MDP, TWX, FUEL, FWM, REGN 

OppenheimerFunds shakes up leadership team

OppenheimerFunds chief executive officer William Glavin will be stepping down from that role in July, the company announced Tuesday. He will be replaced by chief investment officer Art Steinmetz. Mr. Glavin, who joined OppenheimerFunds in January 2009, will remain chairman.

“Art has been one of the most successful and respected investment managers in the industry for more than 27 years, and I believe it is important that an investor lead this company at this point in its evolution,” Mr. Glavin said in a statement. “We have developed a strategy that will accelerate our growth, and Art and the leadership team are well positioned to lead this change.”

Mr. Steinmetz joined Oppenheimer in 1986, and was named chief investment officer in 2008. He is co-portfolio manager of the $10 billion Oppenheimer International Bond Fund (OIBAX) and the lead manager $7.7 billion Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund (OPSIX).

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Mr. Glavin was a co-COO and executive vice president of MassMutual's U.S. insurance group before being named CEO of Oppenheimer in January 2009.

Krishna Memani, chief investment officer of fixed income, has been named Mr. Steinmetz's replacement as chief investment officer.

Kaitlyn Downing, a spokeswoman for OppenheimerFunds, could not be reached for comment.

OppenheimerFunds, the ninth largest mutual fund company, has $15.4 billion of net inflows through the end of November, fifth most among mutual fund companies.

Bill Gross’ Warning: Pot, Pigs and P/E Ratios

PIMCO bond manager Bill Gross is warning investors that the Treasury’s retreat from credit creation will slow down GDP and limit price/earnings ratios, depressing stocks and helping bonds.

Writing in his February monthly investment outlook, Gross said that a declining budget deficit and the beginning of the Federal Reserve’s tapering of bond purchases are gradually withdrawing a significant source of growth in the economy — which could only be ameliorated through an increase in private sector activity.

But because such private sector activity has not been forthcoming, the PIMCO manager sees narrower economic horizons ahead, saying “the days of getting rich quickly are over, and the days of getting rich slowly may be as well.”

The latest commentary from the manager of the world’s largest bond fund reads like an edutaining lesson in basic finance, explaining through colorful examples the role credit plays in a modern economy.

Gross’ thesis is that all the things people look at as measures of valuing stocks, bonds, home prices and the like — be they P/E ratios or interest rates — depend ultimately on the availability of credit.

In an island-based economy where crops could be traded for livestock, a hot commodity like marijuana might see its P/E ratio accelerate from 1 pig to 3 pigs, he humorously illustrates.

"In order to keep this system going," he writes, "you need more pigs or more credit in order to continue. But you’re out of pigs. A funny thing now happens in this capitalistic South Sea island and mainly to the price of marijuana. It traded last year at 3 pigs to 1, but since you’re out of pigs and credit, the price collapses. Grass goes to zero because there is no more credit; you have no more pigs to pay for it."

That dynamic of available credit and consumer demand plays out thusly in the money market:

“If there was only one dollar to lend and someone was desperate to have it, the interest rate would be usurious. If there was one trillion dollars of credit and no one was eager to borrow for some reason or another, then the rate would be .01% like it is today and for the past five years in my personal money market account.”

And so it is in today’s financial economy, where Federal Reserve credit expansion and government deficit spending have inflated U.S. credit to, officially, $57 trillion. Gross says that this credit expansion has fueled P/E ratios and GDP growth.

But, “with the deficit now down to $600 billion or so, the Treasury is fading as a source of credit growth,” Gross writes.

And the Federal Reserve taper together with interest and mortgage rates some 150 basis points higher than they were in July 2012 have compounded the problem by slowing down the “velocity” of money.

The result he says is that “the U.S. and other similarly credit-based economies may find that future growth is not as robust as the IMF and other model-driven forecasters might assume.”

This poses risks, possibly including what he describes as “the whisper word of ‘deflation’ at Davos.” In this environment, “high-quality bonds will continue to be well bid and risk assets may lose some luster.”

The bond manager, whose firm was battered in 2013 by more than $30 billion in outflows, sought to reassure investors that their investments would be well tended were they to remain with the Newport Beach-based asset manager:

“Stick with PIMCO. Believe me when I say, we are a better team at this moment than we were before,” he writes, in a reference to a management shake-up that included the loss of co-CIO Mohamed El-Erian and elevation of former COO Douglas Hodge to CEO and other staff changes.

In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Gross elaborated on his views of a slowing down of financial markets, specifying he was buying 4- to 5-year Treasuries yielding a paltry 1.25% to 1.5%.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015

The century-old Australian auto industry is swirling the drain thanks to the decision by General Motors to stop making cars there by 2017.

GM's decision to close down engine and vehicle manufacturing and most of the engineering operation of its Australian Holden unit follows Ford's announcement earlier this year that it will end its long history of carmaking there by 2016.

Their departure has many experts saying it's only a matter of time before carmakers are extinct Down Under: The only manufacturer left there will be Toyota and the experts doubt that will be enough to keep needed Australian parts suppliers in business.

Why care about Holden? The unit has been a source of engineering and development for GM rear-drive car platforms, such as the underpinnings of the Chevrolet Camaro. It also has been making finished cars for the North American market. The former Pontiac G8, modern-era Pontiac GTO and the coming Chevy SS rear-drive performance sedans, as well as the current Chevy Caprice police vehicle, all have been based on Holden products and built in Australia for the U.S.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Eagle Bancorp Inc.(EGBN)

Eagle Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for EagleBank that provides various commercial and consumer banking services. Its deposit products include business and personal checking accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, savings and money market accounts, time deposits, and individual retirement accounts. The company?s credit services comprise commercial loans for business purposes, including working capital, equipment purchases, real estate, lines of credit, and government contract financing; asset based lending and accounts receivable financing; real estate loans comprising construction loan financing; business equipment financing; consumer installment loans, such as automobile and personal loans; personal lines of credit; residential mortgage loans; and credit card services. It also offers cash management services, including electronic banking, business sweep account, lock box, account reconciliation, credit card depository, safety deposit boxe s, automated clearing house origination, and automated teller machine services. The company provides subordinated financing for the acquisition, development, and construction of real estate projects; and provides commercial and retail insurance products. It primarily serves business and professional clients, such as sole proprietorships, small and medium-sized businesses, partnerships, corporations, non-profit organizations and associations, and investors, as well as individuals. As of April 25, 2011, it operated 13 offices located in Montgomery County, Maryland; Washington, D.C; and Fairfax County, Virginia. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Eyecare Partners Ltd(EPL.AX)

Eyecare Partners Limited owns and operates optometry practices under the EyeQ Optometrists name in Australia. Its optometry practices provide optometric health services and optical products to patients. The company?s primary eye care services include eye examinations, contact lenses, behavioural optometry, and low vision services, as well as co-management of medical and post-operative conditions with local ophthalmologists. As of December 31, 2011, it had a total of 28 practices. Eyecare Partners Limited is headquartered in Botany, Australia.

Top Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: CoroWare Inc (COWI)

CoroWare, Inc. (CoroWare), incorporated on April 23, 2008, is a holding company that operates through its principal subsidiary, CoroWare Technologies, Inc. (CTI). Through the Company's subsidiary, CoroWare delivers custom engineering services, hardware and software products, and subscription services that benefit customers in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Middle East. CoroWare Technologies consists of three separately managed lines of business: CoroWare Business Solutions, which includes information technology (IT) and lab management; business intelligence, software architecture, design and development; content delivery; partner and program management; Robotics and Automation, which includes Custom engineering, such as visualization, simulation and software development; and mobile robot platforms for university, government and corporate researchers, and Enterprise Solutions Collaboration, which includes Collaboration and conferencing products, solutions and subscription services.

CoroWare Business Solutions

CoroWare Business Solutions (CBS) offers products, solutions, and information technology (IT ) consulting services that help the Company's customers deliver products, solutions and services. The Company's program managers are experts in Microsoft's product and solution development tools and processes. CTI uses that experience to create product specifications, develop project plans, and perform security and release management audits, with the objective of helping Microsoft deliver its solutions and products on schedule. CTI provides lab management and systems engineering support services in three Microsoft data centers and labs. CTI's solutions development group helps product development companies, including MetraTech, design, prototype, develop and test new products and solutions.

Robotics and Automation (R&A)

The Company is a mobile robotics solutions integrator. The Company's CoroBot and Explorer product lines are being used by ! over 50 corporate and academic researchers. The Company offers custom engineering expertise to customers who are looking for product realization, robotics simulation, systems architecture and designs, and robotic applications development services. Some university customers are deploying CoroBot Classics for use in various lab activities, including the development of swarm robotics applications designed to leverage groups of robots to complete complex tasks.

Enterprise Collaboration Solutions (ECS)

Enterprise Collaboration Solutions address the needs of enterprise customers with distributed business operations. Through the Company's partnership with Vidyo (http://www.vidyo.com), the Company is deploying high definition (HD) video conferencing solutions, including collaboration room systems, and offering CoroCall Business Class HD Video Conferencing (http://www.corocall.com), an affordable high definition videoconferencing subscription service that is based on Vidyo's technology.

The Company competes with Avanade, Tata Consultancy Services, iRobot (IRBT), Adept / MobileRobots (ADEP), K-Team Mobile Robotics, RoboSoft, Evolution Robotics, Aethon, neato robotics, Brock Technologies, Contineo Robotics, Polycom, Tandberg/Cisco, Lifesize/Logitech, oovoo, AT&T, Blue Jeans, Vidtel and Nefsis.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Ctrip.com International Ltd.(CTRP)

Ctrip.com International, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides travel services for hotel accommodations, airline tickets, and packaged tours in the People?s Republic of China. It also sells independent leisure travelers bundled package-tour products, which include transportation and accommodation, as well as guided tours covering various domestic and international destinations. In addition, the company offers Internet-related advertising, aviation casualty insurance, and air-ticket delivery services. Further, it sells Property Management System, a hotel information software; travel guidebooks, which provide information for independent travelers; and VIP membership cards that allow cardholders to receive discounts from various restaurants, clubs, and bars. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shareholders Unite]

  The Chinese travel agency Ctrip (CTRP) has been one of our best performers in the past 12 months. The shares more than tripled since we first suggested a buy at $13.69 almost exactly a year ago.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of Chinese travel website Ctrip.com International (NASDAQ: CTRP  ) surged 19% today after its quarterly results and outlook topped Wall Street expectations. �

• [By Yiannis Mostrous]

  Ctrip.com International (CTRP)

  With a 48% market share, Ctrip.com holds the crown as China's leading online travel agency, offering a one-stop shop for booking hotels, flights, and packaged tours.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Western Pacific Trust Company (WP.V)

Western Pacific Trust Company, a non-deposit taking financial company, provides various financial services primarily to individuals, families, corporations, charities, and other entities in Canada. The company offers estate and related tax planning services to individuals and families with businesses real estate holdings, and/or other investment assets; and advisory services in the areas of wealth accumulation, retirement, trusts, estates, self administered plans, and wills. It also provides solutions for personal and corporate issues in the legal, accounting, and financial planning arenas; self-administered tax free savings accounts, which primarily include securities in Canadian controlled private corporations, private mutual fund trusts, venture capital corporations, and unlisted public companies, as well as arm�s length mortgages; and client consulting services, such as a range of accounting, administrative, and corporate secretarial services. Western Pacific Trust Co mpany is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Golden Dory Resources Corp (GDR.V)

Golden Dory Resources Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the exploration of mineral properties in North America. The company primarily explores for gold, uranium, and lithium/rare metals. It holds interest in the Huxter Lane-Brady project located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; and Long Canyon (Pequop south) and Reef properties in the state of Nevada, the United States. The company also focuses on its earlier stage gold, uranium, and base metal properties in Newfoundland; and lithium/rare metals projects in Ontario. Golden Dory Resources Corp. is based in Gander, Canada.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Pioneer Floating Rate Trust(PHD)

Pioneer Floating Rate Trust is closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in senior secured floating-rate loans. It invests in fixed income securities with average credit quality of B. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index. Pioneer Floating Rate Trust was formed on October 6, 2004 and is domiciled in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Dowdee]

  The following 10 funds satisfied all of these conditions:

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

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Changtian Plastic & Chem Ltd (D2V.SI)

Changtian Plastic & Chemical Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of adhesive tapes, release papers, 2-Acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acids (2-A2MPS), and ultraviolet cured release films in the People�s Republic of China. It provides biaxially-oriented polypropylene tapes, including packaging, printed, color, and stationery adhesive tapes; crepe paper masking tapes for sealing, packaging, and spray painting purposes; double-sided adhesive tapes, including water based, oil-based and yellow oil based, and embroidery adhesive tapes; general purpose kraft paper adhesive tapes; and aluminum tapes that are used primarily in frozen food packaging. The company also offers release papers comprising glassine silicon coated papers and clay coat kraft release papers for use as a protective backing on adhesive papers; ultraviolet cured release films for manufacturing personal hygiene products; and 2-A2MPS for oil industry and water treatme nt industry. Changtian Plastic & Chemical Limited was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Xiamen, the People�s Republic of China.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: National Technical Systems Inc.(NTSC)

National Technical Systems, Inc., a diversified technical services company, provides engineering and compliance testing services to the defense, aerospace, telecommunications, automotive, energy, consumer products, and industrial products markets worldwide. The company offers product life-cycle product integrity support services, including design engineering, compliance, testing, certification, quality registration, and program management. It provides conformity assessment and management system registration services, as well as technology services for product certification, product safety testing, and product evaluation. The company also offers management registration and certification services. The company was founded in 1961 and is based in Calabasas, California.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY)

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated provides instrumentation, digital imaging products and software, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems in the United States and internationally. The company?s Instrumentation segment provides monitoring and control instruments for marine, environmental, scientific, industrial, and defense applications, as well as harsh environmental interconnect products. Its Digital Imaging segment includes sponsored and centralized research laboratories benefiting government programs and businesses, as well as development efforts for innovative digital imaging products for government and space applications. It also includes infrared detectors, cameras, and optomechanical assemblies. Teledyne Technologies? Aerospace and Defense Electronics segment provides electronic components and subsystems and communications products, including defense electronics, data acquisition, and communications equipment for air transport and business aircra ft and components and subsystems for wireless and satellite communications, as well as general aviation batteries. The company?s Engineered Systems segment provides systems engineering and integration, advanced technology application, software development, and manufacturing solutions to space, military, environmental, energy, chemical, biological and nuclear systems, and missile defense requirements. This segment also designs and manufactures hydrogen generators, thermoelectric and fuel-cell based power sources, and small turbine engines. Teledyne Technologies? customers include government agencies, aerospace prime contractors, energy exploration and production companies, industrial companies, and airlines. The company was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Geoff Gannon]

  We should be careful to overstate the tax aspect of buybacks. For example, Q-Logic has a lot of cash overseas (almost all of its $500 million). The company could ��in theory ��make several tender offers for close to 50% of its market cap with that cash. This is the Teledyne (TDY) approach. Q-Logic doesn�� do that for several reasons. One, it likes having some cash on hand at all time. But, more importantly, it doesn�� want to pay the tax.

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Teledyne Technologies (TDY), which gets 80 percent of its revenue from the U.S., raised its 2013 per-share earnings projections last week. The Thousand Oaks, California-based aerospace and defense electronics provider, up 39 percent for the year, exceeded analyst projections by 8.1 percent last quarter, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: (COLPAL.NS)

Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited engages in the manufacture and sale of oral care and personal care products in India and internationally. The company?s oral care products include toothpastes, toothbrushes, toothpowder, mouthwashes, and whitening products. Its personal care products consist of body wash, liquid hand wash, shave preps, skin care, and hair care products. The company also offers household care products, which include a dish washing paste. In addition, it provides pet nutrition products. Further, the company provides various dental care products for gingivitis treatment, sensitivity treatment, tooth whitening, fluoride therapy, mouth ulcer treatment, and specialty cleaning. Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited sells its products primarily under the Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Ajax, Axion, Softsoap, and Hill?s Pet Nutrition brand names. The company was founded in 1937 and is based in Mumbai, India. Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palm olive Company, U.S.A.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Itron Inc.(ITRI)

Itron, Inc. provides products and services for the energy and water markets worldwide. It produces standard electricity, natural gas, and water meters for residential, commercial, industrial, and transmission and distribution customers. The company also offers advanced and smart electronic, gas, and water meters, as well as communication modules; handheld, mobile, and fixed network collection technologies; meter data management software; prepayment systems comprising smart key, keypad, and smart card communication technologies; data warehousing; and knowledge application solutions. It provides communication technologies, which include telephone, radio frequency, global system for mobile communications, power line carrier, and Ethernet devices. In addition, the company offers professional services, including implementation, installation, consulting, system management, and analysis. It markets its products through direct sales, distributors, representative agencies, partners , and meter manufacturer representatives. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Liberty Lake, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Although small cap smart metering stock Silver Spring Networks Inc (NYSE: SSNI) recently soared on earnings, it also plunged yesterday�after loosing�out on important contract ��meaning it might be time to take a closer look at it along with other smart metering stocks like Itron, Inc (NASDAQ: ITRI) or Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) to see if they are smart investments.

• [By Alex Planes]

  What: Shares of Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI  ) are down nearly 10% after plunging as much as 14% in early trading today after a pre-market earnings report gave investors little cause for optimism in the near term.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Central Bancorp Inc(CEBK)

Central Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Central Co-operative Bank, which provides a range of banking products and services in the northwestern suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. The company offers various deposit products, including demand deposit accounts, NOW accounts, money market deposit accounts, regular savings accounts, term deposit accounts, and retirement savings plans. Its loan portfolio comprises residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate and construction loans, home equity lines of credit, commercial and industrial loans, and consumer and other loans. The company also provides automated teller machines, Internet banking, preauthorized payment and withdrawal systems, tax-deferred retirement programs, and other miscellaneous services, such as money orders, travelers? checks, and safe deposit boxes. Central Bancorp operates nine full-service office facilities in Somerville, Arlington, Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Medford, Melrose, and Wobur n, Massachusetts; and a limited service high school branch in Woburn, Massachusetts. It also operated an automated teller machine in Somerville, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1915 and is headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Hot Forestry Companies To Buy For 2015: Capital Bank Corporation(CBKN)

Capital Bank Corporation operates as the holding company for Capital Bank that provides general commercial banking products and services in North Carolina. Its deposit products include checking, savings, negotiable order of withdrawal, money market, and individual retirement accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company?s loan products portfolio comprises loans for real estate, construction, businesses, agriculture, personal use, home improvement, and automobiles, as well as equity lines of credit, mortgage loans, credit loans, consumer loans, and credit cards. It also offers safe deposit boxes, bank money orders, Internet banking services, traveler?s checks, and notary services, as well as electronic funds transfer services, including wire transfers and remote deposit capture. In addition, the company provides automated teller machine access to its customers; and a line of uninsured investment products and services. It operates 32 branch offices in North Carol ina, including 5 in Raleigh, 4 in Asheville, 4 in Fayetteville, 3 in Burlington, 3 in Sanford, 2 in Cary, and 1 each in Clayton, Graham, Hickory, Holly Springs, Mebane, Morrisville, Oxford, Pittsboro, Siler City, Wake Forest, and Zebulon. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Capital Bank Corporation is a subsidiary of North American Financial Holdings, Inc.

Investor interest in energy stocks may rise: HSBC

Bloomberg/file 2013 Enlarge Image

Hot Performing Companies To Watch In Right Now

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- "Big Oil" companies have been out of favor with investors, but their cash flow picture is more robust than they get credit for and investment sentiment may shift next year, HSBC said in a note Friday.

The sector is under-owned by large institutional investors that hold stocks for the long term, so "it may not need too much of a shift in sentiment towards the sector to prompt increased weightings," HSBC added.

Click to Play Good news at the pump?

The U.S. Gulf Coast, home to the world's largest concentration of petroleum refineries, s suddenly awash in crude oil. Photo: Getty Images

The investment bank also started coverage of BP PLC (BP)  with a overweight rating. It's "close to the end of the rehabilitation period for BP following the Deepwater Horizon disaster," HSBC said in the note. Meeting long-term targets are now key to BP's share gains, the bank said.

HSBC also started Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A)  stock coverage with a overweight rating. Shells is a "good buy-and-hold stock for long-term investors, particularly those with a cautious market outlook," HSBC said. "On the other hand, even though Shell looks cheap (particularly after its latest falls), there is a risk it remains a value trap."

U.S.-listed shares of BP rose 0.8%, as most energy stocks on the S&P 500 ended up on Friday. U.S.-listed shares of Shell gained 2.9%.

More broadly, energy stocks tracked gains for equity markets on Friday, which emerged from a string of losses earlier this week on fears the U.S. Federal Reserve might start trimming its bond purchases soon.

Earlier Friday, the Labor Department said the U.S. gained 203,000 jobs in November, with strong hiring across sectors, and the unemployment rate fell to 7%, its lowest in five years.

Shares of Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM)  rose 1.6%, while Chevron Corp. (CVX)  shares advanced 1%. Shares of ConocoPhillips (COP) , however, declined 0.1%.

Top gainers Friday included refiners Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) , up 4%, and Tesoro Corp. (TSO) , with shares up 3.8%.

Among stocks in the red, Newfield Exploration Co. (NFX)  declined 4.5%.

The SPDR Energy Select Sector (XLE) , an exchange-traded fund focused on energy names, gained 0.3%.

More from MarketWatch:

Ice Friday keeps natural gas prices soaring

U.S. gains 203,000 jobs in November

Why the Fed might still hesitate over 'Dectaper'

Shell Halts Arctic Oil Exploration

Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A) says it is stopping its oil exploration efforts in the Arctic waters off the Alaskan coast for the year. The announcement came as Shell announced a steep drop in its its fourth-quarter 2013 earnings

The company's new CEO, Ben van Beurden, cited several factors, including a worsening security situation in oil-rich Nigeria, delays on several projects and the company's need for restructuring and improving profitability in its North American operations, as behind his company's decision.

And van Beurden mentioned the recent ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals – which sided with environmental and native Alaskan groups in challenging the validity of the company's offshore oil leases.

"This is a disappointing outcome, but the lack of a clear path forward means that I am not prepared to commit further resources for drilling in Alaska in 2014," van Beurden told investors on Thursday. "We will look to relevant agencies and the Court to resolve their open legal issues as quickly as possible."

The Anchorage Daily News reports Shell has spent close to $6 billion on its Arctic offshore project, which has yet to extract any oil. The company says the Arctic is estimated to hold about 30 percent of the world's undiscovered natural gas – and 13 percent of its undiscovered oil

"We needed more certainty and didn't get it, making it impossible to justify the commitment of resources needed to explore safely in 2014," Pete Slaiby, Shell's vice president for Alaska, said in an email to the newspaper.

Other oil companies also appear to be having second thoughts about their Arctic projects. Last April, ConocoPhilips (NYSE: COP) said its 2014 drilling plans in Alaska's Chukchi Sea were "on hold due to regulatory uncertainties." And according to the Anchorage Daily News, the Norwegian multinational Statoil (NYSE: STO) announced in 2012 it was delaying exploration plans in the area as well.

Environmental groups, needless to say, applauded Shell's action. Lois Epstein, Arctic program director for the Wilderness Society, told the Washington Post that van Beurden's decision was "both sensible and inevitable."

Hot Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now

"The Arctic Ocean has proven to be logistically challenging for drilling and mobilization," she added, "and a bottomless pit for investment."

Posted-In: 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Arctic Arctic drilling Ben van Beurden energy enivronmental issues environmental Lois Epstein Oil oil and gas Wilderness SocietyEarnings News Commodities Economics Markets Tech Media Best of Benzinga

(c) 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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