After the stock market's huge rise over the past four years, investors are understandably concerned about just how far the market could fall in an ordinary correction from current levels. But what many investors don't fully comprehend is the potential for substantial capital losses in the bond market. Low interest rates are what created that danger, and the carnage we've seen so far among bonds is just the tip of the iceberg if rates revert to more typical long-term levels.
Getting some perspective
Even with yesterday's extensive losses, the stock market hasn't really given up any substantial amount of ground from its recent highs. Over the past month, the S&P 500 has lost less than 2.5%, and the Dow remained within 300 points of its all-time closing high as of last night.
But bond investments have seen huge losses. Consider how broad-based the bond-market massacre has been:
Broad measures of the overall bond market have shown definite signs of weakness, with iShares Core U.S. Bond (NYSEMKT: AGG ) falling more than 3% since the end of April and the actively managed PIMCO Total Return (NYSEMKT: BOND ) down almost 4% over that time frame. Longer-term-focused bonds have posted even worse results, with iShares 20+ Treasury (NYSEMKT: TLT ) having fallen more than 8% since late April. Inflation-protected bonds are generally seen providing some defense against rising interest rates, but iShares Barclays TIPS Bond (NYSEMKT: TIP ) has fallen by more than 7%. Even niche areas of the bond market have seen big losses, with the municipal-bond-focused iShares S&P Municipal Bond (NYSEMKT: MUB ) down almost 5%, while the emerging-market bond ETF WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt has fallen 10%.A combination of factors has led to some of these declines, with the strong U.S. dollar hurting international bonds. But the driving force behind all of the drops comes from rising interest rates, and investors need to understand the threat that those rates pose to the future of their bond investments.
Top 5 Cheapest Companies To Own For 2015: Ishares Msci Australia Inc (EWA)
iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded securities in the aggregate in the Australian market, as measured by the MSCI Australia Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Australian equity market. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for available float and must meet objective criteria for inclusion in the Index. The Index is reviewed quarterly.
The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chad Fraser]
Another option is to buy units of an Australian exchange traded fund (ETF) like the iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund (NYSE: EWA), one of the investments we cover in Australian Edge’s How They Rate universe, which keeps over 100 Australian companies and other investments under continuous review.
Top Dow Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida(SBCF)
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida operates as the holding company for Seacoast National Bank that provides various financial products and services in the United States. It offers an array of deposit accounts and retail banking services; engages in consumer and commercial lending activities; and provides various trust and asset management services, as well as securities and annuity products to its customers. The company also offers marine loans. In addition, it provides Internet banking, and brokerage and annuity services. As of June 17, 2011, the company had 39 offices in South and Central Florida. Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida was founded in 1926 and is based in Stuart, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
One that recently crossed my radar as an "avoid" is small-cap bank Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida (NASDAQ: SBCF ) �(henceforth known here as Seacoast to make our lives easier).
Top Dow Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Otelco Inc (OTEL)
Otelco Inc. provides a range of telecommunications services on a retail and wholesale basis. These services include local and long distance calling; network access to and from its customers; data transport; digital high-speed and dial-up Internet access; cable, satellite and Internet protocol television; wireless, and other telephone related services. The principal markets for these services are residential and business customers residing in and adjacent to the exchanges the Company serves in Alabama, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri, Vermont and West Virginia. In addition, the Company serves business customers throughout Maine and New Hampshire and provides dial-up Internet service throughout the states of Maine and Missouri. In January 2014, the Company acquired Reliable Networks, a provider of cloud hosting and managed services for companies who rely on mission-critical applications.
Local Services
The Company is a provider of wireline telephone services in seven of the 11 RLEC territories it serves. Local services enable customers to originate and receive telephone calls. The amount that it can charge a customer for certain basic services in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Vermont and West Virginia is regulated by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC), the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC), the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable (MDTC), the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC), the Vermont Public Service Board (VPSB) and the West Virginia Public Service Commission (WVPSC). It also has authority to provide service in New Hampshire from the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC). The revenue derived from local services includes monthly recurring charges for voice access lines providing local dial tone and calling features, including caller identification, call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail. It also receives revenue for providing long distance services to its customers, billing and collection services for o! ther carriers under contract, and directory advertising. The Company provides local services on a retail basis to residential and business customers.
The Company offers long distance telephone services to its local telephone customers who do not purchase a local service bundle. It resells long distance services purchased from various long distance providers. It derives revenue from other telephone related services, including leasing, selling, installing, and maintaining customer premise telecommunications equipment and the publication of local telephone directories in certain of its rural local exchange carrier territories. It also provides billing and collection services for interexchange carriers through negotiated billing and collection agreements for certain types of toll calls placed by its local customers.
Network Access
Network access revenue relates primarily to services provided by the Company to long distance carriers (also referred to as interexchange carriers) in connection with their use of its facilities to originate and terminate interstate and intrastate long distance, or toll, telephone calls. As toll calls are generally billed to the customer originating the call, network access charges are applied in order to compensate each telecommunications company providing services relating to the call. Network access charges apply to both interstate and intrastate calls. The Company�� network access revenues also include revenues it receives from wireless carriers for terminating their calls on its networks pursuant to its interconnection agreements with those wireless carriers. Blountsville, Hopper, Mid-Maine, Mid-Missouri, Pine Tree and War also receive Universal Service Fund High Cost Loop (USF HCL) revenue, which is included in the Company�� reported network access revenue.
Cable Television Services
The Company provides cable television services over networks with 750 megahertz of transmission capacity in or by Interne! t Protoco! l TV ( IPTV) in its Alabama service area. Its cable television packages offer from 20 to 200 channels. It is a licensed installer of satellite television and has deployed these services to customers in its Missouri territory. In 2011, it converted its Missouri cable customers to satellite television.
Internet Services
The Company provides a variety of internet access data lines to its customers, including bulk broadband data access to support large corporate users; digital high-speed data lines in varying capacity speeds for business and residential use; and residential dial-up connectivity. Digital high-speed Internet access is provided through digital subscriber line (DSL) cable modems or wireless broadband, depending upon the location, in which the service is offered and through fiber connectivity to business customers. The Company charges its Internet customers a flat rate for unlimited Internet usage and a premium for higher speed Internet services. In Maine and Missouri, it provides legacy dial-up Internet services throughout the state.
Transport Services
The Company�� competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) receive monthly recurring revenues for the rental of fiber to transport data. and other telecommunications services in Maine and New Hampshire. Its businesses and telecommunications carriers are 423 mile owned and leased fiber route.
Network Assets
The Company�� telephone networks include carrier grade advanced switching capabilities provided by traditional digital, as well as software based switches, fiber rings and routes and network software supporting specialized business applications. Its networks enable the Company to provide traditional and Internet Protocol ( IP), wireline telephone services and other calling features; long distance services; digital Internet access services through DSL and cable modems and circuits; and specialized customer specific applications. It offers digital signals, high-d! efinition! program content, digital video recording capability through its traditional cable plant and IPTV.
The Company competes with AT&T, Verizon, Charter Communications, Inc. and Time Warner Cable.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lisa Levin]
Long Distance Carriers: The industry dropped 0.71% by 10:35 am. The worst performer in this industry was Otelco (NASDAQ: OTEL), which declined 0.4%. Otelco is expected to release its Q2 financial and operational results on August 6, 2014.
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Monday
Earnings Releases Expected: Sotheby�� (NYSE: BID), Otelco (NASDAQ: OTEL), Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (NYSE: RAX), Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) Economic Releases Expected: Italian industrial production, Mexican industrial production, Portuguese trade balanceTuesday
Top Dow Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Wet Seal Inc (WTSL)
The Wet Seal, Inc., incorporated in 1990, is a specialty retailer operating stores selling apparel and accessory items designed for female customers aged 15 to 39 years old. As of January 28, 2012, the Company operated 558 retail stores in 47 states and Puerto Rico. Its products can also be purchased online through its Websites. It operates two nationwide, primarily mall-based, chains of retail stores under the names Wet Seal and Arden B. Wet Seal is a junior apparel brand for teenage girls who seek trend-focused clothing, with a target customer age range of 15 to 23 years old. Arden B is a fashion brand for the feminine contemporary woman. Arden B targets customers aged 25 to 39 years old and seeks to deliver collections of fashion and basic separates and accessories for various aspects of the customers��lifestyles. During fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), the Company opened 28 and closed six Wet Seal stores and opened four and closed one Arden B stores.
The Company maintains a Web-based store located at www.wetseal.com, offering Wet Seal merchandise comparable to that carried in its stores, to customers over the Internet. The Company also maintains a Web-based store located at www.ardenb.com, offering Arden B merchandise comparable to that carried in its stores, to customers over the Internet. Its online stores are designed to serve as an extension of the in-store experience and offer a range of merchandise. Wet Seal stores average approximately 4,000 square feet in size. As of January 28, 2012, the Company operated 472 Wet Seal stores and Arden B stores average approximately 3,100 square feet in size.
The Company competes with Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, BCBG, bebe, Body Central, Charlotte Russe, Express, Forever 21, Gap, Guess?, H&M, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Pacific Sunwear, Rue 21, Target, Urban Outfitters and Zara. As of April 28, 2012, the Company operated a total of 553 stores in 47 states and Puerto! Rico, including 469 Wet Seal stores and 84 Arden B stores.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Caroline Chen]
CEOs were replaced at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (CP) and Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) after activist investor Bill Ackman pushed for shakeups. Greg Taxin�� Clinton Group Inc. prompted management changes at Nutrisystem Inc. (NTRI) and Wet Seal Inc. (WTSL) in the past year.
Top Dow Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Xerox Corporation(XRX)
Xerox Corporation provides business process and information technology (IT) outsourcing, and document management services worldwide. Its business process outsourcing services include human resources services; finance and accounting services; healthcare payers and pharma; customer management solutions; healthcare provider solutions; technology-based transactional services for retail, travel, and non-healthcare insurance companies; programs for federal, state, county, and town governments; transportation solutions; and government healthcare solutions. The company is involved in designing, developing, and delivering IT solutions, such as comprehensive systems support, systems administration, database administration, systems monitoring, batch processing, data backup, and capacity planning services; telecommunications management services; and desktop services. Its document outsourcing services comprise managed print services that optimize, rationalize, and manage the operation of Xerox and non-Xerox print devices; and communication and marketing services that deliver design, communication, marketing, logistic, and distribution services through SMS, Web, email, and mobile, as well as print media. The company also manufactures and sells products, including desktop monochrome, color and compact printers, multifunction printers, copiers, digital printing presses, and light production devices for small/mid-size businesses and large enterprises. In addition, it sells paper, wide-format systems, network integration solutions, and electronic presentation systems. The company sells its products and solutions through its sales force, as well as through a network of independent agents, dealers, value-added resellers, systems integrators, and the Web. Xerox Corporation was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Xerox (NYSE: XRX )
Why Xerox? Because Xerox is involved in everything from processing Medicaid claims for the entire state of California, to collecting electronic-health record reimbursements for individual states, and even the design of Nevada's state-run health exchange. Considering that California is expanding its Medicaid program to include up to 1.4 million newly insured people, Xerox could be primed to see its IT-processing and service demand shoot through the roof. - [By Sean Williams]
Finally, it may not appear like a big story when we have the heart of earnings season approaching, but I feel it's worth mentioning that Xerox (NYSE: XRX ) plans to add 1,000 seasonal hires in Colorado to be trained to help people who want to make changes to, or enroll in, health-care plans. I consider this important for two reasons. First, the hiring points to confidence from Xerox's management that its business is back on track. Second, it points to purported strength in its Medicaid processing business, which should be fueled by the implementation of Obamacare and the expansion of persons who qualify for Medicaid.
- [By Sean Williams]
If you notice a bit more cash in coffers this week, it's because we received our quarterly distribution of $0.0575 per share from Xerox (NYSE: XRX ) on Monday. Xerox is an extremely sneaky play on the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, because it processes all of California's Medicaid claims. Medicaid is set to expand in a big way across the country, bringing some 16-million new members under its umbrella over the next couple of years. Sure, Xerox still makes money from its legacy printing and service revenue; but it's so much more than that now!
- [By Sean Williams]
Finally, if you like money, then you're going to love printing service and IT-software specialist Xerox (NYSE: XRX ) , which declared a $0.0575-per-share dividend on Tuesday. The dividend will be payable to shareholders on July 31, 2013, and marks the second quarter in a row that it'll be paying a stipend of $0.0575. With IT software and services slowly growing into the primary business for Xerox, you can expect sales and cash flow to stabilize and this dividend to grow consistently over the coming years.
Top Dow Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc (LECO)
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., incorporated in 1906, is a manufacturer of welding, cutting and brazing products. Welding products include arc welding power sources, wire feeding systems, robotic welding packages, fume extraction equipment, consumable electrodes and fluxes. The Company's product offering also includes computer numeric controlled (CNC) plasma and oxy-fuel cutting systems and regulators and torches used in oxy-fuel welding, cutting and brazing. The Company operates in five segments: North America Welding, Europe Welding, Asia Pacific Welding, South America Welding and The Harris Products Group. On July 29, 2011, the Company acquired Techalloy Company, Inc. and certain assets of its parent company, Central Wire Industries Ltd. On July 29, 2011, the Company acquired Applied Robotics, Inc. (doing business as Torchmate) (Torchmate). On January 31, 2011, the Company acquired SSCO Manufacturing, Inc. (doing business as Arc Products) (Arc Products). On March 11, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of OOO Severstal-metiz: welding consumables (Severstal). In March 2012, the Company acquired Weartech International, Inc. In May 2012, the Company acquired Wayne Trail Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of automated systems and tooling, serving a range of applications in the metal processing market. In November 2012, ITT Corp sold its shape cutting product lines, including the Burny and Kaliburn brands to the Company. In January 2013, the Company acquired Tennessee Rand, Inc.
The North America Welding segment includes welding operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Europe Welding segment includes welding operations in Europe, Russia and Africa. The other two welding segments include welding operations in Asia Pacific and South America, respectively. The Harris Products Group includes the Company's global cutting, soldering and brazing businesses as well as the retail business in the United States. The arc welding power sources and wire feeding systems man! ufactured by the Company range in technology from basic units used for light manufacturing and maintenance to robotic applications for high volume production welding and fabrication. Three primary types of arc welding electrodes are produced: coated manual or stick electrodes; solid electrodes produced in coil, reel or drum forms for continuous feeding in mechanized welding, and cored electrodes produced in coil form for continuous feeding in mechanized welding.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Lincoln Electric Holdings (Nasdaq: LECO ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 23. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Lincoln Electric Holdings's revenues will grow 1.1% and EPS will grow 2.6%.
Top Dow Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Laclede Group Inc (LG)
The Laclede Group, Inc. (Laclede Group), incorporated on October 18, 2000, is a utility holding company. The Company operates in two segments: Regulated Gas Utility and Gas Marketing. The Gas Utility segment includes the regulated operations of Laclede Gas Company (Laclede Gas or the Utility), Laclede Group's subsidiary and core business unit. Laclede Gas is a public utility engaged in the retail distribution and sale of natural gas. Laclede Gas is the natural gas distribution utility in Missouri, serving more than 1.13 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The Gas Marketing segment includes Laclede Energy Resources, Inc. (LER), a wholly owned subsidiary is engaged in the marketing of natural gas and related activities on a non-regulated basis. Effective September1, 2013, Laclede Group Inc through its newly formed subsidiary acquired Missouri Gas Energy, a provider of natural gas distribution services.
Gas Utility
The Utility focuses its gas supply portfolio around a number of natural gas suppliers with equity ownership or control of assets strategically situated to complement its regionally diverse firm transportation arrangements. During fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 (fiscal 2013), the Utility purchased natural gas from 35 different suppliers to meet current gas sales and storage injection requirements. Natural gas purchased by the Laclede Gas for delivery to its service area through the Enable Mississippi River Transmission LLC (MRT) system totaled 55.0 billion cubic feet (Bcf). Laclede Gase also holds firm transportation on several other interstate pipeline systems that provide access to gas supplies upstream of MRT. In addition to deliveries from MRT, 8.6 Bcf of gas was purchased on MO Gas, 13.4 Bcf on the Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. (Southern Star Central), 0.03 Bcf on the Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company system, and 0.1 BCF on the Postrock system. Some of the Utility�� commercial and industrial customers purchased their own! gas with the Utility transporting 17.0 Bcf to them through the Utility�� distribution system.
The Utility has a contractual right to store 23.1 Bcf of gas in MRT�� storage facility located in Unionville, Louisiana, 16.3 Bcf of gas storage in Southern Star Central system storage facilities located in Kansas and Oklahoma, and 1.4 Bcf of firm storage on Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company�� system storage. In addition, the Utility supplements flowing pipeline gas with natural gas withdrawn from its own underground storage field located in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties in Missouri.
Gas Marketing
LER is engaged in the marketing of natural gas and providing energy services to both on-system utility transportation customers and customers outside of the Utility�� traditional service area. During fiscal year 2013, LER utilized 12 interstate pipelines and 93 suppliers to market natural gas to its customers primarily in the Midwest. LER served more than 205 retail customers and 100 wholesale customers. Through its retail operations, LER offers natural gas marketing services to large industrial customers, while its wholesale business consists of buying and selling natural gas to other marketers, producers, utilities, power generators, pipelines, and municipalities. LER also serves power plants that use natural gas to generate electricity.
OTHER
Laclede Pipeline Company, a wholly owned subsidiary, operates a propane pipeline under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction. This pipeline connects the propane storage and vaporization facilities of the Utility to third-party propane supply terminal facilities located in Illinois, which allows the Utility to receive propane that is vaporized to supplement its natural gas supply and meet peak demands on its distribution system. Laclede Pipeline Company also provides transportation services to third parties. Other also includes Laclede Group�� subsidiaries that are engaged in,! among ot! her activities, oil production, real estate development, compression of natural gas, and financial investments in other enterprises. These operations are conducted through seven subsidiaries.
The Other category also includes the Utility�� non-regulated propane services business which involves providing propane-related services and storage to third parties and its affiliate, Laclede Pipeline Company. Beginning July 1, 2013, propane-related services are included within Gas Utility operations pursuant to the Utility's new rate case.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sarah Jones]
Lafarge SA (LG) rose 4.4 percent to 51.04 euros. The world�� biggest cement maker reiterated its full-year forecast as cold weather, stinted Algerian and Egyptian production and fewer working days constricted first-quarter sales.
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Earnings Releases Expected:�Nuance Communications, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NYSE: NJR), Laclede Group, Inc. (NYSE: LG)
Economic Releases Expected:�U.S. pending home sales, Italian trade balance, Swiss employment level
No comments:
Post a Comment