Municipal bonds, which have a yield advantage over U.S. Treasuries, are likely to be among fixed income segments that could outperform in 2014 as U.S. Treasury yields start to move higher, according to a new report from Standish Mellon Asset Management Co.
“Excess yield cushions the impact of gradually rising rates,” Christine Todd, president of Standish, BNY Mellon’s fixed income specialist, said in a statement.
Todd noted that municipal bonds have generally produced positive total returns, even during periods when the Federal Reserve is tightening monetary policy by raising short-term interest rates.
The report cautioned that municipal bond returns could be at risk in 2014 because of liquidity, which might be strained by actions of investors, issuers and regulators. It said negative returns precipitated mutual fund redemptions last year, which led to forced selling by fund managers.
As well, the lack of clarity over federal regulations limited many financial institutions’ willingness to allocate to municipal bonds, reducing the depth of the market’s support, Standish said.
5 Best Food Stocks To Watch For 2015: Nuveen Insured California Premium Income Municipal Fund II In (NCL)
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., through its subsidiaries, operates as a cruise line operator, offering cruise experiences for travelers with various itineraries in North America, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Central America, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. The company offers cruises ranging in length from 1 day to 3 weeks. As of December 31, 2012, it operated 11 ships offering cruises in Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, New England, Central and South America, North Africa, and Scandinavia. The company was formerly known as NCL Corporation Ltd. and changed its name on January 24, 2013. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Munarriz]
Carnival stock is trading closer to its 52-week low than its high, and the same can't be said of rivals Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL ) and NCL (NYSE: NCL ) .�
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Royal Caribbean,�NCL (NYSE: NCL ) , and ship spa services provider Steiner Leisure (NASDAQ: STNR ) all hit new 52-week highs earlier this month. Unlike Carnival (NYSE: CCL ) -- which has been sluggish in light of several mishaps at sea since last year -- everyone seemed to view the negative instances as Carnival-specific events. Now Royal Caribbean's fire may lead folks to question booking on any cruise line in the near future.
10 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: CF Industries Holdings Inc. (CF)
CF Industries Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, CF Industries, Inc., manufactures and distributes nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer products, serving agricultural and industrial customers worldwide. It operates in two segments, Nitrogen and Phosphate. The Nitrogen segment principally offers ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution, urea liquor, diesel exhaust fluid, and aqua ammonia. The Phosphate segment primarily offers diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate. The company also owns 50% interests in the GrowHow UK Limited, a nitrogen products producer in the United Kingdom; Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited, an ammonia producer; and KEYTRADE AG, a global fertilizer trading company. CF Industries Holdings� customers include cooperatives and independent fertilizer distributors primarily in the midwestern United States. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Korn and Teller downgraded Mosaic to Equal Weight from Overweight, but expect CF Industries (CF), Agrium and Bunge (BG) to do well in 2014, despite no obvious catalysts.
- [By Victor Reklaitis]
Today�� movers & shakers: CF Industries Holdings Inc. shares (CF) �rallied 10.7% after the fertilizer maker indicated it may return more cash to shareholders and RBC Capital Markets started coverage with a sector perform rating. Express Inc. (EXPR) �tumbled 23% after the clothing retailer cut its full-year outlook. Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) �rose 2.3% after a positive Morgan Stanley report. See: Movers & Shakers column.
- [By Maxx Chatsko]
In the following video, Fool.com contributor Maxx Chatsko analyzes the first-quarter earnings of�CF Industries� (NYSE: CF ) . The company saw a record net income on the heels of increasing nitrogen prices -- a trend that should continue into 2013. Additionally, CF Industries is actually expecting a�positive effect from natural gas prices. Maxx explains how that is possible and why it matters heading into a record corn planting this year.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
CF Industries (CF) is a manufacturer and distributor of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer products in North America. This stock closed up 11.7% at $202.32 in Monday's trading session.
Monday's Volume: 5.65 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 899,814
Volume % Change: 484%Shares of CF soared higher on Monday after billionaire Dan Loeb's Third Point Management revealed a position in the firm in its quarterly investment letter. Loeb told investors the company trades at an unwarranted discount to its peers and that it expects management to deliver a much larger dividend to shareholders.
From a technical perspective, CF soared higher here back above both its 50-day at $184.76 and its 200-day at $198.52 with monster upside volume. This move pushed shares of CF into breakout territory, since the stock took out some key overhead resistance levels at $187.60 to $191.52 and then above $196.25 to $196.97. Shares of CF are now quickly moving within range of triggering another major breakout trade. That trade will hit if CF manages to take out some past overhead resistance at $208.17 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CF as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $198.52 or above $197 and then once it sustains a move or close above Monday's high of $202.77 to $208.17 with volume that hits near or above 899,814 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CF will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $220 to $225.
Keep in mind that CF is set to report earnings on Aug. 6 after the market close. Look to play that breakout before and then after earnings, once you know that the stock is reacting positively to the numbers.
10 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: HFF Inc (HF)
HFF, Inc. is a provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to both the users and providers of capital in the United States commercial real estate industry. It is a full-service commercial real estate financial intermediary in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated out of 20 offices nationwide. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company advised on approximately $35.6 billion of completed commercial real estate transactions. The Company offers debt placement, investment sales, distressed debt and real estate owned advisory services, structured finance, private equity placement, investment banking services, loan sales and commercial loan servicing. In October 2011, the Company sold Las Olas City Centre. In March 2012, the Company sold 801 9th Street, NW, a 236,054 square-foot, Class A office building in Washington, D.C. In July 2013, the Company announced that it has closed the sale of Washington Harbour, a 557,961-square-foot, mixed-use project located along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown submarket. In September 2013, the Company announced that it has closed the sale of Greenway Plaza, a 4.4 million-square-foot, Class A office complex in Houston, Texas, and 777 Main, a 980,374-square-foot Class A office property in Fort Worth, Texas. In November 2013, HFF Inc closed the sale of The Granary. In November 2013, the Company�� subsidiary, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P. sold Avalon on the Sound East, a 588-unit, 39-story, Class A multi-housing tower in New Rochelle, New York. In December 2013, HFF Inc sold its Pacific Commons Shopping Center, an 865,783-square-foot center in Fremont. In January 2014, HFF Inc has closed the sale of 225 West Santa Clara, a 16-story, 349,318-square-foot, transit-oriented trophy office property in downtown San Jose, California. In January 2014, HFF, Inc. sold two Central Florida Publix-anchored retail properties in Orlando and suburban Tampa, and sold eight-property, fully leased industrial portfolio in! the Meadowlands submarket of New Jersey. In January 2014, HFF Inc closed the sale of 800 Madison, a 217-unit, Class A multi-housing community with ground floor retail in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Debt Placement Services
The Company offers its clients a range of debt instruments, including but not limited to, construction and construction/mini-permanent loans, adjustable and fixed rate mortgages, entity level debt, mezzanine debt, forward delivery loans, tax exempt financing and sale/leaseback financing. Its clients are owners of various types of property, including, but not limited to, office, retail, industrial, hotel, multi-housing, self-storage, assisted living, nursing homes, condominiums and condominium conversions, mixed-use properties and land. The Company�� clients range in size from individual entrepreneurs who own a single property to the large real estate funds and institutional property owners worldwide who invest globally, especially in the United States. Debt is or has been placed with capital funding sources, both domestic and foreign, including, but not limited to, life insurance companies, conduits, investment banks, commercial banks, thrifts, agency lenders, pension funds, pension fund advisors, real estate investment trusts (REITs), credit companies, opportunity funds and individual investors. In 2011, its transaction volume in debt placements was approximately $18.7 billion.
Investment Sales Services
The Company provides investment sales services to commercial real estate owners who are seeking to sell one or more properties or property interests. In 2011, it completed investment sales of approximately $12.6 billion.
Structured Finance and Private Equity Services
The Company offers an array of structured finance and private equity alternatives and solutions at both the property and ownership entity level. In 2011, it completed approximately $2 billion of structured finance and advisory services transactions.
Private Equity, Investment Banking and Advisory Services
The Company�� broker-dealer subsidiary, HFF Securities L.P. (HFF Securities), undertakes both discretionary and non-discretionary private equity raises, select property specific joint ventures and select investment banking activities for its clients. At December 31, 2011, it had $1.9 billion of active private equity discretionary fund transactions. Through HFF Securities, it offers its clients the ability to access the private equity markets for an identified commercial real estate asset and discretionary private equity funds, joint ventures, entity-level private placements and advisory services, as well as structured finance services. HFF Securities��services to its clients include joint ventures, private placements, advisory services, and marketing and fund-raising.
Loan Sales
The Company assists its clients to sell all or portions of their commercial real estate debt note portfolios, which can include performing, non-performing and distressed debt and/or real estate owned properties. It had consummated $2.3 billion in loan sales transactions in 2011.
Commercial Loan Servicing
The Company provides commercial loan servicing (primary and sub-servicing) for life insurance companies, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) through relationships with a range of delegated underwriting and servicing (DUS) lenders, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) originators, mortgage REITS and debt funds, groups that purchase performing and/or non-performing loans, as well as owners who sell commercial real estate subject to a purchase money mortgage. During 2011, it had approximately 35 correspondent lender relationships with life insurers.
The Company competes with CBRE Capital Markets, Cushman & Wakefield, Eastdil Secured, Jones Lang LaSalle, Northmarq Capital and Berkadia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Hilary Kramer]
2. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) The REIT is another alternative vehicle that's gone mainstream in recent years. Hundreds of broad-based and specialized real estate companies and ETFs are available, and after a correction a few months ago, many are on the cheap side. Like any other alternative, this should be a seasoning for your portfolio and not the sauce itself. For most retail investors, a stake in an indexed fund like the SPDR Dow Jones REIT (NYSE: RWR) should be more than adequate, or look into the companies that provide services to the REIT industry like HFF (NYSE: HF) and Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL).
10 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Essential Innovations Technology Corp (ESIV)
Essential Innovations Technology Corp., incorporated on April 4, 2001, is a development-stage company, focused towards research and development, commercialization and market entry strategies for the intellectual property that it has acquired in regards to multiple green and environmental technology applications such as fluid heating, electricity generation and water treatment/purification.
The Company will focus its activities on development and commercialization of two primary technologies. The first technology is a method for the design of equipment used in the heating of a variety of fluids such as oil, water (to steam). The second technology is a method for the combined mechanical heating and transport of fluids. As of October 31, 2011, the Company had no operations. As of October 31, 2011, the Company had no revenue.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap green stocks Essential Innovations Technology Corp (OTCBB: ESIV), Building Turbines Inc (OTCMKTS: BLDW) and Kleangas Energy Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS: KGET) have all been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters ��either because they were sinking, because of paid promotions or a combination of both. However, there aren�� many green stocks out there that have actually produced some green for investors in the form of profits. With that in mind, here is a quick reality check about all three green small cap stocks to help you decide whether any have the potential for long-term success:
Essential Innovations Technology Corp (OTCBB: ESIV) Announces New Distribution AgreementsSmall cap Essential Innovations Technology Corp aims to provide eco-friendly lifestyle enhancement solutions for the betterment of energy, water, air and health as the company holds the exclusive global manufacturing, distribution and applications rights to the ��ximius Technologies - Extraordinary solutions for an ever-changing World.' On Friday, Essential Innovations Technology Corp sank 22.79% to $0.0525 for a market cap of $909,953 plus ESIV is up 4,275% over the past year and up 50% over the past five years according to Google Finance.
10 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP)
PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (the Fund) is a separate series of PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Trust (the Trust). The Fund�� subsidiary is DB US Dollar Index Bullish Master Fund (the Master Fund), a separate series of DB US Dollar Index Bullish Master Trust (the Master Trust). The Fund offers common units of beneficial interest (the Shares) only to certain eligible financial institutions (the Authorized Participants) in one or more blocks of 200,000 Shares, called a Basket. The proceeds from the offering of Shares are invested in the Master Fund.
The Master Fund invests in futures contracts (the DX Contracts) with a view to tracking the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the Deutsche Bank US Dollar Index (USDX) Futures Index - Excess Return (Long Index) (referred to as the Long Index or the Index), over time. The Fund earns interest income from the United States Treasury obligations and other high credit quality short-term, fixed-income securities. The Index is calculated to reflect the changes in market value over time, whether positive or negative, of long positions in DX Contracts. DX Contracts are traded through the currency markets of ICE Futures U.S. under the symbol DX. The changes in market value over time, whether positive or negative, of the DX Contracts are related to the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the U.S. Dollar Index (the USDX). The Index provides a general indication of the international value of the United States dollar relative to the six major world currencies (the Index Currencies), which comprise the USDX, including Euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Swedish Krona and Swiss Franc.
The Fund, through its Master Fund, establishes long positions in DX Contracts with a view to tracking the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the Index. The performance of the Fund also is intended to reflect the excess, if any, of its Master Fund�� interest income from its hol! dings of the United States Treasury obligations and other high credit quality short-term, fixed-income securities over the expenses of the Fund and the Master Fund. DB Commodity Services LLC serves as the managing owner, commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Fund and the Master Fund. DB Commodity Services LLC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the administrator of the Fund and the Master Fund.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Luke Jacobi]
The U.S. Dollar fell Tuesday. Late in the day, the PowerShares ETF (NYSE: UUP) that tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of foreign currencies, was down 0.12 percent to 21.60.
- [By Luke Jacobi]
Currencies
The US dollar once again tanked on the expectation that the Federal Reserve will not reduce its stimulus. The PowerShares ETF (NYSE: UUP) that tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of foreign currencies fell 0.56 percent to 21.35. The marks a year low for the dollar.
10 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG)
iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (the Trust), formerly iShares GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, issues units of beneficial interest, called Shares, representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. Substantially all of the assets of the Trust consist of interests in the iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC (the Investing Pool). The investment objective of the Trust is to seek investment results, through its investment in the Investing Pool, which correspond generally to the performance of the S&P GSCI Total Return Index (the Index). The Investing Pool is a limited liability company. The Investing Pool holds long positions in CERFs, which are futures contracts listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which have a term of approximately five years after listing and whose settlement at expiration is based on the value of the S&P GSCI Excess Return Index, or S&P GSCI-ER, at that time.
The Index is intended to reflect the performance of a diversified group of commodities. The Index reflects the value of an investment in the S&P GSCI-ER together with a Treasury bill return. The S&P GSCI-ER reflects the returns that are potentially available through a rolling uncollateralized investment in the contracts comprising the S&P GSCI. Barclays Global Investors International, Inc. is the sponsor of the Trust and the manager of the Investing Pool. Barclays Global Investors, N.A. is the trustee of the Trust.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Adam J. Wiederman]
Getty Images Bitcoin made headlines last year when the value of all outstanding pieces of the electronic currency reached nearly $10 billion. It's not just speculators drawn to the new currency. Many businesses are also attempting to cash in on this growth: Several public companies, including Zynga (ZNGA) and Overstock.com (OSTK), accept Bitcoins as a form of payment. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen's firm has invested nearly $50 million in Bitcoin-related ventures, and it is looking to invest even more. And the Winklevoss twins -- who notoriously accused Facebook's (FB) Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea -- have been "in dialogue" with the SEC about opening the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, according to Bloomberg. Yet a new survey from TheStreet.com (TST) reveals that 76 percent of consumers are not familiar with Bitcoin -- and 79 percent would never consider owning a currency like it. Does this signal opportunity for savvy investors? Or is this a fad you'd be wise to avoid? The Basics of Bitcoin Bitcoin is a completely unregulated form of currency developed by an anonymous Japanese programmer (according to some apocryphal claims) as a completely digital, peer-to-peer payment system that is independent of national currencies (which, Bitcoin users argue, are all subject to the riskiness of the underlying country). Bitcoins are rewarded throughout the day to a "Bitcoin miner" whose computer solves a series of algorithms quicker than other miners. The puzzles become more difficult over time, so the calculations take longer and the computations require more computing power. There will eventually be a total of 21 million Bitcoins (12.4 million are in circulation today) and we won't reach the point that they are effectively "mined out" until 2040. The value of a Bitcoin is supposed to be market-driven, meaning they're worth whatever the two parties in a transaction value them as. For example, in one of the original Bitcoin transactions, a "mi
- [By Charles Sizemore]
But things have changed over the past decade; correlations between commodities have increased. As commodity mutual funds and ETFs such as the PIMCO Commodity Real Return Fund (PCRDX) and iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) have become popular, commodities that once traded largely independently of each other now get lumped together and bought and sold as a group. Also, the financialization of commodities has caused their correlation to stocks to rise as well.
10 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Endocan Corp (ENDO)
Endocan Corp, formerly The X-Change Corporation, incorporated on October 4, 2000, offers nutraceuticals and cosmetics in the United States. The Company provides lip balms, eczema moisturizing cream, sunscreen, and anti-ageing serum under the Phytiva brand name. The Company specializes in developing all natural, organic, bio hemp health, beauty, and cosmetics products.
The Phytiva serum uses only natural ingredients, including, but not limited to, hemp oil extract. The Company specializes in Cannabinoid-based extracts and products that target medical cannabis, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and social usage solutions through multiple Phytiva Brand product lines, products, and services.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Next Generation Energy Corp (OTCMKTS: NGMC) and Dutch Gold Resources, Inc (OTCMKTS: DGRI) are the latest small cap stocks to announce their entry into the marijuana business while peer Endocan Corp (OTCMKTS: ENDO) sees some paid promotions or investor relations activities, but otherwise remains quiet. So will investors and traders alike achieve a high with any of these small cap marijuana stocks? Here is a quick reality check:
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