Centrica Acquires Canadian Gas Assets

LONDON -- The shares of Centrica  (LSE: CNA  ) climbed 4 pence to 384 pence during early London trade this morning after the FTSE 100 member announced the purchase of a package of natural gas fields in Canada.

Centrica, which operates six gas-fired power stations in England and Wales and supplies gas to 12 million households, said the assets would be held through a joint venture with Qatar International Petroleum.

The deal will cost a total of £650 million, with Centrica holding 60% of the assets and Qatar Petroleum the remaining 40%. The gas fields, which are located within Alberta and British Columbia, will be operated by Centrica. The company said the fields contained proven and probable gas reserves measuring 978 billion cubic feet.

Centrica also claimed the deal included more than 1 million acres of undeveloped land and "significant potential for reserves and production upside through the use of horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing."

Sam Laidlaw, Centrica's chief executive, said: "The acquisition provides attractive returns in a region we know well, and significantly increases the size and quality of our portfolio. It also presents exciting development opportunities, with the potential to improve returns further."

Nasser Al-Jaidah, the chief executive of QPI, said: "This investment in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin is a significant step in the development of QPI's global upstream business. We look forward to continuing to advance QP's overall North American energy business through the Memorandum of Understanding and other initiatives."

Based on the group's 2012 results, Centrica's shares currently trade at 14 times profits and yield a 4.3% dividend income.

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GM adds 824,000 vehicles to recall

  Mary Barra's new GM apology NEW YORK (CNNMoney) General Motors is expanding its ignition switch recall to add 824,000 cars sold in the U.S. between 2008 and 2011, the company said Friday.

Until today the recall included the Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR, the Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and Saturn Ion and Sky through model year 2007. Now the company is including all model years of those vehicles because faulty switches could have been installed as a repair after owners purchased one of the newer models.

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About 95,000 faulty switches were sold to dealers and wholesalers and about 90,000 of those were used to make repairs, the company said.

The new recall adds to the 1.4 million vehicles already recalled in the United States.

In affected vehicles, the ignition can switch the car off while it is running, disabling the power steering and air bags. At least 12 deaths have been attributed to the issue. Although GM has recalled the vehicles, it has said they are still safe to drive if owners remove any extra weight from key rings.

"Trying to locate several thousand switches in a population of 2.2 million vehicles and distributed to thousands of retailers isn't practical," said CEO Mary Barra in statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are recalling the rest of the model years," she said.

GM has been criticized for how it has handled the recall because it has admitted that some employees were aware of problems with the ignition switch in small cars at least as early as 2004. Barra will testify before a U.S. congressional subcommittee on April 1 as part of an investigation into the automaker's handling of the flawed ignition switch.

Owners who may have had a suspect part installed in their cars will receive a letter the week of April 21, according to the company. GM (GM, Fortune 500) dealers will replace the ignition switch for free and customers who had paid to have the switch replaced previously will be eligible for a reimbursement.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission urges impacted drivers to have their vehicles repaired promptly after receiving the notification from GM. In the meantime, the group advises them to follow GM's recommendation to use only the ignition key with nothing else on the key ring when driving the vehicle.

American Launches an Emerging Markets Fund

The American funds are different. Most fund companies wouldn't consider unveiling a new emerging-markets stock fund today. Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, annexes part of it and acts as if he couldn't care less about sanctions aimed at punishing Russia. A new rumor about economic trouble in China surfaces almost daily. There's trouble in Brazil, India and Turkey, too. All of this has been too much for investors to bear, and they've responding by selling emerging-markets stocks. So far this year, the MSCI Emerging Markets Stock index has sunk 4.5%. Since peaking on May 2, 2011, the index has lost 14.2%.

See Also: Buy Emerging-Markets Bonds

In sum, this would seem to be an inauspicious time to launch an emerging-markets fund. But that's precisely what Capital Group, the sponsor of the American funds, did on February 3. American Funds Developing World Growth and Income Fund A (DWGAX) hunts for dividend-paying, high-quality companies. Almost all will be based in emerging markets; a handful will be headquartered in developed countries but do most of their business in emerging markets.

When most companies trot out new funds, chances are good that the fund invests in a sector that has been performing well. But American really does go against the grain. The last time the Los Angeles-based firm debuted a fund (it doesn't happen often) was October 1, 2008, when global stock markets were in freefall. That fund, American Funds International Growth & Income A (IGAAX) has returned an annualized 10.6% since its launch, an average of 3.9 percentage points per year better than its benchmark, the MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed foreign stock markets. ([All returns are through March 24.)

From an investing standpoint, the firm's latest launch may also turn out to be well-timed. "We'll look back and say, 'What a great time to launch an emerging-markets fund,' " says Shaw Wagener, one of Developing World Growth's three managers. "Relative to other stocks, emerging markets look quite cheap."

The long-standing case for emerging markets has been all about growth. Here again, the American funds offering is unusual. It invests solely in dividend-paying stocks, aiming for a portfolio yield of about 3% before expenses in today's environment. Why? Because over the past ten years, says Wagener, dividend-paying stocks in emerging markets have beaten nonpayers by an average of ten percentage points per year—a staggering gap. In addition, "dividend-paying companies tend to be better managed and better overseen by boards of directors," he says. "It makes no sense to us to buy any stocks with no dividend yield."

Not that the fund will focus on high yields. High-yielding companies often lack growth prospects. Wagener calls them "sunset companies." What's more, enterprises that are partially state-owned, particularly in Russia, tend to boast high yields. Rather, the managers will look for well-managed companies that can sustain or raise their payouts.

I'm especially enthusiastic about the new fund because American has been investing internationally for years and it has a huge cadre of analysts based overseas. Wagener, 55, has been with the firm 33 years, including a lengthy stint in Singapore. The two other co-managers, Noriko Chen and Chapman Taylor, also worked many years in Asia. All three have spent years researching emerging-markets stocks for investment accounts aimed at institutions. What's more, the managers can avail themselves of the services of about 30 analysts who spend at least part of their time researching emerging-markets stocks. As is the case at all of American's stock and bond funds, each of Developing World's managers has sole responsibility for a slice of the fund's assets.

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The American funds approach is almost entirely bottom-up—that is, the funds focus on picking good stocks rather than forecasting the big picture. That said, Wagener thinks many strategists are much too gloomy on emerging markets. He dismisses the notion that China is facing an economic or financial crisis. And he and his colleagues have even found some promising Russian stocks.

Until now, American Funds New World A (NEWFX) has been the firm's only emerging-markets play. One of my longtime favorites, the fund is a fascinating hybrid. More than half of its assets are in multinational companies that do a lot of business in developing nations. The rest is in emerging-markets bonds and emerging-markets stocks. The fund's record is superb.

One big negative to the American funds is that individual investors can't buy them directly. You have to either go through an investment adviser or buy them through a workplace retirement plan. The class A shares levy a 5.75% sales charge; annual expenses on the new fund are 1.43%. Attractive emerging-markets stock funds available directly to individuals include Harding Loevner Emerging Markets (HLEMX), a member of the Kiplinger 25, and Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index (VEIEX).

The American funds were wildly popular with advisers until the 2007-09 bear market, when the performance of the firm's balanced and bond funds disappointed many investors). Since then, the firm has experienced heavy withdrawals. I think the redemptions have been overdone. The records of the firm's foreign stock funds, in particular, are outstanding. I think the fund will be a winner, too.

Steve Goldberg is an investment adviser in the Washington, D.C., area.

Regulators compete for slice of IRA rollover pie

The next big area for regulatory development and risk management for advisers is here: rollovers out of retirement plans into individual retirement accounts.

Such was the conclusion reached by a panel of legal experts Sunday afternoon at the National Association of Plan Advisors' annual 401(k) Summit in New Orleans.

Panelist C. Frederick Reish, a partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath, referred to distributions out of retirement plans and IRA rollovers as “the top issue for 2014.”

“Because of the amount of money that's moving from 401(k)s to IRAs, regulators worry about conflicts of interest, higher retail prices and the impact on the sustainability of lifetime income,” Mr. Reish said.

(Related: A warning on multiple IRA rollovers)

Though the Labor Department in the past issued an advisory opinion on rollover capture, the impression in the industry was that it didn't impose much of a burden on non-fiduciary advisers to retirement plans. In fact, it's acceptable for non-fiduciary brokers working with retirement plans to receive rollover business if they can demonstrate that they are not using their authority to solicit workers for rollover business. Rather, they can educate the employees, and the workers can seek these advisers for rollover help on their own.

But the Securities and Exchange Commission and Finra have both recently signaled that they are very interested in how brokers handle their rollover business. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. went so far as to issue Regulatory Notice 13-45 last December, highlighting the fact that broker-dealers and registered reps must bear in mind the suitability of their recommendations when they guide clients on how to proceed with a potential rollover.

Mr. Reish warned that it's one thing if brokers are providing education on rollovers, describing the advantages and disadvantages of distributions out of a retirement plan. But these non-fiduciary brokers ought to maintain a checklist of the items they discuss with plan participants, and keep written disclosures.

“Think a little in terms of 408(b)(2) type disclosures of fees and services, [fiduciary] status,” said Mr. Reish, referring to a fee disclosure regulation from the Labor Department that went into effect in 2012 and that spells out fee disclosures service providers must share with plan sponsors.

Marcia Wagner, president of The Wagner Law Group and a panelist Sunday, suggested using the Finra notice as a road map of what broker-! dealers and reps should incorporate into their best practices. It's a checklist of what Finra will audit, she said.

“Use it as a training manual for your reps with respect to conflicts of interest,” Ms. Wagner said. “You need to have model disclosures and disclaimers. Use this Finra guidance as a checklist to do so.”

What we're experiencing right now with respect to regulators' heightened focus on IRA rollovers is, in some sense, a natural progression. “It's a metaphysical law of nature: Pendulums swing,” Ms. Wagner said. “Rollovers were the Wild West for a long time, and now it's swinging in the other direction where it's too much and all the agencies want a piece of the pie.”

5 ex-Madoff employees found guilty of fraud

NEW YORK — Five former employees of Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff were found guilty on charges they aided and profited from the decades-long fraud the disgraced financier used to steal an estimated $20 billion from investors.

Rejecting defense arguments that the five didn't know about the scam and were duped by their boss, a Manhattan federal court jury of eight women and three men returned the verdict Monday afternoon after roughly 18 hours of deliberation over four days in the first criminal trial stemming from Madoff's investment firm.

Fifty-nine times the jury foreman called out "guilty" as the court clerk read the 31-count indictment and asked for the panel's finding on each charge against each defendant.

WHO'S WHO: A look at the 5 defendants

THE CHARGES: A list of the charges against each defendant

The former co-workers are: Daniel Bonventre, 67, Madoff's ex-director of operations; Annette Bongiorno, 65, a former executive assistant who managed the firm's longest-standing clients; JoAnn Crupi, 52, who oversaw the company's bank account; and former Madoff computer programmers Jerome O'Hara, 50, and George Perez, 48.

They showed little emotion at the verdicts, though Crupi wiped her mouth and appeared to slump slightly in her seat after the guilty litany.

After the verdicts were read, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Schwartz asked U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain to jail the defendants immediately pending sentencing. But after hearing defense arguments, the judge allowed the five to remain free on bail, combined with additional security of home curfews and 24-hour electronic monitoring.

The defendants, who potentially face decades behind bars, are scheduled to be sentenced individually during the week of July 28.

The five-month trial featured a drumbeat of evidence that the ex-employees conspired with Madoff to fool investors for decades by fabricating and backdating records of financial trades that purportedly generated imp! lausibly steady investment returns.

Instead, money from thousands of average investors, charities, celebrities, financial institutions and other victims bankrolled a life of luxury for Madoff, riches for the defendants — and financial ruin for many of those who trusted the now-disgraced financier.

"These defendants each played an important role in carrying out the charade, propping it up and concealing it from regulators, auditors, taxing authorities, lenders and investors. The scheme these defendants helped perpetrate cost innumerable investors their life savings. Now it likely will cost the defendants their freedom," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in a statement.

The defendants all declined to comment as they left court, but their lawyers called the verdicts disappointing.

"The list of Bernard Madoff's victims now includes these five former employees," said Andrew Frisch, Bonventre's lawyer.

Eric Breslin, Crupi's lawyer, said: "The name Madoff was a tall mountain to climb. I'm not criticizing anyone or anything; that's just a fact."

The case was decided by 11 jurors, one less than the usual number, because one panel member became ill after deliberations began last week. Several jurors in the more than five-month trial — one of the longest in Manhattan federal court history — said the panel members had "no discord" in agreeing that Madoff didn't act alone.

"How could Bernie be the only one to pull this off if he's (vacationing) in the south of France?" asked Sheila Amato, an art teacher from Rockland County, a northern suburb of New York City. "They were loyal, and he rewarded them nicely."

She and fellow juror Nancy Goldberg, a teacher from Rockland County, another northern suburb, said Bonventre and Bongiorno did themselves more harm than good by opting to testify in their own defense during the trial.

"It was very scripted," Amato said of the two defendants' answers to questions from their defense lawyers.

While calling th! e verdict! s "sad" for the defendants, Goldberg said it represented "vindication" for the thousands of Madoff victims who were "scammed, bamboozled" and "taken advantage of."

The proceeding provided the first public glimpse into the workings of the mid-Manhattan offices where Madoff often berated and bullied staffers, yet was viewed by many employees and unwitting investors as a virtual god.

He correctly calculated that federal securities regulators wouldn't double-check trading records if the financial institutions purportedly involved were based overseas. He ensured that falsified financial records have the same typeface, data layout and paper as authentic ones. And he constantly lied to regulators, auditors, employees and others.

A parade of nearly 40 witnesses for the prosecution repudiated Madoff's claim that he acted alone in running the scheme from the 1970s until Dec. 11, 2008, the day he confessed to relatives that he'd long used funds from some investors to pay others.

His subsequent arrest exploded in newspaper, TV and electronic media headlines. The former Nasdaq chairman pleaded guilty in 2009 without standing trial, and is now serving a 150-year prison term.

Trial testimony and documents showed high Madoff salaries and bogus investment gains enabled Bongiorno to buy a Florida vacation home, while Crupi and Bonventre bought ocean getaways on the New Jersey shore. Bonventre and Crupi also used company-paid credit cards to pay for vacation trips and cover many other personal expenses, evidence showed.

Prosecution testimony by former Madoff henchman Frank DiPascali, 57, provided many of the seemingly damning details. He pleaded guilty in 2009, and cut a cooperation deal with prosecutors in hope of winning leniency from the maximum 125-year prison term he faces when sentenced.

DiPascali, a college dropout who rose from entry-level gofer to the manager of the phony trading business, testified that Madoff told him he was running out of money eight days before the co! llapse. T! he confession came as a shock, because DiPascali testified he'd believed Madoff's frequent lies about having bank ownership investments and other assets.

He also recounted his unsuccessful effort to reassure Ruth Madoff when the boss's pale and visibly shell-shocked wife came to the office before the company's end-of-year holiday party just before the scam collapsed.

DiPascali provided evidence that allegedly showed each of his five former co-workers knowingly participated in and profited from the scam.

Speaking in a gravelly New York City-area accent during more than two weeks on the witness stand, he testified that Bongiorno and Crupi created fictionalized investor account records and crafted investor reports based on trading results drawn from back issues of The Wall Street Journal.

O'Hara and Perez sought payment in diamonds when they balked at producing ever-changing computer programs to change financial records, he said. One of the programmers offered a dinner toast to "tricking the auditors" the night before a 2005 record review by accounting giant KPMG, DiPascali testified.

Bonventre was in the room when Madoff held a copy of a bogus report up to a window's light and commented "how great it was," said DiPascali. Bonventre also told investigators something like "this is where the secrets are, or this is where the bodies are buried" when he handed over financial advisory records after the scam collapsed, DiPascali testified.

Defense lawyers focused much of their legal strategy on trying to paint the star witness as a chronic and polished liar, as well as poking holes in other parts of the government case.

Their questioning showed that DiPascali, during his 2009 guilty plea statement, said he'd known "from at least the early 1990s" that Madoff didn't do any trading for investors. On the witness stand, DiPascali testified he'd reached that realization as far back as the late 1970s.

The cross-examination largely failed to shake key details of DiPascali'! s testimo! ny. But the defense teams undercut some claims, such as his insistence that one motivation for cooperating with prosecutors was to help untangle the fraud and provide some measure of help for the Ponzi scheme's victims.

Asked how he felt about sending falsely reassuring financial reports to Holocaust victim and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel and other Madoff scam victims, DiPascali offered a only a verbal shrug.

"I didn't have any feelings about them one way or the other," he said.

In presenting their own cases, defense lawyers called character witnesses who testified to the former co-workers' honesty and integrity.

Bongiorno testified that she knew nothing about the fraud and was unaware of such securities industry basics as the Standard & Poor's 500 index and U.S. Treasury bills. She said she revered Madoff and carried out his instructions virtually without fail.

Crupi's defense enabled the jury to see and hear Madoff himself via video excerpts of a 2007 financial conference at which he claimed that stringent U.S. securities regulations made it impossible for any broker to run a major scam for long. The presentation let jurors experience how persuasive the scam mastermind could be as he lied.

Attorneys for O'Hara and Perez introduced letters the computer programmers wrote and mailed to themselves in 2006, shortly before their confrontation with Madoff over repeated orders for alterations customer records. The doctored files were used to trick auditors and regulators, trial evidence showed.

While the prosecution characterized the mini-revolt as a financial shakedown of Madoff, defense lawyers argued the letters documented the programmers' innocent state mind before a "courageous" decision to defy their boss.

Which Department Store Is Winning Online?

When it comes to investing in department stores, most people would opt for Macy's (NYSE: M  ) or Kohl's (NYSE: KSS  ) over J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP  ) or Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD  ) .

Considering that J.C. Penney and Sears have seen significant revenue declines over the past several years while also having trouble delivering consistent profits, this shouldn't come as a surprise. On the other hand, sometimes things change when we're not watching. While looking at online trends over the past three months doesn't guarantee anything, it's still a valuable piece to the puzzle.

Online performance
All of the following information is based on data from Alexa.com, an online analytics company. Simply put, we're looking at which retailer sites are seeing increasing and declining traffic. This helps us determine how popular a brand is with consumers, especially young consumers, since many of them prefer to shop online versus at brick-and-mortar stores. Let's begin with Macys.com.

Macys.com
Over the past three months, Macys.com's global traffic ranking dropped 113 spots to 608. Its bounce rate (meaning the visitor views one page and leaves) has remained even at 26.7%. This is a good bounce rate, indicating that the homepage does its job. The pageviews-per-user metric slid 2.6% to 5.87. And time-on-site has slipped 8% to 6:07. These aren't great numbers, but they're not terrible, either.

The first thing that stands out about the Macys.com homepage is the classy attire featured there. The site also organizes everything in a way that allows for easy navigation. Furthermore, it offers what the other sites on this list don't -- a 2014 Spring Trend Report and a Men's Guide to Style.

JCP.com
J.C. Penney is supposedly in the midst of a turnaround. While this might be true, recent online trends suggest otherwise.

Over the past three months, JCP.com's global traffic ranking dropped 412 spots to 1,514. Over the same time frame, its bounce rate has increased 9% to 26.7% (still a good number.) Pageviews-per-user declined 9.3% to 7.11. And time-on-site has weakened by 11% to 5:24.

It appears as though JCP.com is good at engaging its customers, but trends are heading in the wrong direction. This might indicate that loyal customers are perusing the site, whereas "window shoppers" aren't very interested in what the site has to offer. JCP.com is constantly offering promotions. This currently includes an Extra 20% with your JCPenney Credit Card, an Extra 15% off with any form of payment, and an Extra 10% off watches, furniture, mattresses, and custom blinds and shades. 

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with JCP.com. The brand simply faces a steep challenge, which is to maintain its current customer base while attracting younger consumers -- all the while not alienating its current customer base. The site's poor performance over the past three months likely stems more from branding than online aesthetics and functionality. 

Kohls.com
The results for Kohls.com might surprise you. Over the past three months, Kohls.com's global traffic ranking has plummeted 290 spots to 865. Over the same time frame, its bounce rate has declined 2% to 23.9% (a positive.) However, pageviews-per-user sank 19.1% to 8.24; time-on-site has been almost as bad, suffering a 19% decline to 6:05.

Kohls.com is visually appealing and easy to navigate. The site also mirrors the company's strategy, which is to offer quality brands at discounted prices thanks to consistent promotions. The site's poor performance over the past three months is somewhat of a mystery. It could simply be due to a hesitant consumer and fierce competition.

Sears.com
Over the past three months, Sears.com's global traffic ranking has slid 84 spots to 691. The bounce rate has increased 9% to 35.7% (not terrible, but higher than peers). Pageviews-per-user declined 6.5% to 4.76. And time-on-site has weakened by 4% to 4:11.

Unfortunately, if you ignore direction and eliminate the global ranking, Sears.com holds the weakest overall scores for bounce rate, pageviews-per-user, and time-on-site. The homepage reminds consumers that the company offers free in-store pickup and free shipping on orders more than $59, but that doesn't seem to be enough to generate interest. 

What really stands out is an ad with people in their early 20s modeling clothes. Millennials don't frequent Sears. This raises the question: What is the target market for Sears?

None of the above retailers has been performing well online over the past three months, but one related retailer bucks the trend.

Bedbathandbeyond.com
The bad news for Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY  ) is that its website has seen its global traffic ranking slide 131 spots to 1,726 over the past three months. On the other hand, its bounce rate has declined 12% to 28.6%. Pageviews-per-user increased 7.4% to 5:54. And time-on-site has improved 12% to 4:34.

Interestingly, the home page currently features a Dyson DC59 cordless vacuum. Other features include outdoor furniture sets and gift-registry assistance. All popular categories offer subheadings for super-easy navigation.

The big picture
Below is a comparison of how these retailers have performed on the top line over the past five years (cumulatively):

 

J.C. Penney revenue (trailing-12-month) data by YCharts.

J.C. Penney and Sears have debt-to-equity ratios of 1.8 and 1.9, respectively. It's difficult to grow the top line when long-term debt is a constant nuisance. Macy's sports a decent debt-to-equity ratio of 1.1, whereas Kohl's has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.8. Just as with recent online performance and five-year revenue, Bed Bath & Beyond is the most impressive in this area, with a debt-to-equity ratio of zero. 

The Foolish takeaway
Putting everything together, Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy's are consistently outperforming their peers. There is no immediate reason to think this will change. J.C. Penney and Sears are high-risk potential turnaround plays, but Foolish investors prefer steady long-term investments.

Kohl's falls somewhere in the middle. Despite performing poorly online, its revenue has remained somewhat steady, and it offers a 2.8% dividend yield. Macy's is the only other company on this list to pay a dividend, currently yielding 1.7%.

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Beer Man: Ommegang's 'Thrones' ale

Beer Man is a weekly profile of beers from across the country and around the world.

This week: Fire and Blood Red Ale

Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, N.Y.

www.ommegang.com

The fourth season of HBO's "Game of Thrones" begins April 6, and Brewery Ommegang is releasing its third beer connected with the show through a licensing agreement with the cable network.

Fire and Blood Red Ale is much more than its humble description, as would be expected from a brewery that doesn't just specialize in Belgian-style ales — it excels at them.

I received samples of the ale in advance of its March 31 release date and the first thing that caught my eye was the inclusion of ancho chili pepper as an ingredient. All of the Ommegang beers I've tried have been firmly in the traditional Belgian styles, so the addition of the pepper was intriguing.

PREVIOUS REVIEW: Beer Man: 'Thrones' Blonde Ale is kingly

An Ommegang release states that the ancho pepper and red ale components of the beer were worthy representations of the Fire and Blood name, which comes from the motto of the series' House Targaryen, which is closely associated with dragons.

The backbone of Fire and Blood is its Belgian origins, starting out with the malty, fruity, yeasty aromas that are a staple of many Belgian beers. Although many of the stronger (9%-plus ABV) dark Belgian beers have notes of raisins, dates, plums and/or prunes, the ancho pepper made these dark fruit notes really come out in this 6.8%-ABV beer.

The ale certainly lived up to the "blood" portion of its name — its color after the pour was a bright ruby red. As is usual with Ommegang beers, a rocky head appeared immediately. The prune, raisin and malt flavors were the most prominent in the beer, along with American (pine and grapefruit) hops. The latter would be quite strong in a lesser beer, but the rich malts, slight sweetness and ancho character hold their own and keep the hops in check.

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The hop bitterness and use of rye provided a dryness at the finish that lingered just long enough to prepare for the next sip. While the anchos provide the "Fire" part of the name, their use is more for flavor and there is no burn to the beer, just a slight spicy pepperiness.

Fire and Blood will be sold with three different labels featuring each of the three dragons associated with the series. Ommegang is available in 44 states, but Fire and Blood will be limited. The brewery's beer finder link is at the top of its home page.

Many beers are available only regionally. Check the brewer's website, which often contains information on product availability. Contact Todd Haefer at beerman@postcrescent.com. To read previous Beer Man columns Click here.

U.S. Stocks Push Higher, Eye Weekly Advance

Wall Street climbed higher on Friday as U.S. equity markets looked to cap a turbulent trading week in the green. 

Partner content partner content url:  http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2014/03/21/us-stocks-push-higher-eye-weekly-advance/?cmpid=prn_benz

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: Markets

Originally posted here...

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Walmart to Accept Used Video Game Trade-Ins

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP NEW YORK -- Walmart plans to expand its video game trade-in program to its stores, offering store credit for thousands of video games. The world's largest retailer plans to let video game owners trade in used video games online and in Walmart and Sam's Club stores for store credit but not cash. Previously they offered trade-ins on a more limited basis online. It will also offer refurbished used games in its stores for the first time. Walmart (WMT) has been seeking new ways to boost revenue as its low-income customers remain under pressure due to a weak jobs picture and shaky economy. In its most recent fourth quarter, net income dropped 21 percent, and the Bentonville, Ark.-based company gave a subdued forecast for the current year. "Gaming continues to be an important business for us and we're actively taking aim at the $2 billion pre-owned video game opportunity," said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer for Walmart U.S. In a call with journalists, Walmart executives said CE Exchange, the company that partnered with them on their trade-in program for smartphones and tablets launched in the fall, will also be in charge of the new video game program. The value for each trade-in video game will vary by the title, console and age of the game. The amount will range from just a few dollars for older games to $35 and more for newer ones. Amazon.com (AMZN), Target (TGT), Best Buy (BBY), GameStop (GME) and others also offer video game trade-in programs that offer store credit or cash for video games.

IRS watchdog: Phone scam is largest ever

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 20,000 taxpayers have been targeted by fake Internal Revenue Service agents in the largest phone scam the agency has ever seen, the IRS inspector general said Thursday.

Thousands of victims have lost a total of more than $1 million.

As part of the scam, fake IRS agents call taxpayers, claim they owe taxes, and demand payment using a prepaid debit card or a wire transfer. Those who refuse are threatened with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver's license, said J. Russell George, Treasury inspector general for tax administration.

Hot High Tech Companies To Watch For 2014

Real IRS agents usually contact people first by mail, George said. And they don't demand payment by debit card, credit card or wire transfer.

The inspector general's office started receiving complaints about the scam in August. Immigrants were the primary target early on, the IG's office said. But the scam has since become more widespread.

Tax scams often escalate during filing season, George said. People have been targeted in nearly every state.

"This is the largest scam of its kind that we have ever seen," George said in a statement. "The increasing number of people receiving these unsolicited calls from individuals who fraudulently claim to represent the IRS is alarming."

The script is similar in many calls, leading investigators to believe they are connected. The inspector general's office is working with major phone carriers to try to track the origins of the calls, the IG's office said.

The scam has been effective in part because the fake agents mask their caller ID, making it look like the call is coming from the IRS, George said. In some cases, fake agents know the last four digits of Social Security numbers, and follow up with official-looking emails.

They request prepaid debit cards because they are harder to trace than bank cards. Pre! paid debit cards are different from bank cards because they are not connected to a bank account. Instead, consumers buy the cards at stores, and use them just like a bank card, until the money runs out or they add more.

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

Top 5 Bank Companies For 2014

Top 5 Bank Companies For 2014: Wells Fargo & Company(WFC)

Wells Fargo & Company, through its subsidiaries, provides retail, commercial, and corporate banking services primarily in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Community Banking; Wholesale Banking; and Wealth, Brokerage, and Retirement. The Community Banking segment offers deposits, including checking, market rate, and individual retirement accounts; savings and time deposits; and debit cards. Its loan products comprise lines of credit, auto floor plans, equity lines and loans, equipment and transportation loans, education loans, residential mortgage loans, health savings accounts, and credit cards. This segment also provides equipment leases, real estate financing, small business administration financing, venture capital financing, cash management, payroll services, retirement plans, loans secured by autos, and merchant payment processing services; purchases sales finance contracts from retail merchants; and a family of funds, and investment managemen t services. The Wholesale Banking segment offers commercial and corporate banking products and services, including commercial loans and lines of credit, letters of credit, asset-based lending, equipment leasing, international trade facilities, trade financing, collection services, foreign exchange services, treasury and investment management, institutional fixed-income sales, commodity and equity risk management, insurance, corporate trust fiduciary and agency services, and investment banking services. This segment also provides banking products for commercial real estate market, and real estate and mortgage brokerage services. The Wealth, Brokerage, and Retirement segment offers financial advisory, brokerage, and institutional retirement and trust services. As of December 31, 2010, the company served its customers through approximately 9,000 banking stores in 39 States and the Distri! ct of Columbia. Wells Fargo & Company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in San Franc i sco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Strumpf var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(fu]

  Financial stocks may be outperforming the broader market this year, but that's not good enough for Wells Fargo(WFC), which is downgrading its rating on the sector.

• [By Rich Smith]

  AFP/Getty Images/Frederic J. Brown Over the past decade or so, waves of computer-aided identity theft have washed over the U.S. Since the first big hack attack on ChoicePoint in 2005, through more recent data breaches at Evernote, LivingSocial, and now the massive Target (TGT) breach involving 110 million pieces of data (just the third-largest data breach in U.S. history, by the way), companies have more or less figured out a routine for dealing with data breaches. You notify the FBI. You (eventually) notify your customers. And you replace everybody's credit cards. With the latest breach at Target, that process is already well under way. Megabanks like JP Morgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Citigroup (C) have collectively handed out millions of new cards, with new card numbers, to customers whose data may have been compromised by the Target data breach. Last week, the Independent Community Bankers of America issued a release confirming its members -- small banks around the country -- have "reissued more than 4 million credit and debit cards." To ensure that credit and debit card numbers that hacker stole from Target and Neiman Marcus will soon be useless, ICBA member bankers absorbed costs in excess of $40 million. And as a result of their quick action, says the group, "community banks' initial fraud costs were relatively low, with less than 1 percent of community bank customers reporting fraud." So, while the Target breach and the "110 million pieces of data lost" sounds bad, the damage probably ! won't be ! as bad as you think. In fact, you can use this epic data fail to your advantage. You Have to Set up New Auto-Payments When your bank sends you a new credit or debit card, it will come with a new number to replace the one that Target lost. Your old number has been canceled. This means any automatic payment plans you've set up -- your subscriptions and the card numbers that you have preselected for payments on Amazon (AMZN), P

• [By David Dittman]

  The top 10 also includes US-based Microsoft Corp (NSDQ: MSFT), JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) and Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE: WFC).

  Question: I have an MLP in my IRA. Please explain why I should not have one there. Thank you I sure enjoy these web chats.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-bank-companies-for-2014.html

Best Companies To Invest In Right Now

Best Companies To Invest In Right Now: PartnerRe Ltd (PRE)

PartnerRe Ltd. (PartnerRe), incorporated in August 24, 1993, is the ultimate holding company for its international reinsurance group. The Company provides reinsurance on a global basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd. (PartnerRe Bermuda), Partner Reinsurance Europe plc (PartnerRe Europe) and Partner Reinsurance Company of the U.S. (PartnerRe U.S.). Its risks reinsured include property, casualty, motor, agriculture, aviation/space, catastrophe, credit/surety, engineering, energy, marine, specialty property, specialty casualty, multiline and other lines and mortality, longevity and health. The Company also offers alternative risk products, which include weather and credit protection to financial, industrial and service companies on a global basis. In January 2013, the Company acquired Presidio Reinsurance Group, a United States-based specialty accident and health reinsurance and insurance writer. In March 2013, the Company ann ounced the formation of Lorenz Re Ltd.

The Company provides reinsurance for its clients in approximately 150 countries globally. Through its branches and subsidiaries, the Company provides reinsurance of non-life and life risks to ceding companies (primary insurers, cedants or reinsureds) on either a proportional or non-proportional basis through treaties or facultative reinsurance. The Company operates in three segments: Non-life, Life and Corporate and Other. Its Corporate and Other segment is consisted of the capital markets and investment related activities of the Company, including principal finance transactions, insurance-linked securities and strategic investments, and its corporate activities, including other operating expenses.

Non-life Segment

The Non-life segment is divided into four sub-segments, North America, Global (Non-the U! nited States) Property and Casualty (Global (Non-the United States) P&C), Global (Non-the United States) Specialty and Catastrophe. The North America sub-seg! ment includes agriculture, casualty, motor, multiline, property, surety and other risks generally originating in the United States. The Global (Non-the United States) P&C sub-segment includes casualty, motor and property business generally originating outside of the United States. The Global (Non-the United States) Specialty sub-segment business include agriculture, aviation/space, credit/surety, energy, engineering, marine, specialty casualty, specialty property and other lines. The Catastrophe sub-segment is consisted of the Company's catastrophe line of business. The Company reinsures, primarily on a proportional basis, agricultural yield and price/revenue risks related to flood, drought, hail and disease related to crops, livestock and aquaculture. The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for airline, general aviation and space insurance business on a proportional basis and through facultative arrangements.

The Company's space business re lates to coverages for satellite assembly, launch and operation for commercial space programs. Its casualty business includes third party liability, employers' liability, workers' compensation and personal accident coverages written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis, including structured reinsurance of casualty risks. The Company provides property catastrophe reinsurance protection, written on a non-proportional basis, against the accumulation of losses caused by windstorm, earthquake, tornado, tropical cyclone, flood or by any other natural hazard, which is covered under a property policy. Credit reinsurance, written on a proportional basis, provides coverage to commercial credit insurers, and the surety line relates to bonds and other forms of security written by specialized surety insurers. The Company provides reinsurance coverage for the onshore oi! l and gas! industry, mining, power generation and pharmaceutical operations on a proportional basis and t hrough facultative arrangements.

The Company p! rovides r! einsurance for engineering projects globally, predominantly on a proportional treaty basis and through facultative arrangements. The Company provides reinsurance protection and technical services relating to marine hull, cargo, transit and offshore oil and gas operations on a proportional or non-proportional basis. The Company's motor business includes reinsurance coverages for third party liability and property damage risks arising from both passenger and commercial fleet automobile coverages written by cedants. This business is written predominantly on a proportional basis.

The Company's multiline business provides both property and casualty reinsurance coverages written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis. Property business provides reinsurance coverage to insurers for property damage or business interruption losses resulting from fires, catastrophes and other perils covered in industrial, commercial property and homeowners' policies, and are written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis. The Company's predominant exposure under these property coverage is to property damage. The Company's property reinsurance treaties exclude certain risks, such as war, nuclear, biological and chemical contamination, radiation and environmental pollution.

The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for non-the United States casualty business. This reinsurance protection is offered on a proportional, non-proportional or facultative basis. The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for non-the United States property business. This reinsurance protection is offered on a proportional, non-proportional or facultative basis. The Company's Non-life business is produced both through brokers and through direct relationships with insurance companies. In North America! , busines! s is written through brokers, while globally, the business is written on both a direct and broker basis.< /p>

Life Segment

The Company's Life ! segment i! ncludes the mortality, longevity and health lines of business written primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. The Company provides reinsurance coverage to life insurers and pension funds to against individual and group mortality and disability risks. Mortality business is written on a proportional basis through treaty agreements. Mortality business is subdivided into death and disability covers (with various riders) written in Continental Europe, term assurance and critical illness (TCI) written in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) written in Continental Europe. The Company also writes certain treaties on a non-proportional basis in France.

The Company provides reinsurance coverage to employer sponsored pension schemes and life insurers who issue annuity contracts offering long-term retirement benefits to consumers, who seek protection against outliving their financial resources. The Company's longevity p ortfolio is subdivided into standard and non-standard annuities. The non-standard annuities are annuities sold to consumers with aggravated health conditions and are underwritten on an individual basis. The Company provides reinsurance coverage to life insurers with respect to individual and group health risks. The Company's Life business is produced both through brokers and through direct relationships with insurance companies. During the year ended December 31, 2011, one cedant accounted for 13% of the Life segment's total gross premiums written and one broker, the Aon Group (including the Benfield Group), accounted for 16% of the Life segment's total gross premiums written.

The Company competes with Munich Re, Swiss Re, Everest Re, Hannover Re, SCOR, Transatlantic, Arch Capital, Axis Capital and XL Group.

Advisors' Opinion:!

!
• [By Marc Bastow]

  International insurance holding company PartnerRe Ltd. (PRE) raised its quarterly dividend 5% to 67 cents per share, payable on Feb. 28 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 18.
  PRE Dividend Yield: 2.72%

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-companies-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Top China Stocks To Watch For 2014

Top China Stocks To Watch For 2014: Arotech Corporation(ARTX)

Arotech Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides defense and security products. It operates in three divisions: Training and Simulation, Battery and Power Systems, and Armor. The Training and Simulation division develops, manufactures, and markets multimedia and interactive digital solutions for use-of-force training and driving training of military, law enforcement, security, and other personnel; provides simulators, systems engineering, and software products to the United States military, government, and private industry; and offers specialized use of force training for police, security personnel, and the military. The Battery and Power Systems division manufactures and sells lithium and zinc-air batteries for defense and security products and other military applications; and develops and sells rechargeable and primary lithium batteries and smart chargers to the military and to private defense industry. This division also develops, manufactures, and markets primary zinc-air batteries, rechargeable batteries, and battery chargers for the military; and produces water-activated lifejacket lights for commercial aviation and marine applications. The Armor Division manufactures military and paramilitary armored vehicles, and employs sophisticated lightweight materials to produce aviation armor; and uses engineering concepts to produce combat armored military vehicles and up-armor civilian commercial vehicles. This division also uses lightweight armoring materials and advanced engineering processes to provide ballistic armor kits for rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Arotech sells its products primarily in the United States, Israel, Taiwan, Canada, England, Germany, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, India, Spain, Singapore, and Japan. The company was formerly known as Electric Fuel Corporation and changed its name to Arotech Corporation in! September 2003. Arotech Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Arotech (NASDAQ: ARTX) dipped 7.50% to $4.07 in pre-market trading after dropping 2.22% on Wednesday.

  ModusLink Global Solutions (NASDAQ: MLNK) fell 6.95% to $4.55 in pre-market trading after the company announced a proposed $75 million convertible senior notes offering.

• [By Thomas Rice]

  Arotech Corp. (ARTX) is a defense and security products and services firm; it provides simulation for military, law enforcement, and commercial markets.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-china-stocks-to-watch-for-2014.html

Starbucks to let customers tip digitally

Starbucks has concocted yet another way to shake some spare change out of its mobile phone-carrying customers: digital tipping.

Beginning Wednesday, March 19, customers who use the Starbucks App for iPhone in the U.S., Canada and UK will be able to use the app to leave a tip at more than 7,000 company-operated Starbucks stores.

Until now, consumers could not digitally tip at Starbucks. This has been a problem. Thousands of caffeine-seeking customers who carry their cell phones – but no cash – have been stiffing baristas, and not feeling so swell about it.

In fact, digital tipping has been one of the most-frequent suggestions from consumers on the Starbucks idea site, MyStarbucksIdea.com.

"As more and more customers are using their phones to pay," says Cliff Burrows, group president, of Starbucks U.S., "they have asked for a convenient and meaningful way" to tip baristas.

COFFEE KING: Why people love to hate - and love - Starbucks

For Starbucks — and ultimately, for all retailers — its a response to consumer actions and needs. More than 11% of the weekly transactions in Starbucks stores are via mobile devises, says Adam Brotman, chief digital officer at Starbucks. And nearly 10 million Starbucks customers currently use the Starbucks mobile app.

Later this year, Starbucks will update its Starbucks for Android app and also add a digital tipping feature, says Brotman.

The initial barista tip options for customers will be: 50-cents, $1 or $2.

If you want to tip more — or less — you'll have to do it the old way: bring cash.

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014

Top Energy Companies To Buy For 2014: Emerald Oil Inc (EOX)

Emerald Oil, Inc. (Emerald) incorporated on May 31, 2011, is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. The Company focuses on developing oil wells in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana primarily targeting the Bakken and three forks shale oil formations. Emerald controls approximately 35,000 net acres in the Williston Basin. In February 2014, Emerald Oil Inc acquired core Bakken and Three Forks producing properties and undeveloped leasehold in McKenzie and Williams Counties, North Dakota.

Emerald holds positions in the Rocky Mountain oil and natural gas plays. It has approximately 14,500 net acres in the Sand Wash Basin in northwest Colorado prospective for oil in the Niobrara formation. It has approximately 33,500 net acres in central Montana prospective for oil in the Heath formation. The Company also has approximately 72,800 net acres in the Tiger Ridge Field located in Blaine, Hill, and Chouteau Counties, Montana, prospective for natural gas, and another approximate 1,700 net acres in the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin in Weld County, Colorado, prospective for oil in the Niobrara formation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Emerald Oil (NYSE: EOX) is projected to post a Q4 loss at $0.02 per share on revenue of $18.04 million.

  Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) is estimated to post its Q4 earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $26.83 million.

• [By Bret Jensen]

  Emerald Oil (EOX) is a small (~$330mm) capitalization Bakken producer that I think has significant upside. It has fast growing production with sales tracking to better than a 70% gain this fiscal year and analysts' consensus for FY2014 have revenue more than doubling. A beneficial owner obviously finds the shares attractive as the entity took more than a $16mm stake ! in the firm in late May.

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

Top Bank Stocks To Own Right Now

Top Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Webster Financial Corp (WBS)

Webster Financial Corporation (Webster), incorporated on September 10, 1986, is a bank holding company and financial holding company. Webster's principal asset as of December 31, 2012, was Webster Bank, National Association (Webster Bank). Webster, through Webster Bank and various subsidiaries, delivers financial services to individuals, families and businesses primarily throughout southern New England and into Westchester County, New York. Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage lending, financial planning, trust and investment services through 167 banking offices, 293 automated teller machines (ATMs), telephone banking, mobile banking and its Internet Website www.websterbank.com. Webster also offers equipment financing, commercial real estate lending and asset-based lending across the Northeast. Webster Bank offers health savings accounts on a nationwide basis, through its HSA Bank division and its Internet Website www.hsabank.com. Webster's operatio ns are managed along four business segments: Commercial Banking, Retail Banking, Consumer Finance and Other. Other includes Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Private Banking (including Webster Financial Advisors (WFA)).

Commercial Banking

The Commercial Banking segment includes middle market, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, equipment finance, and Government and not-for-profit banking. Webster's Commercial Banking group provides lending, deposit and cash management services to middle market companies in its franchise territory. Additionally, it serves as a primary referral source to Wealth Management and Retail Banking.

Retail Banking

Retail Banking serves consumers and small businesses primarily throughout southern New England and into Westchester County, New York, with a distribution network of 167 banking office! s and 293 owned ATMs, and a full range of Internet and mobile banking services. Retail Banking i ncludes Webster's branch network, Consumer deposits, Busin! ess and Professional Banking (BPB), Webster Investment Services (WIS) and the Customer Care Center.

Consumer Finance

Consumer Finance offers lending solutions for consumers primarily in southern New England and Westchester County, New York. Products include: residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, unsecured personal loans as well as credit card options.

Other

Other includes HSA Bank (HSA) and Private Banking. HSA Bank is a bank custodian of health savings accounts. These accounts are provided for high deductible health plans offered by employers or directly to consumers. Private Banking provides local full relationship banking that serves high net worth clients, not-for-profit organizations and business clients for asset management, trust, loan and deposit products and financial planning services.

Subsidiaries of Webster Financial Corporation

Webster's direct subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 included Webster Bank, Fleming, Perry & Cox, Inc., and Webster Licensing, LLC. Webster also owns all of the outstanding common stock of Webster Statutory Trust, an unconsolidated financial vehicle that has issued or may in the future issue trust preferred securities. On July 18, 2012, the Company completed the redemption at par of all the outstanding principal amount of Webster Capital Trust IV fixed to floating-rate trust preferred securities. Webster Bank's direct subsidiaries include Webster Mortgage Investment Corporation, Webster Business Credit Corporation (WBCC) and Webster Capital Finance, Inc. (WCF). Webster Bank is the primary source of retail activity within the consolidated Company. Webster Bank is the primary source of retail activity within the consolidated group. Webster Bank provides banking services through 167 banking offices, 293 own! ed ATMs, ! telephone banking, mobile banking and its Internet websites. Residential mortgage origination activity is conducted through Webster Bank. Webster Mortgage! Investme! nt Corporation is a passive investment subsidiary whose primary function is to provide servicing on passive investments, such as residential real estate and commercial mortgage real estate loans transferred from Webster Bank. Various commercial lending products are provided through Webster Bank and its subsidiaries to clients within the region from Westchester County, NY to Boston, MA. WBCC provides asset-based lending services. WCF provides equipment financing for end users of equipment. Additionally, Webster Bank has various other subsidiaries that are not significant to the consolidated Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Business and consumer banking concern Webster Financial  (NYSE: WBS  )  announced yesterday that its board of directors has approved increasing its quarterly dividend by 50%, from $0.10 per share to $0.15 per share. The new, higher payment will be made on May 20 to stockholders of record as of May 6.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Webster Financial (NYSE: WBS) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.49 per share on revenue of $149.73 million.

  Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.97 per share on revenue of $20.97 billion.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-bank-stocks-to-own-right-now-2.html

Top Cheapest Stocks To Buy Right Now

Top Cheapest Stocks To Buy Right Now: Power Integrations Inc.(POWI)

Power Integrations, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary, high-voltage, analog, and mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) in the United States and internationally. The company offers alternating current to direct current power conversion products, including TOPSwitch, TinySwitch, and LinkSwitch that addresses power supplies ranging from less than 1 watt of output up to approximately 50 watts of output. These products are used in mobile-device chargers, consumer appliances, utility meters, liquid crystal display monitors, standby power supplies for desktop computers and televisions, and other consumer and industrial applications. It also provides various products for use in applications up to approximately 500 watts of output, such as Hiper family power-conversion and power-factor-correction products for high-power applications, including main power supplies for desktop computers, televisions, and game consoles, as well as light emitting diode stre et lights; CapZero and SenZero, which are designed to enhance the energy-efficiency of power supplies and reduce standby consumption by eliminating particular sources of power waste within a power supply; and high-voltage diodes comprising Qspeed diodes. In addition, the company offers high-voltage DC-DC products comprising The DPA-Switch family of products that are monolithic high-voltage power conversion ICs for use in power-over-Ethernet powered devices, such as voice-over-Internet protocol phones and security cameras, as well as network hubs, line cards, servers, digital PBX phones, DC-DC converter modules, and industrial controls. It serves communications, consumer, computer, and industrial electronics markets. The company sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and merchant power supply manufacturers through direct sales staff and a network of indepen! dent sales representatives and distributors. Power Integrations, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based i n San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Power Integrations (POWI) designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary, high-voltage, analog integrated circuits for use in AC-DC and DC-DC power conversion in the consumer, communications, computer and industrial electronics markets. This stock closed up 5.9% at $55.15 in Wednesday's trading session.

  Wednesday's Volume: 571,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 218,547
  
  Volume % Change: 173%

  From a technical perspective, POWI ripped higher here right above some near-term support at $50.68 with above-average volume. This move also pushed shares of POWI into breakout and new 52-week-high territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $55.38. At last check, POWI closed a bit off its intraday high and volume was well above its three-month average action of 218,547 shares.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in POWI as long as it's trending above Wednesday's low of $52.60 and then once it sustains a move or close above Wednesday's high of $55.59 with volume that this near or above 218,547 shares. If we see that move soon, then POWI will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $60 to $62.

• [By CRWE]

  Power Integrations (Nasdaq:POWI), the leader in high-voltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, reported that Balu Balakrishnan, the company's president and CEO, will present at the NASDAQ OMX 28th Investor Program in London on June 26, 2012 at 3:45 p.m. British Summer Time (10:45 a.m. Eastern time).

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-cheapest-stocks-to-buy-right-now-3.html

Axxess Unlimited is Oh-So-Close (AXXU)

A week and a half ago, yours truly penned some bullish thoughts on Axxess Unlimited Inc. (OTCMKTS:AXXU). Not too many traders read that take, and/or if they did, they didn't seem to care. The response to the commentary was non-existent (good or bad), and there was no sudden rush to go out and buy AXXU. Today's second look may have a different outcome.

For those who aren't familiar with it (or as a reminder for the seven or so people that read the first commentary on AXXU), Axxess Unlimited is essentially a web-marketing organization, though to say "it builds websites" or "improves search-engine optimization" doesn't do the company justice. Axxess Unlimited provides high-end, integrated marketing and market research solutions for serious players who need significantly-detailed work done in the digital ether. For perspective, some of its clients include government entities, medical goods manufacturers, and automobile dealerships.

It's clearly not a bad business to be in, during the advent of mobile web. That's not a reason to become interested in the stock, however. No, the reason a newcomer may want to nibble on AXXU is far simpler... perhaps even low-brow. The reason Axxess Unlimited is quickly becoming a worthy trade is (still) the shape of the chart and the fact that it appears to be solidifying a new uptrend.

Just like the last look, AXXU is walking higher on the heels of a significant pivot - for the better - in early February. All the telltale signs were there, the biggest one of all being the volume spike on the day of the pivot. Though the bullish effort cooled a bit from there, as of last week, the bulls are piling in again in greater numbers; we've seen two heavy bullish volume days since then. Things may well be on the verge of going from good to great, however, for Axxess Unlimited. See the $0.50 level where the stock topped out and reversed in early February. That's also where shares peaked on Monday. Well, the stock's right there again right now, knocking on the door, waiting for an answer. One good nudge to just a penny higher could open the floodgates. Once opened, the bulls may pile in indiscriminately, not looking back. Take a look.

The point is, AXXU deserves a place on your watchlist, and if it can actually break above the $0.50 mark, it may well deserve a place in your speculative portfolio. Oh, and if you're wondering why the sudden interest in Axxess Unlimited, most of it likely has to do with the fact that the company owns a patent that may help law enforcing keep marijuana-impaired drivers off the road. Though it took two weeks for traders to put the January 16th explanation from the company and 2014's new recreational-usage laws together before plowing into the stock and kick-starting an uptrend, the trend is getting traction all the same.

For more trading ideas and insights like these, be sure to sign up for the free SmallCap Network newsletter. You'll get stock picks, market calls, and more, every day. Here's what you've missed recently.

So Long Ukraine Pain: S&P 500 Hits Record High, Dow Jones Jumps 200 Points

Like a spring that launches itself into the air after the pressure is released, the stock market has jumped higher as Vladimir Putin dialed back the tension in Ukraine. Walt Disney (DIS), American Express (AXP), Goldman Sachs (GS), Dish Network (DISH) and Delta Air Lines (DAL) helped lead the markets higher.

Getty Images

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 227.85 points, or 1.4%, to 16,395.88, while the S&P 500 rose 1.5% to 1,873.91, a new record high.

Walt Disney jumped 2.8% to $81.71 after the company announced a deal with Dish Network that would allow the TV provider to give customers access to its content on digital devices. Dish Network gained 1.2% to $59.56. Delta Air Lines has climbed 5.7% to $34.45 after traffic increased in February. American Express gained 2.9% to $92.61 and Goldman Sachs rose 2.4% to $168.73.

Societe Generale’s Kit Jucke’s describes the sentiment today:

Tensions in the Ukraine and Crimea have (temporarily) been eased. Russian troops have finished their 'military exercise’ and financial market tension is melting away. And no, of course it’s not 'all over’. The economic fallout, notably in Russia, will be significant and building political stability in the Ukraine remains a huge challenge. But financial markets are short-sighted animals and everything is calmer. Even the (very) overvalued Rouble is stronger today. And so, risk is a lot less 'off’ than it was, EMFX is rallying across the broad, equity markets are up, Bund yields are higher, etc.

RBS strategist John Briggs thinks the damage done to Russia by the collapse of its equity market and the ruble played a role in Putin’s tempering the belligerence:

The market side of me…notes that the Russian equity market fell 10% yesterday, and a 2012 study by Troika Dialog Research showed that the Russian state owns 30% of the equity market, with another 30% owned by oligarchs and domestic “businessmen.” Add in a GDP rate of 1.2% (Q3), a core inflation rate of 5.6%, and a currency weakening that sparked a 150bp rate hike yesterday, escalation is not economically supportive for the state.

So I believe we are entering a diplomatic dance between the West and Russia in which there will be moments of tension followed by olive branches from Putin. Think Syria, but with more at stake, certainly with more at stake for Russia given the historical and cultural ties to the Crimea and the fact it holds their only warm water port…I would expect this situation to not go away in the near term, and markets will be subject to ongoing headline risk and volatility.

Could Mardi Gras help explain today’s good cheer? The folks at Bespoke Investment explain:

…the S&P 500 has risen an average 2.04% (median = 2.37%) with positive returns 72.0% of the time…from the close on Fat Tuesday through Easter over the last 25 years.

There’s an old market axiom that says that investors should sell on Rosh Hashanah and buy on Yom Kippur. Perhaps a Christian corollary to that saying is buy on Ash Wednesday and sell on Easter…

Let the revelry begin?

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (KORS): This Insider Made 32% the Last Time She Bought

Insider activity held steady last week with purchases records from 118 companies. It will be fascinating to see how the Ukrainian situation impacts boardroom buying next week.

This week iStock is going in style today with our highlighted insider buying stock, Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS). Michael Kors engages in the design, marketing, distribution, and retailing of branded women's apparel and accessories, and men's apparel. The company operates in three segments: Retail, Wholesale, and Licensing. The Retail segment is involved in the sale of women's apparel; accessories, which include handbags and small leather goods, such as wallets; footwear; and licensed products comprising watches, fragrances, and eyewear.

[Related -Fossil Group Inc (FOSL) Q4 Earnings Preview: Is the Fourth Quarter a Fashionable Time to Buy?]

KORS Director, Judy Gibbons 1,980 shares on February 26, 2014 at $100.17 per share for a total investment of $198,336. This isn't the first time Ms. Gibbons opened the purse strings to buy the consumer goods company's shares. In September 2013, she bought 2,125 shares at $74.68 for a total investment of $158,695. Today, the September investment is worth almost $210,000 – again of 32% in six months.

Perhaps, the director is trying to profit, again, from a phenomenon known as post-earnings announcement drift (PEAD). PEAD is the tendency for a stock to produce above average and abnormal returns following positive earnings announcements. Last quarter, KORS topped Wall Street's consensus estimate by $0.25, which worked out to 29.1% more than expected.

[Related -Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (KORS) Q3 Earnings Preview: Another Bullish Surprise in the Bag?]

Maybe, valuation is another angle? The high-fashion, luxury brand has traded with high price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-sales (P/S) during its short life as a publicly traded company.

Since IPOing, the average P/E is 37.94 while the typical P/S ratio is 5.86. For 2014, analysts believe KORS EPS will come in at $3.12 and $3.84 for 2015; however, both could be higher considering the company's history of bullish earnings surprises. At the average P/E, Gibbons's shares would be worth $118.37 and $145.68 based on this year and next year's earnings forecasts.

On the sales side, buy-side analysts believe KORS will earn $3.21 billion this year and $4.05 billion next. Based on Michael Kors' limited P/S history, shares would price out at $92.58 and $116.80 for 2014 and 2015's top line outlooks.

Overall: Judy Gibbons previous success with Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS) merits considerations; however, repeating 32% performance might take a lot longer than six months based on KORS' average price-to-earnings and price-to-sales, IPO to date.

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA): What To Watch In Q4 Results?

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) plans to release its fourth quarter financial results on Feb.12. The graphics chip maker company would host a conference call on the same day at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET) to discuss the operating performance.

Wall Street expects Nvidia to earn 18 cents a share, according to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. The consensus estimate implies a drop of 35.7 percent from last year when it earned 28 cents a share.

Despite being lackluster, Nvidia's earnings have managed to top Street view thrice in the preceding four quarters, with upside surprise ranging between 16.7 and 30 percent. and came in line with estimates in the last quarter. The consensus estimate remained unchanged in the past three months while two analysts have raised their profit view for the quarter in the last 30 days.

[Related -NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) Q3 Earnings Preview: Can We See Another Beat?]

Quarterly revenues are projected to drop 4.8 percent to $1.05 billion from $1.11 billion in the same quarter last year. Nvidia expects fourth quarter revenue of $1.05 billion, plus or minus two percent.

Nvidia has two key segments - Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) business and Tegra. The GPU business includes GeForce graphics chips and cards for PCs, Tesla graphics for super-computing applications, Quadro for computer-aided design or medical imaging. GPU accounts for more than 80 percent of sales.

The second is the Tegra line of mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC) processors. Tegra integrates a CPU, GPU, and memory controller onto a single chip that powers smartphones and tablets. Last year, Tegra accounted for 18 percent of total revenues.

[Related -Nvidia Corporation: Ramping Tegra 4 In 2H May Compress Current Gross Margins]

Investors would be keeping a close eye on GPU unit performance amid declining PC sales as the segment primarily caters to PCs. The GPU unit's revenue grew only 2 percent in 2012, and, in fact, over the past 3 years sales have fallen 3 percent.

BMO Capital Markets analyst Ambrish Srivastava expects revenues in the GPU segment to be down 3 percent sequentially. Within the GPU segment, discrete PC GPU shipments is projected to be down 3 percent from the third quarter and ASP approximately flat. Also within the GPU segment, combined Quadro and Tesla revenues are expected to be roughly flat versus third quarter.

Meanwhile, Tesla chips gained traction in supercomputing space, and the market would welcome if there is any positive momentum in Tesla sales.

In November, Nvidia and IBM announced plans to integrate the joint-processing capabilities of Tesla GPUs with IBM POWER processors. Investors would look for additional updates on the partnership.

The company launched Tesla K40 GPU accelerator, which it claimed as the world's highest performance accelerator ever built, delivering extreme performance to a widening range of scientific, engineering, high performance computing (HPC) and enterprise applications.

Nvidia also unveiled its GeForce GTX 780 Ti gaming GPU based on its Kepler architecture, which provides an advanced, low-thermal-density design that translates into better cooling, quieter acoustics. The GTX 780 Ti features 25 percent more cores than the GTX 780 GPU, includes a 7Gbps of onboard memory and supports NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 technology.

Another focus point would be Tegra, which is considered as the next leg of growth for Nvidia. Wall Street would be watching for customer signings on the smartphone front as it faces cut throat competition from market leader Qualcomm, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM). For the Tegra processor segment, revenue should increase about 20 percent as the company continues to ramp its Tegra 4 processor.

Investors would be looking for updates on its newly launched Tegra K1 mobile processor, a 192-core super chip based on Kepler architecture.

Gross margin is another key metric. Nvidia estimates GAAP and non-GAAP margins to be approximately 54.2 percent and 54.5 percent, respectively.

The magnitude of the upcoming Tegra 4 ramp may impact margins of Nvidia. Margins are particularly susceptible to oscillate in the second half of 2013 given that to what extent a rebounding lower-margin Tegra business is going to offset growing Tesla adversely, and to a lesser extent, GRID sales. So, investors would focus on margin commentary.

Meanwhile, GRID interest is very encouraging. Thus far, GRID is being well-received in the marketplace as customer sign-ups and trails are increasing with material revenue generation likely still several quarters out. The market would watch for traction of GRID platform.

Moreover, the outlook for the first quarter revenue would be closely monitored, and it may decide the movement of the stock depending upon how it fares with the Street view.

For the third quarter, the Santa Clara, California-based company reported net income of $118.7 million, or 20 cents a share, compared to $209.1 million or 33 cents a share for the year-ago quarter. Excluding items, it earned 26 cents a share. Revenue for the third quarter fell 12.5 percent to $1.05 billion. Gross margin for the quarter improved to 55.4 percent from 52.9 percent a year ago while adjusted gross margin increased to 55.7 percent from 53.1 percent last year.

Out of 33 analysts covering the stock, six analysts have a rating of "strong buy" or "buy," while 22 analysts recommend "hold." Five analysts have a " sell" rating on the stock, which has traded between $12.04 and $16.44 during the past 52-weeks. It has gained 27 percent in the last year.

5 European Stocks to Buy

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Earlier this week we saw quite a both of volatility in European markets as a result of Russian actions in the Ukraine.  It looks as if cooler heads have prevailed in the region and investors in Europe can go back to focusing on the fundamental conditions of European markets. The European Central Banks still is taking a "whatever it takes " approach to fiscal stimulus programs designed to get the economies across the Eurozone humming again.

So far the growth is slow but most analysts feel that we have turned the corner and we will see Europe growth rates turn positive this year and begin to accelerate in 2015. Investors who want benefit from the Eurozone recovery need to take the same approach that has worked here at home and focus on the very best stocks with the very best fundamentals.

Fortunately we have Portfolio Grader to help us uncover which stocks should lead they in Europe.

European Stocks to Buy: BT Group (BT)

BT Group (BT) is a London based global telecommunications company that operates 4. The retail segment provides voice and broadband services for retail consumers and pay-TV services   as well as fixed line ad broadband service. They also offer wholesale services including a range of voice, broadband, and data communications services for fixed and mobile network operators and Internet service providers. They also sell telecommunications equipment around the word.

Best Undervalued Companies To Buy For 2015

European Stocks to Buy: ICON Public Limited (ICLR)

ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR) is a contract research organization, provides outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries in Ireland, the United States, and Europe. They provide management, and analysis of programs that support various stages of clinical development process from compound selection to Phase I to IV clinical studies as well as lab services for companies conducting trials. The company has posted triple digit earnings gains and posted four consecutive positive earnings surprises in the past year. Analysts have been raising their estimates for the Irish company and Portfolio Grader raised the stock to an A last month. The stock is a strong buy at today's price.

European Stocks to Buy: Alcatel Lucent (ALU)

Alcatel Lucent (ALU) is the French based telecom company that was all the rage back during the internet bubble and appears to have at long last engineered a turnaround. They  provide Internet protocol (IP) and cloud networking, and ultra-broadband fixed and wireless access to service providers and their customers, enterprises, and institutions worldwide.

The company caught analyst flat footed in the most recent quarter with an 85% surge in earnings which was twice what was expected. Analysts have increased their estimated for this year as well as next and Portfolio Grade raised the stock to an A in February. ALU is a strong buy at the current price.

European Stocks to Buy: Logitech International

Logitech International (LOGI) is a Swiss company that designs, manufactures, and markets hardware and software products that enable digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security, and home-entertainment control.

They make things like game controllers, speakers, webcams and other accessories that are in high demand in today's multimedia world. Analysts have not been able to keep up with the company's fundamental improvement and they have posted 3 consecutive huge positive earnings surprises. Portfolio Grader raised the stock to an A back in November and the stock remains a strong buy at today's price.

European Stocks to Buy: Safe Bulkers (SB)

Safe Bulkers (SB) is a Greek company that owns and operates dry bulk carrier vessels that transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal, and grains Right now they have a fleet of 20 dry bulk carriers and also provide felt management services to third parties.

Business has improved much faster than Wall Street expected and the company posted a triple digit positive earning surprise in the most recent quarter.  Portfolio Grader upgraded the stock to an A back in December and SB remains a strong buy art current prices.

Louis Navellier is the editor of Blue Chip Growth.

Green Automotive Electric Bus is Ready to Roll... Literally (GACR)

It's been on the radar for weeks. But, not even the investors who knew something big was coming could have predicted the splash that Green Automotive Co. (OTCMKTS:GACR) would be able to make at the upcoming Limousine, Charter, and Tour Conference in Las Vegas. It is "the" event of the year for the industry, when new products are showcased, when buyers make decisions, and when deals are made. And, given what GACR has ready to display at the conference, this little company could end up stealing the show.

First things first. For those not familiar with the company, GACR is an electric vehicle company. That description doesn't do it justice, however. Green Automotive Company is actually in the business of useful, practical electric cars for average people in the mass market, rather than a company that (1) talks about someday getting into the business of electric cars, (2) makes EVs that are little more than battery-powered go-carts, and (3) isn't selling electric cars at a price that's out of reach for most consumers. In other words, GACR "gets it." That's how it became an all-inclusive EV name, offering service to existing electric vehicles, providing design service for an upcoming EV for an EU consortium, acting as a dealer for a wide variety of electric vehicle manufacturers, and serving as a manufacturer of electric-powered shuttle buses... where the biggest opportunity for electricity-driven vehicles is quietly waiting for someone to tap the opportunity.

It's the last arena - the bus arena - that is going to allow Green Automotive Co. to turn a lot of heads next month. Through its subsidiary, shuttle bus maker Newport Coachworks, GACR has already gotten some attention, and some sales, by producing a 100% battery powered shuttle bus. If you don't think there's demand for such a vehicle, try this on for size - Don Brown Bus Sales has already ordered nearly 500 of them. Thing is, Green Automotive Company booked those orders without even having a proven product on hand to demonstrate. In fact, it sold its first battery-powered buses before it even began building its first one.

Fast forward to today. If GACR can drive sales of 500 units without the benefit of a demo model, and without even much of a concerted sales effort, what kind of sales could be generated when the company actually has a product to show? The answer is, a whole lot more. Well, Green Automotive Company now has that product ready to show. The so-called e-Patriot shuttle bus will be on hand at the February limo and bus show in Las Vegas, seen by hundreds of companies and buyers looking for a way to save money and/or improve the quality of their shuttle service. An electric bus is something they've never seen before that can accomplish both goals; the specs are amazing. The e-Patriot can travel 100 miles on one charge, and can achieve speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. The operating cost? A typical shuttle bus costs 14.5 cents per mile to run, versus 2.5 cents per mile for electric shuttles. Needless to say, buyers will be excited.

It's not just the LCT show that could be a catalytic event for Green Automotive Co., however. Once word gets out that such a product exists, demand could spread like wildfire. There are tens of thousands of shuttle buses already operating in the United States, and the figure reaches hundreds of thousands on a global basis. The market GACR is tapping into could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year, and reach into the billions once electric taxis become the preferred way of personal paid-transportation.

Almost needless to say, 2014 is going to be a real "coming of age" period for Green Automotive, and its investors.

For more on Green Automotive, visit the SCN research page here.

Clients OK With Outsourced Investment Management: Northern Trust

Advisors who have held back on outsourcing investment management out of fear of their clients’ reactions may have been overly cautious, according to a study released Thursday by Northern Trust.

The report found 92% of clients had a positive reaction when their advisor told them they were outsourcing the investment management portion of their services, and 80% said they lost no clients when they transitioned to outsourcing.

Nothern Trust provides investment management among other financial services.

Large firms, those managing more than $150 million in assets, were a little more likely to see a negative response from clients initially. However, smaller firms were more likely to report losing clients or revenue as a result: 27% versus 16% of large firms.

The survey asked respondents to choose from four possible rationales they provided when explaining their decisions to clients. By far the most common positions taken were regarding resource allocation and alignment. Forty-three percent of respondents said they presented their decision as one that would allow them to leverage their time and expertise; 35% told clients the decision allowed them to hire the best money managers and replace them as needed.

Just 9% positioned the move to clients as one that allowed them to enhance or focus more on service. Five percent said the move was a way to reduce costs.

For the advisors themselves, 70% said their business grew after they started outsourcing investment management duties.

“Advisors greatly value their client relationships, and as the marketplace becomes more sophisticated, sometimes reaching out for that expertise can enhance your position with your clients,” Eric Schweitzer, managing director of the financial intermediary practice at Northern Trust, told ThinkAdvisor on Friday.

However, among advisors who don’t outsource, 56% say that’s because in-house management is part of their value proposition. Even though 31% said they would consider outsourcing if it were more affordable, 33% said it wouldn’t change their position.

The “Investment Management Outsourcing: Impact on Clients” report is the third in a biennial series that began in 2010. Northern Trust surveyed nearly 200 advisors for the report in November and December 2013.

Throughout the series, advisor satisfaction with outsourcing has remained stable, with about 90% of advisors saying they’re satisfied.

Most respondents said they were using multiple providers for their outsourcing needs, although 53% are using turnkey asset management programs. Most advisors are particular about which services they outsource, though. Almost 60% said they outsource specific asset classes and strategies. Only 29% said they outsource all of their investment management activities, whereas in 2012, about half of advisors were doing so.

“We’re seeing more advisors use multiple firms to get the job done,” according to Laura Gregg, vice president of senior relationship managment for Northern Trust.

Advisors are selective about which clients they outsource for and how much of their assets they let someone else manage, too. Forty percent of respondents said they outsource investment management for all client accounts. Almost half of advisors said they were outsourcing more than half of their clients’ assets.

Those most likely to be outsourced were large accounts, those with alternative or complex strategies and new accounts. Indeed, the primary reason advisors gave for choosing to outsource an account was access to alternatives expertise. Portfolio construction and monitoring were also cited as main drivers of the decision.

Schweitzer noted that it’s possible more advisors see outsourcing as a way to add expertise they don’t have themselves for their clients.

“If a practice viewed outsourcing from an operation perspective in the past and now they see an asset class that their clients are asking about, that would be an easy add-on, and that might have increased our numbers,” he said.

In 2012, the top three reasons for outsourcing were access to asset allocation models, access to certain managers and potential for alpha.