We used to have an old saying that you can always come in late the day of a Fed announcement, but that may not be the case today. As unpredictable as the stock markets are, the Fed can be even more unpredictable. The Asian markets closed mixed and Europe is trading higher after a quiet night in the global markets. This morning's economic calendar starts with the mortgage applications, housing starts and the API.
What we know for sure is that the E-mini S&P futures (CME ticker ESZ) has been on a tear. As of yesterday's close the S&P futures have closed higher 9 out of the first 11 trading days in September and up 7 out of the last 8. Instead of increased volatility and trade leading up to the two-day Fed meeting, we are actually seeing a lull.
Yesterday's 1.4 million ESZs traded sounds low, but when you take out the 400,000 ESZ traded in Globex pre-open and the 550k ESU/Z spreads (S&P e-mini spread), the total day session volume drops down to an astonishingly low 450,000 contracts traded.
S&P 1700, Dow 16,000 and NASDAQ 3800 are all considered big figures. Currently the ESZ has rallied back to its all-time contract highs but has failed to hold above the big figure. What we do know is that all the major indices are trading at or near their respective highs.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) closed below 14 yesterday. The majority of the floor traders we spoke to said they felt the Fed would announce a $10bil taper and that the public has already accepted the idea.
5 Best Low Price Stocks For 2015: National Western Life Insurance Company(NWLI)
National Western Life Insurance Company provides life insurance products for the savings and protection needs of policyholders and annuity contracts for the asset accumulation and retirement needs of contract holders. Its life products include universal life insurance and interest-sensitive whole life, as well as traditional products, such as term insurance coverage; and annuity products comprise flexible premium and single premium deferred annuities, fixed indexed annuities, and single premium immediate annuities. The company markets and distributes its insurance products primarily through independent national marketing organizations to residents of various countries in central and South America, the Caribbean, the Pacific Rim, eastern Europe, and Asia. It also engages in small real estate, nursing home, and other investment operations. The company was founded in 1956 and is based in Austin, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, life insurance company National Western Life Insurance Company (NASDAQ: NWLI ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.
- [By David Merkel]
The two stocks in question are Stancorp Financial (SFG) and National Western Life Insurance (NWLI). The short cases for both are based on a naive view of how insurance companies work.
Top 10 Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: Hellenic Sugar Industry SA (HSI)
Hellenic Sugar Industry SA is a Greece-based company engaged in the production and trade of white crystal sugar and its by-products, such as molasses and sugar beet seed. Its principal activities include the manufacture of all types of sweetener products and general kneading products; the production and processing of sugar beet and other plants; the production of raw materials for sugar production; the establishment, equipping and exploitation of sugar producing factories; conducting scientific research in all fields of activity of the Company; the trade and standardization of sugar products, by-products, raw materials, multiple materials, agricultural products and machinery, and carrying out agro-industrial activities in Greece and abroad. The Company has five sugar factories and one seed processing factory in Greece. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Kana Nishizawa]
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) of mainland companies traded in the city declined 0.5 percent to 10,785.58 at the close, its biggest drop since April 23. About nine stocks fell for every seven that gained on the Hang Seng Composite Index, the city�� broadest equity measure. Mainland equity markets are closed through May 1 for public holidays. The benchmark Hang Seng Index (HSI) gained 0.2 percent, with trading volume 21 percent less than the 30-day intraday average.
Top 10 Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND)
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated operates as a biotechnology company. It principally engages in the development and acquisition of royalty revenue generating assets. The company engages in the research, milestone, and royalty revenue activities resulting from its collaborations with pharmaceutical partners. The collaborations primarily include ongoing clinical programs at Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Merck & Co., Cephalon, Inc, and Celgene. These partnered product candidates are being studied for the treatment of indications, such as thrombocytopenia, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms, and Alzheimer?s disease. Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated receives royalties principally on sales of Avinza from Pfizer, Promacta from GlaxoSmithKline, and Viviant /Conbriza from Pfizer. The company through its subsidiary, CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., offers four marketed products, as well as has one approved product, a portfolio of partnered drug development programs, an internal pipeline of proprietary drugs, and the Captisol drug formulation platform technology. Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated was formerly known as Progenx Inc. and changed its name in 1989. The company was founded in 1987 and is based in La Jolla, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jim Jubak]
For the second stock that looks interesting, Jim Jubak agrees with Jim Oberweis, Jr., editor of The Oberweis Report. Oberweis thinks that the healthcare sector, in particular, Ligand (LGND), is set to boom in the coming year.
- [By James Oberweis]
Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) has a business model that is focused on drug discovery and partnering with pharmaceutical companies at an early development stage.
- [By Garrett Cook]
Healthcare shares dropped by 0.34 percent in the US market on Wednesday. Top losers in the sector included POZEN (NASDAQ: POZN), down 7.2 percent, and Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: LGND), off 5.5 percent.
- [By Namitha Jagadeesh]
Workday Inc. (WDAY) jumped 9.3 percent in early New York trading after predicting quarterly revenue that surpassed estimates. Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. (LGND) advanced 3 percent after the market close yesterday as S&P said the company will replace SHFL Entertainment Inc. in its index tracking smaller companies. Nuance Communications Inc. (NUAN) tumbled 7.5 percent in Germany after forecasting full-year sales that missed analysts��projections.
Top 10 Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: U.S. Silica Holdings Inc (SLCA)
US Silica Holdings, Inc. is a silica sand supplier company. The Company is a producer of industrial minerals, including sand proppants, whole grain silica, ground silica, fine ground silica, calcined kaolin clay and aplite clay. The Company operates in two segments: oil and gas, and industrial and specialty products. The Company�� shipping capabilities include five of the class-one railroads, barge, full truckload, partial truckload and intermodal. The Company�� products include proppants, whole grain silica, ground silica, fine ground silica, testing silica, recreational silica, aplite, kaolin, hydrous kaolin and FLORISIL. It also operates as a research and development specialist for customized products and solutions. The Company serves a range of industries and applications, which includes oil and gas, glass, chemicals, foundry, building products, fillers and extenders, recreation, industrial filtration and treatment, and testing and analysis.
Oil & Gas
The Company�� oil and gas segment include OTTAWA WHITE and SHALE FRAC product lines. The Company has a selection of offerings from number of mining and transload locations. Its products consist of unconventional reservoirs, including tight gas, coal bed methane, shale gas, and liquids.
Industrial & Specialty Products
The Company�� industrial and specialty products include glass, chemical, foundry, building products, fillers and extenders, recreation, industry filtration and treatment, and testing and analysis. The Company produces a range of whole grain silica, ground silica and kaolin clays.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By MONEYMORNING.COM]
Because of the promise of fracking, not to mention its doubling since I recommended it, I think we should take another good look at U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SLCA).
Top 10 Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: SVB Financial Group(SIVB)
SVB Financial Group, a diversified financial services company, provides various banking and financial products and services. The company offers deposit products, such as traditional deposit and checking accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and sweep accounts, as well as lockbox and merchant services; and lending products and services, including traditional term loans, equipment loans, asset-based loans, revolving lines of credit, accounts-receivable-based lines of credits, capital call lines of credits, and credit cards. It also provides cash management products and services comprising wire transfer and automated clearing house payment services, collection services, disbursement services, electronic funds transfers, and online banking services. In addition, the company offers foreign exchange services; letters of credit, including export, import, and standby letters of credit; investment services and solutions; brokerage; asset management; investment a dvisory services, such as outsourced treasury services; and non-banking products and services, such as funds management, venture capital/private equity investment, and equity valuation services. Further, it provides private banking services comprising mortgages, home equity lines of credit, restricted stock purchase loans, and other secured and unsecured lending services. As of March 09, 2012, the company operated 26 offices in the United States and 7 offices internationally. It serves customers in the technology, venture capital/private equity, life science, wine, and clean tech industries. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Will Ashworth]
While airlines have their ups and downs, Copa is about the best I can think of to weather the storm.
Best Stocks #4 (Midcap): SVB Financial (SIVB)
I never would have thought one of my picks for the next 20 years would be a bank — let alone one that focuses on entrepreneurs — but here I am.
- [By John Maxfield]
Given that you clicked on this article, it seems safe to assume you either own stock in SVB Financial (NASDAQ: SIVB ) or are considering buying shares in the near future. If so, then you've come to the right place. The table below reveals the nine most critical numbers that investors need to know about SVB Financial stock before deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold it.
- [By Lisa Levin] Related ZU Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Losers Stocks Hitting 52-Week Lows Zulily Falls 30% on Earnings (Fox Business) Related SIVB SVB Financial Plans New Stock Offering - Analyst Blog Why SVB Financial (SIVB) Could Beat Earnings Estimates Again - Tale of the Tape
zulily (NASDAQ: ZU) shares moved up 9.65% to $35.10. The volume of zulily shares traded was 1005% higher than normal. Zulily's trailing-twelve-month revenue is $806.58 million.
Top 10 Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE)
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. produces, distributes, and markets non-alcoholic beverages in Europe. It provides a range of beverage categories, including energy drinks, still and sparkling waters, juices, sports drinks, fruit drinks, coffee-based beverages, and teas. The company primarily offers its products under Coca-Cola, Diet Coke/Coke light, Fanta, Coca-Cola Zero, Capri Sun, Schweppes, Sprite, Chaudfontaine, MinuteMaid, and Dr. Pepper brands. It provides its products to customers and consumers through licensed territory agreements in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. was founded in 1986 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Rooney]
There have been rumors that SodaStream could partner with a larger beverage company after Coca-Cola (CCE) took a significant stake in Keurig Green Mountain (GMCR), which is working on its own at-home soda machine.
Top 10 Asian Companies To Own In Right Now: BioMed Realty Trust Inc (BMR)
BioMed Realty Trust, Inc., incorporated on April 30, 2004, operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT), and the general partner of BioMed Realty, L.P. As of December 31, 2011, BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. owned an approximate 98.1% partnership interest and other limited partners. It owns, acquires, develops, redevelops, leases and manages laboratory and office space for the life science industry. Its tenants include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, scientific research institutions, government agencies and other entities involved in the life science industry. Its properties are located in markets with well-established reputations as centers for scientific research, including Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Maryland, New York/New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Seattle. In June 2013, BioMed Realty Trust Inc and Wexford Science & Technology, LLC announced that they have completed their previously announced merger. In December 2013, Wexford Science & Technology, a BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. company, announced the acquisition of the Chesterfield Building site in downtown Durham, North Carolina.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company executed 87 leasing transactions representing approximately 1.6 million square feet, including 52 new leases totaling approximately 1.1 million square feet and 35 leases amended to extend their terms. During 2011, the Company acquired approximately one million rentable square feet of laboratory and office space. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or had interests in a portfolio with an aggregate of approximately 12.4 million rentable square feet. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� stabilized property included 97 buildings, leased up included 34 buildings and long term leased up included 10 buildings. As of December 31, 2011, its consolidated and unconsolidated properties were leased to 174 tenants.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� Boston properties represented 34.2% of its annualized base rent and 23.4% of it! s total leased square footage. As of December 31, 2011, its California properties located in San Francisco and San Diego represented 31.9% of its annualized base rent and 37.9% of its total leased square footage. As of December 31, 2011, its Maryland properties represented 14.8% of its annualized base rent and 15% of its total leased square footage.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Small cap Biomed Realty Trust Inc (NYSE: BMR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) offering an alternative way to gain exposure to the biotech or life sciences sector, meaning it might be worth taking a closer look at it along with a few benchmarks like the Vanguard REIT ETF (NYSEARCA: VNQ), iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (NASDAQ: IBB) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA: XBI). Of course, it should be mentioned that REITs have had a rough ride lately�given all the ��apering��talk, but there is still a place for them in your portfolio with Biomed Realty Trust being one of the more unique offerings.
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