Fulfilling its promise to scrutinize broker-dealers’ cybersecurity policies this year, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has issued a targeted exam letter to firms stating that the self-regulator is assessing how firms manage cybersecurity threats.
In the exam letter, FINRA states that it is conducting its assessment “in light of the critical role information technology (IT) plays in the securities industry, the increasing threat to firms' IT systems from a variety of sources, and the potential harm to investors, firms and the financial system as a whole that these threats pose.”
Specifically, FINRA says it will be looking at firms' policies in the following areas:
—approaches to information technology risk assessment;
—business continuity plans in case of a cyberattack;
—organizational structures and reporting lines;
—processes for sharing and obtaining information about cybersecurity threats;
—understanding of concerns and threats faced by the industry;
—assessment of the impact of cyberattacks on the firm over the past 12 months;
—approaches to handling distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks;
—training programs;
—insurance coverage for cybersecurity-related events; and
—contractual arrangements with third-party service providers
Top Dividend Companies To Invest In Right Now: Asante Gold Corp (ASE)
Asante Gold Corporation is a mineral exploration company involved in the acquisition and assessment of mineral properties in the Republic of Ghana. The Company is a gold royalty, exploration and development company. The Company is focused in Ghana, West Africa where it is exploring the Fahiakoba concession, a 22.07 square kilometers prospecting license located on strike with and between Perseus Mining's 4.32 million ounce Edikan Mine and AngloGold Ashanti's 60 million ounce Obuasi mine. It has a 100% interest in the Fahiakoba concession. ASG Mining Ltd. is the Company�� 100% owned Ghana subsidiary. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Namitha Jagadeesh]
Greece�� ASE Index (ASE) retreated 4 percent today, pulled down by shares of lenders. National Bank of Greece SA tumbled 27 percent to 1.15 euros after announcing details of a share sale. Piraeus Bank SA slid 21 percent to 36 euro cents.
Hot US Companies To Own For 2014: Emak SpA (EM)
Emak SpA is an Italy-based company primarily engaged in the manufacture of outdoor power equipment for gardening, forestry, agriculture and industry. The Company�� portfolio includes chainsaws, brush cutters, lawnmowers, garden tractors, water pumps, high pressure washers, transporters, rotary cultivators, motor hoes and power cutters, among others. It also manufactures spare parts, accessories and protective clothing. The Company sells its products under various brand names, such as Oleo-Mac, Efco, Bertolini, Nibbi and Staub. Emak SpA directly manages distribution in the Italian market and it sells products, through its commercial subsidiaries, in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, the countries of Benelux, Poland, Ukraine, among others.The Company is controlled by Yama SpA, which is an industrial holding company. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Federico Zaldua]
Brookfield Infrastructure has a number of potentially profitable areas for investment around the world but, above all, in infrastructure hungry Emerging Markets (EM) such as Brazil. According to Credit Suisse analysts, in Brazil, funds can be invested at Funds From Operations (FFO) yields above 12%. Therefore, the company's ability to grow its distribution yield, whether through acquisitions or organically, is critical to evaluate the company's value. Moreover, the currently conservative dividend payout ratio should allow Brookfield Infrastructure to self-finance on going opportunities.
- [By Holly LaFon]
As true value investors, Brandes oft en moves against the crowd amid markets' constantly changing performance cycles. Take the recent equity market weakness in a number of emerging market (EM) countries for example. Over the last year, while macroeconomic and geopolitical concerns cast a cloud of uncertainty over the asset class in general, we started to see some interesting investment opportunities at the company level as a result of such market weakness.
- [By Canadian Value]
For 20+ years there has been a coherent growth story around Emerging Markets (EM), where the label "Emerging Market" had real meaning within a common knowledge perspective. Today ��not so much. Today the story is that it was easy money from the Fed that drove global growth, EM or otherwise. Today the story is that Emerging Markets are just the levered beneficiaries or victims of Fed monetary policy, no different than anyone else��
Hot US Companies To Own For 2014: Thomson Reuters Corp(TRI)
Thomson Reuters Corporation provides intelligent information for businesses and professionals worldwide. The company allows market participants to connect, access content, and trade in a secure environment through Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop, Thomson Reuters Elektron network, content integration and management technology, content feeds and databases, and transactions infrastructure solutions that support buy- and sell-side customers to trade in foreign exchange, fixed income and derivatives, equities, exchange-traded instruments, and commodities and energy markets. It also offers information, analytics, workflow, and technology solutions to buy-side and off-trading floor customers; access to liquidity in over-the-counter markets, trade execution, and connections for market participants and financial professionals? communities; and a suite of solutions offering informed outcomes to regulated industries and law firms. In addition, the company provides critical information , decision support tools, and software and services to legal, investigation, business, and government professionals; integrated tax compliance and accounting software and services for accounting and law firms, corporations, and government professionals; intellectual property and scientific resources that enable its customers to discover, develop, and deliver innovations; and data analytics, and performance benchmarking solutions and services to healthcare sector. Further, it offers coverage of global, regional, and national news in 20 languages covering politics, business, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, health, science, and sports; and engages in advertising-supported direct-to-consumer publishing activities of Reuters.com and its network of Websites, mobile applications, and electronic out-of-home displays. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Wolfe]
Thomson Reuters (TRI)
On Feb. 11, Thomson Reuters declared a dividend of $0.330 per share, representing 3.80% dividend yield for the company. This dividend is payable on March 17 to shareholders of the record at the close of business on Feb. 24, 2014.
- [By Rich Smith]
Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI ) has acquired Canadian trademark search, monitoring, and screening firm Onscope, Thomson announced Tuesday.
- [By Rich Smith]
This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature an upgrade for Thomson Reuters Reuters (NYSE: TRI ) , a new buy rating for Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX ) -- but for Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP ) , a downgrade. Let's get that bad news out of the way first.
- [By Bill Smith]
FDS operates in a highly competitive industry, some with more resources. Their competitors include:
Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI)BloombergInteractive (IDC)MSCI Inc. (MXB)Morningstar Inc. (MORN)Track Data Corp. (TRAC)Edgar Online (EDGR)McGraw-Hill (MHP )
Hot US Companies To Own For 2014: St. Jude Medical Inc.(STJ)
St. Jude Medical, Inc. develops, manufactures, and distributes cardiovascular and implantable neurostimulation medical devices worldwide. It operates in four segments: Cardiac Rhythm Management, Cardiovascular, Atrial Fibrillation, and Neuromodulation. The Cardiac Rhythm Management segment offers products for cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heart beats. Its products include tachycardia implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems to provide therapy to patients suffering from lethal heart conditions, such as sudden cardiac arrest; cardiac resynchronization therapy devices to treat heart failure patients; pacemakers to help people whose hearts beat too slowly or who suffer from other cardiac arrhythmias; and leads, which connect devices to the heart and carry the electrical impulses to the heart and information from the heart to the device. The Cardiovascular segment offers mechanical and tissue replacement heart valves, as well as heart valve repair products. It also pr ovides disposable interventional devices, including vascular closure devices, compression assist devices, percutaneous catheter introducers, diagnostic guidewires, and temporary bipolar pacing catheters, as well as diagnostic coronary imaging technology. The Atrial Fibrillation segment offers a system of products for access, diagnosis, visualization, and ablation that assist physicians in diagnosing and treating various irregular heart rhythms used in the electrophysiology lab and cardiac surgery. It provides electrophysiology introducers and catheters, cardiac mapping, navigation and recording systems, and ablation systems. The Neuromodulation segment offers a range of neurostimulation systems, such as rechargeable implantable pulse generators, primary cell implantable pulse generators, and radio frequency powered systems. St. Jude Medical markets its products through a direct sales force and independent distributors. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Stephens]
Still, guidance does seem to matter, as seen in the recent jump of St. Jude Medical's (NYSE: STJ ) share price, which recently went from $66 to $68 in the space of a few hours.
- [By Dan Carroll]
Edwards' stock's massive plunge today was probably too much for the miss, but the cardiovascular market overall has been tough on medical-device companies recently. St. Jude Medical (NYSE: STJ ) reported falling sales in its most recent quarterly report, primarily because of cardiovascular-related revenue on the decline, and Medtronic (NYSE: MDT ) , a competitor of Edwards' in the heart valve market with its CoreValve device, could still threaten the Sapien's sales despite a court ruling recently that judged the CoreValve to have infringed on one of Edwards' patents.
- [By Dan Carroll]
Take a look around the top device companies reporting this week, and you'll see a picture of lackluster growth. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ ) , one of the biggest names in health care, saw double-digit growth from its medical device department, but only because of its $12 billion acquisition of orthopedics powerhouse Synthes last year. Fellow diversified medical firm Abbott Labs' (NYSE: ABT ) medical device sales fell more than 4% despite its dominant position in the stent industry. St. Jude Medical (NYSE: STJ ) also saw sales decline 3% at a constant currency, even as the company managed to grow earnings by more than 5% by cutting costs.
Hot US Companies To Own For 2014: AvWorks Aviation Corp (SPLI)
AvWorks Aviation Corp., formerly Datamill Media Corp., incorporated on January 15, 1990, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Young Aviation, LLC (Young Aviation) operate as a diversified broker and supplier of parts and services to the worldwide aviation and aerospace markets. The Company services a broad range of clients such as aircraft leasing companies, major airlines, repair stations, fixed-base operators, leasing companies and aftermarket suppliers. The Company was a management consulting firm that planned to educate and assist small businesses to improve their management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and other business processes, with a focus on capital market participation.
On October 3, 2011, the Company acquired 100% interests in Young Aviation. Young Aviation is a diversified broker and supplier of parts, components and products to the general aviation and aerospace markets of the United States, Europe and Asia. Young Aviation services a range of clients, such as aircraft leasing companies, major airlines, repair stations, fixed-base operators, leasing companies and after market suppliers.In December 2011, the Company announced the purchase and salvage of a Lear Jet 24 from a private owner. On June 22, 2011, Datamill Media Sub Corp. was organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Datamill Media Corp. The principal business of this subsidiary was to act as a merger vehicle for the pending merger with M3X Media, Inc. On August 12, 2011, the Company terminated the Merger Agreement with M3X Media, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
It's a rarity that I reiterate an idea I've previously opined... particularly one that I only published just a couple of days earlier. The fact that I'm going to do so with AvWorks Aviation Corp. (OTCMKTS:SPLI) - perhaps better known to some as Vapor Group - should tell you how important it is to re-convey the message. Here goes...
- [By James E. Brumley]
It's admittedly scary to try and catch a falling knife, but sometimes it's worth the risk. Case in point? AvWorks Aviation Corp. (OTCMKTS:SPLI) .... better known as Vapor Group. Without knowing more about the stock, the sheer fact that SPLI has fallen nearly 90% since March 26th - with about a third of that coming today alone - the stock would be best left avoided by nearly any trader. For the small group of savvy traders that know the tell-tale signs and know how the market really works, however, AvWorks Aviation, or Vapor Group, may be in a prime buying situation today.... yes, even in the midst of this bloodbath.
Hot US Companies To Own For 2014: SuperValu Inc.(SVU)
SUPERVALU INC., together with its subsidiaries, operates retail food stores in the United States. Its stores offer grocery, general merchandise, health and beauty care, pharmacy, and fuel products. The company operates stores under the Acme, Albertsons, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Hornbacher?s, Jewel-Osco, Lucky, Shaw?s, Shop ?n Save, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, and Star Market banners, as well as in-store pharmacies under the Osco and Sav-on banners. It operates approximately 2,394 traditional and hard-discount retail food stores, including 899 licensed Save-A-Lot stores. The company also offers supply chain services, which include wholesale distribution of products to independent retailers, including single and multiple grocery store independent operators, regional and national chains, mass merchants, and the military customers, as well as provides logistics support services. SUPERVALU was founded in 1871 and is based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Down, down, down Supervalu (SVU) goes and where it stops, no one knows. Not even Goldman Sachs, which cut Supervalu’s shares to Sell from Neutral, though it does have a guess.
Goldman Sachs analysts Stephen Grambling and Christopher Prykull explain their thinking:
SVU shares are up 183% year-to-date (vs. S&P 500 +26%) as management�� initiatives have slowed the top-line deterioration at the company�� retail banners and Save-A-Lot. As the market has started to factor in stable-to-improving EBITDA on a highly levered equity base, the stock has re-rated from 4.5X EV/EBITDA to 6.1X EV/EBITDA. With the shares now trading above the historical average and roughly in line with peers, we expect future downward revisions to consensus estimates will likely drive a rerating of the shares to a more normalized level.
While we have been encouraged by the new management team�� success in effecting change, we believe cuts to food stamps (SNAP benefits), potential reductions to the transition service agreement, and encroaching competition will likely overwhelm operational improvements…
Shares of Supervalu have dropped 8.3% to $6.31 at 2:59 p.m., within spitting distance of Goldman’s $6 target price, while competitors Family Dollar Stores (FDO) has gained 0.2% to $70.16,�Dollar General�(DG) has fallen 0.4% t0 $59.02,�Dollar Tree (DLTR) is off 1% to $59.33 and Wal-Mart (WMT) is little changed at $79.19.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU ) will release its quarterly report on Thursday, and investors are increasingly optimistic that the grocery-store chain has finally turned the corner, and is poised for a rebound. Although the company is much smaller after having divested itself of several of its biggest chains, SUPERVALU nevertheless has the potential to remain profitable.
Hot US Companies To Own For 2014: Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (SMB)
Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the Barclays Capital AMT-Free Short Continuous Municipal Index (the Index). The Index provides broad exposure to investment-grade municipal bonds with a nominal maturity of 1 to 6 years. To be included in the Index, bonds must be rated investment-grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two ratings agencies: Moody��, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the rating must be investment grade. They must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have a dated-date within the last five years, and must be at least 1 year but less than 6 years from their maturity date. Its investment advisor is Van Eck Associates Corporation. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Todd Rosenbluth]
Two others are iShares Short-Term National AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (SUB) and Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (SMB).
The Market Vectors fund, not surprisingly, has more A bond exposure and less AA exposure than the iShares fund. However, both have lower average durations than iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond and thus might appeal to investors concerned about the impact of higher rates.
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