Just days after announcing cuts of up to 300 employees at its South Milwaukee facility that it acquired from Bucyrus, heavy-equipment manufacturer Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT ) laid off 460 workers at its Decatur, Ill., plant, again citing mining industry weakness.�The Decatur plant is a manufacturing facility that runs a foundry, overhaul, and remanufacturing, and where the South Milwaukee layoffs have been deemed temporary, these are said to be permanent. All told, the company wants to eliminate about 2,000 jobs.
A deep hole
Caterpillar identifies�coal, iron ore, gold, copper, and oil and natural gas as primary users of its equipment, so it's easy to see why the equipment maker is taking it on the chin. Mining companies are abandoning the coal industry in droves.
Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO ) recently announced its intention to sell off its Australian coal assets while also seeking "strategic alternatives" for its copper and gold mines. Despite global financial turmoil, gold is incongruously slipping as a safe haven, as billionaire investor George Soros recently pointed out.
Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: T. Rowe Price Group Inc.(TROW)
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company. The firm primarily provides its services to individual and institutional investors, retirement plans, and financial intermediaries. Through its subsidiaries it manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios along with mutual funds. It also provides advisory services. The firm invests in the public equity, venture capital, and fixed income markets across the globe. T. Rowe Price Group was founded in 1937 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland with additional offices in London, United Kingdom; Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Tokyo, Japan; and Singapore.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ: TROW ) isn't the best-known investment management company in the industry, but with more than half a trillion dollars under management, the company has a long history of serving its mutual-fund customers well. For T. Rowe Price stock, the benefits of the long bull market in stocks and the forward-thinking nature of its no-load fund strategy have helped boost the company's bottom line, and even as the competitive threat of exchange-traded funds have weighed on mutual-fund managers throughout the industry, recent market turmoil could give the company a chance to regain some of those who fled actively managed funds during the financial crisis. Let's take a closer look at T. Rowe Price to find out what's been happening with it lately and how its stock can move higher.
Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Two Harbors Investment Corp (TWO)
Two Harbors Investment Corp. (Two Harbors), incorporated on May 21, 2009, operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company is focused on investing in, financing and managing residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), residential mortgage loans, residential real properties, and other financial assets. The Company focuses on security selection and implements a relative value investment approach across various sectors within the residential mortgage market. Its target assets include Agency RMBS, Non-Agency RMBS, residential mortgage loans, residential real properties and other financial assets comprising approximately 5% to 10% of the portfolio. The Company has designated certain of its subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRSs). Capitol Acquisition Corp. (Capitol) is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Two Harbors. The Company is externally managed and advised by PRCM Advisers LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pine River Capital Management L.P. (Pine River).
The Company invests primarily in mortgage pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations and other residential mortgage-backed securities representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) (collectively GSEs). The Company also invests in residential mortgage-backed securities that are not issued by the GSEs (non-Agency RMBS) and United States Treasuries. At December 31, 2011, the Company had total assets of approximately $8.1 billion, of which $6.2 billion, or 77.1%, represented its RMBS portfolio. At December 31, 2011, $5.1 billion, or 80.9%, of its RMBS portfolio was comprised of Agency RMBS, $0.9 billion, or 14.9%, of its RMBS portfolio was comprised of senior non-Agency RMBS, and the remaining $0.2 billion, or 4.2%, was comprised of other non-Agency RMBS. The remaining $1.9 billion of assets consisted p! rimarily of United States Treasuries classified as trading instruments, cash, restricted cash, mortgage loans held-for-sale, receivables, derivative assets and prepaid assets.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Markos Kaminis]
As investors in Annaly Capital shares already know, quickly rising interest rates are a very bad thing for mortgage REITS like Annaly and peers like American Capital Agency (AGNC) and Two Harbors Investment (TWO). Interest rate concern is the key reason the share prices of names in this group have declined so deeply this year already, though the catalyst was intensifying expectations for Fed tapering of asset purchases up until now.
Top Safest Stocks To Buy For 2014: HIGHCROFT INVESTMENTS ORD GBP0.25(HCFT.L)
Highcroft Investments PLC operates as a real estate investment trust that has a portfolio of property and equity investments in the United Kingdom. The company?s portfolio includes commercial property comprising retail outlets, offices, and warehouses; and residential property consisting of single-let houses. Its financial assets include exchange-traded equity investments. The company is based in Kidlington, the United Kingdom.
Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Excellence Investments Ltd (EXCE)
Excellence Investments Ltd is an Israeli company active in the financial sector. The Company offers services to institutional and corporate clients, and high net worth individuals. The Company's services include global and domestic asset management, investment banking and underwriting, foreign exchange trade and advisory services, derivatives trading, brokerage, mutual fund and provident fund management, pension fund management and exchange traded funds (ETF).Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Mediobanca(MDBI.MI)
Mediobanca S.p.A. provides lending and investment banking services to financial companies and private investors in Italy and rest of Europe. It offers consumer credit products, including personal and special purpose loans, credit cards, and salary-backed finance; corporate lending products, such as bilateral, club-deal, and syndicated loans; leveraged finance products comprising acquisition and LBO/MBO finance; structured finance products consisting of project, infrastructure, and real estate finance; and export finance products, including export credit, trade finance, L/C facilities, pre-export finance, commercial loans, untied loans, and Islamic finance. The company also provides finance leasing, mortgage lending, insurance products, deposits and current accounts, and investment products. In addition, it offers advisory services consisting of corporate finance; and fiduciary services, such as fiduciary administration of equity investments, and investments in market secur ity, as well as fiduciary services for issuers. Further, the company offers equity capital market products comprising IPOs, rights offerings, secondary offerings/accelerated book building, and equity-linked products; security brokerage services, such as equity research, equity distribution, and corporate broking services; strategic equity derivatives for equity holdings treasury shares management; direct investments and investments through fund stock units; equity-linked investments products; research services; and equity finance solutions consisting of securities lending, equity repo, and collateral financing. Additionally, it originates, structures, executes, and distributes bond issues; provides FI investor solutions, corporate solutions, private and retail solutions, and alternative advisory services; and offers private banking services, such as portfolio management, advisory and financing, and asset management services. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquarter ed in Milan, Italy.
Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ)
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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, the Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (NYSE: FAZ) have received the dreaded one-star ranking.
Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
The Bank of Nova Scotia (the Bank) is a diversified financial institution. As of October 31, 2011, the Bank offered a range of products and services, including retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking to more than 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. The Bank has four business lines: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Scotia Capital and Global Wealth Management. In January 2012, the Company closed its acquisition of 51% of Banco Colpatria. In April 2012, the Company through Scotia Capital Inc. acquired Howard Weil Incorporated. In April 2013, Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a 50% interest in Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Horizonte SA. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Infinity Group]
Scotia iTrade (BNS) is one of the largest brokers in Canada. Last week I had a conversation with a Trading Manager and was told "there are no shares currently to be lent out." This changes on a daily basis, but has been the norm for the past month.
Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Huntington Bancshares Incorporated(HBAN)
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated operates as the holding company for The Huntington National Bank that provides commercial, small business, and consumer banking services. The company?s Retail and Business Banking segment offers various financial products and services, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, certificates of deposit, consumer loans, and small business loans and leases; and investments, insurance, interest rate risk protection, foreign exchange hedging, and treasury management services to consumer and small business customers. Its Regional and Commercial Banking segment provides commercial lending; depository and liquidity management products; treasury management solutions; equipment and technology leasing; international services; and capital markets services, such as interest rate risk protection, foreign exchange hedging and sales, trading of securities, mezzanine investment capabilities, and employee benefit programs to government, not-f or-profit, health-care, and publicly traded entities. The company?s Automobile Finance and Commercial Real Estate segment offers financing for the purchase of automobiles, and new and used vehicle inventory by automotive dealerships; and financing for land, buildings, and other commercial real estate owned or constructed by real estate developers, automobile dealerships, or other customers. Its Wealth Advisors, Government Finance, and Home Lending segment provides investment management; investment servicing; custody, and corporate trust and retirement plan services; and administrative and operational support to fund to high net worth customers. It also offers online, mobile, and telephone banking services; and operates approximately 1,300 automated teller machines. As of December 31, 2011, the company had 652 branches located in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Huntington Bancshares Incorporated was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Amanda Alix]
Large regional banks have been getting in on the act, too. KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY ) , Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN ) , and Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB ) all boosted their commercial loan portfolios last year between 18% and 20%.
- [By Jay Jenkins]
For the big banks, the gap was greatest and overall scores were generally lower. It seems that battered institutions like Citigroup (NYSE: C ) and Bank of America� (NYSE: BAC ) are still trapped in the mud of 2007 and 2008. Regional banks contrast that, though, with banks like Huntington Bancshares� (NASDAQ: HBAN ) and Suntrust (NYSE: STI ) scoring higher and with less of a gap between customers and non customers.
Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Panther Secs(PNS.L)
Panther Securities P.L.C. invests and deals in real estate properties and securities in the United Kingdom. It invests primarily in commercial properties, such as offices, retail units, and bars. The company also invests in residential properties and industrial estates. In addition, it provides real-time information systems, including bookmaking, broadcasting, and digital signage. The company was incorporated in 1934 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.
Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Mediolanum(MED.MI)
Mediolanum S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial services in Italy. It offers personalized current accounts that are interest-bearing and includes checks, ATM card, and credit card services. The company also provides a range of payment cards, including credit cards, debit cards, and rechargeable cards; mortgages and loans; pension schemes; managed savings, including mutual funds and managed accounts, and index and unit linked products; and life insurance products. In addition, it provides financial brokerage, asset management and advice, fund management, real estate brokerage, and education and training services, as well as engages in the production of audio, film, and television programs. The company operates in Spain, Germany, Ireland, and Luxemburg. Mediolanum S.p.A. was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Basiglio, Italy.
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