Saturday, November 30, 2013

Friday Closing Bell: Markets Booming; DJIA, S&P 500 at Record Highs Again

November 15, 2013: U.S. equity markets opened higher Friday morning even following a dismal report on the Empire State manufacturing index, a lower-than-expected reading on U.S. industrial production, and a drop in U.S. export prices. Sharply higher readings on wholesale inventories promise increased estimates for fourth-quarter GDP growth. Both the DJIA and the S&P 500 indexes closed at new highs today.

European markets closed mostly higher today, while Asian and Latin American markets all closed higher.

Monday's calendar includes speeches by Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren, New York Fed President William Dudley, Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser, and Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota and the following scheduled data releases and events (all times Eastern):

9:00 a.m. – Treasury International Capital (TIC) data 10:00 a.m. – Housing market index 10:00 a.m. – E-commerce retail sales 11:30 a.m. – 3- and 6-month bill auctions

Here are the closing bell levels for Friday:

S&P500 1798.18 (+7.55; +0.42%) DJIA 15961.70 (+85.48; +0.54%) NASDAQ 3985.97 (+13.23; +0.33%) 10YR TNOTE 2.705% (+0.1250) Gold $1,287.40 (+1.10; +0.1%) and up 0.2% for the week WTI Crude oil $93.84 (+0.08; +0.1%) and down 0.8% for the week for a sixth consecutive weekly decline Euro/Dollar: 1.3492 (+0.0032; +0.25%)

Big Earnings Movers: Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is up 8.7% at $54.94. Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) is down 0.3% at $17.51 on a weak forecast. Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN) is down 1% at $62.81. Youku Tudou Inc. (NYSE: YOKU) is up 11.2% at $29.30. InterCloud Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ICLD) is up 265.9% at $9.33 on solid results and higher hopes.

Stocks on the Move: Zulily Inc. (NASDAQ: ZU) is up 71.4% at $37.70 after its IPO today. Cadence Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CADX) is up 33.8% at $7.87 on a patent ruling. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) is down 7.4% at $24.04.

In all, 214 NYSE stocks put up new 52-week highs today, while 16 stocks posted new lows.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Retailers brace for a tough holiday season

same store sales 111113

Sales at stores open at least a year are expected to grow just 1.6% during the key holiday quarter, Morgan Stanley estimates. That would be less than half of last year's 3.5% growth and the worst since 2008.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) The holidays may not be so merry and bright this year ... for retailers.

Sales growth during the fourth quarter is shaping up to be the weakest since 2008, according to predictions from Morgan Stanley.

Same-store sales, a key metric that measures sales at store locations open at least a year, are expected to grow a mere 1.6% from a year ago during the fourth quarter, Morgan Stanley estimates. Last year's holiday sales were up 3.5% from the fourth quarter of 2011.

The 1.6% figure excludes sales at troubled J.C. Penney (JCP, Fortune 500). That's because J.C. Penney is expected to offer deep discounts to try and get back on track after a disastrous drop in sales last year. As a result, J.C. Penney may not have that tough a time beating last year's low bar. And its results could skew the overall sales figures for the industry.

Why will sales be sluggish this year? The culprit appears to be weak consumer confidence. While Americans have more to spend thanks to a rising stock market, higher home values and low gas prices, they're not so willing to part with their cash.

"Concerns over future income linger and the government shenanigans have dampened confidence on the cusp of holiday shopping," Morgan Stanley analysts said.

In order to attract more customers, retailers are expected to roll out steep price reductions. In fact, Morgan Stanley expects the season to bring "the most intense promotional holiday environment since 2008."

The calendar isn't helping retailers either. Since there are six fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christ! mas compared to last year, retailers may hit the "panic button" earlier than necessary to ensure sales growth.

While lower prices are good news for cost-conscious consumers, they will put pressure on what are already low profit margins for many retailers.

Teen retailers can't catch a break: Any LFO summer girls still out there? Stores like Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), American Eagle (AEO) and Aeropostale (ARO) will likely face another difficult quarter, as teens continue to abandon these once-hot retailers in favor of less expensive and fashion-forward outlets like Forever 21, H&M and Zara.

Last week, Abercrombie & Fitch said its third quarter same-store sales tumbled 14%, and that it expects fourth-quarter sales to also drop.

Abercrombie is no longer cool   Abercrombie is no longer cool

While some stronger competitors like Gap (GPS, Fortune 500) reported upbeat October sales and strong guidance, Sterne Agee analyst Ike Boruchow remains cautious about the apparel industry.

Boruchow said "tepid" sales, rough competition and heavy promotional discounts could further hurt teen retailers during the holidays.

Plus, teens are just going to the mall less often in general. A recent survey from Piper Jaffray showed that American teens visit the mall about 28 times a year, down almost 30% from the peak in 2007.

Instead of frequenting the mall, teens are "browsing increasingly on their mobile devices, engaging with brands on demand," said Piper Jaffray analyst Stephanie Wissink.

The bright spots: Though the broader holiday forecast for retailers is weak, some retailers could be getting more than just a lump coal in their stockings.

The Morgan Stanley analysts think that online commerce companies will benefit as "! time stra! pped and value conscious consumers" increasingly choose convenience and comparison shopping over waiting on line in stores during Black Friday.

Last year, e-commerce sales represented about 11% of total retail sales during the holiday period. This year, they could reach between 12% and 13%, according to Morgan Stanley.

The continued shift to online shopping should help Amazon.com (AMZN, Fortune 500), as well as digital coupon site RetailMeNot (SALE).

The Morgan Stanley analysts also expect Michael Kors (KORS) will continue to post strong sales growth as women buy more accessories. L Brands' (LTD, Fortune 500) Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works are also likely to boast solid sales during the holiday season, as they are able to attract shoppers without having to offer "irrational promotions," Morgan Stanley said.

Discount retailers like Ross Stores (ROST, Fortune 500) are also likely to steal market share from department stores as consumers seek out brand name goods at lower prices, Morgan Stanley said. To top of page

The Most Unfair Countries For Women

By many measures, the United States is the wealthiest economy in the world. However, according to a recent survey, women do not benefit nearly as much as men. The U.S. ranked 23rd in the world for gender equality, behind countries including South Africa, Cuba, and the Philippines.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) report, the 2013 Global Gender Gap Report, measured the disparities between men and women in 136 countries. In the nations that scored the worst, economic and educational opportunities, as well as political representation and health outcomes, were far worse for women than for men. According to the report, Iceland was the best country for gender equality, while Yemen was the worst. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 10 nations with the worst gender-based inequality.

Click here to see the Most Unfair Countries For Women

The world's worst countries for gender inequality consistently failed to provide the same education opportunities for women that were available for men. Five of these nations were among the bottom 10 countries measured for equality of educational attainment.

According to the most recently available data, just 49% of Yemeni women and 40% of Pakistani women were literate, compared to 82% and 69% of men, respectively. Last year, the Pakistani Taliban shot teenager Malala Yousafzai for actively promoting girls' right to an education. She survived and was nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize for her activism.

Women in countries with extreme gender inequality frequently also lack representation in political office. Women accounted for at least 20% of parliament in only three of the 10 worst nations. In Yemen, there are no female members of parliament. Only one of these nations, Pakistan, has had a female head of state in the last 50 years. Pakistan's former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto — the sole woman to lead any of these countries — was assassinated in 2007.

While the rank is based on the inequality between men and women, the nations also tended to among the worst countries for women overall. Nine of them had among the world's worst labor force participation rates. Similarly, in half of the nations more than half of all women were illiterate, according to the latest available data.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 10 nations that received the worst score in the World Economic Forum's 2013 Global Gender Gap Report. Each country was graded based on its score in four key areas: economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment. Countries scored worse by each measure when the gap between men and women for that measure was the widest. For example, women in Yemen do not have the lowest literacy rate in the world, but the gap between men and women by that measure is the widest, so Yemen received the lowest score for literacy. At the time the WEF produced their study all figures represented the most recently available data.

These are the most unfair countries for women.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Airbus calls for wider seats on long flights

airbus 18 inch seat

Seats in the economy section of large planes can vary in width -- some planes offer seats that are 17 inches wide while others offer a roomier 19 inches.

LONDON (CNNMoney) Airbus is calling on the airline industry to require wider seats on long-haul flights, citing a new study that found that just an extra inch of room vastly improves in-flight comfort and sleep quality.

The study from The London Sleep Centre found that seats, with a width of 18 inches, led to a 53% improvement in passenger sleep quality compared to the 17-inch standard offered by many airlines.

Airbus, part of the pan-European aerospace conglomerate EADS (EADSF), is hoping that all airlines will adopt the 18-inch standard for long-haul flights.

Airbus' call seemed more like a missive aimed at its rival across the ocean, Boeing (BA, Fortune 500), which makes planes with narrower seats, said U.S.-based airline consultant Jay Sorensen from IdeaWorksCompany.

"It's a rather shameless attempt at self-promotion using statistics from sponsored research," said Sorensen.

Airbus said that seats on its long-haul planes were already at least 18 inches wide.

The company said "other manufacturers [were] eroding passenger comfort standards by going back to narrower seat widths."

The aircraft manufacturer said the 1950's standard of 17 inches is out of date, as more people are flying frequent long-haul flights.

Airbus also noted that other industries -- including the auto industry -- had already moved to accommodate expanding waistlines and people's expectations for more personal space.

Sorensen said that "Airbus has conveniently picked a dimensional aspect that benefits them. Note that they are not addressing seat pitch -- the space between rows -- or recline angle." He pointed out that if! Boeing were forced to widen its seats, the planes wouldn't fit as many passengers.

How do you empty an A380's toilets?   How do you empty an A380's toilets?

Boeing was not immediately available for comment.

Airbus and Boeing are known to be fierce competitors in the commercial aviation space, vying for multi-billion dollar orders from large airlines operators around the world. To top of page

Dividend Theory Suggests Caution

Our Dividend Yield Theory looks at blue chip stocks, which have the tendency to follow a repetitive pattern of moving from historic parameters of high yield to low yield, and then back to high yield. This marks levels of historic under and overvaluation, explains Kelley Wright, editor of IQ Trends.

This theory can also be applied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU), which has also displayed a long-term, repetitive tendency to fluctuate between high and low dividend yield extremes. Indeed, looking at broad market behavior, we've seen three signs of Overvalued conditions.

1) the percentage of Undervalued stocks falls to 17% or less;

2) the percentage of Overvalued stocks is greater than the percentage of Undervalued stocks;

3) the dividend yield of the Dow Jones Industrial Average declines to within 10% of its historically repetitive area of low yield.

When the above Overvalued conditions have occurred simultaneously, there is historical precedent, or a tendency for, a broad market decline sufficient to remove these conditions as areas of concern.

Stated in a less clinical way, when these three red flags have appeared at the same time in the past, the broad market has declined enough to no longer be Overvalued.

The purpose of identifying trends and being aware of tendencies in the stock market is to avoid The Big Loss. Remember, the primary objective of investing is to realize a return on investment.

I'd much rather be singing Kumbaya with the rest of the punditry, but that's not what we are all about. Investing is a business, not a game of chance. To survive, as an investor, you have to buy right, hold tight, and take flight when the time comes.

Considering there have been two major bubble bursts in the last 13 years, one would think that investors would be smart enough not to get sucked into the "this time it's different" mantra, which is currently on full display in almost any medium you choose.

I took a call the other day from a columnist asking me about 3M Corp. (MMM). "What do you think about 3M, Kelley?"

"Great company, love it; have lots of subscribers and clients with long-term positions in it." "What do you think about buying it in here?" "No way, can't do it."

"Three analysts just upgraded it. What are they seeing that you aren't?"

"I have no idea what their metrics are and how they measure value, but the way we analyze companies is identifying their dividend yield patterns and seeing whether they are within 10% of their low-price/high-yield area or the other way around. Right now, they're too close to their Overvalue area to buy."

He then said the two magic letters; QE. "I think you're missing the boat here, Kelley. As long as the Fed is pumping, you can throw history out the window. We're in a new era man; the markets' got no place to go but up."

And there you have it; this time is different. Funny, but I could swear I heard the same thing in 2000 and 2007.

Forget the facts, data, trends, and tendencies. When the "market has no place to go but up," mentality kicks in, and what you'll have is a whole bunch of folks hoping and holding all the way down; it happens every time.

I know there are boat loads of folks who disagree with me; so be it. With the resilience this market has displayed, it is hard to blame them. "Facts are stubborn things," I believe Samuel Clemens said. So are trends.

Subscribe to IQ Trends here…

More from MoneyShow.com:

Timely Ten: Dividend Values

Is it Time to be Fearful?

Beware of Bubbles

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Boomers Need to Talk About Long-Term Care

Family at Christmas DinnerGetty Images No one wants to talk about death, illness or divorce. Unfortunately, you may have to raise some unpleasant issues when you speak with family members over the holidays if you want to ensure a successful retirement. Family issues are just about the only thing investors don't plan for, and it could hurt them in retirement, a new Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Age Wave study shows. The study, "Family and Retirement: The Elephant in the Room," conducted in August, surveyed more than 5,400 respondents and asked about family dynamics and long-term financial planning. The survey found that respondents were generous when it came to assisting family members but unrealistic in assessing some of their own needs later in life, especially long-term care. In the survey, half of pre-retirees age 50 and older said they would make major financial sacrifices for family members, and 36 percent said they were willing to endure a less comfortable post-retirement lifestyle to aid family members. Baby boomers, also known as the "sandwich generation," are in a tough spot, with one in five parents seeing their children return home to live with them as they also attempt to care for their own aging parents. Those boomers surveyed said they would not be prepared if an aging parent or older relative needed long-term care. But what about the boomers' own long-term care? The majority don't think they'll need it, with only 37 percent of survey respondents age 50 and older saying they may need long-term care in their lifetime. But according to 2013 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data, 70 percent of retirees will eventually require it. That's a big problem, according to Matt Curfman, senior vice president of Richmond Brothers, a money management firm. He says his clients in Jackson, Miss., may spend anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000 a month on long-term care. Paying for such care is an even bigger concern when someone is married, as they have to worry about how much will be left for the healthy spouse to live on once the ill spouse passes. One option is long-term care insurance, but Curfman doesn't advise it. "The average rise of health care costs compared with what a long-term care policy offers is not great. There is an average increase of 15 percent a year and even if it's a great policy, there could be an inflation cap of 3 to 5 percent." Curfman suggests that people planning for long-term care also consider trying to use the death benefit in their life insurance policy while they're still living. "Life insurance is becoming more unique. Some policies allow access to the death benefit while alive," Curfman says. If a person can't perform two activities of daily living -- feeding and clothing yourself, for instance -- he or she can talk to a doctor, have the doctor write a note explaining their inability to succeed at those tasks and receive substantial access to the death benefit, Curfman explains. You can also receive an accelerated death benefit if you are terminally ill or have a life-threatening diagnosis such as AIDS, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There are also hybrid life insurance policies that allow chronic illness riders, which may be helpful to boomers in their 50s and 60s. Curfman says some financial advisers are beginning to factor long-term care and assistance to family members into clients' financial plans. "I think what's happening is that a lot of advisers only deal with retirement planning through asset allocation, and that's shortsighted to help with those goals but not deal with long-term care issues. It's not so much that advisers are proactive, it's that these issues are being brought to them and now they're reacting." David Tyrie, head of retirement and personal wealth solutions for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, says the study makes it apparent that people are not having real discussions about their financial needs in retirement or how family issues complicate those goals. According to the survey, as much as 70 percent of adult children age 25 and older haven't discussed important financial issues with their parents, such as their parents' retirement, possible illnesses or anything related to aging. The survey also shows that more than half of parents age 50 or older haven't discussed inheritance, a will or where they want to live in retirement with their adult children. "It's very clear people are not talking about this. People are only reactive, doing this after an illness or death of a family member. But there is fear of conflict or what might happen as a result," Tyrie says. If families don't discuss important financial issues, debt could easily spiral out of control. Curfman gave the example of a couple he worked with who did everything right to plan for their retirement -- only they didn't account for the financial help they would need to give their children and parents.

4 Financial Stocks Rising on Big Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

>>5 Big Stocks to Trade for Big Gains

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

>>5 Stocks Poised to Pop on Bullish Earnings

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume today.

Artisan Partners Asset Management

Artisan Partners Asset Management (APAM) is an independent investment management firm that provides a range equity investment strategies spanning different market capitalization segments and investing styles in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets. This stock closed up 3.3% to $54.75 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 400,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 58,920

Volume % Change: 352%

>>5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts

From a technical perspective, APAM spiked higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $51.32 with strong upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $46.02 to its recent high of $55.99. During that uptrend, shares of APAM have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of APAM within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if APAM manages to take out Monday's high of $55.80 and then its all-time high at $56.07 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in APAM as long as it's trending above Monday's low of $52.88 or its 50-day at $51.32 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 58,920 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then APAM will set up to enter new all-tim- high territory above, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $60 to $65.

Xoom

Xoom (XOOM) provides online consumer-to-consumer international money transfers in close to 30 countries. This stock closed up 4.5% at $35.08 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 1.13 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 490,149

Volume % Change: 111%

>>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy Now

From a technical perspective, XOOM ripped higher here right above some near-term support at $33.04 with strong upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of XOOM within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if XOOM manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $35.88 to its all-time high at $36.46 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in XOOM as long as it's trending above Monday's low $33.88 or above more near-term support at $33.04, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that this near or above 490,149 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then XOOM will set up to enter new all-time-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $40 to $45.

Proassurance

Proassurance (PRA) provides professional liability insurance products to health care service, legal service and other professional service providers in the U.S. This stock closed up 2.2% at $47.40 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 855,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 332,423

Volume % Change: 185%

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

From a technical perspective, PRA gapped higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $46.29 with above-average volume. Shares of PRA also flirted with its 200-day moving average at $47.92, before closing just below that level at $47.40. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last few weeks with strong upside volume flows, since the stock has pushed higher from its low of $42.29 to its intraday high at $48.28. During that uptrend, shares of PRA have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PRA as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $46.29 or above $45 and then once it sustains a move or close above Monday's high of $48.28 with volume that's near or above 332,423 shares. If we get that move soon, then PRA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $50 to $52.

Aviv Reit

Aviv Reit (AVIV) operates as a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership and triple-net leasing of post-acute and long-term care skilled nursing facilities. This stock closed up 2.8% at $24.70 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 463,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 147,886

Volume % Change: 250%

>>5 Stocks With Big Insider Buying

From a technical perspective, AVIV trended up here right above its 50-day moving average of $23.06 with heavy upside volume. This move pushed shares of AVIV into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $24.69. Prior to this breakout, shares of AVIV have been uptrending strong, with the stock moving higher from its low of $21.31 to its intraday high of $24.77. During that move, shares of AVIV have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AVIV as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $23.06 and then once it sustains a move or close above Monday's high of $24.77 with volume that's near or above 147,886 shares. If we get that move soon, then AVIV will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $26 to $26.65. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give AVIV a chance to tag $28 to $29.

To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising pn Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.


RELATED LINKS:



>>5 Stocks Under $10 to Trade for Breakouts



>>The Pros Hate These 5 Stocks -- Should You?



>>Why I'm Sticking By Dow 55,000

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Review: Honda’s Grom is small, slow and tons of…

Honda outfitted the Grom's diminuitive frame with 12-inch wheels, a large, aggressive-looking headlamp and a sporty nakeness that beckons a rider to hop on and tear up the roads. Only thing is, you top out at about 55 mph; 62 mph if you're small like me (5'2", 120 lbs) and pinning the throttle, or 70 if a truck happens to pass and you get pulled into its draft. But no matter. It's a perfect commuter for the city, on campus and even on twisty backroads. The light weight makes it super easy to flick around and builds confidence in riders at every skill level.

With its speed limitations, this fuel sipper is not recommended on highways. In fact, the engine's 125cc size makes it too small and illegal on freeways in some states. But it easily kept up with traffic in Baltimore City, threading through congested areas. It's also small enough to park just about anywhere.

Single disc brakes on the front and rear give the little guy good stopping power, but if you're accustomed to the braking of sport bikes, then this will feel a bit soft.

The tank holds just under 1.5 gallons of fuel, but it'll go a long way. I got 95 miles with the first fuel-up; the next tank got close to 120 miles.

Surprisingly, the little Grom will fit taller riders fairly comfortably. I asked a 6-foot tall rider to take it for a spin. Because of the seat length, there was plenty of room for him to stretch his legs. However, the seat angle appears to slope forward a bit, making the seat feel somewhat awkward at first and making longer rides uncomfortable.

Even more surprising is that the Grom is built to handle two adult passengers. The only problem is the lack of torque means you really have to give it some throttle to make it take off from a stop. Once it gets rolling, it will accelerate to speed with ease, even two-up. Well, until you reach an incline.

A few other drawbacks:

It looks like a toy. The Grom is so small, cars have driven into the shoulder to pass me, even though I was moving at speed wit! h traffic. I can only assume the size of the bike made them think it was more of a toy than a "real" motorcycle. Twice, police cars followed me a while to run the tag, presumably, to make sure the bike is legit for the road. One officer shook his head at me before speeding off.

Easy to steal. When parking the bike in the city, I feel I chain and lock it to the lamppost. I didn't like having it out of sight for too long, fearing some able-bodied, malicious-minded person would lift it up, drop it in a pickup and take off. Yes, it's really that light.

No cargo space. If you are considering this bike as an economy commuter over a scooter, one thing to keep in mind is storage. Most scooters have ample space under the seat. The Grom has none. So if you want to do some quick grocery shopping, bring a backpack. However, from a pure riding perspective, the Grom will feel much more stable at speed and it will take corners better.

If you want a commuter for longer trips on high-speed roads, you'll need to look at something with a bigger engine. It's a great bike to learn on and at around $3,000 new, it's not likely to break your bank. American Honda says it chose the name Grom because it means a young surfer and fit the lifestyle and intent of the bike. The Grom is offered in red and black, and several after-market parts are already available.

Honda outfits the Grom with 12-inch wheels and a seat long enough for two.(Photo: USA TODAY)

Monday, November 25, 2013

Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks for November

Twitter Logo LinkedIn Logo Google Plus Logo RSS Logo Dan Burrows Popular Posts: 5 Hidden Dividend Gems to Buy Now4 Best Medical Marijuana Stocks to Buy Now3 Stocks for High Rollers Only Recent Posts: Top 10 Dow Dividend Stocks for November 5 Hidden Dividend Gems to Buy Now Should I Buy SHLD Stock? 3 Pros, 3 Cons View All Posts

Stocks are at all-time highs, and the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average just topped 16,000 for the first time ever. But as wonderful as that is for your portfolio on a price basis, it makes a difficult hunt for yield even harder.

dividend stocksAs prices go up, yields come down. So as generous as payouts from companies in the Dow may be, the yield on the index has come down hard during this epic run. The dividend yield on the Dow Industrials currently stands at 2.1%; a year ago, it was 2.7%.

Among the most appealing attributes of the 30 stocks in the Dow is that they’re all essentially battleships. They might not have the screamingly highest yields of any stock in the market, but you know each of these dividend stocks are almost certainly good for their payouts.

Fortunately for new money, the top 10 Dow dividend stocks all throw off respectable yields, ranging from 2.9% to 5.1%. A concentrated equity income portfolio of these 10 blue-chips names would still offer a decent income stream with defensive and diversity, too.

Here are the top 10 Dow dividend stocks by yield for November:

#10: DuPont (DD)

dupont-stock-dd-dividend-stocksDividend Yield: 2.9%
YTD Performance: +37%

Neither the chemicals sector nor agricultural stocks have really been on fire this year, but don’t tell that to DuPont (DD). The stock is up 37% so far in 2013, beating the S&P 500 by nearly 11 percentage points.

Of course, that run-up in price has shaved something off the dividend yield. Back in June, DD was yielding 3.4%. Anyone who has been along for the ride won’t complain, but new money will have to learn to live with the sub-3% yield.

It’s also a concern that the rising stock price is starting to make the valuation look a little stretched, with a forward price-to-earnings multiple (P/E) of 14 but a long-term growth forecast of just 8%.

#9: Microsoft (MSFT)

microsoft-stock-msft-dividend-stocksDividend Yield: 3%
YTD Performance: +41%

PC sales are a slowly melting iceberg, Windows Phone is an also-ran in the mobile competition, the new operating system has hardly caught fire and CEO Steve Ballmer is out.

And yet, Microsoft (MSFT) is up 41% year-to-date.

As easy and fun as it may be, you just can’t count MSFT out. As recently as June, the stock didn’t even make the list of top Dow dividend payers. Now, it’s at No. 9, throwing off a more-than-respectable yield of 3%.

Plus, with a forward P/E of 13, you still can pick up MSFT at a reasonable valuation, given the 9% growth forecast. Shares could enjoy even more multiple expansion if the company taps a new CEO who excites the Street.

#8: Pfizer (PFE)

pfizer-stock-pfe-dividend-stocksDividend Yield: 3%
YTD Performance: +29%

When big pharmaceutical companies are confronted with expiring patents on their blockbuster drugs, they have to do something to keep shareholders happy.

Cost-cutting is one way Pfizer (PFE) is making things right, but most investors probably feel better knowing it still throws off a 3% yield — and still has managed to outpace the S&P 500 this year by a couple percentage points.

Not bad for a dividend stock that increasingly looks like a bond in drag.

The long-term growth forecast stands at less than 3% a year for the next five years or so. Ordinarily, that would make the forward P/E of 14 look like a bit of a stretch, but between the dividend and $10 billion share repurchase program, new money looks to get its money’s worth.

#7: Cisco (CSCO)

cisco-stock-cscoDividend Yield: 3.2%
YTD Performance: +9%

You know technology stocks have really grown up when you start to see a few of them make the list of top dividend stocks.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) had a terrible third quarter, pummeling shares that were underperforming the broader market, anyway. The stock is now up just 9% on the year, but that has kept the dividend for new money from shrinking, at a still-appealing 3.2%.

Global information technology spending remains depressingly weak, and that will weigh on shares of Cisco for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, CSCO trades at a bargain-basement 10 times forward earnings, and the company added another $15 billion to its stock repurchase program.

Between that and the dividend, new money can afford to wait for IT spending — and CSCO — to bounce back.

#6: Chevron (CVX)

chevron-cvx-dividend-stocksDividend Yield: 3.2%
YTD Performance: +14%

Between oil prices going nowhere to down and natural gas prices hitting record lows, it has been a tough year for energy companies, and integrated oil and gas giant Chevron (CVX) is no exception.

The stock is up just 14% in 2013, lagging the broader market by about 12 percentage points. Fortunately, the 3.2% yield on the dividend helps mitigate some of the pain. Add in those payouts to the share performance, and the total return comes to more than 18% for the year-to-date.

Eventually global economic growth should pick up enough to help boost energy prices. Until then, investors can pick up CVX for about 11 times forward earnings and sit on the dividend and share repurchase program. Indeed, CVX bought back more than $1 billion in the third quarter alone.

#5: McDonald’s (MCD)

mcdonald's-mcd-dividend-stocksDividend Yield: 3.3%
YTD Performance: +12%

Everybody is indisputably not lovin’ it when it comes to McDonald’s (MCD) this year. The world’s biggest burger chain has been stumbling with disappointing sales amid increased competition and changes to its dollar … er, value menu.

MCD is up just 12% for the year so far, lagging the broader market by a wide margin. If there’s a bright spot to that underperformance, it has the dividend throwing off a healthy 3.3% and the stock doesn’t look particularly expensive.

MCD trades essentially in line with its own five-year average forward P/E, according to data from Thomson Reuters Stock Reports. Not a steal, but not overpriced, either.

Like other laggard blue chips, MCD returns enough cash to shareholders through dividends and buybacks to make it an attractive equity income holding until its fortunes improve.

#4: Merck (MRK)

merck-mrk-dividend-stocks
Click to EnlargeDividend Yield: 3.5%
YTD Performance: +20%

Just as rival Pfizer got hooked on Lipitor, Merck (MRK) became addicted to Singulair, and the weaning process has been painful. The blockbuster allergy and asthma medication was the 11th-best-selling drug in the world until Merck lost exclusive rights to sell it last year and cheaper generics swamped the market.

Shares are up just 20% for the year-to-date, and the valuation looks stretched at 14 times forward earnings when the five-year average is closer to 10. MRK also looks a bit pricey on a trailing earnings basis, and by price/earnings-to-growth (PEG).

But that generous 3.5% yield on the dividend still makes Merck look like a core equity-income holding, especially considering the very low volatility. Indeed, MRK is about half as volatile as the broader market.

#3: Intel (INTC)

intel-stock-intc-dividend-stocksDividend Yield: 3.8%
YTD Performance: +14%

Tech stocks don’t just pay dividends these days — some of them even have bigger payouts than energy companies and banks.

Case in point: Intel (INTC), the chip giant, yields 3.8% — and it might just be poised for another round of growth. The company’s ultra-low power Haswell processor is the brains behind the latest mobile gadgets from Apple (AAPL).

Shares are up just 14% for the year-to-date, and even after factoring in the dividend, INTC’s total return comes to just 19%. That would be great if the broader market had not generated a whopping total return of 29%.

However, INTC still has about $3.7 billion left in its current share repurchase program, and that generous dividend yield makes waiting on a turnaround in sales much easier.

#2: Verizon (VZ)

Verizon-vz-dividend-stocksDividend Yield: 4.2%
YTD Performance: +16%

It’s hard to beat telecom stocks when it comes to dividends, and Verizon (VZ) is no exception, with a yield of 4.2%.

True, shares are up just 16% for the year-to-date, but then, you don’t buy this telecom giant for price appreciation — you buy it for the income stream.

Meanwhile, VZ looks like a relative bargain. It actually trades at a slight discount to its own five-year average forward P/E, according to data from Thomson Reuters Stock Reports.

Perhaps best of all, after a decade of trying, Verizon finally bought out Vodafone’s (VOD) stake in the cash cow that is Verizon Wireless. That will help VZ invest in its infrastructure and services — and keep the dividend stream flowing.

#1: AT&T (T)

AT&T-T-stock-dividend-stocksDividend Yield: 5.1%
YTD Performance: +5.4%

As we noted recently, the reigning income champ of the Dow Jones Industrial Average has a large enough payout to also land it among the highest-yielding dividend stocks in the S&P 500.

AT&T's (T) stock hasn't done much this year — it's up just 5.4% — but again, you don't own a telecom for its price performance. Valuation isn’t bad, either, as shares are essentially in line with their own five-year average on a forward earnings basis.

T’s not cheap, but neither does it look particularly expensive.

AT&T hasn’t given up on growth either. The telecom giant has made no secret of its desire to do a big deal in Europe. So don't be surprised if at some point — maybe soon — AT&T makes a huge acquisition splash across the pond.

Until then, enjoy its 5%-plus payout.

Read More: 5 Hidden Dividend Gems to Buy

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Top 10 states where home prices are surging

The rebound in home prices from post-bubble lows is still intact. With the help of low interest rates and inventory levels, many areas of the country continue to post impressive price gains.

In September, home prices across the nation increased on a year-over-year basis for the 19th consecutive month. According to CoreLogic, a property information and analytics provider, home prices jumped 12% in September from a year earlier. In fact, home prices have posted double-digit gains for eight straight months.

More: Realtors forecast flat sales, rising prices

"U.S. home prices continued their ascent in September. Average home prices in nearly half the states are now within striking distance of their pre-downturn pricing peaks," explained Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic.

Home prices are still 17.4/% below their bubble peak in April 2006, but every state logged an annual increase in September. West Virginia and Arkansas posted the smallest gains at 0.9% and 1.3%, respectively. As they say in Real Estate 101, it's all about location. Here are the top 10 real estate markets by state, according to year-over-year price gains from CoreLogic.

10. Utah -- 11.9%

9. Washington -- 12%

8. Florida -- 12.1%

7. Idaho -- 12.4%

6. Oregon -- 13.6%

5. Michigan -- 13.9%

4. Georgia -- 14.4%

3. Arizona -- 14.6%

2. California -- 22.5%

1. Nevada -- 25.3%

Don't Miss: Are Investors Still Hiding in Cash?

Wall St. Cheat Sheet is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Thibaut Lepouttre: Juniors That Can Deliver the Goods

The Gold Report: German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said last month, "The Eurozone is clearly on the mend both structurally and cyclically." How do we square this statement with the record high unemployment, economic contraction and soaring debt of the southern Europe Eurozone members?

Thibaut Lepouttre: We must look at this statement in the light of the German elections in September. Schäuble belongs to the same political party as Angela Merkel, and he was giving us a pep talk to help his chancellor get re-elected. Based on what I see here in Europe, I don't have the impression that things are getting much better, and I think many more structural reforms will be necessary before that happens. The high yield on sovereign debt and the undercapitalized banks have been dealt with on an if-needed basis, without tackling the underlying, chronic problems.

TGR: In Spain, for example, there is 27% unemployment. What kind of political pressure does this put on the Eurozone? Do you think that Spain, Greece and Italy can be kept in the Eurozone?

TL: I don't think the Eurozone will split up because for most of its countries the advantages of staying in the Eurozone outweigh the negatives. If any country were to leave the Eurozone and depreciate its new currency, it would be beneficial in the short term but harmful in the longer term because it would be tougher getting its debt financed on the international markets. And having depreciated once, most investors won't trust it again, fearing further deprecations. Now, because of the single currency, Greece can easily find an investor in, for instance, Germany or Belgium, while it would mainly be limited to domestic investors if it were to get out of the Eurozone.

"I like to see a management team with a track record."

That said, I think the European Union is largely responsible for the crisis in southern Europe. Not only did it allow dubious countries to join, it also supported dubious spending. In a specific area in Spain, there are four parallel roads and two railroads in an area just three kilometers wide. Lots of Spaniards bought second houses or apartments, and thanks to the availability of cheap mortgages, people could actually pay them over 40, 50 or even 70 years. The last example would take three generations to pay off. It is painfully clear now that there was an urgent need for a banking regulator that could have scrutinized the lending of money to people who couldn't afford it.

TGR: Could natural resources help regenerate the European economy?

TL: No question. Italy has oil and gas. Greece has gold. Cyprus has gold, copper and even gas. Spain has gold, copper and silver, and Portugal has tungsten, gold and copper. In Spain, it would make sense to recentralize the mining permitting process because every decision now is made by a local government. This way, mining could be encouraged on a national level and several thousand or even tens of thousands of jobs could be created.

"A company must present to investors and potential investors a clear path and timeline toward production because now all anybody cares about is adding cash flow."

If this recentralization were to occur, it might then be possible for Spain to institute a 5% gross production royalty on gold mining so it would receive gold that's being mined in the country as bullion for its vault. This could strengthen the balance sheets of its national banks. By contributing increased labor and tax flows and increased gold holdings on the balance sheets of the national banks, mining could be a huge boost to Spain and to any other country in southern Europe that would take such measures. To clarify, this potential 5% royalty is my personal thought and not an official law.

TGR: Aren't large-scale environmental protests against mining in Europe a serious problem?

TL: There are always protesters. I agree that every modern mine should be as environmentally friendly as possible, but in the end governments need to balance potential environmental problems against job creation and increased tax revenues.

TGR: You predicted in May that gold would trade between $1,250–1,500/ounce ($1,250–1,500/oz). You have been proven correct. Where does gold go from here?

TL: We've had very strong resistance at $1,410/oz, and when gold tried to break through just a few weeks ago, it dropped right back to the $1,300/oz level. I believe that gold will continue to trade sideways from here: between, let's say, $1,200–1,410/oz. I'm not sure what kind of major economic catalyst could result in a push strong enough to break through this resistance.

TGR: The Federal Reserve has backed off from tapering quantitative easing (QE). Will this raise the price of gold over the long term?

TL: We've seen QE over the past three years, including the past two years when gold fell in price. The continuous printing of money by the U.S. will definitely be beneficial to the price of gold, but the problem is that this new money will cause inflation only when the velocity of money rises again. In a normal economic cycle, this happens between 24 and 36 months, but now the velocity of money is much lower than normal. I think we'll see inflation rising 48–60 months after the printing started, that is, within two years from now. And that will indeed benefit the price of gold.

TGR: Times are tough, and there's little margin of error for successful investors. What qualities must mining companies demonstrate for investors to favor them?

TL: I like to see a management team with a track record. The era of inexperienced managers is over. Further, a company must present to investors and potential investors a clear path and timeline toward production because now all anybody cares about is adding cash flow. In addition, the project must be financeable. I don't think any company would now be able to find financing for a $2–3 billion low-grade copper project in Chile. Finally, in this downturn, effective transparency is more important than ever because investors always want to know what the company is doing behind the curtain.

TGR: You have spoken in the past of the importance of jurisdiction in resource investment. In this regard, what do you like about Australia?

TL: Australia, like Canada, is a real mining country with many skilled and experienced people who are subject to very clear mining code. The jurisdictional risk is close to zero, as Australia realizes it needs its mining sector to support its entire economy. It's a great place to work. A few years ago, Australia instituted a new levy called the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) to garner a larger share of mining profits. There was a huge protest against this tax, and last year, the first year it was implemented, it generated only $200 million ($200M), instead of the expected $3 billion. So I think Australia will abolish this tax within the next few years as the negatives outweigh the benefits.

TGR: Could you name some Australian companies you like?

TL: There are three I like. Iron Ore Holdings Ltd. (IOH:ASX ) is a prospect generator that identifies and advances iron ore projects, then sells or joint ventures them, including with big names like Rio Tinto Plc (RIO:NYSE; RIO:ASX; RIO:LSE; RTPPF:OTCP). It has a joint venture on its Iron Valley project (that should go into production in 2014) whereby Mineral Resources Ltd. (MIN:ASX) pays 100% of the capital expenditures, and Iron Ore Holdings receives a royalty sales, which could bring in about $20–30M per year at current prices. So the company has about $70M in cash and continues to work on two other advanced-stage projects.

TGR: What's your prediction for the price of iron ore?

TL: It's currently trading around $135–140/metric ton ($135-140/mt) of 62% iron content. This will drift down to maybe $110/mt because a lot of new projects are coming on-line and onstream, and even though the Chinese economy is still growing, it's growing at a slower rate. I think we should expect a long-term price of about $100/mt.

TGR: How much does iron ore depend on the Chinese economy?

TL: About 60–70% of Australia's iron ore is being shipped to China.

TGR: Where do you stand on the future of the Chinese economy?

TL: That's a difficult question because we just can't rely on any numbers the Chinese produce. There's not a lot of transparency. Without trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, it is possible China is trying to hide things from the rest of the world. I do believe its economy is still growing, but I also believe the world will have to accept single-digit growth instead of the 10-12% we've become used to.

TGR: What's your second Australia-listed pick?

TL: Beadell Resources Ltd. (BDR:ASX) is a great operation. It operates the Tucano project in Brazil, a 5 million ounce (5 Moz) gold and iron ore deposit with underground potential. It will produce about 200,000–225,000 oz (200–225 Koz) next year with a steady rate of production of about 150 Koz per year, and this should generate about $90–100M per year in operational cash flow. Beadell will be debt free by the end of next year and will be in a really strong position to acquire new assets and continue to grow.

"Investors need to take a look at companies with cash in the bank, real value in the ground and management that can deliver the goods."

When the company struck its financing deal for the Tucano project, it hedged about 150 Koz of gold at $1,600/oz. In hindsight, that was a great move that enables the sale of gold at $300/oz above the current spot price. Beadell will also start to ship iron ore, starting probably early next year, and this could add another $15–20M to its bottom line.

TGR: What's Beadell's production price for gold?

TL: At this point, the company is mixing ore with a high-grade part of the deposit, and the production costs should be around $450/oz. This should increase toward $650–700/oz when it reaches steady-state output. Long term, I'm looking at a 150 Koz per year output at $700–750/oz.

TGR: And your third Australia-listed pick?

TL: Papillon Resources Inc. (PIR:ASX), which owns the 5.2 Moz Fekola gold project in Mali. The company's recently released prefeasibility study outlines 300 Koz/year gold at an all-in cost of $725/oz. Because the capital expenditure (capex) is only $300M, the payback period will be only 1.5 years. Because the company operates in Mali, there are some political risks. As we know, there was a coup d'état 18 months ago, but things seemed to have quieted down since then. Lately, however, there has been some chatter about the Mali government increasing its taxes on gold and mining.

TGR: What's your assessment of the jurisdictional risk of West Africa in general?

TL: Ghana and Burkina Faso are the most reliable countries because they know their economies are based on gold mining, and they have been making tremendous progress attracting foreign investment in mining. I'd like to highlight two companies in Burkina Faso. The first is True Gold Mining Inc. (TGM:TSX.V), formerly called Riverstone Resources. Its Karma project is amazing. It's already environmentally permitted, and a feasibility study is expected this quarter.

According to its 2012 preliminary economic analysis, Karma could produce between 70–90 Koz gold annually at a cash cost of $525/oz. The capex is only $125M, and this could be reduced to about $100M if True Gold uses contract mining. The company has about $35M in working capital, so financing should not be a problem, and production could begin in the first half of 2016.

TGR: What's the second Burkina Faso company?

TL: Sarama Resources Ltd. (SWA:TSX.V). The company's South Houndé project is earlier stage, but it has about $7M in cash, which is something I really like to see in these uncertain times. The recently released initial resource estimate is 1.5 Moz gold at 1.6 grams/tonne (1.6 g/t). The company has explored only about 20% of its strike length, so there is a lot of potential, in excess of 3 Moz within 2–3 years, in my opinion. And as South Houndé is just 80 kilometers south of Endeavour Mining Corp's. (EDV:TSX; EVR:ASX) Houndé project, I think Sarama could be a possible takeout candidate.

TGR: What high spots do you see in South America?

TL: Columbus Gold Corp. (CGT:TSX.V), which operates in French Guiana. This is an overseas department of France, so the political risk is close to zero. And since my last interview with The Gold Report, Columbus has entered a joint venture with Nord Gold N.V. (NORD:LSE), the subsidiary of Severstal, for its Paul Isnard gold project. Under the agreement, Nord Gold must spend $30M in exploration over three years, plus it has to finish a feasibility study. As a standalone, Columbus could never have done these things. I believe Paul Isnard could ultimately contain in excess of 10 Moz gold.

A second project I like is on the other side of South America: Red Eagle Mining Corp.'s (RD:TSX.V) Santa Rosa gold project in Colombia. The company released a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) in September, and if you look at the underground San Ramon zone, its net present value with an 8% discount rate is $92M. This is a 5.6 multiple over Red Eagle's current market cap of $16.4M. The company has $8.5M in cash, but it will have to make a $4.5M property payment in November. So let's say it has about $4M in unrestricted cash, which it could use to further advance the San Ramon zone and get it environmentally permitted.

TGR: What's your assessment of Colombia's jurisdictional risk?

TL: Much better than five or six years ago. I think Colombia could very well be the next Peru, whereby mining will be encouraged as long as the companies color between the lines and don't do anything they aren't supposed to do.

TGR: Any other companies you would like to talk about in the Americas?

TL: In Mexico, Silver Bull Resources Inc. (SVB:TSX; SVBL:NYSE.MKT) has recently released a positive PEA. The study outlined a production scenario of approximately 5.5 Moz per year at a C1 cash cost of $6.58/oz. This is much lower than I anticipated because the company will be able to recycle the cyanide it uses in its plant, which will obviously lower the cyanide consumption and the total cash cost. If one would compare Silver Bull's Sierra Mojada project with Coeur Mining Inc.'s (CDM:TSX; CDE:NYSE) La Preciosa project, it becomes quite clear that Coeur bought the wrong early-stage Mexican silver project.

The PEA uses a zinc price of $1.15/pound ($1.15/lb) and a silver price of $23.5/oz as a base case scenario, but even at a lower silver price of $20/oz for silver and 0.90/lb for zinc, the Sierra Mojada project yields positive returns and a positive NPV at 8% discount (I think the company's base case of 5% is a bit too low).

TGR: Let's talk about Canada. Do you think that the mining industry in Canada is in decline? There are problems with both provincial and federal permitting, with relations with First Nations people, who are claiming oversight over developments, and with the TSX Venture Exchange. Recently, many British Columbia juniors seem to prefer working in Mexico, rather than in their home province. What do you think?

TL: I believe that Canada is a top mining destination and will continue to be so. Most projects will get permitted, but maybe not with best case scenarios. Mexico is very attractive because of its gold and silver history and its much lower labor costs. But since Mexico has announced plans to increase its mining tax, I do think a lot of companies will return to Canada because this makes Mexico less attractive than before.

TGR: Which companies do you like in Canada?

TL: It's very important to follow the companies that can raise money. For instance, Integra Gold Corp. (ICG:TSX.V) raised $4.4M for exploration at its Lamaque gold project in Quebec.

If investors are looking for a near-term commercial producer, I visited Metanor Resources Inc. (MTO:TSX.V) earlier this year, and although the company has had its fair share of bad luck, it is currently ramping up production at the Bachelor Lake gold mine in Quebec. This is an underground operation, and the company is opening up more and more stopes. But investors should be aware that this isn't really a linear process.

TGR: What grade is it getting?

TL: Between 5 and 7 g/t.

TGR: When will Metanor go into commercial production and what will the production costs be?

TL: At this point, Metanor is still offsetting the gold revenue against the underground development costs. I hope to see declared commercial production in December of this year or early next year. Metanor is aiming for a cash cost of less than $1,000/oz, but proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

TGR: What do you like about tungsten?

TL: Tungsten has some irreplaceable uses and thus scores very high on the list of governmental strategic minerals, about the third highest in the E.U. and U.S. I'm pretty sure that the Department of Defense has a tungsten stockpile. China dominates world production; it has also been the predominant world exporter for decades, but has now started to stockpile tungsten. China has become a net importer. So it has become essential to develop tungsten projects outside China in order to guarantee continued supply to the West.

TGR: Can we expect tungsten prices to increase?

TL: I think so. I'm perfectly comfortable with the current price: $400–410/mt. Most mining companies will make a lot of money at those prices. If China continues its new stance, I believe we will see a price increase.

TGR: Is there a tungsten play you like?

TL: I went to Portugal, a mining-friendly country, in June to visit Blackheath Resources Inc. (BHR:TSX.V). Under its agreement with Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (AVU:TSX.V), Blackheath will have 70% this year and the option to acquire 85% of Covas, one of the highest grade, if not the highest grade, projects in Europe. So, while a competitor, such as Wolf Minerals Ltd. (WLF:ASX), will produce tungsten at an average grade of 0.19%, Covas has an average grade of 0.78%. This translates into a rough value of $310 per tonne of ore. The most recent Covas drill program has hit intercepts up to 1% and even 2% tungsten. Grade is king everywhere, be it in gold or tungsten.

Blackheath has a very good chance to develop its Covas and the Borralha project mainly because of its CEO, Jim Robertson. He was involved with Primary Metals, also a tungsten company operating in Portugal, which was floated at $0.15/share I think five or six years ago and was taken out by a Japanese metals trader at $3.65/share three years later. I trust this management team, and I'm pretty sure it will repeat the same trick.

TGR: Given all of the losses investors have suffered over the last couple of years, what are the factors that should keep them in the market?

TL: It all comes down to having a decent selection procedure. I can tell you that about 25–30% of the mining companies on the TSX Venture Exchange today won't survive this downturn. Investors need to take a look at companies with cash in the bank, real value in the ground and management that can deliver the goods. This is not the time to wish upon a star and hope that the drill bits will deliver something.

TGR: Thibaut, thank you for your time and your insights.

Thibaut Lepouttre is the editor of the Caesars Report, a newsletter and mining portal based in Belgium that covers several junior mining companies with a special focus on precious metals and base metals. Lepouttre has a Bachelor of Law degree and two economics masters degrees that have forged his analytical approach to the mining sector. Considered a number cruncher, Lepouttre focuses on the valuations of companies and is consistently on the lookout for the next undervalued mining company.

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DISCLOSURE:
1) Kevin Michael Grace conducted this interview for The Gold Report and provides services to The Gold Report as an employee. He or his family own shares of the following companies mentioned in this interview: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in the interview are sponsors of The Gold Report: True Gold Mining Inc., Sarama Resources Ltd., Silver Bull Resources Inc. and Red Eagle Mining Corp. Streetwise Reports does not accept stock in exchange for its services or as sponsorship payment.
3) Thibaut Lepouttre: I or my family own shares of the following companies mentioned in this interview: Blackheath Resources Inc., Columbus Gold Corp., Iron Ore Holdings Inc., Beadell Resources Ltd., True Gold Mining Inc. and Metanor Resources Inc. I personally am or my family is paid by the following companies mentioned in this interview: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this interview: Blackheath Resources Inc. I was not paid by Streetwise Reports for participating in this interview. Comments and opinions expressed are my own comments and opinions. I had the opportunity to review the interview for accuracy as of the date of the interview and am responsible for the content of the interview.
4) Interviews are edited for clarity. Streetwise Reports does not make editorial comments or change experts' statements without their consent.
5) The interview does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer.
6) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned and may make purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise.

( Companies Mentioned: BDR:ASX, BHR:TSX.V, CGT:TSX.V, ICG:TSX.V, IOH:ASX , MTO:TSX.V, PIR:ASX, RD:TSX.V, SWA:TSX.V, SVB:TSX; SVBL:NYSE.MKT, TGM:TSX.V, )

The following article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

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Originally posted here...

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Tips: Don’t pay full price for anything

Mark Ellwood is exuberant. He's on a shopping excursion in New York City, and he's excited because he knows he won't pay full price for anything.

That's his shopping credo. Ellwood, 40, is a pro bargain hunter. He's about to reveal the secrets of how retailers get you to open your wallet and how you can avoid traps and spend less.

But first, a smidgen of science, explained in Ellwood's perky British accent: The thrill of bargain hunting is biological, he says. When we see a good bargain, our brains react with a burst of dopamine, the chemical that signals the pleasure of a reward.

Armed with a few insider pointers, we can weed out the truly great bargains from the ones that just appear to save us money, Ellwood says. That's what he writes about in his book Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World, published last month. Ellwood's main point: There has never been a better time to shop.

"As a shopper, we are the bachelorette, and all the stores are the contestants," he says. "There's too many shops and not enough shoppers. The supply-demand curve is completely the wrong way around, and it gives us all the power."

Ten years ago, he says, retailers sold 15% to 20% of their merchandise at a discount. Now 40% to 45% is sold at a discount.

Bouncing to the beat of the music while on an escalator coming out of Burlington Coat Factory and walking with a slight swagger through stores around Union Square and lower Fifth Avenue, Ellwood dishes on how to find the best discounts and save the most money.

He is dressed in his own bargain finds: a navy topcoat for $126 and a maroon corduroy blazer for $99, both from H&M.

At J.Crew, Ellwood manages to walk out of the store having bought a blue-and-yellow checked button-front shirt that was originally $69.99 for $11.99. He did it by practicing one of his cardinal rules of bargain shopping: Always interact with the store employees.

They'll often alert you to promotions you didn't know were happening or offer y! ou a better deal than what's advertised. Ellwood tested this theory when he walked into the J.Crew store. When he asked if there were any upcoming promotions, an employee said he hadn't yet heard — but that Ellwood could get 20% off if he signed up for the "very personal stylist" program. Online, the program advertises only free shipping for signing up.

Ellwood does it again while browsing the button-front shirts upstairs. When he notices that they are all marked down at different prices, he asks a saleswoman which price is correct. She tells him he'll be able to get the lowest markdown plus an additional 40% off. He's sold.

When it comes to clothes, Ellwood says he never pays full price for anything. If it's not on sale yet, it will be. Retailers typically discount after six weeks, so when you find something you want that's not on sale yet, just set your alarm for 42 days later, he says.

More of Ellwood's must-have shopping knowledge:

Mark Ellwood shopping in Burlington in Manhattan, N.Y.(Photo: Jennifer S. Altman, for USA TODAY)

• Prices are never set. "The whole point about pricing is none of it is fixed," Ellwood says. Don't wait to be told whether there's a sale, he says. "Ask for promotions and discounts. Sales are hidden in plain sight."

• Pay attention to the language on price tags. At discount stores like Nordstrom Rack, Burlington Coat Factory and T.J. Maxx, the discounted price is usually listed below an "original" price or "compare at" price. Even when items go on sale at specialty or department stores, the original price will usually be visible. This is called anchor pricing, Ellwood says.

"Suddenly you have a sense of how big that discount is," he says.

But you may not always be getting a trul! y great b! argain. Phrases like "compare at" or "retail value" on a tag don't legally guarantee that an item was ever actually sold at that price, Ellwood says.

"When you're at a discount store, look for a tag that says 'original price,'" he says. "Everything else might be a good deal, it might not. You don't know."

• The rule of threes. At Best Buy, Ellwood points out that nearly every brand's products are displayed at three price points. It's a practice called Goldilocks pricing — retailers are trying to get you to go for the middle one. Why? Because that's the one that will make them the most money.

"We love threes," he says. "The margins are highest on the middle one because they expect to sell the most" at that price.

So what should you do?

"Buy the cheap one," he says. "The features aren't that different."

•Talk to store employees. As Ellwood demonstrated at J.Crew, engaging with employees works to your advantage. Many of them work on commission and have an incentive to make sure you shop with them.

Don't be afraid to be upfront about "your intention that you are trying to buy it from them," he says, and see what kind of deal they offer you.

• Watch the 9s and 0s. Prices that end in a whole number with a zero at the end denote quality in our minds, Ellwood says. Items with prices that end in a 9 are perceived as a good value.

Some stores use both methods. At Uniqlo, an inexpensive Japanese apparel retailer that has a handful of stores in the U.S., the prices often end in 90 cents.

"Its pricing subtly telegraphs that it's great value and high quality," Ellwood says.

• Apps can find the best deals online. Ellwood recommends always checking apps like PoachIt — a button you add to your bookmarks page in your Web browser — before going through with an online purchase. When you click the PoachIt button while on a product page, it will tell you whether there are any coupon codes associated with the item, or it will track its price for y! ou and se! nd you an e-mail when it goes on sale.

You can also sign up for the Shop It To Me "Salemail" to be alerted when your favorite brands go on sale, sorted by color and size.

Mark Ellwood has a book out called Bargain Fever.(Photo: Jennifer S. Altman, for USA TODAY)

• Practice cart abandonment. When you buy online, make it a two-step process, Ellwood says. Add an item to your cart, then close your browser. Wait a day or two and, depending on the retailer, you'll likely receive a coupon or promotion e-mail to "tip the purchase," he says.

One of the best things about bargain shopping, Ellwood says, is that it has become a point of pride.

"A long time ago, getting a discount meant you were poor," he says. "Now you sit at dinner, and socialites are talking about the best sample sales."

Paying full price has gone the way of the "retro record shop or dial-up Internet," he says. "We live in a discounted world. That's exactly why you should haggle."

Follow @hadleypdxdc on Twitter.

Top Safest Stocks To Own For 2014

LONDON --�Remember the good old days when investors held banking shares for their safe dividend income? The financial crash shattered that. More recently, banking stocks have been a recovery play for those investors brave enough to bet that the eurozone crisis wouldn't blow up in their faces. It's been a remarkably successful bet.

But if you're hankering for a safer play on the banking sector and yearn for those reliable dividends, it's worth having a look at�HSBC� (LSE: HSBA  ) (NYSE: HBC  ) . After recent broker upgrades, its shares are on a prospective yield of 5%, with a 4.2% historic yield in the bag. That's well ahead of�Standard Chartered�and�Barclays,�the other two dividend-paying banks. And HSBC surely has the safest dividend in the sector.

Safety in numbers
It's not just that HSBC is the second largest company on the FTSE 100, with a market cap roughly equal to the other four banks put together. HSBC's global footprint underpins its safety. With over 6,000 offices in 80 countries, its worldwide reach provides a strong competitive advantage to capture international trade flows and service multinational corporations.

Top Safest Stocks To Own For 2014: Fluor Corporation(FLR)

Fluor Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and project management services worldwide. Its Oil & Gas segment offers design, engineering, procurement, construction, and project management services to upstream oil and gas production, downstream refining, chemicals, and petrochemicals industries. This segment also provides consulting services comprising feasibility studies, process assessment, and project finance structuring and studies. The company?s Industrial & Infrastructure segment offers design, engineering, procurement, and construction services to the transportation, wind power, mining and metals, life sciences, manufacturing, commercial and institutional, telecommunications, microelectronics, and healthcare sectors. Its Government segment provides engineering, construction, logistics support, contingency response, management, and operations services to the United States government focusing on the Departme nt of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. The company?s Global Services segment offers operations and maintenance, small capital project engineering and execution, site equipment and tool services, industrial fleet services, plant turnaround services, temporary staffing services, and supply chain solutions. Its Power segment provides engineering, procurement, construction, program management, start-up and commissioning, and operations and maintenance services to the gas fueled, solid fueled, plant betterment, renewables, nuclear, and power services markets. The company also offers unionized management and construction services in the United States and Canada. Fluor Corporation was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By CRWE]

    Fluor Corporation�� (NYSE:FLR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David Seaton, and Chief Financial Officer, Biggs Porter, will give a presentation to investors at the Credit Suisse 2012 Engineering & Construction Conference in New York on Thursday, June 7 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

  • [By The Energy Report]

    JH: One of the areas where the U.S. for decades has been the leading technological power is in small nuclear reactors. We've used them on our aircraft carriers and on our nuclear submarines safely and efficiently. The U.S. has an advantage in understanding small modular nuclear reactors. One of the companies that we have followed for a long time that's working on that is Babcock & Wilcox Co. (BWC). There's also Fluor Corp. (FLR), which is working on small modular nuclear reactors. President Obama and the Department of Energy are funding research on the implementation of small modular nuclear reactors.

  • [By Louis Navellier]

    Fluor Corporation (FLR) is one of the world�� leading heavy construction and engineering firms. I don’t want to imply that this is a bad company because it is actually a very good one. However, Fluor has divisions including Oil & Gas, Industrial Infrastructure, Government, Global Services and Power. Virtually all of them are seeing limited spending as a result of the global slowdown and reduced government spending around the world. The stock is up more than 23% this year, but earnings are actually down on flat revenues. Analysts have been lowering their estimates for the rest of this year as well as 2014, and the stock is currently rated as a by Portfolio Grader. When the economy recovers, I expect will see this company’s fundamentals improve substantially … but until that happens investors should avoid the stock.

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    South America has become an unsettled region to mine in. Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM  ) had its Peruvian Conga project brought to a short stop over environmental concerns, while Vale (NYSE: VALE  ) recently abandoned an Argentinean project because of the country's policies.�Costs for Pascua-Lama have ballooned over the past decade and now stand at about $8.5 billion, putting it at risk of becoming an albatross around the miner's neck even before the court decision. Barrick even resorted to bringing in engineering specialist Fluor (NYSE: FLR  ) to expand the scope of its project management before the court order.

Top Safest Stocks To Own For 2014: Under Armour Inc.(UA)

Under Armour, Inc. develops, markets, and distributes performance apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and youth primarily in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It offers products made from moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics designed to regulate body temperature and enhance performance regardless of weather conditions. The company provides its products in three fit types: compression (tight fitting), fitted (athletic cut), and loose (relaxed) extending across the sporting goods, outdoor, and active lifestyle markets. Its footwear offerings comprise football, baseball, lacrosse, softball, and soccer cleats; slides; performance training footwear; and running footwear. The company also provides baseball batting, football, golf, and running gloves, as well as licenses bags, socks, headwear, custom-molded mouth guards, and eyewear that are designed to be used and worn before, during, and after competition. Under Armour sells its products through retai l stores, as well as directly to consumers through its own retail outlets and specialty stores, Website, and catalogs. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Nicole Seghetti]

    Running-apparel and shoe makers Nike (NYSE: NKE  ) and Under Armour (NYSE: UA  ) are also likely beneficiaries of the race. Nike not only holds an enviable spot as the global market leader, but it also boasts the right strategy and investments to sustain its top position. Meanwhile, newer kid on the block Under Armour has evolved into a major player in the global athletic footwear and apparel market.

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Athletic apparel maker�Under Armour� (NYSE: UA  ) �reported first-quarter earnings that�fell 50% year over year�but handily beat the Capital IQ consensus estimates�by $0.03 per share. Revenues surged 22% year over year, coming in well ahead of estimates.�

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Competition is also an important consideration. Rival Gap (NYSE: GPS  ) has seen a lot of success lately with its general retail business, but one big component of its growth strategy involves its Athleta athletic-apparel stores. Meanwhile, Under Armour (NYSE: UA  ) has targeted yoga clothes as part of its overall plan to increase sales to women. Those retailers haven't yet done much to capitalize on the situation, but Lululemon's missteps could eventually give Gap and Under Armour the openings they need to make gains in the space.

10 Best Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras(PBR)

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. primarily engages in oil and natural gas exploration and production, refining, trade, and transportation businesses. The company?s Exploration and Production segment involves in the exploration, production, development, and production of oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas in Brazil. This segment supplies its products to the refineries in Brazil, as well as sells surplus petroleum and byproducts in domestic and foreign markets. Its Supply segment engages in the refining, logistics, transportation, and trade of oil and oil products; export of ethanol; and extraction and processing of schist, as well as holds interests in companies of the petrochemical sector in Brazil. The Gas and Energy segment involves in the transportation and trade of natural gas produced in or imported into Brazil; transportation and trade of LNG; and generation and trade of electric power. In addition, the segment has interests in natural gas transportation and d istribution companies; and thermoelectric power stations in Brazil, as well engages in fertilizer business. The Distribution segment distributes oil products, ethanol, and compressed natural gas in Brazil. The International segment involves in the exploration and production of oil and gas, as well as in supplying, gas and energy, and distribution operations in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Further, the company involves in biofuel production business. Petroleo Brasileiro was founded in 1953 and is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Taylor Muckerman]

    All 1.4 million cars that were sold between January and May have to fuel up somehow, and that is where Brazilian powerhouse Petrobras (NYSE: PBR  ) comes in to the picture. As the largest energy company in the country, Petrobras' gasoline sales would�presumably�follow a similar growth trajectory as auto sales once the retirement of old vehicles is taken into consideration. If the gap between international fuel prices is allowed to be closed ��the recent diesel price hike in March assisted with this ��then revenue from the company's downstream could really take off.

Top Safest Stocks To Own For 2014: Goldman Sachs Group Inc.(The)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Its Investment Banking segment offers financial advisory, including advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense, risk management, restructurings, and spin-offs; and underwriting securities, loans and other financial instruments, and derivative transactions. The company?s Institutional Client Services segment provides client execution activities, such as fixed income, currency, and commodities client execution related to making markets in interest rate products, credit products, mortgages, currencies, and commodities; and equities related to making markets in equity products, as well as commissions and fees from executing and clearing institutional client transactions on stock, options, and fu tures exchanges. This segment also engages in the securities services business providing financing, securities lending, and other prime brokerage services to institutional clients, including hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, and foundations. Its Investing and Lending segment invests in debt securities, loans, public and private equity securities, real estate, consolidated investment entities, and power generation facilities. This segment also involves in the origination of loans to provide financing to clients. The company?s Investment Management segment provides investment management services and investment products to institutional and individual clients. This segment also offers wealth advisory services, including portfolio management and financial counseling, and brokerage and other transaction services to high-net-worth individuals and families. In addition, it provides global investment research services. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

'Fast Money' Recap: Higher and Higher

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The S&P 500 closed above 1,800 for first time in its history as the markets pushed to new highs once again. 

Guy Adami, managing director of stockmonster.com, said he was shocked the S&P 500 didn't trade down to 1,760 this week and added that it's scary the market hasn't pulled back at all. 

Stuart Frankel & Company's Steve Grasso said there will eventually be some sort of sustained pullback in the broader market.

Tim Seymour, managing partner of Triogem Asset Management, said tapering seems to be getting priced into the market to some degree. 

The group gave their top picks going forward. Brian Kelly, founder of Brian Kelly Capital, said he is a buyer of Valero Energy (VLO) because it's running at full capacity and has a low valuation.  Seymour said he would be a buyer of China Mobile Limited (CHL) due to its low valuation and solid dividend. 

Grasso said he would buy Yahoo! (YHOO) because of its 24% stake in Alibaba. 

Adami said he likes MasterCard (MA) even though it's at all-time highs because it's in a secular trend of consumers moving to credit from cash. 

Bill Taubman, COO of Taubman Centers, was a guest on the show. He said high-end and mid-end retailers continue to do well, while low-end retail is doing bad -- witness Sears Holdings (SHLD), Wal-Mart (WMT), and Target (TGT). He added that J.C. Penney (JCP) is doing a lot better and management seems refocused. 

Seymour said his top pick is TGT, despite its recent struggles. He only advised buying a small position and added the stock needed to hold $63.  Adami said investors could take a long position in GameStop (GME) with a stop-loss at $48.50.  Grasso said he would sell short International Business Machine (IBM). Kelly agreed, saying that often IBM can be a broader market indicator. For their final trades, Grasso said to buy Las Vegas Sands (LVS) and Seymour is buying CHL. Adami said he would buy Micron (MU) and Kelly is buying HollyFrontier (HFC).  -- Written by Bret Kenwell in Petoskey, Mich. Follow @BretKenwell Follow TheStreet.com on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Bret Kenwell currently writes, blogs and also contributes to Robert Weinstein's Weekly Options Newsletter. Focuses on short-to-intermediate-term trading opportunities that can be exposed via options. He prefers to use debit trades on momentum setups and credit trades on support/resistance setups. He also focuses on building long-term wealth by searching for consistent, quality dividend paying companies and long-term growth companies. He considers himself the surfer, not the wave, in relation to the market and himself. He has no allegiance to either the bull side or the bear side.