El-Erian: 5 Things to Look for in Yellen Testimony

Mohamed El-Erian predicts few fireworks from Janet Yellen’s confirmation hearing on Thursday. He wrote for CNBC on Wednesday that her testimony should remind us of five things.

First is that she is very qualified, he wrote. “Look for the discussion to highlight in particular her solid academic foundation, extensive policy experience, and sound judgment over many years — all of which speak to a smooth and credible leadership transition at a particularly tricky time for the Federal Reserve.”

She is also committed to the current policies coming out of the Fed, and El-Erian wrote that investors should expect “evolution rather than revolution.”

Similarly, she’s likely to maintain the “collegial approach to decision-making” established by Chairman Ben Bernanke. “This is consequential at a time when conditions on the ground will inevitably call for complex judgment calls, and when markets are likely to take badly signs of material differences within the Federal Open Market Committee,” he wrote.

While El-Erian acknowledges that it would be best if lawmakers could agree on policy, he wrote that Yellen “does not consider inaction on the part of other policy-making entities a deal breaker.”

Finally, El-Erian believes Yellen is confident that regulatory efforts aren’t overreaching to the point that they can hinder monetary stimulus.

“If Thursday's hearing does indeed deliver on these five hypotheses, markets can look to a continuation of the Fed's current policy stance for now,” El-Erian wrote. “When the time for taper comes, as it inevitably will, the central bank would partially compensate through more aggressive forward policy guidance. In doing so, it would also specify an additional set of intermediate policy targets.”

Austin Goolsbee, a former advisor to President Barack Obama, is expecting a different kind of fireworks. He spoke at The New York Times Dealbook conference on Tuesday, noting that some Republicans and Tea Party members may object to her confirmation and attempt to stop or delay it, CNN reported.

Furthermore, if the confirmation is delayed and the Fed lacks a chairman by the time it begins scaling back its bond buying program or budget debates ramp up again, it could have a significant impact on consumer confidence. "All of that would add a lot of uncertainty. People would be really nervous over whether the Fed can carry out the taper or any other effective monetary policy."

Ultimately, he called a lack of clear leadership at the Fed a "market-disruptive event."

---

Check out Look Out, Bubble Ahead (Thanks, Fed!): Real Estate Expert on ThinkAdvisor.

 

Pay Package for BlackBerry's New CEO Announced

John Chen will have a formidable challenge on his hands coming in as the interim CEO and chairman of troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) . At least he'll be sufficiently compensated for his efforts -- the company revealed in an SEC filing that he will draw an annual base salary of $1 million.

Chen's compensation package also includes a performance bonus of $2 million, and he will be granted 13 million restricted shares of the company. Twenty-five percent of the latter will vest on both the three- and four-year anniversaries of his employment, with the remainder vesting on the five-year mark.

His contract also includes a fairly big parachute. If terminated without cause, he will be paid his annual salary for the remainder of the year in which the termination occurs. He will also receive two times both his base salary and his base bonus and be able to keep his benefits for 18 months after the termination.

Chen's hiring is the company's latest attempt at revitalization. The move follows its decision not to go private, after top shareholder Fairfax Financial signed a letter of intent to do so for $9 per share. Subsequent to that, the firm announced it would sell $1 billion of convertible debt to a consortium of investors, chiefly Fairfax.

Chen is considered to be something of a turnaround artist, and BlackBerry investors are doubtless hoping he will be able to reverse the fortunes of their company. Previously, he was CEO of software provider Sybase, where he was instrumental in making the firm profitable after four consecutive years of losses. Eventually, it was sold for $5.8 billion to SAP.

At BlackBerry, Chen replaces Thorsten Heins, who was ousted last week.

Why Netflix (NFLX) Reversed Its Overnight Gains

Updated from 5:08 p.m. EDT to disclose Carl Icahn's updated position on Netflix in second paragraph. 

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Netflix (NFLX) CEO Reed Hastings warned against "momentum investor-fueled euphoria" in the company's third-quarter shareholder letter and investors took note. High-momentum stocks slipped to close lower on Tuesday but none so far as Netflix, which only 6 hours earlier was soaring to record heights on solid third-quarter earnings.

And the day went from bad to worse as billionaire investor Carl Icahn disclosed he unloaded 2.4 million shares, cutting his stake in the company to 4.52% from the 10% in his portfolio a year earlier. In an SEC filing, the reason given for Icahn partial exit of his investment was "in view of the 457% increase in the price of those shares since the original investment".

In after-hours trading, shares slumped 2.2% to $315.50. Shares of the streaming service tumbled 9.2% to $322.52, shedding $65.32 since market open. During the day, 25.51 million shares changed hands, seven times the stock's average three-month daily volume of 3.5 million. Investors were taking their profits, despite third-quarter earnings of 52 cents a share that beat analyst expectations by three cents in a Thomson Reuters survey. Netflix said it ended the quarter with more than 40 million members, up from less than 30 million a year earlier. A possible contribution to fears was the degree to which the 1.4 million new international members were the result of "low quality free trials" in Latin America and how this could affect long-term member totals and profitability. The international unit lost $74 million in the quarter, compared to $92 million in the year-ago quarter. The Los Gatos, Calif.-based company anticipates a loss of $65 million in the fourth quarter. Separately, CEO Reed Hastings said in a conference call that Netflix was still uninterested in hosting sports content, quashing rumors of a partnership with the NFL. "All [our] attributes are on-demand and I don't think that brings much to sports viewing which is primarily a linear experience," he said. In ratings, Jefferies reiterated its "underperform" rating, pointing to "the risks of rising content costs, heavy competition, and the likelihood Netflix may need to raise additional capital to fund operations" to explain its bearish outlook. Cantor Fitzgerald kept its "hold" rating with a price target of $350 as "current valuation keeps us on the sidelines", while Oppenheimer raised its price target to $434 from $259 and maintained a "perform" rating on valuation concerns. '"It looks like there is a wholesale onslaught on everything that's going up endlessly," warns Jim Cramer in his recent Real Money analysis. "This is day one and we know reversals last several days."  TheStreet Ratings team rates Netflix Inc as a Hold with a ratings score of C. TheStreet Ratings Team has this to say about its recommendation: "We rate Netflix Inc (NFLX) a HOLD. The primary factors that have impacted our rating are mixed -- some indicating strength, some showing weaknesses, with little evidence to justify the expectation of either a positive or negative performance for this stock relative to most other stocks. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity, premium valuation and generally higher debt management risk." You can view the full analysis from the report here: NFLX Ratings Report X

2 Biotech 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 Rocket Stocks for Turkey Day Trading

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 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

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

Anika Therapeutics

Anika Therapeutics (ANIK) develops, manufactures and commercializes therapeutic products for tissue protection, healing and repair. This stock closed up 7.2% to $32.60 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 892,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 199,369

Volume % Change: 294%

From a technical perspective, ANIK gapped sharply higher here right above some near-term support at $30.23 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last six months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $14.20 to its intraday high of $32.70. During that uptrend, shares of ANIK have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This move on Monday pushed shares of ANIK into new 52-week-high territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $32.32.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ANIK as long as it's trending above some near-term support at $30.23 and then once it sustains a move or close above Monday's high of $32.70 with volume that hits near or above 199,369 shares. If we get that move soon, then ANIK will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $37 to $40.

Enanta Pharmaceuticals

Enanta Pharmaceuticals (ENTA) is a research-and-development-focused biotechnology company that uses its robust chemistry-driven approach and drug discovery capabilities to create small molecule drugs in the infectious disease field. This stock closed up 6.1% at $24.83 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 288,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 117,626

Volume % Change: 95%

From a technical perspective, ENTA ripped sharply higher here and broke out above some past overhead resistance at $24.29 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last few weeks, with shares soaring higher from its low of $18.79 to its intraday high of $25.12. During that uptrend, shares of ENTA have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ENTA within range of triggering another big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ENTA manages to take out Monday's high of $25.12 to its all-time high at $26.39 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ENTA as long as it's trending above Monday's low of $23.44 or above $22 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 117,626 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ENTA will set up to enter new all-time-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $30 to $35.

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

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>5 Dividend Stocks That Want to Pay You More

>>3 Health Care Stocks Under $10 to Watch

>>Profit From 5 Trades Warren Bufett Made

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.

Amazon Shares Hit All-Time High as Analyst Upgrades

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Amazon reached a new all-time high today as a UBS analyst raised the online retailer's rating and price target, saying it has a chance to speed up revenue growth heading into the holiday season.

The spark: Eric Sheridan of UBS lifted Amazon.com to "Buy" from "Neutral" and increased its price target to $385 from $305.

The analysis: Sheridan said in a client note that Amazon should be able to speed up its revenue growth in the fourth quarter and beyond in part because it should benefit from the rollout of new video games and gaming consoles, such as Sony Corp.'s Playstation 4 and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox One -- which are expected to launch in November.

The analyst said that Amazon is well-positioned going forward, as it has worked hard this year on bringing together its hardware and software through actions such as hardware launches, software improvements, streaming content additions and its Amazon Payments system.

Sheridan anticipates an in-line quarter for Amazon when it reports financial results on Thursday. He noted that the near-term may be volatile for online businesses, given eBay's comments this week about expectations for a sluggish holiday season for the U.S. online business and potential impact of the temporary government shutdown.

Share action: The stock climbed $14.18, or 4.6%, to $324.95 in midday trading. Earlier, it touched $325.64 -- a fresh all-time high. Many technology-oriented companies are trading higher Friday. Google's strong third-quarter results sent its stock past $1,000 per share for the first time since it went public nine years ago.

Hold the Champagne, Congress Is Just Getting Started

Stocks finished in the green for a third consecutive day on Monday as hope for a deal that would avert a debt default and reopen the government grew throughout the session.

Things started off a bit on the rocky side however as the DJIA was down more than 100 points two minutes after the opening bell. It turns out that the optimism which had pushed stocks up on Friday had quickly reversed after the politicians failed to make any substantive progress over the weekend.

And before investors could pour that first cup of coffee, there was a sea of red numbers scrolling wildly at the corner of Broad and Wall.

For those keeping score at home, the DJIA has advanced an eye-popping 825 points over the past week. The S&P 500 has moved up by 3.2 percent since last Wednesday's low and the NASDAQ closed out Monday's session just a whisker away from its highest close since the spring of 2000.

And speaking of new highs, both the Russell 2000 (small-caps) and the S&P 400 (mid-caps) indices finished Monday's session at fresh all-time highs. So, it will suffice to say that the fear of what might happen to the country should Congress do the unthinkable isn't sending investors underneath their desks at the present time.

"Hopium" Revisited

Despite all the fear mongering and the doom-and-gloom being espoused by the popular press, word that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was "optimistic that a deal would be reached this week" managed to turn traders' frowns upside down around mid-morning on Monday.

Then the reports that the White House was scheduled to meet with Congressional leaders Monday afternoon gave the dip buyers a reason to get busy again and for shorts to continue to cover. In short, the market once again appeared to be running on "hopium."

The Latest Plan

Since the deadline clock continues to tick and time is running out, here's the latest on the debt/budget drama... On Sunday, Senate leaders (Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell) began working on plan in response ! to talks breaking down between White House and House Republicans. It was more of the same as Obama rejected the House proposal that would have raised the debt ceiling for 6 weeks in exchange for immediate negotiations on 2014 spending levels and a long-term deficit reduction deal.

The President's rejection was not terribly surprising since the House bill would not have reopened the government and also restricted the Treasury from using "extraordinary measures" to extend the debt ceiling deadline. However, on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Reid said that he was optimistic about a deal that he and Senate Minority Leader McConnell had been working on.

Perhaps the most encouraging development was the cancellation of a meeting between Obama, Biden, Boehner, Reid, McConnell, and Pelosi. At first, the algos knocked stocks back Monday as the headline that the meeting was being cancelled hit the wires. However, within minutes the indices recovered when it was announced that the reason for the cancellation was the Senators were making progress and needed more time.

Reading The Fine Print

At this stage, the market assumes that Senators Reid and McConnell will be able to broker a deal to raise the debt ceiling and reopen the government. In addition, since the plan is expected to be bipartisan in nature and originates in the Senate, it is further assumed that Speaker Boehner will bring such a measure to a vote in the House - and that it will pass.

However, before the champagne corks start to fly and the celebration begins, investors should read the fine print.

According to reports, the current plan being worked on by Reid and McConnell will be another "kick the can" type of solution and would only provide enough funding for the government to operate until January 15, 2014. The problem is January 15 is also the date when the second round of automatic "sequestration cuts" from the 2011 Budget Control Act kicks in. As such, the "solution" to the current problem actually sets up anoth! er round ! of "sequester" battles.

And given that this Congress can't seem to agree on anything - ever - it would appear that the current mess is likely to stick around for at least a couple more months. So, in short... here we go again.

Mr. David Moenning is a full-time professional money manager and is the President and Chief Investment Strategist at Heritage Capital Management. He focuses on stock market risk management, stock analysis, stock trading, market news and research. Click here to claim a free copy of Dave's Special Report on changes in the current market.

Stock futures on fence after record Dow close

U.S. stock futures traded water after the Dow Jones industrial average index closed above the 16,000 level for the first time in the previous trading session.

Ahead of Friday's opening bell, Dow futures dipped 0.04% and Standard & Poor's 500 index futures added 0.03%. Nasdaq index futures rose slightly — by 0.1%.

On Thursday, the Dow rose 0.7% to 16,009.99. The S&P 500 index rose 0.8% to 1,795.85. The Nasdaq composite rose 1.2% to 3,969.15.

THURSDAY: Dow closes above 16,000 for the first time

WHAT TO WATCH: Is bubble talk rooted in reality?

The Dow has been propelled higher by a combination of solid corporate earnings, a steadily strengthening economy and the Fed's monetary policy.

The Dow's first close above 16,000 pushed most Asian stocks higher Friday.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average rose 0.1% to 15,381.72 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.5% to 23,691.48.

In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude for January delivery was down 26 cents at $95.18 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained $1.59 to close at $95.44 on Thursday after the U.S. government said monthly unemployment claims fell in a sign of an improving job market.

Contributing: Associated Press

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now

On Jul 5, 2013, we reaffirmed our long-term recommendation on Highwoods Properties Inc. (HIW), a real estate investment trust (REIT), at Neutral. Our decision rests on the company�� successful portfolio repositioning measures. However, continued volatility in the office sector with job cuts, and stiff competition from commercial property developers remain our concerns.

Why Neutral?

Highwoods��first-quarter 2013 core FFO per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny and the prior-year quarter figure by 2 cents. The company has successfully implemented its strategic plans of portfolio repositioning. These position Highwoods favorably for growth. However, a rise in operating expenses acted as the dampener.

As part of the restructuring activity, Highwoods recently bought a Class A office property ��One Alliance Center ��which is the sister building of its previously acquired Two Alliance Center. The consequent strength in balance sheet and liquidity position will likely help the company to take advantage of distressed asset selling as office and retail asset values continue to fall post recession.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Syms Corp(SYMS)

Syms Corp operates a chain of ?off-price? apparel retail stores under the Syms and Filene?s Basement names in the United States. Its stores offer a range of in-season merchandise for men, women, and children. The company?s in-season merchandise includes men?s tailored clothing and haberdashery; women?s dresses, suits, and separates; children?s apparel; and men?s, women?s, and children?s shoes. Its Filene?s stores also offer a selection of jewelry and home goods. As of August 28, 2010, the company operated a chain of 48 off-price apparel stores located predominantly on the east coast. Syms Corp was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Allied Motion Technologies Inc.(AMOT)

Allied Motion Technologies Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells motors, electronic motion controls, and gearing and optical encoder products. It offers brushless and brush direct current (DC) motors, drives, and control electronics comprising servo motors, frameless motors, torque motors, and high speed brushless DC motors for semiconductor manufacturing, industrial automation, medical equipment, military, and aerospace markets. The company also provides high resolution encoders, precision high resolution servo motors, and integrated motor/encoder assemblies to the aerospace and defense, telecommunications, semiconductor, and scanning equipment manufacturing markets. In addition, it offers fractional horsepower permanent magnet DC and brushless DC motors for original equipment applications in various markets, such as trucks, buses, boats, RV's, off-road vehicles, health, fitness, medical, and industrial equipment; and fractional and integral horsepower geared motion solut ions to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the commercial and industrial equipment, healthcare, recreation, and non-automotive transportation markets. Further, the company provides motion control technology comprising integrated power electronics, digital controls, and network communications for motor control and power conversion; reduction gearboxes for dialysis equipment, industrial ink jet printers, cash dispensers, bar code readers, laser scanning equipment, fuel injection systems, HVAC actuators, waste water treatment, dosing systems, textile manufacturing, document handling equipment, and studio television cameras; and drive electronics, software, and mechanical processes to OEM customers in industrial, commercial, and medical applications. It distributes its products through its sales force, independent sales representatives, agents, and distributors primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Invest In 2014: Teleflex Incorporated(TFX)

Teleflex Incorporated designs, manufactures, and distributes specialty medical devices for a range of procedures in critical care and surgery worldwide. It offers disposable medical products for critical care that includes medical devices used in critical care procedures for vascular access, respiratory care, anesthesia and airway management, treatment of urologic conditions, and other specialty procedures; and devices used in the treatment of patients with severe cardiac conditions, including intra aortic balloon pump systems and intra aortic balloon catheters and accessories. The company also provides surgical devices and instruments used in general and specialty surgical procedures, such as ligation and closure products, including appliers, clips, and sutures; access ports used in minimally invasive surgical procedures comprising robotic surgery; fluid management products for chest drainage; and hand-held instruments for general and specialty surgical procedures under t he Deknatel, Pleur-evac, Pilling, Taut, and Weck brand names. In addition, it offers cardiac care products, including diagnostic catheters and capital equipment; instruments and devices for other medical device manufacturers; and customized medical instruments, implants, and components to original equipment manufacturers. The company sells its medical products through its sales forces, and independent representatives and distributor networks. Teleflex Incorporated was founded in 1938 and is based in Limerick, Pennsylvania.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Safe Bulkers Inc(SB)

Safe Bulkers, Inc. provides marine drybulk transportation services worldwide. The company transports various bulk cargoes, primarily coal, grain, and iron ore. As of July 15, 2011, it had a fleet of 16 drybulk vessels, with an aggregate carrying capacity of 1,443,800 deadweight tons. The company?s fleet consists of Panamax, Kamsarmax, Post-Panamax, and Capesize class vessels, as well as 11 further contracted additional drybulk new build vessels to be delivered at various times through 2014. Safe Bulkers, Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Athens, Greece.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Safe Bulkers Inc. (NYSE: SB) was raised to Buy all the way up from Underperform for a two-notch upgrade, and the price target was raised to $8 from $6, at BofA/Merrill Lynch.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Safe Bulkers Inc.(SB) plans to offer 5 million shares and also unveiled plans to sell 1 million shares in a private placement to an entity associated with its chief executive at the public offering price. The drybulk shipping company has about 77 million shares outstanding. Shares dropped.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc.(EGLE)

Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. engages in the ocean transportation of bulk cargoes in the dry bulk industry. The company primarily transports iron ore, coal, grain, cement, and fertilizer along worldwide shipping routes. As of December 31, 2009, it owned and operated a fleet of 27 oceangoing vessels with a combined carrying capacity of 1,412,535 deadweight tons. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Del, Vecchio,]

  Shape up or ship out
  The two companies above have done a relatively great job at staying proactive during a troubled time, and Eagle Bulk Shipping (NASDAQ: EGLE  ) is doing its best to follow suit. After putting up very strong earnings last quarter, reporting $72.2 million net revenue, compared with $52.6 million for the same quarter last year, Eagle looks to be on the right track.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  September is on pace to be a banner month for shipping stocks FreeSeas Inc. (NASDAQ:FREE), DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS), and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE). They're up 290%, 62%, and 115%, respectively, month-to-date, overcoming an amazingly long dry spell. The question is, why have EGLE, FREE, and DRYS been so strong all of a sudden, and more than that, are these rallies built to last?

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Lexington Realty Trust (LXP)

Lexington Corporate Properties Trust operates as a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). The company acquires, owns, and manages a portfolio of office, industrial, and retail properties net-leased to corporate tenants in the United States. It also provides investment advisory and asset management services to institutional investors in the net lease area. As of June 30, 2005, the company operated 185 properties and managed 2 properties. Lexington Corporate Properties Trust has elected to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, it would not be taxed on the portion of its income, which is distributed to shareholders, provided it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income. The company was founded in 1991 and is based in New York City.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Lexington Realty Trust (NYSE: LXP  ) is acting like a relaxed landlord that doesn't want or need to modify the rent. The company is maintaining its dividend policy by declaring a $0.15-per-share distribution for its current quarter, to be paid on or about July 15 to shareholders of record as of June 28. That amount matches the firm's previous three distributions, the most recent of which was paid in April. Prior to that, the real estate investment trust dispensed $0.125 per share.

• [By Brad Thomas]

  Compared with the public REIT peers, I believe that Chambers Street will compare favorably to W.P. Carey (WPC) and Lexington Realty Trust (LXP). Both of these REITs own larger box assets and they both have conservative and well-positioned balance sheets. Here is a snapshot of Chambers Street's capitalization:

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Telestone Technologies Corp.(TSTC)

Telestone Technologies Corporation offers wireless local-access network technologies and solutions primarily in the People?s Republic of China. Its access-network solutions include the research and development, and application of access network technology. The company designs and sells electronic equipments, such as wireless fiber-optic distribution system products, RFPA products, passive components, repeaters, radio frequency peripherals, and base station antennas used to provide access network solutions for 2G, 3G, broadband access, and CATV networks. It also offers project design, project management, installation, maintenance, and other after-sales services. In addition, Telestone provides various solutions to the telecommunications industry, which cover indoor and outdoor environments comprising hotels, residential estates, office buildings, airports, exhibition centers, underground stations, and highways and tunnels. Further, the company engages in the design, develop ment, production and installation, and trading of wireless telecommunication coverage system equipment. It also markets its products to 29 countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, and Vietnam. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By insider]

  The valuation box will also clearly indicate it if a company is traded at below its net current asset value (NCAV). Please see the valuation box for Telestone (TSTC) below.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: (CTEI)

Cemtrex, Inc. designs, engineers, assembles, and sells emission monitoring equipment and instruments, and air filtration and environmental control products to power plants, refineries, chemical plants, and cement plants, as well as to municipalities, hospitals, and federal and state governmental agencies. Its emission monitoring systems are installed at the exhaust stacks of industrial facilities and are used to measure the outlet flue gas concentrations of regulated pollutants. The company offers opacity monitors for stack opacity and dust measurements; direct-extractive and dilution-extractive continuous emission monitor equipment and systems that are applicable for utilities, industrial boilers, FGD systems, SCR-NOx control, furnaces, gas turbines, process heaters, incinerators, and process controls; ammonia analyzers for monitoring ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide by process analyzers that utilize UV absorbance techniques for detection; and mercury analyzer s. It also provides a line of air filtration and environmental control equipment to remove dust, corrosive fumes, mists, hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, submicron particles, and particulate from industrial exhausts and boilers; clean noxious and acid gases from industrial exhaust stacks prior to discharging to the atmosphere; and control emissions from construction facilities, mining operations, and dryer exhausts. In addition, the company markets technologies for controlling greenhouse gases, such as methane from coal mines; and assists project owners in selling carbon credits. Further, it offers replacement and spare parts, and repair and refurbishment services for emission monitoring systems. The company was formerly known as Diversified American Holding, Inc. and changed its name to Cemtrex, Inc. in December 2004. Cemtrex Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Farmingdale, New York.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: UFP Technologies Inc.(UFPT)

UFP Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design and manufacture of engineered packaging solutions for medical and scientific, automotive, aerospace and defense, computer and electronics, industrial, and consumer markets. The company offers packaging products primarily using polyethylene, polyurethane, cross-linked polyethylene foams, and rigid plastics. Its packaging products include end-cap packs for computers, corner blocks for telecommunications consoles, anti-static foam packs for printed circuit boards, die-cut or routed inserts for cases, molded foam enclosures for orthopedic products, and plastic trays for medical devices and components. UFP Technologies also fabricates and molds component products made from cross-linked polyethylene foam and other materials, as well as engages in laminating fabrics and other materials to cross-linked polyethylene foams, polyurethane foams, and other substrates. The company?s component products include automo tive interior trim, athletic padding, industrial safety belts, medical device components, air filtration, high-temperature insulation, abrasive nail files and other beauty aids, anti-fatigue mats, and shock absorbing inserts used in athletic and leisure footwear. It sells its products primarily under United Foam, Simco Automotive, and Molded Fiber brand names through direct sales force, independent manufacturer representatives, and distributors. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Georgetown, Massachusetts.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: (ENTI)

Encounter Technologies, Inc. operates as an online video distribution and technology company that launches proprietary syndication platforms and offers a range of video technology and distribution services to other companies. The company develops and programs solutions for the online streaming, distribution, and networking, as well as for the social network and distribution platforms. It offers end-to-end technology and online marketing services, including design, build, hosting, and online marketing support. The company primarily operates GlobalAdOn.com, a patented technology for the yellow pages publishing industry. Its sales and management platform facilitates the sales and video production process for Internet yellow page publishers and their sales forces, as well as integrates and facilitates various processes, such as video shoot, sales rep, and publisher. The company was formerly known as Encounter.com, Inc. and changed its name to Encounter Technologies, Inc. in De cember 2009. Encounter Technologies, Inc. is based in Fort Myers, Florida.

Gross 'not braggin' after short-term Treasuries call

Bill Gross got it right when he recommended short-maturity Treasuries this week.

“Not braggin' but what did we tell you,” Gross, who runs the world's biggest bond fund at Pacific Investment Management Co., wrote on Twitter Wednesday.

Gross: #Summers departure strengthens forward guidance approach on Wednesday – Still expect a #Taper – Buy front end.

— PIMCO (@PIMCO) September 16, 2013

Gross: Not braggin' but what did we tell you. Today marks the beginning of the #Yellen #Fed. Frontend friendly for a long time.

— PIMCO (@PIMCO) September 18, 2013

The difference between five- and 30-year yields widened to as much as 2.38 percentage points today, the most in almost six months. Gross wrote on Twitter on Sept. 15 that investors would demand more yield to own long bonds versus five-year notes after Lawrence Summers quit the race to head the Federal Reserve. The former Treasury secretary's decision ended speculation that he would undo the central bank's policies aimed at holding down borrowing costs.

The Fed unexpectedly refrained from reducing its $85 billion pace of monthly bond buying yesterday, saying it needs more evidence of lasting improvement in the economy. Futures contracts indicate investors are betting policy makers will wait longer before raising their target for overnight lending between banks, benefiting short-term Treasuries, those that are most sensitive what the central bank does with its benchmark.

Vice Chairman Janet Yellen, a supporter of Bernanke's policies, is the top candidate to succeed him, according to people familiar with the process.

Summers's decision to withdraw marks the beginning of the Yellen Fed, Gross said in his Twitter post Wednesday. Traders will have a “frontend friendly” market for a long time, he wrote, referring to the shortest Treasury maturities.Fund Performance

Gross' $251.1 billion Total Return Fund has fallen 2.5 percent this year, underperforming about two-thirds of its peers, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. During the past five years, it has gained an average of 7.5 percent annually, ranking in the 89th percentile.

Pimco

5 Biotech Stocks Under $10 on the Move

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

>>5 Big Trades to Take as the Fed Hits the Gas

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

>>5 Stocks Insiders Love Right Now

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today.

Organovo

Organovo (ONVO) is a three-dimensional biology company focused on delivering breakthrough bioprinting technology and creating tissue on demand for research and medical applications. This stock closed up 8.2% to $6.03 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $5.80-$6.20

52-Week Range: $1.80-$8.50

Thursday's Volume: 5.36 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 2.67 million

>>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy as Mr. Market Climbs

From a technical perspective, ONVO spiked sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $5.80 with heavy upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of ONVO within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ONVO manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.20 to $6.39 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ONVO as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $5.80 or above $5.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 2.67 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ONVO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.50 to its 52-week high at $8.50.

Arca Biopharma

Arca Biopharma (ABIO) is a biopharmaceutical company developing genetically targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases. This stock closed up 4.3% to $1.45 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $1.37-$1.49

52-Week Range: $1.13-$5.94

Thursday's Volume: 2.08 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 232,217

>>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings

From a technical perspective, ABIO ripped higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $1.38 with monster upside volume. This move saw shares of ABIO flirt with a breakout since the stock tested some near-term overhead resistance at $1.45. Shares of ABIO are now trending within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ABIO manage to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.50 to $1.52 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ABIO as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $1.38 or above more near-term support at $1.29 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 232,217 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ABIO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $1.65. Any high-volume move above $1.65 will then give ABIO a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from May that started near $2.80.

Supernus Pharmaceuticals

Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system, or CNS, diseases. This stock closed up 4.3% to $6.87 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $6.55-$6.90

52-Week Range: $4.45-$14.98

Thursday's Volume: 754,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 546,767

>>4 Biotech Stocks Triggering Breakout Trades

From a technical perspective, SUPN jumped sharply higher here back above both its 200-day moving average of $6.63 and its 50-day moving average of $6.67 with above-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways for the last month, with shares moving between $6.40 on the downside and $7.08 on the upside. This spike on Thursday is now quickly pushing shares of SUPN within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if SUPN manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $7 to $7.08 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SUPN as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at $6.40 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 546,767 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then SUPN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $8.40.

Cerus

Cerus (CERS) is a biomedical products company that focuses on commercializing the Intercept Blood System to enhance blood safety. This stock closed up 2.2% to $5.88 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $5.66-$5.94

52-Week Range: $2.68-$6.00

Thursday's Volume: 512,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 519,862

From a technical perspective, CERS moved modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $5.48 with decent upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $4.16 to its recent high of $6. During that uptrend, shares of CERS have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of CERS within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if CERS manages to take out Thursday's high of $5.94 and then once it clears its 52-week high at $6 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CERS as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $5.48 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 519,862 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then CERS will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $7 or $8.

Transition Therapeutics

Transition Therapeutics (TTHI) is a product-focused biopharmaceutical company, developing therapeutics for disease indications with markets. This stock closed up 3.9% to $4.18 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $3.98-$4.18

52-Week Range: $1.90-$4.99

Thursday's Volume: 76,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 158,130

From a technical perspective, TTHI ripped higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $4.04 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways inside of a consolidation pattern for the last month and change, with shares moving between $3.93 on the downside and $4.53 on the upside. This pattern has started to coil into a tighter range over the last few weeks, which often signals that a stock is ready to see a sharp move if that range is taken out. Shares of TTHI are now starting to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if TTHI manages to take out some key overhead resistance levels at $4.31 to $4.53 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TTHI as long as it's trending above support at $3.93 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 158,130 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then TTHI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.99. Any high-volume move above $4.99 will then give TTHI a chance to tag $6 or $7.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

>>Beat the S&P With These 5 Shareholder Yield Champs

>>5 Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume

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.

BlackBerry Announces Z30 Smartphone

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- BlackBerry's (BBRY) board of directors may be exploring the possibility of selling the company, but the company is still announcing and creating new phones. Early this morning, Blackberry announced what could be its final smartphone - the Z30.

The Z30 is the first BlackBerry approaching "phablet" size, as it boasts a 5-inch Super AMOLED display (1280 by 720 pixels).  The new phone also sports a "1.7 GHz processor (dual-core Qualcomm (QCOM) Snapdragon S4) with quad- core graphics", 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage and stereo speakers.

BlackBerry's latest offering includes the company's newly improved antenna technology. BlackBerry has always been in the forefront of cellular antenna design. The cameras are similar to what has been offered in the BlackBerry Z10 - 8 MP on the back and 2 MP up front.

Also new in the Z30 is the operating system. It's the first BlackBerry device to come with OS 10.2. The company says 10.2 "includes hundreds of refinements plus many new features that help you be more productive". Slightly less vague is the claim that the new operating software in combination with a (non-removable) 2880 mAh battery pack will be able to provide as much as 25 hours of "mixed use".

OS 10.2 improves upon the BlackBerry Hub system which now includes a "Priority Hub". The new software still gathers all of your calls, email, messages and social networking into one location and now adds a listing for priority messages.

BlackBerry has released a video promoting the Z30 and its best features. You can watch it here.

While BlackBerry says the new phone will become available beginning next week, it means available in the UK and Middle East markets. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company said the rest of the world should expect "pre-holiday season" release dates. No official carriers were named and no actual prices were announced in the corporate press release.

BlackBerry shares were higher on back of the news, ga! ining 1% to $10.66.

Written by Gary Krakow in New York.

To submit a news tip, send an email to tips@thestreet.com.

5 Stocks Under $10 in Breakout Territory

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today.

Kandi Technologies Group

Kandi Technologies Group (KNDI) is engaged in designing, developing, manufacturing and commercializing electrical vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, go-karts and specialized automobiles related products for the People's Republic of China and global markets. This stock closed up 5.3% to $5.35 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $5.21-$5.55

52-Week Range: $3.08-$8.50

Tuesday's Volume: 1.78 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.72 million

From a technical perspective, KNDI jumped higher here right above some near-term support at $5.07 with above-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of KNDI within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if KNDI manages to take out Tuesday's high of $5.55 to some more resistance at $5.72 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KNDI as long as it's trending above some near-term support at $5.07 or above its 50-day at $4.85 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.72 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then KNDI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6.50 to $7.

Gafisa

Gafisa (GFA) is a homebuilder in Brazil. This stock closed up 5% to $3.13 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $2.97-$3.15

52-Week Range: $2.22-$5.24

Tuesday's Volume: 1.70 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.77 million

From a technical perspective, GFA ripped higher here right above some near-term support at $2.80 with decent upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $2.27 to its intraday high of $3.15. During that move, shares of GFA have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of GFA within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if GFA manages to take out Tuesday's high of $3.15 to some past resistance at $3.30 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GFA as long as it's trending above support at $2.80 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.77 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then GFA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $3.68 to more resistance at $4.20 to $4.70.

Oi

Oi (OIBR) provides telecommunication services in Brazil. This stock closed up 1.6% to $1.87 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $1.83-$1.89

52-Week Range: $1.42-$4.51

Tuesday's Volume: 2.61 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 4.32 million

From a technical perspective, OIBR rose modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $1.72 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $1.42 to its intraday high of $1.89. During that move, shares of OIBR have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move is quickly pushing shares of OIBR within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if OIBR manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.89 to $2.04 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in OIBR as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $1.72 or above more support at $1.60 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 4.32 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then OIBR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.25 to $2.29. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give OIBR a chance to tag $2.50 to $2.75.

Molycorp

Molycorp (MCP) is a rare earth company. This stock closed up 4.6% to $6.73 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $6.46-$6.87

52-Week Range: $4.70-$14.44

Tuesday's Volume: 8.04 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 6.17 million

From a technical perspective, MCP spiked notably higher here right above some near-term support at $6.37 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending modestly higher for the last month, with shares moving up from its low of $5.95 to its recent high of $6.98. During that move, shares of MCP have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This spike on Tuesday briefly pushed shares of MCP back above its 50-day moving average of $6.75. Shares of MCP are now starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if MCP manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.98 to $7.13 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MCP as long as it's trending above support at $6.37 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 6.17 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then MCP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.73 to $8.06. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give MCP a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance level at $9.25.

Global Cash Access

Global Cash Access (GCA) is a global provider of innovative cash access and data intelligence services and solutions to the gaming industry. This stock closed up 2% to $8 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $7.82-$8.00

52-Week Range: $5.71-$8.46

Tuesday's Volume: 442,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 502,128

From a technical perspective, GCA spiked modestly higher here right off some near-term support at $7.80 with decent upside volume. This stock has been trending sideways inside of a consolidation pattern for the last month and change, with shares moving between $7.50 on the downside and $8.17 on the upside. Shares of GCA are now starting to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if GCA manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.03 to $8.17 and then once it clears more past resistance at $8.50 to $8.71 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GCA as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $7.43 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 502,128 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then GCA will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $8.46, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $10 to $11.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Why Facebook Investors Should Fret That Young Teen Users are Leaving the Nest

If Facebook (Nasdaq:FB) can't keep teenagers on its social networking site, perhaps it can just buy their attention.

The Menlo Park, Calif. company's shares dropped last month after Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman told analysts on the third quarter earnings call that the service "did see a decrease in daily users, specifically among younger teens." This group remains key to Facebook's prospects because marketers believe teenage use often presages wider popularity, particularly in technology and Internet industries. Without strong teenage use, Facebook risks losing growth to other platforms such as Twitter (NYSE:TWTR), Tumblr or those still percolating in the mind of a teenage coder.

Facebook has already bought one big teen platform, Instagram, paying $1 billion in cash and stock last year for its 100 million users. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook bid $3 billion for Snapchat, a two-year-old company with no revenue or earnings that has a smartphone app which delivers messages that disappear in 10 seconds or less. The Stanford University dropout who started Snapchat, Evan Spiegel, turned down the offer, holding out for $4 billion, the Journal reported.

That Facebook now is facing a decline in use by teenagers is ironic. CEO Mark Zuckerberg launched the social media site when he himself was a teen and an undergraduate at Harvard University. While his company now boasts 1.2 billion users, losing teens could suggest that the service may be losing relevance and that could hurt its ability to keep attracting advertisers, which provide the bulk of Facebook's $2 billion in quarterly revenue. MediaBistro reported in October that 61% of teens name Tumblr as their favorite social-media site, compared with 55% for Facebook. Facebook didn't comment on its use by teens.

Many of Facebook's users now are the parents of teenagers. "Teens have more and more environments in which it spend time through web-connected devices," said Brian Wieser! , an analyst with the Pivotal Research Group. David Kirkpatrick, the author of "The Facebook Effect," said teens are using "a range of things. My 21-year-old daughter, for instance, uses Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for different reasons at different times. The Internet is seen as a palate of options." Pinterest is a content-sharing service that permits its members to "pin" images, videos and related features to their pinboards

"The case for Facebook changes as you get older," said Janney Capital Markets analyst Tony Wible. "Facebook is an important communications tool for older people but a 13-year-old doesn't have the same need for it. Younger people are spending their time with a lot of other things in media, like Instagram, Snapchat and the latest app on their cell phones.Video games, like Grand Theft Auto are also popular with them, and movies had a good third quarter in terms of incremental growth of media consumption."

Charles Haddad, a journalism professor at Stony Brook University in Long Island, said that he is hardly surprised that young teens are migrating from Facebook. "It's ever easier for them to switch," said Haddad. "The more interconnected we become, the easier it is to be restless and try out a new service. And young people are born restless. They want to be first to discover the latest and greatest."

Now, Facebook has the challenging task of creating for young teens the illusion of a cyber-community, where they will want to gather and exchange information and gossip. "Communities are valuable to companies because of the number of potential connections inherent," said Mel Bergstein, the retired CEO of Diamond Technology Partners, a consulting group that assists companies in excelling on social media. For a company, he said, "the bottom line is, the more people in a community, the more valuable it is."

The Bottom Line

If Facebook hopes to recapture the young-teen market, Zuckerberg will have to change the way it views these users – and itself. And that may mean more billion-dollar bids for hot new apps without business plans developed by twentysomethings barely out of college.

As Kirkpatrick mused, "Zuck likes to refer to Facebook as a 'utility.' But what teenager is going to get excited about a utility?"

Disclosure - At the time of writing, the author did not own shares of any company mentioned in this article.

Canadian Solar Inc (CSIQ): Should You Own This Small Cap Solar Stock? TAN & KWT

Small cap solar stock Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ: CSIQ) rose another 13.35% yesterday and is up 841.2% since the start of the year, soundly beating the performance of solar ETFs Guggenheim Solar ETF (NYSEARCA: TAN) and Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: KWT). But why has this solar stock gone parabolic and what are (if any) potential dark clouds that investors need to be aware of?

What is Canadian Solar Inc?

A vertically integrated provider of ingots, wafers, solar cells, solar modules, solar power systems and specialized solar products, small cap Canadian Solar was founded in Ontario, Canada in 2001 and listed on the NASDAQ 2006. In the past 12 years, Canadian Solar Inc has worked with over 1,000 customers in over 70 countries to deliver over 6GW of solar modules from its manufacturing facilities in Canada and China.

For reference, the Guggenheim Solar ETF tracks the MAC Global Solar Energy Index by investing in approximately 22 solar stocks selected based upon the relative importance of solar power and the Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF tracks the Market Vectors Global Solar Energy Index by investing in 32 different solar stocks

What You Need to Know or Be Warned About Canadian Solar Inc

Despite the company's name and its headquarters being in Ontario, three out of four key executives listed on Canadian Solar's website are Chinese plus most of the manufacturing would be done in China – meaning the company is really a Chinese stock (for better or for worst). It should also be mentioned that Canadian Solar had disclosed an SEC subpoena requesting documents in 2010 and that investigation surfaced again last summer when it was revealed that accounting firms had blocked giving documents to the SEC because of China's secrecy laws (CSIQ's name came up in the investigation of those accounting firms).

With that said, Canadian Solar surged yesterday on earnings after it reported net revenues of $490.9 million verses $380.4 million thanks in part to increased shipments to Japan and net income of $27.7 million verses a net loss of $12.6 million (making it the only profitable Chinese solar stock) plus the company had $681.7 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash verses $540.6 million at the end of June 30. It should also be mentioned that Canadian Solar did close the sale of its Brockville 2 and Burritts Rapids solar plants plus announced the separate sale of two solar power plants to BlackRock. 

However and what investors seem to like about Canadian Solar is how its moved into power plant construction to limit dependence on the extremely competitive business of selling solar panels and other solar products. In fact, the company's "total solutions business", the unit that includes its power plant operations, contributed 41% of total revenue in the third quarter, up from 21.5% a year earlier.

In the earnings call transcript (available on Seeking Alpha here), executives mentioned how they are already in construction of 13 projects out of the remaining 24 plus the CEO noted:

Now for module shipment, geographic wise, we see China continue to be one of the key market in terms of volume. And for Japan, we believe we'll keep the same momentum and maintain roughly the same shipment and market share. And U.S. is a growing market, so we see some growth in the U.S. market as well. In Canada, Canada is -- will be a very busy year for us since most of the -- we are -- we'll be in construction with almost all of our projects in Canada next year. And we still -- I expect a strong market in Southeast Eastern Asia and South Asian countries. The examples there are Thailand and also India.

Share Performance: Canadian Solar and TAN & KWT

On Wednesday, small cap Canadian Solar surged 13.35% to $32 (CSIQ has a 52 week trading range of $1.95 to $32.24 a share) for a market cap of $1.48 billion plus the stock is up 841.2% since the start of the year, up 1,089.6% over the past year and up 280.5% over the past five years. Here is a look at Canadian Solar's performance verses that of Guggenheim Solar ETF and the Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF:

As you can see from the long term chart, Canadian Solar has taken investors for a wild ride in the past while the Guggenheim Solar ETF is actually down some 61.7% over the past five years (according to Google Finance) as the Yahoo! Finance chart appears to not be taking into account some sort of stock split back in February 2012.

Finally, here is a look at the latest and rather bullish technical charts for Canadian Solar, Guggenheim Solar ETF and the Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF:

The Bottom Line. If you have already been invested in Canadian Solar, congratulations but if you are not already in, its probably a little late to get in on the party with a big investment and you might want to limit your risk by choosing the Guggenheim Solar ETF or the Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF.

Ford: Restructured for Growth

After suffering through one of the most trying periods in its history, US automakers have emerged financially stronger and stand to benefit from a number of tailwinds in the domestic market, observes Elliott Gue, editor of Capitalist Times.

At the end of 2012, the median age of passenger vehicles still on the road in the US touched a record high of 11.4 years; the rising age of the US auto fleet implies that many of these cars will need to be replaced in coming years.

Credit availability and affordability have also improved dramatically, which should continue to fuel sales of new cars. Although interest rates have ticked up slightly this year, the cost of financing the purchase of a new vehicle remains near a record-low.

The only major US automaker to avoid bankruptcy during the Great Recession, Ford Motor Company (F) boasts the best-positioned product lineup to take advantage of improving automobile sales in the US, and long-term demand growth in China, and other emerging markets.

Although playing hardball with the union has enabled Ford Motor Company to lower its cost structure, our bullish investment thesis reflects a number of other company-specific developments.

For one, the restructuring plan, designed and implemented under CEO Alan Mulally, has simplified the firm's operations dramatically, by reducing excess manufacturing capacity and paring its extensive portfolio of brands.

This so-called One Ford initiative involved the US$2.3 billion sale of Jaguar and Land Rover and the US$1.6 bullion divestment of Volvo. After selling the majority of its stake in Mazda, and discontinuing Mercury, Ford Motor Company's portfolio consists of its eponymous mass-market brand and the higher-end Lincoln.

Under Mulally's leadership, Ford has rationalized the number of production platforms to five core platforms that account for 80% of the firm's models. Management plans to transition the company to nine shared platforms that represent about 99% of the carmaker's automobiles.

This strategic move should improve the auto company's economies of scale, by enabling the firm to negotiate quantity discounts on parts, and minimizing costly factory retooling.

Equally important, Ford Motor Company will be able to adjust production to meet changes in consumer taste and demand.

The use of common platforms has also allowed the carmaker to accelerate the introduction of new models. Over the next three years, Ford Motor Company will update each of its major models, keeping the average age of the car designs in its showroom at about 2.3 years—well under the industry average of about 2.7 years.

As newer designs usually sell better and command higher prices than legacy models, the carmaker's commitment to maintaining a fresh product lineup should also bolster the firm's profit margins.

And Ford Motor Company's new lines of fuel-efficient cars, especially the Fiesta and Fusion, have proved popular with consumers.

Outside the US, the carmaker has a number of initiatives under way to grow its sales in China, where the company plans to double its product lineup by year-end, and continue to remodel and refresh its showrooms. Management expects its dealer network in China to expand to more than 900 locations by 2015, from 600 by the end of 2013.

Ford Motor Company has also put its financial house in order, using the free cash flow generated by its increasingly popular lineup of cars and light trucks, to reduce debt and return capital to shareholders.

This company's strong balance sheet and improving growth prospects prompted the firm to double its dividend in the first quarter to $0.10 per share, equivalent to an indicated yield of 2.4% at the stock's current quote.

With a price-to-sales ratio of 0.45, Ford has one of the lowest multiples in the S&P 500; several factors suggest that the company should command a higher valuation in coming years.

First and foremost, the complete transformation of the US auto industry should find favor among investors. The unfunded liabilities, inefficient manufacturing practices, excessive debt, and bloated cost structures no longer plague the Big Three.

From 1997 to 2000, US automobile sales stood at similar level to today. At the time, shares of Ford traded at roughly 11 times to 12 times earnings; at a valuation of 12 times next year's estimated earnings, Ford would be worth $21 per share—30% higher than the prevailing stock price.

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Netflix service gets a TV makeover

SAN FRANCISCO — Netflix today launched a makeover of the streaming video service, a move that comes after a succession of new entertainment titles.

The Los Gatos, Calif.-based company has redesigned its interface for better discovery of its catalog on TVs. The new look will display three large slide-show images, a teaser synopsis and one personalized detail chosen by Netflix.

"We want discovery to be richer," says Chris Jaffe, vice president of product innovation at Netflix "I knew one of my personal frustrations was I felt like today's Netflix experience didn't give me enough reasons for why I should watch this vs. that."

Netflix's old look gave viewers less detail and was dated. The streaming service's titles appeared much like rectangular images of VHS boxes, with descriptions, information on the number of episodes and ratings. The new version has taken two large Netflix-selected still images from scenes and added them to the studio art.

Netflix says the redesign to its user interface is the biggest update to its TV experience in the company's history. The company has been quietly testing it out on several hundred thousand U.S. customers, and changes have resulted in greater member engagement, according to Netflix.

Netflix has also launched predictive and visual search. That allows for members to type in just a few characters, as done with Google searches, to get at titles. Results will be served with images from titles, as well.

"Improving the search is certainly going to help people connect with more content that they enjoy. But there is still more improvement they can make if they want to compete against the growing number of apps that people are going to find on their new game consoles, Rokus, Apple TVs and mobile devices," says Gartner analyst Brian Blau.

While it's been a few years since Netflix has remodeled its look, the Internet streaming service has been steadily marching out new deals for content. Last week, Netflix announced a deal with Disney's! Marvel to bring original programs to the service in 2015. Netflix also announced last week that it would launch its original documentary The Short Game to its service in December as part of a larger push of first-run material from Netflix.

The service has won viewers with originals such as Emmy-winning House of Cards and Orange is the New Black in a bid to become an original programming powerhouse.

The Netflix service redesign will affect game consoles, smart TVs with apps, set-top boxes and Blu-ray players. The makeover isn't intended for mobile devices. Netflix has done back-end work that will enable new features to appear simultaneously across platforms. Also, members will be able to find and launch titles more quickly.

The new service will be available worldwide in two weeks.

Why the Labor Department Unemployment Report Could Rock Markets on Friday

This may be right after Labor Day, but the economic reports will be flowing heavily this week and peaking with the U.S. Labor Department report on the employment situation on Friday. With the recent volatility and capital outflows we have seen, Friday’s unemployment report could truly rock the markets higher or could take back all of the recovery gains.

As of Tuesday, Bloomberg is calling for unemployment to remain static at 7.4%. The nonfarm payrolls are expected to be up by 175,000 and the private sector payrolls are expected to be up by 178,000. Be advised that the higher-end of both ranges is 234,000 on the total payrolls and 230,000 on the private sector payrolls.

We also will get to see a lot of pre-employment report data from other sources ahead of the report. Gallup releases its Jobs Creation Index on Wednesday morning, followed by the Challenger Job Cuts Report and the ADP employment report on Thursday. Also due on Thursday is the report on weekly jobless claims from the Labor Department. The consensus Bloomberg estimates are likely to change marginally but currently are as follows:

Gallup and ADP (not covered) ADP est. 177,000, with range of 150,000 to 225,000 Weekly jobless claims 330,000, with a range of 325,000 to 335,000

Another jobs report will be out on nonfarm productivity and unit labor costs, but this has no real effect on official labor Department data as this is from the second quarter. That being said, the estimates are 1.8% higher on productivity and 0.7% higher on labor costs.

Markit already signaled that manufacturing jobs trends was the second month of job creation, while the ISM report on manufacturing showed that manufacturing jobs growth was slower. Those were both covering only the manufacturing sector reports.

Also note that the S&P 500 is currently just under 1,650 and the DJIA is right at 14,900 again. The 10-year Treasury yield is 2.87% and the 30-year Treasury yield is right at 3.80%. The low for the DJIA was 14,762.35 last week, versus a high of 15,049.98 at the start of last week.

As a reminder, pending military action in Syria and unrest potentially hang in the balance as well. And remember that estimates may formally or unofficially change going into ADP or other pre-employment reports.

Stocks up despite jobs report. Bye-bye taper?

Click the chart for more premarket data.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Following a lackluster August jobs report, investors now seem to think that the Federal Reserve may hold off on plans to start trimming its bond buying program later this month.

The economy added 169,000 jobs last month, fewer than the 185,000 economists surveyed by CNNMoney were forecasting. The unemployment rate ticked lower to 7.3%, as expected, but the drop was due a falling labor force participation rate. Job gains for both June and July were also revised lower.

Investors had been eagerly awaiting the jobs report, as it is the last major piece of economic data leading up to the Fed's next meeting in less than two weeks.

U.S. stock futures ticked higher after the release of the report, a sign that investors think that the economy is still to fragile to support the Fed's plan to begin winding down its stimulus support for the economy as early as this month.

Bond prices rose and Treasury yields fell sharply following the jobs report, with the 10-year yield dipping to 2.88% from nearly 3%. (Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.) Investors may be betting that the Fed will continue to buy $85 billion in bonds a month as opposed to tapering these purchases.

What's moving: Smithfield Foods (SFD, Fortune 500) shares edged higher after the meat processor posted a 10% increase in sales, but a drop in earnings due to weak experts to Japan, China and Russia. The company announced an agreement earlier this year to be acquired by China's Shuanghui International, a deal now awaiting approval from the U.S. government.

European markets were in the red in midday trading, though the declines were muted.

Asian markets ended with mixed results. Japan's Nikkei declined by 1.5% after a week of major gains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index and the Shanghai Composite index each pushed higher.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014

The following video is from Friday's installment of The Motley Fool's Weekly Tech Review, in which host Chris Hill and analysts Eric Bleeker and Jason Moser take a look at the biggest stories driving the tech sector this week.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) recently cancelled its Google Reader service, leaving behind a large group of dedicated users feeling the loss. In this segment, Eric and Jason discuss Facebook's (NASDAQ: FB  ) efforts to step in and fill this space with its own newsreader. Could this be a meaningful driver of traffic for Facebook? Eric also looks at just how well Facebook's ads are performing at the moment.

The full video is available here.

Believe it or not, most of our digital lives are controlled by just a handful of technology companies. This battle can only have one winner, so the question is, "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" In a special report from The Motley Fool, we give you that name for free. Simply click here for instant access.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014: Ridley Inc (RCL.TO)

Ridley Inc. engages in the commercial animal nutrition business in North America. The company manufactures and markets a range of animal nutrition products, including formulated complete feeds, premixes, and feed supplements; block supplements, such as low moisture, pressed, compressed, composite, and poured blocks as well as loose minerals; vitamin and trace mineral premixes, small packaged specialty products, medicated and non-medicated feed additives, and micro feed ingredients; and animal health products. It also provides nutrition and sales support services for retailers. The company offers its products in bulk, as well as in various sizes, bags, and barrels. It primarily serves consumers, commercial producers, dealers, and mass merchandisers; livestock and poultry breeders and growers; and the equine, companion animal, and hobby farm segments directly, as well as through distributor and dealer channels. The company is headquartered in Mankato, Minnesota. Fairfax Fina ncial Holdings Limited is a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014: AMN Healthcare Services Inc(AHS)

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. provides healthcare staffing and clinical workforce management solutions in the United States. The company?s Nurse and Allied Healthcare Staffing segment provides staffing solutions for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, including medical, surgical, specialty, licensed practical or vocational, and advanced practice nurses, as well as surgical technologists and dialysis technicians. This segment also offers allied health professionals under the Med Travelers, Club Staffing, and Rx Pro Health brand names to acute-care hospitals and other healthcare facilities, such as skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation clinics, and retail and mail-order pharmacies. These allied health professionals include physical, surgical, respiratory, and occupational therapists, as well as medical and radiology technologists, speech pathologists, rehabilitation assistants, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. Its Locum Tenens Staffing segment places physic ians of various specialties, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and dentists on a temporary basis as independent contractors with various healthcare organizations, including hospitals, medical groups, occupational medical clinics, individual practitioners, networks, psychiatric facilities, government institutions, and managed care entities. The company?s Physician Permanent Placement Services segment provides permanent physician placement services to hospitals, healthcare facilities, and physician practice groups under the Merritt Hawkins and Kendall & Davis brand names. This segment also offers specialty offerings, including internal medicines, family practices, and surgeries. Its Home Healthcare Services segment provide home healthcare services to individuals with acute-care illness, long-term chronic health conditions, permanent disabilities, terminal illnesses, and post-procedural needs. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in S an Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE: AHS  ) , a health care staffing solutions company, jumped as much as 11% after reporting its third-quarter earnings results.

Top Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Imperial resources, Inc.(IPRC)

Imperial resources, Inc., through its subsidiary, Imperial Oil & Gas Inc., engages in the exploration and development of oil and gas assets in the onshore United States. It holds a 14.9% working interest in the oil, gas, and mineral leases in the Greater Garwood hydrocarbon exploration project, which covers an area of approximately 2,244 acres and is located in Colorado County, Texas. The company also has agreements to acquire 50% working interest in Chisholm Trail Prospect in Oklahoma; and a majority participation interest in a salt water disposal well. Imperial resources, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in Austin, Texas.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014: Ingles Markets Incorporated(IMKTA)

Ingles Markets, Incorporated operates a supermarket chain in the southeast United States. Its supermarkets offer food products, including grocery, meat and dairy products, produce, frozen foods, and other perishables; and non-food products, such as fuel, pharmacy products, health and beauty care products, and general merchandise, as well as provides private label items. The company?s stores also offer products and services, such as home meal replacement items, delicatessens, bakeries, floral departments, video rental departments, and greeting cards, as well as a selection of organic, beverage, and health-related items. In addition, it engages in the fluid dairy processing and shopping center rental businesses. The company operates 203 supermarkets, including 74 in Georgia, 69 in North Carolina, 36 in South Carolina, 21 in Tennessee, 2 in Virginia, and 1 in Alabama. As of September 24, 2011, it operated 74 in-store pharmacies and 70 fuel centers; owned and operated 70 shop ping centers of which 58 contain an Ingles supermarket; and owned 94 additional properties that contain a free-standing Ingles store; and owned 13 undeveloped sites. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Geoff Gannon]

  To understand a grocer ��any grocer ��it helps to have an understanding of the industry. Of all the real life ways different species of grocers differ. It helps to be able to look at Arden and Village and Ingles (IMKTA). It helps to see three different approaches. And see which elements of each work and which don��.

Top 5 Performing Stocks To Invest In 2014: Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC)

Uranium Energy Corp. engages in the exploration, development, extraction, and processing of uranium concentrates on projects located in the United States and Paraguay. As of July 31, 2012, it had mineral rights in uranium mining projects located in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming, as well as in Paraguay. The company was formerly known as Carlin Gold Inc. and changed its name to Uranium Energy Corp. in January 2005. Uranium Energy Corp. was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By The Energy Report]

  JH: There are several companies that are in production that we follow in the U.S., such as Cameco Corp. (CCJ). Cameco produces at the Smith Ranch-Highland in the Powder River Basin. There's Uranium One, also in the Powder River Basin. There's Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC). A few near-term producers are rapidly coming online. Ur-Energy Inc. (URG) is one company we like in Wyoming.

EU to Fine JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Four Other Global Banks (JPM, DB)

The European Union’s antitrust regulators announced today it plans to levy heavy fines against a group of six global banks, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Deutsche Bank (DB), and HSBC (HBC).

The EU finally brought to an end a more than two-year antitrust investigation against these mega banks, who were suspected of manipulating benchmark interest rates such as the London interbank offered rate (or Libor), and the euro interbank offered rate (or Euribor).

Analysts speculate the fines for individual banks will be in the hundreds of millions of euros, with penalties possibly approaching $1.35 billion. This comes after JP Morgan got hit with a steep $13 billion fine from the U.S. Justice Department over its mortgage business, and after the company reported a loss in its third quarter due to nearly $9.2 billion in legal expenses.

JPMorgan shares slipped 0.17% during Tuesday’s session. Year-to-date, the stock is up 16.52%.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now

International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is making the right kind of investments to position itself to win across key growth drivers including cloud, mobile, analytics and big data. All these mega-themes are expected to evolve in the next 3-5 years.

IBM does not view cloud as cannibalistic to its software business, but rather an enabler of new IT delivery methods and business models (i.e. selling traditional middleware as a set of services without owning your own data center).

New York-based IBM recently introduced new cloud and mobile-enabled social-business software and service capabilities which will allow line of business executives to move their business processes quickly into the cloud to drive better decision making and increase productivity.

IBM's SmartCloud Connections includes new features, such as mobile file sync and share; new community features such as social bridging; and bringing traditional office productivity tools into the social realm.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: PostRock Energy Corporation(PSTR)

PostRock Energy Corporation, an integrated independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and transportation of oil and natural gas in the United States. It operates in two segments, Oil and Gas Production, and Natural Gas Pipelines. The Oil and Gas Production segment primarily focuses on the development of coal bed methane in the Cherokee basin and the Marcellus Shale in Appalachian Basin, as well as has oil properties in Central Oklahoma. As of December 31, 2009, it had approximately 51.9 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe) of estimated net proved reserves; development rights to approximately 516,184 net acres; and operated approximately 2,849 gross wells in the Cherokee Basin. It also had approximately 44,507 net acres of oil and natural gas producing properties with estimated proved reserves of 18.9 Bcfe and approximately 498 gross wells in Appalachian Basin; and had 65 gross wells, development rights to approximately 1,4 80 net acres, and estimated net proved reserves, 3.9 Bcfe in Central Oklahoma. The Natural Gas Pipelines segment involves in transporting, gathering, treating, and processing natural gas. It owns and operates a natural gas gathering pipeline networks of approximately 2,173 miles in the Cherokee Basin and 183 miles in the Appalachian Basin; and a 1,120 mile interstate natural gas pipeline, which transports natural gas from northern Oklahoma and western Kansas to the metropolitan Wichita and Kansas City markets. The company is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  LeBlanc is a veteran energy industry CFO. He has filled that role at East Resources -- now a unit of Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A  ) -- as well as�PostRock Energy (NASDAQ: PSTR  ) , and Range Resources, among others.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Retail Star Ltd (RSL.AX)

Resource Star Limited engages in the exploration of uranium properties primarily in Malawi and Western Australia. The company�s key projects include 100% owned Edith River uranium project in the Northern Territory; and joint ventures with Globe Metals & Mining Limited on the Machinga Niobium-Rare Earths Project and the Livingstonia Uranium Project in Malawi. The company was formerly known as Retail Star Limited and changed its name to Resource Star Limited in July 2008. Resource Star Limited is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

Top 5 Stocks To Buy Right Now: Convio Inc.(CNVO)

Convio, Inc. provides on-demand constituent engagement solutions that enable nonprofit organizations (NPOs) to raise funds, advocate for change, and cultivate relationships with donors, activists, volunteers, alumni, and other constituents in North America. Its integrated solutions include Convio Online Marketing (COM) platform, and Convio Common Ground CRM, a constituent relationship management application. The COM platform enables NPOs to harness the potential of the Internet and social media as new channels for constituent engagement and fundraising. The Common Ground delivers next-generation donor management capabilities, and integrates marketing activities across online and offline channels. The company also offers Convio Open, an open platform that allows NPOs to evolve their online marketing strategies; and Convio Go!, a structured program consisting of selected COM modules and specialized cohort-based services designed for mid-market NPOs new to online marketing an d fundraising. Convio, Inc.?s software enables its clients and partners to customize and extend its functionality. In addition, it provides account management, technical support, and deployment services, as well as strategic planning, campaign management, Web design, data analytics, benchmarking, campaign analytics, data integration, training, data warehousing, business intelligence, analytics/modeling, strategic consultation, and marketing execution services. The company sells its solutions through a direct sales force, as well as through a network of partners, including interactive agencies, direct marketing agencies, public affairs firms, and complementary technology companies. Convio, Inc. serves approximately 1,400 NPO clients, including charities. The company?s clients deliver approximately 4 billion emails to 140 million email addresses to accomplish their missions. Convio, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Nielsen Holdings NV (NLSN.N)

Nielsen Holdings N.V., incorporated on May 17, 2006, is a global information and measurement company. The Company delivers media and marketing information, and analytics on a global and local basis. It operates in three segments: Buy segment, Watch segment and Expositions segment. The Company�� Buy segment provides retail transactional measurement data, consumer behavior information and analytics primarily to businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry. Its Watch segment provides viewership data and analytics primarily to the media and advertising industries across television, online and mobile screens. The Company�� Expositions segment operates business-to-business trade shows and conference events in the United States. The Company�� clients include The Coca-Cola Company, NBC Universal, Nestle S.A., News Corp., The Procter & Gamble Company and the Unilever Group. In May 2011, it acquired NeuroFocus Inc. In August 2011, the Company acquired Marketing Analyt ics, Inc. In June 2013, Onex Corp announced that it has completed the acquisition of Nielsen Expositions from its parent, an affiliate of Nielsen Holdings NV (Nielsen).

What Consumers Buy

The Company�� Buy segment provides retail transactional measurement data, consumer behavior information and analytics primarily to businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry. This segment is organized into two areas: Information, which provides retail scanner and consumer panel-based measurement, and Insights, which provides a range of analytics. The Company�� consumer panels collect data from approximately 240,000 household panelists across 26 countries that use in-home scanners to record purchases from each shopping trip. Its analytical services are organized into seven primary categories: growth and demand strategy, market structure and segmentation, brand and portfolio management, product innovation services, pricing and sales modeling, retail marke ting strategies and marketing return-on-investment (ROI) s! tr! ategies.

What Consumers Watch

The Company�� Watch segment provides viewership data and analytics primarily to the media and advertising industries across television, online and mobile devices. It is engaged in the television audience measurement. The Company provides two principal television ratings services in the United States: measurement of national television audiences and measurement of local television audiences in all 210 designated local television markets. It measures television viewing in 28 countries outside the United States, including Australia, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico and South Korea. The Company is a global provider of Internet media and market research, audience analytics and social media measurement. Its online measurement service has a presence in 46 countries, including the United States, France, South Korea and Brazil. The Company provides critical advertising metrics, such as audience demographics, page and ad views, and tim e spent.

The Company provides independent measurement and consumer research for telecom and media companies in the mobile telecommunications industry. The Company offers mobile measurement services in 10 countries worldwide, including the United States. The Company develops advanced measurement techniques of the three principal screens: television, online and mobile devices. Its cross-platform measurement solution provides information about simultaneous usage of more than one screen, unduplicated reach, cause and effect analysis and program viewing behavior. It also provides advertising effectiveness research across multiple platforms. It also integrates data from its Buy segment with these measurement platforms.

The Company competes with GfK, Ipsos, Canoe Ventures, Dish Networks, WPP, Rentrak, TiVo, Mediametrie, Coremetrics, Google, Omniture, WebTrends, BuzzLogic, Cymfony and Umbria.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Croflight Minerals Inc (CML.TO)

CaNickel Mining Limited, a junior mining company, engages in the exploration, extraction, and processing of nickel-containing ore properties in Canada. The company owns and operates the Bucko Lake Mine located near Wabowden, Manitoba. It also holds interests in nickel, copper, and platinum group mineral projects in Thompson Nickel Belts, Manitoba and the Sudbury Basin, Ontario. The company was formerly known as Crowflight Minerals Inc. and changed its name to CaNickel Mining Limited in June 2011. CaNickel Mining Limited was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Renold(RNO.L)

Renold plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of industrial chains and torque transmission products in the United Kingdom, North America, and internationally. Its products include transmission and conveyor chains; leaf chain for materials handling applications; Smartlink; industrial gearboxes and gears; industrial, marine, power generation, military navy, and mass transit couplings; spindles; Sprag Clutch freewheels; Sprag Cage assemblies; and trapped roller freewheels that are used in overrunning, backstopping, and indexing, as well as supplies material handling equipments. The company provides its products for heavy duty, high precision, indoor or outdoor, clean or contaminated, and temperature environmental applications; and conveying applications, including theme park rides, water treatment plants, cement mills, agricultural machinery, mining, and sugar production. Renold plc was founded in 1864 and is based in Manchester, the United K ingdom.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Clime Capital Ltd (CAM.AX)

Clime Capital Limited is a publically owned investment manager. The firm manages separate client focused equity portfolios. It also manages mutual funds for its clients. The firm invests in equities of publicly listed and unlisted companies. It invests in value stocks by employing fundamental analysis to make its investments. Clime Capital Limited was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Sydney, Australia.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Rosetta Stone(RST)

Rosetta Stone Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides technology-based language-learning solutions in the United States and internationally. The company develops, markets, and sells language-learning solutions, such as software, online services, mobile applications, and audio practice tools in approximately 30 languages primarily under the Rosetta Stone brand. Its products and services include Rosetta Course, a self-study interactive language-learning curriculum that consists of sequences of listening, speaking, reading, and writing interactions designed to teach, reinforce, and test learners through its software program; Rosetta Studio comprising a series of coach-led practice sessions that provide learners to practice what they have previously learned through the software program; and Rosetta World, an interactive community of language learners, which gives learners the opportunity to play games with other learners. The company also offers Audio Companion, which i s a series of digital audio files that contain lessons aligned to the Rosetta Stone curriculum, allowing users to practice previously learned material; and TOTALe Companion HD, a learning tool that includes a series of practice lessons, which use images, audio, and speech recognition technology to enable users refine their speaking skills. The company also offers SharedTalk, an online peer-to-peer practice environment at sharedtalk.com; and ReFLEX, a solution designed for English learners who want to enhance listening and speaking skills. Rosetta Stone sells its products and services through Websites, call centers, retailers, direct sales force, and a network of kiosks. Its customers include individuals, home school parents, educational institutions, armed forces, government agencies, corporations, and not-for-profit institutions. Rosetta Stone Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Gardner]

  The following video excerpt was taken from an interview with Steve Swad, CEO of Rosetta Stone (NYSE: RST  ) , in which he talks about his business philosophy, and how it is driving success both for language learners and for the company itself. In this segment, he discusses how his leadership style drives the company forward. �