On December 18, the Federal Reserve announced�that it was slowing down quantitative easing and would buy less Treasury and agency securities. This was the start of the much awaited "taper" that the markets had been expecting for a good portion of last year. Since that time, gold has significantly outperformed the S&P 500 index, a reversal from previous months in which the index outperformed gold.
GLD data by YCharts
Why gold?
Gold's outperformance almost seems counter-intuitive. After all, one of the biggest arguments that gold bugs have presented is that the Fed's quantitative easing program is resulting in more fiat money circulating throughout the economy, leading to inflation. Gold is often used as a hedge against inflation.�
Therefore, we would expect the price of gold to fall as quantitative easing comes to a close. But, that hasn't happened. Instead, the fundamentals for the yellow metal have taken over as demand for it has surged.�
5 Best Construction Stocks To Own Right Now: Caplease Funding Inc (LSE)
CapLease, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT), focused on financing and investing in commercial real estate that is net leased primarily to single tenants with investment grade or near investment grade credit ratings. It provides private and corporate owners of net lease real estate with equity, debt, and mezzanine financing options. The company is organized to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and accordingly it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. Capital Lease is based in New York City.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Net-lease property REIT American Realty Capital Properties� (NASDAQ: ARCP ) says that with Capital Lease Funding (NYSE: LSE ) announcing the expiration of its 40-day "go shop" period and no other buyers being found, it plans to buy its rival sooner than originally intended.
- [By Inyoung Hwang]
Berkeley Group Holdings Plc (BKG) surged 8.3 percent after saying first-half profit rose 22 percent. London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE) climbed 2.4 percent after Bank of America Corp.�� Merrill Lynch unit recommended buying the stock. Givaudan SA (GIVN) lost 1.3 percent after Nestle SA said it will sell $1.27 billion of shares in the world�� largest flavorings maker.
- [By Nandini Sukumar]
London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE) hired Brian Schwieger from Bank of America Corp.�� Merrill Lynch unit, three people with knowledge of the plans said.
- [By Sean Williams]
What: Shares of CapLease (NYSE: LSE ) , a REIT focused on investing in commercial real estate that is net-leased, soared as much as 23% after agreeing to be acquired by American Realty Capital (NASDAQ: ARCP ) for $2.2 billion.
Top 10 Investments For 2014: iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA)
iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded securities in the aggregate in the South African market, as measured by the MSCI South Africa Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the South African equity market. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for available float and must meet objective criteria for inclusion to the Index.
The Index is reviewed quarterly by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI). The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jim Powell]
For long-term investing, we continue to recommend Africa Funds��he iShares South Africa (EZA), the SPDR Mideast & Africa (GAF), and the TRP Africa & Mideast (LX:TRPMEAI).
- [By Charles Sizemore]
Investors have pretty well forgotten about emerging markets over the past three years. The ��RIC��countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China no longer excite. Nor do more exotic non-BRIC locales such as South Africa. The iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA) is down by roughly 15% since the beginning of 2011, while the S&P 500 has gained nearly 45%.
- [By Charles Sizemore]
Yet an interesting thing happened. While the news stories have gone from bad to worse, most emerging markets have been quietly enjoying a rally since early February. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) is up about 7%, and the iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA) is up fully 17%.
- [By Jeff Reeves]
For starters, there�� the�iShares MSCI South Africa ETF�(EZA). The fund is down about 11% in the last year, but remember that emerging markets dramatically underperformed across the board in 2013. And if you believe in value investing, this may be a good opportunity to buy.
Top 10 Investments For 2014: Prosiebensat 1 Media AG (PSM)
ProSiebenSat 1 Media AG is a Germany-based broadcasting company. It owns commercial television stations, pay television (TV) channels and radio networks in numerous European countries. The Company operates in three business segments, including Free TV German-speaking, Free TV International and Diversification. Free TV German-speaking segment includes the stations SAT.1, ProSieben, kabel eins and sixx, as well as the sales companies SevenOneMedia and SevenOne AdFactory. Free TV International constitute of commercial TV stations in the Benelux countries and the CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) region. The Diversification segment includes all activities not directly dependent on the TV advertising market, such as call TV, music, commerce or Pay TV. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jonathan Morgan]
RWE AG (RWE) jumped 6.4 percent, leading a gauge of utilities higher. Deutz AG (DEZ) plunged the most in more than two years after an investor sold a 8.4 percent stake in the manufacturer of diesel engines. ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG (PSM) dropped 1.1 percent after Telegraaf Media Groep NV sold its stake in the company.
Top 10 Investments For 2014: Equity One Inc. (EQY)
Equity One, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the ownership, management, acquisition, renovation, and development of neighborhood and community shopping centers in the United States. Its shopping centers are anchored by supermarkets, drug stores, or discount retail store chains. As of December 31, 2006, the company?s property portfolio consisted of 179 properties, including 166 shopping centers, 6 development parcels, and 7 non-retail properties. As a REIT, Equity One would not be subject to federal tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1992 and is based in North Miami Beach, Florida with an additional office in Israel.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dividend King]
Equity One Inc. (EQY): Equity One Inc. is trading just under its 52-week high of $20.27. The stock issues an annual dividend of $0.88, has a yield of 4.40% and a payout ratio of 142%.
Top 10 Investments For 2014: MedAssets Inc.(MDAS)
MedAssets, Inc. provides technology enabled products and services for hospitals, health systems, and other non-acute healthcare providers in the United States. It operates in two segments, Spend and Clinical Resource Management, and Revenue Cycle Management. The Spend and Clinical Resource Management offers a suite of cost management services, supply chain analytics, and data capabilities; medical device and clinical resource consulting, which includes implantable physician preference items, utilization management, and service line consulting; supply chain outsourcing and procurement services; capital equipment lifecycle management; lean process and workforce optimization solutions; process improvement consulting; business intelligence tools; and performance analytics and data management tools, such as service line analytics, spend analytics and strategic information services, e-commerce, client master item file services, electronic contract portfolio catalog, and decision support services. The Revenue Cycle Management segment provides a suite of products and services spanning the revenue cycle workflow from patient access and financial responsibility; case management, coding, and documentation; charge capture and revenue integrity; strategic pricing; claims processing; denials management and reimbursement integrity; revenue cycle and supply chain integration; revenue recovery and accounts receivable management; and outsourced services. It delivers technology-enabled solutions primarily through the company-hosted software, software-as-a-service, or Web-based applications. As of December 31, 2011, the company served approximately 4,200 acute care hospitals and 100,000 ancillary or non-acute provider locations. MedAssets, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Javier Hasse, Insider Monkey]
Fundamentally, ADT looks appealing. Its stock trades at 16.5 times the company�� earnings, versus an industry average of 29.4x, while it boasts industry leading margins and above average returns on equity and assets. However, above-average debt levels are concerning, so its financial standing must be further analyzed.
MedAssets (MDAS)The second company in this list is MedAssets (MDAS), a $1.37 billion market cap provider of technology-enabled products and services.
Top 10 Investments For 2014: Templeton Russia Fund Inc.(TRF)
Templeton Russia and East European Fund Inc. is a closed-ended mutual fund launched by Franklin Templeton Investments. It is managed by Templeton Asset Management Ltd. The fund invests in public equity markets in Russia and Eastern Europe. It focuses on investments across diversified sectors. The fund employs a value-oriented approach to invest in companies. It focuses on market price of a company's securities relative to the evaluation of the company's long-term earnings, asset value, and cash flow potential for selecting individual securities. The fund also considers positioning of security in the sector, the economic framework, and political environment to create its portfolio. Templeton Russia and East European Fund Inc was formed in June 15, 1995 and is domiciled in the United States.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By STANSBERRYRESEARCH]
The Templeton Russia Fund (TRF) is about to get crushed again. Stuffed with Russian oil and bank stocks, this ETF is one of the few direct Russia plays in the market... This spring, the premium on TRF hit a whopping 35%. You had to pay $1.35 for every $1 of real value. This huge overvaluation was corrected when emerging markets got obliterated in May. The Russia Fund fared the worst, falling 47% from its peak.
Top 10 Investments For 2014: Stifel Financial Corporation(SF)
Stifel Financial Corp., a financial holding company, operates as a retail and institutional brokerage, and investment banking company in the United States and internationally. The company?s Global Wealth Management segment offers securities transaction, brokerage, and investment services, including equity securities; fixed income securities, which comprise municipal, corporate, and government agency securities; preferred stocks; and unit investment trusts. This segment also provides managed fee-based products; and insurance and annuity products, as well as securities-based lending services. In addition, it offers retail and commercial banking services to private and corporate clients, including personal loan programs, such as fixed and variable mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, personal loans, loans secured by certificates of deposit or savings, and securities-based loans; and commercial lending programs, such as small business loans, commercial real estate loa ns, lines of credit, credit cards, term loans, and inventory and receivables financing. As of December 31, 2011, this segment operated a network of 1,833 financial advisors located in 291 branch offices in 44 states and the District of Columbia; and 154 independent contractors. Its Institutional Group segment offers research, equity, and fixed income institutional sales and trading, investment banking, public finance, and syndicate services. This segment distributes equity research products to institutional investors; provides financial advisory services principally with respect to mergers and acquisitions, and the execution of public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities; and coordinates marketing, distribution, pricing, and stabilization of managed equity and debt offerings. It serves individual investors, corporations, municipalities, and institutions. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]
Stifel Financial Corp.(SF) agreed to buy Legg Mason Inc.'s(LM) investment-advisory and trust-services unit, which manages more than $9 billion in assets, the companies said. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
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