Week Ahead: Stock Markets Enter Choppy, Uncharted Waters

U.S. stock exchanges and other securities markets enter choppy, uncharted waters this coming week as the political stalemate continues in Washington with Republicans and Democrats at loggerheads over urgent budget and debt ceiling deals. Early Monday, stocks in Asia tumbled amid the chaos in the Capitol, with the benchmark Nikkei index down more than 2% at one stage.

We are getting awfully close to the edge

U.S. stock index futures fell on Sunday as the uncertainty over funding for the U.S. Government affected confidence.

If Republicans and Democrats do not reach agreement on an emergency budget by midnight on Monday, much of the federal Government will shut down.

The sticking point is Republican opposition to the funding of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's health care reform. The Republicans want the law delayed for a year and amended.

While stock markets have survived previous Government shutdowns, this time it is, well, more complicated.

Because after Monday's midnight deadline comes the even more important deadline of October 17, by which time Congress must agree to raise the United States' $16.7 trillion debt ceiling so America can avoid a default.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has warned that the United States will exhaust its current borrowing limit no later than October 17, when it would have only $30 billion cash on hand.

The S&P 500 stock index has climbed almost 19% so far this year. Valuations of stocks are high. Given those facts, it would not be surprising if investors took a break from stocks until the pantomime in Washington has played out.

If no deal is reached to fund the Government by midnight Monday, many stock investors may be tempted to take profits in the short term and who can blame them? Then again, if a last-minute deal is done, equities may even get a boost.

In the past week, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% and the Dow Jones index dropped 1.3% amid the jitters.

The threat of a government shutdown or a default on the federal debt reminds many investors of 2011 when a similar stand-off in Washington led to the United States losing its AAA credit rating and helped prompt a stock market correction.

This coming week also sees some key economic indicators that stock markets watch closely. Nothing is certain if the Government shuts down, but the September jobs report is scheduled for Friday.

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index and the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey are currently scheduled for Monday. Manufacturing and construction spending reports are due on Tuesday, then a key private-sector employment report is scheduled for Wednesday.

Jobless benefits claims data is scheduled to be released on Thursday.

There is also a lot of company news and earnings data this coming week.

On Tuesday, Ford Motor Ford Motor and General Motors release their latest sales figures, and Rite Aid will announce sales numbers on Thursday.

If the Government does shut down and the debt ceiling is not raised soon, one unknown is how the international holders of U.S. Treasury debt — like Asian central banks — will respond.

On Friday, President Obama addressed the possibility that Congress might not raise the debt ceiling.

"We know it would have a profound destabilizing effect on the entire economy — on the world economy — because America is the bedrock of world investment," said the President.

Keystone XL Approval Unlikely This Year

Approval of the Keystone XL pipeline is unlikely to come this year.

The comment regarding the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline came from Canada’s natural resource minister Joe Oliver. The pipeline has yet to be approved by the U.S. State Department. If the pipeline is approved it would bring crude oil from Canada across the border into America, reports Reuters.

The Keystone XL pipeline project started five years ago. If approved, the pipeline would stretch from Canada to Nebraska and then hookup to pipelines that would extend to the Gulf Coast. The part of the pipeline that stretches from Okla. to the Gulf Coast is nearly finished. This part of the pipeline is close to being finished because it doesn’t need approval to cross an international border, reports National Public Radio.

Canada Stocks Rise as Oil Producers Offset Drop in Phone Shares

Canadian stocks rose, with the benchmark gauge poised for the best quarterly performance in a year, as gains in consumer-staples companies and oil producers offset a decline in phone shares amid concern that a U.S. budget impasse may shut down the government.

Trilogy Energy Corp. soared 11 percent after providing an update on its operations in Alberta. Telus Corp. and Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI/B) slipped at least 1 percent after an analyst with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce lowered his price targets for the nation's largest wireless carriers due to regulatory risks. BlackBerry (BB) Ltd. increased 0.7 percent to snap three days of losses after reporting second-quarter earnings.

The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index (SPTSX) rose 2.46 points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 12,844.08 at 4 p.m. in Toronto. The benchmark Canadian equity gauge has jumped 5.9 percent this quarter, the biggest gain since September 2012, and is up 3.3 percent in 2013.

"There's a lot of anxiety going into the weekend," said Andrew Pyle, fund manager with ScotiaMcLeod Inc. in Peterborough, Ontario. He manages about C$210 million ($204 million). "Nobody should be naive out there, to think if we get a worst-case scenario with respect to the U.S. budget impasse that Canada comes out of this unscathed. You could see some very heavy losses in the TSX."

Top Casino Companies To Invest In 2014

The U.S. Senate voted to finance the government through Nov. 15, sending the bill to the House and setting up a weekend of negotiations and brinkmanship three days before federal spending authority runs out and a few weeks until the country reaches its borrowing limit.

Destabilizing Effect

President Barack Obama said in a televised statement that Congress's failure to approve funding would have a destabilizing effect on the economy. Democrats and Republicans can't agree on the inclusion of funds for Obama's health-care law in the bill.

Energy stocks added 0.1 percent as a group, as six of 10 industries in the S&P/TSX rose. Trading volume was 20 percent below the 30-day average.

Trilogy Energy soared 11 percent to C$28.80 after reporting an operating update for its Montney and Duvernay oil projects. The company said unexpected plant outages reduced third-quarter volumes to about 31,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, and anticipates levels returning to normal in the fourth quarter.

Athabasca Oil Corp. (ATH), which is seeking a joint-venture partner for its Duvernay holdings, jumped 9.3 percent to C$7.97, the most in seven weeks.

BlackBerry Earnings

BlackBerry added 0.7 percent to C$8.28, the first increase in six days. The smartphone maker reported more complete second-quarter earnings, including a loss of 47 cents a share from continuing operations and a 45 percent plunge in sales to $1.57 billion, after disclosing preliminary results on Sept. 20.

"The slight upside likely reflects that there was nothing hidden in the results," said Bill Kreher, an analyst with Edward Jones & Co., in a phone interview from St. Louis.

Jean Coutu Group Inc. rose 1.8 percent to C$18.29 to pace gains among consumer-staples companies.

Telus dropped 1.2 percent to C$34.52 and Rogers retreated 1 percent to C$44.64. Analyst Robert Bek with CIBC World Markets cut his price targets for the two wireless carriers by 11 percent and 17 percent, respectively, due to the Canadian government's increasing attention to the space.

Canada's largest carriers signaled on Sept. 23 their intent to bid in a wireless spectrum auction in January, with no sign of interest from major foreign companies after Verizon Communications Inc. said earlier this month it wouldn't enter the Canadian market.

'Emerging Trend'

Teck Resources Ltd., Canada's largest diversified miner, dropped 4.1 percent to C$28.10 following two days of gains. Paretosh Misra, analyst with Morgan Stanley, said the company may move ahead with an oil sands project, as investing in energy assets is an "emerging trend" among miners.

Martinrea International Inc. (MRE), a metal auto-parts maker, slumped 10 percent to C$10.96 after the company said it received a press release discussing a claim from Nat Rea, former vice chairman of the company. Martinrea has not received the claim or reviewed the allegations and will "respond appropriately in due course."

Rea, who was fired in June 2012, said he filed a statement of claim alleging breaches of fiduciary duties related to several deals involving suppliers and customers and is calling for a new board of directors. The claims have not been proven in court.

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BofA Merrill agrees to $39M gender discrimination settlement

Bank of America Merrill Lynch agreed to pay $39 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by female financial advisers.

The case, originally filed in 2007 against Bank of America, but since amended to include Merrill Lynch brokers, alleged that a "deep rooted and pervasive gender discrimination" existed at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, and the firms "treat female advisers as second-class citizens."

The lawsuit claimed the firms’ “largely male branch managers systematically favor male brokers” in distributing accounts and other sales leads, and in providing pay and support services.

Bank of America’s brokers were later folded into Merrill Lynch after the Charlotte, N.C., based banking company bought Merrill in 2007.

“We are pleased to resolve this matter,” said Merrill spokeswoman Susan McCabe.

The case covers about 4,800 advisers and trainees who worked at Merrill since August 2007, or Bank of America since March 2006, according to a court filing Friday.

The settlement agreement calls for an independent monitor to study and track policies regarding teaming and account distribution, and requires Merrill Lynch to assess managers’ performance in ensuring opportunities for women advisers. The oversight will run for a period of three years.

Federal judge Pamela Chen of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, is expected to consider final approval of the deal later this month.

News of the settlement was first reported by Reuters.

The case marks another milestone in the firm’s efforts to clean up long-festering employee suits.

In August, Merrill agreed to pay $160 million to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by African-American financial advisers in 2005.

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014

It may seem like an easy question to answer, but determining what the largest pharmaceutical company in the world is can be trickier than it looks. The definition of what a "pharmaceutical company" actually is has been changing in the past few years. Some companies, such as Pfizer (NYSE: PFE  ) and AbbVie, focus on developing and selling branded drugs, while others, such as Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ  ) and Merck, have a different strategy and are much more diversified.

So what is a pharmaceutical company, and which one is the largest in the world today? Health-care analyst Max Macaluso weighs in on this debate in the following video.

Is bigger really better?
The biggest pharmaceutical company may not be the best investment. Involved in everything from baby powder to biotech, Johnson & Johnson has its critics convinced that the company is spread way too thin. If you want to know whether J&J is nothing but a bloated corporate whale -- or a well-diversified giant that's perfect for your portfolio -- check out the Fool's new premium report outlining the Johnson & Johnson story in terms that any investor can understand. Claim your copy by clicking here now.�

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Organovo Holdings Inc (ONVO)

Organovo Holdings, Inc. (Organovo), formerly Real Estate Restoration & Rental, Inc., incorporated in 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company has developed and is commercializing a platform technology for the generation of three-dimensional (3D) human tissues that can be employed in drug discovery and development, biological research, and as therapeutic implants for the treatment of damaged or degenerating tissues and organs. On December 28, 2011, Real Estate Restoration and Rental, Inc.�� (RERR) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, pursuant to which RERR merged with its, wholly owned subsidiary, Organovo (Merger Sub). On February 8, 2012, the Company merged with and into Organovo Acquisition Corp. (Acquisition Corp.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo Holdings (the Merger). As a result of the Merger, Organovo acquired the business of Organovo, Inc.

The Company has collaborative research agreements with Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer) and United Therapeutic Corporation (Unither). As of March 31, 2012, it has five federal grants, including Small Business Innovation Research grants and developed the NovoGen MMX Bioprinter (its first-generation 3D bioprinter). The Company is engaged in the development of specific 3D human tissues to aid Pfizer in discovery of therapies in two areas of interest. In addition, in October 2011, it entered into a research agreement with Unither to establish and conduct a research program to discover treatments for pulmonary hypertension using its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter technology. Additionally, under the research agreement with Unither, the Company granted Unither an option to acquire from the Company a worldwide, royalty-bearing license in certain intellectual property created under the research agreement solely for use in the treatment or prevention of pulmonary hypertension and all other lung diseases.

The Company�� NovoGen MMX Bioprinter is an automate! d device that enables the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) living tissues comprised of mammalian cells. A custom graphic user interface (GUI) facilitates the 3D design and execution of scripts that direct precision movement of the dispensing heads to deposit cellular building blocks (bio-ink) or supporting hydrogel. The Company is using a third party manufacturer, Invetech Pty., of Melbourne, Australia, to manufacture its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter. Its bioprinting technology and surrounding intellectual property and commercial rights serve as a platform for product generation across multiple markets that employ cell- and tissue-based products and services.

The Company competes with Organogenesis, Advanced BioHealing, Tengion, Genzyme, HumaCyte and Cytograft Tissue Engineering.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Organovo (ONVO) develops 3D bioprinting technology for creating functional human tissues on demand for research and medical applications. This stock closed up 2.5% to $5.98 in Tuesday's trading session.

  Tuesday's Range: $5.70-$6.07
  
  52-Week Range: $1.80-$8.50
  
  Thursday's Volume: 2.03 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 2.82 million

  From a technical perspective, ONVO jumped higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $5.79 with decent upside volume. This move is starting to push shares of ONVO within range of triggering a near-term 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 some near-term support levels at $5.50 or at $5 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 2.82 million shares. If that breakout triggers 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. Any high-volume move above $8.50 will then put its all-time high at $10.90 within range for shares of ONVO.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Organovo (ONVO), a three-dimensional biology company focused on delivering breakthrough bioprinting technology and creating tissue on demand for research and medical applications. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 133%.

  If you look at the chart for Organovo, you'll notice that this stock recently pulled back sharply from its high of $8.50 to its recent low of $4.43 a share. During that move, shares of ONVO were consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, the downside volatility stopped for ONVO once it hit $4.43 a share, and the stock has now reversed its downtrend and entered an uptrend. That move is quickly pushing ONVO within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ONVO if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.20 to $6.65 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 2 million shares. If that breakout triggers 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 a share. Any high-volume move above $8.50 will then put its all-time high at $10.90 within range for shares of ONVO.

  Traders can look to buy ONVO off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $5.07 a share, or just below $5 a share. One can also buy ONVO off strength once it takes out that breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (INO)

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on June 29, 1983, is engaged in the development of a new generation of vaccines, called synthetic vaccines, focused on cancers and infectious diseases. The Company's SynCon technology enables the design of universal vaccines capable of providing cross-protection against existing or changing strains of pathogens, such as influenza and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Company's electroporation delivery technology uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular uptake of the vaccine. Its clinical programs include cervical dysplasia (therapeutic), avian influenza (preventive), prostate cancer (therapeutic), leukemia (therapeutic), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV vaccines. It is advancing preclinical research and clinical development for a universal seasonal/pandemic influenza vaccine, as well as preclinical work for other products, including malaria and prostate cancer vaccines. Its partners and collaborators include University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health/Malaria Vaccine Initiative (PATH/MVI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Merck, ChronTech, University of Southampton, United States Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP), the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and HIV Vaccines Trial Network (HVTN). As of December 31, 2011 it owned 16.1% interest in VGX Int��.

Inovio�� Solution

The Company�� synthetic vaccine platform consists of its SynCon vaccine design process and electroporation delivery technology. It has developed a preclinical and clinical stage pipeline of vaccines. The Company�� synthetic vaccines are designed to prevent a disease (prophylactic vaccines) or treat an existing disease (therapeutic vaccines). Its synthetic vaccine consists of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) plasmid encoding a selected antigen! (s), which is introduced into cells of humans or animals with the purpose of evoking an immune response to the encoded antigen. The Company�� synthetic vaccines are designed to generate specific antibody and/or T-cell responses.

The Company�� SynCon technology provides processes that employ bioinformatics, which combine extensive genetic data and sophisticated algorithms. Its design process uses the genetic make-up of a common antigen(s) from multiple strains of a virus within a viral sub-type or taxonomic group (family) of pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza and other diseases to synthetically create a new antigen for the desired pathogen target that does not exist in nature. Its synthetic vaccine candidates are being delivered into cells of the body using its electroporation (EP) DNA delivery technology.

Cancer Synthetic Vaccines

The Company has two broad types of cancer vaccines: preventive (or prophylactic) vaccines, which are intended to prevent cancer from developing in healthy people, and treatment (or therapeutic) vaccines, which are intended to treat an existing cancer by strengthening the body�� natural defenses against the cancer. Two types of cancer preventive vaccines are available in the United States. The United States Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) has approved two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix that protect against infection by the two types of HPV-types 16 and 18-that cause approximately 70% of all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. In addition, Gardasil protects against infection by two additional HPV types, 6 and 11, which are responsible for about 90% of all cases of genital warts in males and females but do not cause cervical cancer.

Cervarix manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is composed of virus-like particles (VLPs) made with proteins from HPV types 16 and 18. Cervarix is approved for use in females��ages 10 to 25 for the prevention of cervical cancer caused by! HPV type! s 16 and 18. Gardasil manufactured by Merck, is approved for use in females for the prevention of cervical cancer, and some vulvar and vaginal cancers, caused by HPV types 16 and 18 and for use in males and females for the prevention of genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11. The vaccine is approved for these uses in females and males ages 9 to 26. The FDA has also approved a cancer preventive vaccine that protects against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Inovio�� VGX-3100 is designed to raise immune responses against the E6 and E7 genes of HPV types 16 and 18 that are present in both pre-cancerous and cancerous cells transformed by these HPV types. E6 and E7 are oncogenes that play an integral role in transforming HPV-infected cells into cancerous cells. In March 2011, it initiated a randomized, double-blind Phase II study of VGX-3100 delivered using the CELLECTRA intramuscular electroporation device in women with HPV Type 16 or 18 and diagnosed with, but not yet treated for, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3. The study is designed to enroll 148 subjects. In January 2011, it announced the publication of a scientific paper in the journal Human Vaccines detailing potent immune responses in a preclinical study of its SynCon vaccine for prostate cancer targeting two antigens, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA).

In January 2011, the Company announced the regulatory approval of a Phase II clinical trial (WIN Trial) to treat leukemia utilizing its new ELGEN 1000 automated vaccine delivery device. The single dose level, Phase II study, called WT1 immunity via DNA fusion gene vaccination in haematological malignancies by intramuscular injection followed by intramuscular electroporation. Cancer Vaccines encodes for hTERT, an antigen related to non-small cell lung, breast and prostate cancers. The vaccine is delivered using its electroporation delivery technology.

Infectious Disease Synthetic Vaccines

In Marc! h 2011, the Company announced the initiation of a follow-on open label, single dose Phase II clinical study in collaboration with ChronTech of the ChronVac-C HCV DNA vaccine delivered using its electroporation technology in treatment naive HCV infected individuals. Its HIV vaccines consist of candidates for HIV prevention, as well as therapy or treatment. PENNVAX-B is designed to target HIV clade B (most commonly found in the United States, North America, Australia and the European Union (EU). PENNVAX-G is designed to target HIV clades A, C and D, which are more commonly found in Asia, Africa, Russia and South America. This Phase I clinical study of PENNVAX-B (HVTN-080) vaccinated 48 healthy, HIV-negative volunteers to assess safety and levels of immune responses generated by Inovio�� PENNVAX-B vaccine delivered with its CELLECTRA electroporation device. PENNVAX-B is a SynCon vaccine that targets HIV gag, pol, and env proteins.

The Company�� VGX-3400X targets H5N1. The vaccine consists of three distinct DNA plasmids coded for a consensus hemagglutinin (HA) antigen derived from different H5N1 virus strains; a consensus neuraminidase (NA) antigen derived from different N1 sequences; and a consensus nucleoprotein (NP) fused to a small portion of the m2 protein (m2E) based on a broader cross-section of influenza viruses in addition to H5N1 and H1N1. Conventional vaccines are strain-specific and have limited ability to protect against genetic shifts in the influenza strains they target. They are therefore modified annually in anticipation of the next flu season�� new strain(s). It is focused on developing DNA-based influenza vaccines able to provide broad protection against known as well as newly emerging, unknown seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.

Animal Health/Veterinary

VGX Animal Health, Inc. (VGX AH), a majority-owned subsidiary, has licensed LifeTide, a plasmid-based growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) technology for swine. LifeTide is one of onl! y four DN! A-based treatments approved for use in animals and is the only DNA-based agent delivered using electroporation that has been granted marketing approval (Australia). VGX AH is also developing a GHRH-based treatment for cancer and anemia in dogs and cats. It is developing a synthetic vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) administered by its vaccine delivery technology. The FMD virus is one of the most infectious diseases affecting farm animals, including cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and is a serious threat to global food safety.

The Company competes with Crucell N.V, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Inc., Novartis, Inc., MedImmune and CSL.

Top 5 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Gilead Sciences Inc.(GILD)

Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutics for the treatment of life threatening diseases worldwide. Its products include Atripla, Truvada, Viread, Emtriva for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection in adults; Hepsera, an oral formulation for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B; AmBisome, a amphotericin B liposome injection to treat invasive fungal infections; Letairis, an endothelin receptor antagonist for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension; Ranexa for the treatment of chronic angina; Vistide, an antiviral medication for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS; and Cayston, an inhaled antibiotic used as a treatment to enhance respiratory systems. The company?s products also comprise Tamiflu, an oral antiviral for the treatment and prevention of influenza A and B; Macugen, an intravitreal injection for the treatment of neovascular a ge-related macular degeneration; and Lexiscan/Rapiscan, an injection used as a pharmacologic stress agent in radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging. Its products under the Phase III clinical trials consist of Cobicistat, a pharmacoenhancer that is under evaluation as a boosting agent for HIV medicines; Elvitegravir, an oral integrase inhibitor being evaluated as part of combination therapy for HIV; Integrase Single-Tablet, a ?Quad? regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and emtricitabine for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in treatment-naive patients; and Aztreonam for inhalation solution for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The company?s Phase II clinical trials products comprise Cicletanine, Ranolazine, and Aztreonam, as well as GS 9190, GS 9256, and GS 9451. Its Phase I clinical trial products include GS 7340, GS 5885, GS 6620, GS 9620, and GS 6624. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Fost er City, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  While we lean positive on the large cap names across the board, including Neutral-rated names [Biogen (BIIB)] and [Celgene (CELG)], we single out [Gilead Sciences (GILD)] as our favourite into YE13e and into 2014. Among mid caps, we favor…[Medivation (MDVN).]

• [By Jim Lowell, Partner and Chief Investment Strategist, Adviser Investments]

  You'll find Gilead (GILD) and Amgen (AMGN), for example, in his top ten, but he also has some major pharma, some medical equipment and systems, maybe some HMO sprinkled in there in his 101 holdings.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  When investors think of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stocks, big names like Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) and Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) come to mind. Both GILD and CELG are making prolific progress in the war on NHL, and both are fine, well-positioned companies. It's little Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:INFI) that may end up making the proverbial quantum leap in the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stocks arena, however, and better still, it's INFI shares that may well end up doling out a much bigger reward than Gilead or Celgene could to newcomers.

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Oxford BioMedica PLC (OXB)

Oxford BioMedica plc is a biopharmaceutical company developing gene-based medicines and therapeutic vaccines. The Company�� LentiVector platform products include ProSavin, RetinoStat, StarGen, UshStat, EncorStat, Glaucoma-GT and MoNuDin. Its 5T4 Tumour Antigen produces TroVax and Anti-5T4 antibody. The Prime Boost�� product includes Hi-8 Mel. Its GDEPT platform produces MetXia and Anti Angiogenesis platform produces EndoAngio-GT. The Company is developing four LentiVector platform product candidates for the treatment of ocular diseases: RetinoStat for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD); StarGen for Stargardt disease; UshStat for Usher syndrome type 1B, and EncorStat for corneal graft rejection. TroVax is a therapeutic vaccine that stimulates the immune system to destroy cancerous cells expressing the 5T4 tumour antigen. On February 25, 2011, the Company purchased a freehold property, United Kingdom comprising a manufacturing facility.

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Telik Inc (TELK)

Telik, Inc. (Telik), incorporated in 1988, is a clinical-stage drug development company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat cancer. The Company discovers its product candidates using the Company�� drug discovery technology, Target-Related Affinity Profiling (TRAP). TELINTRA, its principal drug product candidate in clinical development, is a small molecule glutathione analog inhibitor of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GST P1-1). TELCYTA, its other product candidate, is a small molecule cancer drug product candidate designed to be activated in cancer cells.

Clinical Product Development

TELINTRA is the Company�� lead small molecule product candidate in clinical development for the treatment of blood disorders, including cancer. It has a mechanism of action and acts by inhibiting GST P1-1, an enzyme that is involved in the control of cellular growth and differentiation. Inhibition of GST P1-1 results in the activation of the signaling molecule Jun kinase, a regulator of the function of blood precursor cells. Preclinical tests show that TELINTRA is capable of causing the death or apoptosis of leukemic or malignant blood cells, while stimulating the growth and development of normal blood precursor cells. TELINTRA has been studied in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) using two formulations. A liposomal formulation was developed for intravenous administration of TELINTRA and was used in Phase I and Phase II studies in MDS patients. The results from the Phase II intravenous liposomal TELINTRA clinical trials demonstrated that TELINTRA treatment was associated with improvement in all three types of blood cell levels in patients with all types of MDS, including those in intermediate and high-risk groups. An oral dosage formulation (tablet) was subsequently developed and results from a Phase I study with TELINTRA tablets showed clinical activity and the formulation to be well tolerated. In June 2011, the Company initiated a Phase II clinical ! trial to evaluate TELINTRA tablets. In October 2011, the Company initiated an additional Phase IIb clinical trial to evaluate TELINTRA tablets. '

The activity and safety profile of tablet formulation allowed the Company to complete a Phase II trial of TELINTRA tablets in MDS. The primary objective of the Phase II TELINTRA tablet study was to determine the efficacy of TELINTRA. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify MDS disease prognostic factors associated with erythroid improvement response rates, including prior MDS treatment, age, gender, the international prognostic scoring system (IPSS), risk, Eastern Cooperative Group performance status, years from MDS diagnosis, MDS World Health Organization subtypes, anemia only versus anemia plus other cytopenias, dose schedule and starting dose. Results from this study show that TELINTRA is the first GSTP1-1 enzyme inhibitor shown to cause clinically reductions in red blood cell transfusions, including transfusion independence in low to intermediate-1 risk MDS patients, as well as improvement in platelet count and white blood cell levels in certain patients. TELINTRA, administered orally twice daily, appeared to be convenient and flexible for chronic treatment administration.

TELCYTA is a small molecule drug product candidate that the Company is developed for the treatment of cancer. TELCYTA binds to GST. TELCYTA has been evaluated in multiple Phase II and Phase III clinical trials, including trials using TELCYTA as monotherapy and in combination regimens in ovarian, non-small cell lung, breast and colorectal cancer. Results from these clinical trials indicate that TELCYTA monotherapy was generally well-tolerated, with mostly mild to moderate side effects, particularly when compared to the side effects and toxicities of standard chemotherapeutic drugs. When TELCYTA was evaluated in combination with standard chemotherapeutic drugs, the tolerability of the combinations was similar to that expected of each! drug alo! ne.

Clinical activity including objective tumor responses and/or disease stabilization was reported in the TELCYTA Phase II trials; however, TELCYTA did not meet its primary endpoints in the Phase III studies. Positive results from a Phase I-IIa multicenter, dose-ranging study of TELCYTA in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel as first-line therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, were published in a peer reviewed publication. Clinical data demonstrated positive results of TELCYTA in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in the treatment of first-line lung cancer followed by TELCYTA maintenance therapy. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had an on-going investigator-led study at a single site of TELCYTA in patients with refractory or relapsed mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse B cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Preclinical Drug Product Development

The Company has a small molecule compound, TLK60404, in preclinical development that inhibits both Aurora kinase and VEGFR kinase. Aurora kinase is a signaling enzyme whose function is required for cancer cell division, while VEGF plays a key role in tumor blood vessel formation, ensuring an adequate supply of nutrients to support tumor growth. These lead compounds prevented tumor growth in preclinical models of human colon cancer and human leukemia by inhibiting both Aurora kinase and VEGFR kinase. A development drug product candidate, TLK60404, has been selected.

The Company, using its TRAP technology has discovered TLK60357, a novel, potent small molecule inhibitor of cell division. TLK60357 inhibits the formation of microtubules that are necessary for cancer cell growth leading to persistent G2/M cancer cell cycle block and subsequent cell death. This compound demonstrates potent broad-spectrum anticancer activity against a number of human cancer cells. This compound also displays oral efficacy in multiple, standard preclinical models of cancer. TLK60596, a potent VG! FR kinase! inhibitor, blocks the formation of new blood vessels in tumors. Oral administration of TLK60596 to animal models of human colon cancer reduced tumor growth.

How To Choose Between Bronze, Silver, Gold And Platinum Health Insurance Plans

Hot Stocks To Watch For 2014

As part of the Affordable Care Act, the new Health Insurance Marketplace (or "Exchange") opens for business on Oct. 1, 2013. The Marketplace is an online, one-stop shopping experience for health coverage designed to make it easier for individuals and families to compare and purchase insurance. Each state has its own Marketplace, which offers a variety of plans from participating health insurance companies.

In addition to finding health coverage, you can use the Marketplace to find out if you qualify for money-saving federal subsidies, including Cost-Sharing Reductions, which can lower your out-of-pocket costs, and Advanced Premium Tax Credits, which lower your monthly premiums. These subsidies are available only on the Marketplace, and can make a significant difference in the type of coverage you might be able to afford. During open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 1 through March 31, 2014, you can set up an account and fill out the online application on your state's Marketplace to see the health coverage options available to you and find out if you qualify for subsidies.

Regardless of where you live, all plans in the Marketplace are separated into four "metallic" levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – based on how you and the plan can expect to share your health care costs. Here, we explain the different coverage levels and define some key terms to help you decide among Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum health insurance plans.

Understanding Out-of-Pocket Costs

When you purchase health insurance, the amount you pay for the coverage each month is called the premium. You pay this whether or not you go to the doctor, visit the hospital or buy prescription medications. When and if you do receive health care, your costs – above and beyond the premium – are based on your plan's deductible, copayment, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum. In order to make informed choices when comparing and purchasing health care plans, it is important to understand what these terms mean.

A deductible is the amount you have to pay for covered services before your insurance starts to pay. For instance, if you have a $2,000 deductible, you will pay 100% of your health care expenses until the amount you have paid reaches $2,000. After you meet your deductible, some service might be covered at 100% while others would require you to pay coinsurance (more on that below).

A copayment (sometimes called "copay") is a fixed dollar amount that you pay for certain health care services. Typically, you will have different copayment amounts for different types of service, such as a $25 copayment for a doctor's office visit or a $150 copayment for an emergency room visit. In most cases, any copayments you make do not count toward your deductible.

Your share of the costs of a health care service is called coinsurance. Typically, this is figured as a fixed percentage of the total charge for a service, such as 15% or 30%. Coinsurance kicks in after you've met your deductible. For example, assume you've already met your $2,000 deductible and your plan's coinsurance is 15%. If you have a hospital charge of $1,000, your share of the costs would be $150 (15% of $1,000). If your coinsurance was 30%, your share would be $300.

A plan's out-of-pocket maximum (or out-of-pocket limit) is the most you pay during a policy period (typically a year) before your plan starts to pay 100% of the allowed amount. The money you pay for premiums and health care that your plan doesn't cover (e.g. elective surgery) does not count towards your out-of-pocket maximum. Depending on your plan, your deductible, copayments and/or coinsurance may apply towards the out-of-pocket maximum. The various health care plans have different out-of-pocket maximums; however, under health care reform, the 2014 limits are $6,350 for individuals and $12,700 for families.

Essential Health Benefits

For an insurance company to participate in the Marketplace, it must offer at least Silver and Gold plans. No matter what plan you choose - Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum - the same set of Essential Health Benefits will be covered:

Addiction treatment Ambulatory patient services Care for newborns and children Chronic disease treatment (such as diabetes and asthma) Emergency services Hospitalization Laboratory services Maternity care Mental health services Occupational and physical therapy Prescription drugs Preventive and wellness services (such as vaccines and cancer screenings) Speech-language therapy Covered benefits are the health care services that your insurer pays for under your plan. You may still be required to pay a copayment or coinsurance, but the service is recognized by your plan. By comparison, if a service is not covered – such as an elective surgery or chiropractic care – you would be responsible for 100% of the associated costs.

The Essential Health Benefits are the minimum requirements for all plans in the Marketplace; certain plans will offer additional coverage, but no plan can offer less.

Actuarial Value

The four levels of health plans – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – are differentiated based on their actuarial value: the average percentage of health care expenses that will be paid by the plan. The higher the actuarial value (i.e. Gold and Platinum), the more the plan will pay towards your health care expenses and, therefore, the lower your out-of-pocket costs for things such as:

Deductibles – the amount you owe for covered services before insurance kicks in; Copayments – a fixed amount you pay for a covered health care service; and Coinsurance – your share of the costs of a covered health care service. The downside to the plans that provide more coverage is that you will pay a higher premium each month.

On average, a Bronze plan will cover 60% of covered medical expenses, and your share will be the remaining 40%. The actuarial value of each type of plan is shown here:



Your share of costs might come in the form of a large deductible with low coinsurance once you've met your deductible. Another plan might offer a low deductible with higher coinsurance. For example, Silver Plan A (which generally pays 70% of your health care expenses) offers a high $2,000 deductible and a low 15% coinsurance. Silver Plan B, on the other hand, has a low $250 deductible but a higher 30% coinsurance.

How Much will it Cost?

For any plan, your monthly premium will be based on several factors including:

Your age Whether or not you smoke (in some states you will pay a "surcharge" if you are a smoker) Where you live How many people are enrolling with you (spouse and/or child) Your insurance company Since your state's Marketplace allows various private insurers to offer plans, a Silver plan from one company may cost more or less than the same plan offered by a different insurer. Plans offered by the same company, however, will increase in price as the actuarial value and the amount the plan pays go up. Starting in 2014 the federal limit for annual out-of-pocket expense for individuals (not including monthly premiums) is expected to be capped at $6,350; the family cap is $12,700. Certain plans may have even lower out-of-pocket caps.

How to Decide Which Plan is Best for You

Deciding which plan is best for you can be a challenge. You will have to consider your health and your financial situation as you compare plans. In general, if you expect to have a lot of health care visits or require regular prescriptions, you may be better off with a Gold or Platinum plan that pays a higher percentage of the costs. If, on the other hand, you are by-and-large healthy and don't expect to have many health care bills, you might be comfortable choosing a Bronze or Silver plan. Of course, even healthy people can have accidents or become ill and end up with lots of medical bills, so you have to factor in your risk tolerance as well.

If your income falls between 100 and 250% of the federal poverty level ($11,490 to $28,725 for an individual), you may be eligible for a Cost-Sharing Reduction subsidy, which can help lower your deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. In order to receive Cost-Sharing Reductions, you must purchase a Silver plan on the Marketplace. You will still have a variety of plans from which to choose, but it must be Silver to be able to take advantage of the Cost-Sharing Reduction subsidy.

Many people will qualify for Advanced Premium Tax Credits, a type of subsidy that lowers your monthly premium. You may be eligible for this subsidy if your income falls between 100 and 400% of the federal poverty level ($11,490 to $45,960 for an individual).

Tip: The Cost-Sharing Reduction and Advanced Premium Tax Credits subsidies are not automatic: you must apply for them on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The Bottom Line

When choosing a plan, it is helpful to remember that all plans – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – cover the same Essential Health Benefits. Your monthly health insurance premium will be higher if you choose a higher level plan, such as Gold or Platinum. But you will also pay less each time you visit a health care provider or get a prescription filled. Conversely, your monthly premium will be lower if you choose a Bronze or Silver plan, but you will pay more for each doctor visit, prescription or health care service that you use.

Finding a balance between coverage and costs can be challenging. Starting October 1, you will be able to compare plans on the Marketplace to find the coverage that is the best fit for your financial situation and health care needs. You will also be able to apply for federal subsidies that can help reduce your health care costs.

6 Ways You Invite Hackers to Steal Your Personal Information

Chances are you're not doing enough to protect your personal information from being stolen. "Everyone puts themselves at risk of hackers on a daily basis," says Jerry Irvine, chief information officer of Prescient Solutions and a member of the National Cyber Security Partnership Task Force.

SEE ALSO: 6 Things You Must Know About Identity Theft

Hackers use viruses and spyware to infiltrate computers and mobile devices to steal data, such as passwords, Social Security numbers and account information. They then can use that information to access your accounts and drain them, run up debt under your name or steal your entire identity.

If you think you aren't at risk of becoming a victim, consider these statistics: Identity theft is so widespread that someone becomes a victim every three seconds, according to a study by Javelin Strategy and Research. Thieves stole more than $21 billion from 12.6 million victims in 2012 by using their personal information. And it can take years for identity theft victims to repair their finances, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

Irvine says that few mobile devices have any type of anti-virus solution. And anti-virus solutions for computers only protect against 30% of known viruses. Now you don't even have to click on an image or link on a Web site to inadvertently download a virus. By simply hovering over some links and images with your mouse, you can start a script that will gather info from your hard drive.

Although hackers are quite sophisticated when it comes to gaining access to personal data, Irvine says there are several ways you might be making it easier for them to access your information.

Using weak passwords. If you're using simple passwords for your accounts so you can remember them, you're making it easy for hackers to figure them out, too. Irvine recommends creating passwords with a minimum of ten characters that include numbers, symbols and upper- and lowercase letters. You can test the security of your passwords at Microsoft.com/security. Don't store these passwords in a file on your computer or mobile device that hackers could access by using spyware you might inadvertently install by clicking on links in spam e-mails, texts or Web sites. See Fix Your Passwords for tips on creating strong passwords and securely storing them.

Using the same password for more than one account. Plenty of people use a single password for multiple accounts. If a hacker figures it out, suddenly he has access to all of your accounts. Irvine says that, ideally, you should use different passwords for every account. But at least you should use different passwords for your financial accounts than you use for social network accounts.

Using public Wi-Fi. It's tempting to use free public Wi-Fi to get Internet access while you're away from home or work. But these shared networks make it easy for hackers to see everything you're doing. Irvine says. Use your phone's 3G or 4G service to access the Web for a more secure connection, or tether your computer to your phone to use its data plan rather than public Wi-Fi.

Creating user IDs on Web sites. Many retail sites offer customers the opportunity to create password-protected accounts with their billing information to make it easier for them to make purchases online. But Irvine says that you should never create user IDs on Web sites because if thieves hack that site, they'll have access to your credit card and other personal information. Log in as a guest, instead, he says.

Using multiple credit cards to make purchases online. The more credits cards you use, the more chances you give hackers to access your account information and use your entire credit limit, Irvine says. He recommends using a payment service, such as PayPal, to make all of your online purchases. And link only one credit card with a low limit to your PayPal account.

Revealing too much on social networks. When you announce your birthday, your address and even your pet's name on Facebook or other social network, you're giving identity thieves personal information they can use to tap your accounts. So resist the urge to reveal too much online. And when choosing answers to security questions for your accounts, Irvine says you shouldn't use your own information, such as the high school you went to that an ID thief can surmise from your Facebook profile. Use the name of a friend's high school, make up a name for a childhood pet or simply lie about your favorite cereal.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014

The following video is from Wednesday's installment of The Motley Fool's daily Financials show,�in which analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson highlight for investors the most important stock news from the financial sector.

Speculation on the market surrounding the Fed and "the taper," the idea that the Fed's quantitative easing may be tapered down over the coming months, which would cause interest rates to rise, has the market in flux at the moment. Should this be cause for concern? In this video, Matt and David tell us why some investors fear that rising interest rates may mean an exodus of investor capital from stocks into bonds, and why rising interest rates could actually be a positive thing.

The best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of.�Click here now�to keep reading.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Mediolanum(MED.MI)

Mediolanum S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial services in Italy. It offers personalized current accounts that are interest-bearing and includes checks, ATM card, and credit card services. The company also provides a range of payment cards, including credit cards, debit cards, and rechargeable cards; mortgages and loans; pension schemes; managed savings, including mutual funds and managed accounts, and index and unit linked products; and life insurance products. In addition, it provides financial brokerage, asset management and advice, fund management, real estate brokerage, and education and training services, as well as engages in the production of audio, film, and television programs. The company operates in Spain, Germany, Ireland, and Luxemburg. Mediolanum S.p.A. was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Basiglio, Italy.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: American International Group Inc.(AIG)

American International Group, Inc. is an international insurance organization. The company operates property and casualty insurance networks worldwide and conducts activities in the U.S. life insurance and retirement services industry. It also involves in commercial aircraft leasing and residential mortgage guaranty insurance businesses. The company, through Chartis Inc., provides various property and casualty insurance products under commercial and consumer categories worldwide. These products include surplus lines, executive liability/directors? and officers? liability, employment practices, excess casualty, and travel/assistance lines. American International Group, through SunAmerica Financial Group, offers a suite of life insurance and retirement products and services, including term life, universal life, accident and health, fixed and variable deferred annuities, fixed payout annuities, mutual funds, and financial planning products and services to individuals and grou ps in the United States. The company, through International Lease Finance Corporation, operates as an aircraft lessor that acquires commercial jet aircraft from various manufacturers and other parties, and leases those aircraft to airlines worldwide. It also sells aircraft from its fleet to other leasing companies, financial services companies, and airlines, as well as provides management services to third-party owners of aircraft portfolios. American International Group, through United Guaranty Corporation, issues residential mortgage guaranty insurance that covers mortgage lenders from the first loss for credit defaults on high loan-to-value conventional first-lien mortgages for the purchase or refinance of one- to four-family residences in the U.S. and internationally. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Sterman]

  My favorite insurers: AIG (NYSE: AIG) (which I discussed a few months ago), Protective Life (NYSE: PL) and Reinsurance Group of America (NYSE: RGA).

Best Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now: Charles Stanley Grp(CAY.L)

Charles Stanley Group Plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides investment and financial services in the United Kingdom. The company operates in three segments: Private Clients, Financial Services, and Charles Stanley Securities. The Private Clients segment offers investment management services to individuals, trusts, and charities. The Financial Services segment provides corporate finance and wealth management services; pension administration services; and markets unit trusts, open ended investment company units, and packaged financial products to private clients. The Charles Stanley Securities segment offers stock broking, financial planning and benefit consultancy, and small and mid-cap advisory and institutional broking services. The company also provides life and health assurance, and tax advisory services. Charles Stanley Group Plc was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Credit Suisse Group(CS)

Credit Suisse Group AG, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a financial services company. The company operates in three segments: Private Banking, Investment Banking, and Asset Management. The Private Banking segment offers advisory services and a range of wealth management solutions, including pension planning, life insurance products, tax planning, and wealth and inheritance advice for the high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. This segment also supplies banking products and services to affluent, high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, and corporates and institutions. The Investment Banking segment provides investment banking and securities products and services to corporations, governments, pension funds, and institutions. Its products and services include debt and equity underwriting, sales and trading, mergers and acquisitions advice, divestitures, corporate sales, restructuring, and investment research. The Asset Management segment offe rs integrated investment solutions and services to institutions, governments, foundations and endowments, corporations, and individuals. It provides access to a range of investment classes across alternative investment, asset allocation, and traditional investment strategies. The company operates in Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. Credit Suisse Group AG was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Amlin Ord 25p(AML.L)

Amlin plc engages in underwriting non-life insurance and reinsurance in the Lloyd?s market, Bermuda, and Continental Europe. It provides insurance cover to commercial enterprises; and reinsurance protection to other insurance companies, as well as property and casualty, marine, and aviation insurance. The company?s insurance products cover airlines, airports, aviation products, and space; bloodstock, cargo, offshore energy, fine arts and specie, hull, marine liability, livestock, pleasure crafts, war and allied perils, and yacht; and professional lines, accident and health, auto, binders, energy and industry, and properties. It also offers insurance products for financial institutions; home insurance products; and employers and/or public/products liability products that cover commercial and industrial risks. In addition, the company underwrites commercial properties and professional indemnity, as well as underwrites various commercial motor fleet classes. Further, it wri tes various reinsurance products comprising marine, aviation, and satellite; catastrophe coverage; and proportional reinsurance coverage. The company markets its products through its independent insurance brokers. Amlin plc was founded in 1903 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Companies For 2014

Last week's challenging environment for stocks looks set to continue today, with the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) and the narrower, price-weighted Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) plummeting 1.8% and 1.6%, respectively, at 10 a.m. EDT.

A central bank pulls back
Last week, a central bank that is steering a massive economy critical to global economic growth proved that there are limits to its monetary largesse, pulling back from the financial accommodation it has provided since the start of the financial crisis. Naturally, this had a dampening effect on global markets.

I'm not referring to the Federal Reserve here -- that story garnered the lion's share of media attention last week -- but rather to the People's Bank of China, the Chinese central bank.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: SL Industries Inc. (SLI)

SL Industries, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of power electronics, motion control, power protection, and specialized communication equipment in the United States and internationally. The company offers power conversion products for use in customer�s specific equipment under the SL Power Electronics, Condor, and Ault brand names to the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of medical, industrial/instrumentation, military, and information technology equipment. It also provides custom power conditioning and distribution units for custom electrical subsystems for OEMs of medical imaging, medical treatment, military aerospace, semiconductor, solar, and advanced simulation systems under the Teal brand name; and power quality products, including three-phase AC reactors, DC link chokes, and a series of harmonic, RFI/EMI, and motor protection filters used in industrial plants, natural resource harvesting sites and facilities, a nd commercial buildings to protect equipment from power surges under the MTE brand name. In addition, the company offers high power density precision motors that are used in military and commercial aerospace, oil and gas, and medical and industrial product applications; and communication and power protection products/systems that are used to protect electric utility transmission lines and apparatus, as well as products and systems used in rail and highway industries. SL Industries, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: Bioteq Environment Com Npv (BQE.TO)

BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc. operates as an industrial process technology company. It provides water treatment solutions for the mining and energy industries, including customized process design and engineering, supply and installation of process plant equipment, plant commissioning, operator training, and operations management services. The company has commercialized proprietary process technologies for metal recovery and removal, including the BioSulphide and ChemSulphide processes, which use biological and chemical sources of sulphide to selectively recover dissolved metals from wastewater. BioteQ Environmental Technologies applies its sulphide precipitation know-how in the gold industry for sulphidization-acidification-recycle-thickening (SART) process technology to remove the metallurgical interference of cyanide-soluble metals and regenerates cyanide for recycle to the gold recovery process. BioteQ Environmental Technologies has also commercialized ion exch ange process technology to treat water with low metal concentrations, and applies its proprietary Sulf-IX and Sulf-IXC ion exchange technologies for the removal of total dissolved solids and elevated levels of calcium and magnesium sulphates from wastewater. Its technologies are applied to treat wastewater streams in various industries, including mining and metallurgical applications, such as the treatment of groundwater and surface water drainage, acid mine drainage, metallurgical bleed streams, lime plant effluents, tailings water, and SART for gold processing; power generation applications, such as the treatment of cooling tower water, flue-gas desulphurization blow down, and ash pond water; and oil and gas applications comprising the treatment of produced water and shale gas fracing water. The company serves resource companies and regulators in Canada, the United States, Chile, and China. BioteQ Environmental Technologies is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top Casino Companies To Invest In 2014: African Metals Corp. (AFR.V)

African Metals Corporation engages in the exploration of mineral properties in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It primarily focuses on the discovery and development of copper and cobalt deposits in the Katanga Copper Belt. The company holds a 57% interest in the Luisha South project, which consists of approximately 16.2 square kilometers and is located to the northwest of Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of Congo. African Metals Corporation was incorporated in 1980 and is based in Surrey, Canada.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: MISONIX Inc.(MSON)

Misonix, Inc. designs, manufactures, develops, and markets minimally invasive ultrasonic medical device products. The company offers BoneScalpel cutting system, which is used primarily for surgical procedures of the spine; the SonaStar surgical aspirator used to emulsify and remove soft and hard tumors; and the SonicOne wound cleansing and debridement system for the removal of devitalized tissue and fibrin deposits while sparing viable cells. It also markets the AutoSonix ultrasound cutting and coagulating systems, and Lysonix ultrasound assisted liposuction devices. In addition, the company develops and markets Aura ductless fume enclosures for the filtration of gaseous contaminates in the laboratory and forensic markets; and HiSonic ultrasonic technology for the treatment of profound deafness and tinnitus. Misonix, Inc. markets its products primarily to medical, pharmaceutical, biotech, semiconductor, law enforcement, and federal and local government laboratories, as wel l as forensic industries through direct sales persons, distributors, manufacturing representatives, and catalog listings. It operates primarily in the United States, Australia, Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, South America, South Africa, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1959 and is based in Farmingdale, New York.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: Ellie Mae Inc (ELLI.N)

Ellie Mae, Inc., incorporated October 14, 2007, is a provider of on-demand automation solutions for the mortgage industry. The Company offers an end-to-end solution, delivered using a Software-as-a-Service model that serves as the core operating system for mortgage originators and spans customer relationship management, loan origination and business management. It also hosts the Ellie Mae Network that allows Encompass users to electronically conduct business transactions with the lenders and settlement service providers they work with to process and fund loans. The Company's offerings include range of Encompass services and the DataTrac mortgage management software system. On August 15, 2011, it completed the acquisition of Del Mar Datatrac,Inc. (DMD).

Using the Company�� network technology, it has helped connect a fragmented world of mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, community banks, credit unions, lenders, investors and service providers, all of which are integral to the origination and funding of residential mortgages. Its Encompass360 solutions include Encompass Product & Pricing Service; Ellie Mae Total Quality Loan Program; Encompass Compliance Service; Encompass Appraisal Service; Encompass CenterWise; Encompass Commissions; Encompass TPO WebCenter and Encompass Docs Solution.

Ellie Mae�� Total Quality Loan program helps in identifying compliance, income and fraud issues early in the origination process; help protect business from loan buy-backs, and fortify workflow and uncover and correct possible issues before you close the loan.Encompass Appraisal Service, integrated inside Encompass360, is that solution helps in completing order right from the loan file in Encompass360; import complete appraisal reports directly into eFolder, and customize appraisal workflow by type of loan and control, which its users can order appraisals. Its Encompass CenterWise wraps two essential Web and electronic document solutions into one unified package. Encompass Commissions is! ! a commission management solution integrated inside Encompass360 that automates the calculation, reconciliation and communication of variable pay across your organization. Hosted Encompass360 Banker Edition users can connect directly with third-party originators (TPOs) without leaving Encompass360, and have them connect back in a secure, synchronized, and easy-to-use Web-based environment. Encompass Docs Solution provides a single, integrated application incorporating both initial disclosures and closing documents.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: It Way Spa(ITW.MI)

Itway S.p.A. engages in the distribution and integration of software and hardware products for the logical security of information systems primarily in Italy, France, the Iberian Peninsula, Greece, and Turkey. The company offers consultancy services and system integration services, as well as produces solutions and software technologies for e-businesses. Its services also include training and supporting companies in the areas of e-business, e-security, central access management, internetworking and wireless. In addition, the company offers specialized certification services on software technologies and pre- and post-sale technical assistance services. Itway S.p.A. is headquartered in Ravenna, Italy.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: Mariner Corporation Limited(MCX.AX)

Mariner Corporation Limited engages in the management of investment schemes in Australia. It also involves in the cattle leasing activities. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: Britannica Resources Corp (BRR.V)

Britannica Resources Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It holds interests in the Chassignol, Deltador, Bluebird, and Kino projects located in the Abitibi Gold District of Quebec. The company is based in Toronto, Canada.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: Ridley Corporation Ltd(RIC.AX)

Ridley Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and marketing of stockfeed and animal feed supplements to primary producers and rural communities in Australasia. The company produces and markets stock and poultry feeds, aqua feeds, animal protein meals, vitamin and mineral supplements, and rural merchandise under the Barastoc, Rumevite, Cobber, and Ridley Aqua-Feed brand names. It also produces and refines solar salt. The company markets salt under the Mermaid, Kooka, Crown, and Saxa brand names. It serves food producers in the beef, dairy, poultry, pig, sheep, and aquaculture industries; producers in the laboratory animals, and the equine and canines in the recreational sector; and consumer retail, water treatment, and food manufacturing industries, as well as the pool sector. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

Top 10 Companies For 2014: First Financial Bankshares Inc.(FFIN)

First Financial Bankshares, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides commercial banking products and services primarily in Texas. It offers commercial banking services, which include accepting and holding checking, savings, and time deposits, as well as automated teller machines, drive-in and night deposit services, safe deposit facilities, remote deposit capture services, Internet banking, transmitting funds, and other commercial banking services. The company also provides commercial, financial, agricultural, real estate construction, real estate mortgage, and consumer loans to businesses, professionals, individuals, and farm and ranch operations. In addition, it involves in the administration of various types of retirement and employee benefit accounts, which include 401(k) profit sharing plans and IRAs; and offers personal trust services that comprise the administration of estates, testamentary trusts, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and agency accounts. Further, the company offers securities brokerage services. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 48 financial centers in Texas, including 10 locations in Abilene, 2 locations in Cleburne, 3 locations in Stephenville, 3 locations in Granbury, 2 locations in San Angelo, and 3 locations in Weatherford, as well as 1 location each in Mineral Wells, Hereford, Sweetwater, Eastland, Ranger, Rising Star, Southlake, Aledo, Willow Park, Brock, Alvarado, Burleson, Keller, Trophy Club, Boyd, Bridgeport, Decatur, Roby, Trent, Merkel, Clyde, Moran, Albany, Midlothian, and Glen Rose. The company was founded in 1956 and is based in Abilene, Texas.

Lockheed Martin Acquires Armor Group (LMT)

The Maryland-based aerospace & defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin (LMT) announced on Wednesday that it is acquiring an IT firm based in the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Growth Stocks For 2014

Specifically, Lockheed Martin is acquiring Armor Group, which is a company that specializes in providing information technology services to businesses in the energy, transport, and public services sectors. Headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, Armor Group is a privately held company with offices in 15 countries and a staff of over 500 employees. One of the company’s biggest success stories is the Chroma Airport Suite, which is an operational system used in more tan 75 airports to help track both aircraft movements as well as passengers. Lockheed Martin did not disclose any specific terms regarding the acquisition.

Lockheed Martin shares climbed higher on Wednesday, gaining 1.20% on the day. The stock is up 37% YTD.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014

Signs of gradual improvement in the economy have increased the chances of the Fed tapering its monetary support at some point this year. Accordingly, investors are moving from defensive sectors like utilities and consumer staples and to cyclical sectors like technology and industrials (read: Buy These ETFs to Profit from "Sector Rotation").

Cyclical or high growth stocks have largely been ignored by investors. But since these stocks are now attractively priced and promise bright long-term growth, investors can pay more attention to this space. A popular choice in this space is of course the technology sector.

Though the technology sector has been broadly mixed so far this year due to uncertainty surrounding some of the top tech players, it could well emerge as the winner as we progress into the second half of the year (read: Winning ETF Strategies For the Second Half).

While the sector enjoys virtual monopoly on several services in many countries, in others such as the U.S., an oligopoly is predominant. A lack of competition under both circumstances and high start-up costs that deter new entrants, make this space an obvious choice for investors seeking high long-term returns.

Cloud computing and mobility add to the long-term growth prospects of the sector. Further, since the technology firms have been dividend growth leaders, investors can depend more on these for income.

A look at the top ranked ETFs in the space that have a lower level of risk, could be a good idea for investors in the current volatile environment. One way to find a top ranked ETF in the tech space is by using the Zacks ETF Ranking system (read: Zacks ETF Rank Guide).

About the Zacks ETF Rank

The Zacks ETF Rank provides a recommendation for the ETF in the context of our outlook for the underlying industry, sector, style box, or asset class. Our proprietary methodology also takes into account the risk preferences of investors. ETFs are ranked on a scale of 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Stron! g Sell) while they also receive one of three risk ratings, namely Low, Medium, or High.

The aim of our models is to select the best ETFs within each risk category. We assign each ETF one of five ranks within each risk bucket. Thus, the Zacks ETF Rank reflects the expected return of an ETF relative to other products with a similar level of risk (see more in the Zacks ETF Center).

For investors seeking to apply this methodology to their portfolio in the tech sector, we have taken a closer look at the top ranked VGT below. This product has a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 or ��trong Buy��with a ��ow��risk outlook, and thus could be a solid pick for investors seeking to tilt towards the tech sector this year:

Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT)

This is one of the largest and most liquid products in the technology ETF space with AUM of over $3 billion and average daily trading volume of roughly 219,000 shares. VGT is also the low cost choice in the space as it charges just 14 bps in fees and expenses.

In terms of performance, this fund hasn�� participated much in the current rally as it has added just around 7% year-to-date. This is lower than the broad market fund, SPY, and other products in the space by wide margins. However, we think it could be poised for a surge in the coming months, based on both technical and fundamental factors described below:

Technical Look

Although the fund hasn�� broken out of its near term range, its short-term moving averages have managed to stay above long-term levels. The 9-Day SMA is now comfortably above the longer-term 200-Day SMA, suggesting continued bullishness for this ETF (read: The Top Choice in the Tech ETF World?).

Meanwhile, the fund�� RSI is at just over 60, suggesting that the fund isn�� too overbought, and that it still has some more room to run before it gets ahead of itself. This is further confirmed by an upswing in the Parabolic SAR, although this figure should definitely be monitor! ed closel! y.

Fundamentals

The fund provides exposure to a large basket of 428 stocks by tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index. It is highly concentrated in its top 10 holdings with 56% of assets, suggesting that company specific risk is pretty high and the top 10 firms dominate the returns of the fund.

Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Google (GOOG) and International Business Machines (IBM) occupy the top four spots. In terms of industrial exposure, computer hardware, system software, internet software, semiconductors and IT consulting make up for at least 10% share in the basket.

The product primarily focuses on large caps as it accounts for 80% of VGT, though a small allocation has been made to mid caps and small caps too. In terms of style, the ETF is skewed towards growth securities which is basically a momentum play and makes it a great strategy in a trending market (read: Bet on This Top Ranked Large Cap Growth ETF).

This proved to be the winning strategy for the fund in the past years, as VGT delivering a robust return of 45% over the trailing three years and 11.77% in the trailing one-year period. Additionally, the ETF yields a decent 1.13% in annual dividends.

Bottom Line

Despite the fund�� relatively heavy concentration (20.66% as per xtf.com), this tech ETF still could be a good choice for investors. This is based on a solid combination of technical and fundamental factors, suggesting VGT could be a great pick in today�� market environment.

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10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ACHN)

Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of treatments for infectious diseases. The company focuses on the development of antivirals for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C; and the development of antibacterials for the treatment of resistant bacterial infections. Its drug candidates for the treatment of chronic HCV include ACH-1625, a protease inhibitor, which is in phase IIa clinical trial for the treatment of chronic HCV; ACH-2684, a pangenotypic protease inhibitor, which is in phase I clinical trial for the treatment of chronic HCV infection; and NS5A inhibitors for the treatment of chronic HCV infection, including ACH-2928, which is to enter a phase I clinical trial, as well as various additional NS5A inhibitors in preclinical development. Its pipeline of product candidates also includes ACH-702 and ACH-2881 for drug resistant bacterial infections; elvucitabine for HIV infection; and AC H-1095 for HCV infection. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in New Haven, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Nichols]

  Achillion is an odd play because it has both the most upside and the most downside of any stock on this list. The company's developing and testing its hepatitis C treating drug, ACH-1625, which is currently in phase II. The results of initial testing have consisted of ups and downs, but after many years and a long process, ACH-1625, appears to be on the right track for an FDA approval.

  The upside in shares of ACHN comes from two places: encouraging data from trials and its likelihood of being acquired. In my opinion, ACHN has a very high chance of being acquired in the next 6 months. Both Pharmasset (VRUS) and Inhibitex (INHX) were acquired over the last 5 months with insanely large premiums. VRUS was purchased at a 81% premium and INHX for a 182% premium. ACHN is perhaps the most speculative, but it could also be purchased the cheapest.

  The stock's recently pulled back after a downgrade and is trading much lower over the last couple weeks. The stock's trend reminds me so much of INHX; the month following the VRUS acquisition when INHX traded higher by nearly 300%. But then after the one-month gain, INHX lost its momentum and traded lower by 40% before being acquired with a 182% premium. INHX traded higher after the VRUS purchase because investors thought it would also be acquired, because of its hepatitis C candidate. ACHN is following the same trend, from November 12 till January 13 the stock more than doubled, but has since retraced.

  At $10 I think ACHN is a buy, it does have a good HCV candidate, and I believe that big pharma will bid to acquire ACHN in the near future. However, the risk in ACHN is if the company's not acquired, then it could have significant loss over the next year. But in a competitive biotechnology industry I believe the reward is worth the risk, and that a large pharma company will take the chance and purchase ACHN in an attempt to stay competitive and capitalize on the trend of investors being bullish on HCV treating drugs.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: ATA Inc.(ATAI)

ATA Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides computer-based testing services in the People?s Republic of China. It offers services for the creation and delivery of computer-based tests utilizing its test delivery platform, proprietary testing technologies, and testing services; and provides logistical support services relating to test administration. The company?s computer-based testing services are used for professional licensure and certification tests in various industries, including information technology (IT) services, banking, securities, teaching, and insurance. Its e-testing platform integrates various aspects of the test delivery process for computer-based tests ranging from test form compilation to test scoring, and results analysis. ATA also provides career-oriented educational services, such as single course programs, degree major course programs, and pre-occupational training programs focusing on preparing students to pass IT and other vocational certification tests; test preparation and training programs and services to test candidates preparing to take professional certification tests in securities, futures, banking, insurance and teaching industries; online test preparation and training platform for the securities and banking industries; and test preparation software for the teaching industry. In addition, the company offers HR select employee assessment solution, an online system that utilizes its proprietary software and an inventory of test titles to help employers improve the efficiency and accuracy of their employee recruitment process. As of March 31, 2010, it had contractual relationships with 1,988 ATA authorized test centers. The company serves Chinese governmental agencies, professional associations, IT vendors, and Chinese educational institutions, as well as individual test preparation services. ATA Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Wyatt Research Staff]

  The Chinese-based educator spiked higher recently after it exceeded analysts' expectations. Revenue and adjusted earnings soared 78% and 269%, respectively. Its long-term annual growth rate is 15%.

  Analysts at Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares from "neutral" to "outperform". 

Top Canadian Stocks To Invest In Right Now: China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited(CNR)

China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the development and operation of agricultural logistics and trade centers in northeast China. It also involves in purchasing, processing, assembling, merchandising, and distributing pearls and jewelry products. The company markets its pearls and jewelry products to wholesale distributors and mass merchandisers in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia. In addition, it develops, sells, and leases residential and commercial properties in Hong Kong and the People?s Republic of China. The company is based in Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Wyatt Research Staff]

  The stock moved significantly higher in mid-January and traded in a fairly tight range ever since. However, that could change soon. China's agricultural exports to Japan will grow if radiation continues to seep into the food chain.

  China exported $593 million worth of agricultural goods to Japan last year.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Voyager Oil & Gas Inc.(VOG)

Voyager Oil & Gas, Inc. engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas in the United States. It primarily focuses on oil shale resource prospects in Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming. As of May 17, 2011, the company controlled approximately 141,500 net acres in the five primary prospect areas comprising 28,000 net acres targeting the Bakken/Three Forks in North Dakota and Montana; 14,200 net acres targeting the Niobrara formation in Colorado and Wyoming; 800 net acres targeting a Red River prospect in Montana; 33,500 net acres in a joint venture targeting the Heath Shale formation in Musselshell, Petroleum, Garfield, and Fergus counties of Montana; and 65,000 net acres in a joint venture in the Tiger Ridge gas field in Blaine, Hill, and Chouteau counties of Montana. It supplies energy and fuel for industrial, commercial, and individual consumers. The company is based in Billings, Montana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By SmallCap Investor]

  Shares of this explorer, which has operations in the Western U.S., crossed back above $3 and have risen 40 percent in the past month, amid increasing investor interest in companies drilling in the Bakken region.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: bebe stores inc.(BEBE)

bebe stores, inc. engages in the design, development, and production of women?s apparel and accessories. Its products include a range of separates, tops, dresses, active wear, and accessories in career, evening, casual, and active lifestyle categories. The company markets its products under the bebe, BEBE SPORT, bbsp, and 2b bebe brand names targeting 21 to 34-year-old woman. As of July 2, 2011, it operated 252 retail stores, and an online store at bebe.com in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Japan, and Canada, as well as 60 international licensee operated stores in south east Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, Mexico, and Turkey. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Brisbane, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  bebe stores, inc. (Nasdaq:BEBE) reported that its Board of Directors declared bebe�� quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share. The dividend is payable on December 4, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2012

• [By Wyatt Research]

  The women's apparel retailer reported fiscal fourth-quarter sales and same-store sales both rose 7 percent. The stock is up 30 percent year-to-date.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Petroquest Energy Inc(PQ)

PetroQuest Energy, Inc. operates as an independent oil and gas company. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of oil and gas properties in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, as well as onshore and in the shallow waters offshore the Gulf Coast Basin. As of December 31, 2009, the company had estimated proved reserves of 1,931 thousand barrels of oil and 167,361 million cubic feet equivalent of natural gas. It owned working interests in 9 net producing oil wells and 277 net producing gas wells. PetroQuest Energy was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By SmallCap Investor]

  Shares traded sharply higher after the oil and gas explorer issued an operational update that revealed details of a discovery at its La Cantera site in Louisiana. Raymond James analysts bumped the stock rating to market perform based on the new findings and an improving balance sheet.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: InterDigital Inc.(IDCC)

Interdigital, Inc. engages in the design and development of digital wireless technology solutions. The company offers technology solutions for use in digital cellular and wireless products and networks, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and IEEE 802-related products and networks. It holds patents related to the fundamental technologies that enable wireless communications. The company licenses its patents to equipment producers that manufacture, use, and sell digital cellular and IEEE 802-related products; and licenses or sells mobile broadband modem solutions, including modem IP, know-how, and reference platforms to mobile device manufacturers, semiconductor companies, and other equipment producers that manufacture, use, and sell digital cellular products. InterDigital?s solutions are incorporated in various products comprising mobile devices, such as cellular phones, tablets, notebook computers, and wireless personal digital assistants; wireless infrastructure equipment, such as base stations; and components, dongles, and modules for wireless devices. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDCC) reported that certain of its subsidiaries have completed the previously announced sale of roughly 1,700 patents and patent applications to Intel Corporation for $375 million in cash.

• [By SmallCap Investor]

  The wireless technology company said it's exploring its options, including a possible sale, following last month's successful auction of Nortel Networks intellectual property which brought in $4.5 billion. IDCC owns about 1,300 patents related to mobile phone technology.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: FuelCell Energy Inc.(FCEL)

FuelCell Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacturing, and sale of high temperature fuel cells for clean electric power generation primarily in South Korea, the United States, Germany, Canada, and Japan. The company offers proprietary carbonate Direct FuelCell Power Plants that electrochemically produce electricity from hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas and biogas. Its fuel cells operate on a range of hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas, renewable biogas, propane, methanol, coal gas, and coal mine methane. The company also develops carbonate fuel cells, planar solid oxide fuel cell technology, and other fuel cell technologies. It provides its products to universities; manufacturers; mission critical institutions, such as correction facilities and government installations; hotels; and natural gas letdown stations, as well as to customers who use renewable biogas for fuel, including municipal water treatment facilities, br eweries, and food processors. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

   Fuelcell Energy (FCEL) designs, manufactures, sells, installs and services ultra-clean, highly efficient stationary fuel cell power plants for distributed baseload power generation. This stock is trading up 7.2% to $1.01 in recent trading.

  Today’s Range: $0.94-$1.01

  52-Week Range: $0.83-$1.95

  Volume: 1.27 million

  Three-Month Average Volume: 1.04 million

  From a technical perspective, FCEL is ripping higher here right above its 50-day moving average of 92 cents per share with above-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of FCEL within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if FCEL manages to take out its 200-day moving average at $1.05 and then once it takes out more overhead resistance at $1.06 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in FCEL as long as it’s trending above its 50-day at 92 cents per share, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.04 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then FCEL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $1.18. Any high-volume move above $1.18 will then put $1.39 into range for shares of FCEL.

• [By SmallCap Investor]

  The developer of stationary fuel cells used by commercial and government customers might be headed for a rebound from a pullback that began this spring - which has left the stock down 39 percent year-to-date.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: OmniVision Technologies Inc.(OVTI)

OmniVision Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, and markets semiconductor image-sensor devices. The company offers CameraChip image sensors, which are single-chip solutions that integrate various functions, such as image capture, image processing, color processing, signal conversion, and output of a processed image or video stream for use in various consumer and commercial mass-market applications; and CameraCube imaging devices that are image sensors with integrated wafer-level optics. It also provides companion chips used to connect its image sensors to various interfaces, including the universal serial bus and other industry standard interfaces; and companion digital signal processors that perform compression in standardized still photo and digital video formats. In addition, the company designs and develops software drivers for Linux, Mac OS, and Microsoft Windows, as well as for embedded operating systems, such as Blackberry OS, Palm OS, Symbian, Windows CE, Windows Embedded, and Windows Mobile. Its products are used in mobile phones, notebooks, Webcams, digital still and video cameras, commercial and security and surveillance, and automotive and medical applications, as well as in entertainment devices. The company sells its products directly to original equipment manufacturers and value added resellers, as well as indirectly through distributors worldwide. OmniVision Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is based in Santa Clara, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Karim]  

  They make the 5-megapixel sensors in the camera of every iPhone. Along with this they carry a strong balance sheet and upbeat earnings expectations boding well for future growth.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2014: Hot Topic Inc.(HOTT)

Hot Topic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a mall- and Web-based specialty retailer in the United States. The company operates Hot Topic and Torrid store concepts, as well as an e-space music discovery concept, ShockHound. Its Hot Topic stores sell music/pop culture-licensed merchandise, including tee shirts, hats, posters, stickers, patches, postcards, books, novelty accessories, CDs, and DVDs; and music/pop culture-influenced merchandise comprising women?s and men?s apparel and accessories, such as woven and knit tops, skirts, pants, shorts, jackets, shoes, costume jewelry, body jewelry, sunglasses, cosmetics, leather accessories, and gift items for young men and women primarily between the ages of 12 and 22. The company?s Torrid stores sells casual and dressy jeans and pants, fashion and novelty tops, sweaters, skirts, jackets, dresses, hosiery, shoes, intimate apparel, and fashion accessories for various lifestyles for plus-size females primarily betw een the ages of 15 and 29. As of July 30, 2011, it operated 636 Hot Topic stores in 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada; 145 Torrid stores; and Internet stores, hottopic.com and torrid.com. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in City of Industry, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Wyatt Research]

  The teen retailer reported its same-store sales rose 0.4 percent, with same-store sales at its Torrid chain for overweight teens rising 7 percent. Analysts were expecting a decline.