Bitcoin Exchange Mt. Gox Goes Dark

Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesA customer holds a placard while protesting Tuesday outside the headquarters of Mt. Gox in Tokyo. TOKYO and ST LOUIS -- Mt. Gox, once the world's biggest bitcoin exchange, went dark Tuesday, with its website down, its Tokyo office empty, and a cryptic comment from its chief executive that the business was at "a turning point." The only activity at the company's Tokyo office was outside, where a handful of protesters said they had lost money investing in the virtual currency. UPDATE: Mt. Gox posted an update on its website Tuesday, saying a "decision was taken to close all transactions for the time being," citing "recent news reports and the potential repercussions on MtGox's operations." The website went dark Tuesday and its chief executive told Reuters that the business was "at a turning point." Mt. Gox halted withdrawals earlier this month after detecting what it called "unusual activity." "We will be closely monitoring the situation and will react accordingly," the website said. The digital marketplace operator, which began as a venue for trading cards, had surged to the top of the bitcoin world, but critics -- from rival exchanges to burned investors -- said Mt. Gox had long been lax over its security. It was not clear what has become of the exchange, which this month halted withdrawals indefinitely after detecting "unusual activity." When asked whether Mt. Gox was dead, its CEO, Mark Karpeles, said in an email: "We should have an official announcement ready soon-ish. We are currently at a turning point for the business. I can't tell much more for now as this also involves other parties." A document circulating on the Internet, and purporting to be a crisis plan for the exchange, said more than 744,000 bitcoins were "missing due to malleability-related theft," and noted Mt. Gox had $174 million in liabilities against $32.75 million in assets. It wasn't possible to verify the document or the exchange's financial situation. Tokyo investors in the frontier electronic currency, who have endured a volatile ride in the value of the unregulated cyber-tender, said the problem was with Mt. Gox, not with the revolutionary bitcoin itself. The Mt. Gox homepage wasn't loading, although no error message appeared. Its source code contained a line saying, "put announce for mtgox acq here." The Bitcoin Foundation, the cyber currency's trade group, said in a statement, "Mt. Gox is one of several exchanges, and their exit, while unfortunate, opens a door of opportunity. This incident demonstrates the need for responsible individuals and members of the bitcoin community to lead in providing reliable services." On Sunday, Karpeles resigned from the board of the Foundation. 'Very Angry' "I'm very angry," said Kolin Burges, a self-styled "crypto-currency trader" and former software engineer who came from London for answers after Mt. Gox failed to tell him what had happened to his bitcoins, which at one point were worth $300,000. "It looks like that's disappeared," said Burges, one of six protesters outside the Mt. Gox office, which was as deserted as a nearby cafe that had formerly accepted bitcoins as payment. In a statement last week, Mt. Gox said it had moved office because of security issues. Some protesters carried signs saying, "Mt. Gox, where's our money?" and "Mt. Gox, are you solvent?" "They prolonged this and kept telling people everything was OK," Burges said. "A lot of people did believe that, and it's very annoying what they've done to me and up to a million others." Six leading bitcoin exchanges -- which allow users to trade bitcoins for U.S. dollars and other currencies -- distanced themselves from Mt. Gox. "This tragic violation of the trust of users of Mt. Gox was the result of one company's actions and does not reflect the resilience or value of bitcoin and the digital currency industry," the companies -- Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp, BTC China, Blockchain and Circle -- said in the statement. "As with any new industry, there are certain bad actors that need to be weeded out, and that is what we're seeing today." Karpeles told Reuters last week, "We know there are all kinds of criticisms made against Mt. Gox, but we believe we are doing all we can to solve problems as quickly as possible having our customers in mind." The concierge at his home -- an upscale apartment in the Shibuya district -- said he was not answering his intercom. His mailbox was so stuffed with mail that the flap wouldn't close. His resignation from the Bitcoin Foundation followed a number of technical issues, including a massive cyber attack from unknown sources that has been spamming bitcoin exchanges. Mt. Gox was a founding member and one of the three elected industry representatives on the board of the foundation. Mt. Gox, a bitcoin exchange since 2010, is a relatively old player, having grown quickly when there were few alternatives. 'Teething Problems' Bitcoin has had a rocky ride, its dollar value soaring and crashing more like a highly speculative investment than a store of value. And oddly for a tradable instrument, its value varies greatly depending on the exchange. The Mt. Gox bitcoin, which traded at $828.99 before Feb. 7, when the exchange halted withdrawals, has since plunged 83.7 percent to $135. By contrast, coins at Bitstamp, another large exchange, have fallen 40.5 percent over the same period to a low of $400 Tuesday, before recovering to $505. Users say the problem with Mt. Gox is isolated and not with the virtual currency even though bitcoin globally has taken a beating to its value and reputation since the problem surfaced. "I think the community will remain very tolerant of teething problems, or whatever you want to call them," said a Tokyo-based investor who noted he had a "negligible" amount of bitcoins with Mt. Gox. "The whole structure is still in its infancy, so there's just certain things that come with the territory as long as you keep people in the loop." Regulatory Reticence Japan's financial regulators, by contrast, have largely given bitcoin a shrug. "Bitcoin is not a currency; it is an alternative to currencies, like gold," said a spokesman for the Financial Services Agency. "We are only responsible for currencies and therefore bitcoin is not subject to our regulatory oversight." Japanese Finance Ministry officials also said they aren't in charge of regulating the virtual currency. A Bank of Japan spokesman said the central bank had nothing to add to remarks that Governor Haruhiko Kuroda made in December, when he said he was "very interested in bitcoin." "In one sense, it is similar to electronic-funds transfers and the spread of electronic money," Kuroda said then. "But there are also some differences and the price is somewhat volatile. I think each country's central bank is watching this ... but as of now I have nothing specific to report." Other jurisdictions have been more proactive. In the U.S., Alabama's securities regulator said he will issue an alert Tuesday, cautioning consumers and investors to stop trading on bitcoin exchanges or adding to their accounts if they are having trouble redeeming the digital currency or cashing out. Karpeles himself, while insisting on his own exchange's reliability, has made no secret that bitcoin is, as he told Reuters last April, a "high-risk investment."

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now

AngioDynamics��(ANGO) adjusted earnings of 7 cents per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents and increased more than twofold year over year. Adjusted earnings in the reported quarter exclude one-time expenses such as product recalls, Quality Call to Action program expenses, LC Beads, acquisition and restructuring charges.

The N.Y.-based therapeutic and diagnostic devices maker reported a net loss of $0.9 million (or 2 cents per share) compared with a net loss of $7.0 million (or 27 cents per share) in the year-ago quarter.

For fiscal 2013, adjusted earnings of 35 cents per share (up 66.7% year over year) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents. Results achieved the higher end of the company�� guidance. AngioDynamics reported a net loss of $0.6 million (or 2 cents per share) in fiscal 2013 versus a net loss of $5.1 million (or 21 cents per share) in fiscal 2012.

Revenue Analysis

Revenues declined 2% to $90.0 million on a pro forma basis, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $89 million. Pro forma results include the Navilyst acquisition and exclude the LC Beads sales. Results were lower due to difficult year-over-year comparisons. However, management is upbeat with the increased adoption of the company�� latest offering, AngioVac.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: MyEcheck Inc (MYEC)

MyECheck, Inc. (MyECheck), incorporated on May 18, 2005, is an electronic transaction data processor. The Company provides an alternative payment solution to paper checks, cards or ACH payments. MyECheck utilizes a method of clearing check data for payments. MyECheck offers implemented solutions that enable real-time payments by authorized electronic check. MyECheck�� electronic check service creates and clears checks using only customer account data without the hassle and delays of paper checks. MyECheck's system enables more payers - any authorized signor on any United States checking account, for any amount. MyECheck's transactions can even be payment guaranteed.

Electronic Check Service

Payer check data is collected by the Merchant either at customer registration, or on their Website, through a mobile device, or over the telephone, and is transmitted in real-time, or in batch to MyECheck for processing. MyECheck uses technology to generate electronic checks in accordance with the Federal Reserve Check 21 specification, and transmits the items to clear through the electronic check clearing system to the Merchant's account at one of its partner banks.

Check Authorization Service

MyECheck offers Check Authorization Service that enables merchants to verify consumer provided data, check the status of their customer�� bank account, provide evidence that the consumer has authorized the check and predict the likelihood of a check being returned unpaid. Transactions are immediately and automatically evaluated and approved or declined based upon the real time results of multiple fraud control tools. Businesses that accept MyECheck payments can use this service to provide an automated real time check authorization to mitigate returned items.

Check Guarantee Service

The check guarantee provider warranties all approved checks and reimburses the Payee (Merchant) for financial losses incurred as a result of returned checks. The C! heck Guarantee Provider buys the returned checks that have been warranted from merchants for the full face value of the returned checks. MyECheck merchants utilize Check Guarantee Service so that they can ship products or provide services immediately without having to wait to determine if the check will be returned unpaid. The Check Guarantee Service also eliminates the need for Merchants to collect on returned checks from their customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Rewards Nexus Inc (OTCMKTS: ERNI), MyEcheck Inc (OTCMKTS: MYEC) and ITonis Inc (OTCMKTS: ITNS) fell 29.6%, 18.92% and 9.09%, respectively, last Friday. Moreover, some of these small cap stocks are already making big moves again this morning - perhaps in part because they have all been the subject of recent paid promotions. So where are these small cap heading this week and for the long term? Here is a quick reality check:

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Cricket Resources Inc. (CKC.V)

Cricket Resources Inc. engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for lithium and other rare-metals, such as tantalum, cesium, and rubidium. It has an option agreement to acquire up to an undivided 60% interest in the Forgan Lake property, which consists of a 256 hectare claim block located to the northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The company was formerly known as Cricket Capital Corp. and changed its name to Cricket Resources Inc. in July 2010. Cricket Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Buy For 2015: First Horizon National Corp (FHN)

First Horizon National Corporation (FHN), incorporated in 1968, is a bank holding company. The Company provides financial services through its subsidiary, First Tennessee Bank National Association (the Bank), and its subsidiaries. The Company�� two brands First Tennessee and FTN Financial provide customers with a range of products and services. First Tennessee provides retail and commercial banking services throughout Tennessee. FTN Financial (FTNF) is engaged in fixed income sales, trading, and strategies for institutional clients in the United States and abroad. FHN has four operating business segments: regional banking, capital markets, corporate, and non-strategic. As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had $16.4 billion in total deposits and $16 billion in total net loans. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� subsidiaries had over 200 business locations in 17 the United States states, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, excluding off-premises automated teller machines (ATMs). As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had 183 branch locations in four states, which include 172 branches in metropolitan areas of Tennessee; two branches in northwestern Georgia; seven branches in northwestern Mississippi, and two branches in North Carolina. As of December 31, 2011, FTN Financial products and services were offered through 18 offices in total, including 16 offices in 14 states plus an office in each of Hong Kong and Tokyo.

The regional banking segment offers financial products and services, including traditional lending and deposit taking, to retail and commercial customers in Tennessee and surrounding markets. Regional banking provides investments, financial planning, trust services and asset management, credit card, cash management, and first lien mortgage originations within the Tennessee footprint. In addition, the regional banking segment includes correspondent banking, which provides credit, depository, and other banking related services to other financial institutions.

The capital markets se! gment consists of fixed income sales, trading, and strategies for institutional clients in the United States and abroad, as well as loan sales, portfolio advisory, and derivative sales. The corporate segment consists of gains on the extinguishment of debt, unallocated corporate expenses, expense on subordinated debt issuances and preferred stock, bank-owned life insurance, unallocated interest income associated with excess equity, net impact of raising incremental capital, revenue and expense associated with deferred compensation plans, funds management, low income housing investment activities, and charges related to restructuring, repositioning, and efficiency. The non-strategic segment consists of the wind-down national consumer lending activities, legacy mortgage banking elements, including servicing fees, and the associated ancillary revenues and expenses related to these businesses. Non-strategic also includes the wind-down trust preferred loan portfolio and exited businesses along with the associated restructuring, repositioning, and efficiency charges.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company provided services through its subsidiaries, which include general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments; through FTN Financial fixed income sales and trading, underwriting of bank, loan sales, advisory services and derivative sales; discount brokerage and full-service brokerage; correspondent banking; transaction processing, such as nationwide check clearing services and remittance processing; trust, fiduciary, and agency services; credit card products; equipment finance; investment and financial advisory services; mutual fund sales as agent; retail insurance sales as agent, and mortgage banking services.

As of December 31, 2011, the commercial, financial, and industrial (C&I) portfolio was eight billion dollars, and is consisted of loans used for general business purposes, and consisted of relationship customers in Tennessee and certain n! eighborin! g states, which are managed within the regional bank. Products include working capital lines of credit, term loan financing of owner-occupied real estate and fixed assets, and trade credit enhancement through letters of credit. As of December 31, 2011, the unpaid principal balance (UPB) of trust preferred loans totaled $447.2 million with the UPB of other bank-related loans totaling approximately $161.8 million. The commercial real estate portfolio includes both financings for commercial construction and non-construction loans. This portfolio is segregated between income commercial real estate (CRE) loans which contain loans, lines, and letters of credit to commercial real estate developers for the construction and mini- permanent financing of income-producing real estate, and residential CRE loans. The residential CRE portfolio includes loans to residential builders and developers for the purpose of constructing single-family detached homes, condominiums, and town homes. As of December 31, 2011, the residential CRE portfolio was $.1 billion. As of December 31, 2011, the consumer real estate portfolio was $5.3 billion, and is composed of home equity lines and installment loans. As of December 31, 2011, the credit card and other portfolios were $.3 billion, and primarily include credit card receivables, automobile loans, and over-the-counter (OTC) construction loans and other consumer related credits.

FHN�� investment portfolio consists of debt securities, including government agency issued mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and government agency issued collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO). During the year ended December 31, 2011, Government agency issued MBS and CMO, and other agencies averaged $2.9 billion. During 2011, the United States treasury securities and municipal bonds averaged $79.5 million. During 2011, investments in equity securities averaged $222.3 million.

During 2011, short-term funds (certificates of deposit greater than $100,000, federal funds purchased (! FFP), sec! urities sold under agreements to repurchase, trading liabilities, and other short-term borrowings) averaged $3.6 billion. During 2011, other borrowings increased to $.3 billion. Term borrowings include senior and subordinated borrowings and advances with original maturities greater than one year. During 2011, average term borrowings averaged $2.6 billion.

The Company competes with Regions Bank, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Bank of America N.A., and Pinnacle National Bank.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.18 per share on revenue of $307.14 million.

  Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (NYSE: LH) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.80 per share on revenue of $1.45 billion.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Northeast Bancorp(NBN)

Northeast Bancorp operates as a bank holding company for Northeast Bank that provides a range of financial services to individuals and companies in western and south-central Maine, and southeastern New Hampshire. It offers various deposit products, including demand deposits and escrow accounts, NOW accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and brokered time deposits. The company?s lending activities comprise origination and purchase of mortgages for the purpose of financing or refinancing one-to-four family residential properties. The company also provides various commercial real estate loans; commercial business loans, such as term loans, lines of credit, and equipment and receivables financing; commercial and residential loans; and construction loans. In addition, it offers consumer loans secured by automobiles, recreational vehicles, boats, as well as provides second mortgages, home improvement and mobile home loans, and personal and d eposit account collateralized loans. Further, the company offers property and casualty insurance products to personal and commercial customers; and investment brokerage services, which include investment and financial planning products and services. As of June 30, 2011, it operated 10 banking offices, 1 financial center, 3 loan production offices, and 10 insurance offices in western and south-central Maine, and southeastern New Hampshire. The company was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Lewiston, Maine.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Baxano Surgical Inc (BAXS)

Baxano Surgical Inc, formerly TranS1 Inc., incorporated in May 2000, is a medical device company focused on designing, developing and marketing products that implement its approach to treat degenerative conditions of the spine affecting the lower lumbar region. It develops its pre-sacral approach to allow spine surgeons to access and treat intervertebral spaces without compromising important surrounding soft tissue, nerves and bone structures. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was marketing the AxiaLIF family of products for single and multilevel lumbar fusion, the Vectre and Avatar lumbar posterior fixation systems and Bi-Ostetic bone void filler, a biologics product. All of the Company�� AxiaLIF products are delivered using its pre-sacral approach. It generates revenue from the sales of itsimplants and disposable surgical instruments. It has two distinct sales methods. The first method is when implants and/or disposable surgical instruments are sold directly to hospitals or surgical centers for the purpose of conducting a scheduled surgery. In November 2011, the Company launched its VEO Lateral Access and Interbody Fusion System.

The Company sells its products directly to hospitals and surgical centers in the United States and certain European countries, and to independent distributors elsewhere. The Company also markets its products at various industry conferences and through industry organized surgical training course. The Company has developed and markets two fusion products that are delivered using its pre-sacral approach include AxiaLIF 1L and AxiaLIF 2L+. Its products include surgical instruments for creating an access route to the L4/L5/S1 vertebral bodies, fusion implants, as well as supplemental stabilization products.

AxiaLIF Lumbar Fusion Implants

The Company markets AxiaLIF family of products for single and two level lumbar fusion, the VEO lateral access and interbody fusion system, the Vectre and Avatar posterior fixation systems and Bi-Ostet! ic bone void filler, a biologics product. The Company also market products that may be used with its AxiaLIF surgical approach, including bowel retractors, a bone graft harvesting system and additional discectomy tools. Its AxiaLIF implants and instruments, combined with facet screws or pedicle screws, provide surgeons with the tools necessary to perform a lumbar fusion.

The Company's AxiaLIF 1L and AxiaLIF 2L+ implants are threaded titanium rods, that come in varying lengths to enable one-level L5/S1 fusions and two-level L4/L5/S1 fusions. As they are implanted, its design allows for the separation of the vertebrae to restore disc height.

VEO Lateral Access and Interbody Fusion System

This system features a two-stage retraction method that focuses on nerve visualization followed by controlled retraction. The VEO Lateral System is designed for direct visualization of the psoas muscles and adjacent nerves prior to muscle dissection, and features a full range of PEEK lateral interbody implants and a variety of ergonomic instruments.

TranS1 Access and Disc Preparation Instruments

The Company�� pre-sacral approach requires the use of a sterile set of surgical instruments that are used to create a safe and reproducible working channel and to prepare the disc and vertebrae for its implant. The instrumentation contained in the set includes stainless steel navigation tools and tubular dissectors to create the working channel, as well as nitinol cutters and brushes to cut and remove the degenerated disc material and prepares the disc space for its implant and the bone graft material.

Vectre Facet Screw System

The Company's Vectre facet screw system offers a cannulated facet screw inserted over a guidewire to provide stability while reducing the muscle and tissue trauma associated with conventional pedicle screws. The Vectre system features offer a reproducible posterior fixation option in select patients.

A! VATAR Ped! icle Screw System

In January 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to distribute Avatar, a pedicle screw system. Avatar can be used with or without its implants to provide lumbar posterior fixation. The AVATAR MIS System offers cannulated pedicle screws inserted over a guidewire to reduce muscle and tissue trauma. Extended tabs integrated to the screws provide a pathway for implantation of the rod while minimizing tissue dissection.

Bi-Ostetic Bone Void Filler

In February 2010, TranS1 entered into an agreement to sell Bi-Ostetic, an osteoconductive bone substitute. Bi-Ostetic is an alternative to allografts or cadaver bone. The spongy granules are bioceramics with interconnected porosity that mimic the cancellous bone structure.

Iliac Crest Bone Graft Harvesting System

The Company�� Iliac Crest Bone Graft Harvesting System is developed to aid surgeons in harvesting iliac crest autograft via a minimally invasive approach. Use of autograft, which is osteogenic, osteoinductive and osteoconductive, further improves the chances of fusion success. It provides structural support as well as scaffolding for new bone growth.

The Company competes with Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Johnson & Johnson DePuy Spine, Stryker Spine, NuVasive, Zimmer Spine, Synthes, Orthofix International, Globus Medical and Alphatec Spine.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Hengxin Technology Ltd. (I85.SI)

Hengxin Technology Ltd, an investment holding company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, and sale of telecommunications and technological products, and radio frequency (RF) coaxial cables in the People�s Republic of China, India, and internationally. It operates in Radio Frequency Coaxial Cables, Telecommunication Equipment and Accessories, and Others segments. The company offers RF coaxial cables for mobile communications to transmit high-frequency signals between antenna and base station equipment in outdoor base station wireless signal coverage system and indoor wireless signal coverage system in buildings; and to radiate high frequency signals to surrounding environment through continuous small antenna elements along the cable in railways, highways, tunnels, underground car parks, elevators, and high rise buildings. It also provides coaxial cables for telecommunications equipment and accessories to transmit signals within microwave communicati ons systems, radio broadcast wireless systems, and air/sea radar systems, as well as accessories to wireless signal coverage system for base stations. In addition, the company offers high temperature resistant cable products. Hengxin Technology Ltd markets its products under the HongSun name. It customers include telecommunications operators and telecommunications equipment manufacturers. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Yixing, the People�s Republic of China.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp (RMO.V)

Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada. It primarily explores for copper, gold, zinc, nickel, and precious metals, as well as platinum group metals in northwestern Ontario. The company was formerly known as East West Resource Corporation and changed its name to Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp. in February 2010. Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp. was incorporated in 1979 and is based in West Vancouver, Canada.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Rand Capital Corporation(RAND)

Rand Capital Corporation is a venture capital firm specializing in investments in early venture and in small to medium-sized privately held companies. The firm does not prefer to invest in real estate sector. It invests in companies that are engaged in the exploitation of new or unique products or services. It seeks to invest in companies based in the Western and Upstate New York region and its surrounding states with focus on Buffalo and Niagara region. The firm may invest in region within three to five hour drives from Western New York including Canada. It typically invests between $500,000 and $1.5 million and the total investment in rounds is between $1 million and $5 million. The firm seeks to be a lead investor in companies within its geographical area and participates in syndicate with other investors outside it. It prefers to invest in businesses that are unique or possess proprietary right. The firm prefers to be a minority investor and seeks to take a Board seat in its portfolio companies. It typically holds its investments for a period of five to seven years. Rand Capital Corporation was founded in 1969 and is based in Buffalo, New York.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pioneer High Income Trust(PHT)

Pioneer High Income Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in below-investment-grade bonds, high-yield corporate bonds and convertible securities. It invests in fixed income securities with average credit quality of B. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Index. Pioneer High Income Trust was formed on January 30, 2002 and is domiciled in the United States.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: eServGlobal Ltd(ESV.AX)

eServGlobal Limited engages in the provision of mobile money solutions and value added services to mobile and financial service providers in the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Central and South America. It offers mobile money solutions, including PayMobile platform, a market proven solution that provides various aspects of mobile money usage from voucher and electronic recharge, and money and commerce solutions; and HomeSend, a mobile-centric international remittance hub endorsed by the GSM association that enables service providers comprising financial institutions to offer international money and air-time transfer, as well as access to a hubbing and managed service through a single technical and commercial interface. The company also offers value-added services, such as PromoMax that allows telecom service providers to build targeted, personalized, diversified and timely promotions, and loyalty programs; PRIME, a next generation framework for value-ad ded services; Mailis, a messaging solution, which enables service providers to deliver voice mail, unified mail, and video mail to retail and business customers; and IVR, a multi-lingual solution. In addition, it provides software as a service; and professional, training, and support services, as well as offers operational services for operators. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Flowers Foods Inc (FLO)

Flowers Foods, Inc. (Flowers Foods), incorporated in October 2000, is a producer and marketer of bakery products in the United States. The Company is the producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers in the United States. Flowers Foods operates 44 bakeries that produce a range of bakery products, which include breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and pastries. These products are sold through a direct-store-delivery network with access to approximately 70% of the United States population in the East, South, and Southwest, as well as in certain markets in California. Select Flowers products are sold nationwide through customers' delivery systems. Among the Company�� top brands are Nature�� Own and Tastykake. The Company has two business segments: direct-store-delivery (DSD segment) and warehouse delivery segment (warehouse segment). In May 2011, the Company acquired Tasty Baking Company. In July 2012, it acquired Lepage Bakeries, Inc.

The DSD segments focuses on the production and marketing of bakery products to United States customers in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southwest, as well as select markets in California and Nevada primarily through its DSD system. The warehouse segment produces snack cakes and breads and rolls that are shipped both fresh and frozen to national retail, foodservice, vending, and co-pack customers through their warehouse channels. The Company�� brands include Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Blue Bird, ButterKrust, Dandee, Mary Jane, and Mary Jane and Friends. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it introduced the new products under this brand, including Nature�� Own Whitewheat Sandwich Rounds; Nature�� Own Whole Grain Sandwich Rolls and Hot Dog Rolls; Nature�� Own Cinnamon Raisin Thin Sliced Bagels; Nature�� Own Soft Oatmeal Specialty Bread; Nature�� Own 100% Whole Grain Specialty Bread, and Nature�� Own Honey Wheat Berry Specialty Bread. In addition to Nature�� Own, its DSD segment also marke! ts: a range of specialty breads and rolls under the Company-owned Cobblestone Mill brand; white breads and buns under regional company owned and franchised brands, such as Sunbeam, Bunny, Aunt Hattie��, Holsum, and ButterKrust; Tastykake and Blue Bird branded snack cakes and pastries; flour, white, and corn tortillas under the Mi Casa and Frestillas brands, and fresh packaged bakery products under store brands for retailers.

The Company�� warehouse segment markets a range of specialty breads and rolls under the European Bakers brand, breads, buns, and rolls for specific foodservice customers, and tortillas and tortilla chips under Leo�� Foods and Juarez. This segment�� snack cakes are sold under the Mrs. Freshley��, Broad Street Bakery, and store brands. Its warehouse segment products are distributed nationally through retail, foodservice and vending customer warehouses.

The Company competes with Grupo Bimbo S.A. de C.V./Bimbo Bakeries, Hostess Brands, Inc., Sara Lee Corporation, Campbell Soup Company, McKee Foods Corporation, Cloverhill Bakery, Hostess Brands, Inc., Alpha Baking Co., Inc., Rotella�� Italian Bakery, United States Bakery, Turano Baking Company and All Round Foods, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Gerrit De Vynck]

  Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (MFI), the Canadian producer of foods from hamburgers to frozen pasta, has drawn bids for its bread unit from Grupo Bimbo SAB, Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO) and several private-equity firms, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Tomorrow, Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed, knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

5 Best Forestry Stocks To Buy Right Now: Coventry Group Ltd (CYG.AX)

Coventry Group Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution of industrial products in Australia and New Zealand. The company distributes and markets industrial fasteners, stainless steel fasteners and hardware, construction fasteners, specialized fastener products and systems, and associated industrial tools and consumables. It is also involved in the design and installation of lubrication systems; distribution of hose, connectors, fittings, and hydraulic, hose assemblies; design and supply of service truck components; installation of fire suppression systems; design and distribution of fluid handling systems and pneumatic components, as well as sale of hydraulic associated products and consumables; and provision of rock hammer and repair services. In addition, the company imports, distributes, and markets hardware, components, and finished products to the domestic and commercial furniture, cabinet making, and joinery and shop fitting industries; and of fice chair components. Further, it manufactures and distributes automotive and industrial gaskets. The company was incorporated in 1936 and is headquartered in Redcliffe, Australia.

Don't miss these critical retirement milestones

Most of us would love to enjoy a retirement that allows us to play golf, hang out on the beach, volunteer for worthy causes, spend time with our grandkids, travel to Europe, and do all types of other amazing activities.

But in order to maximize your ability to save on taxes, avoid government penalties and fees, and capitalize on benefits, you'll need to circle a few important dates on your calendar. Here are a few essential deadlines that you shouldn't miss while you're on the road to retirement.

Age 50

Workers age 50 and better can start making catch-up contributions to many retirement plans such as the 401(k), 403(b), and governmental 457(b). In 2014, a worker who is 50 or older can contribute a total of $23,000 into one of these plans, which is a whopping $5,500 above the limit that workers age 49 and under are eligible to save. Likewise, workers 50 and older can contribute an additional $1,000 into their individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, for a total contribution of $6,500 annually. Eligible workers can also make a $2,500 additional catch-up contribution to their SIMPLE IRA or SIMPLE 401(k). Capitalize on these growing limits so that you can maximize your tax deferrals or tax exemptions (depending on whether your accounts are structured as traditional or Roth accounts, respectively).

Furthermore, retiring police, medics, and firefighters can take penalty-free distributions from their plans starting at age 50 if they've completed at least 20 years of service.

Age 55

This is the earliest age at which you can withdraw money from your 401(k) without paying the 10% early withdrawal penalty if you're no longer in that position and quit after reaching 55. But please note that you can only withdraw the funds from the 401(k) associated with your most recent employer. And you can't withdraw money from your IRA just yet.

Age 59½

You can now withdraw money from your IRA without paying the 10% early withdrawal penalty. You can also withdraw money from any 401! (k) account, rather than just the retirement account associated with the job you most recently left.

Age 62

Congratulations! You are now eligible to collect Social Security payments. But you may want to think twice before you take this step. If you begin collecting Social Security at this early age, your payments may be reduced by up to 30%.

Top 10 International Stocks To Invest In 2014

Age 65

You are now eligible for Medicare. In fact, you can sign up three months prior to your 65th birthday in order to get coverage that begins during the month you turn 65. This is an important deadline to keep on your calendar, because if you don't sign up right away, your Medicare Part B premiums might permanently increase, and it's possible that you may be denied supplemental coverage. Medicare Part B premiums will increase by 10% for every 12-month period that you don't sign up after you become Medicare-eligible. If you're covered by a group health care plan or by a military or veteran's health care plan, talk to your employer or your Department of Defense contact before you sign up for Medicare.

In addition, historically, those who were born in 1937 or earlier were eligible to receive full Social Security benefits at age 65. Those born from 1938 to 1942 had their full retirement age rise to between 65 and 2 months to 65 and 10 months. But, as you'll see below, those reaching retirement age now have to wait a little longer.

Age 66

If you were born between 1943 to 1954, you're eligible to collect full Social Security payments when you turn 66. If you were born between 1955-1959, your full retirement age spans the range between 66 and 2 months to 66 and 10 months.

Age 67

If you were born in 1960 or later, your Social Security full retirement age is 67. Remember, though, that your payments will increase by 8% per year every year that you delay collecting benefits! until ag! e 70.

Age 70

This is the final year in which you can delay collecting Social Security benefits and still receive that 8% annual increase. If you delay collecting benefits past age 70, you won't collect any additional reward -- so you may as well start collecting the payments now.

Age 70½

You now must take mandatory distributions from your traditional IRA and 401(k). Talk to your tax advisor about how to calculate the correct amount. This is a critical question, because the tax penalty for failing to withdraw the correct amount is 50% of the amount that you should have withdrawn.

So, happy (half)-birthday! You now must withdraw some of your hard-earned money. Enjoy it -- after all, you're only 70 once.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Americans crazy about mail, but can't say why

Americans said they wanted the post office to stay the way it is for "nostalgia."

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) Americans dearly love getting their mail daily. But they can't say what they'd miss if the U.S. Postal Service disappeared.

"People seemed to sense that the Postal Service disappearing would be a bad thing, but they had trouble articulating more specifically how this would affect them personally," the report from the U.S. Postal Service Office Inspector General says.

The inspector general's office commissioned the report, which posed questions to 101 people in 10 focus groups nationwide. It summed up the answers in the white paper called: "What America Wants and Needs from the Postal Service."

The findings offer some insight into Americans' complicated relationship with the financially strapped Postal Service.

Americans said they wanted the post office to stay the way it is for "nostalgia" and a "desire to see it continue to provide services because of its importance to the American people."

Only two people said they wouldn't be "negatively affected" if the postal service closed in five years. One of them was 92-year-old Mary from Bethel, Maine, who visits her local post office every day.

"I'll be dead by then," she said, according to the report.

Still, as the people interviewed learned more about the way the agency works and its financial struggles, they became more willing to consider cuts in mail delivery days or post office hours, and even moving away from at-your-door delivery to cluster boxes -- if it saves the institution.

Once people in the survey understood that the agency is not taxpayer-funded and runs on its own revenue, people also "lowered their service level expectations."

People gave a thumbs up to the idea that the post office offer more products and services, like hunting and fishing licenses, or paying traffic tickets. But interestingly enough, none of them imagined themselves going to the post office to use any of those services.

That sentiment seemed to capture the conundrum facing the Postal Service. The agency is in a financial bind because fewer people are using its services to mail letters and pay bills.

The agency also continues to be hamstrung by a mandate to pay billions into a fund that will pay for the health care for future retirees.

So even though junk mail services are booming and people are starting to mail more package! s, the retiree mandate puts it in a bind.

In the most recent financial quarter, the Postal Service posted an operating profit of $765 million. But even a handsome profit isn't enough to pull the agency out from under the $5 billion payment owed to the retiree fund.

  No Saturday mail? USPS chief responds

The focus groups were conducted from August through November 2013 with people participating from 11 states.

U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Toni DeLancey said the agency was still evaluating the report and had no comment yet.

Jobless workers plead with Congress for help

Charece Peterson was among a group of unemployed workers who hit the halls of Congress to lobby for an extension of federal jobless benefits.

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) Charece Peterson is among dozens of jobless workers who knocked on the doors of members of Congress this week, pushing to reinstate unemployment insurance.

After her jobless benefits expired last month, Peterson said she's had to survive by selling winter coats to pay for food and transportation.

"I'm down to this last coat," she said, pointing to her pristine fluffy orange Michael Kors coat, a reminder of better times.

"I don't want to lose it," said Peterson, whose hometown of Philadelphia faced a record low temperature of 4 degrees this week.

Unemployed for the past year, Peterson is among 1.3 million who lost unemployment insurance benefits, starting Dec. 28.

Peterson, 37, and her fellow unemployed workers were on Capitol Hill this week to share with lawmakers their challenges with job searches and how federal unemployment benefits help them keep looking.

"It's tough to find a job when you don't have enough money to keep your cell phone on," said Peterson, who had a 15-year career at nursing homes and in-home health care companies, and is looking for similar jobs.

Organized by the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, an advocacy group, the workers met with Pennsylvania Republican Reps. Jim Gerlach, Lou Barletta, Charles Dent and Michael Fitzpatrick as well as Democratic Reps. Bob Brady, Allyson Schwartz and Chaka Fattah.

"We explained we needed the unemployment benefits to get our resumés together and to take transportation to get to job fairs," said Deborah Whiteside, 50, a nurse whose benefits ended last week.

Whiteside lost her job a year ago, after working 20 years. It's the first time she's been unemployed.

"And it's not just us. When I go to job fairs, there are usually 200 people in line for the same job," she told lawmakers.

Share your story: Have you lost benefits?

Jobless benefits have been front and center in Washington all week, as lawmakers debated whether to extend them.

The federal benefits first went into effect during the recession in June 2008. It was put in place to help unemployed workers who couldn't find jobs and whose state unemployment insurance had run out.

  Broad-based hiring in November

Back then, the jobless rate was 5.6%. It later climbed to more than 10% in 2009, and the government extended or expanded the federal benefits 11 times into the weak recovery, most recently in January 2013.

The stimulus era measure expired the week of December 28. Every week that passes, 72,000 unemployed workers, on average, exhaust state unemployment benefits and won't have federal benefits to turn to, according to the National Employment Law Project.

-- CNN's Ted Barrett contributed to this report.

38 Incredible Facts About the World’s Richest People

I want to be rich. So do you.

The trappings of wealth are spectacular. A resplendent mansion in the Hamptons. A ski chateau in Switzerland. Gulfstream jets to get you to and from. Ferraris and Bentleys awaiting you on either side.

To further whet your appetite, I've drawn up the following list of 38 incredible facts about rich people.

If you add up the net worth of every person on the planet, it equates to $135.5 trillion. On a per capita basis, that's roughly $19,000 per person, or roughly equivalent to the value of a used 2013 Honda Accord with 20,000 miles on it. All told, there are an estimated 13.8 million households in the world today that are worth at least $1 million. This equates to roughly 0.9% of the global population. So if you want to join the 1%, you'd better become a millionaire. The most popular country for millionaires to live in is the United States, with 5.8 million households that are worth at least $1 million. Japan comes in second with 1.5 million millionaire households. And China rounds out the top three, with 1.3 million. The country with the highest density of millionaires is Qatar, where 143 out of every 1,000 households had private wealth of at least $1 million. Switzerland is second, with 116 out of every 1,000 households. And Kuwait comes in a close third, with 115 out of every 1,000 households. By comparison, only 49 out of 1,000 households in the United States are worth at least $1 million. A little disappointed about that? Try this on for size: There are an estimated 3,016 households in the United States with more than $100 million in private financial wealth! The United Kingdom is second, with 1,001 "ultra-high-net-worth" households. And China is third, with 851 of these ridiculously rich households. The richest living person is Bill Gates, who, along with Paul Allen, founded Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) in 1975. According to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, Gates' total net worth is $77.8 billion, roughly a fifth of which is tied up in Microsoft stock. That's nearly six times the 2012 GDP of Iceland! On Valentine's Day alone, Gates' net worth increased an estimated $360 million. The second richest person is Carlos Slim, a Mexican business tycoon worth an estimated $68.4 billion. Third is Amancio Ortega, a Spaniard who owns 59% of the world's largest clothing retailer. He's said to be worth $61.6 billion. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  ) , who comes in fourth on the list with a private fortune of $59 billion. Virtually all of the Oracle of Omaha's wealth derives from his 20% stake in Berkshire Hathaway, a once-faltering textile company that he transformed into one of the greatest wealth-generating vehicles of all time. Meanwhile, two of the four Koch brothers are worth a combined $99.4 billion. Essentially all of the Koch brothers' wealth is tied up in Koch Industries, the second-largest private company in America, after only Cargill. And the four children of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT  ) , are worth an astounding $143.1 billion. Through Walton Enterprises, a private corporation established by Sam and his wife, Helen, the four Waltons own an astounding 49.75% of Wal-Mart's outstanding shares. These all might seem like a lot, and they are, but at the time of John D. Rockefeller's death in 1937, he was worth the equivalent of $340 billion in today's dollars. Henry Ford wasn't far behind, with an inflation-adjusted net worth of $199 billion at the time of his death in 1947. In terms of the global distribution of wealth, $43.3 trillion of the $135.5 trillion is based in North America. That equates to 32% of the total, even though only 5% of the population lives here. Western Europe is second, with $35.8 trillion in private wealth, or 26% of the total. And Asia, excluding Japan, is third, with $28 trillion in total private wealth, or 21% of the total. Japan, by the way, has a total of $17.2 trillion in private wealth. Going forward, this distribution is going to change considerably because developing countries are growing so much faster than developed countries like the United States, Great Britain, and Japan. Between now and 2017, private wealth in North America is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 2.1%. Thanks to some of the worst demographics in the world, Japan's will only increase at a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%. By comparison, the Asia-Pacific region (again, excluding Japan) is expected to see its aggregate private wealth rocket higher at a compound annual growth rate of 11.4%. If these predictions turn out to be true, Asia will surpass North America as the world's richest region by 2017.

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10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015

LONDON: We have a number of interim updates of various kinds coming from�FTSE 100� (FTSEINDICES: ^FTSE  ) �companies next week, with quite a few of them having their first quarters ending in March. And, after a good finish for many of them for 2012, investors will be keenly waiting to see how 2013 is shaping up.

Here are three companies from the U.K.'s top index that will be bringing us news next week:

BP
It's time for a first-quarter update from�BP� (LSE: BP  ) (NYSE: BP  ) next Tuesday and, after the firm's travails since the Gulf of Mexico disaster, many will be looking for signs that it's time to invest in the oil and gas giant's shares. I think the shares are cheap, and have had them in the�Fool's Beginners' Portfolio�since last August; but what do City analysts think?

There's a fairly strong consensus of a rise in earnings per share, (EPS) of about 40% for the year to December, which would put the shares, currently priced at 450p, on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of only around eight -- and there's a dividend yield of 5.3% forecast.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Yum! Brands Inc.(YUM)

YUM! Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a quick service restaurant company in the United States and internationally. It develops, operates, franchises, and licenses a system of restaurants, which prepare, package, and sell various food items, as well as operates Chinese casual dining concept restaurants. The company?s restaurants specialize in chicken, pizza, and Mexican-style food categories. It operates approximately 37,000 restaurants in 110 countries and territories under the KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell brands, as well as approximately 450 casual dining concept restaurants in China. The company was formerly known as TRICON Global Restaurants, Inc. and changed its name to YUM! Brands, Inc. in May 2002. YUM! Brands, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  A better bet might be looking at stocks of consumer-goods companies. As China has witnessed, greater investment has led to a rising middle class with more disposable income. A similar trend might follow in Africa, with stocks such as Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM  ) , whose KFC restaurants have been expanding their presence, and Diageo (NYSE: DEO  ) , which may still sell more Guinness in Nigeria than it does in Ireland. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT  ) also has a significant presence in Africa.

• [By Investing Insight]

  Yum Brands' (YUM) proclamation to increase its quarterly dividend by 10% to $37 cents a share represents the ninth successive increase since the time Yum embarked on this road back in FY2004. The recent hike, exactly a year after the prior rise, brings the dividend yield to 2.03%. In light of the above painted rosy picture it becomes critical to carefully scrutinize Yum's performance to try to reach a conclusion whether it is a good buy or not.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Tower Ltd (TWR.AX)

TOWER Limited provides life and general insurance products primarily in New Zealand. The company�s insurance products include boat, business, car, caravan, contents, corporate-commercial, disability, farm-lifestyle, funeral, house, income protection, jet ski, life, motorcycle, trauma, travel, truck, yacht, and fire insurance. It also offers savings and investment management services, including individually managed account services, retail and institutional fund management services, workplace superannuation schemes, and financial advisory services. In addition, the company provides general insurance services in the Pacific Islands. TOWER Limited was founded in 1869 and is based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2015: FutureFuel Corp. (FF)

FutureFuel Corp., through its subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical Company, engages in the manufacture and sale of specialty chemicals and bio-based products primarily in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Chemicals and Biofuels. The Chemicals segment provides custom chemical manufacturing services for specific customers, such as bleach activators for detergent and consumer products manufacturers; proprietary herbicide and intermediates for life sciences companies; agrochemicals; and industrial and consumer products, such as cosmetics and personal care products, ink colorants, adhesion promoters, polymer additives, polymer and specialty dyes, specialty polymers, photographic and imaging chemicals, and food additives. This segment also manufactures and sells a range of performance chemicals, including a family of polymer (nylon) modifiers and small-volume specialty chemicals for various applications; a family of acetal-based solvents, consisting of diethoxy methane, dimethoxymethane, dibutoxymethane, and glycerol formal; and phenol sulfonic acid that build on sulfonations technology. Its chemical products are used in various markets and end uses, including detergents, agrochemicals, automotive, photographic imaging, coatings, nutrition, and polymer additives. The Biofuels segment produces and sells biodiesel, as well as petrodiesel in blends with or without biodiesel. This segment also operates a granary in central Arkansas that involves in the purchase and sale of agricultural commodities, primarily soybeans, rice, and corn. This segment markets its biodiesel products by truck and rail directly to customers. FutureFuel Corp. was formerly known as Viceroy Acquisition Corporation and changed its name to FutureFuel Corp. in 2006. FutureFuel Corp. was incorporated in 2005 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  3. Focus on efficiency
  A combination of factors plays a role in efficiently producing biodiesel. FutureFuel (NYSE: FF  ) , which owns an annual capacity of 59 million gallons to complement its niche chemical business, relies heavily on location. The company's two biorefineries don't have a nationwide infrastructure to aid in getting product to the market and are dependent on rail and barge access. Despite the FutureFuel's amazing progress is improving its process -- annual capacity jumped from just 35 million gallons in 2011 to 59 million gallons today -- the company admits that its relatively small operations may cease to exist given changes in feedstock prices, government mandates, and tax credits. �

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Firan Technology G Com Npv (FTG.TO)

Firan Technology Group Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, supplies aerospace and defense electronic products and subsystems primarily in Canada, the United States, Asia, and Europe. It operates in two segments, FTG Aerospace and FTG Circuits. The FTG Aerospace segment manufactures illuminated cockpit panels, keyboards, bezels, and sub assemblies for original equipment manufacturers of aviation products and airframe manufacturers. This segment�s products are interactive devices that display information, and contain buttons and switches used to input signals into an avionics box or aircraft. The FTG Circuits segment manufactures printed circuit boards for the aviation, defense, and other technology industries. The company also provides prototype development and manufacturing services. Firan Technology Group Corporation sells its products through direct sales people and manufacturers� representatives. Firan Technology Group Corporation was formerly known as Circui t World Corporation and changed its name to Firan Technology Group Corporation in May 2004. Firan Technology Group Corporation was founded in 1983 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Vaaldiam Resources Inc (VAA.TO)

Vaaldiam Mining Inc., a junior mining company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The company primarily owns diamond and exploration properties in Brazil. It holds a 100% interest in the Bra煤na gold project located within the Rio Itapicuru Greenstone Belt area in Brazil; holds a 100% interest in the Catal茫o diamond project that comprises 3 kimberlite pipe-like deposits covering a surface area of 0.75 hectares located in the state of Goi谩s, Brazil; and owns various exploration properties in Canada that are available for joint venture or purchase. The company also owns a portfolio of royalty and equity investments. Its portfolio covers gold in Africa, Peru, and the United States; copper in Peru; diamonds in Brazil; and titanium, zircon, and rutile in Kenya. The company was formerly known as Tiomin Resources Inc. and changed its name to Vaaldiam Mining Inc. in March 2010. Vaaldiam Mining Inc. is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Southern Cross Exploration NL (SXX.AX)

Southern Cross Exploration NL is an Australia-based company engaged in the investment in the Bigrlyi Uranium Joint Venture, on which pre-development investigations and further drilling were carried out; exploration for gold and minerals, reviews of opportunities for participation in and/or acquisition of mineral exploration and mining ventures, and examination of projects in respect of different commodities, share investments, loans and other securities. The Bigrlyi project is located in the Ngalia Basin, northwest of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. The Company's interest in the Bigrlyi Uranium Joint Venture is one of its assets, in joint venture with two multi-billion dollar companies, CGNPC - via the Operator, Energy Metals Ltd (EME) - and Paladin Energy Ltd (PDN).

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Solarvest Bioenergy Inc (SVS.V)

Solarvest BioEnergy Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development of alternate energy. The company focuses on the development of sustainable and renewable energy sources. Its technology provides a controlled method for turning on and off genes in algae resulting in the continuous production of hydrogen gas. Solarvest BioEnergy Inc. is based in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Accretive Health Inc. (AH)

Accretive Health, Inc. provides revenue cycle management services for hospitals and healthcare providers in the United States. It offers integrated revenue cycle management services that help healthcare providers to manage their revenue cycles, which encompass patient registration, insurance and benefit verification, medical treatment documentation and coding, bill preparation, and collections; quality and total cost of care services, which enable healthcare providers to manage the health of a defined patient population by identifying those individuals who are most likely to experience an adverse health event; and physician advisory services. Accretive Health, Inc. serves multi-hospital systems, including faith-based or community healthcare systems, academic medical centers, independent ambulatory clinics, and physician practice groups. The company was formerly known as Healthcare Services, Inc. and changed its name to Accretive Health, Inc. in August 2009. Accretive Healt h, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Wednesday

  Earnings Expected From: Accretive Health, Inc (NYSE: AH), Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON), UniTek Global Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTK) Economic Releases Expected: Eurozone interest rate decision and PPI data, US National Employment Report, British construction PMI

  Thursday

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Accretive Health Inc. (NYSE: AH) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.

  Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) was downgraded to Hold from Buy based on valuation at Argus.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Grizzly Diamonds Ltd. (GZD.V)

Grizzly Discoveries Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for potash, gold and base metal deposits, and diamonds. It holds an interest in metallic and industrial mineral permits for potash totaling approximately 2.34 million acres along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border; has 4 precious-base metal properties in British Columbia totaling approximately 235,000 acres; and holds approximately 600,000 acres in diamond properties that host diamondiferous kimberlites in the Buffalo Head Hills and Birch Mountains of Alberta. The company was formerly known as Grizzly Diamonds Ltd. and changed its name to Grizzly Discoveries Inc. in January 2010. Grizzly Discoveries Inc. is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Pool Corporation (POOL)

Pool Corporation operates as a wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products in North America and Europe. The company offers approximately 100,000 national brand and Pool Corporation branded products. It sells maintenance products, such as chemicals, supplies, and pool accessories; repair and replacement parts for cleaners, filters, heaters, pumps, and lights; packaged pool kits, including walls, liners, braces, and coping for in-ground and above-ground pools; pool equipment and components for new pool construction and the remodeling of existing pools; and irrigation and landscape products, such as professional lawn care equipment. The company also offers complementary products, including building materials used for pool installations and remodeling, such as concrete, plumbing and electrical components, and pool surface and decking materials; and other discretionary recreational and related outdoor lifestyle products. Pool Corpora tion serves swimming pool remodelers and builders, retail swimming pool stores, swimming pool repair and service businesses, landscape construction and maintenance contractors, and golf courses. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Covington, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  When judging a company's prospects, how quickly it turns cash outflows into cash inflows can be just as important as how much profit it's booking in the accounting fantasy world we call "earnings." This is one of the first metrics I check when I'm hunting for the market's best stocks. Today, we'll see how it applies to Pool (Nasdaq: POOL  ) .

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Crimson Exploration Inc. (CXPO)

Crimson Exploration Inc., an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploitation, exploration, and development of natural gas and crude oil properties primarily in south, southeast, and east Texas; Colorado; Louisiana; and Mississippi. As of December 31, 2011, its estimated proved reserves comprised 200.4 billion cubic feet equivalent, consisting of 162.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas; and 6.3 million barrels of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids. The company was founded in 1987 and is based in Houston, Texas.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd (ORCL.NS)

Oracle Financial Services Software Limited is principally engaged in the business of providing information technology (IT) solutions and knowledge processing services to the financial services industry worldwide. The Company has a suite of banking products, which caters to the needs of corporate, retail, investment banking, treasury operations and data warehousing. The Company operates in three segments: Product licenses and related activities, IT solutions and consulting services, and Business Processing Services (BPO). Product licenses and related activities segment deals with various banking software products. IT solutions and consulting services segment offers services spanning the entire lifecycle of applications used by financial service institutions. The division�� portfolio includes Consulting, Application, Support and Technology Services. BPO Services consists of business process outsourcing services to the Lending, Collections, Customer Service and Capital Mark ets industry.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Highway Holdings Limited(HIHO)

Highway Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and supplies metal, plastic, electric, and electronic components, as well as subassemblies and finished products for original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers. The company?s products are used in the manufacture of various products, including photocopiers, laser printers, compact disc players, laser disc players, cassette players, computer equipment, electrical components, electrical connectors, cameras, automobile accessories, vacuum cleaners, light fixtures, electro motors, air pumps, automobiles, and dishwasher and other washing machine components. It also manufactures consumer products, such as cases for mobile phones; and assists its customers in the design and development of the tooling used in the metal and plastic manufacturing process, as well as provides other manufacturing and engineering services. In addition, Highway Holdings Limited provides manufacturing services, including me tal stamping, screen printing, plastic injection molding, and pad printing services, as well as electronic assembly services comprising chip on board assembly, IC-bonding, and SMT automatic components assembly of printed circuit boards. It offers its products and services primarily in Hong Kong and China, Europe, the United States, and other Asian countries. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: China Great Land Holdings Ltd. (D50.SI)

China Great Land Holdings Ltd., an investment holding company, engages in the manufacture and sale of pre-stressed high strength concrete (PHC) piles, as well as the provision of piling services for construction projects in the People�s Republic of China. Its PHC piles are used in industrial and civil construction primarily in the areas with soft soil near water regions. The company also manufactures and sells aerated concrete, a building material for walls and partitions. It principally serves property developers and government bodies. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Singapore.

10 Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2015: Total S.a. Ord Eur 10(TTA.L)

TOTAL S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated oil and gas company worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemicals. The Upstream segment engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas, liquefied natural gas, and electricity; and shipping and trading liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as well as power generation from renewable energies, and coal production, trading, and marketing. As of December 31, 2011, it had combined proved reserves of 11,423 million barrels of oil equivalent of oil and gas. The Downstream segment is involved in refining, marketing, trading, and shipping crude oil and petroleum products. This segment also produces and markets a range of specialty products, such as lubricants, LPG, jet fuel, special fluids, heavy fuel, bitumen, marine fuels, and petrochemical feedstock. This segment holds interests in 20 refineries located in Europe, the United States, the French West Indie s, Africa, and China, as well as operates a network of 14,819 service stations. The Chemicals segment produces base chemicals, including petrochemicals and fertilizers; and specialty chemicals, such as elastomer processing, adhesives, and electroplating chemistry. This segment serves the automotive, construction, electronics, aerospace, and convenience goods markets. TOTAL S.A. was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

Think twice before accepting that airline apology

If you've experienced a recent flight delay or service disruption, then you probably know that for better or worse, no one says "I'm sorry" like an airline.

A well-crafted apology is often just the beginning. Gift cards, credits and loyalty points — lots of loyalty points — frequently follow. And the mea culpas appear to work. Most passengers accept them and move on.

Well, maybe they shouldn't.

A closer look at the airline industry's "sorries" suggests they sometimes lack sincerity and show a remarkable unwillingness to fix the problem that caused the complaint in the first place. In other words, it's more like hush money than an apology.

Airline apology innovations may not sound like big news, but they are. Take the form letter, for example. A few years ago, these e-mails were riddled with typos and grammatical errors. But almost overnight, they began to look almost literary. Sure enough, one airline vice president admitted to me that his company had hired English majors to write the letters. Brilliant.

Gift cards are also parceled out when things go wrong. If you experience "less than exceptional" service on Delta Air Lines, it sometimes offers certificates that can be used at Avis, Carnival and Lowe's. El Al gives aggrieved customers the choice of a gift card for dinner at a kosher restaurant, gift baskets, frequent-flier points or duty-free vouchers.

The most customer-focused companies don't wait for the complaint; they e-mail the apology and deposit the miles into your account before you can make a phone call.

But do customers really want that stuff? Sure, but that's not all. When Mitch Robertson, a professor from O'Fallon, Ill., complained about an unpleasant Southwest Airlines flight, it responded swiftly by crediting him with 12,180 points, the value of his one-way fare. It also sent a personal response saying it was "truly sorry" for the incident.

Robertson liked Southwest's answer because it was quick, personal and addressed each issue he'd br! ought up in his complaint.

"Southwest admitted that there were mistakes, didn't make excuses and offered sincere and profound apologies," he says.

That contrasts sharply with the "apology" Jane Coloccia says she received after flying in first class from St. Maarten to Newark on United Airlines. "The second we took off, the flight attendant made an announcement that the left hand of the first-class section had no audio or video entertainment, and he just handed out these pre-printed apology cards with a tracking number on them," remembers Coloccia, a communications consultant from New York. "We had to go online and fill in that tracking number, and I just got this e-mail back giving me 2,000 miles in my account."

To her, the apology seemed half-hearted. United must have known its entertainment system wasn't working, but instead of fixing it, it parceled out coupons, she says. What's more, her 2,000-mile credit wouldn't even buy a decent bouquet of flowers.

Because I'm a consumer advocate, airlines often say they're sorry to me. Whenever two legacy airlines merge, it's usually followed by something I like to call the Apology Tour, when I'm summoned to executive offices, and they apologize for the ridiculous number of customer service complaints generated in the last year.

Experts say we shouldn't be overly impressed with the volume or the creativity of the airline industry's apologies. Advice columnist April Masini calls the increase in mea culpas "apology inflation" and says it's turned "I'm sorry" into two "cheap and tawdry" words.

Apology critic Jennifer Thomas, co-author of When Sorry Isn't Enough: Making Things Right with Those You Love, says airlines fail to take responsibility, repent or ask for forgiveness. "Customers know talk is cheap," she says.

Flexibility on both sides may be in order. On the one hand, "too much indignation or entitlement on the part of the travelers will drive a one-size-fits-all corporate response that ends up doing the truly mi! streated ! a disservice," says psychologist and relationships expert Guy Grenier.

On the other, airlines should read responses they get to apologies, especially canned regrets. When Sean Ryan complained to JetBlue that its reply was insincere, the commercial real estate agent from Yorba Linda, Calif., was surprised to find a quick offer of a $150 credit, and a sincere apology for being so insincere.

"That's an improvement," says Ryan. Without a doubt.

Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate and editor at large for National Geographic Traveler. Contact him at chris@elliott.org or visit elliott.org.

How the Up-and-Coming Wealthy Choose Advisors

A new survey of individuals on the fast track to wealth has found that 74% of respondents chose a new wealth manager on the basis of the firm’s reputation for quality of products and services, and 64% looked to the costs associated with those products and services.

Advisors wanting to attract these affluent people as clients need to understand that their character and fees are critical factors in the minds of affluent people when evaluating potential relationships, SEI, Scorpio Partnership and NPG Wealth Management said Wednesday in a statement on the release of the latest study in their ongoing Futurewealth Project.

The study surveyed 3,025 respondents globally with an average $2.9 million in net worth.

The survey revealed that up-and-coming wealthy individuals sought introductions and investigated potential wealth managers in a variety of ways.

Twenty-two percent of respondents asked for advice from friends or family before making a selection, while 15% researched the advisor market on their own.

The results also pointed to changing circumstances as a significant driver for why the Futurewealthy looked for new wealth management relationships.

Thirty percent said they wanted to diversify assets, 21% were in the market for a home and 20% wanted a promotion or a change in career.

The study found that the Futurewealthy typically work with three or four firms for advice regarding their personal investments. On average, 51% of respondents entrusted half of their investable wealth to a primary advisor.

At the same time, only 31% believed their primary wealth advisor had a solid understanding of their total financial picture.

“This study shows that the Futurewealthy are constantly searching for a more valued relationship and are open to the idea of switching primary advisors in order to attain it,” Kevin Crowe, head of solutions for SEI Advisor Network, said in the statement.

“That creates a strong opportunity for advisors to foster a personal connection with these wealthy individuals by getting to know them and their entire financial picture. Advisors who understand what it takes to capture the attention of the Futurewealthy are the ones who will successfully attract and engage long-lasting relationships.”

Although respondents reported that reputation and cost were the top factors in choosing a wealth manager, 17% said performance was the chief factor for deciding to stay with their primary wealth advisor.

Fifteen percent said they stayed because the advisor’s solutions and services met their needs, and 13% said they were happy with the advice provided.

These 5 Cheap Stocks Are Down 25% Or More In 2014 - Time to Buy?

As good as 2013 was, 2014 has gotten off to a horrible start for stock investors. Through Tuesday, the S&P 500 was down 5% for the year.

Unfortunately for Magic Formula® investors, several of the screen's stocks have been pummeled early this year. I count at least 8 stocks down 20% or more so far in 2014, and an additional 4 that are down over 15%.

Remember, these were already quantitatively "cheap" stocks, so an additional 20% or more decline could set up a very enticing valuation for value investors. But we need to figure out if these dramatic declines are warranted by the facts, or driven more by irrational fear and panic.

Let's take a look at the 5 MFI stocks that have fallen 25% or more this year and quickly review the circumstances surrounding them.

United Online (UNTD) - down 27.5%

Much of United Online's appeal was due to its over 4% dividend yield, but the company announced in late January that it would be discontinuing its dividend to focus on growth initiatives. This follows itsNovember spin-off of FTD, which leaves United with 3 cash producing but declining businesses: Classmates.com, NetZero, and Juno. NetZero Mobile Broadband is an interesting product but one with a lot of competition from the carriers. Frankly, the dividend has been the main attraction for some time, and without it this is a declining company with a fair bit of debt. That does not make for the most attractive option. PASS.

Performant Financial (PFMT) - down 28.1%

Performant earns fees for collecting delinquent student loans (about 60% of the business) and providing recovery services for improper Medicare payments (close to 30%). The recent sell-off in the stock seems due to comments from Sallie Mae regarding lower rehabilitation fees paid to Guarantee Agencies, which investors expect to "trickle down" to service providers like PFMT. The stock has been sold off dramatically on these assumptions. We should know more when the company reports earnings in the coming weeks, but this is one worth looking at more closely - the firm has been growing revenue at 30%+ rates. WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.

GameStop (GME) - down 31.1%

Short sellers have been mouthing off about GameStop since at least 2008, and all the stock did was go up - all the way to a high of over $55 back in October. So forgive me if I'm not sold on digital distribution and smartphone gaming "killing" the company just yet! There were 2 catalysts for the recent drop. One, the stock was probably overvalued in the $50's, considering its less-than-stellar growth prospects. Two, the firmreported a 22.5% drop in new software sales during the holidays. That's not great, but console transitions have historically caused disruptions in software sales. In the meantime, GameStop continues to buy back large amounts of shares and the dividend yield is now over 3%. WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.

Neustar (NSR) - down 31.3%

We've written about Neustar recently, with a positive opinion of the company. However, I also commented that the number portability contract renewal was a key risk. That risk looks even more acute considering the firm's comments about a second proposal being rejected by NAPM. It is rather mind-boggling that management would goof on such an important piece of business - it is well over half of the company's revenue. But a Neustar without that contract is an entirely different company altogether, and the risks are too large now. PASS.

Nu Skin (NUS) - down 43.1%

The Magic Formula's biggest winner of 2013 has so far been its biggest loser of 2014. There are few groups of stocks more manipulated and volatile than the multi-level marketing firms, and this year's fear is China cracking down on the MLM business model. The People's Daily paper in China accused Nu Skin of being an illegal pyramid scheme in January, which was followed by the announcement of a government probe. This is quite important as China now represents half of the company's revenue, and grew 4-fold in the most recent quarter! Frankly, I'm less focused on the probe than the valuation... Nu Skin isn't really that cheap anyway, even after a 40% drop! PASS.

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Warren Buffett Portfolio	Ben Graham Net-Net
Real Time Picks	Buffett-Munger Screener
Aggregated Portfolio	Undervalued Predictable
ETFs, Options	Low P/S Companies
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Is Hewlett-Packard a Solid Investment?

With shares of Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) trading around $28, is HPQ an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Hewlett-Packard provides products, technologies, software, solutions, and services to individual consumers, small and medium businesses, and large enterprises worldwide. The company offers commercial notebooks and desktops, consumer notebooks, desktops, software, and services for the commercial and consumer markets. The services segment provides consulting, outsourcing, and technology services to infrastructure, applications, and business process domains. The diverse technological products and services offered by Hewlett-Packard make it a leading provider that sees increased demand through global expansion.

Hewlett-Packard has released documentation proving that the British software company Autonomy, which HP acquired for $11 billion back in 2011, committed fraud in advance of the acquisition, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. HP has accused Autonomy of overstating its revenue and other financial information, but this documentation is the first proof HP has shown to back up its claims. According to a filing with a UK regulator seen by the Journal, an internal audit of Autonomy's financials performed by HP found that the company's revenue for 2010 was overstated by 54 percent. Operating profit was overstated by 81 percent. Autonomy was found to have recorded revenue for deals that were never paid for and claimed false transactions for customers that do not exist. The audit found similar overstatements in Autonomy's financials for 2011.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

Hewlett-Packard stock has performed well over the past couple of months. However, the stock is currently trading sideways and may need time to consolidate before heading higher. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Hewlett-Packard is trading above its rising key averages which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Hewlett-Packard options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Hewlett-Packard options	44.04%	90%	88%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very significant amount of call and put options contracts, as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
March Options	Flat	Average
April Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Decreasing Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Hewlett-Packard’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Hewlett-Packard look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	-120.93%	-14.00%	-31.45%	-13.70%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	-2.77%	-8.23%	-10.14%	-5.58%
Earnings Reaction	9.04%	-12.45%	17.09%	12.28%

Hewlett-Packard has seen decreasing earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have had conflicting feelings about Hewlett-Packard’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Excellent Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Hewlett-Packard stock done relative to its peers, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), IBM (NASDAQ:IBM), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), and sector?

	Hewlett-Packard	Microsoft	IBM	Apple	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	0.21%	-3.98%	-6.94%	-8.35%	-3.76%

Hewlett-Packard has been a relative performance leader, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Hewlett-Packard is a software and technology bellwether that provides essential products and services to consumers and companies worldwide. The company has released documentation proving that the British software company Autonomy, committed fraud in advance of the acquisition, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The stock has been moving higher in recent months, but is currently trading sideways. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been declining, which has produced conflicting feelings among investors. Relative to its peers and sector, Hewlett-Packard has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Hewlett-Packard to continue OUTPERFORM.