December existing home sales rose 1% from November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.87 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.
That was below analyst expectations of 4.9 million and marked the second month in a row that sales posted a year-over-year drop. December sales were down 0.6% from a year ago, NAR says.
November's rate was also revised down to 4.82 million.
For all of 2013, sales were 5.09 million, up 9% from 2012, the strongest showing since 2006.
"We lost some momentum toward the end of 2013 from disappointing job growth and limited inventory," says Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. Still, he says the year ended at a pace close to normal given the size of the population.
Top 10 Oil Service Stocks To Buy For 2015: Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE)
Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Energy Select Sector of the S&P 500 Index (the Index). The Index includes companies that primarily develop and produce crude oil and natural gas, and provide drilling and other energy-related services.
The Fund utilizes a passive or indexing investment approach to invest in a portfolio of stocks that seek to replicate the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is SSgA Funds Management, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Stephen Leeb]
The bellwether S&P Energy Select Sector (XLE), has done very well so far this year, keeping pace with the overall market's push upwards; XLE remains a buy.
Top 10 US Stocks To Own Right Now: AutoZone Inc.(AZO)
AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company?s stores offer various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its automotive hard parts product line includes A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, belts and hoses, carburetors, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition, lighting, mufflers, starters and alternators, water pumps, radiators, and thermostats. The company?s maintenance items include antifreeze and windshield washer fluid; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; chemicals, including brake and power; steering fluid, oil, and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paint and accessories; refrigerant and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wiper s. Its discretionary product line comprises air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products. The company also offers commercial sales program that provides the delivery of parts and other products to local, regional, and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. In addition, it sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software through the Website, alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through the Website, autozone.com. As of May 7, 2011, the company operated 4,467 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and 261 stores in Mexico. AutoZone, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Top Headline
AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) reported a gain in its fiscal second-quarter profit. AutoZone's quarterly profit surged to $192.8 million, or $5.63 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $176.2 million, or $4.78 per share. Its net sales rose to $1.99 billion versus $1.86 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $5.57 per share on sales of $1.98 billion. AutoZone's US same-store sales jumped 4.3% in the quarter. - [By P.I.A.]
AutoZone (AZO) announced earnings on Wednesday, Sept. 25, beating estimates and reporting $10.42 per share. It is clear in listening to the conference call that the auto parts specialty retailer is a competitive operation. However, some are not currently as enthusiastic and O��eilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) has been outperforming.
Top 10 US Stocks To Own Right Now: Astrotech Corporation(ASTC)
Astrotech Corporation operates as a commercial aerospace company in the United States. The company provides spacecraft payload processing and related services; designs and manufactures space hardware; and commercializes space technologies for use on the earth. It also offers satellite launch processing support to government and commercial customers for their communication, earth observation, and deep space satellites. The company?s processing activities consist of satellite ground transportation; pre-launch hardware integration and testing; satellite encapsulation, fueling, launch pad delivery; and communication linked launch control, as well as engineering services. In addition, it develops Miniature Chemical Detector, a chemical analyzer for use on international space station, as well as detects residues and vapors from a range of chemicals, including explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic chemicals, and volatile organic compounds. The company serves the United Stat es Government and commercial satellite and spacecraft customers. Astrotech Corporation was founded in 1984 is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Astrotech (ASTC) operates as a commercial aerospace company in the U.S. This stock closed up 7.2% to $3.26 a share in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $3.02-$3.31
52-Week Range: $0.61-$4.05
Thursday's Volume: 295,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 570,805From a technical perspective, ASTC spiked sharply higher here right above some near-term support at $2.96 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last four months, with shares moving higher from its low of 63 cents per share to its recent high of $4.05. During that uptrend, shares of ASTC have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This spike on Thursday is now starting to push shares of ASTC within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if ASTC manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.50 to $3.75 and then once it takes out its 52-week high at $4.05 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ASTC as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $2.66 or above more near-term support at $2.62 and then once it sustain a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 570,805 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ASTC will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets of that breakout are $5 to $5.50.
- [By Quick Pen]
American aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin (LMT) recently announced its plans of acquiring the satellite wing of Astrotech Corp. (ASTC), Astrotech Space Operations. Lockheed expects to close the deal by the third quarter of the current year. After the deal closes, Astrotech Space Operations would become the wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin and would operate under the company�� Space Systems business segment.
Top 10 US Stocks To Own Right Now: McEwen Mining Inc (MUX)
McEwen Mining Inc. (McEwen Mining), formerly US Gold Corporation, is engaged in the exploration for and production of precious metals in the United States, Mexico and Argentina. McEwen Mining�� operating segments include USA and Mexico. The Company holds an interest in numerous exploration and development stage properties and projects in Nevada, Mexico and Argentina, as well as a 49% equity interest in the gold-silver San Jose Mine in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. The Company holds interests in approximately 1,631 square miles of mineral concessions in west central Mexico. Its primary property in Mexico is the El Gallo Complex, located in Sinaloa state on the Sierra Madre Trend, a geological area of gold and silver mineralization. The Company holds interests in approximately 254 square miles in Nevada, United States. The Company�� Nevada properties, including its interests in the Gold Bar Project and Tonkin Complex, are located along the Cortez Trend, in north central Nevada. It also owns property, including the Limo Project, on the southern end of the Carlin Trend. On January 24, 2012, it acquired of Minera Andes Inc. (Minera Andes).
On January 24, 2012, the Company acquired a 49% interest in Minera Santa Cruz SA, owner of the San Jose Silver-Gold Mine in Santa Cruz, Argentina; a 100% interest in the Los Azules Copper Deposit in San Juan, Argentina, and a portfolio of exploration properties in Santa Cruz, Argentina. The San Jose Mine is operated by the majority owner of the joint venture, Hochschild Mining plc (Hochschild). The Company holds mineral rights and applications for mineral rights covering approximately 944 square miles in Argentina.
Tonkin Complex
The Tonkin Complex is divided functionally into five areas: the Mine Corridor, Tonkin North, Patty, Keystone and Tweed. The Tonkin Complex represents its holding in the State of Nevada at approximately 93 square miles (241 square kilometers). The Tonkin Complex is located on the Cortez Trend. During ! the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company drilled one hole, and 2,190 feet reverse circulation drilling. The Tonkin Complex also includes the Patty Project. On October 18, 2011, Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. (Barrick), the former holder of a majority of the project and operator, entered into a joint venture agreement with Rye Patch Gold U.S. Inc. (Rye Patch) under which Rye Patch has the right to acquire a 60% undivided interest in the Patty Project. As of December 31, 2011, it held a non-operating minority interest (12%). The Patty Project is a property (approximately 18.1 square miles) located in the northeast portion of the Tonkin Complex and consists of 544 unpatented mining claims. The 372 claims (included in the 1,478 under US Gold's Historic Tonkin Property) covering the area of the property, Tonkin North were previously owned by unaffiliated parties and held by the Company under a lease agreement. The lease expired on January 1, 2011. In July 2011, it acquired these claims. The Company held an interest of in 106 claims (included in the 156 under Cornerstone) in the Cornerstone property. On July 19, 2011, it acquired the Tonkin North and Cornerstone claims.
Gold Bar Complex
The Gold Bar Complex is located south of the Tonkin Complex on the continuation of the Cortez Trend. In November 2011, the Company announced the completion of a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) by SRK Consulting for the Gold Bar Project. Exploration drilling at the Gold Bar Complex in 2011 totaled approximately 7,245 feet (2,208 meters) in 41 reverse circulation drill holes that were focused on extensions to the Gold Pick-Gold Ridge and Cabin Creek mineralization, as well as targets found by geologic mapping and sampling.
The Gold Pick-Gold Ridge area occurs on the Battle Mountain-Eureka mineral belt in a window of lower-plate carbonate rocks surrounded by upper-plate rocks. The lower-plate carbonates at Gold Pick-Gold Ridge consist of an east-dipping section of Silurian Lone Mountain Do! lomite, D! evonian McColley Canyon Formation, Devonian Denay Formation, and Devonian Devils Gate Limestone. Northwest-trending and northeast-trending structures cut the area; the Gold Pick mineralization is localized in an apparent northwest-trending horst of McColley Canyon Formation, which is cut by a series of northeast-trending structures.
Limo Property
The Limo Property is located in east-central Nevada. The Limo Property position totals approximately 44.5 square miles (115 square kilometers). Gold mineralization has been identified in numerous places along the 15 mile (24 kilometers) length of the property. Exploration drilling at the Limo Property in 2011 totaled approximately 59,157 ft. (18,031 meters) in 10 diamond drill core holes and 70 reverse circulation drill holes. The drilling was focused on two targets, Cadillac and Continental, outside the existing mineralization. The mineral interests controlled by the Company at the Limo property consist of 1,392 contiguous claims that cover approximately 44.5 square miles (115 square kilometers), plus 15 claims (for a total of 1,407) near the southern boundary of the property that were acquired through a lease in August 2011. Its land package extends for about 15 miles (24 kilometers), and covers the western side of the southern Cherry Creek Range.
Battle Mountain Complex
The Battle Mountain Complex is located within Humboldt and Lander Counties in the valleys and on the flanks of the mountains surrounding Battle Mountain on the Cortez Trend north of our Tonkin complex. Battle Mountain, Nevada. In 2011, exploration drilling in the Battle Mountain Complex totaled 2,205 feet (672 meters). Work during 2011, also included geologic mapping, soil and rock sampling. Results of this work identified two target areas, Medea and Lucky Strike, on its BMX property. Three holes were drilled on the Medea prospect during 2011.
Other United States Properties
The Company acquired additional mineral! properti! es in Nevada. The mineral properties included in the acquisition of Tone (Roberts Creek, Kobeh, Gold Bar North, South Keystone, Big Antelope Springs, Red Ridge, Fish Creek and Kent Springs) are generally subject to a 1% net smelter return royalty interest in favor of KM Exploration Ltd. Certain properties (Roberts Creek, Kobeh, Gold Bar North, South Keystone and Big Antelope Springs) are also subject to earn-in rights in favor of Teck Cominco American Incorporated (Teck).
Alaska
On July 1, 2011, its Company and Select Resources Corporation, Inc. (Select) signed a four-year Exploration Lease and Purchase Option Definitive Agreement (the Definitive Agreement) with respect to the Richardson Mineral Project (Richardson) in the Tintina Gold Belt of Alaska. Under the terms of the Definitive Agreement, it acquired an exploration lease for the Richardson project, and an exclusive option to purchase a 60% interest in the project and enter into a joint venture with Select. The Richardson project is located 70 miles (115 kilometers) southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, and covers an area of approximately 52 square miles (136 square kilometers). Extensive field sampling and mapping, airborne geophysics, and three core holes were completed in 2011. Drilling at the Richardson Project in Alaska during 2011, included three holes and 2, 863 feet core drilling.
Mexican Properties
The Company has a property in Mexico, called the El Gallo Complex, which includes the El Gallo, Magistral, and Palmarito deposits in Sinaloa state. The Company control mineral concessions of approximately 1,631 square miles (4,224 square kilometers) located in the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Nayarit. It holds its interests through ownership of Pangea Resources Inc., which in turn holds 100% ownership of Compania Minera Pangea S.A. de C.V. (Minera Pangea). The El Gallo Complex is located in Sinaloa state, northwestern Mexico in Mocorito Municipality. The El Gallo Complex is being developed in tw! o phases.! The El Gallo Project lies within two of its controlled concessions, Rocio Fraccion A and Pangea. These concessions have an area of 86,764 acres and 3,946 acres respectively. It controls the properties immediately surrounding El Gallo. Exploration work completed in 2011 at El Gallo consisted of core and conventional rotary drilling. The mineralization at the Magistral Mine Property is classified as a low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver mineral system. During 2011, 203 core holes were drilled for a total of 88,891 feet (26,088 meters).
Other Exploration Areas
During 2011, it drill-tested a number of prospective exploration targets throughout the El Gallo district, which resulted in the discovery of four new veins. Three veins, Los Mautos, Mina Grande, and Haciendita were all located six miles (10 kilometers) north of El Gallo, and the fourth vein, San Dimas, is located 6 miles (10 kilometers) south of El Gallo.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Wednesday, basic materials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.27 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in energy sector included Endeavour Silver (NYSE: EXK), with shares up 4.3 percent, and McEwen Mining (NYSE: MUX), with shares up 4.4 percent.
Top 10 US Stocks To Own Right Now: Walter Bau AG (WTB)
Walter Bau AG is an international construction group based in Augsburg, southern Germany. The Company's core construction-related services are planning, financing, project development and facilities management. It is active in the fields of turnkey construction, civil engineering, international construction and transportation infrastructure. Its subsidiary, DYWIDAG-Systems International markets the Company's products and systems worldwide, particularly in the field of post-tensioning and geotechnics, as well as special civil engineering processes. Walter Bau also provides operation and financing solutions, as well as developing commercial and residential real estate projects. Facilities Management is offered by DYWIDAG Service GmbH. Its Logistics Competence Center in Augsburg bundles the Company's Germany-wide activities as a general contractor in the planning, construction and support of distribution centers. The Company commenced insolvency proceedings in April 2005. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Namitha Jagadeesh]
BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group, the world�� biggest mining companies, fell at least 3 percent. Whitbread Plc (WTB) dropped 2.8 percent after UBS AG downgraded the owner of the Costa Coffee chain. British Land Co., the U.K.�� second-largest real estate investment trust, advanced 1.2 percent after saying it bought commercial property in London for 470 million pounds ($707 million).
- [By Sofia Horta e Costa]
Whitbread Plc (WTB) added 4.1 percent to 3,114 pence, its largest advance since September 2012. Oriel Securities Ltd. raised its rating on the shares to buy from hold, citing improvement in the U.K. hotel market.
Top 10 US Stocks To Own Right Now: RBC Bearings Incorporated(ROLL)
RBC Bearings Incorporated manufactures and markets engineered precision plain, roller, and ball bearings primarily in North America, Europe, and Latin America. It operates in four segments: Plain Bearings, Roller Bearings, Ball Bearings, and Others. The Plain Bearings segment produces plain bearings with self-lubricating or metal-to-metal designs, including rod end bearings, spherical plain bearings, and journal bearings that are primarily used to rectify misalignments in various mechanical components. The Roller Bearings segment provides tapered roller bearings, needle roller bearings, and needle bearing track rollers and cam followers, which are anti-friction products that utilize cylindrical rolling elements. The Ball Bearings segment specializes in high precision aerospace, airframe control, thin section, and industrial ball bearings that utilize high precision ball elements to reduce friction in high speed applications. The Other segment consists of precision mechanic al components, which are used in various general industrial applications; and machine tool collets that are used for holding circular or rod-like pieces in a lathe or other machine. It serves construction and mining, oil and natural resource extraction, heavy truck, packaging, and semiconductor machinery; and aerospace and defense markets. The company offers its products through direct sales force and a network of industrial and aerospace distributors. RBC Bearings Incorporated is headquartered in Oxford, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Stephen Simpson, CFA]
This is a logical deal for SKF on multiple fronts. For starters, Kaydon will meaningfully expand the company's U.S. presence - something it could have done on its own eventually, but certainly not without spending money. With that, there is the possibility of using Kaydon's existing U.S. footprint to sell more SKF products and further trouble rivals like RBC Bearings (ROLL) and ITT (ITT).
Top 10 US Stocks To Own Right Now: Daktronics Inc.(DAKT)
Daktronics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells various electronic display systems and related products, as well as provides related maintenance and professional services worldwide. The company offers scoring and timing products, such as indoor and outdoor scoreboards, digit displays, scoring and timing controllers, statistics software, and other related products; timing systems for sports events, primarily aquatics and track competitions; and audio systems integrated into a solution that include scoring, timing, message display, and/or video capability for sports venues, as well as related control systems. It also provides automated rigging and hoist products, which comprise of arena center-hung scoreboard/display systems for small and large sporting facilities; automated rigging for theatre applications, including high schools; and video display systems, such as displays to show various levels of video, graphics, and animation, as well as controllers to manage the operation of the display. In addition, the company provides architectural lighting and display products, which include freeform video elements; message display systems for commercial applications; digital billboards that offer digital display solutions for the outdoor advertising industry; Visiconn system, a primary software application for controlling content and playback loops for digital billboard applications; and digit and price displays consisting of outdoor time and temperature displays, as well as Fuelight digit displays designed for the petroleum industry. Further, it offers transportation products comprising various light emitting diodes-based displays for road management, parking, mass transit, and aviation applications; and rents its display equipment. The company sells its products through its direct sales force, as well as through resellers. Daktronics, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is based in Brookings, South Dakota.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
On Wednesday, Daktronics (NASDAQ: DAKT ) will release its latest quarterly results. But can the company that's famous for helping professional sports keep score fare well enough to make investors the ultimate winners?
- [By John Udovich]
Small cap flat panel display stock�Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ: OLED) was hit by bearish news in late November and the trend lines on its technical�charts appear to be confused as to what direction the stock will head, meaning its probably time to take a closer look at the situation along with the stock�� performance verses that of flat panel display peers like large cap Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW)�and small cap players like Daktronics, Inc (NASDAQ: DAKT) and SGOCO Group Ltd (NASDAQ: SGOC)
- [By John Udovich]
On Tuesday, large cap�LCD glass maker�Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) began surging some 20% in after hours trading after announcing that it will take over an existing joint venture (Samsung Corning Precision Materials) with Samsung���meaning it might be worth taking a closer look at some small cap peers like Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ: OLED), Daktronics, Inc (NASDAQ: DAKT) and SGOCO Group Ltd (NASDAQ: SGOC) who also have a piece of the LCD glass or related flat panel display action. Specifically, the deal involves a series of transactions to�give Corning Incorporated full ownership of Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. (SCP), which manufactures LCD glass in Korea and it should be noted that Corning already relies on sales of LCD-TV glass for the bulk of its profit. In addition, Corning Incorporated���board of directors has authorized an additional $2 billion of share repurchases through Dec. 31, 2015, dependent upon the transaction closing. Wendell P. Weeks, the chairman, CEO and president of Corning Incorporated was quoted in the press release announcing the deal as saying:
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