U.S. stocks recorded another day of gains -- that's now seven up days over the past eight sessions -- as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) rose 0.25% and 0.14%. That pushed the S&P 500 up to another all-time high closing price.
Consistent with those gains, the VIX (VOLATILITYINDICES: ^VIX ) , Wall Street's fear gauge, rose today by 1%, to close at 13.71. (The VIX is calculated from S&P 500 option prices and reflects investor expectations for stock market volatility over the coming 30 days.)
Apple is back on top
As the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting got under way today, technology stocks led the broad market -- by a wide margin -- as the S&P 500's information technology sector increased 1.2%. (The runner-up, telecommunication services, managed only a 0.4% return.) Information technology was also the best-performing sector yesterday. The largest driver of those gains were shares of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) , which were up 2.9% today, for a 6.1% return on the week thus far. That two-day return has added $32.3 billion to the company's market capitalization, enough to wrest the title of most valuable company in the world back from ExxonMobil.
Top 10 Mid Cap Companies To Watch For 2015: Adept Technology Inc.(ADEP)
Adept Technology, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides intelligent robotics systems and services for packaging, solar, medical, disk drive/electronics, machine tool automation, and automotive electronics markets. Its product range includes application software, integrated real-time vision and multi-axis motion controls, machine vision systems and software, autonomous navigation software and controls, industrial robots and grippers, autonomous service robots, intelligent automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and advanced vision-based flexible parts feeders. The company offers 4-axis Cobra family of robots, which are designed for assembly and material handling tasks; Adept Quattro parallel robots for high-speed packaging, assembly, and loading/unloading applications; Adept Viper 6-axis articulated robots for high-speed precision assembly; Modular Adept Python single axis robot mechanisms; and mobile robots, including autonomous service robots and intelligent AGVs. It a lso provides support services to customers, including spare parts for and/or remanufacture of robot mechanisms; information regarding the use of its automation equipment; ongoing support for installed systems; consulting services for applications; and training courses ranging from system operation and maintenance to programming for manufacturing engineers, who design and implement automation lines. The company markets its products through its direct sales force, as well as through systems integrators, sales representatives, distributors, and original equipment manufacturers primarily in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Adept Technology, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Small cap robotic stock Adept Technology (NASDAQ: ADEP) has put in a very good performance this month verses its immediate peer�iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT) as well as against medical robotic stocks like MAKO Surgical (NASDAQ: MAKO), Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) and Hansen Medical, Inc (NASDAQ: HNSN). I should also mention that we have recently added Adept Technology to our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio (we are up 9% since last week) because we feel robotics is an improving sector as companies aim to reduce overhead and improve efficiencies through machine to machine (M2M) automation.
- [By GuruFocus]
George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated
Hot Information Technology Stocks For 2014: SemiLEDS Corporation(LEDS)
SemiLEDs Corporation engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of light emitting diode (LED) chips and LED components. Its products are used primarily for general lighting applications, including street lights and commercial, industrial, and residential lighting, as well as in backlighting, medical, automotive, and ultra violet (UV) applications. The company markets blue, green, and UV LED chips under the MvpLED brand name primarily to customers in China and Taiwan, as well as in Russia and North America. It sells LED chips to packagers and distributors, who in turn sell to packaging customers. SemiLEDs Corporation was founded in 2005 and is based in Miao-Li County, Taiwan.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Just a week earlier SemiLEDS Corp. (NASDAQ: LEDS) said that it had received a delisting notice from Nasdaq for failing to maintain a share price of at least $1 a share. The company also faced several class action lawsuits as earnings tanked after a dramatic run-up in April. Shares rose nearly 15% after Revolution�� October announcement.
- [By Victor Selva]
On Nov. 21, Robert Karr bought Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO), a company that designs, manufactures and markets equipment to make light emitting diodes (LEDs), solar panels, hard-disk drives and other devices.
Hot Information Technology Stocks For 2014: Skechers U.S.A. Inc.(SKX)
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. engages in the design, development, marketing, and distribution of footwear for men, women, and children in the United States and internationally. The company offers various products comprising casuals, such as boots, shoes, and sandals for men, as well as slip-ons, lug outsole and fashion boots, and casual sandals for women; dress casuals; relaxed fit for men; sandals; and casual fusion under the Skechers USA brand name. It also provides a line of sport footwear for men and women, including men?s lifestyle athletic footwear, lightweight women?s sneakers, and sport sandals under the Skechers Sport brand name. In addition, the company offers men?s and women?s casuals, field boots, hikers, and athletic shoes under the Skechers Work brand name; and a range of infants, toddlers, boys, and girls? boots, shoes, and sneakers under the Skechers Kids brand name. Further, its product line includes Skechers Active products, such as casual everyday and sport fusi on sneakers for females; Tone-ups and Tone-ups Fitness products comprising casual and athletic-inspired sandals for women, as well as sneakers; Shape-ups toning footwear for men and women; and Skechers Resistance Runner technical shoes for runners. Skechers U.S.A. markets its products through department and specialty stores, athletic and independent retailers, and boutiques, catalog and Internet retailers, as well as through own e-commerce Website and retail stores. As of February 15, 2011, it operated 105 concept stores, 99 factory outlet stores, and 40 warehouse outlet stores in the United States, as well as 28 concept stores and 16 factory outlets internationally. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Louis Navellier]
In the past few weeks, everything apparel retail stocks have been crushed by the stock market. The headline retail stocks like Lululemon (LULU) and Sketchers USA (SKX) have seen declines of 20% or more as sales have failed to live up to expectations.
Hot Information Technology Stocks For 2014: Ameren Corp (AEE)
Ameren Corporation (Ameren), incorporated on August 7, 1995, is a utility holding company. The Company�� principal subsidiaries are Union Electric Company (Ameren Missouri) and Ameren Illinois Company (Ameren Illinois). The Company's segments include Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. Ameren Missouri operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission and distribution business, and a rate-regulated natural gas transmission and distribution business in Missouri. Ameren Illinois operates a rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution business in Illinois. AER consists of non-rate-regulated operations, including Ameren Energy Generating Company (Genco), AmerenEnergy Resources Generating Company (AERG) and Ameren Energy Marketing Company (Marketing Company). In December 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the divestiture of its merchant generation business, formerly known as Ameren Energy Resources Company, LLC (AER).
Ameren Missouri supplies electric and natural gas service to a 24,000-square-mile area in central and eastern Missouri. This area has an estimated population of 2.8 million and includes the Greater St. Louis area. Ameren Missouri supplies electric service to 1.2 million customers and natural gas service to 127,000 customers. Ameren Illinois supplies electric and natural gas utility service to portions of central and southern Illinois having an estimated population of 3.1 million in an area of 40,000 square miles. Ameren Illinois supplies electric service to 1.2 million customers and natural gas service to 806,000 customers. Ameren has other subsidiaries responsible for activities, such as the provision of shared services. Ameren owns an integrated transmission system that consists of the transmission assets of Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois and ATXI.
Ameren operates two balancing authority areas, AMMO (which includes Ameren Missouri), and AMIL (which includes Ameren Illinois, ATXI, AERG, and Genco excluding EEI an! d Genco�� Elgin CT energy center). During the year ended December 31, 2012, the peak demand was 8,868 megawatts in AMMO and 9,720 megawatts in AMIL. The Ameren transmission system directly connects with 15 other balancing authority areas for the exchange of electric energy. Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois and ATXI are transmission-owning members of MISO. EEI operates its own balancing authority area and its own transmission facilities in southern Illinois. The EEI transmission system is directly connected to the transmission systems of MISO, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Louisville Gas and Electric Company. EEI�� energy centers are dispatched separately from those of Ameren Missouri, Genco and AERG.
Ameren�� portfolio of natural gas supply resources includes firm transportation capacity and firm no-notice storage capacity leased from interstate pipelines. Ameren Missouri primarily use the interstate pipeline systems of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, Trunkline Gas Company, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, and Mississippi River Transmission Corporation to transport natural gas to energy centers. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois develop and manage a portfolio supply under term agreements with producers, interstate and intrastate firm transportation capacity, firm storage capacity leased from interstate pipelines, and on-system storage facilities to maintain natural gas deliveries to customers throughout the year and especially during peak demand periods. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois primarily use Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, Trunkline Gas Company, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, Mississippi River Transmission Corporation, Northern Border Pipeline Company, and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation interstate pipeline systems to transport natural gas to their systems.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Justin Loiseau]
Stable earnings are a result of a plethora of factors, but friendly regulation is the best starting point. Ameren (NYSE: AEE ) is making major strides in Illinois legislature, with recent wins for both smart grid modernization projects and $330 million more in natural gas investments.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Dominion Resources (NYSE: D ) agreed just last month to sell interests in three power plants to private equity, while Ameren (NYSE: AEE ) is unloading five coal-fired plants to Dynegy.
- [By Bram de Haas]
Dynegy Inc (DYN) emerged from bankruptcy last year. The share price didn't really go anywhere. In the meantime 2013 free cash flow guidance is being revised upward to $190 million - $215 million and a deal to take over capacity from Ameren Corp (AEE) is likely to be finalized in the 4th quarter. On the basis of current cash flow, the company is fairly valued. If the Ameren facilities are added in, the cash flow of the combined facilities is greatly undervalued.
Hot Information Technology Stocks For 2014: II-VI Inc (IIVI)
II-VI Incorporated (II-VI), incorporated in 1971, develops, refines, manufactures and markets high-technology materials and derivative precision components and products for precision use in industrial, military, telecommunications, photovoltaic, medical and aerospace applications. The Company�� products are supplied to manufacturers and users in a range of markets, including industrial, military, telecommunications, photovoltaic and medical. II-VI focuses on providing components to its customers��assembly lines for products, such as high-power laser material processing systems, military fire control and missile guidance devices, fiber optics and wireless communication systems, photovoltaic systems, medical diagnostic systems and industrial, commercial and consumer thermal management systems. In November 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of the fiber amplifier and micro-optics business (the Business) of Oclaro, Inc.
Infrared Optics
II-VI supplies a range of precision infrared optical components, such as lenses, output couplers, windows and mirrors for use in carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers. The Company�� precision optical components are used to attenuate the amount of laser energy, improve the properties of the laser beam and focus and direct laser beams to a target work surface. The optical components include both reflective and transmissive optics and are made from materials such as zinc selenide (ZnSe), zinc sulfide (ZnS), copper, silicon, gallium arsenide and germanium. Transmissive optics used with CO2 lasers are made from ZnSe.
One-Micron Laser Components
The supplies an array of tools for laser materials processing, including modular laser processing heads for fiber lasers, YAG lasers and other one-micron laser systems. It also manufactures beam delivery systems, including fiber optic cables and modular beam systems.
Near-Infrared Optics
II-VI manufactures products across a range, inc! luding Ultra Violet (UV), Visible and Near-Infrared. The Company offers a range of standard and custom laser gain materials, optics and assemblies for telecommunications, military, medical, industrial, scientific and research and development laser systems. Laser gain materials are produced to stringent industry specifications and precisely fabricated to customer demands. It manufactures waveplates, polarizers, lenses, prisms and mirrors for visible and near-infrared applications, which are used to control or alter visible or near-infrared energy and its polarization. In addition, it manufactures coated windows used as debris shields in the industrial and medical laser aftermarkets.
The Company offers fiber optics and micro optics and photonic crystal parts for optical communications, optical and photonic crystal parts for instrumentation and laser applications, optical components and functional modules for optical communication networks, and diode pumped solid-state laser devices for optical instruments, display and biotechnology. Its Near-Infrared Optics segment also produces components for UV Filters used in early warning missile detection.
Military Infrared Optics
II-VI offers optics and optical subassemblies for infrared systems, including thermal imaging, night vision, targeting and navigation systems. The Company�� product offering is consists of missile domes, electro-optical windows and subassemblies, imaging lenses and other components. Its precision optical products utilize infrared optical materials, such as Sapphire, Germanium, Zinc Sulfide, Zinc Selenide, Silicon, and Spinel. In addition, its products also include visible and crystalline materials, such as Calcium Fluoride, Barium Fluoride and Fused Silica. Its products are utilized on the F-35 fighter jet, Apache Attack Helicopter, Joint Strike Fighter and ground vehicles, such as the Abrams M-1 Tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Material Processing and Refinement
The Comp! any�� p! roduct offering includes selenium and tellurium metals and chemicals in a variety of purity levels and forms. The Company�� product offerings are 6H-SiC (semi-insulating) and 4H-SiC (conducting) poly-types and are available in sizes up to 100 millimeter diameter. SiC substrates are used in wireless infrastructure, radio frequency (RF) electronics, power conversion and power switching industries.
Thermoelectric Modules and Assemblies
II-VI supplies an array of thermoelectric modules and related assemblies to various market segments. In the defense market, Thermoelectric modules (TEMs) are used in guidance systems, smart weapons and night vision systems, as well as soldier cooling. TEMs are also used in products providing temperature stabilization for telecommunication lasers that generate and amplify optical signals for fiber optic communication systems.
The Company also produces and sells a range of solutions from thermoelectric components to complete sub-assemblies used in the medical equipment market and other industrial and commercial applications. Thermoelectric modules, used as power generators are also applied in a range of end-use applications. It offers single-stage TEMs, micro TEMs, multi-stage TEMs, planar multi-stage TEMs, extended life thermocyclers, thermoelectric thermal reference sources, power generators and thermoelectric assemblies.
The Company competes with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Newport Corporation., Optoskand AB , Precitec, Inc, Northrop Grumman Corporation, CVI Melles Griot, O-Net Communications, OPLINK Communication, Axsun, DRS Technologies, Inc., Goodrich Corporation, Umicore, Komatsu, Ltd., Laird Technologies, Ferrotec Corporation, Cree, Inc., Dow Corning Corporation, Nippon Steel, Bridgestone and SiCrystal AG.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By riddock57]
Shares of OCLR surged on Friday's trading session after the company said that it had signed a definitive agreement to sell its Amplifier and Micro-Optics business to II-VI Incorporated (IIVI) for $88.6 million.
Hot Information Technology Stocks For 2014: Aercap Holdings N.V. (AER)
AerCap Holdings N.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated aviation company worldwide. It engages in leasing and trading aircraft and engines; and selling parts. The company also provides aircraft management services, as well as aircraft and limited engine MRO services, and aircraft disassembly services through its repair stations. In addition, it offers aircraft services, including remarketing aircraft; collecting rental and maintenance payments, monitoring aircraft maintenance, monitoring and enforcing contract compliance, and accepting delivery and redelivery of aircraft; conducting ongoing lessee financial performance reviews; inspecting the leased aircraft; coordinating technical modifications to aircraft to meet new lessee requirements; conducting restructurings negotiations in connection with lease defaults; repossessing aircraft; arranging and monitoring insurance coverage; registering and de-registering aircraft; arranging for aircraft and aircraft engine valuations; and providing market research. The company?s management services include leasing and remarketing, cash management and treasury, technical advisory, and accounting and administrative services. As of March 31, 2011, it owned 272 aircraft and 95 engines, which it leased under operating leases to 118 lessees in 53 countries. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Schiphol, the Netherlands.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Finally. Finally American International Group (AIG) has disposed of its ILFC unit by selling it to AerCap Holdings (AER).
Bloomberg NewsThe Wall Street Journal has the details on the deal:
- [By Tess Stynes]
AIG confirmed it will sell its stake in International Lease Finance Corp to aircraft-leasing company AerCap Holdings N.V(AER). for $5.4 billion in cash and stock.
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