The price of oil fell below $96 a barrel even as the dollar strengthened against some foreign currencies.
Crude prices have been rising, along with the stock market, and investors appeared to take a break from both Thursday.
Benchmark oil for June delivery fell 85 cents to $95.77 a barrel in morning trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The Labor Department reported the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000. Layoffs have receded to pre-recession levels. The less volatile four-week average dropped by 6,250 to 336,750, the lowest since November 2007, just before the Great Recession began.
A more robust hiring environment suggests businesses will be consuming more energy, not to mention people who are again commuting to work.
At the same time, however, the dollar gained against other currencies, including the euro, the British pound, and the Japanese yen. Since oil is traded in dollars, a stronger dollar makes oil less appealing to investors using foreign currency.
Hot Japanese Companies For 2015: Robert Half International Inc.(RHI)
Robert Half International Inc. provides staffing and risk consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Its Accountemps division offers temporary staffing in the fields of accounting, tax, and finance. The company?s OfficeTeam division places temporary and full-time office and administrative personnel, ranging from word processors to office managers. Its Robert Half Finance & Accounting division specializes in the placement of full-time accounting, financial, tax, and banking personnel. The company?s Robert Half Technology division specializes in providing information technology contract consultants; and placing full-time employees in the areas, ranging from multiple platform systems integration to end-user support, including specialists in programming, networking, systems integration, database design, and help desk support. Its Robert Half Legal division places temporary and full-time employees in attorney, paralegal, legal administrati ve, and legal secretarial positions. The company?s Robert Half Management Resources division offers senior level project professionals in the accounting and finance fields comprising chief financial officers, controllers, and senior financial analysts for various tasks, such as financial systems conversions, expansion into new markets, business process reengineering, and post-merger financial consolidation. Its Creative Group division serves clients in the areas of advertising, marketing, and Web design; and places project consultants in various positions consisting of creative directors, graphics designers, Web content developers, Web designers, media buyers, and public relations specialists. The company?s Protiviti division provides experts specializing in risk, advisory, and transactional services. Robert Half International was founded in 1948 and is based in Menlo Park, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
The fact that temporary staffing is creating the bulk of the job growth since we dug our way out of the 2008 recession bodes well for the likes of staffing firms like Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:KELYA) and Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE:RHI). Investors seeking strategic opportunities can do better than concentrating on proven-but-broad growth arenas, though. There's another trend within the employment arena that actually favors small newcomer (relatively) Staffing 360 Solutions Inc. (OTCBB:STAF)... the huge and fast-growing need for more and better information technology workers. IT positions are opening up faster than any other industry is creating jobs, and it doesn't look like the trend is going to change anytime soon.
- [By Keith Speights]
Temporary staffing agencies also felt the brunt of the employer mandate push-back. Shares of�Robert Half International (NYSE: RHI ) , for example, slipped 5% on the day after the Obamacare delay was announced. The staffing agency reported earlier this year that it was receiving lots of inquiries from employers with around 50 employees, with the implication being that companies would use temporary workers to avoid meeting the 50-employee threshold for the Obamacare mandate.
Hot Japanese Companies For 2015: Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (GDP)
Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. The company holds interest in the Eagle Ford Shale Trend located in South Texas; the Haynesville Shale and Cotton Valley Taylor Sand in northwest Louisiana and East Texas; and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale located in southwest Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. It owns working interests in 392 producing oil and natural gas wells located in 32 fields in 8 states. As of December 31, 2012, the company had estimated proved reserves of approximately 254.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas, 5.1 million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons (MMBbls) of natural gas liquids, and 8.1 MMBbls of oil and condensate. Goodrich Petroleum Corporation was founded in 1995 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Holly LaFon]
Twenty years ago, emerging markets represented only 19% of global gross domestic product (GDP); today they account for 36%1��nd are expected to increase even more in the next few years, as shown in Exhibit 1. Exhibit 2 shows how quickly GDP is growing in emerging markets, and it is expected to continue to grow at a faster rate than advanced economies.
- [By Holly LaFon]
Another area that is intriguing to us is the North American energy sector which looks to have a number of interesting catalysts currently. While the energy sector is at present only a modest overweight in the portfolios, we have been encouraged by several trends taking place for a number of years. These positive developments are also having an impact that goes far beyond the energy sector itself. Many believe that the U.S. will become energy independent and possibly a net exporter of natural gas and oil (currently restricted by law) in the next decade. This opinion is based primarily on the development of new drilling techniques (i.e. horizontal drilling, and high pressure fracking) that have enabled companies to access oil and natural gas reserves in shale formations that were previously not economically viable. The ability to tap into this acreage is a game-changer in our view and is already having a tremendous impact on the economy. Employment rates in these mostly rural areas surrounding the shale basins are very high and companies thus find hiring extremely competitive. Strong labor markets tend to create strong local economies. Oil States International (OIS) has been able to capitalize on this trend by providing housing and other services to oil service workers that are in demand in the area. CST Brands (CST) operates gas stations in Texas, but it is increasingly looking to broaden its product offering beyond fuel. Rail companies like Union Pacific (UNP), Canadian Pacific (CP), Kansas City Southern (KSU) and Genesee and Wyoming (GWR) have also benefited substantially. Given that shale areas are rural and often lacking infrastructure, substantial investment must be made to support drilling and production activities. Without pipelines in place, railroads have been the primary takeaway mechanism for moving production to the various clusters of refining capacity around the United States. In order to serve this demand, massive investment in railcars has been nee
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another earnings short-squeeze prospect is independent oil and natural gas player Goodrich Petroleum (GDP), which is set to release numbers on Monday after the market close. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect Goodrich Petroleum to report revenue of $58.67 million on a loss of 69 cents per share.
The current short interest as a percentage of the float for Goodrich Petroleum is extremely high at 27.9%. That means that out of the 27.91 million shares in the tradable float, 7.66 million shares are sold short by the bears. The bears have also been increasing their bets from the last reporting period by 28.7%, or by about 1.70 million shares. If the bears get caught pressing their bets into a strong quarter, then shares of GDP could explode to the upside post-earnings as the bears rush to cover some of their short positions.
From a technical perspective, GDP is currently trending above its 200-day moving average and just below its 50-day moving average, which is neutral trendwise. This stock has been downtrending for the last month, with shares pushing lower from its high of $28.55 to its recent low of $22.14 a share. During that move, shares of GDP have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of GDP have started to rebound off that $22.14 low, and it's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade post-earnings.
If you're bullish on GDP, then I would wait until after its report and look for long-biased trades if this stock manages to break out above its 50-day moving average of $25.16 a share with high volume. Look for volume on that move that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.80 million shares. If that breakout hits, then GDP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $28.47 to its 52-week high at $28.55 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels could then easily send share
- [By Roberto Pedone]
One under-$10 independent oil and gas player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Goodrich Petroleum (GDP) which is engaged in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. This stock has been smashed lower by the bears over the last six months, with shares down sharply by 64%.
If you take a glance at the chart for Goodrich Petroleum you'll see that this stock has been downtrending badly for the last two months and change, with shares falling sharply lower from its high of $22.61 to its new 52-week low of $7.01 a share. During that downtrend, shares of GDP have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of GDP have now started to bounce higher off its 52-week low and it's beginning to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade above some key near-term overhead resistance levels.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GDP if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $9.48 to around $9.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 2.07 million shares. If that breakout develops soon, then GDP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 50-day moving average of $11.80 to $12.09 a share., or even $13 to $14 a share.
Traders can look to buy GDP off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $8.30 to $8 a share. One can also buy GDP off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Must Read: 10 Stocks Carl Icahn Loves in 2014
Top Defensive Stocks To Invest In 2015: Visa Inc.(V)
Visa Inc., a payments technology company, engages in the operation of retail electronic payments network worldwide. It facilitates commerce through the transfer of value and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company owns and operates VisaNet, a global processing platform that provides transaction processing services. It also offers a range of payments platforms, which enable credit, charge, deferred debit, debit, and prepaid payments, as well as cash access for consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company provides its payment platforms under the Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, and Interlink brand names. In addition, it offers value-added services, including risk management, issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, value-added information, and CyberSource-branded services. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Which isn’t to say there weren’t some winners. United States Steel (X) gained 3.7% to $27.31 this week on the back of a Cowen upgrade, while Visa (V) rose 2.7% after Mastercard (MA) announced a buyback, dividend increase and stock split.
- [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]
Visa strives to help consumers, companies, governments, and other entities by providing methods of easy transaction worldwide. The company recently reported earnings that made investors happy, and the stock is now trading near all-time high prices, with still more room to rise. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenue figures have been increasing, which has pleased investors in the company. Relative to its strong peers and sector, Visa has been an average year-to-date performer. Look for Visa to continue to OUTPERFORM.
Hot Japanese Companies For 2015: Apollo Investment Corporation(AINV)
Apollo Investment Corporation is business development company and operates as a closed-end management investment company. The company invests in middle market companies. It provides direct equity capital, mezzanine and senior secured loans, and subordinated debt and loans. It also seeks to invest in PIPES transactions. The company may also invest in public companies that are thinly traded and may acquire investments in the secondary market. It prefers to invest in warrants, makes equity co-investments, and may also invest in cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less, high-yield bonds, distressed debt, non-U.S. investments, or securities of public companies that are not thinly traded. The company typically invests in building materials, business services, cable television, chemicals, consumer products, direct marketing, distribution, energy and utilities, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, media, publishing, retail and transportation. It primarily invests between $20 million and $250 million in its portfolio companies. The company seeks to make investments with stated maturities of five to ten years.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Bieglmeier]
Expensive or not, dividend investors might be interested in this week's highlighted insider buying candidate: Apollo Investment Corporation (AINV).
- [By MONEYMORNING]
He's much better off in "total return" holdings, like Apollo Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AINV) which we covered right here, and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (NYSE: KMP), another long-term winner.
- [By James Brumley]
The seller will let up as soon as the news is a fading memory, which should be soon.
Apollo Investment Corp. (AINV)AINV Dividend Yield: 9.7%
- [By Tim Melvin]
Here are a couple private equity-powered dividend stocks on my radar right now:
Apollo Investment (AINV)Apollo Global Management (APO) is one of the world�� largest asset management and private equity firms with more than $100 billion under management. Its largest publicly offered vehicle is Apollo Investment (AINV), a business development company that invests in and ends to middle-market companies and pays out 90% of its net income to shareholders.
Hot Japanese Companies For 2015: Portlogic Systems Inc (PGSY)
Portlogic Systems Inc. (Portologic), incorporated on June 22, 2004, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in developing and licensing portal software products and related services. The Company operates six divisions, including m2Meet, m2Bank (Mobile to Bank), m2Market, m2Ticket, m2Kiosk and m2Workflow. The Company has developed a product that it licensed to its customers to enable them to operate their own online social networking portal without requiring any technical programming or Website design skills. The Company licenses portal software products and provide custom software programming services to customers who license its products. The Company�� portal software products are designed to enable customers to administer a ��ortal��that can be accessed online by other users. Each type of portal that it licenses to customers has a standard pre-programmed functional framework along with content and appearance customized according to the customer�� particular requirements. The Company�� customers retain ownership rights over any content that they provide to customize their portal. On June 18, 2012, Portlogic incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, VOIP 1, Inc.
The Company hosts the portal software licensed to its customers on the Company�� own servers. The Company�� portal software products include an online administration interface which its customers can use to manage the functionality, appearance, and content of their portal, such as what users are able to see and do when they visit the portal. As a result, customers that license its software can operate their online portal using only a personal computer and Internet connection. They do not need to have any programming knowledge, additional software, hosting capabilities, or additional hardware.
The Company also offers, in exchange for additional licensing fees, plug-in products that can provide additional functions to the basic portal software licensed by the Company�� customers. The Company eithe! r owns the plug-ins or licenses them from third parties. The Company offers one fully developed portal software product. This product is an online social networking system marketed to entrepreneurs who wish to operate their own online social networking or dating business. The Company markets this product through one of its Websites, at www.internetdatingsoftware.com.
The m2Meet is a community networking software solution, being developed from its Web based source code. m2Bank is a financial transactions system that facilitates bill payments, money transfers, and account management. The m2Market is a mobile marketing solutions, including a Bluetooth push technology that is used to deliver marketing materials to mobile phones. The m2Ticket is a mobile ticketing sales engine, which manages the sale and delivery of tickets through mobile phones for the transportation and entertainment industry. The m2Kiosk is a line of standard and custom kiosks hardware and software which integrates with mobile phone applications in the marketing, financial, and ticketing industries. Its m2Workflow is a customer relations management (CRM) on mobile phones for service industries.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Muscle Warfare International (OTCMKTS: MWAR), Portlogic Systems Inc (OTCMKTS: PGSY) and Sterling Consolidated Corp (OTCBB: STCC) were all the subject of a few paid promotions as recently as last week but they sure did not start the new week out right because all were sinking on Monday. So are these small cap stocks that are either the subject of promotions or investor awareness campaigns hot or not? Here is a quick reality check:
Hot Japanese Companies For 2015: (FSM)
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. engages in the mining and production silver and base metal in Latin America. Its primary assets consist of the Caylloma zinc/lead/silver mine, which is located to the northwest of Arequipa, Peru; and the San Jose silver/gold project that is located south of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. The company was formerly known as Fortuna Ventures Inc. and changed its name to Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. in June 2005. Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. The company was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Lima, Peru.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Zacks]
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic materials sector include Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK), Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (NYSE: FSM) and MAG Silver Corp. (AMEX:MVG). All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).���
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