Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC)�may be Warren Buffett’s favorite bank hands down and it may be the safest of the money center and banking giants now. It turns out that if you work for that bank in the mortgage services unit, it might not be the safest bank when it comes to job security. Reports hit late in the day on Wednesday from Bloomberg, CNBC, and other media outlets�that Wells Fargo was laying off some 2,300 mortgage related jobs. It turns out that the refinancing boom has been crushed by a 100 to 125 basis point rise in mortgages.
The home-lending unit is based in Des Moines, Iowa and the cuts are being spread out around the nation. Frankly, this is not that surprising when you consider what has happened with interest rates. In fact, refinancings were peaking even before mortgage rates hit a low because those who could refinance had already done so.
It turns out that this will make the total layoffs since July come to roughly 3,000. Wells Fargo is the king of mortgage banking, which means it also has the most to lose in opportunity costs. The bank’s total headcount of almost 275,000 workers implies that just over 1% will have been let go. Whether or not more jobs will be terminated if rates keep rising and/or if housing slows is up to you to decide.
Top 10 Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2015: Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp(CIDM)
Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. provides technology solutions, financial advice and guidance, and software services to content owners and distributors, and movie exhibitors in the United States. The company engages in the ownership and licensing of digital systems to theatrical exhibitors; and provides monitoring, billing, collection, verification, and other management services to the company?s Phase I Deployment and Phase II Deployment, as well as to exhibitors, who purchase their own equipment. It also develops and licenses software to the theatrical distribution and exhibition industries; and provides applications service provider service, and software enhancements and consulting services. In addition, the company distributes movie features, trailers, and other alternative content to movie theaters and other venues with digital cinema equipment through satellite, hard drives, and broadband; and provides non-theatrical satellite based distribution of content into various out of home networks and other channels. Further, it provides content marketing and distribution services to alternative and theatrical content owners, and theatrical exhibitors, as well as offers in-theatre advertising services. The company was formerly known as Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. in October 2009. Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Cinedigm Corp. (CIDM) �retreated 10% to $2.84 on light volume after the media-content distributor said it was launching an unspecified secondary offering of its Class A shares.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) slipped 14.87% to $2.69 after the company announced a proposed public offering of common stock.
Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT) shares tumbled 12.98% to $7.91 after the company priced $200 million of 9.5% Senior Secured Notes and $350 million of Senior Secured Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes.
Top Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: iMD Companies Inc (ICBU)
IMD Companies, Inc., formerly Optimum Mobile Imaging, Corp, incorporated in 1993, is focused on products and services in the health and fitness nutraceutical and medical diagnostics services markets. The Company provides mobile Ultrasound imaging services. It also provides Echocardiography and Vascular Ultrasound services, including Carotid, Arterial with ABI (ankle-brachial index) and Venous duplex ultrasound. The equipment will be transported into customer's facility on a medical cart by its technologist who will perform all tests in one of customer's exam rooms. In February 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of Integrated Medical Diagnostics, Inc. In January 2014, the Company announced that it has formed a partnership with Anything Technologies Media Inc. by acquiring 51% interest in R-Quest Hydroponics, Inc., developer of the environmental master controller for medical and recreational marijuana hydroponic gardens. In January 2014, IMD Companies Inc and Anything Technologies Media Inc announced that they jointly acquired Green Linx Inc., and will split revenue on a 50:50 basis.
MyLab30 by Biosound implements phased array technology for cardiac imaging, linear array for vascular and small parts imaging, as well as curved array and microconvex for general imaging. The system allows for the evaluation of the heart, vasculature and organs of the body with the appropriate transducer technology and the appropriate measurement and analysis packages.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap marijuana stocks IMD Companies Inc (OTCMKTS: ICBU), Tauriga Sciences Inc (OTCMKTS: TAUG), ML Capital Group Inc (OTCBB: MLCG) and Lexaria Corp (OTCMKTS: LXRP) are aiming to give investors a high with their latest news. However, only one of these small cap marijuana stocks appears to be the subject of minor paid promotion or investor relations type of activities. So will investors and traders alike get a high off of these small caps? Here is a quick reality check:
IMD Companies Inc (OTCMKTS: ICBU) Has a Funding Commitment for Over $1 MillionSmall cap IMD Companies is a Florida corporation, engaged in the medical diagnostics and health and fitness industries. The company is currently positioned to be a holding company for major acquisitions in the medical, and marijuana industry. On Friday, IMD Companies rose 7.82% to $0.120 for a market cap of $19.35 million plus ICBU is up 264.7% over the past year and up 23,900% over the past five years according to Google Finance.
- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Frontier Beverage Company Inc (OTCMKTS: FBEC), IMD Companies Inc (OTCMKTS: ICBU) and Dmh International Incorporated (OTCBB: DMHI) were all mimicking the Titanic last Friday by sinking 41.18%, 32.5% and 28.16%, respectively, last Friday. Moreover, all three of these stocks have been the subject of paid promotions or investor relation campaigns. With the promotions in mind, is it to late to dump these small cap stocks or will this week present a buying opportunity? Here is a closer look:
Top Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Franklin Universal Trust (FT)
Franklin Universal Trust (the Fund) is a diversified, closed-end investment company. The Fund�� primary investment objective is to provide high current income consistent with preservation of capital. Its secondary objective is growth of income through dividend increases and capital appreciation. The Fund invests primarily in two asset classes: high-yield bonds and utility stocks.
The Fund invests in sectors, such as non-energy minerals, utilities, commercial services, communications, consumer durables, consumer non-durables, electronic technology, industrial services, process industries, technology services and transportation. The Fund may invest in the Franklin Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio (the Sweep Money Fund), an open-end investment company managed by its investment manager. The Fund may invest in restricted securities. The Fund�� investment manager is Franklin Advisers Inc. Its administrative manager is Franklin Templeton Services, LLC.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Canadian Value]
(FT): Russia's central bank has warned that Russia's consumer lending sector threatens the country's "financial stability", the same day that it revoked the licence of Master Bank, a midsized retail lender.
- [By Canadian Value]
(FT): A 500-tonne gap in China's gold consumption data is fueling talk that the central bank took advantage of weak prices last year to bulk up its holdings of the precious metal.
Top Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Vapor Corp (VPCO)
Vapor Corp (Vapor), incorporated in 1987, is engaged in designing, marketing and distributing electronic cigarettes and accessories under the Fifty-One, Krave, VaporX, EZ Smoker, Green Puffer, Americig, Fumre Hookah Stix and Smoke Star brands. Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, are battery-powered products that enable users to inhale nicotine vapor without smoke, tar, ash, or carbon monoxide. Electronic cigarettes look like traditional cigarettes and consists of three functional components: a mouthpiece, which is a small plastic cartridge that contains a liquid nicotine solution; a heating element that vaporizes the liquid nicotine so that it can be inhaled; and the electronics, which include: a lithium-ion battery, an airflow sensor, a microchip controller and an light emitting diode (LED), which illuminates to indicate use. When a user draws air through the electronic cigarette, the air flow is detected by a sensor, which activates a heating element that vaporizes the solution stored in the mouthpiece/cartridge, the solution is then vaporized and it is this vapor that is inhaled by the user. The cartridge contains either a nicotine solution or a nicotine free solution, either of which may be flavored. The Company offers rechargeable and disposable electronic cigarettes in two varieties: a two-piece unit, which the Company markets under its DUO product line; and a three-piece unit, which the Company markets under its TRIO product line.
The DUO
The DUO's 2-part construction (battery component and cartridge) features a disposable all-in-one atomized cartridge (also known as a cartomizer). This cartomizer is replaced when the nicotine or nicotine free solution is depleted from use. The all-in-one configuration eliminates the need for maintenance of a separate atomizer and maintains consistent performance of the e-cigarette over time.
The TRIO
The TRIO's 3-part construction (battery component, atomizer, and filter cartridge) features a separate atom! izer from the cartridge; the atomizer is reused and requires separate maintenance over its useful life. Replacement atomizers are available for sale and are easily serviceable by the user. In the TRIO, the only component that needs to be routinely replaced is the refill cartridge (either with or without nicotine).
The Company's electronic cigarettes are sold in kits. In addition to kits the Company sells replacement batteries, replacement mouthpieces that contain the liquid solution and atomizer, for its two-piece configurations as well as mouthpieces with the liquid solution and separate atomizers for its three-piece units. In addition to the Company's electronic cigarette products the Company sells an assortment of accessories, including chargers and simple and fashionable cases. The Company also offers refill cartridges and accessories for its electronic cigarettes. The Company's refill cartridges consist of assorted flavors and nicotine levels (including cartridges without nicotine).
The Company competes with Altria Group, Inc. and Reynolds American Inc.,
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
Fans and investors of American Heritage International Inc. (OTCBB:AHII) - not to mention frenemies Vapor Corp. (OTCMKTS:VPCO) and Victory Electronic Cigarettes Corp. (OTCMKTS:ECIG) - can all breathe a sigh of relief today. As it turns out, while the electronic cigarette industry is more than likely be regulated by the FDA, it's going to be regulated in such a way that tends to favor the likes of AHII, ECIG, and VPCO.
Top Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: BHP Billiton Limited(BHP)
BHP Billiton Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified natural resources company worldwide. The company engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas; mining and refining of bauxite into alumina, and smelting of alumina into aluminum metal; and mining of copper, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum, uranium, gold, diamonds, and titanium minerals, as well as development of potash deposits. It also involves in the mining and production of nickel products, manganese ore, and manganese metal and alloys, as well as in the mining of iron ore, metallurgical coal, and thermal coal. BHP Billiton Limited sells its copper, lead, and zinc concentrates, and alumina to smelters; copper cathodes to wire rod mills, brass mills, and casting plants; uranium oxide to electricity generating utilities; rough diamonds to diamond buyers and diamond manufacturers; nickel products to stainless steel, specialty alloy, foundry, chemicals, and refractory ma terial industries; metallurgical coal to steel producers; and energy coal to power stations, power generators, and industrial users. The company, formerly known as BHP Limited, was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Cliffs Natural Resources have fallen 2.7% to $18.59 at today at 3:42 p.m., while Rio Tinto (RIO) has fallen 3.6% to $53.36, BHP Billiton (BHP) has dropped 2.2% to $66.64 and Vale (VALE) has plunged 5% to $13.05.
- [By Brianna Valleskey]
As Theron pointed out, many companies that are big global players also have South African roots, including SABMiller (OTC: SBMRY), Compagnie Financière Richemont (OTC: CFRUY) and BHP Billiton Limited (NYSE: BHP).
- [By Rhiannon Hoyle]
SYDNEY--BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) raised its outlook for iron-ore production this fiscal year as it reported record output from its expanding mining hub in Australia's resource-rich Pilbara region.
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