Report: States with the worst health coverage

Last year, just under 15% of the U.S. population did not have health insurance coverage. But as different stages of the Affordable Care Act roll out over the next few years — and more Americans become insured — this rate is likely to fall.

For now though, health insurance remains out of reach for many Americans. In states
such as Florida and Alaska, more than one in five residents are without insurance. And an
estimated 22.5% of Texans didn't have health insurance in 2012.

Based on data recently released by the Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the states with the lowest rates of health insurance coverage in the U.S. in 2012. People 65 and older are automatically eligible for Medicare. Nationally, 15.5% of the population is covered by this program. Several of the states with lower overall coverage rates have disproportionately fewer residents over 65, and as a result they have lower rates of Medicare coverage.

REPORT: 24/7 Wall St. look at USA's richest and poorest states

The opposite is also true. In Florida, where 20.1% of the population is without health
insurance, it has the the second-highest proportion of residents covered by Medicare. The other large public health insurance program, Medicaid, covers Americans who cannot afford coverage. Roughly 18% of the population is covered under the program.

Many of the states with the lowest health insurance coverage have relatively low median household income and high poverty rates. But, like Medicare, there does not appear to be a strong relationship between high Medicaid coverage and lower overall rates of uninsured residents.

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Peter Cunningham, senior fellow at Center for
Studying Health System Change, explained that Medicare and Medicaid can
impact a state's health insurance coverage rate. Where Medicaid plays a small role, "it's really the variation in the rates of employer-provided private insurance coverage that drives the variation in uninsured rates," Cunn! ingham said.

In fact, more than 65% of the U.S. population is covered through private health insurance, and the vast majority of that is through employers. All of the states with the lowest overall health insurance coverage rates had among the lowest rates of employer-provided insurance.

REPORT: 24/7 Wall St. looks at football teams with the priciest tickets

These states have low rates of employer-provided insurance, Cunningham explained,
because of the industries that are common to these states. Most of these states have
lower proportions of higher-paying jobs or unionized manufacturing jobs, in which
employers tend to provide insurance. In fact, all but one of the 10 worst states had below the national average manufacturing employment. "We all talk about the decline of American manufacturing, but it's still the case that in a lot of states, the traditional manufacturing jobs still play a pretty big role."

Cunningham also explained that states with high uninsurance rates are typically poorer because lower-wage jobs are much less likely to provide health insurance coverage. Cunningham gave the example of Florida. "The economy in Florida is based on tourism. A lot of the service and hospitality sector jobs don't pay a lot and don't offer health benefits. It's a very different economy than states that have much lower uninsured rates." Florida had the lowest rate of employer-provided health insurance in the country.

Based on the Census Bureau's 2012 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St.
reviewed the 10 states with the lowest percentage of the population covered by a health
insurance plan. We also reviewed a variety of additional data from the ACS for 2012,
including age distribution, poverty, income, and the proportion of residents covered by
private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. We also reviewed 2012 average unemployment rates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the 5 states with the worst health coverage.

5. Georgia
• P! ct. witho! ut health insurance (2012): 18.4% (tied-5th highest)• Unemployment rate (2012): 9.0% (9th highest)
• Poverty rate: 19.2% (6th highest)
• Pct. aged 65 and over: 11.5% (4th lowest)
Last year 43.8% of unemployed workers in the U.S. did not have health insurance, while in Georgia, 53.6% of the unemployed were uninsured. However, Gov. Nathan Deal, an outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act, has elected not to expand Medicaid or set up a state-controlled insurance exchange. The state's Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens drew scrutiny last month when he stated that Georgia was doing "everything in [its] power to be an obstructionist."

4. Florida
• Pct. without health insurance (2012): 20.1%
• Unemployment rate (2012): 8.6% (12th highest)
• Poverty rate: 17.1% (17th highest)
• Pct. aged 65 and over: 18.2% (the highest)
Florida is one of just four states where at least a fifth of the population didn't have
health insurance in 2012. While the state's relatively large elderly population means
that a disproportionately high percentage of Floridians were covered under Medicare,
the younger adult population were much more likely to be without insurance than other
states. As many as 28.8% of those between the ages of 18 and 64 didn't have health
coverage compared to just over 20% nationally. The New York Times reported that, in
defiance of the Affordable Care Act, Florida's government has been reluctant to offer
its residents information on the the federal insurance exchanges that will allow
residents to shop for the most affordable plan.

3. Alaska
• Pct. without health insurance (2012): 20.5%
• Unemployment rate (2012): 7% (22nd lowest)
• Poverty rate: 10.1% (2nd lowest)
• Pct. aged 65 and over: 8.5% (the lowest)
Although Alaska is one of the nation's wealthiest states, with a median income of
$67,712 in 2012, it also has a relatively large number of residents who were uninsured.
This may be due i! n part to! the seasonal nature of much of Alaska's workforce — such
workers often either do not receive insurance from their employers or do not keep their
insurance after their work has ended. Last year, 21.4% of workers who were employed
did not have health insurance, one of the highest rates in the nation. But for Alaskans
hoping to obtain health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, premiums in the state
will be higher than anywhere else in the nation, exempting for Wyoming.

2. Nevada
• Pct. without health insurance (2012): 22.2%
• Unemployment rate (2012): 11.1% (the highest)
• Poverty rate: 16.4% (19th highest)
• Pct. aged 65 and over: 13.0% (11th lowest)
Nevada minors were the most likely in the country to lack health insurance. An
estimated 16.6% were not covered, more than double the national rate. In general, the
likelihood of not having health insurance is much higher for those without a high school
diploma. In Nevada, due to a poor graduation rate, the chances of this happening are
significantly worse. Nevada also has the largest portion in the nation of households
earning under $25,000 per year without health insurance. Under the Affordable Care
Act in Nevada, those earning under 400% of the national poverty rate will be eligible
for tax credits. Nevada will likely be one state relying on this provision the most. The
state also has the highest proportion of residents employed in service jobs, which are
less likely than many jobs to provide health benefits.

1. Texas
• Pct. without health insurance (2012): 22.5%
• Unemployment rate (2012): 6.8% (17th lowest)
• Poverty rate: 17.9% (11th highest)
• Pct. aged 65 and over: 10.9% (3rd lowest)
Not only did Texas have the highest rate of uninsured people in 2012, but the state also
had among the highest portion of uninsured children, elderly, and unemployed people. Additionally, over 30% of adults under 65 were uninsured in the state. Lawmakers ! have been! opposed to the Affordable Care Act, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz speaking for over 20 hours in an attempt to block the law from taking effect.

MORE: Five more of top 10 states with worst health coverage

Financial news and commentary website 24/7 Wall St. is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

5 Best Financial Stocks For 2014

What I'm about to say will challenge even the most steadfast gold bears - or anyone for that matter right now who thinks that gold has seen its better days.

The chart below tells a story - a big story. In fact, I encourage you to forward this email to anyone you know who is serious about his money.

What I found here, with the help of Frank Holmes from U.S. Global and one of the smartest people on earth on the potent combination of Asian markets and commodities, is a chart that shows a truly astounding fact about gold.

Let me walk you through it, and what it could mean to your money, your gold and your financial future.

Courtesy U.S. Global Advisors - click to enlarge
Share this chart:

The grey backdrop is total world mining production. The blue vertical lines represent COMEX gold deliveries. And the big long vertical red lines? That's physical gold delivery on the Shanghai gold exchange.

5 Best Financial Stocks For 2014: All In West! Capital Corporatio (ALW.V)

All in West! Capital Corporation engages in the ownership of hotels and independent living seniors� residences primarily in western Canada. Its hotel amenities comprise a coffee shop, a cocktail lounge, an observation room to enjoy the scenery, an exercise facility, a business center, a hot tub, sauna, a billiards and entertainment centre, and meeting rooms, as well as catering and banquet/conference facilities. As of September 30, 2010, the company owned four hotel properties in Alberta. All in West! Capital Corporation was founded in 2005 and is based in Winnipeg, Canada.

5 Best Financial Stocks For 2014: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce(CM)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce provides various financial products, services, and advice to individual, small business, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. The company offers retail markets services comprising personal banking, business banking, and wealth management services, as well as investment management services to retail and institutional clients. It also provides wholesale banking services, including credit, capital markets, investment banking, merchant banking, and research products and services to government, institutional, corporate, and retail clients. The company provides its services through its branch network, automated bank machines, mobile banking, and online banking site. As of June 3, 2011, it operated approximately 1,100 branches and 4,000 automated bank machines in Canada. The company was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Reese, Founder and CEO, Validea.com And Validea Capital Management]

  As you might imagine, the portfolio will tread into areas of the market others ignore, because of its contrarian bent. Right now, its holdings include some very unloved firms, including several financials, emerging market stocks, and much-maligned BP. Here's a look at five of the stock in our Dreman portfolio:

  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM)
  
  BP Plc (BP)
  
  Telecom Argentina SA (TEO)
  
  China Mobile Limited (CHL)
  
  Vale SA (VALE)
  
  

  Subscribe to Validea here��/P>

• [By Arie Goren]

  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM)

  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce provides various financial products and services in Canada and internationally.

• [By Tony Daltorio]

  One of his companies, Cheung Kong Holdings Limited (CHEUY), recently formed a 50/50 joint venture with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE: CM) called CEF Holdings. They want to invest into beaten-down mining stocks and particularly gold equities.

Hot Penny Stocks To Invest In 2014: Mission Vly Bcp Ca(MVLY.OB)

Mission Valley Bancorp operates as the holding company for Mission Valley Bank that provides a range of banking services to individual and corporate customers in the United States. The company?s deposit products include checking accounts, certificates of deposits, health savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, and time deposits. Its loan portfolio comprises personal, automobile, home equity, commercial real estate, equipment, small business administration, and term loans. The company also offers apartment financing, auto and truck financing, accounts receivable financing, leasing, letters of credit, corporate credit cards, and lines of credit. In addition, it provides online banking, account reconciliation, check image, collection, deposit courier, electronic tax payment, image statement, merchant bankcard, night drop, notary, payroll, safe deposit box, and zero balance accounting services, as well as cashier?s checks, t ravelers checks, credit cards, and debit and ATM cards. Further, the company offers financial planning and investment services in the areas of investments, estate plans, retirement plans, and insurance. It operates three branches in Sun Valley, Valencia, and the Centre Pointe area of Santa Clarita, California. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Sun Valley, California.

5 Best Financial Stocks For 2014: Access National Corp (ANCX)

Access National Corporation (ANC) operates as a bank holding company. The Company has two wholly owned subsidiaries: Access National Bank (the Bank) and Access National Capital Trust II. The Bank is the operating business of the Company. The Bank provides credit, deposit, and mortgage services to middle market commercial businesses and associated professionals, primarily in the greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The Bank offers a range of financial services and products and specializes in providing customized financial services to small and medium sized businesses, professionals, and associated individuals. The Bank provides its customers with personal customized service utilizing the latest technology and delivery channels. The Bank�� business is serving the credit, depository and cash management needs of businesses and associated professionals. The products and services offered by the Bank include accounts receivable lines of credit, accounts receivable collection accounts, growth capital term loans, business acquisition financing, online banking, checking accounts, money market accounts, sweep accounts, personal checking accounts, savings /money market accounts and certificates of deposit.

The Bank�� revenues are derived from interest and fees received in connection with loans, deposits, and investments. The Bank operates from five banking centers located in Chantilly, Tysons Corner, Reston, Leesburg and Manassas, Virginia and online at www.accessnationalbank.com. The Mortgage Corporation specializes in the origination of conforming and government insured residential mortgages to individuals in the greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area, the surrounding areas of its branch locations, outside of its local markets through direct mail solicitation, and otherwise. The Mortgage Corporation has offices throughout Virginia, in Fairfax, Reston, Roanoke, and McLean.

Lending Activities

The Bank�� lending activities involve commercial real estate loa! ns, residential mortgage loans, commercial loans, commercial and residential real estate construction loans, home equity loans, and consumer loans. These lending activities provide access to credit to small to medium sized businesses, professionals, and consumers in the greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Loans originated by the Bank are classified as loans held for investment. At December 31, 2011 loans held for investment totaled $569.4 million. At December 31, 2011 unsecured loans were comprised of $2.9 million in commercial loans and approximately $124 thousand in consumer loans and collectively equal approximately 0.5% of the loans held for investment portfolio.

The Bank�� commercial real estate loans-wner Occupied represented 30.14% of our loan portfolio held for investment, as of December 31, 2011. Its commercial real estate loans-non-owner occupied loans represent ed18.44% of its loan portfolio held for investment, as of December 31, 2011. The Bank�� residential real estate loans represented 22.56% of the loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2011.

These loans fall into one of three situations: loans supporting an owner occupied commercial property; properties used by non-profit organizations, such as churches or schools where repayment is dependent upon the cash flow of the non-profit organizations, and loans supporting a commercial property leased to third parties for investment. Its residential real estate loans category includes loans secured by first or second mortgages on one to four family residential properties, extended to the Bank clients.

As of December 31, 2011, commercial loans represented 23.15% of the Bank�� loan portfolio held for investment. These loans are to businesses or individuals within its market for business purposes. As of December 31, 2011, real estate construction loans consisted of 5.22% of loans held for investment loan portfolio. These loans include loans to construct owner occupied commercial buildings; l! oans to i! ndividuals; loans to builders for the purpose of acquiring property and constructing homes for sale to consumers, and loans to developers for the purpose of acquiring land, which is developed into finished lots for the ultimate construction of residential or commercial buildings. As of December 31, 2011, consumer loans made up approximately 0.49% of its loan portfolio.

Investment Activities

The Company�� investment securities portfolio is consisted of the United States Treasury securities, the United States Government Agency securities, municipal securities, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) mutual fund, and mortgage backed securities issued by the United States Government sponsored agencies and corporate bonds. At December 31, 2011, securities totaled $85.8 million. . The securities portfolio is comprised of $45.8 million in securities classified as available-for-sale and $40.0 million in securities classified as held-to-maturity.

Sources of Funds

As of December 31, 2011, deposits totaled $645.0 million. As of December 31, 2011, deposits consisted of noninterest-bearing demand deposits in the amount of $113.9 million, savings and interest-bearing deposits in the amount of $182.0 million, and time deposits in the amount of $349.1 million. The Bank also uses wholesale funding or brokered deposits to supplement traditional customer deposits for liquidity. It participates in the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS). Through CDARS its depositors are able to obtain FDIC insurance of up to $50 million. As of December 31, 2011, brokered deposits totaled $223,554,000, which includes $192,326,000 in reciprocal CDARS deposits. It also maintains lines of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and Federal Reserve Bank (FRB). At December 31, 2011 there was $284.9 million available under these lines of credit. Borrowed funds consist of advances from the FHLB, senior unsecured term note, FHLB long-term borrowings, subordinated debentures (! trust pre! ferred), securities sold under agreement to repurchase, United States Treasury demand notes, federal funds purchased, and commercial paper. As of December 31, 2011 borrowed funds totaled $123.6 million. At December 31, 2011 borrowed funds totaled $70.9 million.

5 Best Financial Stocks For 2014: Bayside Land Corporation Ltd (BYSD)

Bayside Land Corporation Ltd. is an Israeli real estate company, a subsidiary of IDB Group,engaged directly and through its subsidiaries in the initiation, planning, establishing and managing of high-technology parks, industrial parks, commerce and office buildings, logistics centers and residential neighborhoods. The Company has been involved in many commercial, industrial and residential properties throughout Israel. The Company's well known projects include Gav-Yam Center Herzliya, a six-building complex, including underground parking lot, Matam Park - Haifa, an international business & Hi-Tech park, Gav-Yam Park - Caesarea, a modern park designed to populate companies from various industries. The Company is also taking part in a variety of other projects throughout Israel.

Brent Under Pressure As Investors Turn Towards The Fed Meeting

Oil prices tumbled as worries about the situation in Syria subsided on Tuesday. Brent crude oil fell to $109.85 at 6:50 GMT on Monday morning as investors gained confidence in a UN program which will destroy Syria's nuclear weapons over the next nine months.

After the US and Russia came to an agreement in which Syria will have a week to turn over its chemical weapons, the threat of military action in the fragile region dissipated. President Obama has said a military strike isn't out of the question if the Syrian government doesn't follow the UN's disarmament plan.

Related: Market Primer: Tuesday, September 17: Markets Brace As FOMC Meeting Begins

Also pressuring Brent prices is the possible resolution of tension between the US and Iran which has long supported the commodity. CNBC reported that Iran's atomic energy chief is looking to resolve the ongoing dispute between Iran and the West over the Tehran's nuclear capabilities. The news put pressure on Brent prices as a diplomatic solution to the issue could mean an end to the sanctions on Iranian oil.

Anticipation of the US Federal Reserve meeting, which begins on Tuesday, also weighed on Brent prices. The bank is likely to cut its stimulus program by $10 to $15 billion which could drive Brent prices even lower.

Brent found some support from the ongoing labor strikes in Libya which have closed several of the country's largest export terminals. Strikes in the African nation have cut Libyan oil exports to less than half of their normal capacity and caused Libya to default on its contractual obligations. Now, as the winter season approaches and demand is forecast to increase, prices will be supported by the tighter supply.

Rolls-Royce Considers Rolling Out SUV

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When the LA Dodgers' 22-year-old rookie sensation Yasiel Puig signed a seven-year, $42 million contract, the first thing he did was go out and get himself a new Rolls-Royce.

Puig has been spotted repeatedly around the LA nightclub scene, getting into his white Rolls Royce Phantom after a stint at the hippest spots in town. The $400k Phantom is one of the most elite of luxury vehicles, and the embrace of the brand by big-time athletes, actors, musicians and the super rich have vaulted the iconic vehicle into the pinnacle of high-end transportation.

Yet Rolls Royce doesn't just want to be the luxury sedan supplier to the super rich. Now it's thinking about going after the super-rich sport-utility vehicle buyer, as well.

"The (SUV) segment is highly interesting," Rolls Royce chief executive Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes told Reuters at the Frankfurt motor show last week. "We're now looking at it but there are no plans as yet."

Interestingly, Rolls-Royce's main competitor in the luxury brand arena, Bentley, a division of Volkswagen AG (VLKAY), does have plans to build an SUV. The four-wheel-drive EXP 9 F is in the concept stage right now, and according to the company, it won't be out until the 2016 model year. Volkswagen also has plans for a Lamborghini sport-utility vehicle, called the Urus SUV, although there isn't a production date yet.

Rolls-Royce is owned by upscale German automaker BMW, and the thinking among auto sector analysts is that a Rolls SUV could boost the total volume of sales for the brand. Last year, Rolls-Royce sold just 3,575 cars.

For the auto industry, the mere idea of a super-high-end luxury SUV is a huge turnaround from just a few years ago. As gasoline prices were on the march higher, and as the Great Recession gripped the nation and the global economy, SUVs were seen as possibly going the way of the dodo bird. Horrible gas mileage ratings were seen as a big money waster, and though SUVs were popular for transport capacity and safety reasons, they also were seen as drains on a cash-strapped public.

Now, however, nearly every major auto maker has come out with new SUVs, hybrid SUVs, and vehicles with improved fuel efficiency and the cargo space and safety characteristics of traditional SUVs. Ford (F), General Motors (GM), Fiat's (FIATY) Chrysler all have their sights set on capturing even more of the growing SUV market, as do Japanese auto giants Honda (HMC), Toyota (TM) and Nissan (NSANY).

For automakers, now seems like a great time to ride the buying wave, as car buyers have largely ignored increases in fuel prices and are opting for big trucks and heavier SUVs. In fact, now is perhaps the best time in history to own a vehicle for a host of reasons, including durability, fuel efficiency, safety, low financing costs and overall affordability.

So, who will be the biggest winners from the current favorable conditions for cars in general and for SUVs in particular?

Well, a quick look at the top-selling SUVs in August should give us a very good sense of where the buying public is right now. Interestingly, all of the major automakers have a lead dog in the fight. Honda and its CR-V is the top seller in the SUV category among US buyers, according to statistics from auto industry website GoodCarBadCar. Ford comes in second with its Escape, followed by Chevrolet's Equinox, Toyota's RAV4 and Jeep's Grand Cherokee.

The biggest takeaway here is that SUVs are hot, so it's no surprise to me that Rolls-Royce is considering a shot at the über-rich SUV buyer. So, if a few years from now you see the latest Major League Baseball sensation cruising up to an LA hotspot in a Rolls-Royce SUV, remember you heard about it here first.

As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Goldman Sees Some Coal Stocks Worth Buying

Goldman Sachs has started seeing coal stocks as a Buy. But they are being very picky in their selections.

In a note published Friday, Goldman analysts Neil Mehta and Vinit Joshi issued a mix of outlooks for the batter coal sector, among them Buy ratings on CONSOL Energy (CNX) and SunCoke Energy (SXC) and a Sell on Arch Coal (ACI).

Plagued by falling commodity prices, weak volumes and government regulations, few industries have suffered the kind of punishment that coal stocks have seen in 2013. Shares have risen since July on improving confidence. Still, at $19.22, the Market Vectors Coal ETF (KOL) sits almost 24% below where it traded on Dec. 31.

But Mehta and Joshi are "neutral" on the industry, and suggest that investors avoid pure play coal name. They do suggest looking for "sum-of-the-parts" stories and names with strong balance sheets. They write:

The coal sector continues to face challenges including coal plant retirements, high net debt levels and commodity prices below historical averages. But we see some reasons for optimism, including the bottoming of met coal prices, YTD underperformance versus the S&P500 of 44% and some strong company-specific ideas, namely CNX and SXC.

As for specific stocks, the Goldman analysts issued five ratings changes:

Upgrade CONSOL Energy to Buy given strong production growth at its E&P segment, improving cash flow from the coal business and potential for asset sales/restructuring to help realize its SOTP value. Downgrade Arch Coal to Sell due to high leverage, peak valuations and low free cash flow levels. Neutral Ratings on Cloud Peal Energy (CLD), Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) and Walt Energy (WLT): Goldman downgrade Cloud to a Neutral given a lower production outlook and a reduced PRB price forecast. The firm upgraded Alpha and Walt to Neutral from Sell, predicting that met coal prices have bottomed.

Arch Coal has fallen 5.7% to day to $4.26, followed by Cloud Pearl, down 3.4% to $14.68, and a 3% drop by Walt Energy to $14.10. Alpha Natural dropped 2.8% to $6.10. And CONSOL fell 0.9% to $33.46.

4 Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume today.

Kythera Biopharmaceuticals

Kythera Biopharmaceuticals (KYTH) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel prescription products for the aesthetic medicine market. This stock closed up 12.2% to $31.99 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 221,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 72,572

Volume % Change: 220%

From a technical perspective, KYTH ripped sharply higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $26.92 with heavy upside volume. This move pushed shares of KYTH into new all-time-high territory above its previous all-time high at $31.93, which is bullish technical price action.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KYTH as long as it's trending above Monday's low of $28.28 and then once it sustains a move or close above its new all-time high at $32 with volume that hits near or above 72,572 shares. If we get that move soon, then KYTH will set up to enter new all-time-high territory, which is bullish price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $35 to $37.

Usec

Usec (USU) is a global energy company, which is a supplier of low enriched uranium for commercial nuclear power plants. This stock closed up 8.3% at $13.75 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 1.57 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 651,161

Volume % Change: 227%

From a technical perspective, USU bounced sharply higher here right off its 200-day moving average of $11.77 and back above its 50-day moving average of $13.36 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last month, with shares moving lower from its high of $22.73 to its recent low of $12.12. During that move, shares of USU have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, the downside volatility might be over in the short-term for USU, since the stock has now started to bounce off key moving averages with volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in USU as long as it's trending above Monday's low of $12.12 and then once it sustains a move or close above Monday's intraday high of $14.66 with volume that hits near or above 651,161 shares. If we get that move soon, then USU will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $17 to $19.

Nu Skin Enterprises

Nu Skin Enterprises (NUS) is a direct selling company, which develops and distributes personal care products and nutritional supplements that are sold under the Nu Skin and Pharmanex brands. This stock closed up 5.4% at $92.96 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 2 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 900,802

Volume % Change: 85%

From a technical perspective, NUS ripped higher here right above some near-term support at $85 with heavy upside volume. This move pushed shares of NUS into breakout and new 52-week-high territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $88.20 to $89.69. This move also pushed shares of NUS above the upper-end of its recent range that saw the stock trend between $82 to just above $89.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in NUS as long as it's trending above support at $85 and then once it sustains a move or close above Monday's high of $93.33 with volume that this near or above 900,802 shares. If we get that move soon, then NUS will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $100 to $105.

Domino's Pizza

Domino's Pizza (DPZ) is engaged in retail sales of food through Domino's Pizza stores; sales of equipment and supplies to Domino's Pizza stores and receipt of royalties from domestic and international Domino's Pizza franchisees. This stock closed up 2.3% at $63.04 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 1.19 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 663,847

Volume % Change: 65%

From a technical perspective, DPZ jumped higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $62.06 with strong upside volume. This stock has been trending sideways for the last few weeks, with shares moving between $60.86 on the downside and just over $64 on the upside. This move on Monday has now started to push shares of DPZ above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in DPZ as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $62.06 and then once it sustains a move or close above Monday's high of $63.07 with volume that's near or above 663,847 shares. If we get that move soon, then DPZ will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $64.70. Any high-volume move above that level will then give DPZ a chance to tag $70.

To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Stocks to Watch: J.C. Penney, Nike, Finish Line

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Friday’s session are J.C. Penney Co.(JCP), Nike Inc. and Finish Line Inc.(FINL)

J.C. Penney’s offering of 84 million shares priced at a 7.4% discount to the retailer’s closing price on Thursday, raising more than $800 million. The department-store chain is seeing some improvement in sales but is still facing concerns from creditors, who worry that the retailer’s road ahead is uncertain. Shares fell 7.5% to $9.64 in recent premarket trading, in line with the offering’s $9.65 price.

Nike's(NKE) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 38% as its namesake brand posted revenue growth and wider margins. Shares rose 6.6% to $74.95 premarket as the athletic-gear company’s earnings beat Wall Street estimates.

Finish Line’s fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 6.1% as the athletic-gear retailer recorded a double-digit revenue increase. Shares were up 8.8% to $24.36 in light premarket trading as results beat analyst expectations.

Accenture(ACN) PLC’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 16%, mostly owing to a lower effective tax rate, while the global consulting and outsourcing firm also recorded improved revenue and margins. Shares fell 3.2% to $73.42 in premarket trading as the company forecast current-quarter revenue slightly below analysts’ estimates.

Nektar Therapeutics sa(NKTR)id its treatment for moderate to severe chronic pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee failed to meet its primary endpoint in a Phase 2 study. Shares fell 22% to $10.78 premarket.

Toray Industries Inc.(3402.TO), the global market leader in carbon fiber, agreed to buy smaller rival Zoltek Cos.(ZOLT) in a deal valued at $584 million. The Japanese synthetic-fiber maker offered $16.75 a share, a 9.5% discount to Thurday’s close. Zoltek has struggled amid what it has called a cyclical downturn in the wind energy market. Zoltek shares dropped 10% to $16.58 in light premarket trading.

AZZ Inc.'s(AZZ) fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 3.1%, but the company warned that delays in new construction for domestic and international nuclear-power projects and the delayed start for the “petrochemical renaissance” in the Gulf Coast have resulted in a significant portion of its backlog in the electrical and industrial segment. It lowered its outlook for the year and projected weak results for the current quarter.

Electronic Arts Inc.(EA) said it is canceling its popular college-football videogame next year, amid uncertainty about the future of the franchise and the continued legal acrimony surrounding college sports.

Entropic Communications Inc.(ENTR) said its board has authorized a $30 million share-repurchase program. The chip maker recently had a market capitalization of $394.1 million, according to FactSet.

Marathon Petroleum Corp.'s(MPC) board approved an additional $2 billion for stock repurchases, more than doubling the amount the refining-and-pipeline company has available for share buybacks.

Pet-products retailer PetSmart Inc.(PETM) boosted its quarterly dividend by 18% while announcing a plan to repurchase $535 million in shares.

RDA Microelectronics Inc.(RDA) has received a takeover proposal from Shanghai Pudong Science & Technology Investment Co. valuing the Chinese semiconductor company at $745 million. PDSTI, a state-owned investment company, offered to buy RDA for $15.50 an American depositary share, a 12% premium to RDA’s closing price Thursday. RDA shares were halted premarket ahead of the news.

Thor Industries Inc.’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings jumped 31% as the recreational-vehicle maker reported a surge in sales. The company attributed the uptick in revenue to strong growth in motorized RV sales and more modest growth in towable RV sales.

Vail Resorts Inc.’s fiscal fourth-quarter loss widened as the ski-resort operator’s real-estate revenue shrank during the off-season quarter, missing top-line views.

UBS gains adviser with $4.8B from Morgan Stanley

John Rasweiler, a prominent Morgan Stanley adviser in New Jersey, has joined UBS Financial Services Inc.

Mr. Rasweiler, a 45-year veteran of the industry, joined UBS's Florham Park, N.J., office last Friday, according to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. registration records.

Mr. Rasweiler's team handles $4.8 billion in assets and has trailing 12-month production of $10 million, said UBS spokesman Gregg Rosenberg.

Joining Mr. Rasweiler were team members John Cusate, Jack Riley, Michael Jordao, Jesse Kent and William Burke.

Mr. Rasweiler did not return a call yesterday.

Christine Jockle, a Morgan Stanley spokeswoman, confirmed Mr. Rasweiler's departure, but declined further comment about his move.

Mr. Rasweiler is a “huge producer who handles large stock plans like Exxon,” said Frank LaRosa, head of Elite Recruiting and Consulting, which recruits for UBS.

A legacy Smith Barney broker, Mr. Rasweiler “is legend at the firm,” said Mr. LaRosa, who was not involved in Mr. Rasweiler's move.

5 Best Value Stocks To Watch For 2014

Despite performing well on an operational level and growing sales by more than 10%, several companies in the mining and natural gas sectors failed to impress on the earnings line of their individual income statements. Investors that fail to dive a bit deeper into the results might be scared off during times like this. However, a closer look eases many concerns on a company-specific level.�

Because asset prices fluctuate, the values that they carry on a company's financial statements must be adjusted accordingly. Impairment charges frequently stem from this practice and can affect earnings and the appearance of the balance sheet. During periods of falling commodity prices, like the one metals and natural gas endured in 2012, the effects are expectedly negative. The following video details several companies in the mining and natural gas sectors that felt the ill affects of these account rules.

5 Best Value Stocks To Watch For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephen Leeb]

  The portfolio is concentrated, holding the 25 largest oil-service firms in the world by market capitalization. Indeed, the top five positions account for 44% of assets, led by a 20% position in oilfield giant Schlumberger (SLB).

5 Best Value Stocks To Watch For 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Everyone is familiar with�the Tupperware brand from�consumer products stock Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) and you are probably familiar with the brands�of mid cap stock Jarden Corp (NYSE: JAH) along with small cap stocks Libbey Inc (NYSEMKT: LBY) and Lifetime Brands Inc (NASDAQ: LCUT); but what about the stocks themselves? Chances are, their brands or products are right under your nose at home and you probably don�� know anything about the mid cap or small cap stock behind them.

Top 10 Casino Stocks To Watch For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Dollar General�� share price is up less than 6% in the past 12 months, but since the beginning of the year shares have risen more than 22%. And even then, Dollar General�trails Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) in share price growth since January 1. Dollar Tree stock is up 30%.

• [By ANUP SINGH]

  Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR  ) is among the most successful single-price-point retailers in the U.S. It operates more than 4,842 stores across 48 states in the U.S. and five Provinces in Canada. The chart below shows that the company has been performing consistently well over the past five years.

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  The finance sector, as mentioned, can make money in many ways. The second-highest growth sector is expected to be consumer discretionary, with a 6.2% increase. When you look at earnings from luxury brands like Tiffany & Co. (TIF), and that the hotel sector continues to do very well, it suggests that those people who are in good financial shape are spending their money. Meanwhile, dollar players like Dollar Tree (DLTR) continue to perform very well, suggesting that folks with less money are spending it on cheaper items.

5 Best Value Stocks To Watch For 2014: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The rush to cut costs has been felt the hardest by mining-industry suppliers, including Caterpillar (CAT) and Joy Global�(JOY), Graf and Levental say, because cancelling orders for new equipment is one of the easiest ways to cut costs.

• [By David Sterman]

  It's mining giant Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT).

  Gates started building a position in Caterpillar before the financial crisis, but he became a very aggressive buyer once the crisis hit and shares had fallen by half. Yet remarkably, Gates has kept on buying, even as shares steadily rebounded to previous peaks.

Hot Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now

Just a few weeks after Paulson & Co. sold off more than half of its holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD) in the second quarter, investors are moving back into the precious metal.

GLD is trading up about 0.5% on Friday and should end the week up about 2% vs. a 2% decline for the S&P 500. At the same time, volatility in the markets is down about 1% today, but should end the week up 6%.

As gold futures rose about 2% on Thursday, JPMorgan analysts said in a report, “This may be delivering an exclamation mark to define the end of the 10-month, 25% fall in gold and 50% fall in gold equities.”

In general, the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program has a negative impact on the dollar, is viewed as inflationary and hence improves the outlook for gold, long seen as an inflation hedge.

For the past month, the SPDR Gold ETF has improved 5%. During the last four weeks, volatility has ticked up 2%, while the S&P 500 has been flat.

Hot Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now: Goldman Sachs Group Inc.(The)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Its Investment Banking segment offers financial advisory, including advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense, risk management, restructurings, and spin-offs; and underwriting securities, loans and other financial instruments, and derivative transactions. The company?s Institutional Client Services segment provides client execution activities, such as fixed income, currency, and commodities client execution related to making markets in interest rate products, credit products, mortgages, currencies, and commodities; and equities related to making markets in equity products, as well as commissions and fees from executing and clearing institutional client transactions on stock, options, and fu tures exchanges. This segment also engages in the securities services business providing financing, securities lending, and other prime brokerage services to institutional clients, including hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, and foundations. Its Investing and Lending segment invests in debt securities, loans, public and private equity securities, real estate, consolidated investment entities, and power generation facilities. This segment also involves in the origination of loans to provide financing to clients. The company?s Investment Management segment provides investment management services and investment products to institutional and individual clients. This segment also offers wealth advisory services, including portfolio management and financial counseling, and brokerage and other transaction services to high-net-worth individuals and families. In addition, it provides global investment research services. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Hot Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now: Australian Dollar(AU)

AngloGold Ashanti Limited primarily engages in the exploration and production of gold. It also produces silver, uranium oxide, and sulfuric acid. The company conducts gold-mining operations in South Africa; continental Africa, including Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Namibia, and Tanzania; Australia; and the Americas, which include Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. It also has mining or exploration operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, and Colombia. As of December 31, 2010, the company had proved and probable gold reserves of 71.2 million ounces. The company has a strategic alliance with Thani Dubai Mining Limited to explore, develop, and operate mines across the Middle East and parts of North Africa. AngloGold Ashanti Limited, formerly known as Vaal Reefs Exploration and Mining Company Limited, was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sally Jones]

  Anglogold Ashanti Limited (AU)

  Down 65% over 12 months, Anglogold Ashanti Limited has a market cap of $4.85 billion, and trades with a P/E of 8.10.

• [By Profit Confidential]

  Graham Ehm, Executive Vice President of South African-based AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE: AU), one of the biggest gold producers in the global economy, stated the company is looking to save $500 million over the next 18 months, as capital expenditures will only be going towards their highest-quality assets. (Source: Mining Weekly, August 5, 2013.)

Top 5 Insurance Stocks To Buy For 2014: NEW GOLD INC.(NGD)

New Gold Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, extraction, processing, and reclamation of mineral properties. The company primarily explore for gold, silver, and copper deposits. Its operating properties include the Mesquite gold mine in the United States; the Cerro San Pedro gold-silver mine in Mexico; and the Peak gold-copper mine in Australia. The company also has development projects, including the New Afton gold, silver, and copper project in Canada; and a 30% interest in the El Morro copper-gold project in Chile. The company was formerly known as DRC Resources Corporation and changed its name to New Gold Inc. in June 2005. New Gold Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Bridges favorite stocks include Goldcorp, Newmont, Eldorado Gold (EGO) and New Gold (NGD).

  Note, however, that these recommendations are all qualified in one way or another. Investors should keep that in mind before going all in on the gold miners.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  One group of stocks not feeling the optimism today: Gold miners. With fewer concerns that a U.S. attack on Syria will be disruptive and more evidence that tapering will begin this month, the price of the precious metal has dropped 1.6% to $1,388.90 an ounce–and gold stocks are falling with it. New Gold (NGD), for one, has dropped 3% to $6.55, while Barrick Gold (ABX) has fallen 1.3% to $19.25.

Hot Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now: Northgate Minerals Corporation(NXG)

Northgate Minerals Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in exploring, developing, processing, and mining gold and copper deposits in Canada and Australia. Its principal producing assets include 100% interests in the Fosterville and Stawell Gold mines in Victoria, Australia; and the Kemess South mine located in north-central British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as Northgate Exploration Limited and changed its name to Northgate Minerals Corporation in May 2004. Northgate Minerals Corporation was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Hot Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now: Claude Resources Inc.(CGR)

Claude Resources Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal properties, as well as production and marketing of minerals in Canada. It primarily explores for gold in northern Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario. The company holds interests in the Seabee gold mine located at Laonil Lake, northern Saskatchewan; and the Madsen property that consists of 6 contiguous claim blocks totaling approximately 10,000 acres, located in the Red Lake Mining District of northwestern Ontario. It also holds interest in the Amisk Gold project, which covers an area of 13,800 hectares in the province of Saskatchewan. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in Saskatoon, Canada.

Hot Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now: Newmont Mining Corporation(Holding Company)

Newmont Mining Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of gold and copper properties. The company?s assets or operations are located in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Ghana, Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico. As of December 31, 2009, it had proven and probable gold reserves of approximately 93.5 million equity ounces and an aggregate land position of approximately 27,500 square miles. The company was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Hot Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now: Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited(AEM)

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties in Canada, Finland, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as silver, copper, zinc, and lead. Its flagship property includes the LaRonde mine located in the southern portion of the Abitibi volcanic belt, Canada. The company was founded in 1953 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By vaninaegea]

  In august, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) published the mid-year review for the agricultural sector. Their findings point to a slowdown for the industry, highlighting a 9.5% decline on exports through the first half of 2013. Also, late soybean planting in the USA is expected to compound the industry�� slowdown. So, what are the prospects for AGCO (AGCO), CNH Global (CNH), and Deere & Co. (DE) under such conditions?

Hot Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now: Iamgold Corporation(IAG)

IAMGOLD Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral resource properties worldwide. It primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, copper, niobium, diamonds, and other metals. The company holds interests in eight operating gold mines, a niobium producer, a diamond royalty, and exploration and development projects located in Africa and the Americas. Its advanced exploration and development projects include the Westwood project in Canada; and the Quimsacocha project, which consists of 3 mining concessions covering an aggregate area of approximately 8,030 hectares in Ecuador. The company was formerly known as IAMGOLD International African Mining Gold Corporation and changed its name to IAMGOLD Corporation in June 1997. IAMGOLD Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Blair]

  IAMGOLD (IAG) is one of my favorite gold stocks principally because it is a relatively high cost producer with long lived mines. That paradox arises since high cost producers have the most volatility when gold prices change. If they are operating close to break even, a relatively small rise in gold prices makes them quite profitable. Conversely, when prices fall they bleed all over the floor.

Time to Get Off the Elite Pharmaceuticals Train (ELTP)

Exactly one month ago today I penned some bullish thoughts on Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCBB:ELTP). If you're familiar with the company - or a regular reader of this site - then you may know why that sounds a little "off." See, at the time, ELTP shares were falling rather quickly, giving up all the gains they had made just a few days before. Almost needless to say, my premise was not a well received one. Let's just say I received some "colorful disagreements" by being optimistic about the biopharma company.

Well, what else can I say now, other than it's fun to be right, and satisfying to be vindicated. ELTP shares have rallied 98% since my last look at the stock back on August 19th.

I'm not reprising that write-up to brag, however. I can and do misfire as much as anybody else. The reason I'm bringing Elite Pharmaceuticals up again today is to suggest now's the time to lock in your gain and walk away, if you stepped into a position on my advice last month. [Never let it be said I don't follow up on my picks.]

That's going to be about as tough to swallow for some traders as my original bullish call on ELTP was back in mid-August. Shares seem to be soaring now, and bailing out here feels like you're getting off the bullish train in the middle of the journey. I get that. I'm just saying, after too many years in this business and too many gray hairs by being in this industry, I've seen stocks get up-ended - with little to no warning - right in the middle of what seemed like an unstoppable rally. Indeed, a lot of folks were chastising me for going long on a stock that "had no shot at any upside" a month ago, yet that very stock has nearly doubled in the meantime. Nothing lasts forever, and the time to expect it is when you least expect it. 

Now, I'm not saying Elite Pharmaceuticals will n ever rise again. In fact, I specifically said the stock was entering a long-term rally phase when I explored it back in August. I'm just saying the potential pullback from here is a little more than the average investor may want to ride out. Once we bleed off some of this overbought pressure, then we can start wading back in again. That could be somewhere around the $0.10 area, where ELTP had to regroup late last week and early this week, and where the 20-day and/or the 50-day moving average lines will be in a couple of days when they could be tested.

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Stocks: Weighed down by Washington woes

Click on chart to track premarkets

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) After hitting all-time highs earlier in the month, stock markets have taken a negative turn as investors worry about developments in Washington.

U.S. stock futures were little changed ahead of the opening bell and most global stock indexes were in the red.

There are concerns that Congress will be unable to adequately deal with the country's debt ceiling woes, which means the government risks defaulting on its debt next month. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew warned Tuesday that Wall Street should take the looming debt limit more seriously.

Investors also considered the possibility that the U.S. government might shut down on Oct. 1, which could hit economic growth.

"Debt ceiling fears have seen risk aversion return," wrote Societe Generale analyst Kit Juckes in a market report. He compared the impending government shutdown and the prospect of raising the debt ceiling to "observing a man holding a loaded shotgun, pointed at his own foot."

On the economic front, the Census Bureau will release reports on durable goods orders at 8:30 a.m. ET, and on new-home sales at 10 a.m.

In corporate news, AutoZone (AZO, Fortune 500) is set to release quarterly results before the opening bell, while Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY, Fortune 500) is due after the close.

Carniva (CCL)l stock declined in premarket trading after the vacation cruise company reported dismal earnings late Tuesday.

U.S. stocks ended mostly lower Tuesday. Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 index have now suffered four straight days of losses.

Global stocks also lost ground. Asian markets ended Wednesday's session mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei index declining 0.8%. The Shanghai Composite also weakened, but the Hang Seng in Hong Kong bucked the trend to close slightly higher.

European markets were down roughly 0.2% in midday trading.

The All-American "Short Squeeze" No One Else Sees

Everyone knows the U.S. housing "recovery" has been resurrected on slippery ground. But now that we're finally about to slip - big time - no one sees it coming...

Then again, how could they?

The numbers are incredibly misleading...

According to the Commerce Department, new residential home sales in July fell a whopping 13.4% from their June sales pace. And sales in April, May, and June were all revised significantly lower.

Yet according to the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales (completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops) increased 6.5%... to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.39 million in July, from a downwardly revised 5.06 million in June.

On the surface, the divergence is confusing. But not when you look below the surface, where the real money gets made.

As you'll see (before anyone else), the housing "recovery" is just one giant "short squeeze."

And you can make a flat-out killing the moment it ends...

Meet America's Biggest Home Buyers

The divergence in sales of new homes vs. existing homes can be explained as a function of three factors: investor interest, pricing, and potential appreciation.

In just the last two years, institutional investors, hedge funds, private equity firms, and real estate investment trusts have raised more than $18 billion and bought more than 100,000 single-family homes.

Blackstone Group L.P.'s Invitation Homes unit has spent over $5 billion buying more than 32,000 single-family homes. They are the largest owner of homes in the United States.

American Homes 4 Rent, which went public last month and is the second-largest single-family homeowner in the United States, has spent $3.4 billion buying up almost 20,000 single-family homes and said in their August earnings call that they're spending $100 million a month buying more homes.

These institutional buyers aren't buying new homes in bulk; they're buying existing homes in bulk... and one at a time.

New homes, built by giant national builders like Pulte, Lennar, and Toll Brothers, as well as new homes built by small regional and local builders, are priced according to their cost to build, with hoped-for profit margins added on. Generally, there isn't a lot of negotiating room on prices.

Additionally, new homes are financed by builders' banks who build cushions into their loans. And since loans are "new," they can remain outstanding a lot longer than old loans before banks have to classify them as "non-performing."

That gives builders of new homes greater pricing and staying power. In other words, builders aren't readily discounting their inventories to make them attractive to new home buyers.

On the existing homes' side of the street, there's a lot more room to negotiate...

A Crowd of Highly Motivated Sellers... Who Love Cash

Distressed property owners - banks holding foreclosures, beleaguered individual owners, and short-selling owners (those selling homes for less than their mortgaged loan values) - have all been eager to sell... especially for cash, which institutional buyers readily dangle in front of them.

While institutional investors often pay cash, they are in fact financing the cash they're laying out. With interest rates as low as they are, especially for corporate borrowers able to float their I.O.U.s in the bond market, amassing cash hoards against their stock-based equity collateral (via covenant-lite bond offerings) adds to their massive buying power.

New homes tend to appreciate based on "at-the-market" trends, while existing homes are often perceived as having inherently more room to appreciate. That's because many existing homes were previously valued significantly above current market prices. Homes in neighborhoods that once enjoyed solid appreciation rates but have been deeply discounted are desirable purchases on account of the "bounce-back in price" perception.

That's why existing home sales have held up better than new home sales.

Now let's look at house price appreciation trends, which have been robust to say the least.

Just keep in mind the impact the billions of dollars being applied to the market by institutions is having on pricing trends in the existing home market...

A Dangerous Double Dip Looms

The national median existing home price for all housing types was $213,500 in July, which is 13.7% above July 2012 and marks 17 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases, which last occurred from January 2005 to May 2006.

The median price rose at double-digit rates for the past eight months and is only 7.3% below the all-time record of $230,400, posted in July 2006. Two years ago, the median price was 25.7% below the peak.

New home prices haven't risen as quickly. In 2009, after falling 6.6% from faltering 2008 prices, the median new home price was $216,700. As of July 2013 the median new home price is $257,200, which is an 18% increase over the 2009 price level.

In spite of the recent divergence in the pace of sales and rates of change in sales trends between existing and new homes sales, prices on both streets have risen steadily.

Given the rapid appreciation rates of both new and existing home prices and the outsized impact institutional buying has had on existing home sales price appreciation, unless inventories of new and existing homes drop precipitously, it's not only unlikely that the recovery in housing will continue, but it's likely to peter out and result in a double-dip backward slide.

Why? Housing has risen too far too fast off its floor given trends in economic growth, employment, interest rates, lending standards, mortgage money availability, and consumer confidence.

We're already seeing a back-up in pending sale contracts, refinancings, and new money purchase loans on account of the tick up in rates. Which, on a historic basis, are still very low. If rates continue to climb on the long end of the yield curve, buyers will balk. If rates tick up on the short end of the yield curve, banks will balk at lending. In other words, if the Fed does not continue to engineer a steep yield curve, then purchase money will become tighter and tighter.

There can't be any meaningful recovery in housing beyond the bounce we've seen unless lenders loosen underwriting standards and make loans plentiful.

The back-office mechanics that previously facilitated the robust velocity of mortgage money availability, meaning the ability of lenders to package, securitize, and offload loans from their balance sheets, are still clogged up.

Risk-retention rules pertaining to how much lenders have to retain on their balance sheets against loans they make, in the form of the as-yet unfinished qualified residential mortgage (QRM or QM) rules, will be an impediment to robust lending.

U.S. regulations and Basel rules are still being written, rewritten, and challenged by banks who argue that more stringent reserve ratios, leverage ratios, and risk-asset definitions will be too restrictive and will result in credit tightening. So far, the net result is that banks aren't inclined to flush mortgage conduits with money if they don't know how those loans will be accounted for by regulators.

The bottom line, again:

You can't sustain a robust housing recovery without banks' willing participation.

Then there's the economy, unemployment, and home purchaser confidence.

None of those metrics are encouraging.

While second-quarter GDP growth was revised to 2.5% from 1.7%, the pace of growth remains well below the expected 3% rate economists had projected for 2013.

Unemployment is still stubbornly high and may remain above 7% as the new structural level of unemployment becomes harder and harder to bring down.

Technology and productivity gains have eviscerated middle-management jobs, and Obamacare threatens to reduce the ranks of the fully employed in the future as companies opt for more part-time workers to reduce their mandated contributions under the new healthcare regime rules.

This Is a Classic Short Squeeze 5 Ways to Short the "Recovery" Capital Wave Forecast readers will have a chance to play housing's "double dip" in a number of ways.

But here are a few of the recommendations Shah will consider when it's time to move:

1. Shorting homebuilders like Pulte (PHM), Lennar (LEN), and Toll Brothers (TOL).

2. Selling short one or two majors while selling calls on homebuilder ETFs.

3. Buying puts on discretionary-based ETFs, especially the one that equally weights the stocks that make up its underlying portfolio -Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF (RCD).

4. Buying puts on leveraged REITS that bet on mortgage-backed portfolios.

5. Shorting banks that haven't cleaned up the mortgage-backed securities bets on their balance sheets.

Last, but certainly not least, future homebuyers are witnessing the evaporation of their own potential equity build-up as rapidly rising prices are squeezing any cushion new buyers would have hoped to enjoy. As that appreciation gets ratcheted out of the market for new buyers, banks will increasingly demand more skin in the game on account of expected or hoped-for equity cushion build-up rapidly disappearing.

The rapid rise in home prics looks to me like a classic short squeeze.

Investors have bid up home prices off the floor so as to make rentals more expensive and force individual homebuyers to pay full price for whatever inventory is on the market.

Once the trade is fully priced and at new highs, on a relative time and appreciation basis, the buying power represented by the bottom-feeding institutional money will dry up, and only homebuyers in a solidly growing economy with greater employment opportunities and bankable confidence will be left to take prices higher and provide forward momentum for the recovery in housing.

As a trader, I say: "Good luck with that."

I'll be watching the trend rollover and will look to short the housing recovery in the not too distant future.

I'll let you know...

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now

The poor performance of industrial biotech companies after their IPOs has halted and postponed several public debuts of promising companies in years past. The industry has become known for promising too much too soon, only to surprise investors with negative developments. But Fool.com contributor Maxx Chatsko explains why that could be about to change during the remainder of 2013.

He believes several companies have set the bar precipitously low to start the year despite targeted developments expected to occur before the start of 2014. Watch the following video for his thoughts on potential positive surprises awaiting investors in�Amyris� (NASDAQ: AMRS  ) ,�BioAmber� (NYSE: BIOA  ) ,�Codexis� (NASDAQ: CDXS  ) , and�Solazyme� (NASDAQ: SZYM  ) .

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Organovo Holdings Inc (ONVO)

Organovo Holdings, Inc. (Organovo), formerly Real Estate Restoration & Rental, Inc., incorporated in 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company has developed and is commercializing a platform technology for the generation of three-dimensional (3D) human tissues that can be employed in drug discovery and development, biological research, and as therapeutic implants for the treatment of damaged or degenerating tissues and organs. On December 28, 2011, Real Estate Restoration and Rental, Inc.�� (RERR) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, pursuant to which RERR merged with its, wholly owned subsidiary, Organovo (Merger Sub). On February 8, 2012, the Company merged with and into Organovo Acquisition Corp. (Acquisition Corp.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo Holdings (the Merger). As a result of the Merger, Organovo acquired the business of Organovo, Inc.

The Company has collaborative research agreements with Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer) and United Therapeutic Corporation (Unither). As of March 31, 2012, it has five federal grants, including Small Business Innovation Research grants and developed the NovoGen MMX Bioprinter (its first-generation 3D bioprinter). The Company is engaged in the development of specific 3D human tissues to aid Pfizer in discovery of therapies in two areas of interest. In addition, in October 2011, it entered into a research agreement with Unither to establish and conduct a research program to discover treatments for pulmonary hypertension using its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter technology. Additionally, under the research agreement with Unither, the Company granted Unither an option to acquire from the Company a worldwide, royalty-bearing license in certain intellectual property created under the research agreement solely for use in the treatment or prevention of pulmonary hypertension and all other lung diseases.

The Company�� NovoGen MMX Bioprinter is an automate! d device that enables the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) living tissues comprised of mammalian cells. A custom graphic user interface (GUI) facilitates the 3D design and execution of scripts that direct precision movement of the dispensing heads to deposit cellular building blocks (bio-ink) or supporting hydrogel. The Company is using a third party manufacturer, Invetech Pty., of Melbourne, Australia, to manufacture its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter. Its bioprinting technology and surrounding intellectual property and commercial rights serve as a platform for product generation across multiple markets that employ cell- and tissue-based products and services.

The Company competes with Organogenesis, Advanced BioHealing, Tengion, Genzyme, HumaCyte and Cytograft Tissue Engineering.

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: DiaMedica Inc (DMA)

DiaMedica Inc. (DiaMedica) is a development-stage company. The Company is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and related diseases. DiaMedica's compound, DM-199, is a recombinant human protein for the treatment of both Type I and Type II diabetes and their complications. DiaMedica is starting a Phase I/II clinical trial for DM-199. DM-199 is a recombinant human protein, which improves glucose control, protects beta cells through the expansion of a population of antigen-specific immunosuppressive cells (Tregs), and proliferates insulin producing beta cells through the activation of certain growth factors. The Company�� DM-204 is a G-protein-coupled receptor agonist (GPCR) monoclonal antibody to treat Type II diabetes and some of the associated complication's. activating a receptor resulted in insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and vasodilation.

Top 5 Casino Companies For 2014: Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (INO)

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on June 29, 1983, is engaged in the development of a new generation of vaccines, called synthetic vaccines, focused on cancers and infectious diseases. The Company's SynCon technology enables the design of universal vaccines capable of providing cross-protection against existing or changing strains of pathogens, such as influenza and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Company's electroporation delivery technology uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular uptake of the vaccine. Its clinical programs include cervical dysplasia (therapeutic), avian influenza (preventive), prostate cancer (therapeutic), leukemia (therapeutic), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV vaccines. It is advancing preclinical research and clinical development for a universal seasonal/pandemic influenza vaccine, as well as preclinical work for other products, including malaria and prostate cancer vaccines. Its partners and collaborators include University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health/Malaria Vaccine Initiative (PATH/MVI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Merck, ChronTech, University of Southampton, United States Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP), the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and HIV Vaccines Trial Network (HVTN). As of December 31, 2011 it owned 16.1% interest in VGX Int��.

Inovio�� Solution

The Company�� synthetic vaccine platform consists of its SynCon vaccine design process and electroporation delivery technology. It has developed a preclinical and clinical stage pipeline of vaccines. The Company�� synthetic vaccines are designed to prevent a disease (prophylactic vaccines) or treat an existing disease (therapeutic vaccines). Its synthetic vaccine consists of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) plasmid encoding a selected antigen! (s), which is introduced into cells of humans or animals with the purpose of evoking an immune response to the encoded antigen. The Company�� synthetic vaccines are designed to generate specific antibody and/or T-cell responses.

The Company�� SynCon technology provides processes that employ bioinformatics, which combine extensive genetic data and sophisticated algorithms. Its design process uses the genetic make-up of a common antigen(s) from multiple strains of a virus within a viral sub-type or taxonomic group (family) of pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza and other diseases to synthetically create a new antigen for the desired pathogen target that does not exist in nature. Its synthetic vaccine candidates are being delivered into cells of the body using its electroporation (EP) DNA delivery technology.

Cancer Synthetic Vaccines

The Company has two broad types of cancer vaccines: preventive (or prophylactic) vaccines, which are intended to prevent cancer from developing in healthy people, and treatment (or therapeutic) vaccines, which are intended to treat an existing cancer by strengthening the body�� natural defenses against the cancer. Two types of cancer preventive vaccines are available in the United States. The United States Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) has approved two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix that protect against infection by the two types of HPV-types 16 and 18-that cause approximately 70% of all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. In addition, Gardasil protects against infection by two additional HPV types, 6 and 11, which are responsible for about 90% of all cases of genital warts in males and females but do not cause cervical cancer.

Cervarix manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is composed of virus-like particles (VLPs) made with proteins from HPV types 16 and 18. Cervarix is approved for use in females��ages 10 to 25 for the prevention of cervical cancer caused by! HPV type! s 16 and 18. Gardasil manufactured by Merck, is approved for use in females for the prevention of cervical cancer, and some vulvar and vaginal cancers, caused by HPV types 16 and 18 and for use in males and females for the prevention of genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11. The vaccine is approved for these uses in females and males ages 9 to 26. The FDA has also approved a cancer preventive vaccine that protects against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Inovio�� VGX-3100 is designed to raise immune responses against the E6 and E7 genes of HPV types 16 and 18 that are present in both pre-cancerous and cancerous cells transformed by these HPV types. E6 and E7 are oncogenes that play an integral role in transforming HPV-infected cells into cancerous cells. In March 2011, it initiated a randomized, double-blind Phase II study of VGX-3100 delivered using the CELLECTRA intramuscular electroporation device in women with HPV Type 16 or 18 and diagnosed with, but not yet treated for, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3. The study is designed to enroll 148 subjects. In January 2011, it announced the publication of a scientific paper in the journal Human Vaccines detailing potent immune responses in a preclinical study of its SynCon vaccine for prostate cancer targeting two antigens, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA).

In January 2011, the Company announced the regulatory approval of a Phase II clinical trial (WIN Trial) to treat leukemia utilizing its new ELGEN 1000 automated vaccine delivery device. The single dose level, Phase II study, called WT1 immunity via DNA fusion gene vaccination in haematological malignancies by intramuscular injection followed by intramuscular electroporation. Cancer Vaccines encodes for hTERT, an antigen related to non-small cell lung, breast and prostate cancers. The vaccine is delivered using its electroporation delivery technology.

Infectious Disease Synthetic Vaccines

In Marc! h 2011, the Company announced the initiation of a follow-on open label, single dose Phase II clinical study in collaboration with ChronTech of the ChronVac-C HCV DNA vaccine delivered using its electroporation technology in treatment naive HCV infected individuals. Its HIV vaccines consist of candidates for HIV prevention, as well as therapy or treatment. PENNVAX-B is designed to target HIV clade B (most commonly found in the United States, North America, Australia and the European Union (EU). PENNVAX-G is designed to target HIV clades A, C and D, which are more commonly found in Asia, Africa, Russia and South America. This Phase I clinical study of PENNVAX-B (HVTN-080) vaccinated 48 healthy, HIV-negative volunteers to assess safety and levels of immune responses generated by Inovio�� PENNVAX-B vaccine delivered with its CELLECTRA electroporation device. PENNVAX-B is a SynCon vaccine that targets HIV gag, pol, and env proteins.

The Company�� VGX-3400X targets H5N1. The vaccine consists of three distinct DNA plasmids coded for a consensus hemagglutinin (HA) antigen derived from different H5N1 virus strains; a consensus neuraminidase (NA) antigen derived from different N1 sequences; and a consensus nucleoprotein (NP) fused to a small portion of the m2 protein (m2E) based on a broader cross-section of influenza viruses in addition to H5N1 and H1N1. Conventional vaccines are strain-specific and have limited ability to protect against genetic shifts in the influenza strains they target. They are therefore modified annually in anticipation of the next flu season�� new strain(s). It is focused on developing DNA-based influenza vaccines able to provide broad protection against known as well as newly emerging, unknown seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.

Animal Health/Veterinary

VGX Animal Health, Inc. (VGX AH), a majority-owned subsidiary, has licensed LifeTide, a plasmid-based growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) technology for swine. LifeTide is one of onl! y four DN! A-based treatments approved for use in animals and is the only DNA-based agent delivered using electroporation that has been granted marketing approval (Australia). VGX AH is also developing a GHRH-based treatment for cancer and anemia in dogs and cats. It is developing a synthetic vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) administered by its vaccine delivery technology. The FMD virus is one of the most infectious diseases affecting farm animals, including cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and is a serious threat to global food safety.

The Company competes with Crucell N.V, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Inc., Novartis, Inc., MedImmune and CSL.

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Amgen Inc.(AMGN)

Amgen Inc., a biotechnology medicines company, discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets human therapeutics based on advances in cellular and molecular biology for grievous illnesses primarily in the United States, Europe, and Canada. The company markets recombinant protein therapeutics in supportive cancer care, nephrology, and inflammation. Its principal products include Aranesp and EPOGEN erythropoietic-stimulating agents that stimulate the production of red blood cells; Neulasta and NEUPOGEN to stimulate the production of neutrophils, which is a type of white blood cell that helps the body to fight infections; and Enbrel, an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor that plays a role in the body?s response to inflammatory diseases. The company also markets other products comprising Sensipar/Mimpara, a small molecule calcimimetic that lowers serum calcium levels; Vectibix, a monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the epidermal growth factor receptor; and Nplate, a thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist that mimics endogenous TPO, the primary driver of platelet production. In addition, it provides Denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody that targets RANKL, an essential regulator of osteoclasts. Further, the company offers product candidates in mid-to-late stage development in a variety of therapeutic areas, including oncology, hematology, inflammation, bone, nephrology, cardiovascular, and general medicine consisting of neurology. It markets its products to healthcare providers, including physicians or their clinics, dialysis centers, hospitals, and pharmacies; consumers; and wholesale distributors of pharmaceutical products. The company has various collaborative arrangements with Pfizer Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline plc; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited; Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited; Array BioPharma Inc.; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd.; and Cytokinetics, Inc. Amgen Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Any time you see a merger announcement, you see a myriad of press releases pertaining to law firms and lawyers investigating the terms of the deal. This is in one sense the new form of class action lawsuit of yesteryear, but sometimes these suits and investigations do have merit. Now that Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) has confirmed its $10.4 billion of Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ONXX), the lawyers have been coming out of the woodwork.

• [By Jim Lowell, Partner and Chief Investment Strategist, Adviser Investments]

  You'll find Gilead (GILD) and Amgen (AMGN), for example, in his top ten, but he also has some major pharma, some medical equipment and systems, maybe some HMO sprinkled in there in his 101 holdings.

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) is a company doing the acquiring. The company recently completed a $10.4 billion purchase of Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ONYX) to add its cancer drug Kyprolis to its already sprawling portfolio. UBS has a $124 price target on the stock. The consensus target is at $123. Investors are paid a 1.7% dividend.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN)�wants to regain its status as the largest publicly traded biotech in the U.S. The company formalized a buyout of cancer drug maker Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ONXX)�for about $10.4 billion over the weekend. Amgen is seeking to reinitiate some growth and to bolster its pipeline, and we cannot help but point out that Onyx is one of the few companies we identified as one that aims to double its sales and then some in the next couple to few years.

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Scancell Holdings PLC (SCLP.L)

Scancell Holdings PLC is a United Kingdom-based company. The Company�� principal activity of the consists of the discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies and vaccines for the treatment of cancer. In April 2012, the Company completed recruitment to the Phase 1 clinical trial of SCIBI. In May 2012, the Company commenced recruitment and treatment of the first patient in the second part of it Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SCIBI. The Phase 2 part of the trial is conducted in five United Kingdom centers in Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, and Southampton. On August 15, 2012, the Company announced the development of a platform technology, Moditope.

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc.(CBST)

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products that address unmet medical needs in the acute care environment. The company markets CUBICIN (daptomycin for injection), a once-daily, bactericidal, intravenous, antibiotic with activity against gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. Its clinical development product pipeline consists of CXA-201, which is in the phase III clinical trial for patients with complicated urinary tract infections; and in phase II clinical trial for patients with complicated abdominal infections. The company is also developing CXA-201 for the treatment of hospital acquired pneumonia. In addition, its product under development comprises CB-183,315, an oral, bactericidal lipopeptide with in vitro bactericidal activity against C. difficile, for the treatment of clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). Further , the company?s pre-clinical programs include therapies to treat various bacterial infections and agents to treat acute pain. Additionally, it promotes MERREM I.V. (meropenem for injection), a carbapenem class intravenous antibiotic, in the United States under a commercial services agreement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP; and DIFICID as the treatment for CDAD in adults under the co-promotion agreement with Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The company also has collaborations with Forma Therapeutics, Inc. to discover and develop antibacterial compounds; an agreement with the Broad Institute to transform natural products discovery; a collaboration with Hydra Biosciences, Inc., to develop ion channel drugs; and a collaboration agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for the development and commercialization of Alnylam's RNAi therapeutics as a therapy for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Lexington, Mas sachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CBST) is another top stock to buy making acquisitions. It recently received antitrust clearance for its�purchase of Trius Pharmaceutical. The acquisition strengthens its already strong antibiotic franchise. UBS has a $70 price target, and the consensus is placed at $65.

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Galena Biopharma Inc (GALE.PH)

Galena Biopharma, Inc. (Galena), formerly RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, incorporated on April 3, 2006, is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies addressing unmet medical needs using targeted biotherapeutics. The Company is pursuing the development of cancer therapeutics using peptide-based immunotherapy products, including its main product candidate, NeuVaxTM (E75), for the treatment of breast cancer and other tumors. NeuVax is a peptide-based immunotherapy intended to reduce the recurrence of breast cancer in low-to-intermediate HER2-positive breast cancer patients not eligible for trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech/Roche). On January 19, 2012, the Company initiated enrollment in its Phase 3 PRESENT clinical trial for NeuVax (E75 peptide plus GM-CSF) vaccine in low-to-intermediate HER2 1+ and 2+ breast cancer patients in the adjuvant setting to prevent recurrence (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01479244). The Preven tion of Recurrence in Early-Stage, Node-Positive Breast Cancer with Low to Intermediate HER2 Expression with NeuVax Treatment study is a randomized, multicenter, multinational clinical trial that will enroll approximately 700 breast cancer patients. The Company�� Phase 2 trial of NeuVax achieved its primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS). On April 13, 2011, the Company completed its acquisition of Apthera, Inc.,(Apthera).

The Company focuses to start a Phase 2 trial comparing NeuVax in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) versus trastuzumab, alone, in a 300-patient, randomized study in the adjuvant breast cancer setting. The Company's second product candidate, Folate Binding Protein-E39 (FBP), is a vaccine, consisting of the peptides E39 and J65, aimed at preventing the recurrence of ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers. On February 14, 2012, the Company announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in two gynecological cancers: ovari an and endometrial adenocarcinomas. Folate binding protein! h! as very limited tissue distribution and expression in non-malignant tissue and is over-expressed in more than 90% of ovarian and endometrial cancers, as well as in 20% to 50% of breast, lung, colorectal and renal cell carcinomas.

In April 2011, the Company acquired Apthera Inc and its NeuVax product candidate. The Company focuses on developing a pipeline of immunotherapy product candidates for the treatment of various cancers based on the E75 peptide, the advanced of which is NeuVax, which is targeted at preventing the recurrence of breast cancer. NeuVax has had positive Phase 1/2 clinical trial results for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence in patients who have had breast cancer and received the standard of care treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy as indicated). The Company had also initiated its Phase 3 PRESENT clinical trial of NeuVax for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence in early-stage low-to-intermediate HER2 breast cancer patients. NeuVax directs killer T-cells to target and destroy cancer cells that express HER2/neu, a protein associated with epithelial tumors in breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colon, bladder and prostate cancers. NeuVax is comprised of a HER2/neu-derived peptide called E75. E75 is a nine-amino acid sequence that is immunogenic (produces an immune response) and GM-CSF is a commercially available protein that acts to stimulate and activate components of the immune system such as macrophages and dendritic cells.

The Company also develops novel applications for NeuVax based on preclinical studies and phases 2 clinical trials which suggest that combining NeuVax and trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech/Roche) can increase antigen presentation by tumor cells by promoting receptor internalization and subsequent proteosomal degradation of the HER2 protein. The Company also is pursuing additional therapeutic indications for NeuVax that are in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. RXI-109, is a dermal anti-scarring therapy that ! targ! ets! conne! ctive tissue growth factor (CTGF) and that may inhibit connective tissue formation in human fibrotic disease.

The Company competes with Roche Laboratories, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Bayer HealthCare AG, Sanofi-Aventis, US, LLC, Amgen, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Renovo Group plc, CoDa Therapeutics, Inc., Sirnaomics, Inc., FirstString Research, Inc., Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Capstone Therapeutics, Halscion, Inc., Garnet Bio Therapeutics, Inc., AkPharma Inc., Promedior, Inc., Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eyegene, Derma Sciences, Inc., Healthpoint Biotherapeutics, Pharmaxon, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Marina Biotech, Inc., Tacere Therapeutics, Inc., Benitec Limited, OPKO Health, Inc., Silence Therapeutics plc, Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rosetta Genomics Ltd., Lorus Therapeutics, Inc., Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Arrowhead Research Corporation, Regulus Therapeutics Inc. and Santaris.

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Neurocrine Biosciences Inc.(NBIX)

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of neurological and endocrine-related diseases and disorders in the United States. It develops drugs for endometriosis, stress-related disorders, pain, tardive dyskinesia, uterine fibroids, diabetes, insomnia, and other neurological and endocrine-related diseases and disorders. The company?s products in clinical development include Elagolix, a Phase II drug for endometriosis; Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 Inhibitor (VMAT2), a Phase II drug for movement disorders; CRF2 Peptide Agonist, a Phase II drug for cardiovascular diseases; CRF1 Antagonist, a Phase II drug for stress-related disorders; and Elagolix, a Phase II drug for uterine fibroids. Its research programs comprise G Protein-Coupled Receptor 119 (GPR119) for type II diabetes; VMAT2 for schizophrenia; GnRH Antagonists for men?s and women?s health, and oncology; Antiepileptic Drugs for epilepsy, essential tremor, and pain; and G Protein-Coupled Receptors for other conditions. The company has collaborations with GlaxoSmithKline to develop and commercialize CRF antagonists for psychiatric, neurological, and gastrointestinal diseases; Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd. to develop and commercialize Indiplon in Japan; Abbott International Luxembourg S.�r.l. to develop and commercialize elagolix and GnRH antagonists for women?s and men?s health indications; and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH to research, develop, and commercialize small molecule GPR119 agonists for the treatment of type II diabetes and other indications. Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Medivation Inc.(MDVN)

Medivation, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer, Alzheimer?s disease, and Huntington disease. The company?s product candidates under clinical development include MDV3100, which is in Phase 3 development for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer; and dimebon, which is in Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of Alzheimer?s disease and Huntington disease. It has collaboration agreements with Pfizer Inc. to develop and commercialize dimebon; and Astellas Pharma Inc. to develop and commercialize MDV3100. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Medivation Inc. (NASDAQ: MDVN) is a top stock to buy and makes the UBS Key Call list as well. The company expects to present top line phase 3 data from the crucial PREVAIL trial of Xtandi in castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer. UBS is highly confident the trials will prove successful. Its price target for the stock is $74, and the consensus target is $69.50.

10 Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Organovo Holdings Inc (ONVO.PK)

Organovo Holdings, Inc. (Organovo), formerly Real Estate Restoration & Rental, Inc., incorporated in 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company has developed and is commercializing a platform technology for the generation of three-dimensional (3D) human tissues that can be employed in drug discovery and development, biological research, and as therapeutic implants for the treatment of damaged or degenerating tissues and organs. On December 28, 2011, Real Estate Restoration and Rental, Inc.�� (RERR) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, pursuant to which RERR merged with its, wholly owned subsidiary, Organovo (Merger Sub). On February 8, 2012, the Company merged with and into Organovo Acquisition Corp. (Acquisition Corp.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Organovo Holdings (the Merger). As a result of the Merger, Organovo acquired the business of Organovo, Inc.

The C ompany has collaborative research agreements with Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer) and United Therapeutic Corporation (Unither). As of March 31, 2012, it has five federal grants, including Small Business Innovation Research grants and developed the NovoGen MMX Bioprinter (its first-generation 3D bioprinter). The Company is engaged in the development of specific 3D human tissues to aid Pfizer in discovery of therapies in two areas of interest. In addition, in October 2011, it entered into a research agreement with Unither to establish and conduct a research program to discover treatments for pulmonary hypertension using its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter technology. Additionally, under the research agreement with Unither, the Company granted Unither an option to acquire from the Company a worldwide, royalty-bearing license in certain intellectual property created under the research agreement solely for use in the treatment or prevention of pulmonary hypertension and all other lung diseases.

The Company�� NovoGen MMX Bioprinter is an aut! om! ated device that enables the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) living tissues comprised of mammalian cells. A custom graphic user interface (GUI) facilitates the 3D design and execution of scripts that direct precision movement of the dispensing heads to deposit cellular building blocks (bio-ink) or supporting hydrogel. The Company is using a third party manufacturer, Invetech Pty., of Melbourne, Australia, to manufacture its NovoGen MMX Bioprinter. Its bioprinting technology and surrounding intellectual property and commercial rights serve as a platform for product generation across multiple markets that employ cell- and tissue-based products and services.

The Company competes with Organogenesis, Advanced BioHealing, Tengion, Genzyme, HumaCyte and Cytograft Tissue Engineering.