Method of news consumption: Mobile devices vs. …

You'd be hard-pressed to find more blatant evidence of the analog-to-digital switchover than comparing the reading habits of today's commuters to those of even six years ago. Hands that once clutched newspapers now carry mobile devices.

In an informal survey during my daily ride on the Long Island Railroad, I found that for every person reading a newspaper, about eight were fixated on screen devices: smartphones, tablets, notebooks, e-books.

One measure of change in our method of news consumption is the decline in newsprint demand. From 2007 through 2011, the compound annual growth rate for newsprint tonnage dropped 11.7% in North America, according to Resource Information Systems Inc., an information provider for the global forest products industry. RISI predicts that from 2012 to 2014, newsprint demand will slide another 3.2%

The migration of consumers hasn't been lost on the newspaper industry. In chasing readers, editors and publishers have responded by shifting resources from print to pixels.

"Newspapers are distributing content though a variety of digital platforms -- whether interactive mobile apps, replica editions, pay-walled websites or e-reader editions," says Mike Lavery, president and managing director of the Alliance for Audited Media. As of last spring, "these digital editions account for nearly 20% of U.S. newspapers' daily total average circulation, up approximately 5% each year.

When the Alliance releases its next semi-annual report on the top 25 U.S. daily newspapers on Oct. 31, Lavery predicts, "We expect to see digital editions continue to be a growing part of newspapers' total distribution."

There once were obvious advantages to carrying a newspaper. To start, there was its portability. That changed with the onslaught of mobile devices. Then, there was resolution. No consumer-type screen packed as many dots as a commercially-printed page. But then Apple shipped an iPad with a screen commanding a higher resolution than glossy magazines.

One t! hing that affords the newspaper reader a glimmer of smugness is the sweep of information gleaned at once. With the diagonal on most smartphones coming in at under 4-inches, users are forced to sip information through a straw. Compare this to the 32.5-inch diagonal across facing pages of a typical broadsheet. With arms extended, there's the luxury of exploration from a wide expanse and the serendipity of your eyes alighting on an interesting article or image. In the case of a smartphone, that discovery may not be possible until you drill down. And yet, younger people in particular don't seem to mind navigating through a mail-slot.

Then, there's the attention-span factor. Reading a paper is like holding blinders (another benefit of a broadsheet) in a world awash in multimedia enticements. For those who have trouble concentrating, there's nothing like the single-mindedness of a newspaper. Anyone with Attention Deficit Disorder would do well to avoid the 1,001 distractions offered on mobile devices. When I wrap my head in the paper, I come armed with a pen to circle a quote, underline a name, highlight an unfamiliar term and write notes in the margins. Where others see white space, I see opportunity. A newspaper is made for interactivity.

Tablets do have inherent advantages: no bleed-through from the opposite side of the page, less chance of the words being set afire by a restaurant's table candle, and the ability to read under the covers. Also, news delivered through a connected screen is potentially more up-to-date. Digital news never waits to be printed, collated, loaded on a truck, transported to a vendor, thrown from a bicycle or dropped on a doorstep. Also, once the reader is done with an issue, there's no need to add it to a pile, wait for it to fall over, tie issues together and carry out the bundle for recycling. Just thinking about all that work makes me sweat.

Top Oil Stocks For 2014

For a few more! years at! least, print and digital will coexist. The slogan on delivery trucks at the paper in North Jersey where I first worked was "Friend of the People It Serves." It may as well have morphed a decade ago into "Friend of the People Who Surf." But even that tagline now seems dated as dedicated apps usurp general browsers and handheld devices replace desktop computers. So, in the interest of preserving choice for those who still thrill to the smell of print versus those who embrace the habit of peering deeply into a Lilliputian screen, we offer the accompanying matrix.

New York-based writer/editor Michael Antonoff covers technology and the media.

Amazon, Microsoft surge; leading tech gains

Bloomberg Enlarge Image A worker at an Amazon.com fulfillment center in Goodyear, Arizona.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com flexed their muscles Friday and the two tech heavyweights helped the tech sector withstand losses from the likes of Apple Inc. and close the week out on an upbeat note.

Also getting attention was Twitter Inc. (TWTR) after the micro-blogging company late Thursday set a price range of $17 to $20 a share for its IPO, which reportedly could take place in early November.

Top Canadian Stocks To Invest In Right Now

/quotes/zigman/12633936 COMP 3,943.36, +14.40, +0.37%

The action helped push the Nasdaq (COMP)  up by 14 points to close at 3,943. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (COMP)  rose 0.4% and the Morgan Stanley High-Tech Index (MSH)  also closed with a small gain.

Investors gave high marks to Microsoft (MSFT) , sending its shares up 6% to close at $35.73 a day after the tech giant reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results. Microsoft said it earned $5.24 billion, or 62 cents a share, on revenue of $18.53 billion. During the year-ago period, Microsoft earned $4.7 billion, or 53 cents a share, on $16 billion in sales.

Microsoft said its results were boosted by sales of cloud services and its business applications. Rick Sherlund, of Nomura Equity Research, also cited Microsoft's $400 million in revenue from Surface tablet sales as an a upbeat sign for the company, especially at a time when the PC market is declining.

"Any less of a drag from the PC business and related consumer shift to tablets and notebooks is good news," Sherlund said.

Amazon (AMZN)  surged by almost 10%, to end the week at $363.39 a share after the Internet-retailing leader cut its third-quarter loss from a year ago and reported better-than-expected sales figures.

Click to Play Twitter IPO may value firm at $11.1 billion

Twitter set its price range for its initial public offering at $17 to $20 a share, how there are echoes of the tech bubble in the long-dated forecasts underpinning Tesla Motors' valuation, plus a look at today's market action.

Raymond James analyst Aaron Kessler used Amazon's results as the basis for upgrading his rating on the company's stock to strong by from market perform. Kessler cited Amazon's revenue momentum and continuing growth in the U.S. among the reasons for his stock upgrade.

Online social-gaming company Zynga Inc. (ZNGA)  climbed more than 5% to $3.73 in the wake of the social-gaming company posting better sales than analysts had forecast, and cutting its loss from a year ago. It was the first full quarter of results for Zynga since former Microsoft executive Don Mattrick became the company's chief executive.

Other gains came from Pandora Media Inc. (P) , Oracle Corp. (ORCL) and Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) . 

Apple (AAPL) , meanwhile, fell by 1% to close at $525.96 in advance of the iPad maker's quarterly results, due after the close of trading Monday.

Decliners also included Facebook Inc. (FB) , Google Inc. (GOOG)  and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) . 

Stocks to Watch: Delta, Whirlpool, Netflix

Among the companies with shares actively trading in Tuesday’s session are Delta Air Lines Inc.(DAL), Whirlpool Corp.(WHR) and Netflix Inc.(NFLX)

Delta’s third-quarter earnings rose 31% as the air carrier benefited from improved passenger traffic. Delta shares rose as the results topped expectations.

Whirlpool’s third-quarter earnings more than doubled as the home-appliance manufacturer benefited from increased North American demand and improved margins. The company raised its earnings view for the year as the bottom line beat views. Shares climbed.

Netflix’s third-quarter profit more than quadrupled as the movie-subscription company added more Internet subscribers globally. Shares jumped, as sales for the quarter exceeded expectations and Netflix issued a rosy outlook for the current quarter.

Microsemi Corp.(MSCC) agreed to pay almost $298 million to acquire Symmetricom Inc.(SYMM), a deal that will expand the power-management supplier’s exposure into the aerospace and defense industries while also immediately adding to earnings. Shares in Symmetricom soared.

Oxygen Biotherapeutics Inc.(OXBT) said it agreed to buy about $4.8 million in assets from Phyxius Pharma that treat cardiac-surgery patients. Shares of Oxygen Biotherapeutics rose.

VMware Inc.'s(VMW) third-quarter profit rose 66% as the virtualization-software maker posted strong growth in revenue and wider margins. Shares of VMware rose as the company’s earnings beat expectations.

Forest Laboratories Inc.’s fiscal second-quarter earnings soared as strong growth in the pharmaceutical company’s “next-generation” drugs boosted revenue. Results easily topped estimates and the company raised its per-share earnings estimate for the year. Shares rose.

Travelers Cos., one of the largest insurers of U.S. businesses, said its third-quarter earnings were flat from a year earlier as the company posted an increased underwriting gain, though net investment income slipped. Earnings beat estimates, and the company also authorized an additional $5 billion in share repurchases, sending shares up.

EMC Corp.’s third-quarter income fell 6.4% as the data-storage provider’s higher costs outpaced an improvement in revenue. Results missed Street expectations, and the company lowered its full-year outlook. Shares dropped.

Texas Instruments Inc.’s third-quarter profit fell 20% as the chip maker’s sales dipped slightly and it recorded a larger provision for income taxes compared with the year-ago period. The company’s stock fell as TI’s current-quarter outlook missed analyst expectations.

E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. on Monday cut its estimate for third-quarter revenue as the Chinese online retailer said it cut sales of some lower-margin products. Shares dropped.

Shares of Illumina Inc. jumped after the gene-sequencing company reported better-than-expected third-quarter results and issued a rosier outlook for the current year. The stock climbed.

Medivation Inc.  and Astellas Pharma Inc. said a cancer-study committee informed the companies of positive results from a planned interim analysis of its late-stage trial of enzalutamide, a prostate-cancer treatment. Medivation shares climbed.

Discover Financial Services’ third-quarter earnings fell 6.9% as the company set aside more money to cover potential loan losses, though the company’s credit-card business continued to see growth in loans and a drop in delinquencies. Shares declined.

Bitcoin creator may have ties to Silk Road founder

The mysterious creator of Bitcoin has a strong connection with the founder of the Silk Road, according to computer researchers.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) The founder of the online black market Silk Road and the creator of virtual currency Bitcoin might be close colleagues.

That's according to a pair of Israeli computer researchers who have discovered strong connections between two of the cyber world's most mysterious figures.

One is Silk Road founder Dread Pirate Roberts, who the FBI claim is currently in their custody. The other is Satoshi Nakamoto, the still-unidentified creator of Bitcoin.

Both have gained in notoriety in recent months. In October, the FBI shut down Silk Road, commonly referred to as the eBay for drugs (and much more). It was accessible only on the deep Web via the anonymizing software known as Tor. To keep sellers and customers safe, Silk Road dealt only in bitcoins, which are difficult to trace to an actual person.

But the Bitcoin system maintains a public log of every transaction.

  A look at rebuilt drug bazaar Silk Road

In a research paper, Weizmann Institute computer scientists and mathematicians Dorit Ron and Adi Shamir explored that log, discovering that Silk Road's founder received a substantial sum of money in March from one of the first Bitcoin accounts ever created -- likely belonging to Satoshi Nakamoto. That transfer of 1,000 bitcoins would be worth $811,100 as of Monday.

"Such a single large transfer does not represent the typical behaviour of a buyer who opens an account on Silk Road," the paper states. "It could represent large scale activity on Silk Road or some form of investment or partnership."

The discovery will add to rumors that Satoshi Nakamoto and Dread Pirate Roberts are co-conspirators -- or perhaps even the same person.

Because the findings suggest a strong connection between the virtual currency and the black market, it contributes to concerns that Bitcoin facilitates illicit transfers of money. However, critics might note that the research paper, released Sunday, was sponsored by a grant from the Citi Foundation, the charity arm of Citigroup (C, Fortune 500), one of the world's largest banks.

The same analysis also reveals that the 144,336 bitcoins the FBI seized during its Silk Road bust represent only 22% of the black market kingpin's commissions. If true, that means Dread Pirate Roberts earned $518 million -- and the U.S. government has found only $118 million of it.

GM, Ford, Tesla are Friday’s stocks to watch

Ford Motors Enlarge Image Ford's popular F150 pickup truck.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Among the companies whose shares are likely to see active trade in Friday's session are General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co., with big auto makers slated to release monthly sales figures.

Tesla Motors Inc. is also expected to attract attention on the heels of data showing the popularity of its Model S with wealthy buyers.

U.S. auto sales totaled 1.23 million units in October, up 12.7% from a year earlier with GM's (GM)  sales projected to rise 10% to 215,274 vehicles, Edmunds.com said in a recent report. Ford's (F)  sales are estimated to jump 15.5% to 193,988 units.

"The government shutdown didn't impact consumers growing appetite for buying new vehicles. The expectations were that car buyers would wait on the sidelines, but because of pent-up demand and credit availability, car sales are expected to increase 7% from [September]," Alec Gutierrez, an analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said in the report.

Tesla Enlarge Image Tesla's Model S.

Tesla's (TSLA)  Model S outsold all other brands in eight of 25 wealthiest ZIP Codes this year, according to Edmunds.com, which dubbed it the newest must-have toy for the affluent. All eight locations are in California, led by Atherton, Calif., where the Model S accounted for 15.4% of all new car registrations, the online automobile website said Thursday. Atherton is next to Palo Alto, Tesla's home base.

After Thursday's closing bell, American International Group Inc. (AIG)  said its third-quarter profit rose to $2.2 billion from $1.9 billion a year ago. On a per-share basis, earnings rose to $1.46 from $1.13 in the third quarter of 2012. The strong growth in bottom line failed to lift AIG shares, with the stock down more than 2% in after-hours trading.

First Solar Inc. (FSLR)  late Thursday reported third-quarter adjusted profit of $2.28 a share, crushing the average estimate of $1.05 a share forecast by analysts. Shares of the solar-energy company jumped over 8% in after hours.

On Friday, Chevron Corp. (CVX)  is projected to report third-quarter earnings of $2.69 a share, according to a consensus survey by Fact Set.

/quotes/zigman/118354/delayed/quotes/nls/cboe CBOE 48.43, -0.86, -1.74% CBOE Holings Inc.

CBOE Holdings Inc. (CBOE)  is expected to report earnings of 45 cents a share in the third quarter. The stock was raised to outperform at Macquarie on Tuesday. "Despite the strong year-to-date stock performance and the stock trading at near all-time highs, we believe CBOE's revenue generation potential is still not priced in, with the growth potential of its VIX Futures product, continued strength of its proprietary index options business and a promising pipeline of products," Sameer Murukutla, an analyst at Macquarie, said in a report.

Madison Square Garden Co. (MSG)  is forecast to post fiscal first-quarter earnings of 21 cents a share.

WellCare Health Plans Inc. (WCG)  is likely to post earnings of $1.51 a share in the third quarter.

Washington Post Co. (WPO)  is scheduled to announce third-quarter results before the market opens. This will be the first quarterly earnings since the company was bought by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com.

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL)  is projected to report earnings of 56 cents a share in the third quarter.

Jim Reynolds: Don't Let Detroit Deter You From Munis

James Reynolds is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loop Capital. I recently sat down with Jim to talk about muni bonds, the future of his home state of Illinois and what Democrats can learn from Republican governors like Chris Christie, Scott Walker, and John Kasich. Video and a transcript of our conversation follows.

Steve Forbes: Jim, good to have you again. It's been a couple of years.

Jim Reynolds: It has been.

Forbes: You run a relatively small firm, sort of a jack of all trades though. You are in a lot of areas, munis. But you are in public-private partnership financing, M&A, been doing acquisitions. So, how would you define the firm, and what do you think it goes. Then, how do you survive in an area where we have too big to fail, despite all the rhetoric to the contrary.

Reynolds: Well, I will start with your second question first. The good news is we have been able to avoid the attention of Washington, D.C. And the intense scrutiny of the regulators. We're not deemed too big to fail nor are we considered a SIFI [Systemically Important Fiscal Institution], which is great.

5 Best Safest Stocks For 2014

Alamy You know better than to tell the stranger behind you in the Starbucks line your Social Security number, right? What about your mother's maiden name? You know, that little personal detail that's answers a common security question for many banking and credit card accounts? You wouldn't share that either, would you? It turns out some of you would. According to survey results just released by Visa, 14 percent of respondents admitted to sharing their mother's maiden name over social media -- and a shocking 7 percent had shared their Social Security number. The good news is most of us know that those pieces of information should be kept close to the vest, but what about sharing vacation plans on Facebook (FB)? Seems harmless, right? In the survey, 15 percent of folks had posted upcoming travel dates, and 20 percent shared their home address. Well, guess what? Your friends aren't the only ones who might want to hear about your vacation; Burglars do, too. Most of us make an effort to protect our homes while we're away -- setting alarms, putting lights on timers, having neighbors check in -- so why are so many of us giving criminals the dirt on just when and where to find a vulnerable house to hit? Share Smarter We live in an increasingly open society, where it seems natural to share everything. While it might seem like no big deal to share your birth date on Facebook (how else to get a wall full of birthday wishes?), your address on Twitter, and Instagram shots of your vacation, but all those bits of information could add up to enough for criminals -- cyber and otherwise -- to open an account in your name or gain access to ones you already have. So how do you avoid being overexposed? Think about the big picture. Decide up front what you'll share and what you won't and stick with it across all sites. (Hint: Your Social Security number, mother's maiden name, and passwords should be shared.) Check privacy settings. It's safest to share just with friends, not friends of friends. Who knows who's lurking around, or whether all of your friends are being as careful with their connections as you are? Recheck those settings regularly. Sites like Facebook change their policies all the time, so make sure your settings stay up to date. Be a little less friendly. Speaking of friends ... while it's nice to be popular, if you have hundreds or thousands of "friends" you've never met or barely know, you're at risking that some of them may be less than trustworthy. Consider doing a little housekeeping, or at least taking advantage of tools like Facebook's Lists, which allow you to identify your close friends, family members, coworkers, etc. and determine who can see what information. Save vacation snaps to post you get back. Even if you don't explicitly say where you are or how long you're gone, some photos have location data attached that could give you away, and "check in" sites like Foursquare will tell people exactly where you're not -- home. When you're out of town, it's best just to give your social media accounts a vacation too. Beware of bragging. Got diamond earrings for your birthday? A new TV for the big game? Lucky you! Now keep it to yourself. Posting photos of expensive items online is the new-fashioned equivalent of leaving the TV box out on the curb -- it tells thieves just whose house has the best loot. Get more clever with those security questions. We're increasingly being asked to provide answers to questions such as what your first pet's name was or where you went to elementary school. It isn't as hard to find some of that information as you might think, especially if you are very active on social media or have a blog. Here's a hint: When you set the answers to those questions, spell them backward to thwart imposters. Google yourself. It's not vanity if you do it in the name of security! By doing a few searches on yourself, you can check out what information is available to anyone for the asking. Social media has changed the world, and whether you are an avid Instagrammer or a Facebook-phobe, it's essential to be proactive in protecting your digital data. If you wouldn't share it with that guy behind you at Starbucks, better to keep it quiet online, too.

5 Best Safest Stocks For 2014: 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.

5 Best Safest Stocks For 2014: Under Armour Inc.(UA)

Under Armour, Inc. develops, markets, and distributes performance apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and youth primarily in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It offers products made from moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics designed to regulate body temperature and enhance performance regardless of weather conditions. The company provides its products in three fit types: compression (tight fitting), fitted (athletic cut), and loose (relaxed) extending across the sporting goods, outdoor, and active lifestyle markets. Its footwear offerings comprise football, baseball, lacrosse, softball, and soccer cleats; slides; performance training footwear; and running footwear. The company also provides baseball batting, football, golf, and running gloves, as well as licenses bags, socks, headwear, custom-molded mouth guards, and eyewear that are designed to be used and worn before, during, and after competition. Under Armour sells its products through retai l stores, as well as directly to consumers through its own retail outlets and specialty stores, Website, and catalogs. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

  Under Armour is without a doubt a long-term winner, but the stock market is too hot right now for any real conviction, especially since Under Armour is trading at 49 times earnings. Nike wouldn�� be the best safe haven in a bear market, but it would be safer than Under Armour. That said, for investors who are capable of withstanding a hit and willing to purchase more on the way down if the stock gets hit, Under Armour is a long-term OUTPERFORM. This should be a safe long-term approach since Under Armour is highly likely to grow in the coming decades. It�� certainly not going anywhere.

• [By Steve Symington]

  If you've ever lamented the day you had to give up your stylish 1990s workout gear, the creative minds at Under Armour (NYSE: UA  ) have something awesome for you.

Top Financial Stocks To Buy Right Now: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras(PBR)

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. primarily engages in oil and natural gas exploration and production, refining, trade, and transportation businesses. The company?s Exploration and Production segment involves in the exploration, production, development, and production of oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas in Brazil. This segment supplies its products to the refineries in Brazil, as well as sells surplus petroleum and byproducts in domestic and foreign markets. Its Supply segment engages in the refining, logistics, transportation, and trade of oil and oil products; export of ethanol; and extraction and processing of schist, as well as holds interests in companies of the petrochemical sector in Brazil. The Gas and Energy segment involves in the transportation and trade of natural gas produced in or imported into Brazil; transportation and trade of LNG; and generation and trade of electric power. In addition, the segment has interests in natural gas transportation and d istribution companies; and thermoelectric power stations in Brazil, as well engages in fertilizer business. The Distribution segment distributes oil products, ethanol, and compressed natural gas in Brazil. The International segment involves in the exploration and production of oil and gas, as well as in supplying, gas and energy, and distribution operations in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Further, the company involves in biofuel production business. Petroleo Brasileiro was founded in 1953 and is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  And the winner is ...
  It all depends on your definition of "winning: to determine who came out on top of this auction. If your definition is most blocks won, then Petrobras (NYSE: PBR  ) �took that prize running away. The company spent $268 million for rights on 35 blocks. The next closest in terms of bids won was OGX, which secured 13 blocks in the entire auction. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that Petrobras was the most active in this auction. Not only is Petrobras Brazil's largest oil company, but it also just recently completed an $11 billion bond issuance, the largest corporate bond sale from an emerging market ever. Some of that money was probably pre-planned for both this auction and the next Brazilian auction to happen in October. This move will further secure Petrobras' position as the largest oil producer in the country.�

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  But over the past few years, the world's largest integrated oil companies have also joined the party. For instance, Brazilian oil major Petrobras (NYSE: PBR  ) is preparing to drill exploration wells offshore Tanzania, where it holds 50% stakes in two offshore exploratory blocks, while ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM  ) has turned its attention to exploratory prospects off the coast of South Africa, where it acquired a 75% stake in blocks owned by Impact Oil & Gas late last year.�

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Offshore exploration risk
  Deepwater locations, especially off the coasts of Brazil and West Africa, have emerged as popular hotspots. For instance, Brazilian oil major Petrobras (NYSE: PBR  ) is planning to drill exploratory wells off the coast of Tanzania, where it holds 50% stakes in two offshore exploratory blocks, while Chevron (NYSE: CVX  ) recently announced that it will move forward with the development of the Moho Bilondo "phase 1 bis" and Moho Nord projects located offshore the Republic of Congo.

• [By Tyler Crowe and Aimee Duffy]

  Brazil's oil production numbers are up, but the 3.8% jump in April over the previous month doesn't sound as pretty when compared to year-over-year production, which is still down 4.9%. With Petrobras (NYSE: PBR  ) bringing several of its aging offshore rigs back on line after maintenance, the renaissance of Brazil's oil business will not be found in its production numbers... not yet.

5 Best Safest Stocks For 2014: Fluor Corporation(FLR)

Fluor Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and project management services worldwide. Its Oil & Gas segment offers design, engineering, procurement, construction, and project management services to upstream oil and gas production, downstream refining, chemicals, and petrochemicals industries. This segment also provides consulting services comprising feasibility studies, process assessment, and project finance structuring and studies. The company?s Industrial & Infrastructure segment offers design, engineering, procurement, and construction services to the transportation, wind power, mining and metals, life sciences, manufacturing, commercial and institutional, telecommunications, microelectronics, and healthcare sectors. Its Government segment provides engineering, construction, logistics support, contingency response, management, and operations services to the United States government focusing on the Departme nt of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. The company?s Global Services segment offers operations and maintenance, small capital project engineering and execution, site equipment and tool services, industrial fleet services, plant turnaround services, temporary staffing services, and supply chain solutions. Its Power segment provides engineering, procurement, construction, program management, start-up and commissioning, and operations and maintenance services to the gas fueled, solid fueled, plant betterment, renewables, nuclear, and power services markets. The company also offers unionized management and construction services in the United States and Canada. Fluor Corporation was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By The Energy Report]

  JH: One of the areas where the U.S. for decades has been the leading technological power is in small nuclear reactors. We've used them on our aircraft carriers and on our nuclear submarines safely and efficiently. The U.S. has an advantage in understanding small modular nuclear reactors. One of the companies that we have followed for a long time that's working on that is Babcock & Wilcox Co. (BWC). There's also Fluor Corp. (FLR), which is working on small modular nuclear reactors. President Obama and the Department of Energy are funding research on the implementation of small modular nuclear reactors.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  South America has become an unsettled region to mine in. Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM  ) had its Peruvian Conga project brought to a short stop over environmental concerns, while Vale (NYSE: VALE  ) recently abandoned an Argentinean project because of the country's policies.�Costs for Pascua-Lama have ballooned over the past decade and now stand at about $8.5 billion, putting it at risk of becoming an albatross around the miner's neck even before the court decision. Barrick even resorted to bringing in engineering specialist Fluor (NYSE: FLR  ) to expand the scope of its project management before the court order.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Fluor Corporation (FLR) is one of the world�� leading heavy construction and engineering firms. I don’t want to imply that this is a bad company because it is actually a very good one. However, Fluor has divisions including Oil & Gas, Industrial Infrastructure, Government, Global Services and Power. Virtually all of them are seeing limited spending as a result of the global slowdown and reduced government spending around the world. The stock is up more than 23% this year, but earnings are actually down on flat revenues. Analysts have been lowering their estimates for the rest of this year as well as 2014, and the stock is currently rated as a by Portfolio Grader. When the economy recovers, I expect will see this company’s fundamentals improve substantially … but until that happens investors should avoid the stock.

• [By CRWE]

  Fluor Corporation�� (NYSE:FLR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David Seaton, and Chief Financial Officer, Biggs Porter, will give a presentation to investors at the Credit Suisse 2012 Engineering & Construction Conference in New York on Thursday, June 7 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Peak Coal Argument Gets on a Short Timeline, With Your Investment

BOSTON (TheStreet) -- The arguing over peak coal could be resolved within 10 to 20 years, since that's about how much recoverable coal reserves the United States has, according to an estimate in a report by Clean Energy Action.

Of course, that's a dramatic contrast with estimates by the Energy Information Administration, which says there are enough recoverable coal reserves to keep the country powered for the next two centuries.

The organization says the U.S. hit "peak coal" in 2008, and that coal production and profits have been on a relative downslide since.

"The fundamental fact is that most of the coal in the U.S. is buried too deeply to be accessed easily and we are rapidly approaching the end of accessible U.S. coal deposits that can be mined profitably," said Dr. Zane Selvans, geologist and assistant director of research at the organization, in a press release. The idea is nothing new. In early 2009, the environmental news website Grist reported on a possible 10- to 20-year timeline for recoverable coal reserves as based on reports by the U.S. Geological Survey and National Research Council. Also see: Redo Your Rooftop Unit, Save a Billion (and the World)>> The council's Committee on Coal Research, Technology and Resource Assessments to Inform Energy Policy reported in 2007 that traditional projections of coal reserves were based on methods that hadn't been reviewed or revised since 1974. For those few areas that had been evaluated using updated methods, a much smaller fraction of recoverable coal was found than was originally estimated. In particular, the USGS found that only 6% of coal resources in Gillette, Wyo. -- the country's most productive coalfield -- was economically recoverable. The council report ended on an optimistic note and did not downgrade projected estimates for future coal production. But it could affirm only that there is enough recoverable coal to meet demands until 2030 and said "it is not possible to confirm the often-quoted assertion that there is a sufficient supply for the next 250 years." Likewise, CEA asserted in its recent report that the position that there are 200 billion tons of coal reserves do not consider updated economic factors affecting the ability to harvest most of those reserves. It referred to the recent financial strain affecting many U.S. coal companies, noting that it is "unclear whether they will be able to support the increased capital and labor costs associated with mining coal that is more difficult to access."

Hot Oil Stocks For 2014

With consumer prices of coal-based electricity and heat rising at an average 6% to 10% a year -- or between two and three times faster than inflation -- and expected to double in the next decade, the CEA says coal is simply getting too expensive to maintain as our nation's main source of energy. Also see: $736M Farm Subsidy Loopholes Reward Absentee Managers>>

Additionally, the organization noted that production in the top 16 coal states have declined significantly in recent years, with heavyweights Wyoming and Montana dropping 14.2% and 18.1%, respectively. Coal production in Pennsylvania has dropped a whopping 80.2%, and Virginia by 61.4%, with Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Arizona production rates slashed at around or slightly under half.

The industry has been downsizing mining jobs and replacing workers with machinery. In 2009, Smithsonian magazine reported that the price of coal in the central Appalachian region had tripled since 2006, while demand skyrocketed. Yet while coal production has increased in West Virginia 140% in the past three decades, more than 40,000 coal mining jobs in the state have been eliminated.

Even while demand for coal is rising, several top U.S. coal companies have lost more than 80% of their stock value, with companies such as Patriot Coal filing bankruptcy, the CEA says. With productivity falling steadily from 6.99 tons per employee per hour in 2000 to 5.19 tons per employee per hour last year, the report argues it may be time to make investments elsewhere for future energy needs. "If coal can't be mined at a profit, not much of it will be mined," said Leslie Glustrom, director of research and policy of Clean Energy Action. "It is unclear how long the U.S. coal industry will produce large quantities of coal and at what price, but the current financial distress of U.S. coal mining companies could lead to significant changes in U.S. coal production in less than a decade."

Best Medical Companies To Buy For 2014

With shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE) trading around $23, is GE an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

General Electric is a diversified industrial, technology, and financial services company that operates worldwide. The products and services of the company range from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing, and household appliances to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, and industrial products. General Electric�� segments are: Energy Infrastructure, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation, Home & Business Solutions, and GE Capital. General Electric is a leading provider of a wide range of products and many are essential in daily lives of consumers and companies around the world.

General Electric is planning to spin off its store credit card business in a move that follows the conglomerate�� plan to scale back its financial arm in order to focus on manufacturing, according to The Wall Street Journal. General Electric provides store credit cards to 55 million Americans and brought in $2.2 billion last year. People familiar with the matter who spoke to the Journal said that the company is preparing an IPO of the business, as a straightforward purchase would likely face too many regulatory hurdles.

Best Medical Companies To Buy For 2014: Oncolytics Biotech Inc (ONCY)

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (Oncolytics), incorporated on April 2, 1998, is a development-stage company. The Company is focused on its research and development of REOLYSIN, which is its cancer therapeutic. REOLYSIN is developed from the reovirus. This virus has been demonstrated in tumour cells bearing an activated Ras pathway. Oncolytics is directing a clinical trial program with the focus of developing REOLYSIN as a human cancer therapeutic. The clinical program includes clinical trials, which it sponsors directly along with Third Party Clinical Trials. Third Party Clinical Trials are clinical trials that are being sponsored by other institutions. As of December 31, 2011, the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI), the University of Leeds and the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio (CTRC) were sponsoring part of its clinical trial program.

The Company�� clinical trial program has included human trials using REOLYSIN alone, and in combination with radiation and chemotherapy, and delivered via local administration and/or intravenous administration. Oncolytics uses contract toll manufacturers to produce REOLYSIN. On December 31, 2011, the Company had two wholly owned subsidiaries, Oncolytics Biotech (Barbados) Inc. (OBB) and Valens Pharma Ltd. Oncolytics Biotech (US) Inc. and Oncolytics Biotech (U.K.) are wholly owned subsidiaries of OBB.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  T-VEC is not your traditional biologic drug. It is actually a bioengineered form of the herpes virus that, once injected into cancerous tumors, replicates, and produces an immune-stimulating protein that puts a bulls eye on cancer cells throughout the body. Despite its promise and intriguing mechanism of action, T-VEC is not in further development at Amgen. However, Oncolytics (NASDAQ: ONCY  ) has shown promising results for its bioengineered form of reovirus called Reolysin. Initial phase 3 results showed that 86% of patients taking the drug had reduced tumor mass or growth after six weeks of treatment. �

• [By Sean Williams]

  With this in mind, I feel it'd be prudent of biotech-savvy investors to give Oncolytics Biotech (NASDAQ: ONCY  ) a closer look.

  The big risks
  I'm quite aware that there are a lot factors that'd raise a red flag with Oncolytics. Similar to Affymax, you could say that Oncolytics has put all of its eggs in one basket with its lead experimental drug, reolysin. According to Oncolytics' website, including its U.K., Canadian, and U.S. studies, reolysin as either a monotherapy or combination therapy is the basis for all 31 clinical trials! Obviously, if reolysin proves ineffective or unsafe, Oncolytics is going to be a world of hurt.

Best Medical Companies To Buy For 2014: Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc.(SPPI)

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company, primarily focuses on oncology and hematology. The company engages in acquiring, developing, and commercializing a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products. It markets Zevalin, a prescribed form of cancer therapy, radioimmunotherapy; and Fusilev, a novel folate analog formulation and the pharmacologically active isomer of the racemic compound, calcium leucovorin. The company?s drugs in late stage development include Apaziquone, an anti-cancer agent; and Belinostat, a histone deacytelase inhibitor. Its drugs in development also include Ozarelix a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone antagonist, which is in Phase II clinical stage; SPI-1620, a peptide agonist of endothelin B receptors, which is in Phase I clinical stage; and RenaZorb, a lanthanum-based nanoparticle phosphate binding agent, which is in preclinical stage. The company was formerly known as NeoTherapeutics, Inc. and changed its name to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in December 2002. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Henderson, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  Biotech stocks are highly volatile. A good example of this is Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SPPI  ) . Spectrum rode a wave of generic leucovorin shortages in late 2010 and early 2011 to stock gains of more than 170%. Shares then plunged more than 30% from July through September 2011. But the ride wasn't over yet.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Eight months ago, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPPI) was a train wreck. Shares had plunged from $12.43 to $7.79 on the heels of bad news, and SPPI wouldn't stop bleeding until it hit a low of $6.92 a few days after the big selloff. That bad news? A warning that its full-year sales (and particularly sales of its cancer drug Fusilev) would be well short of expectations.

Top Safest Stocks To Watch Right Now: Cannabis Science Inc (CBIS)

Cannabis Science, Inc., incorporated on May 4, 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and without psychoactive properties, to treats disease and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance. On February 9, 2012, the Company acquired GGECO University, Inc. (GGECO). On March 21, 2012, the Company acquired Cannabis Consulting Inc. (CCI Group).

The Company is engaged in medical marijuana research and development. The Company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  The difference between Growlife's leadership and, say that of competitors like Cannabis Science Inc. (OTCMKTS: CBIS) or Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTCMKTS: MJNA), has been relatively well documented here at the SmallCap Network site. I think the way I - well, someone else - put it back on June 25th says it best...."Growlife is sort of the demure girl in the corner who doesn't do shots off her navel in the bar." It may not have sizzle, but it does have substance.

• [By John Udovich]

  Although its summer, there has been a steady stream of good news about medical marijuana even though important small cap marijuana stocks�Medical Marijuana Inc (OTCMKTS: MJNA) and Cannabis Science Inc (OTCMKTS: CBIS) have been fairly quietly lately while Growlife Inc (OTCBB: PHOT), a more indirect play on the spread of legalized marijuana, has produced�some news for investors:

Best Medical Companies To Buy 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.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By George Budwell]

  Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: INO  ) develops DNA-based vaccines and delivers them using a proprietary electroporation technique. Shares of Inovio have been a roller coaster all year long, and have certainly been the playground of day traders. Last week, Inovio shares lost more than 10% of their value on heavy volume, suggesting the stock may continue to experience downward pressure. This rapid move downward is surprising because the company recently signed a licensing deal with Roche (NASDAQOTH: RHHBY  ) to commercialize Inovio's multi-antigen DNA immunotherapies for prostate cancer and hepatitis B. As part of the deal, Inovio received $10 million upfront, and milestone payments could go as high as $412 million.

• [By Sean Williams]

  On the clinical data front, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ALNY  ) and Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: INO  ) both put investors in their happy place.

• [By Sean Williams]

  No fairytale ending
  Fairytale endings work great in the movies, but you rarely see them come to fruition in the real world. Small-cap biopharmaceutical Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: INO  ) has seen shares nearly triple since April on the heels of multiple intriguing studies, but will the glass slipper fit over the long term?

Best Medical Companies To Buy For 2014: Terumo (TRUMY.PK)

TERUMO CORPORATION operates in four business segment. The Hospital Products segment is engaged in the manufacture, purchase and sale of hospital medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, peritoneal dialysis and diabetes related products, and the rental of hospital medical equipment and home medical products. The Cardiac and Vascular Area segment is involved in the manufacture, purchase and sale of catheter systems, artificial heart and lungs, as well as artificial blood vessels, the manufacture and sale of therapeutic coils for cerebral aneurysm, sampling equipment and kits for platelet-rich plasma and concentrated bone-marrow cell, and large-bore sheaths. The Blood System segment is engaged in the manufacture, purchase and sale of blood transfusion-related products. The Healthcare segment manufactures and sells healthcare related products. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had 79 subsidiaries and 2 associated companies.

Best Medical Companies To Buy For 2014: Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc.(BRLI)

Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. provides clinical laboratory testing services for the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring, and treatment of diseases primarily in the greater New York metropolitan area. It offers various chemical diagnostic tests, including blood and urine analysis, blood chemistry, hematology services, serology, radio-immuno analysis, toxicology, pap smears, tissue pathology, and other tissue analysis. The company also operates a clinical knowledge management service unit, which uses customer data from laboratory results, pharmaceutical data, claims data, and other data sources to provide administrative and clinical decision support systems. In addition, it operates a Web-based connectivity portal solution for laboratories and physicians to provide laboratory ordering and results to physician customers. The company provides its services directly to physicians, geneticists, hospitals, clinics, and correctional and other health facilities. Bio-Refe rence Laboratories, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GuruFocus]

  An example here is Bio Reference Lab (BRLI). This is a company with a simple business, strong balance sheet and the Predictability Rank of 5-Star. At the price of $19, BRLI was in the top of the Buffett-Munger Screener. But the stock price quickly dropped to below $12 in November 2011. At that point, the company announced a share buyback. The CEO, CFO and COO also bought shares in December at $14 a share. Since then the stock price has doubled.

• [By Geoff Gannon]

  But if you can definitely hold a company through a tough market that lasts a few years ��then you can look for a wonderful business to buy and hold at any time. In any market. I found some lovely businesses around the time of the 2000 market peak. They just weren�� big caps, dot coms, etc. They were smaller more mundane businesses. In at least one case ��Bio-Reference Labs (BRLI) ��I made some money (it seemed like a scary big amount at the time) holding the stock for about 2 years but I would��e made a whole lot more if I had just held that one stock through till today. And even now BRLI seems a fine stock to keep holding. So, you see I could��e saved myself a lot of trouble by holding something for more than 10 years. And it wouldn�� have hurt my performance at all. In fact, BRLI has beaten the market by a lot for a very long time. And, yes, the price I paid for BRLI happens to be the most I ever paid for a stock relative to its record earnings. So, I paid a very high price ��for a value investor like me ��for a stock that promptly went on to return around 20% a year for the next 10 years and is now back at almost the exact same P/E ratio where I first bought it.

• [By Geoff Gannon] strong>DreamWorks (DWA)

  Read these reports. Look for something that might have interested me. Why would Geoff look at DNB, Chuck E. Cheese, etc.? What got him interested in the stock? Do I see the same thing?

  Whenever possible, also read the quarterly earnings call transcripts. You can listen to them too. But it�� easier if you read them and listen to them.

  Just listening is a bad idea.

  Whenever I can get a transcript of anything ��even Warren Buffett�� appearance on CNBC ��I��l keep a copy of the transcript even when I have a copy of the video (or audio). You can refer back to a transcript easily. You can highlight. You can take notes.

  Taking Notes

  Now, you are doing those things when reading an annual report, right?

  You never just sit down and read an annual report. You always sit down with a pen, a highlighter, a pad of paper, and a calculator. Use the margins of a 10-K ��or your pad of paper ��to jot down notes. Ask questions. Do calculations.

  If you ever see a 10-K after I��e read it ��it�� not very white anymore. There�� lots of stuff written in the margins. Mostly it�� questions I was asking myself. But it�� also calculations of numbers the company does not provide.

  Numbers to Know

  So, for example, in a bank�� 10-K I always write down:

  路 Deposits per share

  路 Deposits per branch

  路 Cost of deposits

  路 Texas Ratio

  You can actually look up the Texas Ratio of any bank here. And some banks calculate and report cost of deposits the way I like to think about it. But, it�� not common for banks to report deposits per branch ��although small banks will sometimes mention (perhaps in the shareholder letter) what their biggest branch has in deposits. Others may mention how quickly new branches achieved a deposit milestone.

  Those are the kinds of numbers I write in the margins of a bank�� 10-K. There will be questions like: ��hy is e

Best Medical Companies To Buy For 2014: 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.

Best Medical Companies To Buy For 2014: OncoSec Medical Inc (ONCS)

OncoSec Medical Incorporated, incorporated on February 8, 2008, is an emerging drug-medical device company. The Company focused on designing, developing and commercializing medical approaches for the treatment of solid cancers. In March 2011, the Company acquired from Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Inovio) certain assets related to the use of drug-medical device combination products for the treatment of different cancers.

The Company�� acquired assets relate to certain non-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccine technology and property relating to selective tumor ablation technologies, which it refers to as the OncoSec Medical System (OMS), a therapy which uses an electroporation device to facilitate delivery of chemotherapy agents, or nucleic acids encoding cytokines, into tumors and/or surrounding tissue for the treatment and diagnosis of various cancers. As of January 24, 2012, the Company had not generated any revenue from operations.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bio-Wire]

  Another company that has benefitted from Inovio�� newfound attention is OncoSec Medical (OTC: ONCS) ��a newer ��ffshoot�� company that uses a similar but distinctly different electroporation device known as the OncoSec Medical System (OMS) that is based on Inovio�� technology. The specific amplitude and frequency of the OMS electroporation is calibrated such that plasmid delivery into solid tumor masses is fully optimized, while CELLECTRA electroporation is less specialized and focus more on the vaccination of skin cells. The cross-license agreement made between Inovio and Oncosec also covers the two devices for their distinctly different applications.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap biotech stocks AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ: AVEO), OncoSec Medical Inc (OTCMKTS: ONCS) and MetaStat Inc (OTCBB: MTST) are focused on or are developing treatments or diagnostic technologies for metastatic cancers. In case you aren�� familiar with the term metastasis or metastatic, it�� the�spread of cancer from its primary site to other places in the body as cancer cells break away from a primary tumor, penetrate into lymphatic and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream and then grow in a new focus (metastasize) in normal tissues elsewhere in the body. In other words, it�� a dangerous form of cancer, but there are some small cap biotech stocks targeting it for diagnostics or treatment:

As Europe Lags, America Builds a Drone Empire

Best High Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now

AlamyA US Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System aircraft is towed into the hanger bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush -- the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. With a fiscal 2013 defense budget of nearly $614 billion, the United States is widely known to be a big spender on defense. By some estimates, U.S. defense spending accounts for nearly 60 percent of the $1.19 trillion the top 10 military powers spent on defense in 2011. In fact, our country allocates more than five times more money to defense than does its closest spending rival, China. And that's not the half of it. In the cutting-edge field of military unmanned aerial vehicles, the United States has such a huge lead over its rivals that it makes their combined UAV fleets look like a rounding error in a world that's essentially 100 percent dominated by U.S. drones. Pax Americana As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, the U.S. military commands a fleet of 429 "large drone" aircraft such as the General Atomics Predator and Northrop Grumman (NOC) Global Hawk. Meanwhile, America's smaller drones, built by everyone from Boeing (BA) to Textron (TXT) to tiny AeroVironment (AVAV), maker of the ubiquitous Raven man-portable UAV, number in the thousands. In contrast, the military of the United Kingdom, not even a U.S. rival but a close ally, boasts a fleet of precisely 10 large drones, most of which we built for them, and the rest imported from Israel. Italy has nine, France, four, and Germany has three. As a result, when allied forces need a drone to "put eyes" on a target, more often than not, they have to ring up the U.S. military to get one. Who You Gonna Call? For allied nations, that has to be embarrassing -- but it's a situation unlikely to change soon. As the Journal reports, European defense giant European Aeronautic Defence & Space (EADSY), the parent company of Airbus, is only just now beginning to test a prototype pilotless helicopter -- whereas in the U.S., pilotless helos from Northrop called "Fire Scouts" have been in active service for years. True, European defense contractors such as EADS, BAE Systems (LSE: BA), and Dassault Aviation have succeeded in putting a few smaller drones in the air, and have dreams of prototypes of larger craft. But budget cuts, exacerbated by an ongoing economic crisis and also "territorial" squabbling among EU governments over ownership of defense companies, have hobbled the Continent's ability to develop robotic aircraft of any real size or capability. By some estimates, Europe is as much as 10 years behind the U.S. in drone technology development. The World Is Our Unmanned Oyster In the absence of a "homegrown" drone program, Europe remains largely dependent on the kindness of strangers for its drones -- in other words, the willingness of U.S. companies such as Northrop and General Atomics, and Israeli firms like Israel Aerospace Industries, to sell them the large drones they need. Right now, France is in the process of petitioning the U.S. Congress to sell it 16 General Atomics Reaper drones. If and when the sale goes through, though, it should mean at least $1.5 billion for General Atomics. In future years, U.S. defense contractors could rack up even bigger sales. Australia, for example, already a patron of Israel's IAI, is gearing up to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a new maritime surveillance drone (dubbed "BAMS") being developed by Northrop Grumman. Aerospace consulting firm Teal Group, based in Reston, Va., estimates that by 2023, the global drone market could grow to as much as $11.6 billion in annual sales. For the time being -- and perhaps for as much as a decade in the future, until Europe catches up -- most of these sales should be ours for the taking.

The Best Is Yet To Come For Apple

The stock market is one fickle beast. 

Without rhyme or reason, investor sentiment can change direction like leaf being blown by a breeze. A company can be on top of the world one day with a soaring stock and bullish sentiment across the board. The next day, investors can get spooked by the most insignificant rumors and turn bearish, sending shares plunging lower. Long-term investors need to learn to deal with the seemingly random day-by-day gyrations of price. 

When I first started stock investing with a long-term horizon, the ups and down of stock prices were difficult to deal with. I felt like a genius when my stocks would soar higher. At the same time, when a stock I had purchased plunged, I would get worried, angry and lose confidence in my decisions.  

I learned a simple yet highly effective method of dealing with this emotional roller-coaster. Over time, I internalized the fact that price and value are two completely different things. This sounds obvious, but dealing with the truth is far different than intellectually understanding the words.

My start in the stock market was as a short-term/day trader. Short-term traders are concerned only with the price. A long-term investor should be concerned with value first, then price. Being focused on the true value of a company, rather than the daily price changes, keeps the emotions in check and allows for better investment decisions. 

Remember, as a long-term investor, you should buy value. Value is what lifts price in the long-term despite the short-term price fluctuations that shake out investors who don't understand this concept. 

One stock I believe is the embodiment of this idea is the venerable tech giant Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL).

Back in April, I wrote that as long as shares stay above the 200-week simple moving average, Apple remains a buy candidate with an 18-month target price of $550 to $575. 

Well, that's exactly what is occurring right now. The stock dropped almost exactly to the 200-week simple moving average prior to bouncing higher since around the first of July. Shares are very close to taking out the $500 barrier on the daily close. 

Many investors lost faith in Apple during the plunge. But investors who remained focused on value, rather than price, have been rewarded as Apple recovered its losses for the year. Investors who took the opportunity to buy shares during Apple's plunge and used simple technical timing tools have earned a tidy profit over the past 90 days. 

Based on the changes since that article, I am raising my forecast on the tech giant to $700-plus within the next 12 months. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see shares push $1,000 within the next 36 months. Sure, there will be price gyrations during this time. However, as long as the price stays above the 200-week simple moving average, any drops can be viewed as buying opportunities. Here's why:

1. Double Bottom On The Weekly Chart

Technical support, in the shape of a double bottom, developed on the weekly chart at the 200-week simple moving average. The price is now above the 50-week simple moving average. Technically, further upside to retest the $700 highs appears probable.

 

2. Smartphone Growth In Overdrive

Market research firm IDC projects a 40% increase in smartphone sales in 2014. This includes more than a billion smartphones and tablets being sold to emerging markets such as the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China). Apple is in position to gain market share based on this growth, and the cheaper version of the iPhone 5 will surely help in these markets.

 

3. Respected Wall Street Firm Sets $777 Price Target

While I don't generally pay much attention to most Wall Street firm projections, Cantor Fitzgerald has initiated a "buy" recommendation and a $777 price target on Apple's shares. I have respect for Cantor Fitzgerald, and when its forecast supports my own research, if nothing else it raises confidence in my price targets.

 

4. Huge China Deal

Apple is holding its first-ever media event in China on Sept. 11, a day after the new iPhones will be officially announced. Rumors are that Apple will use this opportunity to announce the long-awaited deal with China Mobile (NYSE: CHL), which is the world's largest cellphone carrier with more than 700 million active users. Clearly, there are impediments in the way, but the potential for a lower-priced iPhone for this market means strong possibilities remain. This deal would be a major upside catalyst for Apple shares.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy Right Now

Risks to Consider: Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm not telling you to stick with a stock that you believe has value regardless of what happens to the price. Be certain to use basic technical tools such as the 200-day simple moving average to confirm your fundamental analysis. Should Apple's price break the 200-week simple moving average, then my bullish projection is void.

Action to Take --> I like Apple right now on a breakout close above $500 with a $700-plus 12-month target price.

P.S. -- Everyone is talking about Apple's next iPhone. But did you know Apple just made a $256 million move that could have huge consequences on your wallet? Click here to find out how the tech giant is threatening the entire banking industry.

Reality After Ballmer and Gates: Microsoft Now Just Another Tech Stock

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) was the beneficiary late last week on news that Steve Ballmer has decided to retire. The news drove shares up roughly 7% to $34.75 on massive trading volume, and shares are currently giving back some of the great gains on Monday. The news is a positive in the sense that investors will no longer have Ballmer to blame for a lack of new catalysts and sitting on the laurels of the past. The problem is that in the post-Bill Gates, and now post-Ballmer, era, Microsoft will be evaluated just like any other technology stock. Microsoft may also have the problem that there is no other known “next Steve Jobs” candidates, and it is possible that an internal candidate may have to rise to the occasion.

Over the weekend came reports from Barron’s that Wall Street is cheering Ballmer’s exit. Then Barron’s wrote on Monday questioning whether Microsoft has become a graveyard for new ideas. 24/7 Wall St. has even gone as far as to try to see which other CEOs from outside may be solid candidates to take over as Microsoft CEO.

So, back to how the valuation will start to take place. Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer are no ordinary men, even if the Microsoft stock performance over the past decade has been less than ordinary. These two men did help drive Microsoft to still be one of the most powerful corporations in the world. The growth and expansion of Microsoft has created billions in wealth, including the world’s richest man. Without the co-founders, Microsoft likely will be evaluated no differently than any other technology stocks.

Best Dividend Companies To Watch For 2014

First and foremost, any new CEO will have to evaluate the very recent Ballmer reorganization that left many outsiders scratching their heads. The company’s next fiscal year-end is June of 2014, and the $2.75 consensus in earnings per share from Thomson Reuters gives Microsoft a valuation of 12.4 times expected earnings. That is not expensive for the stock market by any means, but there are many technology giants trading at cheap valuations.

A new CEO has to evaluate Microsoft devices such as the tablets and smartphones, as well as the Xbox One. The company is ripe for a breakup, even if that is truly a risky strategy. Until we have a new CEO announcement, Microsoft’s valuation is likely going to garner no premium and may even trade at a discount compared to other technology giants.

17 Key Earnings to Watch in the Week Ahead with Full Previews

Earnings season has been going strong, most DJIA components have reported earnings, and this coming first full week of November will mark the last week of major earnings reports from companies with quarters ending in September. Still, the earnings calendar remains full.

24/7 Wall St. has decided to publish previews for what will be the most important reports for their given sectors in the week ahead. Some could be market-movers, but all can be sector movers on any given day.

We have used estimates from Thomson Reuters for the earnings per share (EPS) and revenue estimates as well as for consensus analyst price targets. Some color has been added for each company based upon investor or trader issues to watch. Earnings estimates can change each day up to any of the reports, and companies can even change days that they report earnings.

24/7 Wall St. also just recently showed which DJIA stocks were doing the best and the worst based upon post-earnings reactions after looking at all of their earnings reports.

We still have many key oil and energy companies reporting in the week ahead but we have now seen the sector leaders report earnings. Earnings previews have been prepared for the following stocks:

CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CME) Hertz Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV) Office Depot Inc. (NYSE: ODP) and OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE: OMX) Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) American Water Works Company Inc. (NYSE: AWK) Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) QUALCOMM Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) Whole Foods Market Inc. (NASDAQ: WFM) Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP) The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) The Wendy’s Company (NYSE: WEN)

CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CME) reports earnings on Monday morning. With all of the exchange mergers of the last decade this remains one of the dominant exchanges. Estimates are $0.73 EPS and $713.3 million in revenue. Keep in mind that this exchange is now worth $25 billion. At $74.70, the consensus analyst price target is only just barely higher at almost $75.50.

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) is set to report after the close of trading on Monday. At $22.75, its stock has pulled back from a 52-week high of $27.75. Estimates for this last quarter are $0.71 EPS and $3.06 billion in revenue.

Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) reports on Monday morning and estimates are $0.89 EPS on sales of $3.71 billion. Shares are still considered to be lacking in any great things ahead, but the stock is now nearing 10% off its 52-week high and it is considered a key defensive stock that still pays a 3% dividend.

8 Overlooked Tips to Bond With, and Retain, Clients

During the recent Raymond James Women’s Symposium, several experts shared tips on how the roughly 200 advisors and 100 other guests present could boost their business.

A popular and returning speaker at the annual event, Susan Kay of MFS Fund Distributors, highlighted a long list of ideas for engaging clients and providing them with five-star service. In addition, consultant Amy Florian gave attendees specific advice on working with widows or other clients experiencing loss.

Here's a summary of many of the tips shared by these experts that resonated with advisors at the Raymond James event:

1. Ask and You Shall Receive

Poll clients and then follow up by hosting educational events on topics they are most interested in, like setting up family trusts or getting a power of attorney for older family members.

Clients and prospects alike appreciate communication around tough issues they may be facing or have questions about. These seminars should prove meaningful to them, give you issues to follow up on and strengthen your relationships.

 

2. Expand Your Family Reach

To involve multi-generations, ask clients about who they would like to have you contact in the event of an emergency. Reach out to these contacts to see if they would be open to a meeting or to being added to your contact list.

Also, keep in mind that as much as 98% of client assets can leave an advisor when both parents, or one of the parents and a second spouse pass away—according to a Cisco Wealth Management survey of late 2012. Being pro-active may help advisors enhance relationships and retain assets, experts say.

3. Work the Workshop

Host seminars or workshops on delicate topics, like changing quality of life issues and the aging process. Find expert community-based speakers that can diplomatically share information that focuses on living options, health care issues and even funeral planning.

These types of topics are likely of interest to both older clients and prospects and enable clients to easily invite friends or family members to attend workshops that focus on such subjects. Host these events in a friendly, inviting location that will put the audience at ease.

4. Push Out Personal Touches

Improve client relationships by sending anniversary cards and sharing special memories with a widow or widower on the anniversaries of their spouse’s death to show genuine concern and respect for their bereavement.

Make sure to note what makes your relationship with the client so satisfying and how you enjoyed working with their late spouse. Also, close by offering your continued support.

5. Five-Star Service

Be sure to have small gifts to share at the end of each client meeting labeled with your name or team name, such as small boxes of candy, fortune cookies, pads of papers, pens, golf balls, etc.

There are lots of online businesses that will customize these kinds of gifts for a fairly low cost. In addition, higher-end merchants like Godiva will put your brand on their products for you to share with clients. By having nice gifts that appeal to lots of clients, you’ll save yourself time by not having to purchase individual gifts during the holidays or on their birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

6. Automate to Generate More Business

Send out monthly automated reminders and/or postcards to remind clients and prospects about tax preparation, automatic investing, college savings, etc. Close with a request that they call your office with questions or concerns.

You may want to set up an automatic calendar system in your office to make sure these e-mails or postcards get sent out. In addition, you may want to highlight a different monthly topic in a newsletter or during client calls to maximize your clients’ exposure to this timely topic.

7. Unleash Opportunities

At client meetings or in mailings, gently probe clients about what keeps them up at night. Then offer to share information or pass on referrals to other professionals who can bring these clients peace of mind.

If you think your clients would prefer answering a written questionnaire before meeting with you, write up a short survey on retirement, life events, elder care, saving, estate planning and other core financial matters and send it to clients in advance for them to bring to your office.

Hot Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014

8. Sell the Seminar

Find new clients of all ages by hosting seminars on topics that should attract a good-size general audience. For instance, subjects like the challenges of juggling a career, kids and aging parents; anti-aging tips; living a less-stressful life might prove popular with members of your community who’ve been referred to you.

Generally speaking, you should not have to pay for local experts to conduct these workshops or discussions, since this type of event helps them make contacts and build their business.