Travel costs are higher than ever right now, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the vacation you want. By following some simple steps, you can find ways to save on travel, and bring your dream vacation into reach.
In the following video, Motley Fool investment planning editor Lauren Kuczala talks with longtime Fool contributor and financial planner Dan Caplinger about how to save on your next trip. Dan notes that the travel industry has grown reliant on income from fuel surcharges, baggage fees, resort tack-ons, and other ancillary revenue. But by doing research�before�you buy, Dan shows how you can cut costs on airfare, car rentals, and lodging costs.
One company that's trying to benefit from a recovery in travel is MGM Resorts. When Las Vegas hit a rough patch during the Great Recession, MGM has since turned its attention to a new resort on Macau's Cotai Strip that may relieve the company from crushing debt. For expert analysis on whether this former high-flying stock can regain its form on the back of a growing presence in Asia, you're invited to check out The Motley Fool's new premium report on MGM Resorts. Simply click here now to claim your copy today.
Hot Tech Companies To Invest In 2015: Inland Real Estate Corp (IRC)
Inland Real Estate Corporation is a self-managed, real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company owns and operates neighborhood, community, power and single tenant retail centers. It also may construct or develop properties or render services in connection with construction or development. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned interests in 146 investment properties, including those owned through its unconsolidated joint ventures, which consist of 61 neighborhood retail centers totaling approximately 4,249,000 gross leasable square feet; 23 community centers totaling approximately 3,129,000 gross leasable square feet; 32 power centers totaling approximately 4,959,000 gross leasable square feet; one lifestyle center totaling approximately 561,000 gross leasable square feet, and 29 single-user properties totaling approximately 1,334,000 gross leasable square feet. In December 2012, the Company disposed two consolidated retail properties in the Greater Chicago and Indianapolis markets. In January 2013, the Company acquired for its consolidated portfolio Valparaiso Walk, a 137,509-square-foot power center in northwestern Indiana. In June 2013, Inland Real Estate Corp closed its acquisition of the 50% ownership interest of New York State Teachers Retirement System in the parties IN Retail Fund, L.L.C. (IN Retail) joint venture entity. In October 2013, Inland Real Estate Corporation announced that its joint venture with Dutch pension fund advisor PGGM has acquired Cedar Center South, a 139,000 square foot shopping center located in University Heights. In December 2013, Inland Real Estate Corp acquired two shopping centers in Florida and Arkansas.
In April 2012, it announced a joint venture acquisition with Inland Private Capital Corporation (IPCC) of two retail properties in Wisconsin. On March 6, 2012, it purchased for its own portfolio the Westgate Shopping Center, a grocery-anchored power center located in Fairview Park, Ohio. On February 29, 2012, the Company acquired the Stone Creek ! Towne Center, a power center located in the Cincinnati market. In March 2012, the Company acquired two retail properties in Ohio. On February 24, 2012, the Company�� joint venture with PGGM purchased Silver Lake Village. The property is located in St. Anthony, Minnesota. It also purchased Woodbury Commons located in Woodbury, Minnesota. On December 7, 2011, the Company�� joint venture with PGGM acquired Elston Plaza, a grocery-anchored center located in Chicago, Ill. On November 29, 2011, the Company purchased Brownstones Shopping Center, also grocery-anchored and located in Brookfield, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee. In November 2011, the Company acquired Bradley Commons, an investment property.
The Company is engage in certain activities through Inland Venture Corporation (IVC) and Inland Exchange Venture Corporation (IEVC), wholly owned TRS entities. These entities engage in activities that would otherwise not be permitted for a REIT, such as managing properties owned by ventures, in which the Company is a partner. The Company owns interests in investment properties located in the States of California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. On January 11, 2011, its joint venture with PGGM purchased Joffco Square from an unaffiliated third party. On February 14, 2011, the Company sold Schaumburg Golf Road Retail, in Schaumburg, Illinois to an unaffiliated third party.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Burrows]
This is also a dividend stock you can count on. Even when earnings were volatile during the Ericsson partnership, STM still maintained its payout level. STM boasts a dividend yield north of 4%, though it hasn’t improved upon its nominal payout since 2011.
Cheap Dividend Stocks #3: Inland Real Estate (IRC)Share Price as of 4/4: $10.67
YTD Stock Performance: 1%
Dividend Yield: 5.5% - [By Rich Duprey]
Midwest retail shopping center operator Inland Real Estate (NYSE: IRC ) entered into an agreement to buy out for $121 million cash the 50% interest in the�IN Retail Fund that it doesn't already own.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Midwest retail shopping center operator�Inland Real Estate (NYSE: IRC ) announced today that it set its monthly disbursement for July on its 8.125% Series A cumulative redeemable preferred stock�at�$0.169271 per share.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Midwest retail shopping center operator Inland Real Estate (NYSE: IRC ) announced today that it set its monthly disbursement for August on its 8.125% Series A cumulative redeemable preferred stock at $0.169271 per share.
Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: CBRE Group Inc (CBG)
CBRE Group, Inc., incorporated on February 20, 2001, is a holding company that conducts all of its operations through its indirect subsidiaries. The Company is a commercial real estate services firm. The Company offers a range of services to occupiers, owners, lenders and investors in office, retail, industrial, multi-family and other types of commercial real estate. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 300 offices worldwide, providing commercial real estate services under the CBRE brand name, investment management services under the CBRE Global Investors brand name and development services under the Trammell Crow brand name. CBRE Services, Inc., its direct wholly owned subsidiary, is also a holding company and is the primary obligor or issuer with respect to most of its long-term indebtedness. The Company operates in five segments: Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, Global Investment Management and Development Services. In March 2014, the Company acquired VALTEQ Gesellschaft mbH and its subsidiaries.
The Americas
The Americas segment consisted of operations throughout the United States and Canada, as well as markets in Latin America. Its operations are wholly owned, but also include independent affiliated offices, which license the use of the CBRE and CB Richard Ellis names in their local markets in return for payments of annual royalty fees to the Company and an agreement to cross-refer business between the Company and the affiliate. Its advisory services businesses offer occupier/tenant and investor/owner services that meet the full spectrum of marketplace needs, including real estate services, capital markets and valuation. Within advisory services, its service lines are Real Estate Services, Capital Markets and Valuation.
The Company provides strategic advice and execution to owners, investors and occupiers of real estate in connection with leasing, disposition and acquisition of property. It generates revenue from ! existing United States real estate sales and leasing clients in 2011. This includes referrals from its contractual fee-for-services businesses, such as facilities and property management, mortgage loan servicing and investment management provided by CBRE Global Investors. The Company offers clients integrated investment sales and debt/equity financing services under the CBRE Capital Markets brand. The Company provides valuation services that include market value appraisals, litigation support, discounted cash flow analyses and feasibility and fairness opinions.
Outsourcing commercial real estate services is a long-term trend in its industry, with corporations, institutions, public sector entities, health care providers and others. Its outsourcing services primarily include two business lines that seek to capitalize on this trend: corporate services and asset services. The Company provides a suite of services to corporate users of real estate, including transaction management, project management, facilities management, strategic consulting, portfolio management and other services. Its clients are global corporations, health care providers and public sector entities with geographically-diverse real estate portfolios. Project management services are typically provided on a portfolio-wide or programmatic basis. Facilities management involves the day-to-day management of client-occupied space and includes headquarter buildings, regional offices, administrative offices and manufacturing and distribution facilities. The Company provides property management, construction management, marketing, leasing, accounting and financial services on a contractual basis for income-producing office, industrial and retail properties owned by local, regional and institutional investors. It provides these services through a network of real estate experts in markets throughout the United States.
Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
The Company�� Europe, Middle East and Africa, segment, ! operates ! in 44 countries with operations primarily conducted through a number of indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. The operations are located in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom. Its operations in these countries generally provide a range of services to the commercial property sector. Additionally, it provides some residential property services, primarily in France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Within EMEA, its services are organized along the same lines as in the Americas, including brokerage, investment properties, corporate services, valuation/appraisal services, asset management services and facilities management, among others.
In France, it has operations in Aix in Provence, Bagnolet, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montreuil, Montrouge, Neuilly Sur Seine, Saint Denis and Toulouse. Its German operations are located in Berlin, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart. Its presence in Italy includes operations in Milan, Modena, Rome and Turin. Its operations in the Netherlands are located in Amsterdam, Almere, the Hague, Hoofddorp and Rotterdam. Itsoperations in Russia consist of an office in Moscow. In Spain, it provides full-service coverage through its offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Marbella, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. The Company is a commercial real estate services company in the United Kingdom. In London, it provides a range of commercial property real estate services to investment and corporate clients.
The Company has affiliated offices that provide commercial real estate services under its brand name in several countries throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Its agreements with these independent offices include licenses to use the CBRE and CB Richard Ellis names in the relevant territory in return for payments of annual royalty fees to the Company. In addition, these agreements also include business cross-referral arrangements between the Company and its affiliates.
Asia Pacific!
The Company�� Asia Pacific segment operates in 13 countries with operations primarily conducted through a number of indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. It is a provider a range of real estate services to corporations throughout the region, similar to the range of services provided by its Americas and EMEA segments. Its principal operations in Asia are located in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. In addition, it has agreements with affiliate offices in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia that generate royalty fees and support cross-referral arrangements similar to its EMEA segment.
Global Investment Management
The Company�� operations in Global Investment Management segment are conducted through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary CBRE Global Investors, LLC and its global affiliates, which it also refers to as CBRE Global Investors. CBRE Global Investors provides investment management services to pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, foundations, endowments and other institutional investors seeking to generate returns and diversification through investment in real estate. It sponsors investment programs that span the risk/return spectrum across three continents: North America, Europe and Asia. CBRE Global Investors��investment programs are organized into four primary categories, which include direct real estate investments through separate accounts and sponsored equity and debt funds, as well as indirect real estate investments through listed securities and multi manager funds of funds. As of December 31, 2011, its portfolio of consolidated real estate held for investment consisted of one industrial property and three multi-family/residential properties, all located in the United States.
Development Services
The Company�� operations in Development Services segment are conducted through its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries Trammell Crow Company, Trammell Crow S! ervices, ! Inc. (both of which merged into Trammell Crow Company, LLC effective January 1, 2012) and certain of its subsidiaries, providing development services primarily in the United States to users of and investors in commercial real estate, as well as for its own account. Trammell Crow Company pursues opportunistic, risk-mitigated development and investment in commercial real estate across a wide spectrum of property types, including industrial, office and retail properties; healthcare facilities of all types (medical office buildings, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers); higher education facilities (primarily student housing); and residential/mixed-use projects.
Trammell Crow Company acts as the manager of development projects, providing services that are in all stages of the process, including site identification, due diligence and acquisition; evaluating project feasibility, budgeting, scheduling and cash flow analysis; procurement of approvals and permits, including zoning and other entitlements; project finance advisory services; coordination of project design and engineering; construction bidding and management as well as tenant finish coordination; and project close-out and tenant move coordination. As of December 31, 2011, its portfolio of consolidated real estate consisted of land, industrial, office and retail properties and mixed-use projects.
The Company competes with Cushman & Wakefield, Jones Lang LaSalle and Grubb & Ellis.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
CBRE Group (NYSE: CBG ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 25. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict CBRE Group's revenues will grow 7.8% and EPS will grow 28.6%. - [By John Udovich]
Midcaps CBRE Group Inc (NYSE: CBG) and Jones Lang LaSalle Inc (NYSE: JLL) are probably the better known real estate services stocks with the latter surging 12.36% yesterday on impressive earnings, but small cap stocks Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc (NYSE: KW) and FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSRV) are also important real estate services providers that you may have overlooked. After all, real estate services stocks like the following would offer exposure to real estate by being invested in property as well as generating revenue from transactions, property management and other services: ��
- [By GURUFOCUS]
CBRE Group, Inc. (CBG)'s shares performed well in the fourth quarter and appreciated approximately 32% in 2013. We recently attended CBRE Group, Inc.'s annual investor day, which served to solidify our view that the company is well-positioned to benefit from the continued rebound in commercial real estate and the broader economy. As the world's leading global commercial real estate firm, we believe the company will benefit from a rebound in its leasing, investment sales, property management, and investment management businesses.We believe the company may increase its earnings in the next four years to more than $2.50 per share in 2017. If the company maintains its current valuation multiple of 16 times earnings (versus its historical peak multiple of 20 times earnings), its shares could reach $40 in the next three years or approximately 50% upside from the current price of $26 per share.
- [By David Carey]
��undamentals turned positive in the second quarter of 2010, when demand growth outpaced supply growth for the first time in years,��said Kevin Mallory, global head of CBRE Hotels, the lodging-specialty practice of commercial-property brokerage CBRE Group Inc. (CBG) ��ncreased liquidity in the capital markets, combined with a recovery in fundamentals, has driven strong investor interest in hotel-sector investments.��
Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: Renasant Corporation(RNST)
Renasant Corporation operates as the bank holding company for the Renasant Bank that provides various financial and insurance services to retail and commercial customers. The company offers checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, time deposits, individual retirement accounts, and health savings accounts. It also provides commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; construction loans, including loans for the construction of single family residential properties, multi-family properties, and commercial projects; residential mortgage loans; home equity loans or lines of credit; consumer loans; and equipment leasing, as well as safe deposit and night depository facilities. In addition, the company offers various fiduciary services; and administers qualified retirement plans, profit sharing and other employee benefit plans, personal trusts, and estates. Further, the company provides annuities, mutual funds, and other investment ser vices through a third party broker-dealer. Additionally, the company offers commercial and personal insurance products through carriers. As of October 21, 2011, it operated approximately 75 banking, mortgage, financial services, and insurance offices in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. The company was founded in 1904 and is based in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Financial services specialist�Renasant� (NASDAQ: RNST ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.17 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2007.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Renasant (NASDAQ: RNST) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.31 per share on revenue of $60.87 million.
Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets
Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (the Bank) is engaged in the provision of a range of banking and financial products and services to retail, small business, corporate and institutional clients. The Bank is a provider of integrated financial services, including retail, business and institutional banking, superannuation, life insurance, general insurance, funds management, broking services and finance company activities. Its operating segments include Retail Banking Services, Business and Private Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, Wealth Management, New Zealand, Bankwest and Other. Its retail banking services include home loans, consumer finance, retail deposits and distribution. Its business and private banking include corporate financial services, regional and agribusiness banking, local business banking, private bank and equities and margin lending. The Bank and its subsidiaries ceased to be a substantial holder in Ten Network Holdings Limited, as of September 12, 2012. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Toshiro Hasegawa]
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) fell 1.1 percent to A$73.73. Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (ST) retreated 1.1 percent to S$3.78 today after posting earnings.
Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: Federated National Holding Co (FNHC)
Federated National Holding Company (Federated National), formerly 21st Century Holding Company, is an insurance holding company, which through its subsidiaries and its contractual relationships with its independent agents and general agents, controls all aspects of the insurance underwriting, distribution and claims processes. Federated National is authorized to underwrite homeowners��multi-peril (homeowners), personal umbrella, commercial general liability, following form commercial excess liability, personal and commercial automobile, fire, allied lines, workers��compensation, business personal property and commercial inland marine insurance. On January 26, 2011, Federated National merged into the Company�� other wholly owned subsidiary, American Vehicle Insurance Company (American Vehicle), with resulting entity being Federated National.
Federated National markets and distributes its own and third-party insurers��products and its other services through a network of independent agents. The Company also utilize a select number of general agents for the same purpose. During 2010, the Company processed property and liability claims stemming from its homeowners�� commercial general liability and private passenger automobile lines of business. Through contractual relationships with a network of approximately 4,200 independent agents, of which approximately 400 sell and service its products, Federated National is authorized to underwrite homeowners�� fire, allied lines and personal automobile insurance in Florida.
American Vehicle is licensed as an admitted carrier in Florida, and underwrites commercial general liability, and personal and commercial automobile insurance. American Vehicle is also licensed as an admitted carrier in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas, and underwrites commercial general liability insurance in those states. American Vehicle operates as a non-admitted carrier in Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, South ! Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and can underwrite commercial general liability insurance in all of these states. During 2010, 79.7%, 12.3%, 4.1% and 3.9% of the premiums the Company underwrote were for homeowners�� commercial general liability, federal flood, and personal automobile insurance, respectively. Federated National internally processes claims made by its insured through its wholly owned claims adjusting company, Superior Adjusting, Inc. (Superior). It also offers premium financing to its own and third-party insured through its wholly owned subsidiary, Federated Premium Finance, Inc. (Federated Premium).
Homeowners��Property and Casualty Insurance
Federated National underwrites homeowners��insurance primarily in the South, West and Central Florida regions. Homeowners��insurance protects an owner of real and personal property against covered causes of loss to that property. The Company�� homeowner insurance products provide maximum dwelling coverage in the amount of approximately $0.8 million, with the aggregate maximum policy limit being approximately $1.5 million. Premium rates are regulated and approved by the Florida OIR.
Commercial Residential Property Insurance
The Florida OIR has granted Federated National the authority to write commercial residential property insurance under the fire line of business. This class of business affords property coverage primarily to associations with property commonly owned by the tenants of the association. Aggregate policy limits ranged between $1.0 million and $20 million. Additionally, Federated National has secured automatic facultative reinsurance for insured values up to $10 million with permission to individually submit attractive risks greater than $10 million to its reinsurers for quote and binding authority.
Commercial General Liability and Inland Marine
The Company underwrite commercial general liability insurance for approximately 350 classes of artisan ! (excludin! g home-builders and developers) and mercantile trades (such as owners, landlords and tenants). The limits of liability range from $100,000 per occurrence with a $200,000 policy aggregate to $1 million per occurrence with a $2 million policy aggregate. The Company markets the commercial general liability insurance products through independent agents and a limited number of general agencies unaffiliated with the Company.
Personal Automobile
Personal automobile insurance markets can be divided into two categories: standard automobile and nonstandard automobile. Standard personal automobile insurance is provided to insureds who present an average risk profile in terms of driving record, vehicle type and other factors. Nonstandard personal automobile insurance is provided to insureds that are unable to obtain standard insurance coverage because of their driving record, age, vehicle type or other factors, including market conditions. During 2010, the average annual premium on policies was approximately $1,325, and the nonstandard personal automobile insurance lines represented 100% of its written premiums for personal automobile insurance. Federated National underwrites new and renewal policies for this coverage on primarily an annual basis and to a much lesser extent, on a semi-annual basis. American Vehicle underwrites standard personal automobile insurance policies.
Flood
Federated National writes flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Company writes the policy for the NFIP, which assumes 100% of the flood risk while it retains a commission for its service. The average flood policy premium is approximately $570 with limits up to $250,000.
Assurance MGA
Assurance MGA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated National, acts as Federated National�� and American Vehicle�� exclusive managing general agent in the state of Florida and is also licensed as a managing general agent in the states of Al! abama, Ar! kansas, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Assurance MGA has contracted with several unaffiliated insurance companies to sell commercial general liability, workers compensation, personal umbrella and inland marine insurance through Assurance MGA�� existing network of agents. Assurance MGA earns commissions and fees for providing policy administration, marketing, accounting and analytical services, and for participating in the negotiation of reinsurance contracts. The homeowner policy provides Assurance MGA the right to cancel any policy within a period of 90 days from the policy's inception with 25 days��notice, or after 90 days from policy inception with 95 days��notice, even if the risk falls within its underwriting criteria.
Superior
Superior processes claims made by insured from Federated National and American Vehicle. Its agents have no authority to settle claims or otherwise exercise control over the claims process. Federated National also employs an in-house legal department to manage claims-related litigation and to monitor its claims handling practices for compliance.
Federated Premium
Federated Premium provides premium financing to Federated National's, American Vehicle�� and third-party�� insureds. Premium financing has been marketed through the Company�� distribution network of general agents and independent agents. Premiums for property and casualty insurance, in certain circumstances, are payable at the time a policy is placed in- force or renewed. Federated Premium's services allow the insured to pay a portion of the premium when the policy is placed in-force and the balance in monthly installments over a specified term, between six and nine months.
Insure-Link, Inc. (Insure-Link)
Insure-Link serves as an independent insurance agency. The insurance agency markets direct to the public to provide a variety of in! surance p! roducts and services to individual clients, as well as business clients, by offering a line of insurance products, including, but not limited to, homeowners�� personal and commercial automobile, commercial general liability and workers��compensation insurance through their agency appointments with over fifty different carriers. There were no other agency relationships with affiliated captive or franchised agents during 2010.
The Company competes with Castle Key (formerly Allstate Floridian) Indemnity Insurance Company, Fidelity National Insurance Company, Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Royal Palm Insurance Company, St. Johns Insurance Company, Cypress Property and Casualty Insurance Company, American Strategic Insurance Company, Century Surety Insurance Company, Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company, Colony Insurance Company, Burlington/First Financial Insurance Companies, Kingsway Amigo Insurance Company, United Automobile Insurance Company, Direct General Insurance Company, Ocean Harbor Insurance Company, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, and GEICO.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Louis Navellier]
Federated Nationals Insurance Company (FNHC) is another little insurance company that is showing huge profits right now. They also specialize in homeowners insurance as well as umbrella liability, workers comp and inland marine policies. Sales and profits were both up triple digits in the most recent quarter and posted an 84% positive earning surprise.
- [By , Zacks Investment Research]
Here are five�stocks that made it through this week’s screen:
AmTrust Financial (AFSI) Allied World Assurance (AWH) Chatham Lodging Trust (CLDT) Federated National Holding Co. (FNHC) Whitewave Foods (WWAV)Get the rest of the stocks on this list and start screening for these companies on your own.
Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA)
Diamonds Trust, Series 1 (the Trust) is a unit investment trust. The Trust was created to provide investors with the opportunity to purchase units of beneficial interest in the Trust representing proportionate undivided interests in the portfolio of securities consisting of substantially all of the component common stocks, which comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average (the DJIA). The Trust�� objective is to provide investment results that, before expenses, generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the DJIA.
The Trust's holdings consist of the 30 stocks in the DJIA, which is designed to capture the price performance of 30 United States blue-chip stocks. The Trust ended its fiscal year on October 31, 2007, with a 12-month return of 17.72% on net asset value as compared to the DJIA return of 17.94%. As of October 31, 2007, some of the Trust�� investments included 3M Co., Alcoa, Inc., Altria Group, Inc., American Express Co., American International Group, Inc., AT&T, Inc., Boeing Co., Caterpillar, Inc., Citigroup, Inc. and Coca-Cola Co.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tom Aspray]
With the recent decline in many of the high-flying biotechnology stocks, the PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) is up 3.8%. Those who have been in either the Select Sector SPDR Energy (XLE) or the SPDR Dow Industrials (DIA) are pretty much flat for the year. This illustrates the importance of sector selection, and I have found relative performance to be the best tool. Using this approach to diversify your 401k in different sectors has shown to work quite well. (Learn to Drive Your Own 401k).
- [By Markos Kaminis]
The Fed Chairman handled the questions well enough, indicating that one theorized future action would not mean that a series of tapering operations would follow. In other words, if the Fed were to stop its purchases in the treasury market, it might not mean it would do the same in the mortgage-backed securities market, and it certainly did not mean the Fed would be raising interest rates anytime soon. After all, deflation is the current issue of concern, not inflation. But the meeting minutes showed some discussion among the members about monetary policy, which is (surprisingly it seems to the market) what they discuss at these meetings. I suppose out of boredom or perhaps the duties of the job, somebody always has to bring up change and the prospect of raising rates. Woe, said the market; we do not want any of that! It drove turbulence in the performance of the broader indexes and the ETFs that mimic them, with the SPDR S&P 500 (SPY), SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) and the PowerShares QQQ (QQQ) each turning downward since the May 22nd events.
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