SYDNEY--BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) raised its outlook for iron-ore production this fiscal year as it reported record output from its expanding mining hub in Australia's resource-rich Pilbara region.
The world's largest mining group said it now expects to produce 212 million metric tons of the steelmaking ingredient at its Australian mines in the year through June, up on previous guidance of 207 million tons. The guidance figures include the share of minority venture partners.
BHP has been lifting production capacity in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to feed Asian economies like China with iron ore, which goes into steel for skyscrapers and industries like auto manufacturing.
Top 5 Performing Stocks To Watch Right Now: NL Industries Inc (NL)
NL Industries, Inc. (NL) is a holding company. The Company operates in the component products industry through NL's majority-owned subsidiary, CompX International Inc. The Company operates in the chemicals industry through its non-controlling interest in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. As of December 31, 2011, it owned 87% interest in CompX International Inc and 30% interest in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. The Company also owns 100% of EWI RE, Inc., an insurance brokerage and risk management services company. In July of 2011, CompX completed the acquisition of an ergonomic component products business.
Component Products-Compx International Inc.
Through the Company�� subsidiary, CompX, it manufactures components that are sold to a variety of industries including office furniture, recreational transportation (including boats), mailboxes, toolboxes, home appliances, banking equipment, vending equipment and computer-related equipment. CompX�� Security Products business, with one manufacturing facility in South Carolina and one in Illinois shared with the Marine Components business, manufactures mechanical and electronic cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms used in a variety of applications including ignition systems, mailboxes, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, vending and gaming machines, high security medical cabinetry, electrical circuit panels, storage compartments and gas station security. These products include disc tumbler locks, pin tumbler locking mechanisms, and eLock and Stealthlock electronic locks.
CompX�� Furniture Components business, with facilities in Canada and Taiwan, manufactures a line of ball bearing slides and computer keyboard, monitor and central processing unit (CPU) support systems for use in applications, such as file cabinets, desks, computer server racks, wall mounted computer applications, home appliances, tool storage cabinets, imaging equipment, automated teller machines and other applications. These products include I! ntegrated Slide Lock, Ball Lock, Self-Closing Slide, articulating computer keyboard support arms along with the LeverLock keyboard arm, CPU storage devices, flat panel computer monitor support systems and keyboard, monitor and CPU wall mounts.
CompX�� Marine Components business, with a facility in Wisconsin and a facility shared with the Security Products business in Illinois, manufactures and distributes stainless steel exhaust components, gauges, throttle controls, hardware and accessories primarily for performance and ski/wakeboard boats. These products include original equipment and aftermarket stainless steel exhaust headers, exhaust pipes, mufflers and other exhaust components; gauges, such as global positioning system (GPS) speedometers and tachometers; controls, throttles, steering wheels and other billet aluminum accessories, and dash panels, light emitting diode (LED) lighting, rigging and other accessories. CompX operated five manufacturing facilities, as of December 31, 2011, including one facility in Grayslake, Illinois that housed operations relating to Security Products and Marine Components.
Chemicals-Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Kronos is a global producer and marketer of titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2), a base industrial product used in a range of applications. Kronos, along with its distributors and agents, sells and provides technical services for NL's products to over 4,000 customers in approximately 100 countries with the majority of sales in Europe and North America. TiO2 is a white inorganic pigment used in a range of products. Kronos offers customers a portfolio of products that include over 40 different TiO2 pigment grades. Kronos��major customers include domestic and international paint, plastics, decorative laminate and paper manufacturers. Kronos ships TiO2 to customers in either a powder or slurry form via rail, truck or ocean carrier. Kronos and its agents and distributors primarily sell and provide technical services for Kronos��pr! oducts in! three markets: coatings, plastics and paper.
Kronos��TiO2 is also found in food products, such as candy and confectionaries and in pet foods. In pharmaceuticals, TiO2 is used commonly as a colorant in pill and capsule coatings, as well as in liquid medicines. Kronos owns and operates two ilmenite mines in Norway. Kronos manufactures and sells iron-based chemicals, which are co-products and processed co-products of the sulfate and chloride process TiO2 pigment production. These co-product chemicals are marketed through Kronos��Ecochem division and are primarily used as treatment and conditioning agents for industrial effluents and municipal wastewater, as well as for the manufacture of iron pigments, cement and agricultural products. Kronos manufactures and sells titanium oxychloride and titanyl sulfate. Kronos produces TiO2 in two crystalline forms: rutile and anatase. Rutile TiO2 is manufactured using both a chloride production process and a sulfate production process, whereas anatase TiO2 is only produced using a sulfate production process.
The chloride process is a continuous process, in which chlorine is used to extract rutile TiO2. The sulfate process is a batch process, in which sulfuric acid is used to extract the TiO2 from ilmenite or titanium slag. Kronos operates four TiO2 plants in Europe, which includes one in each of Leverkusen, Germany; Nordenham, Germany; Langerbrugge, Belgium, and Fredrikstad, Norway. In North America, Kronos has a TiO2 plant in Varennes, Quebec, Canada. Kronos produced 550,000 metric tons of TiO, during the year ended December 31, 2011. Kronos and a subsidiary of Huntsman Corporation each hold a 50% interest in a manufacturing joint venture, Louisiana Pigment Company, L.P. (LPC). LPC owns and operates a chloride process TiO2 facility located in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The Company competes with E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., National Titanium Dioxide Company Ltd., Huntsman Corporation, Tronox Incorporated and Sachtleben Chemi! e GmbH. Advisors' Opinion:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Typically, when the chairman of a company dies, its shares drop. That hasn’t been the case for Valhi (VHI), Kronos Worldwide (KRO) and NL Industries (NL), which have all advanced today after Harold Simmons passed away.
- [By John Udovich]
Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons died over the weekend with investors sending shares of some of his publically traded companies like Valhi, Inc (NYSE: VHI), Kronos Worldwide, Inc (NYSE: KRO), NL Industries, Inc (NYSE: NL) and�CompX International Inc (NYSEMKT: CIX)to higher levels as they anticipate changes���such as asset sales or spin offs. Harold Simmons was the embodiment of the American dream because he was born during the depths of the Great Depression in Golden, Texas to schoolteacher parents and he spent�his early years living without indoor plumbing or electricity. However and by recognizing�underpriced assets and through the use of massive amounts of leverage (e.g. junk bonds),�he built an empire and�ranked #40 on the 2013 Forbes 400 with a fortune estimated to be worth some $10 billion.
Hot High Tech Companies To Invest In Right Now: Ishares Msci Emu Index (EZU)
iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded securities in the aggregate in the European Monetary Union (EMU) markets, as measured by the MSCI EMU Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the equity market of the EMU member countries, which includes those members of the European Union who have adopted the Euro as its currency. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for available float and must meet objective criteria for inclusion in the Index. The Index is reviewed quarterly.
The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dave and Donald Moenning]
At the beginning of the year, those seeing the glass as at least half-empty were expecting Europe (EZU) to drag the economies of the world into recession, China's (FXI) economic growth to tank, the unrest in the Middle East to become a huge problem, the Fed to make a mistake, earnings to soften and the politicians in Washington to send the U.S. into a depression.
Hot High Tech Companies To Invest In Right Now: Cincinnati Financial Corporation(CINF)
Cincinnati Financial Corporation engages in the property casualty insurance business in the United States. Its Commercial Lines Property Casualty Insurance segment provides coverage for commercial casualty, commercial property, commercial auto, and workers? compensation. It also offers specialty packages, including coverages for property, liability, and business interruption for specific industry classes, such as artisan contractors, dentists, or street businesses. In addition, this segment provides contract and commercial surety bonds, fidelity bonds, and director and officer liability insurance, as well as machinery and equipment coverage. The company?s Personal Lines Property Casualty Insurance segment offers coverage for personal auto and homeowners, as well as other insurance products, such as dwelling fire, inland marine, personal umbrella liability, and watercraft coverages to individuals. Cincinnati Financial?s Excess and Surplus Lines Property Casualty Insurance s egment offers commercial casualty insurance that covers businesses for third-party liability from accidents occurring on their premises or arising out of their operations, including products and completed operations; and commercial property insurance, which insures loss or damage to buildings, inventory, equipment, and business income from causes of loss, such as fire, wind, hail, water, theft, and vandalism. The company?s Life Insurance segment provides term insurance; universal life insurance; whole life insurance; and worksite products, which include term, whole life, universal life, and disability insurance offered to employees through their employer. This segment also markets disability income insurance, deferred annuities, and immediate annuities. Its Investment segment invests in fixed-maturity investments, equity investments, and short-term investments. Cincinnati also offers commercial leasing and financing services. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquarte red in Fairfield, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Insider Monkey]
Cincinnati Financial (CINF), lastly, is an under-covered insurance company that has grown dividends in 53 straight years. The stock pays a yield of 3.5% at a modest payout of 47% of earnings, and in 2013, it has appreciated by more than 20%. Three Cincinnati Financial insiders-one director, a senior VP and the company's CFO-have bought shares in the past six months. CFO Michael Sewell initiated the biggest transaction of the bunch when he bought $147K worth of the stock in the last few days of July.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Loew’s, however isn’t just cheap on its own terms. It’s also cheap relative to other investor insurers, including Markel (MKL), Cincinnati Financial (CINF) and Berkshire Hathaway. Shanker and Stefano write:
- [By Charles Carlson]
If you are new to DRIP investing, treat yourself to a few DRIPs this holiday season. Trust me��t'll change your life.
American Water Works (AWK)��ielding 2.7% with a DRIP minimum of $100
Cincinnati Financial (CINF)��ielding 3.2% with a DRIP minimum of $25
CVS Caremark (CVS)��ielding 1.4% with a DRIP minimum of $100
Dominion Resources (D)��ielding 3.4% with a DRIP minimum of $40
Domino's Pizza (DPZ)��ielding 1.2% with a DRIP minimum of $65
Eaton (ETN)��ielding 2.3% with a DRIP minimum of $100
Flowserve (FLS)��ielding 0.8% with a DRIP minimum of $100
Kellogg (K)��ielding 3.0% with a DRIP minimum of $50
New Jersey Resources (NJR)��ielding 3.7% with a DRIP minimum of $100
Quest Diagnostics (DGX)��ielding 2.0% with a DRIP minimum of $100
Tim Hortons (THI)��ielding 1.7% with a DRIP minimum of $25
Subscribe to Dow Theory Forecasts here��/p>
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Investors have always been interested in stocks that pay dividends, but lately, low interest rates on bonds and other fixed-income investments have made solid dividend payers even more valuable. Among the most promising dividend stocks in the market is Cincinnati Financial (NASDAQ: CINF ) , and one big reason is that it is one of the few exclusive companies to make the list of Dividend Aristocrats. In order to become a member of this elite group, a company must have raised its dividend payouts to shareholders every single year for at least a quarter-century. Only a few dozen stocks manage to make the cut, and those that do tend to stay there for a long time.
Hot High Tech Companies To Invest In Right Now: KCG Holdings Inc (KCG)
KCG Holdings, Inc., incorporated on December 26, 2012, is an independent securities firm. The Company offers investors a range of services designed to address trading needs across asset classes, product types and time zones. It has three operating segments: Market Making, Global Execution Services, and Corporate and Other. On July 1, 2013, the Company announced the completion of the merger whereby Knight Capital Group, Inc. (Knight) and GETCO Holding Company, LLC (GETCO) were combined as part of KCG Holdings, Inc., a new holding company.
Market Making
The Company�� Market Making segment principally consists of market making in global equities and listed domestic options. As a market maker, the Company commits capital for trade executions by offering to buy securities from, or sell securities to, institutions and broker-dealers. The Market Making segment primarily includes client, and to a lesser extent, non-client market making activities in which the Company operates as a market maker in equity securities quoted and traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market; the over-the-counter (OTC) market for New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NYSE Amex Equities (NYSE Amex), NYSE Arca listed securities, and several European exchanges. As a complement to electronic market making, the Company�� cash trading business handles specialized orders and also transacts on the OTC Bulletin Board, marketplaces operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. The segment also provides trade executions as an equities Designated Market Maker (DMM) on the NYSE and NYSE Amex. The Market Making segment also includes the Company�� option market making business which trades on all domestic electronic exchanges.
Global Execution Services
The Company�� Global Execution Services segment offers access through its electronic agency-based platforms to markets and self-directed trading in equities, options, fixed income, foreign ! exchange and futures. The Global Execution Services segment generally does not act as a principal to transactions that are executed within this segment however, it will commit capital on behalf of clients, as needed, and generally earns commissions for acting as agent between the principals to the trade. Global Execution Services includes equity sales and trading (including exchange traded funds (ETFs)), reverse mortgage origination and securitization and asset management. This segment also facilitates client orders through program, block, and riskless principal trades and provides capital markets services, including equity offerings, as well as private placements. The Global Execution Services segment also includes the futures commission merchant (FCM) business, which consists of certain assets and liabilities that the Company acquired or assumed from the futures division of Penson Financial Services, Inc.
Corporate and Other
The Corporate and Other segment invests in strategic financial services-oriented opportunities, allocates, deploys and monitors all capital, and maintains corporate overhead expenses and all other income and expenses that are not attributable to the other segments. The Corporate and Other segment houses functions that support the Company�� other segments, such as self-clearing services, including stock lending activities.
The Company competes with BGC Partners (BGCP), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), CME (CME), GFI Group Inc. (GFIG), ICE (ICE), ITG (ITG), Forex Capital Markets (FXCM), MarketAxess (MKTX), National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ), and NYSE.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sam Mamudi]
Knight, which in July joined with Getco LLC to form KCG Holdings Inc. (KCG) after losing more than $460 million because of the error, agreed to settle charges stemming from mistakes made on Aug. 1, 2012, according to a statement today from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The regulator said Knight violated the SEC�� market access rule, instituted in 2010 to prevent these kinds of trading missteps.
Hot High Tech Companies To Invest In Right Now: Time Inc (TIME)
Time Inc., incorporated on September 28, 1988, is a magazine publisher in the United States. As of March 31, 2014, the Company publishes 23 magazines in print in the United States, including People, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Time, Real Simple, Southern Living, Entertainment Weekly and Fortune and over 70 magazines outside the United States, primarily through IPC Magazines Group Limited (IPC) in the United Kingdom and Grupo Editorial Expansion (GEX) in Mexico. On April 30, 2014, the Company acquired the IPC publishing business in the United Kingdom, which was previously owned by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Time Warner (the IPC Purchase). In June 2014, Time Inc acquired Cozi Inc., a Seattle-based technology company with a portfolio of mobile and digital family organizing tools
The Company�� United States and United Kingdom print magazines is also available as tablet editions on digital devices and platforms. In addition, as of March 31, 2014, it operated over 45 Websites that collectively have tens of millions of average monthly visitors globally. It also operates an integrated publishing business that provides content marketing, targeted local print and digital advertising programs, branded book publishing and marketing and support services, including magazine subscription sales services, retail distribution and marketing services and customer service and fulfillment services, to the Company and other third-party clients, including other magazine publishers.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chris Isidore]
With a circulation of 931,558, Forbes is the No. 3 U.S. business publication, behind Time Inc.'s (TIME) Money magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek. It is particularly well known for its lists such as the world's richest people. Forbes Media also has an online presence in Forbes.com, and a majority stake in the Real Clear group of Web sites, such as Real Clear Politics.
Hot High Tech Companies To Invest In Right Now: Alico Inc. (ALCO)
Alico, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a land management company in central and southwest Florida. It involves in harvesting, hauling, and marketing citrus, as well as purchasing and reselling citrus fruit; cultivating citrus trees; and cultivating raw sugarcane for sale. The company also engages in producing and selling beef cattle, feeding cattle, and replacement heifers to packing and processing plants and contract cattle buyers, as well as through local livestock auction markets. In addition, it grows, harvests, and sells vegetables for wholesale; produces sod; sells native plants and trees for landscaping purposes; and subdivides, develops, and sells real estate property. Further, the company involves in rock and sand mining; and rents land on a tenant-at-will basis for grazing, farming, oil exploration, and recreational uses. Additionally, it engages in the planning and strategic positioning of company owned land, and negotiating and renegotiating sales c ontracts. As of September 30, 2010, Alico owned approximately 139,607 acres of land located in the Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Polk counties. The company was founded in 1960 and is based in Fort Myers, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Agribusiness and land management company Alico (ALCO) raised its quarterly dividend 50% to 12 cents per share, payable on Jan. 14, 2014 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 31, 2013.
ALCO Dividend Yield: 1.11% - [By John Udovich]
Last Friday, small cap Farmland Partners Inc (NYSEMKT: FPI) had an IPO to join Gladstone Land Corp (NASDAQ: LAND), Alico, Inc (NASDAQ: ALCO) and Limoneira Company (NASDAQ: LMNR) as the latest option for retail investors seeking a way to invest in American farmland. After all, there is that old quote attributed to Mark Twain: "Buy land, they're not making it anymore." Moreover, February Wall Street Journal article noted that From 2009 to mid-2013, average prices for agricultural land in the�US rose by half while in Iowa, Nebraska and some other Midwest farm states, prices more than doubled. However, the same article noted that there is mounting evidence that the farmland�boom is fizzling out as�farmland prices in Iowa fell 3% over the second half of last year and those in Nebraska fell 1%. The good news though is that today's agricultural sector looks markedly different than it did during the last farmland bust back in�the early 1980s while Greyson Colvin, the managing partner at investment manager Colvin & Co. (which owns about 7,000 acres of farmland), was quoted as saying: "We think this next 12 months is going to be the best window we've had in the past five years [to invest in farmland].��/p>
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