More than half of companies (56%) increased employees' share of health care premiums or co-payments for doctors' visits in 2013, and 59% of employers say they intend to do the same in 2014, according to the annual Aflac WorkForces Report. It's based on a survey of 1,856 employers and 5,209 employees at small, medium and large-size companies.
In 2013, 19% of companies implemented a major medical plan with a high deductible (more than $1,000) and Health Savings Accounts as an alternative to a traditional medical plan, the study finds.
Employees are worried about covering their medical costs: 49% have less than $1,000 to pay for unexpected out-of-pocket medical expenses; 53% would borrow from their 401(k)s or credit cards to cover unexpected medical costs; 66% say they wouldn't be able to adjust to the large financial costs associated with a serious injury or illness.
Top Growth Companies To Watch In Right Now: Newcrest Mining Ltd (NCMGF)
Newcrest Mining Limited (Newcrest) is a gold, copper and silver producer that has operations and exploration projects in Australia, the Pacific region, Asia and West Africa. The Company�� segments include Cadia Valley, Telfer, Gosowong, Lihir, Hidden Valley JV, West Africa (includes Bonikro operations and exploration and evaluation activities in Cote d��voire) and Exploration and Other. Exploration and Other mainly consists of projects in the exploration, evaluation and feasibility phase and includes Namosi in Fiji, Wafi Golpu in Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Marsden and O��allaghans in Australia. Cadia Valley Operations (CVO) is a gold mining operation and is 100% owned by Newcrest. It is located approximately 25 kilometers from the city of Orange in central west New South Wales and is 250 kilometers west of Sydney. Advisors' Opinion:- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks seesawed in early Monday trade, with gains for miners and energy names helping support the market, as the S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) sat 0.1% higher at 5,325.90 after changing direction several times. Official Chinese data showing manufacturing holding its growth rate in October appeared to help some miners, as did gains for some commodity prices. Shares of Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) rose 0.5%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) added 0.7%, Oz Minerals Ltd. (AU:OZL) (OZMLF) advanced 1%, and Whitehaven Coal Ltd. (AU:WHC) improved by 1.9%. Likewise, an advance for gold futures sent Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) rallying 3.4%, and Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd. (AU:KCN) (KSKGF) up 2.9%. Energy shares also traded higher, with Oil Search Ltd. (AU:OSH) (OISHF) up 1.3%, and Karoon Gas Australia Ltd. (AU:KAR) (KRNGF) adding 1.7%. On the downside, retailers were mostly lower, with David Jones Ltd. (AU:DJS) (DVDJF)
- [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- A soft lead from Wall Street and uncertainty ahead of Australian retail sales data (and U.S. jobs data) aren't slowing the Sydney market, where the S&P/ASX 200 stock benchmark is up 0.5% early Thursday, mainly on a gains for commodities. With copper at a fourth-month high and Chinese spot iron-ore prices moving further off their recent lows, Australia's heavily weighted mining stocks are trading broadly higher: BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP) (BHP) is up 0.7%, Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) is up 0.5%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) is up 2.5%, Mount Gibson Iron Ltd. (AU:MGX) is up 3.7%, Oz Minerals Ltd. (AU:OZL) (OZMLF) is up 1.7%, and Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) is up 1.8%. Casino operator Crown Resorts Ltd. (CWLDF) is up 1.2% as Bell Potter reiterates its buy call on the shares, even as it cuts its target price, according to Dow Jones Newswires. On the downside, David Jones Ltd. (AU:DJS) (DVDJF) is down 0.5% as Australian media reports say the nation's regulators failed to get permission to open an investigation into the retailer's proposed takeover by Woolworths of South Africa.
- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australia stocks rose early Thursday, with miners leading the way higher after a positive production report from Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) , while overall sentiment got a lift from U.S. gains overnight. The S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) improved by 0.6% to 5,274.30, with shares of Rio Tinto rising 2.2% after reporting record high iron-ore shipments for 2013 and a sold gain for copper output. Rio's peers also advanced, with BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP) (BHP) up 1.7%, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) ahead by 3.2%, and Oz Minerals Ltd. (AU:OZL) (OZMLF) adding 2.4%. Among the gold producers, Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) surged 7.2% as J.P. Morgan raised its rating on the shares to overweight from neutral. Banks weren't as lucky, however, with Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (AU:ANZ) (ANEWF) down 0.3%, while Westpac Banking Corp. (AU:WBC) (WEBNF) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (AU:CBA) (CBAUF) lost 0.7% each as Citibank downgraded the trio t
- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australia stocks tilted lower early Monday as the Sydney markets reacted to last week's disappointing jobs numbers out of the U.S., with the S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) down 0.2% at 5,304.40. Data out Friday showed the U.S. added a net 74,000 jobs, trailing a forecast for 193,000 positions, and while Wall Street ended mixed following the numbers, Australian stocks will global exposure moved lower. Financial major Macquarie Group Ltd. (AU:MQG) (MCQEF) fell 1.8%, mall developer Westfield Group Australia (AU:WDC) (WEFIF) retreated 0.6%, and media firm News Corp. (AU:NWS) (NWS) -- the parent of MarketWatch, publisher of this report -- gave up 1.3%. But the jobs report also depressed the U.S. dollar, which helped boost prices for dollar-denominated commodities, and this in turn supported Australian resource shares. BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP) (BHP) gained 0.6%, Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) added 0.9%, Alumina Ltd. (AU:AWC) (AWCMF) rallied 4.5%, and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) improved by 1.2%. A strong showing for Comex gold on Friday also sent Newcrest Mining Ltd.
Top Net Payout Yield Companies To Watch For 2014: AutoZone Inc.(AZO)
AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company?s stores offer various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its automotive hard parts product line includes A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, belts and hoses, carburetors, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition, lighting, mufflers, starters and alternators, water pumps, radiators, and thermostats. The company?s maintenance items include antifreeze and windshield washer fluid; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; chemicals, including brake and power; steering fluid, oil, and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paint and accessories; refrigerant and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wiper s. Its discretionary product line comprises air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products. The company also offers commercial sales program that provides the delivery of parts and other products to local, regional, and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. In addition, it sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software through the Website, alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through the Website, autozone.com. As of May 7, 2011, the company operated 4,467 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and 261 stores in Mexico. AutoZone, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sue Chang and Ben Eisen]
O��eilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) �shares advanced 9.2% after it reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.40 a share, above the $1.33 forecast by analysts. Shares of automotive parts retailer AutoZone Inc. (AZO) �rose 5.5%.
- [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
www.netflix.com From a fast-growing maker of luxury purses hoping to bag another blowout quarter to the country's leading streaming video service rolling out another exclusive series, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- We Remember It's Memorial Day, and that means that all of the stateside exchanges are closed. Of course, there will be international stocks trading. But whether you honor the spirit of the Memorial Day holiday or just see it as the start of summer and a good excuse to fire up the barbecue, there's no reason to be glued to CNBC. Your investments can wait. Tuesday -- Checking Under the Hood The auto parts industry has proven to be an all-weather niche. When the economy's humming along, folks are spending money on their cars. When the economy's in a funk, drivers hold on to their cars longer, and that requires more money invested in maintaining their aging vehicles. It's against this backdrop that AutoZone (AZO) reports quarterly results on Tuesday morning. Analysts see sales climbing 6 percent higher with earnings per share soaring 16 percent. The 4,871-store chain has beaten Wall Street's profit targets every quarter over the past year, so let's not assume that analysts are being generous with their forecasts. Wednesday -- Kors of Action Michael Kors (KORS) continues to be the growth darling when it comes to luxury handbags. As the iconic Coach (COH) has struggled, Kors has taken market share with its fashionable purses, satchels and other accessories. It's not even close. Analysts see Coach's sales declining 6 percent for its fiscal year ending in June. Wall Street sees Kors growing its business by 47 percent for its fiscal year that ended in March. We'll know for sure how Kors wrapped up fiscal 2014 when it reports on Wednesday. Thursday -- Big Savings in Bulk Another retailing niche that has seemed to have the same all-weather appeal as auto parts is the warehouse club m
Top Net Payout Yield Companies To Watch For 2014: Global X China Financials ETF (CHIX)
Global X China Financials ETF (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the S-BOX China Financials Index (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index is a free float adjusted, liquidity tested and market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure performance of the investable universe of companies in the Financials sector of the Chinese economy, as defined by Structured Solutions AG. Global X Management Company, LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Advisors' Opinion:- [By pamatlarge]
Investors looking to short a particular sector can choose from several Global X long ETFs. The Global X China Consumer ETF (CHIQ) concentrates its investments in consumer cyclical goods and consumer defense goods. The Global X China Energy ETF (CHIE) primarily holds stocks in coal, oil and utility companies. The Global X China Financials ETF (CHIX) only invests in financial services companies and real estate companies. The Global X China Industrials ETF (CHII) holds stocks in industrial companies and basic materials companies. The Global X China Materials ETF (CHIM) invests in basic materials stocks. The Global X China Technology ETF (CHIB) holds technology stocks as the core of its investments. All of these ETFs are particularly sensitive to sector downturns and general economic contractions.
Top Net Payout Yield Companies To Watch For 2014: AeroCentury Corp (ACY)
AeroCentury Corp., incorporated on February 28, 1997, acquires used regional aircraft and engines for lease to foreign and domestic regional carriers. The Company�� portfolio of leased aircraft assets is managed and administered under the terms of a management agreement with JetFleet Management Corp. (JMC), which is an integrated aircraft management, marketing and financing business and a subsidiary of JetFleet Holding Corp (JHC).
As of March 31, 2013, the Company�� aircraft and aircraft engines, which were on lease or held for lease included Bombardier Dash-8-300, Fokker 100, Bombardier Dash-8-Q400, Fokker 50, General Electric CF34-8E5 engine, Saab 340B, Saab 340B Plus, deHavilland DHC-8-100, deHavilland DHC-6, Tay 650-15 engine, General Electric CT7-9B engine and Saab 340A. As of March 31, 2013, 14 of the Company�� assets, comprised of four Fokker 50 aircraft, three Saab 340B aircraft, four Fokker 100 aircraft, two Tay 650-15 engines and one General Electric CT7-9B engine, were off lease.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Yesterday around midday,�Netherlands based aviation leasing stock�AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE: AER) began surging on rumors and closed up 11.6%, meaning its probably time to take a closer look at those rumors along with aviation leasing peers like small caps or mid caps�Aircastle Limited (NYSE: AYR), Air Lease Corp (NYSE: AL), Fly Leasing Ltd (NYSE: FLY) and AeroCentury Corp (NYSEMKT: ACY).
Top Net Payout Yield Companies To Watch For 2014: United Community Banks Inc. (UCBI)
United Community Banks, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for United Community Bank that provides retail and corporate banking services to individuals and small to mid-size businesses. It offers various deposit accounts, such as checking accounts, savings and time deposits, demand deposits, non-interest bearing deposits, NOW accounts, and money market accounts. The company�s loan portfolio comprises commercial loans secured by real estate, commercial and industrial loans, commercial construction loans, residential construction and mortgage loans, and consumer installment loans. It also offers wire transfers, brokerage services, and other financial services; and ATM, telephone, and online banking services. In addition, the company acts as an insurance agency, as well as provides retail brokerage services through an affiliation with a third party broker/dealer. As of March 25, 2013, it operated 103 banking offices in north Georgia, the Atlanta region, coastal Georgi a, western North Carolina, east Tennessee, and northwest South Carolina. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Louis Navellier]
United Community Banks (UCBI) has 106 branches in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. The bank has seen continual credit improvements and a recovering economy drive 100% earnings gains this year. The bank is one of the few seeing strong loan growth, and business is so good that UCBI paid back its TARP obligations without needing to issue new equity. This cheap stock was upgraded to an ����last July and at the current price. The P/E ratio right now is just 5.
Top Net Payout Yield Companies To Watch For 2014: Lucara Diamond Corp (LUCRF.PK)
Lucara Diamond Corp. (Lucara) is a diamond development company focused in Africa. The business of Lucara consists of the acquisition, exploration and development of diamond properties. The principal assets of Lucara and the focus of Lucara�� development and exploration activities are its interest in mining, exploration and prospecting diamond licenses in Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia. The Company�� project Mothae Diamond Project is located in northeast Lesotho. In May 2010, it commenced test mining in Mothae Diamond Project-Lesotho. Mothae Diamonds (PTY) Ltd (Mothae Diamonds), an indirect 75% owned subsidiary of the Company, holds a 100% interest in the Mothae project. As of March 23, 2011, a total of 175,000 dry tons had been processed from the C domain, producing 5,484 carats at an average grade of 3.13 carats per hundred tons. In December 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of African Diamonds PLC, upon which Lucara indirectly owns 100% of the AK6 Diamond Project. Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Leonard]
Lucara Diamond (LUCRF.PK) is still being valued as a riskier exploration stage miner rather than a profitable and growing producer. The current "backward looking" valuation fails to reflect the recent and significant operational transition.
Top Net Payout Yield Companies To Watch For 2014: Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp(CIDM)
Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. provides technology solutions, financial advice and guidance, and software services to content owners and distributors, and movie exhibitors in the United States. The company engages in the ownership and licensing of digital systems to theatrical exhibitors; and provides monitoring, billing, collection, verification, and other management services to the company?s Phase I Deployment and Phase II Deployment, as well as to exhibitors, who purchase their own equipment. It also develops and licenses software to the theatrical distribution and exhibition industries; and provides applications service provider service, and software enhancements and consulting services. In addition, the company distributes movie features, trailers, and other alternative content to movie theaters and other venues with digital cinema equipment through satellite, hard drives, and broadband; and provides non-theatrical satellite based distribution of content into various out of home networks and other channels. Further, it provides content marketing and distribution services to alternative and theatrical content owners, and theatrical exhibitors, as well as offers in-theatre advertising services. The company was formerly known as Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. in October 2009. Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Cinedigm Corp. (CIDM) �retreated 10% to $2.84 on light volume after the media-content distributor said it was launching an unspecified secondary offering of its Class A shares.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) slipped 14.87% to $2.69 after the company announced a proposed public offering of common stock.
Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT) shares tumbled 12.98% to $7.91 after the company priced $200 million of 9.5% Senior Secured Notes and $350 million of Senior Secured Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes.
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