Top Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now

LONDON -- Stock index futures at 7 a.m. EDT indicate that the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) may open up by a meager two points this morning, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) may open a quarter-point higher. The CNN Fear & Greed Index has slowed its rise and remains unchanged at 87, signifying "extreme greed."

European markets were mixed this morning, but the FTSE 100 edged higher and broke through the 6,700 barrier for the first time since October 2007. The FTSE was helped by new Japanese GDP figures showing that Japan's economy grew by 0.9% in the first quarter of the year, suggesting that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's monetary-easing policies may be starting to stimulate growth.

In the U.S., investors are likely to focus on several items of key economic data that are due for release today. Starting at 8:30 a.m. EDT, initial jobless claims are expected to have risen to 330,000 last week, up slightly from 323,000 the previous week. Also due at 8:30 a.m. EDT, the consumer price index is expected to show that prices fell by 0.3% in April after falling by 0.2% in March. Forecasts suggest that 965,000 housing starts were recorded in April, down slightly from 1.04 million in March, while 943,000 building permits may have been issued in April, up from 907,000 in March. Finally, at 10 a.m. EDT, the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey is expected to come in at two for May, up from 1.3 in April.

5 Best Life Sciences Stocks To Watch For 2015: DAQQ New Energy Corp.(DQ)

Daqo New Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells polysilicon in China. The company sells its polysilicon to photovoltaic product manufacturers for use in the processing of ingots, wafers, cells and modules for solar power solutions. It also produces and sells mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline modules to photovoltaic system integrators and distributors in China and internationally under its Daqo brand. The company was formerly known as Mega Stand International Limited and changed its name to Daqo New Energy Corp. in August 2009. Daqo New Energy Corp. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered Wanzhou, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Energy shares dropped around 0.22 percent in today’s trading. Top decliners in the sector included Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ), PDC Energy (NASDAQ: PDCE), and YPF SA (NYSE: YPF).

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Energy shares dropped around 0.22 percent in today’s trading. Top decliners in the sector included Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ), PDC Energy (NASDAQ: PDCE), and YPF SA (NYSE: YPF).

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ) shares gained 12.78% to $33.58 on quarterly results.

  SINA (NASDAQ: SINA) rose 7.26% to $51.29 after the company reported upbeat quarterly results.

• [By Ali Berri]

  In trading on Friday, energy shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.42 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Daqo New Energy (NYSE: DQ), up 9.4 percent, and Goodrich Petroleum (NYSE: GDP), up 6.2 percent.
  

Top Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: First Solar Inc.(FSLR)

First Solar, Inc. manufactures and sells solar modules using a thin-film semiconductor technology. It also designs, constructs, and sells photovoltaic solar power systems. The company?s solar modules employ a thin layer of semiconductor material to convert sunlight into electricity. Its integrated solar power systems activities include the project development; engineering, procurement, and construction services; operating and maintenance services; and project finance. The company sells solar modules to project developers, system integrators, and operators of renewable energy projects; and solar power systems to investor owned utilities, independent power developers and producers, and commercial and industrial companies, as well as other system owners. It operates in the United States, Germany, France, Canada, and internationally. The company was formerly known as First Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to First Solar, Inc. in 2006. First Solar was founded in 1999 a nd is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Better than expected
  First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR  ) didn't kick off earnings season, but it gave a sneak peek for 2013 by giving guidance this week. The company expects sales of $3.8 billion to $4.0 billion and earnings of $4.00 to $4.50 per share. That was well above expectations and sent shares nearly 50% higher on Tuesday.

• [By Sue Chang]

  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.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Is SunPower's differentiated technology a sustainable competitive advantage?
  My investment thesis on SunPower centers on the company's efficiency lead over modules from China and virtually everyone else in solar. This lead should allow SunPower to install residential and commercial systems for a lower cost of energy than competitors, which will lead to higher margins. But GT Advanced Technologies (NASDAQ: GTAT  ) says it is releasing equipment this year that will allow for the mass production of cells comparable to SunPower's, and First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR  ) recently bought TetraSun, a high-efficiency solar producer. So, can SunPower maintain it's current lead given these new technologies and any number of new entrants into the market?

Top Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Atrion Corp (ATRI)

Atrion Corporation (Atrion), and its subsidiaries, develop and manufacture products, primarily for medical applications. The Company�� medical products range from fluid delivery devices to ophthalmic and cardiovascular products. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company�� fluid delivery products accounted for 38% of the Company�� revenues. These products include valves that promote infection control and needle safety. The Company has developed a variety of luer syringe check valves and one-way valves designed to fill, hold and release controlled amounts of fluids or gasses on demand for use in various intubation, catheter and other applications. The Company also makes tubing clamps in a variety of materials and colors that are compatible with various grades of tubing and sterilization processes, and produce specialized intravenous sets for use in numerous applications, including anesthesia and oncology.

The Company�� cardiovascular products accounted for 29% of its revenues during 2011. The Company's principal cardiovascular product is the Myocardial Protection System (MPS2), a technology that delivers essential fluids and medications to the heart during open-heart surgery. The MPS2 integrates key functions relating to the delivery of solutions to the heart, such as varying the rate and ratio of oxygenated blood, crystalloid, potassium and other additives, and controlling temperature, pressure and other variables to allow simpler, more flexible management of this process, indicating improved patient outcomes. The MPS2 is the device used in open-heart surgery that allows for the mixing of drugs into the bloodstream without diluting the blood. The MPS2 employs advanced pump, temperature control and microprocessor technologies and includes a line of disposable products. It also develops and manufactures other cardiovascular products that include cardiac surgery vacuum relief valves; Retract-O-Tape silicone vessel loops for retracting and occluding vessels in minimally inva! sive surgical procedures; inflation devices for balloon catheter dilation, stent deployment and fluid dispensing, and Clean-Cut rotating aortic punch and PerfectCut Aortotomy System, both of which are used in heart bypass surgery to make a precision opening in the heart for attachment of the bypass vessels.

The Company�� ophthalmic products accounted for 17% of its revenues during 2011. The Company is a manufacturer of contact lens disinfection cases. It also manufactures a line of balloon catheters used in the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children and adults. The Company�� other medical and non-medical products accounted for 16% of its revenues during 2011. These product lines consist of instrumentation and associated disposables used to measure the activated clotting time of blood. In addition, it manufactures and sells a line of products designed for safe needle and scalpel blade containment. It is also the manufacturer of inflation systems and valves used in marine and aviation safety products. The Company manufactures inflation systems and valves for products, such as life vests, life rafts, inflatable boats, survival equipment and other inflatable structures. The Company also produces one-way and two-way pressure relief valves for use on electronics cases, munitions cases, pressure vessels, transportation container cases, escape slides, and many other medical and non-medical applications.

The Company market components to other equipment manufacturers for incorporation in their products and sell finished devices to physicians, hospitals, clinics and other treatment centers. It sells its products through a sales force which consists of direct sales personnel, independent sales representatives and distributors. It offers customer service, training and education, and technical support such as field service, spare parts, maintenance and repair for certain of its products. The Company�� medical products and other components are produced at facilities in ! Florida, ! Alabama and Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  There's no foolproof way to know the future for ATRION (Nasdaq: ATRI  ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.

Top Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Euro/Swiss(RF)

Regions Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for Regions Bank that provides a range of commercial, retail, and mortgage banking services in the United States. It offers various deposit products, including savings and transaction accounts; demand deposit accounts; money market accounts; and time deposits, such as certificate of deposits and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial loans, such as commercial and industrial, and owner occupied commercial real estate mortgage and construction loans; investor real estate loans, including commercial real estate mortgage and construction loans; and consumer loans, which consist of residential first mortgage, home equity, indirect, consumer credit card, and other consumer loans. Regions Financial Corporation, through other subsidiaries, also provides regional brokerage and investment banking products and services, such as securities brokerage, trust, asset management, finan cial planning, mutual funds, securities underwriting, sales and trading, and investment banking services for individual and institutional investors; and insurance brokerage services for various lines of personal and commercial insurance comprising property, casualty, life, health, and accident. In addition, the company offers credit-related insurance, including title, term life, credit life, environmental, crop, and mortgage insurance; debt cancellation products; and equipment financing products primary for commercial clients. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 2,100 ATMs and 1,726 banking offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The company was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Eberhard]

  Regions Financial (NYSE: RF  ) will release its first-quarter earnings tomorrow morning, and investors are facing a big question: Will CEO Grayson Hall and crew deliver good news? Or should investors be fretting the upcoming release?

• [By Rich Smith]

  Among America's bigger regional bankers, PNC (NYSE: PNC  ) stock can probably claim claim its priciness as its biggest distinguishing factor. Valued at 12.7 times trailing earnings, shares of PNC Financial Services cost 18% more than rival Regions Financial (NYSE: RF  ) , and a whopping 53% more than SunTrust Banks (NYSE: STI  ) . But is there a good reason for investors to pay up for PNC stock?

• [By Jessica Alling]

  Tuesday

  FHFA Home Price Index: Much like the new importance of the existing home sales figures, increasing home prices will give banks a better chance of growing mortgage revenue. This will also be important for any banks that provide mortgage insurance, since the higher prices will lead to higher down payment requirements, with mortgage insurance picking up some of the slack. Earnings: Regions Financial (NYSE: RF  ) : One of the smaller banks, Regions, will announce its first quarter earnings on Tuesday. As we saw with some of the other regional banks that reported earnings already, there is plenty of opportunity for investors to grow with the banks that operate on a smaller scale.

  Wednesday

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Regions Financial Corp.(RF) said its fourth-quarter profit fell 14% as the Birmingham, Ala.-based lender continues to fix its loan portfolio through debt restructuring. Revenue topped views.

Top Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Cousins Properties Inc (CUZ)

Cousins Properties Incorporated (Cousins) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). Cousins Real Estate Corporation and its subsidiaries (CERC) is wholly owned by the Company. CERC owns, develops, and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services for other parties. The Company operates in five segments: Office, Retail, Land, CPS Third-Party Management and Leasing and Other. The Office and Retail segments show the results for that product type. The Land segment includes results of operations for certain land holdings and single-family residential communities that are sold as developed lots to homebuilders. Fee income and related expenses for the third party-owned properties which are managed or leased by the Company�� CPS subsidiary are included in the CPS Third Party Management and Leasing segment. The Company also owns interests in residential development projects, undeveloped land tracts held for investment, and manages properties for third party owners. In August 2012, the Company acquired 2100 Ross Avenue, an 844,000-square-foot, Class-A office building located in the Arts District submarket of Dallas, Texas. In April 2013, Cousins Properties Inc (Cousins) acquired 816 Congress.

Office

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned directly or through joint ventures 21 operating office properties totaling 7.8 million square feet. The Company developed most of the office properties it owns. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company�� activity in its office property portfolio was Execution of new or renewed existing leases consisting of approximately 1.0 million square feet, acquition of Promenade, a 775,000-square-foot office building in the midtown submarket of Atlanta, Georgia, and sale of one Georgia Center, a 376,000-square-foot office building in Atlanta, Georgia.

Retail

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned directly or through joint ventures 17 operating retail centers totaling 4.8 million s! quare feet.

The Company developed most of the retail properties it owns. During 2011, the Company�� activities in its retail property portfolio included execution of new or renewed leases covering approximately 856,000 square feet; construction of Mahan Village, a 147,000 square foot shopping center, anchored by Publix and Academy Sports, in Tallahassee, Florida; construction of the first phase of Emory Point, a mixed-use project in Atlanta, Georgia, expected to consist of 443 apartment units and 80,000 square foot of retail space, in a joint venture with Gables Residential.

Third Party Management and Other Fee Income

As of December 31, 2011, the Company managed and/or leased 12.7 million square feet of office and retail properties for third party owners. In addition, the Company has contracts to provide development and construction management services for third party owners.

Other Investments

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned directly or through joint ventures, 22 residential development projects and residential and commercial undeveloped land, the Company�� share of which was approximately 5,000 acres. During 2011, the Company sold the remaining five multi-family units available for sale at the 10 Terminus Place condominium project; sold the Jefferson Mill Business Park Building A industrial building in suburban Atlanta, Georgia; sold the King Mill Distribution Park Building 3 industrial building in suburban Atlanta, Georgia; sold the Lakeside Ranch Business Park Building 20 industrial building and related undeveloped land in Dallas, Texas; sold approximately 43 acres of land and sold 482 residential lots.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  This week a few companies answered the call and rewarded their shareholders with higher cash dividends:
  
  Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED) engages in regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $0.63 per share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 12, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.
  
  Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ), a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, develops, and manages real estate portfolio, as well as performs certain real estate-related services. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 66.7% to $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
  
  Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC) generates and distributes electric energy, as well as distributes natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Utility Energy and Non-Utility Energy. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.3900 per share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.
  
  BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14.9% to $1.93 per share. The dividend is payable March 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 7, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
  
  ONEOK Inc. (OKE) operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. January 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable February 18, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.
  
  Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (OHI) is a real es

Top Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: MEDL Mobile Holdings Inc (MEDL)

MEDL Mobile Holdings, Inc. incorporated on May 22, 2008 is a developer, incubator, marketer and aggregator of mobile application software (Apps). The Company is engaged in the monetization of mobile application software through four revenue generating platforms: development of customized Apps for third parties to monetize their particular intellectual property, persona or brand, incubation of Apps in partnership with third parties and from a library of more than 75,000 original Apps concept submissions, sale of advertising and sponsorship opportunities directly to brands via mobile advertising networks and acquisition of Apps from other developers and use of a application programming interface ( API).

The Company develops Apps for customers that vary in size from small start-ups to large multinational corporations, in a range of industries including retailing, fast food, air travel, medical devices, higher education and fashion. As of December 31, 2011, revenues its custom development accounted for approximately 93% of its total revenues. The Company prepares packages for sale in the Apple App Store and the Google Android Marketplace. This package includes app store copy, sample screen shots.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Digital Caddies Inc (OTCMKTS: CADY), MEDL Mobile Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS: MEDL) and Yappn Corp (OTCMKTS: YPPN) offer different ways to potentially profit from Internet or mobile technology. However, all three small cap stocks have also been the subject of paid promotions or investor relations types of activities. So will investors actually profit from the efforts of these small caps to profit from the Internet or mobile technology? Here is a quick reality check: