Top 10 Asian Companies To Own For 2014

European stocks advanced, paring their biggest weekly decline since November, as the region�� commodity producers rebounded from a 3 1/2-year low.

Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. posted its biggest gain since 2008 after one of the founding shareholders said he may offer to buy the company. L��real SA (OR) climbed 4.3 percent after revenue exceeded analysts��estimates. SAP AG retreated 3 percent after the largest maker of business-management software reported sales that trailed forecasts.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) added 0.5 percent to 285.21 at the close of trading in London, after earlier rallying as much as 1 percent. The gauge has slipped 2.5 percent this week, its biggest drop in five months, as commodities fell amid worse- than-forecast economic data from China and the U.S.

�� believe in the growth story,��said Kevin Lilley, who helps oversee about $6.1 billion as a fund manager at Old Mutual Asset Managers U.K. in London. �� have been adding some cyclicality to my portfolio. We reached all-time highs in the U.S. equity market at a time when some of the economic data has been slightly disappointing, so it�� not surprising that the market has taken a breather this week.��

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Own For 2015: Regis Corporation(RGS)

Regis Corporation owns, operates, and franchises hairstyling and hair care salons in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Puerto Rico, and internationally. It offers haircutting and styling, including shampooing and conditioning; hair coloring; and waving to men, women, and children. The company also owns and operates hair restoration centers, which provide hair systems, hair transplants, and hair therapy services, as well as hair care products. Its salons operate primarily under the Regis Salons, MasterCuts, SmartStyle, Supercuts, Cost Cutters, Sassoon, Promenade salons, Hair Masters, First Choice Haircutters, Magicuts, and Hair Club trade names in regional shopping malls, strip centers, lifestyle centers, Wal-Mart supercenters, department stores, mass merchants, and high-street locations. As of June 30, 2011, the company owned, franchised, or held ownership interests in approximately 12,700 locations. Regis Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered i n Edina, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Amal Singh]

  Some companies in the beauty and personal care segment have one important characteristic -- a recession-proof nature, which is a result of everyone's desire to look beautiful and young. This brings us to Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance (NASDAQ: ULTA  ) and Sally Beauty Holdings (NYSE: SBH  ) . Both have performed quite well over the last few years, as shown in the chart below, even during the recession (the gray area being the recession period). Their performance stands in stark contrast to that of�Regis (NYSE: RGS  ) , which has seen its top line drop continuously after peaking in 2008.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Regis (NYSE: RGS) shares tumbled 9.13 percent to $12.20 after the company reported downbeat Q2 results.

  Idenix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IDIX) was down, falling 9.45 percent to $6.61 after JMP Securities downgraded the stock from Market Perform to Market Underperform.

• [By CRWE]

  Regis Corporation (NYSE:RGS), the global leader in the $160 billion hair care industry, reportedthat it has revised its conference call time on Thursday October 25, 2012. The call will now begin at 4:00pm Central Time. The Company�� financial results for the quarter will be released after the close of the financial markets that day.

Top 10 Asian Companies To Own For 2014: Want Want China Holdings Ltd (WWNTF)

Want Want China Holdings Limited is an investment holding company. The principal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries are the manufacturing, distribution and sale of rice crackers, dairy products and beverages, snack foods and other products. The Company segments include manufacturing and sale of Rice crackers, including sugar coated crackers, savoury crackers and fried crackers; dairy products and beverages, including flavored milk, yogurt drinks, ready-to-drink coffee, juice drinks, carbonated drinks, herbal tea and milk powder; snack foods, including candies, popsicles and jellies, ball cakes and beans and nuts, and other products, mainly including wine and other food products. Its operations are located in the People�� Republic of China, with the rest located in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. As of December 31, 2011, its subsidiaries included Want Want Holdings Ltd., Long Wave Foods Limited, Want-Want Foods Limited and others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]

  HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong stocks swung between small gains and losses early Thursday after hitting a seven-month high in the previous session, with the Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) down less than 0.1%. Most mainland Chinese property developers outperformed the markets, with Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. (HK:2777) (GZUHF) rallying 3.4%, after the company reported a 44% month-on-month jump in sales for June. Shimao Property Holdings Ltd. (HK:0813) (SIOPF) climbed 2.6%, and China Resources Land Ltd. (HK:1109) (CRBJF) rose 1.7%. However, several retailers were weak, as Want Want China Holdings Ltd. (HK:0151) (WWNTF) , the country's top food and beverage maker, declined 2%. Hong Kong-based cosmetics brand Sa Sa International Holdings (HK:0178) (SAXJF) fell 1.6%, with a decline in Chinese June non-manufacturing data helping weigh on some retailers. Over on the Chinese mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index (CN:SHCOMP) retreated 0.4%, pulling back from its highest close in two weeks.

Top 10 Asian Companies To Own For 2014: Opus International Consultants Ltd (OIC)

Opus International Consultants Limited is a supplier of multidisciplinary consultancy and project management services across a range of disciplines including, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, and planning, environmental, architectural and property management. The Company operates in four segments: New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Services supplied support asset development and asset management activities of the Company�� clients. Asset management services include property management and asset maintenance services predominantly using our engineering and environmental specialists. Asset development services include civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, planning, environmental and architectural work. Effective September 3, 2013, Opus International Consultants Ltda majority-owned unit of Opus Group Bhd acquired Stewart, Weir & Co Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John McCamant]

  Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) is expected to get FDA approval this year for its lead drug naloxegol, a once-a-day pill for opioid-induced constipation (OIC). The drug is licensed to AstraZeneca. NKTR will receive up to $245 million in milestone payments, plus royalties.

Top 10 Asian Companies To Own For 2014: Gamestop Corporation (GME)

GameStop Corp. operates as a retailer of video game products and personal computer (PC) entertainment software. It sells new and used video game hardware; video game software; used video game products; and video game accessories, which primarily consist of controllers, memory cards, and other add-ons, as well as strategy guides and trading cards. The company also offers PC entertainment and other software across various genres, including sports, action, strategy, adventure/role playing, and simulation, as well as products that relate to the digital category comprising network point cards, prepaid digital and online timecards, and digitally downloadable software. GameStop Corp. sells its products through stores, as well as through its electronic commerce Web sites, including gamestop.com, ebgames.com.au, gamestop.ca, gamestop.it, gamestop.es, gamestop.ie, gamestop.de, and micromania.fr. As of July 12, 2011, its retail network and family of brands included 6,573 company-oper ated stores in 17 countries worldwide. The company also publishes Game Informer, a video game magazine in the United States; and operates the online video gaming Web sites kongregate.com and joltonline.com. GameStop Corp. was founded in 1994 and is based in Grapevine, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
  Records fell on Wall Street Friday as another solid report on housing lifted the market for the second day in a row. There's a three-day weekend coming up -- something that often prompts investor caution -- but the gains were broad-based even though volume was fairly light. The VIX, which measures volatility, fell to its lowest level this year. The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) gained 63 points, the Nasdaq composite (^IXIC) rose 31, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GPSC) added 8, topping the record high set last week. The Dow Transportation average also raced to an all-time high, lifted by airline stocks. United (UAL) soared more than 4 percent; Delta (DAL) gained more than 1 percent and Southwest (LUV) gained 2 percent. Southwest is at an all-time high, up 79 percent from a year ago. New home sales bounced back with a better than expected 6.4 percent increase last month. Lennar (LEN) and D.R. Horton (DHI) both rose 4 percent. Pulte (PHM), Beazer (BZH) and Hovnanian (HOV) also solid posted gains. Earnings continue to drive retail stocks. Gap (GPS) edged higher even though net fell. Foot Locker (FL) gained 1½ percent after topping expectations. GameStop (GME) rose 4 percent. Its net rose, helped by the rollout last year of new Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Zumiez (ZUMZ) rose 5½ percent on an earnings beat. But Aeropostale (ARO) tumbled 24 percent. Its loss widened and sales declined. The retailer continues to struggle with teen fashion trends. Also on the earnings front, TiVo (TIVO) rose 2 percent as it swung to a profit from a year ago loss. It also reported an increase in the number of subscribers. Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) rose 6 percent on news the company plans to eliminate up to 16,000 additional workers in an effort to cut costs. And several stocks extended big moves from yesterday. Best Buy (BBY) rose more than 3 percent for the second straight day after earnings beat expectations. Isis Pharmaceuticals (ISIS) jumped

Top 10 Asian Companies To Own For 2014: Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc.(LXRX)

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery and development of drug candidates for the treatment of various human diseases. The company utilizes gene knockout technologies and an integrated platform of medical technologies to systematically study the physiological and behavioral functions of approximately 5,000 genes in mice and assessed the utility of the proteins encoded by the corresponding human genes as drug targets. Its portfolio of orally-delivered small molecule compounds that have completed or are presently conducting phase 2 clinical trails includes LX4211 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes; LX1031 for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders; LX1032 for the treatment of the symptoms associated with carcinoid syndrome; and LX2931 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. The company also develops LX1033, an orally-delivered small molecule compound that is in phase 1 clinical trails for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders. In addition, it develops three orally-delivered small molecule compounds in preclinical development stage that include LX7101 for treatment of glaucoma; LX5061 for the treatment of osteoporosis; and LX2311 for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Further, the company has small molecule compounds from various additional drug discovery programs in various stages of preclinical research. It has drug discovery and development collaborations with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Genentech, Inc.; N.V. Organon; and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. The company also has a series of agreements with Symphony Icon, Inc. for the financing of clinical development programs; and an alliance with Nuevolution A/S to access Nuevolution?s Chemetics chemistry technology. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc.(LXRX) said a pilot study of a treatment for ulcerative colitis showed certain clinical benefits, but the results lacked other findings that would indicate a large enough impact to move ahead on developing the treatment for this particular use. Shares dropped.

• [By Keith Speights]

  1. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: LXRX  )
  Lexicon experienced its heyday in the first few years of the 21st century, but it's pretty much been downhill since then. Shares of the biotech have dropped more than 60% in the past 10 years.

Top 10 Asian Companies To Own For 2014: National Bank of Canada (NBC)

National Bank of Canada (the Bank) is a bank. The Bank provides integrated financial services to retail, commercial and corporate/institutional clients. The Bank's offerings include securities brokerage, insurance, wealth management, mutual and pension-fund management as well as banking and investment solutions across three business segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, and Financial Markets. The Personal and Commercial segment meets the financial needs of some 2.4 million retail banking clients and approximately 130,000 business clients throughout Canada. The Wealth Management segment includes National Bank Financial Wealth Management and National Bank Direct Brokerage Inc. The Financial Markets segment provides banking and investment banking services. On August 1, 2012, Maple Group Acquisition Corporation (Maple) acquired Alpha Trading Systems Inc., Alpha Trading Systems Limited Partnership and The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By USATODAY 2:27 p.m. EST February 4]

  NBC's Winter Olympics app.(Photo: NBC)

  You can follow the Sochi games digitally on NBCOlympics.com or on the NBC Sports Live Extra app ��available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices. The Live Extra app is free and getting a refresh in time for the Olympics. It also covers other sports NBC is involved in, including the NHL, PGA Tour and Triple Crown Horse Racing.

Top 10 Asian Companies To Own For 2014: ProtoSource Corp (PSCO)

ProtoSource Corporation, doing business as Software Solutions Company, incorporated on July 1, 1988, primarily focuses on the delivery of ePublishing solutions and related services, to newspapers, retailers, and magazines, utilizing internally-developed, applications bridging the divide between traditional print revenue and the opportunities online via a coordinated sales and marketing strategy in the United States and Europe. The Company has two suites of services and solutions offered by its two principle operating units: P2i Newspapers and BX-Solutions.

P2i Newspapers offers products and services tailored specifically to support the online publishing of editorial content, advertising, discounts, deals and offers. Every day of the week, 52 weeks a year, P2i receives electronic files from customers at its facility in Cyberjaya, just south of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Incoming data files are processed overnight for delivery the following morning. Data is delivered not only to P2i's Web servers for seamless integration into its clients' existing, hosted Websites, but also distributed back to clients and their business partners in a range of formats.

The Company's second facility in Fresno, California, operated by, and branded as, BX-Solutions, is a wholly owned subsidiary of ProtoSource Acquisition II, Inc., which provides around-the-clock english and spanish technical support via incoming telephone calls from the customers of technology companies. These comprise small and mid-size Internet service providers (ISP) and telecommunication companies in the United States. This facility also houses and manages servers for its own customers.

The Company competes with Print2Web, Travidia, ShopLocal, Mactive and Olive.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vanina Egea]

  As for global expansion, Wal-Mart is focusing on emerging economies to drive further growth. Along these lines, its main target is China where the firm plans to open over 100 outlets between 2014 and 2016. According to the Institute of Grocery Distribution, retail market of China is expected to grow 11% by 2015, while the U.S retail business will only enlarge at a rate of 4.2% in the same period. However a good opportunity for its business, after 15 years in the country WMT is still struggling to achieve the strong position that it has in other markets. Tough competition from Sun Art Retail Group Ltd. (SURRF), the largest hypermarket operator, and the joint venture between Tesco TLC (PSCO) (the largest U.K. retailer) and China Resources Enterprise Ltd. (0291.HK), make WMT麓s growth arduous. The company has 3% of China麓s market share while Sun Art boasts a large 14%. Nevertheless, the company consistently keeps on the growth path by means of a continuous improvement in the perception of Chinese customers麓 preferences and the opening of new stores to reach the scale needed to compete. Low costs of labor in this country benefit the company to a great extent.