The International Monetary Fund cut its 2013 economic growth forecast for China 0.25 percentage points,�to 7.75%, according to a press release issued this week.
The IMF review provides a mixed picture of the country's economy, pointing to improvements and declines on a national and international level.
In the short term, the IMF expects recent credit expansions and a growing world economy to help China's prospects, but questions the longer-term efficacy of the country's investment strategies. The report notes that "while good progress has been made with external rebalancing, growth has become too dependent on the continued expansion of investment, much of it by the property sector and local governments whose financial position is being affected as a result."
The IMF did make note of its approval of the new government's recent reforms to prioritize more "balanced, inclusive, and environmentally friendly growth" going forward. Looking ahead, the IMF prioritized localized governance, market liberalization, and income equality as key policy areas.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Prudential Public Limited Company(PUK)
Prudential plc provides retail financial products and services, and asset management services to individuals and businesses in Asia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. It offers savings, protection, investment, and unit-linked products; manages investments across a range of asset classes for internal, retail, and institutional clients; manages onshore mutual funds; and provides retirement planning, consumer and Islamic finance, and health solutions. The company also provides retirement savings and income solutions; variable annuities; fixed and fixed index annuities; term life, universal life, and variable universal life insurance; permanent individual life insurance; and institutional products, such as guaranteed investment contracts, funding agreements, and medium term note funding agreements. In addition, it offers pensions and annuities; investment plans; and car, health, home, travel, and protection insurance policies. Further, Prudential plc provides fund man agement services for individual and institutional clients. The company was founded in 1848 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Sierra Bancorp(BSRR)
Sierra Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Bank of the Sierra that offers retail and commercial banking services in the central and southern sections of the San Joaquin Valley in California. Its deposit products include checking, interest-bearing transaction, savings, money market demand, time deposit, retirement, and sweep accounts, as well as remote deposit capture facilities. The company?s loan portfolio comprises real estate, commercial, and agricultural loans, as well as land acquisition and development loans, construction loans for residential and commercial development, and multifamily credit facilities; small business administration (SBA) loans; equipment leasing, such as direct finance and operating leases; and retail lending services, which include home equity lines and consumer loans. In addition, it offers secondary market services, installment note collection services, cashier?s checks, traveler?s checks, gift cards, bank-by-mail services, nigh t depository services, safe deposit boxes, direct deposit and automated payroll services, electronic funds transfers, online banking services, ATMs, and other customary banking services. As of January 25, 2010, the company operated 24 branch offices, an agricultural credit center, an SBA center, and an online virtual branch. Sierra Bancorp has a strategic alliance with Investment Centers of America, Inc. to provide non-deposit investment options. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Porterville, California.
Top Undervalued Stocks To Buy For 2014: SL Green Realty Corporation(SLG)
SL Green Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The firm engages in the property management, acquisitions, financing, development, construction, and leasing. It also provides tenant services to its clients. The firm invests in real estate markets of the United States. It primarily invests in commercial office and retail properties. SL Green Realty Corp. was founded in 1970 and is based in New York, New York.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Capital Blf Inc (BLF.V)
Capital BLF Inc. engages in the ownership and rental of nine multi-residential buildings located in the province of Quebec, Canada. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Dorval, Canada.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Old National Bancorp Capital Trust I(ONB)
Old National Bancorp operates as a holding company for Old National Bank, which provides financial services to individuals and commercial customers primarily in Indiana, eastern and southeastern Illinois, and central and western Kentucky. The company?s Community Banking segment originates loans, such as home equity lines of credit, residential real estate loans, consumer loans, commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, letters of credit, and lease financing; and generates deposit products comprising noninterest-bearing demand, negotiable order of withdrawal, savings and money market, and time deposits. It also offers debit and ATM cards, telephone access, online banking, and other electronic banking services. In addition, this segment provides investment services and various brokerage products, including investment options and investment advice. Further, it offers merchant cash management and other services relating to the general banking business; reinsures credit life insurance; and provides property and casualty insurance. The company?s Treasury segment manages investments, wholesale funding, interest rate risk, liquidity, and leverage for the bank; and provides capital markets products, including interest rate derivatives, foreign exchange, and industrial revenue bond financing for its commercial clients. Old National Bancorp also offers fiduciary and trust services; and insurance brokerage services, such as commercial property and casualty, surety, loss control services, employee benefits consulting and administration, and personal insurance. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 161 banking financial centers, as well as loan production or other financial services offices. The company was founded in 1834 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Lakeland Bancorp Inc.(LBAI)
Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company of Lakeland Bank, which provides various commercial and consumer banking products and services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals primarily in northern New Jersey. The company's depository products include checking accounts, savings accounts, demand deposits, time deposits, NOW accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. It also offers short and medium term loans, lines of credit, letters of credit, inventory and accounts receivable financing, real estate construction loans, mortgage loans, merchant credit card services, secured and unsecured loans, consumer installment loans, and commercial and industrial loans. In addition, the company provides wire transfer, Internet banking, night depository services, and safe deposit services; cash management services, such as remote capture of deposits and overnight sweep repurchase agreements; and investment and advisory s ervices. It operates 47 banking offices in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties in New Jersey. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Oak Ridge, New Jersey.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Aegon Nv(AGN.L)
AEGON N.V. provides life insurance, pension, and asset management products and services primarily in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The company offers a range of life and protection products, including traditional, universal, endowment, term, employer, and whole life insurance products; and accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, cancer treatment, disability, income protection, and long term care insurance. It also offers individual savings and retirement products, including fixed and variable annuity products, retail mutual funds, and mortgages; employer solutions and pensions comprising individual and group pensions, as well as 401(k) plans and similar products sponsored by or obtained through an employer; and general insurance products, including automotive, liability, fire protection, and household insurance. AEGON N.V. markets its products directly, as well as through various sales and distribution channels, including independent and career agents, fina ncial planners, registered representatives, independent marketing organizations, banks, broker-dealers, benefit consulting firms, wirehouses, affinity groups, institutional partners, independent managing general agencies, specialized financial advisors, and the Internet. The company was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: BB&T Corp (BBT)
BB&T Corporation (BB&T) is a financial holding company. BB&T conducts its business operations primarily through its commercial bank subsidiary, Branch Banking and Trust Company (Branch Bank), which has offices in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, Alabama, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Washington D.C and Indiana. In addition, BB&T�� operations consist of a federally chartered thrift institution, BB&T Financial, FSB (BB&T FSB), and a number of nonbank subsidiaries, which offer financial services products. BB&T�� operations are divided into six business segments: Community Banking, Residential Mortgage Banking, Dealer Financial Services, Specialized Lending, Insurance Services, and Financial Services. Branch Bank provides a range of banking and trust services for retail and commercial clients in its geographic markets, including small and mid-size businesses, public agencies, local Governments and individuals, through 1,779 offices as of December 31, 2011. During the year ended December 31, 2011, BB&T announced the acquisitions of Liberty Benefit Insurance Services, Atlantic Risk Management Corporation and the Precept Group. In April 2012, it acquired the life and property and casualty insurance operating divisions of Roseland, New Jersey - based Crump Group Inc. On July 31, 2012, it acquired BankAtlantic.
As of December 31, 2011, the principal operating subsidiaries of BB&T included Branch Banking and Trust Company, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; BB&T Financial, FSB, Columbus, Georgia; Scott & Stringfellow, LLC, Richmond, Virginia; Clearview Correspondent Services, LLC, Richmond, Virginia; Regional Acceptance Corporation, Greenville, North Carolina; American Coastal Insurance Company, Davie, Florida, and Sterling Capital Management, LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina. Branch Bank�� principal operating subsidiaries include BB&T Equipment Finance Corporation, BB&T Investment Services, Inc., BB&T Insurance Services, Inc., Stanley, Hunt, DuPree! & Rhine (a division of Branch Bank), Prime Rate Premium Finance Corporation, Inc., Grandbridge Real Estate Capital, LLC, Lendmark Financial Services, Inc., CRC Insurance Services, Inc. and McGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc.
Community Banking
BB&T�� Community Banking serves individual and business clients by offering a range of loan and deposit products and other financial services. As of December 31, 2011, Community Banking had a network of 1,779 banking.
Residential Mortgage Banking
Residential Mortgage Banking segment retains and services mortgage loans originated by Community Banking, as well as those purchased from various correspondent originators. Mortgage loan products include fixed and adjustable rate Government and conventional loans for the purpose of constructing, purchasing or refinancing residential properties. Substantially all of the properties are owner occupied. BB&T retains the servicing rights to all loans sold. Residential Mortgage Banking earns interest on loans held in the warehouse and portfolio, fee income from the origination and servicing of mortgage loans and recognizes gains or losses from the sale of mortgage loans. BB&T�� mortgage originations totaled $23.7 billion in 2011. BB&T�� residential mortgage servicing portfolio, which includes both retained loans and loans serviced for third parties, totaled $91.6 billion in 2011.
Dealer Financial Services
Dealer Financial Services originates loans to consumers on a prime and nonprime basis for the purchase of automobiles. Such loans are originated on an indirect basis through approved franchised and independent automobile dealers throughout the BB&T market area and nationally through Regional Acceptance Corporation. This segment also originates loans for the purchase of boats and recreational vehicles originated through dealers in BB&T�� market area. In addition, financing and servicing to dealers for their inventories is provided through a ! joint rel! ationship between Dealer Financial Services and Community Banking.
Specialized Lending
BB&T�� Specialized Lending consists of eight business units that provide specialty finance products to consumers and businesses. The internal business units include Commercial Finance that contains commercial finance and mortgage warehouse lending; and, Governmental Finance that is responsible for tax-exempt Government finance. Operating subsidiaries include BB&T Equipment Finance which provides equipment leasing within BB&T�� banking footprint; Sheffield Financial, a division of FSB Financial, a dealer-based financer of equipment for both small businesses and consumers; Lendmark Financial Services, a direct consumer finance lending company; Prime Rate Premium Finance Corporation, which includes AFCO and CAFO, insurance premium finance business units that provide funding to businesses in the United States and Canada and to consumers in certain markets within BB&T�� banking footprint, and Grandbridge Real Estate Capital, a commercial mortgage banking lender providing loans on a national basis.
Insurance Services
BB&T Insurance Services provides property and casualty, life and health insurance to businesses and individuals. It also provides small business and corporate products, such as workers compensation and professional liability, as well as surety coverage and title insurance. In addition, Insurance Services also underwrites a limited amount of property and casualty coverage.
Financial Services
Financial Services provides personal trust administration, estate planning, investment counseling, wealth management, asset management, employee benefits services, corporate banking and corporate trust services to individuals, corporations, institutions, foundations and Government entities. Financial Services also offers clients investment alternatives, including discount brokerage services, equities, fixed-rate and variable-rate annuiti! es, mutua! l funds and governmental and municipal bonds through BB&T Investment Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Branch Bank. Financial Services includes Scott & Stringfellow, LLC, a brokerage and investment banking firm. Scott & Stringfellow provides services in retail brokerage, equity and debt underwriting, investment advice, corporate finance and equity research and facilitates the origination, trading and distribution of fixed-income securities and equity products in both the public and private capital markets. Scott & Stringfellow also has a public finance department that provides investment banking services, financial advisory services and municipal bond financing. Scott & Stringfellow�� investment banking and corporate and public finance areas conduct business as BB&T Capital Markets. This segment includes BB&T Capital Partners that is a group of BB&T-sponsored private equity and mezzanine investment funds that invest in privately owned middle-market operating companies. Financial Services also includes the Corporate Banking Division that originates and services corporate relationships, syndicated lending relationships and client derivatives.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Michael Brush]
BB&T (BBT) has a dividend yield of 2.5%
The regional bank has 1,800 branches in the Southeast and Washington, D.C. Even during the worst of the credit meltdown, BB&T was profitable. The company used its financial clout to attract customers from competitors and purchase the assets of a failed bank in Florida from regulators.
As the economy improves and loan business grows, Wordell believes the bank could see annual earnings as high as $3.50 a share, from $1.21 recently. Wordell expects the bank to raise dividends as earnings and loan quality improves.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: California First National Bancorp(CFNB)
California First National Bancorp operates as the holding company for California First National Bank and California First Leasing Corp. that provide leasing and banking services in the United States. It leases and finances capital assets used by businesses and organizations, including computer systems and networks; automated manufacturing and distribution management systems, production systems, printing presses, and warehouse distribution systems; digital private branch equipment and switching equipment, voice over Internet protocol systems, wireless networks, and satellite tracking systems; retail point-of-sale and inventory tracking systems; and other electronic equipment, such as ultrasound and medical imaging systems, computer-based patient monitoring systems, testing equipment, and copying equipment. The company also leases non-high technology property, including oil and gas production equipment, machine tools, school buses, trucks, exercise equipment, and office and dormitory furniture; and re-markets leased assets at lease expiration. In addition, it provides deposit products, such as interest-bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, and three month to three year certificates of deposits. California First National Bancorp gathers deposits through the Internet, direct mail, telephone campaigns, and print advertisements. Further, it offers business loans to fund the purchase of assets leased by third parties; and commercial loans to businesses that include commercial loan syndications, commercial real estate loans, and revolving lines of credit. The company serves middle-market companies and corporations, private and state-related educational institutions, municipalities, and other not-for-profit organizations and institutions, as well as individuals. California First National Bancorp was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Orange County, California.
Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: National Interstate Corporation(NATL)
National Interstate Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty property and casualty insurance company in the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Cayman Islands. It underwrites and sells traditional and alternative property, and casualty insurance products primarily to the passenger transportation industry and the trucking industry; general commercial insurance to small businesses in Hawaii and Alaska; personal insurance to owners of recreational vehicles and commercial vehicles in the United States; and insurance products for moving and storage transportation companies. The company?s products include truck and passenger transportation alternative risk transfer insurance products, and worker?s compensation coverage; and commercial auto liability, general liability, physical damage, and motor truck cargo and related coverage?s for truck and passenger operators, as well as various coverage?s to the moving and storage industry, including c ommercial auto liability, physical damage, workers? compensation, employers? liability, cargo, commercial umbrella, commercial property, general liability, crime, equipment breakdown, inland marine, and movers and warehousemen?s liability products. Its products also include coverage?s for campsite liability, vehicle replacement coverage, and coverage for trailers, golf carts, and campsite storage facilities; companion personal auto coverage to recreational vehicle policyholders; and commercial vehicle insurance that provides coverage for companies with vehicles used by contractors, artisans, and other small businesses. National Interstate Corporation markets its products through various distribution channels, such as independent agents and brokers, program administrators, affiliated agencies, and agent internet initiatives. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Richfield, Ohio. National Interstate Corporation is a subsidiary of Great American Insurance Company.
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