Despite a five-year bull market and record low interest rates, 73% of Americans across all age groups and income levels say they are not more inclined to invest in stocks, according to a new survey from Bankrate. That figure is relatively unchanged from 76% in April 2012 and April 2013. Only 22% say they are more inclined to invest in stocks. In fact, just 34% of those with salaries of at least $75,000 say they were more inclined to invest in stocks these days.
Top 10 Semiconductor Stocks To Own For 2015: Bank of Ireland (BKIR)
Bank of Ireland and its subsidiaries provide a range of banking and other financial services. The Company operates in five segments: Retail Ireland, Bank of Ireland Life, Retail UK, Corporate and Treasury and Group Centre. Group Centre includes capital management activities, unallocated Group support costs and the cost of the Credit Institutions. Retail Ireland distributes a range of financial products and services through the Bank�� branch operations in the Republic of Ireland and through its direct channels. The Company operates in the life and pensions market in Ireland through its wholly owned subsidiary New Ireland Assurance Company plc (NAIC).Retail UK consists of Business Banking in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the branch network in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom residential mortgage business and the business activities with the United Kingdom Post Office. Corporate and Treasury division consists of Corporate Banking, Global Markets and IBI Corporate Finance. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sarah Jones]
In Dublin, Bank of Ireland (BKIR) slipped 3.4 percent to 14.1 euro cents and Permanent TSB Group Holdings Plc (IPM) tumbled 13 percent to 2.6 cents. Allied Irish Banks Plc (ALBK), which is owned by the state, slid 1.5 percent to 6.5 cents.
Hot Bank Stocks For 2014: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBAUF)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (the Bank) is engaged in the provision of a range of banking and financial products and services to retail, small business, corporate and institutional clients. The Bank is a provider of integrated financial services, including retail, business and institutional banking, superannuation, life insurance, general insurance, funds management, broking services and finance company activities. Its operating segments include Retail Banking Services, Business and Private Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, Wealth Management, New Zealand, Bankwest and Other. Its retail banking services include home loans, consumer finance, retail deposits and distribution. In December 2013, the Bank and its related bodies corporate had ceased to be the substantial holder of Reject Shop Ltd. In January 2014, the Bank and its related bodies corporate had ceased to be the substantial holder of Southern Cross Media Group Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:- [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 rose early Wednesday, as advances for mining shares put the equity benchmark in line for a seventh straight gain. The S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) tacked on 0.4% at 5,394.90. Shares of mining company each picked up at least 1.2% after gold, silver and other metals futures jumped on expectations of further monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve in the wake of soft U.S. September jobs data. Stock in gold producer Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) and Evolution Mining Ltd. (AU:EVN) (CAHPF) surged 5.6% and 6.3%, respectively, and copper miner OZ Minerals Ltd. (AU:OZL) (OZMLF) rose 1.5%. Iron-ore producer BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP) (BHP) moved up 1.8%, extending gains after raising its fiscal year iron-ore production forecast. Financial shares were modestly higher ahead of Australia's third-quarter inflation report due later Wednesday. Macquarie Group Ltd. (AU:MQG) (MCQEF) added 1.3% and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (AU:CBA) (CBAUF) rose 0.3%.
- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks nudged modestly higher early Thursday, with a rebound for financials offsetting weakness in the resource space. The S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) advanced 0.1% to 5,361.80, as banks and brokers gained after losing ground late in the previous session on concerns about the health of major Chinese banks. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (AU:CBA) (CBAUF) and Macquarie Group Ltd. (AU:MQG) (MCQEF) rose 0.7% apiece, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (AU:ANZ) (ANEWF) added 0.5%, and Westpac Banking Corp. (AU:WBC) (WEBNF) improved by 0.5%. On the downside, losses for gold futures overnight sent Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) down 1.3% and Evolution Mining Ltd. (AU:EVN) (CAHPF) 2.3% lower. The broader mining sector was also lower, with Alumina Ltd. (AU:AWC) (AWCMF) off 2.8%, BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP) (BHP) down 0.5%, and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF)
Hot Bank Stocks For 2014: KeyCorp (KEY)
KeyCorp is a bank holding company for KeyBank National Association (KeyBank). Through KeyBank and certain other subsidiaries, the Company provides a range of retail and commercial banking, commercial leasing, investment management, consumer finance and investment banking products and services to individual, corporate and institutional clients through two business segments: Key Community Bank and Key Corporate Bank. As of December 31, 2011, these services were provided through KeyBank�� 1,058 full-service retail banking branches in 14 states, additional offices, a telephone banking call center services group and a network of 1,579 automated teller machines (ATMs) in 15 states. On January 17, 2012, the Company opened another national bank subsidiary.
In addition to the banking services of accepting deposits and making loans, the Bank and trust company subsidiaries offer personal and corporate trust services, personal financial services, access to mutual funds, cash management services, investment banking and capital markets products, and international banking services. Through its bank, trust company and investment adviser subsidiaries, the Company provides investment management services to clients that include corporate and public retirement plans, foundations and endowments, individuals and trust funds. The Company provides other financial services - both within and outside of its primary banking markets - through various nonbank subsidiaries. These services include community development financing, securities underwriting and brokerage. It is also an equity participant in a joint venture that provides merchant services to businesses.
Lending Activities
As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� Commercial, Financial and Agricultural loans, also referred to as Commercial and Industrial, represented 39% of its total loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2011, commercial real estate loans represented approximately 19% of its total loan portfolio. These loans include bo! th owner and nonowner-occupied properties and constitute approximately 27% of its commercial loan portfolio. Its commercial real estate lending business is conducted through two primary sources: its 14-state banking franchise, and Real Estate Capital and Corporate Banking Services. The Company conducts financing arrangements through its equipment finance line of business. Commercial lease financing receivables represented 17% of commercial loans at December 31, 2011. The home equity portfolio is the largest segment of its consumer loan portfolio.
Investment Activities
The Company�� securities portfolio totaled $18 billion at December 31, 2011. Available-for-sale securities were $16 billion at December 31, 2011. Held-to-maturity securities were $2.1 billion at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, it had $2.1 billion in collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) in its held-to-maturity securities portfolio. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $15.9 billion invested in CMOs and other mortgage-backed securities in the available-for-sale portfolio. Federal Agency CMOs constitute most of its held-to-maturity securities along with foreign bonds and preferred equity securities. The investments in equity and mezzanine instruments made by its principal investing unit represented 61% of other investments at December 31, 2011. They include direct investments (investments made in a particular company), as well as indirect investments (investments made through funds that include other investors).
Sources of Funds
Domestic deposits are the Company�� primary source of funding. During the year ended December 31, 2011, these deposits averaged $58.5 billion and represented 80% of the funds it used to support loans and other earning assets. Wholesale funds, consisting of deposits in its foreign office and short-term borrowings, averaged $3.4 billion during 2011. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $4.7 billion in time deposits of $100,000 or more.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Thursday
Earnings Expected From: SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH), Mattel, Inc, (NASDAQ: MAT), Key Corp (NYSE: KEY), Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), PPG Industries, Inc (NYSE: PPG), The Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX), Schlumberger N.V. (NYSE: SLB), International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM), Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) Economic Releases Expected: Chinese house prices, US housing starts, eurozone CPI, Hong Kong’s unemployment rateFriday
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Wells Fargo’s (WFC) financial results disappointed investors but could be good news for PNC Financial Services (PNC), Fifth Third (FITB), KeyCorp (KEY) and Comerica (CMA).
- [By Jay Jenkins]
Huntington, and other regional banks like KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY ) and Regions Financial (NYSE: RF ) , are staying out of the headlines, bringing strong products to the market, and as a result, winning new business. In the video below, Motley Fool contributor Jay Jenkins highlights Huntington as an industry leader in customer-focused banking.
- [By Rich Duprey]
In a move that will catapult it into becoming the third-largest�servicer of commercial and multifamily loans in the U.S., KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY ) announced yesterday that its commercial real estate arm, KeyBank Real Estate Capital, had�entered into a series of agreements with Bank of America (NYSE: BAC ) to purchase the latter's commercial mortgage servicing portfolio of approximately�$110.5 billion as well as�a commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) special servicing portfolio of about�$14 billion.
Hot Bank Stocks For 2014: Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS)
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (RBS), incorporated on March 25, 1968, is a holding company of a global banking and financial services group. The Company operates in the United Kingdom, the United States and internationally through its two principal subsidiaries: The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (the Royal Bank) and National Westminster Bank Plc (NatWest). Both the Royal Bank and NatWest are clearing banks. In the United States, the Company�� subsidiary Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (Citizens) is a commercial banking organization. The Company�� business segment include UK Retail, UK Corporate, Wealth, Global Transaction Services, Ulster Bank, US Retail & Commercial, Global Banking & Markets (GBM), RBS Insurance, Central items, Non-Core Division and Business Services. In February 2012, Ensign Group, Inc. acquired $21.5 million seven-year term loan from RBS Asset Finance, Inc., an affiliate of the Company. In May 2012, The Paragon Group of Companies PLC announced the acquisition of further unsecured consumer loans, through its Idem Capital Securities subsidiary, from the Company.
In September 2011, the Company sold Hilton Glasgow City hotel to Topland Group. In October 2011, Paragon Group of Companies PLC acquired a portfolio of unsecured consumer loans from Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc. In December 2011, the Company sold its tenanted pub business to Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (Management) Limited (S&NPC), a subsidiary of Heineken N.V.
As of December 31, 2011, the Royal Bank and NatWest had 627 and 1,493 retail branches, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Ulster Bank has a foot print of 236 branches and a network of business banking offices across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. US Retail & Commercial had 1,519 retail banking offices (including in-store branches) covering Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
UK Retail
The Company offers a range of banking products and related financial services to the personal market. It serves customers through the RBS and NatWest networks of branches and automated teller machines (ATMs) in the United Kingdom, telephony, online and mobile.
UK Corporate
The Company is a provider of banking, finance, and risk management services to the corporate and small and medium enterprises (SME) sector in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of banking products and related financial services through a nationwide network of relationship managers, and also through telephone and Internet channels. The product range includes asset finance through the Lombard brand.
Wealth
The Company provides private banking and investment services in the United Kingdom through Coutts & Co and Adam & Company. It also offers offshore banking through RBS International, NatWest Offshore and Isle of Man Bank, and international private banking through Coutts & Co Ltd.
Global Transaction Services
The Company offers global payments, cash and liquidity management, and trade finance and commercial card products and services. Through the network and partner bank agreements, GTS is able to support and connect customers across 128 countries.
Ulster Bank
Ulster Bank is retail and business bank in Northern Ireland. It provides a range of financial services. As of December 31, 2011, the Retail Markets division, which had a network of 236 branches, operated in the personal and financial planning sectors. The Corporate Markets division provides services to SME business customers, corporates and institutional markets.
US Retail and Commercial
The Company provides financial services through the Citizens and Charter One brands. US Retail & Commercial is engaged in retail and corporate banking activities through its branch network in 12 states in the United States and through non-branch offices in othe! r states.!
Global Banking and Markets
The Company is a banking partner to corporations and financial institutions globally, providing a range of debt and equity financing, risk management and investment services to its customers. The division is organized along six principal business lines: money markets, rates flow trading, currencies, equities, credit and mortgage markets, and portfolio management and origination.
RBS Insurance
The Company provides a range of general insurance products to consumers through a range of brands, including Direct Line, Churchill and Privilege. It also provides insurance services for third party brands through its UKI Partnerships business. In the commercial sector, its NIG and Direct Line for Business operations provide insurance products for businesses through brokers or direct respectively. Through its international division, RBS Insurance sells general insurance, mainly motor, in Germany and Italy. In addition to insurance services, RBS Insurance continues to provide support and reassurance to millions of the United Kingdom motorists through its Green Flag breakdown recovery service and Tracker stolen vehicle recovery and telematics business. On 15 February 2012, a new corporate brand, Direct Line Group, was announced.
Central Functions
Central Functions consist of corporate functions, such as treasury, funding and finance, risk management, legal, communications and human resources. The Centre manages the Company�� capital resources and regulatory projects and provides services to the operating divisions.
Non-Core Division
Non-Core Division manages separately assets, which the Company intends to run off or dispose of. The division contains a range of businesses and asset portfolios from the GBM division, higher risk profile asset portfolios, including excess risk concentrations, and other illiquid portfolios. It also includes a range of other portfolios and businesses, inclu! ding regi! onal markets businesses.
Business Services
Business Services supports the customer-facing businesses and provides operational technology, customer support in telephony, account management, lending and money transmission, global purchasing, property and other services. It also leverages its purchasing power and is the Company's center for managing large-scale and complex change.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Inyoung Hwang]
RBS (RBS) sank 3.3 percent to 322.5 pence. Britain�� biggest publicly owned lender said Ross McEwan will replace Stephen Hester as CEO on Oct. 1. First-half net income was 535 million pounds ($808 million), compared with a 2 billion-pound loss a year earlier. That missed the 605 million-pound estimate of Mark Phin, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Ltd.
Hot Bank Stocks For 2014: Chemung Financial Corp (CHMG)
Chemung Financial Corporation, incorporated on January 2, 1985, is a financial holding company. The Company was organized for the purpose of acquiring Chemung Canal Trust Company (the Bank). The Company provides a range of financial services, such as insurance products, mutual funds, and brokerage services. The subsidiaries of the Company include Chemung Canal trust Company and CFS Group, Inc. CFS Group, Inc. offers a range of financial services including mutual funds, full and discount brokerage services, annuity and other insurance products and tax preparation services. Chemung Canal Trust Company is a full-service community bank with full trust powers. The Company manages its operations through two primary business segments: core banking and wealth management group services. The core banking segment provides revenues by attracting deposits from the general public and using such funds to originate consumer, commercial, commercial real estate, and residential mortgage loans, primarily in the Company�� local markets and to invest in securities. The wealth management group services segment provides revenues by providing trust and investment advisory services to clients.
The Bank is a New York chartered commercial bank, which engages in full-service commercial and consumer banking and trust business. The Bank's services include accepting time, demand and savings deposits, including negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts, savings accounts, insured money market accounts, investment certificates, fixed-rate certificates of deposit and club accounts. The Bank's services also include making secured and unsecured commercial and consumer loans, financing commercial transactions (either directly or participating with regional industrial development and community lending corporations), and making commercial, residential and home equity mortgage loans, revolving credit loans with overdraft checking protection and small business loans. Additional services include renting safe deposit faciliti! es and the provision of networked automated teller facilities and an Internet banking product featuring bill payment services. Wealth management services provided by the Bank include services as executor and trustee under wills and agreements, and guardian, custodian, trustee and agent for pension, profit-sharing and other employee benefit trusts, as well as various investment, pension, estate planning and employee benefit administrative services.
Lending Activities
At December 31, 2011, 22.5% of the Corporation�� loans consist of commercial real estate loans to borrowers in the real estate, rental or leasing sector. The major portion of this sector comprises borrowers that rent, lease or otherwise allow the use of their own assets by others. The Bank�� loan portfolio includes commercial, financial and agricultural loans, commercial mortgages, residential mortgages, indirect consumer loans, and consumer loans. As of December 31, 2011, the total loan portfolio of the Bank was at $796,915,000.
Investment Activities
The Bank�� investment portfolio consists of obligations of the United States Government and the United States Government sponsored entities; mortgage-backed securities, residential; obligations of states and political subdivisions; corporate bonds and notes; SBA (small business administration ) loan pools; trust preferred securities, and corporate stocks. As of December 31, 2011, the investment portfolio of the Bank was at $289,182,000.
Sources of Funds
The Bank�� source of funds includes non-interest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, savings and insured money market deposits, and time deposits. As at December 31, 2011, the total deposits of the Bank was at $965,183,000.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Doug Hughes]
Steve Halpern: Okay, today we��e going to walk through two specific investment ideas that you find attractive in the banking sector. The first is Chemung Financial (CHMG), a New York-based operation that happens to be one of the oldest banks in the country. Could you tell us a little more about that?
Hot Bank Stocks For 2014: FirstMerit Corporation(FMER)
FirstMerit Corporation operates as the bank holding company for FirstMerit Bank, N.A. that provides a range of banking, fiduciary, financial, insurance, and investment services to corporate, institutional, and individual customers in northern and central Ohio, and western Pennsylvania. The company?s commercial business offers commercial term loans, revolving credit arrangements, asset-based lending, leasing, commercial mortgages, real estate construction lending, letters of credit, cash management services, and other depository products. Its retail business provides various financial products and services, including consumer direct and indirect installment loans, debit and credit cards, debit gift cards, residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, fixed and variable annuities, and ATM network services, as well as deposit products comprising checking, savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s wealth business provides a sset management, private banking, financial planning, estate settlement and administration, and credit and deposit products and services. FirstMerit Corporation also offers trust and investment services, including personal trust and planning, and investment management; retirement plan services; retail mutual funds, other securities, variable and fixed annuities, personal disability and life insurance products, and brokerage services; and private banking services, including credit, deposit, and asset management solutions. As of December 31, 2009, it operated a network of 160 full service banking offices and 182 ATMs. The company was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tim Melvin]
The year ahead should be a great one for the smaller bank stocks. Larger regionals like Huntington Bancorp (HBAN) and Capital Ban Financial (CBF) have made it clear they intend to grow by acquisition in the years ahead. Banks like First Merit (FMER) and First Merchants (FRME) have done deals in the past year and are open to doing more to increase their market share and footprints. This should be the year the floodgates open and we see the first wave of merger activity in small banks.
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