Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now

European stocks advanced, rebounding from two days of losses, after Janet Yellen, nominated to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, said the U.S. economy must improve before monetary stimulus is pared. U.S. index futures and Asian shares also climbed.

Burberry Group Plc added 1.8 percent after saying first-half sales exceeded 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) for the first time as online revenue advanced. K+S AG rose 3.4 percent after reporting third-quarter earnings that beat estimates. RWE AG slid 5.7 percent after forecasting profit next year will almost halve because of weak power prices.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.8 percent to 322.48 at 8:05 a.m. in London. The gauge rallied for the past five weeks as the Federal Reserve maintained bond purchases and the European Central Bank lowered its key interest rate. Standard & Poor�� 500 Index futures rose 0.3 percent, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.9 percent.

Yellen said the economy and labor market are performing ��ar short of their potential��and must improve before the central bank can begin reducing monetary stimulus.

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: OmniAmerican Bancorp Inc.(OABC)

OmniAmerican Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for OmniAmerican Bank, which is a federally-chartered savings bank that provides banking services to consumers and businesses in Texas. The company involves in accepting deposits from the general public and investing those deposits together with funds generated from operations and borrowings in loans and investments. Its deposit products consist of savings accounts, interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing demand accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan products include residential real estate loans, such as one-to-four-family and home equity loans; commercial loans consisting of real estate construction, commercial real estate, and commercial business loans; and consumer loans, which include direct automobile, indirect automobile, and unsecured loans. It operates through its main office in Fort Worth, Texas and 15 branches located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and Hood County, Texas. The company was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Omniamerican Bancorp (NASDAQ: OABC) shares fell 1.40% to touch a new 52-week low of $21.08. Omniamerican Bancorp's trailing-twelve-month ROA is 0.44%.

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: NORSAT INTL (NII.TO)

Norsat International Inc. provides broadband communication solutions that enable the transmission of data, audio, and video in remote and austere environments. Its Sinclair Technologies segment offers radio frequency (RF) antennas, including base station antennas, mobile/transit antennas, covert antennas, filters, receiver multicouplers, and accessories; and RF filter products, such as cavity filters, transmitter combiners, duplexers, isolators, circulators, and receiver multi-couplers. It serves public sector and military network operators, private sector networks, and original equipment manufacturers, as well as mobile radio, public safety, military, cellular, aviation, and heavy transport industries. The company�s Satellite Solutions segment provides a portfolio of portable satellite systems, including GLOBETrekkerTM, an intelligent portable satellite system that enables users to establish a reliable broadband connection on short notice; Norsat Rover, a satellite termi nal that fits into an extended-mission backpack; and OmniLink, a product family designed to address the needs of users seeking to establish broadband connectivity on a temporary basis. It serves defense, emergency services, and broadcasters. Norsat International Inc.�s Microwave Products segment designs, develops, and markets satellite receivers, transmitters, power amplifiers, and other customized products that enable the transmission, reception, and amplification of signals to and from satellites. Its customers include resellers, system integrators, antenna manufacturers, and service providers. Norsat International Inc. also provides engineering consulting services. The company has operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. The company was formerly known as NII Norsat International, Inc. and changed its name to Norsat International Inc. in July 1999. Norsat International Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Ri chmond, Canada.

Hot High Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO)

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. operates as an offshore oil and gas drilling contractor worldwide. It provides offshore drilling services in both the floater market, such as ultra-deepwater, deepwater, and mid-water; and in the non-floater and jack-up markets. The company operates a fleet of 44 offshore drilling rigs, consisting of 32 semisubmersibles, 7 jack-ups, and 5 dynamically positioned drillships, of which 4 are under construction. It serves independent oil and gas companies, and government-owned oil companies. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. is a subsidiary of Loews Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Claudia Assis]

  Other offshore drillers gained as well, with Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO) �up 1.5%. Transocean Ltd. (RIG) �shares gained 0.6%.

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Jin Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images NEW YORK -- Wall Street's six-day rally stalled out on Friday as stocks ended the day mostly flat in quiet trading. Bond yields continued to rise. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed above the 3 percent mark. The yield hasn't consistently traded above that level since July 2011. The increase will translate into higher interest rates on mortgages and other kinds of loans. Energy stocks were among the biggest gainers after oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel for the first time since October. Offshore oil drilling companies Transocean (RIG) and Diamond Offshore (DO) each rose about 1.5 percent. Oil giant ExxonMobil (XOM) climbed 1 percent. Sprint (S) jumped 83 cents, or 8 percent, to $10.79 following news reports that Japan's Softbank, which owns Sprint, may use the company as a vehicle to purchase wireless competitor T-Mobile US (TMUS). Most of Wall Street remains on vacation. Trading volume has been very low this week. Only 2 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, about 40 percent below the recent average. There were no major economic reports or corporate earnings Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) closed down 1.47 points, or 0.01 percent, to 16,478.41. The Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GPSC) fell 0.62 point, or 0.03 percent, to 1,841.40 and the Nasdaq composite (^IXIC) was down 10.59 points, or 0.3 percent, at 4,156.59. Even with Friday's pause, the stock market has been in rally mode heading into the end of the year. The Dow and S&P 500 are up 2.4 percent and 2 percent respectively so far in December, with only two trading days left in the year. For 2013, the S&P 500 is up roughly 29 percent, its best year since 1997, and the Dow is up 25.8 percent, its best year since 1996. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 3 percent from 2.99 percent Thursday. Bond yields have steadily climbed since Dec. 18, when the Federal

• [By Tim Brugger]

  In addition to a regular $0.125-per-share quarterly dividend,�Diamond Offshore Drilling� (NYSE: DO  ) �has once again declared a special cash dividend of $0.75 a share, the company�announced�today.

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: AvalonBay Communities Inc. (AVB)

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. engages in the development, redevelopment, acquisition, ownership, and operation of multifamily communities in the United States. As of January 31, 2009, the company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 164 operating apartment communities comprising 45,728 apartment homes in 10 states and the District of Columbia. It also held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 14 communities under construction, as well as held rights to develop an additional 27 communities. The company?s markets are located in New England, the New York/New Jersey metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and the Northern and Southern California regions of the United States. AvalonBay Communities has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust and would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Arlington, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  KeyBanc announced on Thursday that it has boosted its rating on AvalonBay Communities Inc (AVB) to “Buy.”

  The firm has upgraded AVB from “Hold” to “Buy,” and has given the company a $139 price target. This price target suggests a 15% upside from the stock’s current price of $120.55. KeyBanc has also upgraded residential REIT UDR, Inc. (UDR) and has cut its rating on Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS).

  Analyst Karin Ford noted: “We upgrade the Apartment REIT vertical from Market-Weight to OVERWEIGHT based upon attractive valuation levels that overlook the potential for accelerating fundamentals, as the impact of new supply wanes and continued employment gains support greater rental demand into ’15.

  “We believe the short-cycle nature of the apartment vertical’s leases place it relatively well within an env’t of rising rates driven by an imprv�� economy; the group’s underperformance YTD and current relative valuation level (4% discount to REIT sector on AFFO multiple) reflects concern over slowing fundamentals amid elevated new supply. We think new supply should peak in late-’14 and give way to accelerating absorption trends.”

  AvalonBay Communities shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Thursday. The stock is down 11% YTD.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Real estate investment trust�AvalonBay Communities� (NYSE: AVB  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $1.07 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout 10%, from $0.97 per share.

• [By Sean Williams]

  To get a better idea of how RealPage is doing, it's always best to look at occupancy rates for some of the nation's biggest residential-REITs. In AvalonBay Communities' (NYSE: AVB  ) most recent quarter, the company reported a 5% increase in revenue attributable to a 4.7% boost in prices in established communities, and a 0.3% uptick in occupancy. For Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR  ) it was much of the same, with revenue rising 5.4% in the fourth-quarter as occupancy rates rose 40 basis points to 95.4% from the year-ago period. Finally, Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS  ) delivered some of the strongest occupancy results of all, with 96.9% of its units occupied as of the end of January. The point is that with occupancy rates at their lowest levels in more than a decade, these residential REITs are driving growth by boosting prices because of rent scarcity.

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: Kamada Ltd (KMDA.O)

Kamada Ltd. is an Israel-based biopharmaceutical company, which develops, produces and markets therapeutics, based on chromatographic purification technology. It offers bio-therapeutics for human use, such as specialty proteins, specific immunoglobulins, and other prescription medicines. The Company�� product line includes intravenous AAT for chronic replacement therapy in individuals with congenital alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; KamRAB for prophylaxis of rabies infection; KamRho-D IM for prophylaxis of Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn; KamRho-D IV for treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura; and IVIG, a replacement therapy in primary and secondary immune therapy. Its product line also comprises Protosol to reduce blood loss in patients undergoing cardiac surgery; Heparin sodium injection for coagulation inhibition and prophylaxis of thromboembolic diseases and Heparin Lock Flush to maintain potency of intravenous injection device among other.

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: Illinois Tool Works Inc.(ITW)

Illinois Tool Works Inc. manufactures a range of industrial products and equipment worldwide. The company?s Transportation segment offers metal and plastic components, fasteners, and assemblies; fluids and polymers; fillers and putties; polyester coatings, and patch and repair products; and truck remanufacturing and related parts and service. Its Industrial Packaging segment offers steel and plastic strapping and related tools and equipment; plastic stretch film and related equipment; paper and plastic products that protect goods in transit; and metal jacketing products. The company?s Food Equipment segment provides warewashing, cooking, refrigeration, and food processing equipment; and kitchen exhaust, ventilation, and pollution control systems. Its Power Systems & Electronics segment provides arc welding equipment; metal arc welding consumables; metal solder materials for PC board fabrication; equipment and services for microelectronics assembly; electronic components an d component packaging; and airport ground support equipment. The company?s Construction Products segment offers anchors, fasteners, and related fastening tools for wood, metal, and concrete applications; metal plate truss components, and related equipment and software; and packaged hardware and other products for retail. Its Polymers & Fluids segment provides adhesives, chemical fluids, epoxy and resin-based coating products, hand wipes and cleaners, and pressure-sensitive adhesives and components. The company?s Decorative Surfaces segment offers laminate for furniture, office and retail space, and countertops; and laminate flooring and worktops. In addition, the company offers plastic reclosable packages and bags, and consumables; plastic and metal fasteners, and components; foil and film products; product coding and marking, paint spray, and static and contamination control equipment; and swabs and mats. The company was founded in 1912 and is based in Glenview, Illinois. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nicole Seghetti]

  3. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW  )
  This maker of industrial products and equipment like fasteners, coatings, and plastic stretch films has increased its dividend for 49 consecutive years. Even though the stock suffered badly in 2008 when the construction and transportation industries it depends on were hit hard, Illinois Tool Works is greatly benefiting from the current economic recovery.

• [By Muhammad Bazil]

  Though GE Capital has been a huge source of revenue for the parent company, its earnings aren�� always seen in the light of income from industrial activities leading to how it has been cheaply perceived among its peers. For example, among GE�� peers in the industrial sector like Honeywell International (HON), United Technologies (UTX), Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Emerson Electric (EMR), only Illinois Tool Works is cheaper than GE, but it is miles apart in growth potential when compared with GE. So, GE stock trades at a huge discount relative to all of its industrial peers except ITW which is rather odd all because of GE Capital. Though GE Capital has been contributing about 30% of GE�� earnings and, hence, a good percentage of its earnings per share (EPS), shedding GE Capital is the only way to make the industrial segments of GE to strive for better growth in the near future to make up for the original earnings growth of GE facilitated by GE Capital.

• [By Stoyan Bojinov]

  Citigroup announced on Wednesday that it was maintaining a “Neutral” rating on the Glenview, IL-based industrial conglomerate, Illinois Tool Works (ITW), but went on to raise its price target for the company.

  Deane Dray, an analyst with the firm, noted “Following its disclosure in February 2013 that it was reviewing strategic alternatives for its $2.4 bil Industrial Packaging business, ITW officially announced on Sept-24 that the sale process has begun. In an incremental positive, the company declared that all the dilution from the divestiture would be offset by buybacks and that additional balance sheet leverage will be used to fund the program.” Given the lagged benefit of the expected buyback, Citigroup raised its price target on the stock from $75 to $80 a share.

  Illinois Tool Works shares traded lower on Wednesday, shedding 0.97% on the day. The stock is up 27% YTD.

• [By Chuck Carnevale]

  However, I do believe that these lists represent an efficient group of prescreened opportunities that are worthy of further consideration. There are other dividend candidates such as Johnson Controls (JCI) and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) that were covered in the previous article Part 1, that do not meet the standard of consecutive dividend increases. Accordingly, I do not consider this a comprehensive or complete list of all possible dividend growth opportunities, but I do consider them a great place to start looking.

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. (AMP)

Ameriprise Financial Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company�s Advice and Wealth Management segment offers financial planning and advice, as well as brokerage and banking services primarily to retail clients through its financial advisors. The Asset Management segment provides investment advice and investment products to retail and institutional clients. The Annuities segment offers variable and fixed annuity products to retail customers through affiliated and unaffiliated advisors, and financial institutions. The Protection segment provides various protection products through financial advisors to address the protection and risk management needs of retail clients, including life, disability income, and property-casualty insurance. The company was formerly known as American Express Financial Corporation and changed its name to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. in September 2005. Ame riprise Financial Inc. was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zacks]

  Currently, shares of T. Rowe Price carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Among other investment managers, Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ) is scheduled to report December quarter end results on Jan 30, Legg Mason Inc. (NYSE: LM) on Jan 31 and Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) on Feb 4.

• [By U.S. News]

  Getty Images Borrowers have been enjoying historically low interest rates since the Great Recession hit. For those with solid credit histories, taking out a mortgage, auto loan or personal loan has never been cheaper. But all that could change. Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have started creeping upward, and financial experts say other forms of debt could soon follow suit. "We do anticipate rates going up, but how far and how fast that's going to happen is an open question," says Bradley Roth, managing partner at Kattan Ferretti Financial, a Pittsburgh-based financial planning and investment advisory firm. He expects the rates on 10-year Treasurys, which are currently approaching 3 percent, to reach 3.25 percent before the end of the year and then 4 to 4.25 percent in 2014. A rise in interest rates could soon be reflected throughout the entire financial services space, from credit cards to personal loans to home equity lines of credit. The good news for savers is that rates on deposit accounts could also climb after years of very low, or no, rates of return. Here's a roundup of how to prepare for rising rates, depending on your own money identity: For Savers "Savers should be able to benefit," Roth says, because he expects the rates on certificates of deposit, savings accounts and money market accounts to all go up. However, he warns savers against locking up their money in longer-term products, like CDs, which can make it harder to take advantage of quickly rising rates. Any rise in savings rates, though, will likely come slowly, says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com. "The Federal Reserve is still 18 to 24 months away from boosting short-term rates, so that will keep a lid on the savings yield," he says. In the meantime, with deposit rate accounts still low, savers can maximize their rate of return by shopping around, says Richard Barrington, senior financial analyst at MoneyRates.com. Online banks tend to offer higher r

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: Dhx Media Ltd (DHX.TO)

DHX Media Ltd. produces, distributes, and exploits the rights for television and film programming in Canada and internationally. It focuses primarily on children, family, and youth productions. The company produces family and children�s programs, prime time comedy, and feature films; supplies television programming for children and youth; develops and builds licensing and merchandizing programs; and produces animation, as well as develops television, motion pictures, short-form programming, commercial content, and consumer products; It is also involved in the development, production, and distribution of interactive content in various digital platforms, including Websites, online video interfaces, online games, and other interactive applications. The company has approximately 15 children�s series comprising Yo Gabba Gabba!, Waybulloo, Super Why!, The Mighty Jungle, Bo on the Go!, Franny�s Feet, dirtgirlworld, How to be Indie, Animal Mechanicals, Kid vs Kat, Monster Math Squad, and Martha Speaks. It also maintains a content library of approximately 2,550 half-hours of programming and approximately 60 individual titles. DHX Media Ltd. primarily serves conventional and specialty terrestrial, and cable/satellite television broadcasters. The company was formerly known as The Halifax Film Company Limited and changed its name to DHX Media Ltd. in March 2006. DHX Media Ltd. was incorporated in 2004 and is based in Halifax, Canada.

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: American Science and Engineering Inc.(ASEI)

American Science and Engineering, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells X-ray inspection and other detection products for detection and security screening solutions in the United States and internationally. It offers cargo inspection systems comprising non-intrusive inspection products, which are primarily used for the screening of trucks, cars, cargo containers, pallets, and air cargo at border crossings, seaports, military bases, airports, and cargo and transportation hubs. The cargo inspection systems include OmniView gantry system, a cargo and vehicle inspection system; Z Portal system, a drive-through inspection system for scanning cargo and vehicles; Z Gantry system, a Z Backscatter inspection system for scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo; Sentry Portal system, a drive through transmission X-ray inspection system; and MobileSearch High-Energy, a mobile inspection system for scanning trucks, cargo containers, and ve hicles. The company also provides Z Backscatter systems, including Z Backscatter Van, a mobile X-ray screening system to produce photo-like images of plastic explosives or other anomalies; and ZBV Military Trailer, a rugged X-ray screening system built on military trailer. In addition, it offers parcel and personnel screening inspection system that comprises Gemini system, a parcel and baggage inspection system; and SmartCheck system, a personnel screening system for screening threats hidden under a person?s clothing. Further, the company provides contract research and development programs for agencies of the United States government; and maintenance, warranty, engineering, and training services. It serves authorities responsible for port and border security, customs agencies, military organizations, high threat commercial and government facilities, aviation security agencies, and law enforcement agencies. The company was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Billerica, M assachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's tragic that it takes an event like the one earlier this week at a Nevada middle school to put building security stocks in the spotlight. But, reality is reality. The death of one teacher as well as the student/shooter himself has once again underscored the need for names like View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM), OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIS), and American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI). These three companies make equipment that may have prevented the shooting at the school. As is so often the case, interest in defense-oriented equipment - and a stronger likelihood of buying them - is eventually going to impact stocks like ASEI, OSIS, and VSYM for the better.

• [By Rich Smith]

  An unidentified "government agency" has awarded American Science & Engineering (NASDAQ: ASEI  ) a $60 million contract to supply X-ray inspection systems, the company (partially) revealed Tuesday.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  American Science & Engineering (Nasdaq: ASEI  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on May 7. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

  The 10-second takeaway
  Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict American Science & Engineering's revenues will grow 27.4% and EPS will expand 280.0%.

Top 5 Asian Stocks To Own Right Now: Broadcast Services Australia Ltd (BSA.AX)

BSA Limited provides engineering and contracting, communications and technical, and installation and maintenance services for broadcast and telecommunications industries. The company�s Technical Field Force Solutions segment provides contracting services, including delivery of bundled services over hybrid fiber coax network; and installation of subscription television, free to air television antennas, and security systems for telecommunications, subscription television, and communication industries. Its Technical Design and Construction Projects segment provides design and installation services for commercial and industrial buildings, including mechanical, air conditioning, heating and ventilation, refrigeration, and fire services. The company�s Technical Maintenance Services segment offers maintenance services for commercial and industrial buildings, which comprise mechanical, air-conditioning, heating and ventilation, refrigeration, and fire services. BSA Limited is ba sed in Olympic Park, Australia.