Top Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014

Among recent enforcement actions were a $1 million fine and $353,000 in restitution ordered by FINRA against StateTrust Investments over excessive markups and markdowns in fraudulent corporate bond transactions; charges against a China-based company and its CEO by the SEC for misleading investors about its financial condition; SEC charges against a medical device company for misleading shareholders about the FDA’s opinion of its product; and an amicus brief filed by the SEC in a case concerning market manipulation and misrepresentation.

FINRA Fines StateTrust Investments $1 Million, Orders Restitution

StateTrust Investments, Inc. was fined $1.045 million by FINRA and ordered to pay restitution of $353,000, plus interest, to customers who were affected by excessive markups and markdowns in fraudulent corporate bond transactions. In addition, the agency also sanctioned the firm’s head trader, Jose Luis Turnes, suspending him for six months and fining him $75,000.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund Inc(UTF)

Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. operates as a closed-end, nondiversified management investment company. It invests primarily in a portfolio of common stocks, preferred stocks, and other equity securities issued by utility companies; and in preferred securities and other fixed income securities of other companies. The fund?s investment portfolio primarily includes investments in various companies operating in utilities, agricultural chemicals, financials media real estate, specialty, food products, insurance, oil exploration and production, automotive, telecommunications sectors. Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. serves as the investment manager of the fund. The fund, formerly known as Cohen & Steers Select Utility Fund, Inc., was founded in 2004 and is based in the New York City.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Newcastle Investment Corp (NCT)

Newcastle Investment Corp. (Newcastle) is a real estate investment and finance company. Newcastle invests in, and actively manages, a portfolio of, real estate securities, loans, excess mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) and other real estate related assets. The Company segments include unlevered CDOs, which include unlevered investments in deconsolidated Newcastle CDO debt; unlevered excess MSRs; non-recourse other, which includes investments financed with other non-recourse debt; recourse, which includes investments and debt repurchases financed with recourse debt; unlevered other, which includes other unlevered investments, and corporate. In April 2011, Newcastle sold its retained interests in Newcastle CDO VII, a non-consolidated VIE of Newcastle. On May 15, 2013, the Company announced the spin-off of New Residential Investment Corp. In June 2013, Newcastle Investment Corp completed the sale of 100% of the assets in Newcastle CDO IV.

Real Estate Securities

Newcastle underwrite, acquire and manage a portfolio of credit sensitive real estate securities, including commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS), senior unsecured real estate investment trust (REIT) debt issued by REITs, real estate related asset backed securities (ABS), including subprime securities, and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)/ Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC) securities. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� real estate securities represented 47.4% of its assets.

Real Estate Related Loans

Newcastle acquires and originates loans to real estate owners, including B-notes, mezzanine loans, corporate bank loans, and whole loans. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� real estate related loans represented 22.3% of its assets.

Residential Mortgage Loans

Newcastle acquires residential mortgage loans, including manufactured housing loans and subprime mortgage loans. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� residential mortgage loans rep! resented 9.1% of its assets.

Operating Real Estate

Newcastle acquires and manages direct and indirect interests in operating real estate. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� operating real estate represented 0.9% of its assets.

Excess Mortgage Servicing Rights

Newcastle invested in excess MSRs in December 2011. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� interests in these rights represented 1.2% of its assets.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  You don't have to be an expert technical analyst to figure out what's going on in shares of Newcastle Investment (NCT) -- a quick glance at the chart will do. NCT has been in an uptrend since the end of December, rallying as it got pushed by tailwinds in the real estate sector and then spun off its residential financing unit into New Residential Investment (NRZ) in May.

  Adjusting shares of NCT for the spinoff gives us the chart above.

  As you might expect, the best time to be a buyer in NCT is on a bounce off of support. Buying off a support bounce makes sense for two big reasons: It's the spot where shares have the furthest to move up before they hit resistance, and it's the spot where the risk is the least (because shares have the least room to move lower before you know you're wrong).

  The fact that NCT has managed to clear its previous swing high from May speaks volumes about this stock's relative strength right now. Historically, high relative strength tends to continue to outperform the market for another three to 10 months. That puts NCT owners in a good position for the second part of 2013.

Hot Cheap Companies To Own 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.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Fulton Financial Corporation (FULT)

Fulton Financial Corporation operates as a multi-bank financial holding company that provides various banking and financial services to businesses and consumers. It offers various deposits, such as checking account and savings deposit products, certificates of deposits, and individual retirement accounts. The company also provides consumer lending products, including commercial and industrial, financial, agricultural, and real estate loans; secured consumer loan products comprising home equity loans and lines of credit; fixed and variable-rate products, including construction loans and jumbo loans; residential mortgages; and consumer loan products consisting of automobile loans, automobile and equipment leases, personal lines of credit, and checking account overdraft protection. In addition, it offers equipment leasing, letters of credit, cash management services, and traditional deposit products; and investment management, trust, brokerage, insurance, and investment advis ory services. Further, the company is involved in reinsuring credit life, and accident and health insurance; and sells various life insurance products. As of March 19, 2013, Fulton Financial Corporation operated 267 branches in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia. The company was founded in 1882 and is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Cred Valtellines(PCVI.MI)

Credito Valtellinese Societa Cooperativa provides financial and investment products and services to private and business customers primarily in Italy. The company offers various investment and bancassurance products, such as savings products, unrestricted deposits, current accounts, certificates of deposit, repurchase agreements, and bonds, as well as life insurance and non life insurance products. It also provides various lending products and services comprising mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, salary backed loans, finance leases, consumer loans, and production household loans. In addition, the company offers various transfer products and services, including a range of services to deposit money, and manage collections and disbursements. As of December 31, 2010, it operated a network of 543 branches in Lombardia, Piemonte, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Toscana, Marche, Umbria, Lazio, and Sicilia, as well as operated 663 ATMs. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Sondrio, Italy.