Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now

It's pretty easy to win an election if nobody's running against you.

Unfortunately for investors, this strategy dominates corporate board elections, in which insiders have almost complete control over who serves on their boards.

Who gets to choose?
At most public companies, shareholders have very little say over who serves on the board of directors. Prospective directors are almost all nominated by company insiders and compete in uncontested elections. Within this structure, shareholders have to dump money into an expensive proxy contest if they wish to put up competing candidates. Alternatively, they can express disapproval for the existing candidates by withholding votes and hoping the shunned directors will be replaced by better candidates.

But in uncontested elections, directors may not leave even when the majority of shareholders refuse to vote for them. For example, Cablevision refused to get rid of directors Thomas V. Reifenheiser, John R. Ryan, and Vincent S. Tese when they failed to receive majority support in the company's 2010 and 2012 elections. Worse, Cablevision renominated the shunned directors yet again in 2013.

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Own For 2016: SPDR S&P Russia ETF (RBL)

SPDR S&P Russia ETF (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Russia Capped BMI Index (the Index). The Index is a float adjusted market cap index designed to define and measure the investable universe of publicly-traded companies domiciled in Russia. The Index component securities are a subset, based on region, of component securities included in the S&P Global BMI Equity Index. The Global BMI Equity Index is a comprehensive, float-weighted, rules-based benchmark that is readily divisible and customizable. The Fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the Index or in American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) based on securities comprising the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is SSgA Funds Management, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Waggoner]

  First up: SPDR S&P Russia (ticker: RBL), which concentrates on Russian stocks. The fund has more than 16% of its assets in Gazprom, and plunged 7.9% in early Monday trading. Following close behind: Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX), in contrast, has just 7.8% of its assets in Gazprom. It tumbled 6.9% Monday.

• [By Barbara Kollmeyer]

  As for U.S. investor exposure, the pain was there for all to see as the week wound down. Among exchange-traded funds, the iShares MSCI Russia ETF (ERUS) �and the SPDR S&P Russia ETF (RBL) �each fell more than 6% for the week, contrasting with a 0.1% gain for the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) .

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: Bluforest Inc (BLUF)

Bluforest Inc., formerly Greenwood Gold Resources, Inc., incorporated on March 26, 2008, is a carbon offset credit trading company with land assets in South America. Global Environmental Investments Limited (GEIL) sold all of the rights and interests held by GEIL pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, on March 30, 2012, to the Company regarding the Property, which consists of approximately 105,000 hectares. It consists of 100% of GEIL�� rights, title and interests in and to the timber, minerals, substances and the rights to receive from the Property, and 100% of the right, title and interests of GEIL in all existing oil, gas and/or mineral unitization, pooling and/or communization agreements, declarations, and/or orders and the properties covered or included in the units, which relate to the Property.

The Property consists of 100% of the right, title and interests of GEIL in all existing and agreements, including sales and sales related contracts, operating agreements and other agreements and contracts, which relate to Fundacion Nelson Velasco Aguirre (NVA), the Property or which relate to the exploration, development, operation or maintenance of the Property or the treatment, storage, transaction or marketing of production from or allocated to the Property. The 105,000 hectares also consists of 100% of the right, title and interests of GEIL in and to all materials, supplies, machinery, equipment, improvements, and other personal property and fixtures relating to the Property, and all wells, wellhead equipment, pumping units, flow lines, tanks, buildings, injection facilities, salt water disposal facilities, compression facilities, gathering systems and other equipment, all easements, rights-of-way, surface leases and other surface rights, all permits and licenses and all other appurtenances, used or held for use in connection with or related to the exploration, development, operation or maintenance of any of the Property.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  What�� the Catch With Multi-Corp International Inc? According to various disclosures, no transactions have occurred to mention Multi-Corp International in various investment newsletters. Moreover, I am not seeing any recent news on the newswires about the company with the latest press release dating from late July about the posting of a blanket bond. However and as I noted in an earlier about BluForest Inc (OTCMKTS: BLUF), the company has been named in a Freedom of Information request with the SEC by George Sharp (of Pumps&Dumps.com) for all complaints filed against Jim Can. George apparently contends that Jim controls BluForest along with Multi-Corp International, but the former has recently won an injunction against the latter for ��lleged, completely false, defamatory claims and statements.��Otherwise, investors should be aware that Multi-Corp International�� most recent financials date from the end of September of last year ��meaning its investor beware until they get current.

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap green stocks Eco-Tek Group Inc (OTCMKTS: ETEK) and BluForest Inc (OTCMKTS: BLUF) have been getting some attention lately thanks to some green���as in paid for promotions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed promotions, but one of these stocks happens to be getting a considerable amount of attention as its been the subject of numerous transactions. With that in mind, will investors see some green with these green small cap stocks? Here is a quick reality check:�

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks BluForest Inc (OTCMKTS: BLUF), Dephasium Corp (OTCMKTS: DPHS) and IceWEB, Inc (OTCBB: IWEB) have been getting some attention for at least a few weeks now thanks to paid for promotional activity. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed stock promotions, but one of these stocks also has a former shareholder who has filed a civil action against it alleging there is an illegal ��ump and dump��scheme going on. So what�� the whole story and more importantly, what will happen with these small cap stocks when the well from promoters eventually goes dry? Here is a closer look and a quick reality check:

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: SIGA Technologies Inc.(SIGA)

SIGA Technologies, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical solutions for smallpox, Ebola, dengue, Lassa fever, and other dangerous viruses. Its lead product is ST-246, an orally administered antiviral drug that targets orthopoxviruses. The company also has two drug series in the pre-clinical development stage against four serotypes of virus for dengue disease. In addition, it is developing anti-arenavirus drug for hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses and other hemorrhagic fever viruses, including Rift Valley Fever, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and Ebola; and a broad spectrum antiviral candidate against viruses in the Poxviridae, Filoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Arenaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Retroviridae, and Picornaviridae families. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  SIGA Technologies (NASDAQ: SIGA) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.62 per share on revenue of $47.00 million.

  Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another under-$10 name pharmaceutical player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Siga Technologies (SIGA), which discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes drugs to prevent and treat diseases including smallpox, Ebola, dengue, Lassa fever and other dangerous viruses. This stock is off to a strong start in 2013, with shares up by 35%.

  If you take a look at the chart for SIGA Technologies, you'll notice that this stock has been trending inside of a consolidation pattern for the last two months, with shares moving between $3.16 on the downside and $3.74 on the upside. Shares of SIGA have just started to spike higher above its 50-day moving average at $3.27 a share and it's now moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent range.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in SIGA if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.70 to $3.74 a share and then once it takes out more resistance at $4 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 263,209 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SIGA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.60 a share. If that level gets taken out with volume, then SIGA could easily tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $5 to $5.90 a share.

  Traders can look to buy SIGA off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 200-day moving average of $3.26 a share, or below more key support at $3.16 a share. One can also buy SIGA off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: AGCO Corporation (AGCO)

AGCO Corporation manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment and related replacement parts worldwide. The company provides tractors, including compact tractors for small farms and specialty agricultural industries comprising dairies, landscaping, and residential areas; utility tractors, such as two-wheel and all-wheel drive versions for small and medium-sized farms, and specialty agricultural industries consist of dairy, livestock, orchards, and vineyards; and horsepower tractors for large farms and on cattle ranches for hay production. It also offers application equipment, which includes self-propelled, three and four-wheeled vehicles, and related equipment for use in the application of liquid and dry fertilizers, and crop protection chemicals; chemical sprayer equipment for planting crops; and related equipment that comprises vehicles for waste application, as well as provides combines. In addition, the company offers hay tools and forage equipment consisting rou nd and rectangular balers, self-propelled windrowers, disc mowers, spreaders and mower conditioners for harvesting and packaging vegetative feeds; and engines, such as diesel engines, gears, and generating sets. Further, it provides implements, including disc harrows for improving field performance; heavy tillage to break up soil and mix crop residue; and field cultivators for preparing smooth seed bed and destroy weeds, as well as offers tractor-pulled planters and loaders. Additionally, the company provides precision farming technologies to enhance productivity and profitability on the farm; and other advanced technology precision farming products to gather information, such as yield data, as well as offers wholesale financing and retail financing. It markets its products under the Challenger, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, and Valtra brand names through a network of independent dealers and distributors. AGCO Corporation was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia .

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By vaninaegea]

  In august, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) published the mid-year review for the agricultural sector. Their findings point to a slowdown for the industry, highlighting a 9.5% decline on exports through the first half of 2013. Also, late soybean planting in the USA is expected to compound the industry�� slowdown. So, what are the prospects for AGCO (AGCO), CNH Global (CNH), and Deere & Co. (DE) under such conditions?

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Deere have dropped 0.7% to $93.65 at 3:49 p.m. today, while Agco (AGCO) has dipped 0.1% to $55.12, Toro (TTC) has gained 1% to $65.17 and Caterpillar (CAT) has risen 1.2% to $106.27.

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: W&T Offshore Inc.(WTI)

W&T Offshore, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas producer, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and natural gas properties primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. The company holds working interests in approximately 58 producing and 2 capable of producing offshore fields in federal and state waters. As of December 31, 2011, it had interests in offshore leases covering approximately 0.8 million gross acres in the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as onshore leasehold interest in approximately 0.2 million gross acres in Texas; proved reserves of 116.9 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe); and proved undeveloped reserves of 40.5 MMBoe. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  W&T Offshore� (NYSE: WTI  ) �has increased its�second-quarter dividend�by a penny to $0.09 per share, an increase of 12.5%.

  The oil and gas driller has regularly increased its dividend over the years and has also bestowed a series of special dividends on investors. In 2012, it paid two special dividends of $0.32 and $0.55 per share, making 2012's total dividend paid $1.11, or 40% more than it paid in 2011.

• [By John Udovich]

  Yesterday, small cap Energy XXI (Bermuda) Limited (NASDAQ: EXXI)�announced a deal to acquire�EPL Oil & Gas Inc (NYSE: EPL) to create the largest publicly held independent oil producer on the Gulf of Mexico shelf, meaning it might be a good idea to look at other small cap Gulf oil stocks like W&T Offshore, Inc (NYSE: WTI), Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) and Contango Oil & Gas Company (NYSEMKT: MCF). Energy XXI�� CEO John Schiller has talked about the details of the acquisition�with Jim Cramer on CNBC's "Mad Money" and he noted that��EPL Oil & Gas offers areas of expertise that EXXI currently lacks. However, investors who missed out on�yesterday�� 29% surge for EPL Oil & Gas�may want to check out these other small cap Gulf Oil stocks: