Top Asian Companies To Watch In Right Now

The People's Bank of China worked to reduce rates by injecting large amounts of cash into markets on Monday and Tuesday.

The bank surprised investors on Monday with an unexpected shot of yuans and followed up Tuesday with the addition of 255 billion yuan, the largest amount of money the bank has injected in a single day in almost a year.

Top News

In other news around the markets:

The UN was forced to rescind its invitation to Iran to attend peace talks on Syria beginning Wednesday. UN leaders announced that Iran was no longer welcome at the meeting after the Syrian opposition threatened to boycott the talks if Iran was present. Iran has provided Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with everything from arms to cash, making the nation's presence at resolution talks controversial. With demand for PCs on the decline, China's Lenovo Group is looking for a new source of growth by expanding its server business. According to the Wall Street Journal, Lenovo is in talks with International Business Machines Corp to buy the company's low-end server business. Last year the two companies worked on a similar deal, but negotiations crumbled as they were unable to agree on valuation. If the deal goes ahead, IBM would have the capacity to focus more intently on its software and services while Lenovo would have the potential to join the ranks of HP and Dell in the servers business. Deutsche Bank surprised investors when it announced a 1 billion euro loss in the fourth quarter, but many believe this is just the beginning of the eurozone's banking cleanup. Deutsche Bank's loss was partly the result of the bank's anticipation of upcoming EU balance sheet examinations and could be an ominous sign of things to come in the eurozone's banking sector. Despite a disappointing jobs report for December, many see the US Federal Reserve cutting its asset purchase program further at the bank's January meeting next week. The meeting, current Chairman Ben Bernanke's last, is expected take the bank's bond buying purchases down to $65 billion per month from $75 billion per month.

Asian Markets

Best International Stocks To Own For 2016: Creston PLC (CRE)

Creston Plc is a United Kingdom-based company engaged in insight and communications services. The Company operates in three divisions: Communications division, which offers clients an integrated approach to their marketing and communication strategy, offering a range of services, which include advertising, brand strategy, channel marketing, customer relationship marketing, digital marketing, direct marketing, local marketing, social media marketing and public relations; Health division, which provides an integrated communications solution to the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector and offers services, which include advertising, advocacy, digital and direct marketing, public relations, issues and reputation management and medical education; Insight division, which performs a range of market research services on behalf of its clients, through both qualitative and quantitative means, using face-to-face, telephone and online data collection techniques. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Investment Biker]

  Over the years, WAL has changed its loan origination strategy. Post crisis, WAL's i) loan growth has been driven by commercial real estate (CRE) and Commercial & Industrial loans (C&I), ii) Construction and development share of loans has reduced from 24% in 2005 to 7% in 1Q'2013 and iii) completely cessation of new loan origination in the residential mortgage segment.

Top Asian Companies To Watch In Right Now: Xyratex Ltd.(XRTX)

Xyratex Ltd provides modular solutions for the enterprise data storage industry and hard disk drive (HDD) capital equipment for the HDD industry. It offers enterprise data storage solutions that include storage enclosures, which provide a common technology platform that reduces qualification time for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers and includes management interface software, standardized across enclosures, and provides easy integration as new platforms; integrated application platforms that comprise embedded storage platforms, which incorporate embedded server modules into its storage enclosures; and HPC Solutions that consolidate controllers, storage enclosures, application platforms, operating system, data protection, Lustre File System, and management software into a optimized scale-out storage platform that can be deployed in hours rather than weeks. The company also designs and manufactures a range of process test systems, which incorporate mechanical and electronic hardware, and firmware for controlling the HDD operating environment during the formatting of the disk drive. In addition, it provides automated solutions comprising substrate and media inspection systems; servo track writers and related subassemblies; and head testing systems that test and process HDD components throughout the manufacturing process. The company markets and sells its products primarily to OEMs and disk drive manufacturers, as well as to other companies in North America, Asia, and Europe. Xyratex Ltd was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Havant, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Xyratex (NASDAQ: XRTX) shares moved up 26.89% to $13.26. The volume of Xyratex shares traded was 11058% higher than normal. Seagate Technology Plc (NASDAQ: STX) announced its plans to buy Xyratex for around $374 million in cash.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Xyratex (NASDAQ: XRTX  ) saw a steep decline in its Q2 EPS, but the results were still good enough to beat expectations. For the quarter, revenue was a little more than $216 million, down significantly from the $322 million in the same period the previous year. Net profit saw a more precipitous fall, dropping to $2.9 million ($0.11 per diluted share) from Q2 2012's $7.0 million ($0.24). On a non-GAAP basis, those numbers were $2.7 million ($0.10 per diluted share) and $9.3 million ($0.32), respectively.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Shares of Xyratex (NASDAQ: XRTX) jumped 27.27% yesterday after the company agreed to be acquired by Seagate Technology Plc (NASDAQ: STX) for around $374 million in cash. Xyratex shares fell 0.15% to $13.28 in the after-hours trading session, while Seagate shares rose 0.02% to $56.02 in after-hours trading.

Top Asian Companies To Watch In Right Now: 1-800 FLOWERS.COM Inc.(FLWS)

1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. together with its subsidiaries, operates as a florist and gift retailer in the United States. The company offers a range of products, including fresh-cut flowers, floral arrangements and plants, gifts, popcorn, gourmet foods and gift baskets, cookies, chocolates, candy, and wine through its telephonic and online sales channels, company-owned and operated retail floral stores, and franchised stores. It provides gourmet gifts, such as popcorn and specialty treats through thepopcornfactory.com; cookies and baked gifts through cheryls.com; chocolates and confections through fanniemay.com and harrylondon.com; gift baskets and towers through 1800baskets.com; Celebrations brand party ideas and planning tips through celebrations.com; and customizable invitations, announcements, and greeting cards through finestationery.com. As of July 3, 2011, the company operated 2 floral retail stores, 1 fulfillment center, and approximately 100 franchised stores located within the United States. It has strategic online relationships with Facebook, Google, AOL, Yahoo!, and Microsoft. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Carle Place, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Toward the end of trading Friday, the Dow traded down 0.60 percent to 16,947.43 while the NASDAQ declined 0.75 percent to 4,557.59. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.83 percent to 1,980.97.

  Leading and Lagging Sectors Cyclical consumer goods & services shares fell by just 0.50 percent in trading on Friday. Top gainers in the sector included ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance NASDAQ: (ULTA), up 17.5 percent, and 1-800-Flowers.com (NASDAQ: FLWS), up 4.5 percent. In trading on Friday, utilities shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 1.89 percent. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais - CEMIG (NYSE: CIG), down 4.7 percent, and CPFL Energia SA (NYSE: CPL), off 4.3 percent. Top Headline Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) reported better-than-expected fiscal first quarter earnings. The Orlando, Florida-based company reported a quarterly loss of $19.3 million, or $0.14 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $42.2 million, or $0.32 per share. Excluding non-recurring items, the company earned $0.32 per share. Its sales surged to $1.6 billion versus $1.53 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.30 per share on revenue of $1.6 billion. Equities Trading UP Conversant (NASDAQ: CNVR) shares shot up 30.25 percent to $34.79 after Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS) announced its plans to buy Conversant for $35 per share. Shares of ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance (NASDAQ: ULTA) got a boost, shooting up 17.69 percent to $114.72 after the company reported upbeat second-quarter results and raised its outlook. The company also unveiled a five-year plan for impressive growth. Sportsman's Warehouse Holdings (NASDAQ: SPWH) shares were also up, gaining 15.89 percent to $7.00 after the company reported stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results. Equities Trading DOWN Shares of Ruckus Wireless (NASDAQ: RKUS) were down 5.19 percent to $14.35. Buckingham
• [By Equities Lab]

  The stocks that currently pass the stock screen in order of market cap are Frontier Communications Corp , Crown Media Holdings (CRWN), Vonage Holding (VG), MCG Capital Corp (MCGC), 1-800-FLOWERS.COM (FLWS), MTR Gaming Corporation (MNTG), Alaska Communications (ALSK), and Enzon Pharmaceuticals (ENZN).

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Earnings Expected From: 1-800 Flowers.com, Inc (NASDAQ: FLWS)

  Economic Releases Expected:�Eurozone unemployment rate, Italian CPI, Greek retail sales, French consumer spending, Canadian GDP.

Top Asian Companies To Watch In Right Now: Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd.(CHTP)

Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd., a development-stage pharmaceutical company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of therapeutic products for the treatment of various human diseases. It is involved in developing Droxidopa, a therapeutic agent for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) associated with primary autonomic failure and falls related to NOH in Parkinson?s Disease (PD), as well as other norepinephrine-related conditions and diseases, including intradialytic hypotension, fibromyalgia, adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and freezing of gait in PD and down syndrome. The company intends to market its Droxidopa drug under the Northera brand name. It also engages in developing a portfolio of molecules for the treatment of various autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn?s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, uveitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and other immunological disorders. The company?s molecule products include a portfolio of metabolically inert antifolate molecules consisting of CH-1504 and CH-4051, which are orally available molecules with anti-inflammatory, autoimmune, and anti-tumor properties that inhibit various key enzymes required for cell proliferation; and a portfolio of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, known as the I-3D portfolio, for applications in autoimmune diseases and transplantation. Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHTP) is a 10-year-old development-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. Shares got our attention mid-month when the stock soared 160% on heavy volume after a panel of federal experts recommended approval of its most advanced candidate, Northera. A blood pressure treatment designed to prevent dizziness and fainting in Parkinson's disease patients, the advisory group concluded the drug is effective enough to warrant regulatory approval. The outside panel's endorsement came with the condition the drug only be approved for short-term use in a defined group of patients.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Bank of America Corp.(BAC), Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd.(CHTP) and NuVasive Inc.(NUVA)

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHTP) is finding a serious victory from its hypotension drug. Shares hit a 52-week high — make that a three-year high — after the company confirmed an accelerated FDA approval of its Northera for the treatment of low blood pressure, following FDA panel backing just last month.

Top Asian Companies To Watch In Right Now: AmeriGas Partners L.P. (APU)

AmeriGas Partners, L.P. operates as a retail and wholesale distributor of propane gas, and related equipment and supplies in the United States. As of November 8, 2012, it served approximately 2 million residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, wholesale, and motor fuel customers in 50 states through approximately 2,000 propane distribution locations. The company also sells, installs, and services propane appliances, including heating systems. It markets propane primarily under the AmeriGas, America's Propane Company, Heritage Propane, Titan Propane, and Relationships Matter trade names and related service marks. Its propane is used for home heating, water heating, and cooking purposes; to fire furnaces, as a cutting gas, and in other process applications; as a supplemental fuel and motor fuel; and for tobacco curing, chicken brooding, and crop drying applications. AmeriGas Propane, Inc. serves as the general partner of the company. AmeriGas Partners, L.P. was foun ded in 1994 and is based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP  ) will release its quarterly report on Friday, and shares of the propane distributor have jumped to two-year highs recently. Yet with a somewhat different exposure to the industry than rivals AmeriGas (NYSE: APU  ) and Suburban Propane (NYSE: SPH  ) , will Ferrellgas earnings be able to grow enough to make optimistic investors satisfied?

• [By Rich Smith]

  AmeriGas Propane, the general partner of AmeriGas Partners (NYSE: APU  ) and subsidiary of propane distributor UGI (NYSE: UGI  ) , announced Monday that it has promoted its treasurer, Hugh J. Gallagher, to the position of company vice president for finance, and chief financial officer.