3 Biotech Stocks Under $10 in Breakout Territory

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

Read More: Must-See Charts: 5 Big Trades for S&P 2,000

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside.

Read More: Warren Buffett's Top 10 Dividend Stocks

Endocyte

Endocyte (ECYT), a biopharmaceutical company, develops targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases in the U.S. This stock closed up 4.8% to $6.98 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $6.52-$7.15

52-Week Range: $5.91-$33.70

Thursday's Volume: 1.97 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.03 million

From a technical perspective, ECYT ripped higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $6.51 with strong upside volume flows. This spike to the upside on Thursday briefly pushed shares of ECYT into breakout territory, since the stock flirted with some near-term overhead resistance at $7.10. Shares of ECYT tagged an intraday high of $7.15, before closing just off that level at $6.98. This move is starting to push shares of ECYT within range of triggering a much bigger breakout trade. That trade will hit if ECYT manages to take out Thursday's intraday high of $7.15 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $7.23 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ECYT as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $6.51 or above some more near-term support at $6.20 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.03 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ECYT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $7.79. Any high-volume move above $7.79 will then give ECYT a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from May that started just above $17.

Read More: 10 Stocks George Soros Is Buying

Alimera Sciences

Alimera Sciences (ALIM), a biopharmaceutical company, is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. This stock closed up 5.7% to $6.25 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $5.78-$6.33

52-Week Range: $1.65-$8.44

Thursday's Volume: 141,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 154,192

From a technical perspective, ALIM soared higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $5.79 with decent upside volume flows. This sharp spike to the upside on Thursday also pushed shares of ALIM into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $5.99 to $6.20. Shares of ALIM are now quickly moving within range of triggering a much bigger breakout trade. That trade will hit if ALIM manages to clear Friday's intraday high of $6.33 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $6.37 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ALIM as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $5.79 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 154,192 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ALIM will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.75 to $8, or even its 52-week high at $8.44.

Read More: 10 Stocks Carl Icahn Loves in 2014

Prana Biotechnology

Prana Biotechnology (PRAN) researches and develops therapeutic drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders in Australia. This stock closed up 3.5% to $2.17 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $2.06-$2.24

52-Week Range: $1.47-$13.29

Thursday's Volume: 561,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.19 million

From a technical perspective, PRAN spiked higher here right above some near-term support levels at $2.02 to $2 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been consolidating and trending sideways for the last month, with shares moving between $2 on the downside and $2.25 to $2.30 on the upside. This bump to the upside on Thursday is starting to push shares of PRAN within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if PRAN manages to take out Thursday's intraday high of $2.24 to some more near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.25 to $2.30 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PRAN as long as it's trending above some key near-term support levels at $2.02 to $2 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.19 million shares. If that breakout kicks off soon, then PRAN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $2.85.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>5 Stocks With Big Insider Buying

>>3 Hot Stocks to Trade (or Not)

>>4 Stocks Spiking on Big Volume

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com.

You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

Why Investors Should Stay Away From This Organic Food Company

Whole Foods Market (WFM) has performed badly in 2014. Shares of the natural sustenance organization are down considerably this year. Whole Foods is confronting intense rivalry from several angles in the natural nourishment industry, and the organization's disappointing second-quarter results show that there is no respite going ahead.

Powerless performance

Albeit Whole Foods' sales increased 10% in the first quarter, its earnings were level. Because of the fact that Whole Foods trades at an expensive P/E degree of 25, a level earnings performance is disappointing. Furthermore, administration's standpoint was also concerning.

Whole Foods was before a pioneer in regular and natural foods, as a result of which investors esteemed it more than its peers. In any case, the organization's development pulled in consideration from rivals and made Whole Foods powerless against rivalry.

The opposition is intensifying

Presently, numerous mainstream retailers such as Kroger (KR), Safeway (SWY), The Fresh Market (TFM), and Wal-Mart (WMT) have entered this segment. Wal-Mart (WMT), for instance, as of late entered into an arrangement with Wild Oats to sell natural nourishment products at lower prices.

Henceforth, the opposition in the natural foods market has increased, and Whole Foods is continuously compelled to make necessary moves to stay in front of peers. Whole Foods is venturing into low-income neighborhoods, smaller cities and suburbs. Remembering this, it as of late opened stores in West Des Moines, Detroit and Iowa, with one in the south side of Chicago expected one year from now. Prior, Whole Foods was focused on giving its products to the high-income class, and its prerogative drop down the income anchor will compel it to cut valuing, making pressure on the margins in the process.

W

Canada’s Economy Gains Traction

More evidence that Canada's economy is gaining traction came from the country's latest wholesale trade data. According to Statistics Canada (StatCan), June wholesale trade climbed 0.6 percent month over month, to CAD53.0 billion, beating the consensus forecast among economists by a significant two-tenths of a percentage point.

Wholesale trade is considered an economic bellwether, so it's an area that we've been monitoring closely for clues about the trend of the overall economy. June was the third consecutive month in which wholesale trade increased, which augurs well for second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

StatCan observes that five of the seven subsectors it tracks posted gains in June. That was enough to offset the performance of the motor vehicle and parts space, which declined 2.4 percent month over month, though sales were still up 9.8 percent from a year ago.

In May, wholesale trade in the automotive space surged 9.8 percent, so it was due for a retrenchment in June. When excluding this subsector, which still accounted for about 17.1 percent of June's tally, wholesale sales rose 1.2 percent.

Among the numerous individual industries that are categorized into the seven subsectors, the single biggest contributor to the rise in wholesale trade by dollar amount was agricultural supplies. Wholesale trade in this industry jumped by CAD95 million, or 4.9 percent, to CAD2.04 billion. On a year-over-year basis, growth in wholesale sales of agricultural supplies is slightly more moderate, at 4.1 percent.

Given the strong real estate market in Canada and the resurgent housing market in the US, the building material and supply subsector also enjoyed strong sales in June, up 2.2 percent, to CAD7.6 billion. StatCan notes that this was the sixth consecutive gain for this subsector and the highest level on record.

In particular, the lumber industry rose 3.7 percent, to ! CAD3.6 billion. On a year-over-year basis, sales in this industry have risen by 14.6 percent, ranking it fourth for growth in wholesale sales among Canada's industries during this period.

In addition to overall wholesale trade, we're also monitoring sales of machinery and equipment to gauge the extent to which Canada's businesses are investing for future growth.

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz is keen for the country's economy to transition from its dependence on debt-burdened consumers to being driven by rising export activity, particularly among manufacturers. The central bank chief believes higher exports will spur business investment, thus begetting a virtuous economic cycle of greater hiring, spending and subsequent production.

In the wholesale arena, spending on machinery and equipment is encouraging. Sales of machinery and equipment rose 0.4 percent, to CAD11.03 billion, which was also 6.5 percent higher than a year ago. The subsector's single strongest industry supplies equipment to the construction, forestry, mining, and industrial industries, with wholesale sales up 9.8 percent year over year, to CAD3.84 billion.

Wholesale trade in this area hit an all-time high of CAD11.13 billion last November, but June's sales were the second-highest on record. In fact, sales in this area have risen now for three consecutive months following their first-quarter swoon.

Economists project that Canada's economy expanded by 2.6 percent during the second quarter. For full-year 2014, GDP is forecast to grow by 2.2 percent, outpacing the US economy by two-tenths of a percentage point.

Although Canada's economy is not yet operating at full capacity, that hasn't stopped the country's stock market from outperforming its developed-world peers so far this year. The S&P/TSX Composite Index is up nearly 14 percent year to date in local currency terms, almost double the gain of the S&P 500.

Stocks: Keep Buying ’til the Fed Says Stop?

After last Friday’s brief geopolitical induced selloff, stocks are off to the races again–and could stay that way into September.

REUTERS

The S&P 500 gained 0.9% to 1,971.74, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.1% to 16,838.74. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1% to 4,508.31 and the small-company Russell 2000 jumped 1.5% to 1,158.40.

The market got a boost from the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which rose to 55 in August, its highest reading since January. But really, the stock market finished up because “Russia didn’t Ukraine over the weekend,” says ConvergEx Group’s  Nicholas Colas. “That’s cutesy but accurate.”

In fact, if there was a theme in the reports hitting my inbox today, it would be that everyone is looking ahead to the Janet Yellen’s speech on Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jefferies’ Ward McCarthy doesn’t think Yellen will tip her hand:

There has been speculation that Fed policymakers will utilize the symposium as a platform to signal that the Fed will either put a specific time frame on the lift-off for policy normalization or possibly pull the lift-off date forward in an effort to accelerate the monetary policy normalization process…we do not think this will happen…

Yes, the hawks will make their case. So, there will be arguments that the Fed should not drift away from the unemployment rate as the primary labor market policy barometer….

However, the defense of the lower-for-longer approach to monetary policy will focus on the behavior of the data regarding the participation rate, U6, the large number of part-time workers and the long-term unemployed. The behavior of each has been significantly different in the current cycle than in prior cycles when the behavior of these data series provided reasons for confidence that the unemployment rate was a reliable and objective metric of the full employment objective of the dual mandate…

…that is not the case in the current cycle. It is this disparity between the behavior of the unemployment rate an array of other labor market indicators that will dominate the proceedings and the policy implications of the symposium. There is no time frame for the lift-off heading into this year's symposium, and we do not expect that there will be a time frame for the lift-off after this symposium. Nor will there be until the labor market dashboard indicates that there has been a more significant reduction in labor market slack.

Deutsche Bank’s Alan Ruskin notes that stocks have gained a median 1.8% during the week following a Fed chair’s Jackson Hole speech, and doesn’t expect this time to be any different:

What is interesting is that buying risk surrounding the Jackson Hole event has been a remarkably successful strategy through all of the late Greenspan and Bernanke era, including years when risk was going through a negative stretch like Aug 2007 and August 2008…[The S&P whas been] up in every week after the JH Chair address since 2004. Yellen arguably is instinctively even more dovish than Bernanke, and ironically that is where the greatest risks like – namely, that the positive risk bias tends to get priced in more quickly preceding a Yellen appearance. Note that until we get closer to the next employment report on September 4th, there are not too many releases to undermine the positive risk bias, even if an S&P break above 2000 before the employment numbers is seen as unlikely…All of this seems like an easy recipe for buying risk, albeit with the big assumption that risk is not sideswiped by geopolitical news as it was on Friday.

In other words: Risk on.

SEC on a Dodd-Frank ‘Death March’: Gallagher

SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher said Wednesday that since the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act four years ago, the law’s rulemaking mandates have been an “unfettered distraction” for the securities regulator and that the agency has been on a “death march” to finish Dodd-Frank rulemakings that are unrelated to its core mission.

“The amount of time consumed” at the Securities and Exchange Commission on Dodd-Frank rulemakings that are “entirely unrelated to the agency’s core mission and entirely unrelated to what caused the financial crisis itself is a shame, and taxpayers should be horrified,” Gallagher told attendees at an event held jointly by the libertarian Cato Institute and George Mason's market-oriented Mercatus Center at the Newseum in Washington.

The event was titled "After Dodd-Frank: The Future of Financial Markets."

Gallagher opined that the root cause of the financial crisis was “failed federal housing policy and loose monetary policy,” none of which was addressed in Dodd-Frank.

While the agency has completed 42 rulemakings out of 100 mandated ones, Gallagher added that it was a “silly notion” to think that the SEC could actually meet the one- to two-year deadlines imposed by Congress.

“Unfortunately,” he said, the SEC is “still getting lots of pressure to finish the remaining 58 rulemakings on its plate.”

Indeed, in comments a day before, former Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., noted that the rulemaking process at agencies “has slowed,” with agencies like the SEC having “far too many rules to implement.”

Scott O’Malia, a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, who spoke on the panel with Gallagher, conceded that while “four years later we’re not going to undo Dodd-Frank,” he noted the CFTC has “massive regulatory mandates, yet our capacity to implement them ourselves is just not there.”

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Check out 20 Best Ways to Fix Dodd-Frank Act on ThinkAdvisor.

5 Stocks Moving on Unusual Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

Read More: Warren Buffett's Top 10 Dividend Stocks

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

Read More: 5 Rocket Stocks to Buy for Gains This Week

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume recently.

Contango Oil & Gas

Contango Oil & Gas (MCF), an independent natural gas and oil company, explores, develops, produces and acquires natural gas and oil properties primarily offshore in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This stock closed up 2.4% to $41.69 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 407,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 121,294

Volume % Change: 275%

From a technical perspective, MCF jumped higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $41.11 with above-average volume. This move to the upside on Monday also pushed shares of MCF into breakout territory, since this stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $41.54. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if MCF manages to clear Monday's intraday high of $41.73 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MCF as long as it's trending above Monday's intraday low of $40.43 or above $40 and then once it sustains a move or close above $41.73 with volume that hits near or above 121,294 shares. If that move gets started soon, then MCF will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $43.50 to $44, or its 200-day moving average of $44.59. Any high-volume move above $44.59 will then give MCF a chance to tag $48 to $49.

Osiris Therapeutics

Osiris Therapeutics (OSIR), a stem cell company, focuses on the development and marketing products to treat medical conditions in wound care, orthopedic and sports medicine markets. This stock closed up 3.9% to $15.43 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 577,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 188,014

Volume % Change: 252%

From a technical perspective, OSIR ripped higher here back above both its 200-day moving average of $15.20 and its 50-day moving average of $15.22 with strong upside volume flows. This stock has been uptrending a bit for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $13.53 to its recent high of $15.78. During that move, shares of OSIR have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This spike higher on Monday is quickly pushing shares of OSIR within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if OSIR manages to take out Monday's intraday high of $15.55 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $15.78 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in OSIR as long as it's trending above Monday's intraday low of $14.91 or above more near-term support at $14.62 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 188,014 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then OSIR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $16.50 to $17, or $17.32 to $17.60.

Autohome

Autohome (ATHM) operates as an online destination for automobile consumers in the People's Republic of China. This stock closed up 2.8% at $39.90 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 1.43 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 345,786

Volume % Change: 274%

From a technical perspective, ATHM jumped higher here with strong upside volume flows. This trend to the upside on Monday is starting to push shares of ATHM within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ATMH manages to take out Friday's intraday high of $40.32 and then once it clears some more key overhead resistance levels at $42.48 to $42.68 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ATHM as long as it's trending above $37 to $36.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 345,786 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ATHM will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $47 to $48, or even $50 to $52.

Priceline Group

Priceline Group (PCLN) operates as an online travel company. This stock closed up 2.1% to $1309.28 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 2.04 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 767,626

Volume % Change: 183%

From a technical perspective, PCLN ripped notably higher here right off some near-term support at around $1275 with strong upside volume. This spike to the upside on Monday pushed shares of PCLN into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1303.63 to $1307.09. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the near-term if PCLN manages to take out Monday's intraday high of $1329.90 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PCLN as long as it's trending above $1300 or above $1290 and then once it sustains a move or close above $1329.90 with volume that hits near or above 767,626 shares. If that move starts soon, then PCLN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $1350 to its 52-week high at $1378.96.

Qunar Cayman Islands

Qunar Cayman Islands (QUNR) operates online travel commerce platform for travel service providers and display advertisers in the People's Republic of China. This stock closed up 1.8% at $29.20 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 1.63 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 660,662

Volume % Change: 173%

From a technical perspective, QUNR trended modestly higher here right above some near-term support at $28 with above-average volume. This move briefly pushed shares of QUNR into breakout territory, since the stock flirted with some near-term overhead resistance levels at $29.28 to $29.34. Shares of QUNR tagged an intraday high of $29.90, before closing just below that level at $29.20. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if QUNR manages to take out Monday's intraday high of $29.90 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in QUNR as long as it's trending above some near-term support levels at $28 or at $27.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above $29.90 with volume that this near or above 660,662 shares. If that move gets underway soon, then QUNR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $31.20 to $31.35, or even $32.72 to $33.70.

To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>3 Stocks Breaking Out With Unusual Volume

>>5 Breakout Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

>>4 Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

3D Printing Giant Stratasys Puts Up A Great Show In The Second Quarter

3-D printing giant Stratasys (SSYS) reported stellar second-quarter 2014 numbers that pushed the stock to close at 14.94% higher and even continued in the after-hour trading, lifting the stock by another 0.8%. The company also provided a solid third quarter outlook, making them even happier. Let's dig in to find out what happened during the perio, and what are the factors that would help the company to beat expectations in the coming quarters.

Improved demand drove revenue growth

Stratasys' second-quarter revenue grew 67% year over year to $178.5 million, which was well ahead of the analysts' projection of $156.6 million. Organic revenue grew 35%, product revenue grew 70% to $154.1 million, while Services revenue increased 50% to $24.4 million. Improving awareness for 3D printing and synergies from MakerBot helped Stratasys to record solid revenue growth.

MakerBot's (acquired in June 2013) products and services generated revenues of $33.6 million, marking a 100% jump from the revenue generated by the company independently before the merger during the year ago quarter. The improvement was mainly due to sales channel expansion and new product introduction.

Founded in 2009, MakerBot evolved as a significant player in the 3D printing market and was well-known for affordable and user-friendly printers, targeting consumers and small businesses. Earlier, Stratasys used to sell printers only to industrial customers. But with the acquisition of MakerBot, it became more consumer-focused. The company also stands to gain from MakerBot's bluechip customers which include big names such as Ford (F).

During the quarter, the company signed distribution agreements with home improvement retailer Home Depot (HD) and technology consultant Tech Data (TDC). The agreements will help MakerBot's offerings reach the customers through a much higher number of outlets in the North American regions than before, helping volume and revenue growth. Stratasys also witnessed strong demand for high-end systems, driven by manufacturing applications, as well as Objet-branded 3D Printers.

Operating performances improved despite higher expenses

Cost of sales in the second quarter shot up 54.8% from year over year. However, gross margin was 59.8%, up from 59.2% for the last year same quarter. Increasing sales of high-margin products and higher service gross margin compensated for the low-margin entry-level as well as MakerBot-branded offerings.

Operating expenses roughly doubled on account of MakerBot integration and higher investments in R&D, sales and marketing activities and new product launches. Although expenses were significantly higher, they contributed positively toward the total revenue growth.

Operating loss in the quarter was $5.9 million, compared with $2.6 million in the year ago quarter. But due to income tax benefits worth $5.4 million received during the quarter, net loss came to $173,000, as against $2.8 million in the year ago quarter.

GAAP loss per share was $0.00, compared with $0.07 in the second quarter 2013. However, adjusting for some one-time items, non-GAAP earnings per share grew 22.2% to $0.55. The quarter's result was better than the analysts' average expectation of $0.45 per share.

Fiscal 2014 guidance revised upwards

Considering the demand for 3D printing and growing popularity of MakerBot, Stratasys raised its fiscal 2014 outlook. It now expects revenue in the range of $750 million-$770 million, up from a previous $660 million-$680 million range. Non-GAAP EPS is expected in the range of $2.25-$2.35, versus previous guidance of $2.15-$2.25. On the other hand, it expects operating expenses to keep moving up.

It also raised its organic revenue growth forecast to at least 30% for fiscal 2014, up from previously expected 25%. For the long run, the company aims for a 25% organic revenue growth, up from prior guidance of at least 20%.

Concluding words

There are lot many opportunities that can take Stratasys' business growth higher. The company expects improved demand from its dental solutions with the introduction of two low-cost entry-level systems. Moreov

Oil futures settle at six-month low

Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch)—Crude-oil futures ended at a fresh six-month low on Wednesday, with a boost from a decline in supplies proved short-lived.

Crude oil for delivery in September (CLU4)  fell 46 cents, or 0.5%, to end at $96.92 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That was futures's lowest settlement since Feb. 3.

September Brent crude (UK:LCOU4)  on London's ICE Futures exchange also turned lower, off 2 cents to end at $104.59 a barrel.

Nymex crude has been down for nine of the past 12 sessions. It had turned higher after the weekly supply report.

Crude-oil supplies fell 1.8 million barrels in the week ended Aug. 1, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Gasoline inventories were down by 4.4 million barrels while distillates stockpiles decreased by 1.8 million barrels, the EIA said.

Analysts polled by Platts had expected crude oil stocks to decline 1.9 million barrels. Gasoline supplies were seen down 700,000 barrels, and distillate supplies were expected to add 1.1 million barrels.

Nymex reformulated gasoline blendstock for September (RBU4)  rose 2.4 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $2.7397 a gallon on Wednesday, while September heating oil (HOU4)   gained nearly 3 cents to end at $2.8761.

Natural gas for September delivery (NGU14)  gained 3.6 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $3.9330 per million British thermal units.

The EIA reports natural gas supply levels on Thursday. Analysts at UBS expect an increase between 80 billion cubic feet and 90 bcf for the week ended Aug. 1.

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DOL Fiduciary Survey ‘Bogus,’ Advocate Warns Lawmakers

A recent survey co-sponsored by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which found that small businesses would likely drop their retirement plans if the Department of Labor moves ahead in redefining fiduciary, is “bogus,” and the survey questions are based on a “false premise,” Dennis Kelleher, president and CEO of Better Markets, told lawmakers Tuesday.

In a Tuesday letter, Kelleher told lawmakers that the financial services industry “is once again trying to organize congressional opposition to the DOL’s rulemaking using deceptive claims about the likely impact of the rule.”

Indeed, an industry official says that the survey is now being "shopped around" Capitol Hill to get lawmakers to write letters expressing concern about the harmful potential impact of the DOL rule proposal.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, is said to be drafting a letter to DOL opposing its fiduciary rulemaking, and is seeking other senators to sign on to it. A call to Cantwell's office was not returned by press time.

The Greenwald & Associates telephone survey was commissioned by the law firm Davis & Harman LLP “on behalf of financial services organizations that provide retirement services to millions of Americans,” according to Greenwald, and co-sponsored by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The survey found that nearly 30% of small businesses with a retirement plan said they would likely drop their plan, and nearly half would likely eliminate their employer contribution, if the DOL amended the definition of fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

A DOL “expansion of fiduciary status” under its planned reproposal “will only impede the ability of small firms to offer their employees retirement-plan accounts, thus hindering American workers from saving for a reliable future,” Javier Palomarez, president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said when the report was released.

However, Barbara Roper, director of investor protection for the Consumer Federation of America, told ThinkAdvisor on Tuesday that the “financial services firm lobbyists have gotten really sophisticated at concocting these misinformation campaigns,” with the “’surveys’ and ‘studies’ that they produce looking credible.”

Regarding the Greenwald/Davis & Harman/Hispanic Chamber survey, Roper added that the survey is based on “an entirely false premise,” which is that “the DOL is contemplating a rule to prohibit ‘both retirement plan providers and the advisors who sell retirement plans to employers from assisting the employers in the selection and monitoring of the funds in the retirement plan.’”

Warned Roper: “Busy congressional offices without a lot of direct expertise on the issue may not see through the subterfuge.”

Kelleher’s letter, Roper said, points out “the fallacy behind the survey,” adding that she hopes the letter “will help keep members of Congress from echoing these misleading industry arguments.”

Kelleher told lawmakers in his letter that “there is simply no factual basis for the claim that the DOL is considering a rule that would prohibit anyone from assisting employers in connection with the retirement plans they offer to their employees.” /* .premium-promo { border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px; float: left; } .premium-promo li, .premium-promo ul { list-style-type: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; } .premium-promo li { margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0 0 10px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #ddd; } .premium-promo h3 { text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 11px; } .premium-promo h4 { font-size: 16px; } .premium-promo a { text-decoration: none !important; } .premium-promo .btn { background: #0069a1; border-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; padding: 5px 10px; clear: both; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; } .premium-promo .btn:hover { background: #034c92; } */ Even if a fiduciary duty were to apply to retirement plan providers and the advisors who sell retirement plans to employers, he continued, “plan providers and advisors would still be allowed to assist in the selection and monitoring of the funds in the plan. Any assistance they provided would simply have to be in the best interests of the plans and the plan participants. The fact that the survey questions are based on a false premise renders the survey findings completely irrelevant to the consideration of potential reforms to the ERISA fiduciary duty standard.”

However, Kent Mason, a partner with Davis & Harman in Washington, told ThinkAdvisor in an email that Kelleher's "letter does not reflect an understanding of how the retirement plan rules work."

Kelleher's letter, Mason said, "claims that under the DOL rules, an advisor would be in compliance if the advisor simply acts in the best interest of the plan and the plan participants. This is clearly incorrect. Under the DOL’s 'prohibited transaction rules,' a fiduciary generally is prohibited from assisting a plan or participant if such fiduciary’s compensation could be affected in any way by the decision made by the plan or participant, even if the fiduciary’s assistance is in the best interest of the plan and the plan participants. By overlooking this issue, the letter does not address the key issue under the DOL proposal that has been discussed for the past 3 ½ years."

Kelleher added in his letter to lawmakers that the apparent goal of the survey “is to create groundless fears that the rule will have profoundly negative consequences, thus generating enough controversy around the rule to keep it bottled up indefinitely. If successful, this tactic will perpetuate a system in which those with substantial conflicts of interest are permitted to offer recommendations that do not promote their clients’ best interests, even though tens of millions of Americans saving for retirement believe otherwise.”

The White House’s National Economic Council is performing “industry outreach” regarding DOL’s fiduciary redraft. DOL has pushed release of the redraft until January.

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