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The U.S. stock market has been exhibiting heightened volatility ahead of Christmas. Notably, the S&P 500 witnessed its best start to December in eight years followed by the best week since 2011 while posting its worst one-day performance in nearly a month by falling more than 3% on Dec 4.
The sell-off was triggered by the flattening yield curve (a phenomenon in which longer-dated debt yields fall faster than their shorter-dated counterparts) that has sparked fears of recession. Notably, the spread between the 10-year yield over its two-year counterpart shrank to the smallest since the start of the financial crisis in January 2008, signaling a slowdown in the world's largest economy.
Although the trade truce between the United States and China at the Group of 20 meeting in Argentina renewed the appetite for riskier assets at the first day of trading in December, conflicting comments from President Trump and some senior officials led to uncertainty over trade talks. However, the Fed's dovish view, an accelerating economy and hopes for fresh cuts in oil supply when OPEC meets in Vienna on Dec 6, bode well for the stock market (read: Tap Oil with These Leveraged Energy ETFs).
Powell recently said that interest rates were "just below" the level that would be neutral for the economy — meaning they will neither speed up nor slow down economic growth. This is in contrast to October remarks — the rate was "a long way" from neutral — which led to worries that the rate increases will crimp growth. Additionally, the subsequent minutes from the central bank's latest meeting suggest that the Fed will likely raise rates this month but may stall rate hikes next year.
Further, the U.S. economy has been on a solid growth track with robust job creation, strong GDP growth, a 50-year low unemployment rate, solid wage gains, and rising consumer and business confidence.
Given the bullish fundamentals amid bouts of uncertainty, investors should focus on high-quality investing.
Why Quality Investing?
Quality stocks are rich in value characteristics with healthy balance sheet, high return on capital, low volatility, elevated margins, and a track record of stable or rising sales and earnings growth. These products thus reduce volatility when compared to plain vanilla funds and hold up rather well during market swings. Further, academic research shows that high-quality companies consistently deliver superior risk-adjusted returns than the broader market over the long term.
Given this, we have highlighted five ETFs & stocks targeting this niche strategy. These could enjoy smooth trading and generate market-beating returns in a rocky market.
ETF Picks
iShares Edge MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL - Free Report)
This fund provides exposure to large and mid-cap stocks exhibiting positive fundamentals (high return on equity, stable year-over-year earnings growth and low financial leverage) by tracking the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index (read: Markets in Red for the Year: Follow Goldman With 3 ETF Tactics).
Expense Ratio: 0.15%
AUM: $6.8 billion
Average Daily Volume: 620,000 shares
Top Sector: Information Technology
Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ - Free Report)
This fund tracks the S&P 500 Quality Index, a benchmark of S&P 500 stocks that have the highest-quality score based on three fundamental measures — return on equity, accruals ratio and financial leverage ratio.
Expense Ratio: 0.15%
AUM: $1.3 billion
Average Daily Volume: 217,000 shares
Top Sector: Information Technology
Barron's 400 ETF (BFOR - Free Report)
This ETF seeks to track the performance of the rules-based and fundamentals-driven Barron's 400 Index. The benchmark uses the MarketGrader's fundamental analysis to select America's highest-performing stocks based on growth, valuation, profitability and cash flow.
Expense Ratio: 0.65%
AUM: $157.9 million
Average Daily Volume: 9,000 shares
Top Sector: Industrials
FlexShares Quality Dividend Index Fund (QDF - Free Report)
This ETF follows the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Index and maximizes exposure to quality and dividends while maintaining a beta near 1.
Expense Ratio: 0.37%
AUM: $1.7 billion
Average Daily Volume: 95,000 shares
Top Sector: Information Technology
SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS - Free Report)
This fund offers exposure to stocks that have a combination of value, low volatility and quality factor strategies. This is done by tracking the MSCI USA Factor Mix A-Series Index (read: 5 ETFs Leading the Current Market Rally).
Expense Ratio: 0.15%
AUM: $134.5 million
Average Daily Volume: 14,000 shares
Top Sector: Information Technology
Stock Picks
To find out the best stocks in this space, we have used the Zacks Stock Screener. The parameters include a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), VGM Score of A or B, return on equity (ROE) of at least 10%, debt-to-equity ratio of less than 1, positive five-year historical EPS growth, double-digit current-year EPS growth, positive current-year earnings estimate revisions over the past 30 days and dividend yield of greater than 1%.
Werner Enterprises Inc. (WERN - Free Report)
This transportation and logistics company is engaged in transporting truckload shipments of general commodities in interstate and intrastate commerce in the United States, Mexico, Canada, China and Australia.
Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: A
Debt/Equity: 0.04
5 Year Historical EPS Growth: 3.43%
Fiscal Year Earnings Growth: 82.7%
Positive Earnings Estimate Revisions Over 30 Days: 0.29%
Dividend Yield: 1.13%
E*TRADE Financial Corporation (ETFC - Free Report)
This financial services company provides brokerage and related products and services primarily to individual retail investors under the E*TRADE Financial brand. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Zacks Rank: #1
VGM Score: B
Debt/Equity: 0.32
5 Year Historical EPS Growth: 33.18%
Fiscal Year Earnings Growth: 75.8%
Positive Earnings Estimate Revisions Over 30 Days: 1.16%
Dividend Yield: 1.15%
Crane Company (CR - Free Report)
This is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products. It provides products and solutions to customers in the aerospace, electronics, hydrocarbon processing, petrochemical, chemical, power generation, automated merchandising, transportation and other markets.
Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: B
Debt/Equity: 0.61
5 Year Historical EPS Growth: 3.34%
Fiscal Year Earnings Growth: 30.0%
Positive Earnings Estimate Revisions Over 30 Days: 0.29%
Dividend Yield: 1.69%
Anthem Inc. (ANTM - Free Report)
This health care company provides medical products, through its subsidiaries. It operates through Commercial, Consumer and Other segments.
Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: A
Debt/Equity: 0.59
5 Year Historical EPS Growth: 12.76%
Fiscal Year Earnings Growth: 30.0%
Positive Earnings Estimate Revisions Over 30 Days: 0.28%
Dividend Yield: 1.02%
NetApp Inc. (NTAP - Free Report)
This data authority for hybrid cloud provides a full range of hybrid cloud data services that simplify management of applications and data across cloud and on-premises environments to accelerate digital transformation (read: 5 Low P/E Tech ETFs for Investors).
Zacks Rank: #2
VGM Score: A
Debt/Equity: 0.75
5 Year Historical EPS Growth: 10.1%
Fiscal Year Earnings Growth: 29.3%
Positive Earnings Estimate Revisions Over 30 Days: 1.32%
Dividend Yield: 2.35%
Bottom Line
Quality ETFs and stocks often provide hedge against market volatility. Adding any of the abovementioned products to one's long-term portfolio could be a good move given their credit worthiness and soundness.
Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?
Zacks' free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>
In-Depth Zacks Research for the Tickers Above
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN) - free report >>
NetApp, Inc. (NTAP) - free report >>
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SPDR-MSCI US SF (QUS) - free report >>
INVS-SP5 HQ (SPHQ) - free report >>
Anthem, Inc. (ANTM) - free report >>
FLEXS-QLTY DIV (QDF) - free report >>
BARRONS-400 ETF (BFOR) - free report >>


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It is only recently that the penny dropped with banks that the new Basel regulations, which are set to come in by 2012, will have a big impact on capital requirements - and that many financial institutions will once again need to go to the markets and raise yet more funding.
The European bank analysts at Citigroup are the latest to make their prediction, arguing that banks will get a 10% earnings hit from both increased capital requirements and funding costs on the back of volatility in the markets.
Even more interesting, they have put together this chart that collates bank funding needs and the impact on earnings under a stress scenario. The left hand bars indicate how much capital Citigroup believes needs to be raised by each bank. The right hand bars indicates the impact such fundraising will have on earnings.
KBC and Dexia are hands down the most affected, but a special mention has to go the Lloyds Banking Group, which will be impacted significantly by a relatively small amount of capital.

subset: commoncrawl


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Former Hearts and Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty has won a few friends at his current club in Norway – by sharing a significant bonus with the rest of his team-mates.
After a failed second stint at Ibrox under Steven Gerrard, Lafferty, now 32, headed for pastures new with Sarpsborg back in August, and has played ten games for the Tippeligaen side to date.
Lafferty arrived at the club midway through the Norwegian season and, according to the Sun, was promised a pretty hefty bonus if he could help Sarpsborg escape their relegation problems and beat the drop.
Sunday's 0-0 draw away to Lillestrom ensured Lafferty and co would be playing top-flight football next season, and defender Niklas Gunnarsson has revealed: "Kyle told us before the match that if we managed to avoid relegation he would share the bonus. It was a nice gesture."
Captain Joachim Thomassen said: "It was a generous and kind contribution from Kyle. But remember, he can afford it!
"Kyle has a slightly different CV than most people, but he's a fantastic guy.
Lafferty will now enjoy the Scandinavian winter break, before returning to football in the new year, when he'll be aiming to help Northern Ireland qualify for their second successive European Championship in a playoff semi-final against Bosnia in March.
What do you think of Lafferty's gesture?
Let us know in the comments section below…


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Craft Social: Bring Your Own Pumpkin at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
Thursday, October 17, 2019 | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pmFree
Event Navigation
Bring your own pumpkin to carve or decorate at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft,
Watch a live demonstration by local pumpkin-carving expert Hayley McSwain, and learn helpful tips to carve your own hair-raising gourd, while you enjoy a crisp fall beer.
No cover. All carving tools and materials are provided. Click here for more information.


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DX : What is the secret sauce?
Posted on July 31, 2016
We think we have found it. Other than the bi-modal approach so much described by Gartner and others, there has for a long while been little clue as to how to make the Digital Transformation (DX) successfully. This article in the CIO magazine highlights the...Read More


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Event box
LANTERNFLIES BEWARE! A Spotted Lanternfly Presentation for Kids
Radnor Memorial Library
The Radnor Memorial Library provides access to information, programs, collections and resources to satisfy the intellectual and information needs of all members of our community, and serves as our community front porch, which enhances our quality of life.
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 9am-9pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 1pm-5pm


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Authors and Books
Learn How to Write a Book Review with Rodman Philbrick
Grade 10 Reviews
The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game
by John Feinstein
Review by: Zion R.
Kentucky, Grade 10
In the story Stevie and Susan like to see each other and hangout together but they live very far apart. Stevie and Susan get called in to do a really big story, the Army-Navy game. But before they can do that game they must each both go with a team so interview them and get to know the team. When they are with each team they find out about them and they each write about their game before the big matchup. Why the big game comes they can feel that something suspicious is going on before and during the game. During the game Stevie and Susan investigate to see what is going on and that's when they find out what is going on.
I recommend this book to anyone that likes sports or anyone that is a teen. I recommend this book to them because in the story the two main characters are teens so you can relate to them. I recommend this book to sports lovers because the whole book is about football. Last, I recommend this book to teens and sports lovers because there is a lot that a teen can pull from this book and relate in their life.
See all the reviews of
Mystery & Adventure
See all
Grade 10
book reviews.


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OKKO Hôtels Nantes Château
An innovative and friendly all-inclusive concept in the heart of the city.
at Nantes
See photos (8)
Ideally situated in Nantes, in the city centre, close to everything, the OKKO Nantes Château hotel, the first of the group, shakes up traditional hotel codes. Thanks to its all-inclusive concept focused on conviviality and generosity, you will feel at home here!Situated in the centre of Nantes, close to the Château, OKKO Nantes Château hotel is also close to public transport and the Congress Centre, so that you can explore everywhere on foot. What is the OKKO concept? To welcome you like "at home", with generosity and friendliness, in a qualitative and original all-inclusive format. Designed by Patrick Norguet, OKKO Nantes Château has 80 elegant and practical rooms, each with a desk, and a Club space on the ground floor with free and unlimited access. Make yourself at home in this warm and open hotel, where you will find dining, a business corner and a fitness area with sauna. Tasty breakfasts, snacks and appetizers are offered over the day, using fresh, local and organic products. Do you love the unusual? OKKO Nantes Château hotel proposes an artist's room designed by Julien Nedelec for Le Voyage à Nantes.
- Capacity
- Bedrooms : 80 Bedroom(s)
- Spoken languages
Official website of tourism in Brittany


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This apprenticeship equips you with a broader understanding of how to improve customer service for the benefit of your organisation. It's ideal if you work within an environment where you deal with people as customers on a daily basis and are seeking to take on a more senior role.
You will be assessed on and off the job and will have dedicated mentors to support and guide you towards your qualification. Day release options will be discussed with you and your employer.
Further study
You can advance your skills with qualifications in management such as the NEBSM (ILM) or NVQ Management Levels 3 or 5. Alternatively, you can take other routes of self-development.
Career options are broad and varied in the many customer service sector industries.
George Wright, 17, impressed MCF Loans' Chief Executive Officer Melanie Elliot to such a degree that she suggested he should research the company in more depth and get in touch.Pride Park-based MCF is a Derby College business employment and skills academy board member, and George took part in the job skills interview exercise as part of his Business Studies First Diploma BTEC Level 2. George volunteered with MCF for a week. He liked what he saw and the company saw his potential which led to an interview for real.He is now working towards a Business Administration NVQ Level 2 with Derby College, while working as an apprentice with MCF.
If I've got any questions on my course I can email my lecturer Nicola Dean and she comes back to me within the hour with help and advice. Hopefully I'm progressing well at work, I'm enjoying it.


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Getting a business loan in Orrville, Ohio seems challenging at first, but we're here to help you get started.
If you are planning on applying for a small business loan and your business is based in Orrville, Ohio, we've assembled a list of local small business banks that you should contact.
Local Orrville Lending Resources
To help you learn more about local small business lenders, here's our list of small business banks in Orrville.
Lenders for Orrville Businesses
Banks outside of Orrville will often lend to entrepreneurs in Orrville, OH. Here's a list of out-of-area banks that have recently made loans to Orrville entrepreneurs. Some of these banks may have local branches but underwrite the loans from an out-of-area banking location, either from another city in Ohio or from out of state.
Orrville Bank Loan Tips
When your business is growing, it's going to happen.
"Where can I borrow some money for my business?" you'll say.
Maybe you need a $30,000 small business loan to expand into a new facility. Perhaps you need a $500,000 business loan to buy some new equipment.
It's time to talk to a small business banker in Orrville.
Sure, there are other options: borrowing family money, equity financing,
and merchant credit card loans, to name a few.
But, when all is said and done, procuring small business financing from a bank is often the easiest way for a small business to get cash in a hurry to achieve business goals.
Gaebler.com Advice on Raising Money
If you are new to our Gaebler.com site, you should know that we are devoted to aiding small business owners, and we have a
lot of resources related to to Raising
Money. For example, one article that might be of interest to you is 504 Loans.


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We have full episodes of Reef Break season 1 tv series in high quality (hd). Our links have no ads and are completely SAFE DOWNLOADS, no torrents! Scroll this page to get direct links. Downloading of Reef Break for mobile, pc, android & Iphone(iOS).Stream NOW
12 episodes
Drama TV Series Reef Break was released in 2019-06-20 by ABC Channel. Serial was created by Ken Sanzel, Robert Port, directed by Alex Zakrzewski, Shawn Seet. Cast include Poppy Montgomery, Melissa Bonne, Ray Stevenson, Desmond Chiam, Tamala Shelton. The avarenge rating on IMDB: is / 10.
Series info
Download links
Other seasons of the show
The former thief Cat Chambers (Poppy Montgomery) triggers now on a picturesque Pacific island for the local governor as a "fixer" problems. Cat is impulsive and goes too easily risks, it has an irresistible charm and is therefore involved again in action-packed adventure. Here, it helps that they as a criminal has her former life an intuitive understanding of the thought processes of other Fiend.


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About this Event
Join us on June 3rd, 2019 for FREE DINNER at 7:00PM at Fox & Falcon in South Orange, NJ to discuss the topic "How to Sell and Buy a Home in the Same Market." With Spring market upon us, you won't want to miss the knowledge and insight our agents will bring to you. Vanessa Pollock will moderate a panel presentation with our expert agents answering all of your questions on the process of buying a home and selling a home at the same time, and we will be collecting donations in hopes to raise money for the Vanessa Pollock Music Initiative. You also don't want to miss out on a delicious FREE dinner sponsored by Guaranteed Rate! Event limited to 35 people: save your spot soon!


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muslims ATTITUDE problem.
Muslims ATTITUDE problem.
muslins like almost all immigrants who come to the Holy Country of United States always bring their "We are better then you" attitudes with them. They even live by them. Just look how they carry themselves daily when in the United States. They think LAWS are not for them but Americans and they being muslims can do whatever they want because a child molester said so. Government looking for cheap votes , offers them every government program designed for Americans s a bribe to get the pig muslims who breed like rabbits to vote for them. Government picks muslim terrorists over Americans.
Now with muslim terrorists having Government protection, muslims gone wild comes about and nobody stops them for fear of muslims calling Government racist. Government will not say this but FUCK YOU MUSLIMS and I hope you CHOKE ON PORK. I hope your "Wife" takes off her "Hefty Bag" or somebody takes it off of her and I hope just like muslims do, I hope a band of Americans catch you and council you like the Russian did recently to muslim men who attacked woman in a night club in Russia. Funny how when they saw that the Russian MEN where not going to put up with their shit, They tried to RUN ! What a bunch of little girls. They dish it out BUT can't take it, and then they hide behind their Government Protection.
In order to have Peace for your family YOU MUST HAVE WAR. You don't train for Peace like governments demand you do, YOU TRAIN FOR WAR and keep your skills sharp. Help your family and friends train for WAR. Muslims want to RAPE YOUR FAMILY. I call this a ALL OUT WAR. God did not make you to be a door mat. If he wanted YOU and YOUR FAMILY to be a door mat, He would have made you one.
muslims want hell, YOU MUST GIVE IT TO THEM of they will make YOU and YOUR FAMILIES LIFE HELL WITH GOVERNMENT PROTECTION. Government has TAXPAYER PAID PROTECTION and do not care about you or your families life, JUST THEIRS.
What can you do? You can train for War and since Government is IMPORTING muslims and putting them on Government Welfare Programs of all sorts and RAISING YOUR TAXES THRU THE ROOF, Let the muslims know where any government employees live so they can thank them personally for importing them in. Why not? Your Government will hide from you but can't hide from the PC muslims they IMPORTED into the UNITED STATES to RAPE YOUR FAMILY. If they did, They would be called RACISTS and nobody in Government wants to be called RACISTS. Government SOLD YOU OUT for cheap votes.Help muslims thank them and their families no matter where they live.
If Government Employees do not like it happening to them, May I suggest they do not import muslims then?
Dierks's Out:This piece is covered by the First Amendment and PROTECTED by the SECOND AMENDMENT.


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New music video from Pittsburgh R&B artist Ambition called "Love You Like This"
Posted on January 5, 2016 at 9:16pm 0 Comments 1 Promotion
Jams Avenue Music is introducing 8dollaz and his first single 'Beef Stew'. 8dollaz is a native of Pittsburgh, PA. He began his rap career as a battle rapper battling the best of Pittsburgh in the 106 and Pittsburgh competition to a unanimous win for BET's own 106 and Park. 8dollaz is now promoting Beef Stew along with bonus track Shades On, (featured on WAMO Future Flavaz). Stay tuned for his first EP scheduled to be released in early January 2016.…Continue
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"Thinking Out Loud" is featured on Ave. Amen's new project "The Ascension (A Keystone Story)" , available now for download. "Thinking Out Loud" is draped in the…Continue
Good Day,
How is everything with you, I picked interest on you after going through your short profile and deemed it necessary to write you immediately. I have something very vital to disclose to you, but I found it difficult to express myself here, since it's a public site.Could you please get back to me on:( firstname.lastname@example.com ) for the full details.
Have a nice day
Thanks God bless.