August 28, 2017: Markets opened higher for the third straight day Monday, but gains were offset in short order on both the S&P 500 and the DJIA. There was no major economic news Monday and no earnings of note. Two large biotech mergers kept the Nasdaq Composite rocking higher. Healthcare and tech posted the largest sector gains will financials and tech stocks lagged. WTI crude oil for October delivery settled at $46.57 a barrel, down 2.7% due to the refinery shutdowns along the Gulf Coast of Texas. December gold added 1.3% on the day to settle at $1,315.30, its highest settlement since September. Equities were headed for a mixed close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded down 0.11% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.03%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.20%.
Stocks traded near the break-even line just minutes before the closing bell. The closing tally could finish with either a small gain or a small loss for any or all of the indexes.
The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Monday was The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE: TRV) which traded down 2.50% at $123.31. The stock’s 52-week range is $103.45 to $130.37. Volume was about 20% above the daily average of around 1.4 million shares. Major disasters like tropical storm Harvey are not good news for insurance company profits.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In 2018: Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.(HST)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Michael Flannelly]
Host Hotels and Resorts Inc (HST) announced early on Monday that it is raising its quarterly dividend payout from 11 cents per share to 12 cents per share, a 9.1% increase.
This quarterly dividend payout will be paid on October 15 to shareholders of record on September 30, with an ex-dividend date of September 26.
Host Hotels shares were inactive during pre-market trading on Monday. The stock is up 15.25% year-to-date.
- [By Dividends4Life]
Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. (HST) is a publicly owned real estate investment trust (REIT). The firm primarily engages in the ownership and operation of hotel properties. Sept. 16, the company increased its quarterly dividend 9.1% to $0.12 per share. The dividend is payable on Oct. 15, 2013, to stockholders of record on Sept. 30, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.
- [By Chris Lange]
The stock posting the largest daily percentage gain in the S&P 500 ahead of the close Thursday was Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST) which rose nearly 4% to $19.40. The stocks 52-week range is $14.69 to $20.21. Volume was 16.3 million compared to its average volume of 6.1 million.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In 2018: Charter Communications, Inc.(CHTR)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Adam Levy]
Image source: Getty Images.
It was just a little more than a year ago when Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) was the largest U.S. pay-TV provider. And it wasn’t even close. But after AT&T (NYSE:T) merged with DirecTV, it took over the top spot. Now, AT&T’s rival telecom company, Verizon (NYSE:VZ), is reportedly considering a megamerger of its own with Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR). The move would put the combined company’s total video subscriber count very close to Comcast’s.
The potential merger points to a big hole in Comcast’s service offerings — its lack of wireless service. If customers can save money by bundling their TV, internet, and wireless bills together with its competitors, Comcast stands to lose customers. But Comcast’s management and investors shouldn’t lose sleep over the possibility that its two biggest competitors offer wireless service.
- [By Andrew Tonner]
As one of the group of companies associated with telecom magnate John Malone — who regularly uses complex, tax-efficient corporate transactions to unlock value for shareholders — Liberty Broadband serves as a holding company that controls a diverse set of media assets. The most important of these is Liberty Broadband’s ownership of 25% of Charter Communications’ (NASDAQ:CHTR) total voting power, which effectively makes Liberty Broadband a tracking stock for Charter Communications shares.As such, Liberty Broadband shares have largely mirrored the impressive rally in Charter Communications stock over the past year. Particularly given Charter’s upcoming launch of its own wireless service network, Soros’ investment in Liberty Broadband remains an interesting option as the cable and telecom industries continue to evolve.
- [By WWW.GURUFOCUS.COM]
For the details of OBERNDORF WILLIAM E’s stock buys and sells, go to www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=OBERNDORF+WILLIAM+E
These are the top 5 holdings of OBERNDORF WILLIAM EWorkiva Inc (WK) – 2,369,384 shares, 43.81% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 38.81%AppFolio Inc (APPF) – 839,797 shares, 26.98% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 39.22%Liberty Global PLC (LBTYK) – 289,812 shares, 12% of the total portfolio. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) – 145,000 shares, 9.96% of the total portfolio. Charter Communications Inc (CHTR) – 18,758 shares, 7.25% of the total portfolio.
- [By Matt Hogan]
It has been widely reported that T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) had been in merger talks with Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S), a competitor that is majority owned by Softbank. However, these talks are now on hold as Sprint is negotiating potential deals with two of the largest cable companies in the United States; Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR). These cable companies are under pressure having lost subscribers due to services like Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), which recently blew away its second quarter growth estimates.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In 2018: Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc.(CPHR)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Benzinga News Desk]
Cipher Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CPHR) is said to have hired an investment bank to explore strategic alternatives, according to sources as reported by Reuters on Monday. The sources said a potential sale of the Canada-based company is being considered. Cipher declined comment on the report.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In 2018: iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (ITHUF)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Javier Hasse]
The Green Solution received a $7.5 million loan facility from iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc (OTC: ITHUF).
“This was also to accelerate expansion within Colorado and going into other states nation-wide.”
Valens Groworks Corp (CNSX: VGW), a Canadian post-inspection applicant for cannabis cultivation and processing, raised C$500,000 ($381,431) under a convertible note to meet acquisition and expansion obligations.
- [By Javier Hasse]
Earlier this month, cannabis-focused financing and advisory firm iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc (CNSX: IAN) (OTC: ITHUF) announced it acquired Westchester-based Valley Agriceuticals, LLC, gaining access to New York’s nascent cannabis market.
- [By Javier Hasse]
Over the past few weeks, Benzinga has been sharing interviews with the top venture capital and investment firms operating in the cannabis industry. Among those focused on ancillary businesses that do not touch the plant, we profiled Snoop Dogg’s Casa Verde and Arcview Group partner, CanopyBoulder. Among those willing to get involved in plant-touching ventures, we presented MJIC, which claims it intends to become the “Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) of weed,” and iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc (CNSX: IAN) (OTC: ITHUF), which raises capital for U.S.-based marijuana companies in Canadian capital markets.
Top 5 Safest Stocks To Invest In 2018: Inogen, Inc(INGN)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Michael A. Robinson]
I put these rules in action for you in March 2015 when I recommendedInogen Inc.(Nasdaq: INGN)here in these pages.
Inogen is pioneering the use of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs). And theGoleta, Calif.-based firm boasts breakthrough technology that has disrupted its entire sector.
