Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now

NEW YORK ( TheStreet ) -- Most exchange-traded funds that track the financial sector have rallied lately, but the gains have been particularly strong for ETFs that specialize in insurance and regional banks.

This year SPDR S&P Regional Banking (KRE) returned 28.0%, and SPDR S&P Insurance (KIE) gained 28.5%, according to Morningstar. [Read: The 5 Dumbest Things on Wall Street This Week: Sept. 13]

In comparison, Vanguard Financials (VFH), which holds a broad mix of financial stocks, gained 21.6%, and the S&P 500 returned 19.7%.

The outlook for the hottest financial ETFs remains positive because regional banks and insurers tend to perform well when interest rates are climbing. Insurance companies take in premiums and invest the cash in portfolios of bonds. When yields increase, the income from bond portfolios also climbs. If we are entering an era of higher interest rates -- as most economists expect -- then it is likely that insurers will report stronger returns on equity in coming years. This year insurance companies have gotten an additional boost from rising premiums. The gains appear to signal the beginning of an upward cycle. The industry tends to go through premium cycles that last for several years. During some periods, insurers become more aggressive, slashing premiums to gain more market share. Eventually premiums become too skimpy. With profit margins unacceptably low, the industry begins raising premiums, and a new cycle starts. In recent years, premium cuts hurt profits. Now companies are raising premiums as the industry strives to fatten bottom lines -- and avoid destructive price cutting. The biggest insurance ETFs are SPDR S&P Insurance, with $354 million in assets, and iShares U.S. Insurance (IAK), with $149 million. The two funds have delivered similar returns recently. During the past 12 months, the SPDR ETF returned 33.5%, while the iShares competitor returned 34.8%. When rates rise, banks can charge customers more for loans. That helps institutions of all sizes. But regional and community banks tend to receive a special lift from climbing rates. [Read: What U.S. Investors Should Do About Syria] The smaller banks tend to be simple operations that focus on making loans to individuals and small businesses. Besides making loans, money center banks have a variety of complex businesses -- such as investment banking and derivatives trading -- that don't necessarily improve when rates rise.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: CASH CONVERTERS INTERNATIONAL UTS(COMP 1 ORD AUD0.20&1DIV ACCESS GBP)

Cash Converters International Limited operates as a franchisor of second hand goods and financial services stores under the Cash Converters name. Its franchise operations involve in the sale of franchises for the retail sale of second hand goods and the sale of master licenses for the development of franchises. The company also offers secured and unsecured loans. As of June 30, 2011, it owned and operated 49 stores in the United Kingdom and 42 stores in Australia, as well as franchised 522 stores comprising 148 stores in the United Kingdom, 98 stores in Australia, and 276 stores internationally. In addition, the company provides the Internet platform and administration services for the Cash Converters network to offer small cash advance loans to their customers. Cash Converters International Limited was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Perth, Australia.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Wolverine Bancorp Inc.(WBKC)

Wolverine Bancorp, Inc. operates as a holding company for Wolverine Bank that provides banking and financial services primarily to individuals, families, and businesses in the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan, the United States. It accepts various deposit accounts, including statement savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, commercial and regular checking accounts, retirement accounts, and health savings accounts. The company?s loan products comprise commercial real estate loans, such as multi-family loans and land loans; one-to four-family residential mortgage loans and home equity loans; and lines of credit and construction loans and commercial non-mortgage loans; and consumer loans consisting of mobile home loans, automobile loans, loans secured by savings deposits, and other consumer loans. It operates three banking offices located in Midland; and one banking office in Frankenmuth and a loan center in Saginaw, Michigan. The company was foun ded in 1933 and is headquartered in Midland, Michigan.

Top 5 Tech Stocks To Buy For 2015: Shanda Games Ltd (GAME)

Shanda Games Limited (Shanda Games), incorporated on June 12, 2008, is engaged in the development and operation of online games and related businesses in the People�� Republic of China. Some of its online games are also Web games, which the Company categorizes as either massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) or advanced casual games, rather than as a separate category of online games. As of February 29, 2012, Shanda Games operated 35 online games. Its game player base, which consisted of 20.4 million average monthly active users and 4.5 million average monthly paying users for the three-month period ended December 31, 2011. In April 2011, the Company acquired a 51.85% interest in a game operating company, which provides services in East Asia.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 149 software copyrights. As of December 31, 2011, it owned or licensed 53 trademarks. As of December 31, 2011, it owned or licensed 329 registered domain names, including its official Website and domain names registered in connection with each of the games the Company offers. As of December 31, 2011, it had 17 patent applications pending with the State Intellectual Property Office of China. The Company operates MMORPGs, advanced casual games and Web games in China. Its MMORPGs are action adventure-based and draw upon themes, such as martial arts adventure, fantasy, strategy and historical events. The Company develops and sources an array of game content through multiple channels, including in-house development, licensing, investment and acquisition, and joint operation. Through these channels, it has built a diversified game portfolio and a game pipeline.

The Company licenses games from international and domestic developers. As of February 29, 2012, 13 of its 35 online games were licensed from third-party developers, including Mir II. It invests in independent game development and operating studios identified by 18 Capital. The Company acquire intellectual property rights t! o online games; equity rights in online game development and operating studios, or an option to acquire equity interests in online game development and operating studios in the future.

The Company operates its business in People's Republic of China, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, which consist of Shengqu Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Shengqu), Shengji Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Shengji), Lansha Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Lansha) and Kuyin Software (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (Kuyin); its variable interest entities and their subsidiaries (VIEs), which consist of Shanghai Hongli Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Hongli) and Shanghai Shulong Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Shulong) and their wholly owned subsidiaries, Shanghai Shulong Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (Shulong Computer), Nanjing Shulong Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (Nanjing Shulong), Chengdu Youji Technology Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Youji), Tianjin Youji Technology Co., Ltd. (Tianjin Youji), Chengdu Aurora Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Aurora), and Chengdu Simo Technology Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Simo).

The Company competes with Tencent Holdings Limited, NetEase.com, Changyou.com Limited, Perfect World Co., Ltd., Giant Interactive, Kingsoft Corporation Limited, KongZhong Corporation, NetDragon Websoft Inc., Nineyou International Limited, The9 Limited, Activision Blizzard, Inc., Electronic Arts Inc., Zynga Inc., NCSoft Corporation, and Nexon Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another under-$10 gaming player that's starting to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Shanda Games (GAME), which is an online game company in China in terms of the size, diversity of its game portfolio, game revenues and game player base. This stock is off to a strong start in 2013, with shares up by 24%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Shanda Games, you'll notice that this stock has formed a major bottoming chart pattern over the last two months, with shares of GAME finding significant buying interest whenever it's pulled back to around $3.80 a share. Shares of GAME are now starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade above some key near-term overhead resistance levels. Those levels have acted as resistance for GAME for the last two months.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in GAME if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.85 to $4.98 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 1.71 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then GAME will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $6.42 a share.

  Traders can look to buy GAME off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $4.18 a share or below that major support at $3.80 a share. One can also buy GAME 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.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Shanda Games� (NASDAQ: GAME  ) fell 20% today after the company announced an acquisition.

  So what: The company will buy affiliates who provide user and payment platform services from Shanda Interactive for $811.5 million. Management says it will lower costs and improve earnings by about 40% to 50% going forward. �

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of Shanda Games (NASDAQ: GAME  ) have popped today by as much as 11% after the game maker launched a new title with early success.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Shanda Games� (NASDAQ: GAME  ) saw a decline in bottom line for its Q3, but still beat analyst estimates. The China-based company posted revenue of 1.12 billion yuan�($183 million), modestly higher than the 1.09 billion yuan�($178 million)�in the same period the previous year. Attributable net income came in at just under 399 million yuan ($65 million;�$0.24 per diluted American depositary share), compared with Q3 2012's 405 million yuan ($66 million;�$0.24).

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Inter-Citic Minera Com Npv(ICI.TO)

Inter-Citic Minerals Inc., a development stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in the People?s Republic of China. Its principal property includes the Dachang gold project consisting of 4 exploration licenses covering approximately 279 square kilometers located in Qinghai province, the People's Republic of China. The company was formerly known as Inter-Citic Mineral Technologies Inc. and changed its name to Inter-Citic Minerals Inc. in December 2003. Inter-Citic Minerals Inc. was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Raffaele Caruso SpA (YRC.MI)

Raffaele Caruso SpA is an Italy-based company, operating in the apparel sector. It produces tailor-made suits, coats and jackets, for men only. The Company owns three industrial facilities in Soragna and in Ponte dell��glio, Italy. The Company distributes its products worldwide through its own brands Raffaele Caruso and Fluo. The Company also acts as wholesaler for brands of other companies.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Amarium Technologies Inc (AMMG)

Amarium Technologies Inc., formerly Cirond Corporation, incorporated on April 6, 2000, develops software solutions, and provides network security products and consulting services to governments and private sector businesses to combat the threat to wired networks represented by the deployment of unauthorized wireless networks. The Company's solutions can also be used to implement, secure and manage wireless networks. It receives revenues from the licensing of its Winc Manager, Winc, pocketWinc, AirPatrol Mobile, AirPatrol Sentinel and AirPatrol Enterprise software products. The Company operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cirond Networks Inc. (CNI). On April 10, 2006, it completed the acquisition of certain assets of ServGate Technologies, Inc. (ServGate), which has developed unified threat management software. The assets acquired consisted of primarily of intellectual property rights (patents, domain names and product trade marks) to the ServGate products. The Company plans to continue as an intellectual property licensing and services company under the new name of Amarium Technologies, and use the ServGate assets to establish a unified threat management network security division known as EdgeForce. In August 2013, Amarium Technologies Inc. through its wholly owned subsidiary Amarium Minerals Inc., announced that the Company has acquired the San Pedro Copper Mine and Flotation Mill in Michoacan, Mexico, from Minera Rio Cobre SA de CV.

The Company's subsidiary, CNI, conducts its research and development activities through its subsidiary, Cirond Networks (Canada) Inc. CNI's initial product set included a wireless network management and security solution known as Winc Manager, and a pair of wireless connectivity utilities known as WiNc and pocketWiNc. During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company announced a family of products dedicated primarily for the purpose of securing wired networks against the threat of unauthorized wireless devices (such as wireless-equipped laptop co! mputers and wireless access points). These products were launched under the AirPatrol name, and included AirPatrol Enterprise and AirPatrol Mobile. AirPatrol Enterprise is a network security product aimed at securing an organization's network against the wireless threat around the clock, and is capable of being repurposed as a wireless network management solution at such time as the customer implements a wireless network. AirPatrol Mobile is a software-only solution that allows customers to detect and locate unauthorized wireless devices and access points without the use of any specialized hardware. CNI also developed and introduced a line of products under the AirSafe name. On January 19, 2006, CNI entered into a source code licensing agreement with Air Patrol Corporation. CNI granted a worldwide license to AirPatrol Corporation for the WiNc, AirPatrol and AirSafe software products, and for the associated trademarks and trade names.

It competes with Watchguard, McAfee, Cisco, Sonic Wall and Fortinet.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: NTS Inc (NTS)

NTS Inc, formerly Xfone, Inc, incorporated in September 2000, is a holding and managing company providing, through its subsidiaries, integrated communications services, which include voice, video and data over its Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) and other networks. The Company has operations in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana and it also serves customers in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The Company provides telecommunication products/services, including retail services, Wholesale Services and Internet Based Customer Service. The Company�� divisions include Customer Service Division, Operations Division, Administration Division and Marketing Division.

NTS Communications, Inc. (NTSC) delivers local telephony service to its customers through an on-net UNE-L connection, including voice mail, caller ID, forwarding, 3-way calling, blocking, and PBX services. In addition, NTSC sells off-net total service resale lines. NTSC provides UNE-L services in Lubbock, Abilene, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Pampa, Plainview, and Wichita Falls, Texas. NTSC provides local services via Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) in Lubbock, Wolfforth, Levelland, Littlefield, Burkburnett, and Smyer, Texas. NTSC provides resold local services throughout Texas via its resale agreement with AT&T.

NTSC offers a range of long distance services to its customers, including switched long distance (including intrastate, interstate, and international), toll-free service, dedicated T-1 long distance and calling cards. The majority of its customers are concentrated in West Texas. A minority of its long distance customers are in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. NTSC provides broadband and dial-up Internet service in all of its Texas markets. Download speeds for broadband range from 500 Kilobits to 100 Megabits per second, depending on the end user's distance from an NTSC collocation or the type of facilities used to deliver the service. NTSC also offers Web hosting and wide area networkin! g solutions for business applications. NTSC offers a selection of video services, including basic cable, video on demand, high definition television (HDTV) and digital video recorder (DVR). In addition to providing video service via its FTTP network, NTSC offers CATV via a coaxial cable network in Anton, Brownfield, Colorado City, Hale Center, Idalou, Levelland, Littlefield, Meadow, Morton, New Deal, O'Donnell, Olton, Ropesville, Shallowater, Slaton, Smyer, Tahoka, and Wolfforth Texas. NTSC offers a selection of video services via its CATV offering basic cable, over 250 channels, including sports and movie channels, and Pay Per View. NTSC resells a variety of CPE and CPE related services to its customers.

NTSC offers aggregation and resale of leased fiber transport network from AT&T and other fiber network operators. This service is provided for carrier customers that need direct network connectivity, as well as enterprises that require branch office connections. Services are offered under 1-year contracts for a fixed amount per month. NTSC provides private line service nationwide. NTSC provides multi-regional switched termination, switched toll free origination and wholesale Internet access services to various carrier customers. Services are offered for a fixed amount per minute. NTSC provides wholesale switched termination services to customers via network connections in NTSC POPs and switch sites.

NTSC provides voice, data, and video services for NTS Telephone Company and also provides billing, sales and marketing, back and front offices services to this subsidiary. The Company provides local dial tone and calling features, such as hunting, calls forwarding and call waiting to both business and residential customers throughout Louisiana and Mississippi, including T-1 and PRI local telephone services to business customers.

The Company uses its own network where available and QWEST , a nationwide long distances carrier, as its underlying long distance network prov! ider. In ! conjunction with Local Telephone Services, it provides Long Distance Services to its residential and business customers. The Company provides two different categories of long distance services-Switched Services to both residential and small business customers, which includes 1+ Outbound Service, Toll Free Inbound Service and Calling Card Service. The Company also provides services, such as T-1 and PRI Services. The Company's long distance services are only available to customers who use the Company's local telephone services.

The Company provides high-speed broadband Internet access to residential and business customers utilizing its own integrated digital data network and utilizing the broadband gateway network of the new ATT. Its DSL service provides up to three megabytes per second (Mbps) of streaming speed combined with Dynamic IP addresses, as well as multiple mailboxes and Web space. The Company's DSL services also include spam filter, instant messaging, pop-up blocking, Web mail access, and parental controls. The Company also provides dial-up Internet access service for quick and dependable connection to the Web. The Company's Internet/Data services are stand-alone products or are bundled with its voice services for residential and business customers. Its customer service department is an additional product offering, which sells, as well as retains customers. The scope of communications service entails network service, customer service, and repair service.

Xfone USA resells a variety of CPE and CPE related services to its customers. Primarily, these sales involve acting with NTSC as an authorized dealer for Toshiba phone systems. These systems are sold to customers either on a stand-alone basis, or in conjunction with the purchase of local, long distance, and/or data services from the Company. In addition, it sells a variety of other electronics such as high-definition (HD) displays, surveillance equipment, paging systems, nurse call systems, routers switches and interne! tworking ! gear.

The Company competes with AT&T, SuddenLink Communications, Time Warner Communication, Qwest, Level 3 and Verizon.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Seven Group Holdings Limited(SVW.AX)

Seven Group Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the media and broadcasting, newspaper and magazine publishing, heavy equipment sales and service, equipment hire, and online businesses in Australia and China. The company operates as a Caterpillar dealer, which provides heavy equipment sales and support services to customers in Western Australia, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. It is also involved in the manufacture, assembly, sale, and support of lighting, power generation, and dewatering equipment; and rental of equipment, as well as distribution of Perkins engines. In addition, it engages in the operations of broadband, telephony, and other listed investments and properties. The company was formerly known as Seven Network Limited and changed its name to Seven Group Holdings Limited in April 2010, as a result of merger with WesTrac Holdings Pty Limited. Seven Group Holdings Limited is headquartered in Pyrmont, Australia.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corpor (AFA.V)

Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of marine and terrestrial mineral properties in Namibia. It primarily explores for diamonds deposits. The company primarily holds interests in EPL 3403 project, which covers an area of 800 square kilometers and is located to the south of Luderitz town. It also has interests in the Block J Woduna diamond concession that covers an area of approximately 994 square kilometers and is located off the coast of Namibia; and the Haib Copper project, which covers an area of approximately 37,000 hectares and is located in the Karas region. The company is based in Montreal, Canada.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: UK MAIL GROUP PLC ORD GBP 0.10(UKM.L)

UK Mail Group plc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an independent parcel, mail, and logistics services company in the United Kingdom. The company provides express collection and delivery services for parcels, mail, and palletized goods. It operates through four divisions: Mail, Parcels, Courier, and Pallets. The Mail division provides postal services, two-day time-definite delivery services, and other value added services for its customers. The Parcel division offers next day business-to-business, business-to-consumer, and international collection and delivery services through a network of 55 sites and 2,500 vehicles. The Courier division offers fulfillment services, including ad hoc, contract, and international courier; logistics; and technical courier solutions, such as delivery swap-out and installation services. The Pallets division provides pallet delivery solutions through a network of approximately 70 independent distribution and logistics specialists with var ious next-day and three-day delivery options. The company was formerly known as Business Post Group plc and changed its name to UK Mail Group plc in October 2009. UK Mail Group plc was founded in 1974 and is based in Slough, the United Kingdom.