The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards sent a letter Wednesday to all 70,000 CFP certificants explaining a new investigative process the Board will take to identify certificants who inaccurately disclose their compensation methods on the Board website’s “Find a CFP” tool.
Board Chairman Ray Ferrara, CFP, said in an interview Wednesday that the investigation will begin with those who call themselves fee-only advisors “because that’s where there’s the biggest opportunity for confusion and potential abuse.”
The investigation will be conducted, said Ferrara, “on a risk-adjusted basis, randomly” selecting certificants who have ticked the “fee only” box on its website, then consulting information “in the public domain to make sure the compensation they’ve disclosed is what’s consistent with their actual business practices.” That information, said Ferrara, will start with an “informal check-in” with the certificant but will also include “social media, a website, a form ADV, anything else that we could Google” about the certificant.
Hot Promising Companies For 2015: Eco-Tek Group Inc (ETEK)
Eco-Tek Group, Inc., incorporated on April 10, 2007, is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of green lubricants and specialized systems with an automotive sector but also applicable to a variety of industrial, farm and virtually all mechanical equipment. The Company�� products include Eco-Tek Super Lubricant, Eco-Tek 3000 Synthetic Motor Oil, Eco-Tek 4-in-1 Fuel Treatments, Eco-Tek HD Synthetic Oil Stabilizer, Eco-Tek Bypass Oil Cleaner, Eco-Tek Engine Flush, Eco-Tek Lube Centres, Eco-Tek Test-Results, Eco-Tek Our Inventor and Eco-Tek Limited Warranty.
The Company�� motor oil and lubricant is zinc free. Eco-Tek Engine Flush which cleans internal engine components extends engine life and restores lost performance due to sludge and buildup. Eco-Tek Premium Orange Hand Cleaner, which contains pumice to clean, aloe and lanolin to moisturize. Eco-Tek Non-Toxic Super Lubricant, reduces friction, fuel consumption, harmful contaminants in oil, reduces smoke, vibration and noise.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap green stocks Eco-Tek Group Inc (OTCMKTS: ETEK) and BluForest Inc (OTCMKTS: BLUF) have been getting some attention lately thanks to some green���as in paid for promotions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed promotions, but one of these stocks happens to be getting a considerable amount of attention as its been the subject of numerous transactions. With that in mind, will investors see some green with these green small cap stocks? Here is a quick reality check:�
Best Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.(PHG)
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. engages in the healthcare, consumer lifestyle, and lighting product businesses worldwide. The company offers screening, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and health management services in cardio-pulmonary, oncology, and women?s health areas. Its healthcare products and solutions include X-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, nuclear medicine, and ultrasound imaging equipment; and cardiology informatics and diagnostic electrocardiography, radiology information systems, picture archiving and communication systems, patient monitoring and clinical informatics, perinatal care, and therapeutic care systems. The company?s healthcare products and solutions also consist of sleep management and respiratory care, medical alert, remote cardiac, and remote patient management services. In addition, it offers consultancy, site planning and project management, clinical, education, equipment financing, asset management, and equipment mainten ance and repair services. The company?s consumer lifestyle products and solutions comprise mother and childcare, oral healthcare, male grooming, skincare, and beauty products; coffee, floor and garment care, kitchen, water and air, and beverage appliances; and communication and control, audio and multimedia, speech processing, headphones and accessories, and home cinema and video products. Its lighting solutions include lamps, including incandescent, halogens, fluorescent, high-intensity discharge, and LED lamps; consumer luminaires for functional, decorative, lifestyle, and scene-setting applications; professional luminaires for city beautification, and road, sports, shop/hospitality, and industry lighting applications; systems and controls, that include electronic and electromagnetic gears, controls, modules, and drivers; automotive lighting, such as car headlights, car signaling, and interior; and packaged LEDs. The company was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Ams terdam, the Netherlands.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of GE have gained 3.5% to $24.54 at 1:08 p.m. today. United Technologies (UTX) has dropped 0.6% to $107.37, Koninklijke Philips (PHG) has gained 0.8% to $33.40, Siemens (SI) has risen 1.5% to $124.40 and 3M (MMM) has ticked up 0.1% to $122.75.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Koninklijke Philips NV (NYSE: PHG) was down, falling 5.52 percent to $32.68 after the company reported a drop in its Q1 profit.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 1.91 percent to $102.38, while gold traded down 0.52 percent to $1,281.80. Silver traded up 0.05 percent Tuesday to $19.36, while copper rose 0.10 percent to $3.03. - [By Eddie Staley]
Shares of Koninklijke Philips NV (NYSE: PHG) got a boost, shooting up 1.65 percent to $31.96 after the company reported that its Philips Healthcare CEO, Deborah DiSanzo, will be stepping down.
Best Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Cott Corp (COT)
Cott Corporation (Cott), incorporated on December 31, 2006, is a producers of beverages on behalf of retailers, brand owners and distributors. The Company�� product lines include carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), 100% shelf stable juice and juice-based products, clear, still and sparkling flavored waters, energy products, sports products, new age beverages, and ready-to-drink teas, as well as alcoholic beverages for brand owners. The Company operates in five segments: North America (which includes the United States operating segment and Canada operating segment), the United Kingdom (which includes its United Kingdom reporting unit and its Continental European reporting unit), Mexico, Royal Crown International (RCI) and All Other. The Company markets or supplies over 500 retailer, licensed and Company-owned brands in its four core geographic segments. In March of 2012, its U.K. reporting segment acquired a beverage and wholesale business based in Scotland.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lee Jackson]
Cott Corp. (NYSE: COT) stock has pulled back some 30% from its 52-week high of $11.25 after second-quarter market conditions were presented as “challenging.” However, the dividend was reinstated after a ten-year hiatus, and the company bought back $6 million worth of shares in the second quarter. The company mainly does business in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico, but it also sells beverage concentrate to 50 other countries. Deutsche Bank rates Cott as a stock to buy and has an $11 price target. The consensus is posted at $10. Investors are paid a decent 2.9% dividend. The Friday close for Cott was $7.87.
- [By Dan Moskowitz]
Cott (NYSE: COT ) produces and sells over 200 different types of beverages in over 50 countries, and it implements a highly effective strategy. Cott is what is known as a Fast Follower, which makes it unique to other beverage companies.�
Best Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Cannabusiness Group Inc (CBGI)
Cannabusiness Group Inc, formerly Muscle Warfare International Inc, incorporated on June 24, 2005, focuses to research, evaluate, and acquire profitable private firms in the business segments of entertainment, technology, medical, energy, and business services for the benefit of its shareholders. The Company's subsidiaries include American West Baseball League and Elite Representation Associates. In April 2013, it announced acquiring 100% of Muscle Warfare, Inc. In July 2013, the Company announced the acquisition of a company that develops, manufactures, and markets sports nutrition products for athletes around the world in all sports, including both professional and amateur enthusiasts.
Elite Representation Associates is an athlete/coach management and marketing agency. The American West Baseball League is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Southwest United States. It operates in cities not served by major or minor league baseball team.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Burrows]
From questions regarding the accuracy of publicly-available information about these companies��operations to potential illegal activity, these marijuana stocks have incurred the wrath of federal regulators for good reason:
GrowLife (PHOT) FusionPharm (FSPM) CannaBusiness Group (CBGI) Advanced Cannabis Solutions (CANN) Petrotech Oil and Gas (PTOG) Marijuana Stocks Asking for TroubleBut it doesn’t end there. Investors should run away from all OTC marijuana stocks, including Medical Marijuana (MJNA), Cannabis Science (CBIS), CannaVest (CANV), MediSwipe (MWIP) and GreenGro Technologies (GRNH). As the SEC warns:
Best Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Blyth Inc. (BTH)
Blyth, Inc. operates as a direct to consumer marketing company in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company operates in three segments: Health & Wellness, Candles & Home D茅cor, and Catalog & Internet. The Health & Wellness segment offers a suite of weight-management products, nutritional supplements, and energy drinks under the ViSalus Sciences, ViSalus, and Body by Vi Challenge brands primarily through its independent promoters. The Candles & Home D茅cor segment sells food and recipe products, candles, reed diffusers, and other home fragrance products and related decorative accessories under the PartyLite, GloLite by PartyLite, and Two Sisters Gourmet by PartyLite names through independent sales consultants. The Catalog & Internet segment develops and markets an array of decorative and functional household products, personalized cards, gifts, food products, and health and wellness products under the Miles Kimball, Walter Drake, As We Change, Easy Comforts, and Ex posures brands through its Websites, catalogs, and direct mail campaigns. Blyth, Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Blyth�(BTH) has gained 10% to $14.25 this morning in what could be a short squeeze.
Packaging Corp. of America�(PKG) has jumped 6.3% to $57.99 after it said it would buy Boise (BZ) for $1.28 billion. Boise has gained 26% to $12.55.
- [By John Udovich]
Small cap NYSE stocks Blyth, Inc (NYSE: BTH), ITT Educational Services, Inc (NYSE: ESI) and U.S. Silica Holdings Inc (NYSE: SLCA) had the highest short interest as of late September according to HighShortInterest.com with short interest of 56.80%, 55.73% and 40.22%, respectively. However, shorting a stock can be a dangerous business as the bears can and do sometimes get mauled by the bulls. With that in mind, let�� take a look at why the bulls or the bears may be right or wrong about these three shorted small cap NYSE stocks:�
- [By Robert Hanley]
Consumer-goods marketer Blyth (NYSE: BTH ) , owner of weight-loss upstart ViSalus, has been in the doghouse lately, sitting near a 52-week low due to poor results in its weight-loss unit.� Despite a large potential customer base of overweight people worldwide, the industry has had difficulty generating growth lately, with data provider Marketdata Enterprises estimating that industry sales rose only 1.7% in 2012.� However, Blyth caught a bid in late October from a proposed combination with marketing-services provider CVSL, indicating that some people see incremental value in Blyth's businesses.�So, should small investors bet on this small cap or should they focus their attention on Weight watchers International (NYSE: WTW ) and Medifast (NYSE: MED ) instead?
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another non-cyclical consumer goods player that insiders are active in here is Blyth (BTH), which designs and markets home fragrance products and decorative accessories, as well as weight management products, nutritional supplements and energy drinks. Insiders are buying this stock into weakness, since shares are down by 22% so far in 2013.
Blyth has a market cap of $193 million and an enterprise value of $156 million. This stock trades at a reasonable valuation, with a price-to-sales of 0.19 and a price-to-book of 4.21. This is a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $172.96 million and its total debt is $127.98 million. This stock currently sports a dividend yield of 1.6%.
A beneficial owner just bought 20,000 shares, or $246,000 worth of stock, at $12.34 per share.
From a technical perspective, BTH is currently trending above its 50-day moving average and below its 200-day moving average, which is neutral trendwise. This stock has recently pulled back after trading just above its 200-day moving average at $14.60 a share to its intraday low of $12.05 a share. That pullback is pushing shares of BTH very close to its 50-day moving average of $11.48 a share. If that level holds off this pullback, then shares of BTH could present a solid buying opportunity.
If you're in the bull camp on BTH, then look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above is 50-day at $11.48 and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance at $13.09 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 287,505 shares. If we get that move soon, then BTH will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $14.60 to $15.69 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then put $17 to $20 into range for shares of BTH.
Best Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: SEACOR Holdings Inc (CKH)
SEACOR Holdings Inc, incorporated on November 7, 1989, is a global provider of equipment and services primarily supporting the offshore oil and gas and marine transportation industries. The Company offers customers a diversified suite of services, including offshore marine, aviation, inland river, marine transportation, crisis and emergency management preparedness and response solutions, commodity trading and logistics and offshore and harbor towing. On March 19, 2012, J.F. Lehman & Company acquired National Response Corporation and its affiliated businesses NRC Environmental Services, SEACOR Response, and SEACOR Environmental Products (collectively NRC) from the Company. In January 2013, the Company sold its energy trading division, SEACOR Energy Inc. to Par Petroleum Corporation. On January 31, 2013, it completed the spin off its Era Group Inc unit (Era).
Offshore Marine Services
The Company�� Marine operates a diversified fleet of vessels, servicing the offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and production industry worldwide.The Company�� marine provides its customers with the assembly of offshore vessel services in the global offshore oil and gas industry, including transport of personnel, platform supply, offshore accommodation, intervention, maintenance and repair support, standby safety services, anchor handling and mooring services, wind farm support, lift boat services, offshore construction support, well enhancement support, and lightering services.
Aviation Services
The Company�� aviation services subsidiary, Era Group (Era), is the helicopter operators globally. ra supports the oil and gas industry in the United States Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and internationally. Era provides air medical services, firefighting support, flightseeing tours in Alaska, and Search and Rescue and Emergency Medical Services. Era's affiliate, Era Training Center, offers flight training services. Era also markets and distributes specialty helicopter! equipment and accessories.
Inland River Services
The Company�� Inland River Services group owns and operates modern river transportation equipment; owns covered and open hopper barges, 10,000 and 30,000 barrel tank barges, deck barges, inland river towboats and smaller harbor boats; and provides ancillary services along the United States Inland River Waterways and the Parana-Paraguay and the Magdalena River Systems in South America. SCF Marine operates a fleet of hopper barges along the United States Inland River Waterways and South America, transporting agricultural, industrial, and project cargoes. The liquid division, Supercritical Fluid (SCF) Liquids, is a integrated towboat and tank barge company, specializing in the transportation of chemical, clean, and dirty products. Gateway Terminals is among the newest ethanol and petroleum storage terminals on the Mississippi River, with a capacity of 400,000 barrels and the ability to receive and transfer products by barge, unit train, and truck.
Marine Transportation Services
The Company�� ocean shipping and harbor towing subsidiary, SEACOR Ocean Transport, is an owner and operator of equipment engaged in oil transportation, bunkering, harbor towing, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal support, short sea shipping and logistics, and third-party ship management services. Through all aspects of its operations, SEACOR Ocean Transport focuses to provide its customers with marine transportation solutions.
Commodity Trading and Logistics
The Company�� Commodity Trading and Logistics group specializes in the purchase, storage, transportation, and sale of agricultural and energy commodities, which include renewable fuels, blendstocks, sugar, rice, and salt. The Agricultural group is primarily focused on the global sourcing and logistics of sugar, rice, salt, and other dry bulk products. The Energy group is primarily focused on the domestic trading and transportation of physical e! thanol an! d clean blendstocks.
Harbor and Offshore Towing Services
The Company�� ocean shipping and harbor towing subsidiary, SEACOR Ocean Transport, is an operator of equipment engaged in oil transportation, bunkering, harbor towing, LNG terminal support, short sea shipping and logistics, and third-party ship management services. The harbor towing services group, Seabulk Towing, is a tugboat operator with operations along the Gulf Coast and Southeastern seaboard port system from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Port Arthur, Texas. Seabulk Island Transport owns and operates four ocean tugs and five ocean liquid tank barges.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Traders Reserve]
For investors who want a piece of this developing trend, Transocean and Seadrill are two of the bigger players in this arena. Other offshore drillers/rig operators are Noble (NE) and Ensco (ESV). Companies that provide services to offshore drillers and benefit from increases in exploration and drilling activity are Gulfmark Offshore (GLF), Hornbeck (HOS), Seacor (CKH) and Tidewater (TDW).
- [By Seth Jayson]
Margins matter. The more Seacor Holdings (NYSE: CKH ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Seacor Holdings's competitive position could be.
Best Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: BIOLASE Inc (BIOL)
BIOLASE, Inc., formerly BIOLASE Technology, Inc., incorporated in 1987, is a medical technology company that develops, manufactures and markets lasers, and markets and distributes dental imaging equipment and other related products designed for applications and procedures in dentistry and medicine. The Company's dental laser systems allow dentists, periodontists, endodontists, oral surgeons, and other specialists to perform a range of dental procedures, including cosmetic and complex surgical applications in a minimally invasive manner. The Company also manufactures and sells disposable products and accessories for its laser systems. The Company's Waterlase and Diode systems use disposable laser tips of differing sizes and shapes depending on the procedures being performed. The Company also markets flexible fibers and hands pieces. For the Company's ezlase system, the Company sells tooth whitening gel kits. In April 2012, it purchased 159 Waterlase MD Turbo laser systems from Henry Schein, Inc.
The Company's Waterlase Dentistry consists of two product lines Waterlase systems and Diode systems. In July 2011, the Company introduced the Biolase DaVinci Imaging line of imaging products, which enabled the Company to offer digital diagnostic solutions to complement the minimally invasive dental treatment solutions offered by its Waterlase and Diode dental systems. The Company added the distribution of the NewTom cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), to its imaging product line. The integration of the Company's laser products with imaging offers dental professionals the Total Technology Solution, which provides imaging capabilities for early diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment with its Waterlase iPlus and iLase laser technologies.
The Company's all-tissueWaterlase dental laser systems consist of the Waterlase iPlus, the Waterlase MD Turbo, and the Waterlase MDX 300 and 450, both introduced in February 2012. Each of these systems is designed around the Company's yttrium scandi! um gallium garnet (YSGG) laser technology that refers to the laser crystal used in the Waterlase system, which contains the elements erbium, chromium and yttrium, scandium, gallium and garnet. This crystal laser produces energy with specific absorption and tissue interaction characteristics optimized for dental applications. HydroPhotonics refers to the interaction of YSGG lasers with water to produce energy to cut tissue. It is minimally invasive and can cut hard tissue, such as bone and teeth, and soft tissue, such as gums or skin, without the heat, vibration, or pressure associated with traditional dental treatments. By eliminating heat, vibration, and pressure, the Company's Waterlase systems eliminate the need for anesthesia.
The Waterlase systems incorporate an ergonomic handpiece and a control panel located on the front of the system with precise preset functionality to control the mix of laser energy, air, and water, as well as the pulse rate. The Waterlase iPlus incorporates the iLase wireless diode laser that can be utilized for unexpected soft-tissue cases in an adjacent treatment room, controlling bleeding, and temporary pain relief.
The Company's Diode laser systems in dentistry consist of the ezlase and iLase, semiconductor diode lasers to perform soft tissue, hygiene, cosmetic procedures, teeth whitening, and temporary pain relief. The Company's ezlase system serves the markets of general, cosmetic, orthodontic and hygienic procedures. It features a pulse mode, ComfortPulse, which allows the tissue to cool between pulses and reduces the need for anesthesia for many common procedures. Other features include a wireless foot pedal control, disposable single-use tips, color touch screen activation with up to fifteen procedure based pre-sets, a whitening hand piece, a rechargeable battery pack, and a wall mount.
The Company's imaging systems include the Company's design and distribution of extra-oral and intra-oral dental digital imaging devices. The Co! mpany's e! xpansion into digital imaging systems enables the Company to offer diagnostic solutions to complement the minimally invasive dental treatment solutions offered by the Company's Waterlase and Diode dental systems. The Company provides both high-precision intuitive diagnosis and treatment planning solutions. The Company's Biolase DaVinci Imaging systems include the D3D, a three dimensional (3D) CBCT, and portable digital x-ray and intra-oral camera devices.
The NewTom VGi is a small-footprint CBCT system that offers medical grade imaging technology. In addition to producing up to image resolution with medical grade rotating anode technology, SafeBeam technology automatically adjusts radiation dosage. The Company's Medical systems include the Diolase 10 Diode Laser. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has sold approximately 8,700 Waterlase systems, including over 4,700 Waterlase MD and iPlus systems, and more than 19,000 laser systems in total in over 60 countries. As of decembe31, 2011, the Company�� other products under development address ophthalmology, dermatology, orthopedics, podiatry, and other medical and consumer markets.
The Company competes with Lares Dental Research, Fotona d.d., KaVo Dental GmbH, Lambda SpA, J Morita Manufacturing Corp., Syneron Medical Ltd, Deka Laser Technologies, Inc. Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc., Dentsply, Inc., Royal Philips Electronics and Sirona Dental Systems, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another under-$10 stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Biolase (BIOL), which develops, manufactures and markets laser systems for dental and medical applications. This stock has been trending modestly higher in 2013, with shares up by 15.9%.
If you take a look at the chart for Biolase, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last month and change, with shares pushing higher from its low of $1.47 to its recent high of $2.25 a share. During that uptrend, shares of BIOL have been mostly making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of BIOL within range of triggering a big breakout trade.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BIOL if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.25 to $2.50 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 311,533 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then BIOL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $3.07 a share to $3.50 or $3.70 a share.
Traders can look to buy BIOL off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $1.85 a share. One can also buy BIOL 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 Roberto Pedone]
One health care player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Biolase (BIOL), which is a medical technology company that develops, manufactures and markets laser systems for dental and medical applications. This stock is off to a decent start in 2013, with shares up 12%.
If you take a look at the chart for Biolase, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways and consolidating for the last two months, with shares moving between $1.64 on the downside and $2.24 on the upside. Shares of BIOL have now started to spike higher right off its 200-day moving average of $1.87 a share. That spike is quickly pushing shares of BIOL within range of triggering a major breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BIOL if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.15 to $2.24 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 627,655 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then BIOL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $3.50 to $4 a share.
Traders can look to buy BIOL off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $1.85 to $1.80 a share. One can also buy BIOL off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
- [By John Udovich]
Yesterday, small cap dental stock BIOLASE Inc (NASDAQ: BIOL) surged 17.69% after announcing it had received a license from the Health Canada-Medical Device Bureau to sell its EPIC dental soft-tissue diode laser systems throughout Canada, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of mid cap dental stocks like Sirona Dental Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: SIRO), DENTSPLY International Inc (NASDAQ: XRAY) and Align Technology, Inc (NASDAQ: ALGN).
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