With shares of BP (NYSE:BP) trading around $43, is BP an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:
T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement
BP�is an integrated oil and gas company. The company provides its customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, lubricants and the petrochemicals products used to make everyday items as diverse as paints, clothes, and packaging. It operates in two business segments: Exploration and Production, and Refining and Marketing. BP provides essential energy products to consumer and companies worldwide. Without the oil and gas products provided, many consumers and businesses would not be able to operate on a daily basis. As businesses and consumers continue to need oil and gas products and services, BP stands to see rising profits.
T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Mixed
BP stock has seen a downtrend over the last several years that has taken it to multi-year lows. The stock has recently bounced off of these lows and looks like it is putting together an uptrend. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, BP is trading above its untangling key averages which signal neutral price action in the near-term.
Hot Medical Companies To Own In Right Now: ICL Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL)
ICL Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL) is an Israel-based company, engaged in the fertilizer and specialty chemical sectors. The company operates in three segments: Fertilizers, Industrial Products, and Performance Products. The Fertilizers segment is engaged in the production of standard, granular, fine red and white potash from three sources, as well as in the production of phosphates, such as phosphate rock, phosphoric acid, fertilizers and animal feed addictives. The Industrial Products segment produces flame retardants, such as brominates and organ phosphorus; elemental bromine, and other chemicals. In addition the Performance Products segment produces specialty phosphates, such as technical, food grade and electronic grade phosphoric acid, phosphate salts, food additives and wildfire safety products, as well as alumina and other chemicals. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Gwen Ackerman]
Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL), the fourth-largest potash producer in the world by sales, is weighing on the Tel Aviv benchmark stock index on concern the government will exact higher royalties amid a global oversupply.
Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Own For 2014: Lanxess AG (LXS)
Lanxess AG is a Germany-based chemical holding company. Its activities are divided into three main segments. The Performance Polymers segment encompasses the activities of the Lanxess Group in the production of rubber and plastics, and includes Butyl Rubbers, Performance Butadiene Rubbers, Technical Rubber Products and Semi-Crystalline Products business units. The Advanced Intermediates segment is engaged in the development, production and marketing of industrial and fine chemicals and includes Basic Chemicals and Saltigo business units. The Performance Chemicals segment combines the Group's application-oriented activities in the field of process and functional chemicals, and includes Material Protection Products, Inorganic Pigments, Functional Chemicals, Leather, Rhein Chemie, Rubber Chemicals and Ion Exchange Resins business units. The Company operates worldwide through its subsidiaries. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jonathan Morgan]
Lanxess AG (LXS), which makes specialty chemicals, plastics, and rubber used in car tires, jumped 6.6 percent to 57.21 euros. Michelin & Cie, Europe�� largest tiremaker, today reiterated its 2013 profit forecast as growing demand for high-margin tires for mining vehicles helps offset declining demand in Europe.
- [By Sofia Horta e Costa]
ThyssenKrupp AG (TKA), Germany�� largest steelmaker, rose to a five-week high. YOC AG (YOC) surged the most in more than three months after the mobile-phone advertising company said it sold 1.3 million euros ($1.7 million) of shares to increase capital. Lanxess AG (LXS), the chemical maker that joined the DAX in September, retreated 3.4 percent.
Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Own For 2014: Incitec Pivot Ltd (ICPVY)
Incitec Pivot Limited is engaged in the manufacture, trading and distribution of fertilizers, industrial explosives, and chemicals. It operates in two segments: fertilizers, which include Incitec Pivot Fertilisers(IPF), Southern Cross International (SCI), and Fertilisers Elimination (Elim) and explosives, which includes Dyno Nobel Americas (DNA), Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific (DNAP), and Explosives Eliminations (Elim). IPF manufactures products, such as urea, ammonia and single super phosphate. DNA manufactures and sells industrial explosives and related products and services to the mining, quarrying and construction industries and also manufactures agricultural chemicals. SCI manufactures ammonium phosphates and distributes manufactured fertilizer product to wholesaler. DNAP manufactures industrial explosives and related products and services to the mining industry in the Asia Pacific region. In December 2011, it acquired a 49% interest in Maine Drilling Group. Advisors' Opinion:- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks fell early Wednesday, tracking a weak lead from the U.S. but with a few blue-chip miners higher after gains for some commodities overnight. The S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) retreated 0.4% to 5,237.80 after similar losses for the main Wall Street indexes, with the Australian benchmark trading around its lowest level since October. Among the major decliners, Qantas Airways Ltd. (AU:QAN) (QUBSF) lost 2.5%, Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd. (AU:HVN) (HNORY) gave up 1.3%, and Incitec Pivot Ltd. (AU:IPL) (ICPVY) fell 1.8%. Santos Ltd. (AU:STO) (STOSF) fell 2.6% on indication it will miss its lowered production guidance for 2013, according to the Australian Financial Review. On the upside, top miners BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP) (BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) rose 0.3% and 0.7%, respectively, while Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) traded 1% higher. Shares of global shopping-mall developer Westfield Group Australia (AU:WDC) (WEFIF) were on halt
Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Own For 2014: Basf SE (BASFY)
BASF SE is a chemical company. The Company operates in six segments: Chemicals, Plastics, Performance Products, Functional Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. Chemicals segment offers products in the chemical, electronic, construction, textile, automotive, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Plastics segment offers a range of products, system solutions and services. Performance Products help its customers to improve their products and processes. Functional Solutions segment bundles system solutions and products for customers and industries. The Company�� Agricultural Solutions segment includes crop protection products, which guard against fungal diseases, insects and weeds. Its Oil & gas segment is a producer of oil and gas. On April 9, 2009, the Company acquired Ciba Holding AG. In April 2010, Intertek Group plc acquired the Regulatory and Safety Testing businesses of Ciba Expert Services (Ciba ES) from the Company. In December 2010, the Company completed its acquisition of Cognis Holding GmbH from Cognis Holding Luxembourg S.a r.l.
Chemicals
The Company�� Chemicals segment portfolio ranges from basic chemicals, glues and electronic chemicals for the semiconductor and flat panel display industry, to solvents and plasticizers, as well as starting materials for detergents, plastics, textile fibers, paints, coatings and pharmaceuticals. This segment is organized into three divisions: Inorganics, Petrochemicals and Intermediates. The important basic products of the Inorganics division are ammonia, methanol, sodium hydroxide, chlorine, as well as sulfuric and nitric acid. The Petrochemicals division produces products, such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene and benzene, which are produced in steam crackers from naphtha or natural gas. In further processing stages, it produces alcohols, solvents and plasticizers for the chemicals and plastics industries. BASF SE�� Intermediates division develops, produces and markets a range of intermediates of all produc! ers worldwide. The product lines include amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties. They serve as starting materials for products, such as coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textile fibers, crop protection products, as well as detergents and cleaners.
Plastics
BASF�� Plastics segment is organized into two divisions: Performance Polymers and Polyurethanes. The Performance Polymers division is a supplier of engineering plastics, polyamides and polyamide intermediates, foams and specialty plastics. The Company offers its customers a portfolio of engineering plastics based on polyamide 6 and polyamide 6,6. This is complemented by products Ultradur, Ultraform and Ultrason. For the packaging, textile and food industries, it offers Ultramid, a base product for the manufacturing of fibers and foils. BASF SE�� product range also includes Ecoflex and Ecovio, biodegradable specialty plastics for the packaging industry. Styropor and its refinement Neopor are styrene-based precursors for foams used in insulating material for construction and packaging. The Polyurethanes division is a supplier of basic products, systems and specialties. The Company offers polyurethane products for numerous customer applications. Under brand names, such as Elastoflex and Elastopor, polyurethanes are used, as rigid or flexible foams in construction for furniture and household appliances.
Performance Products
The Performance Products segment consists of the Acrylics & Dispersions, Care Chemicals and Performance Chemicals divisions. Acrylics & Dispersions produces acrylic acid, as well as its derivatives superabsorbents and polymer dispersions. Superabsorbents are used particularly in diapers. Polymer dispersions are used in the production of glues, coatings, nonwoven materials and construction chemicals. The Company�� product portfolio for the paper industry consists of binders, process chemicals and kaolin pigments. Its Care Chemicals portfolio consists of products f! or cleani! ng, care, cosmetics and hygiene. Performance Chemicals pools specialties for various customer industries. The product portfolio consists of antioxidants, pigments, light stabilizers and specialty additives. The division also makes chemicals for the production and finishing of leather and textiles.
Functional Solutions
The Functional Solutions segment consists of the Catalysts, Construction Chemicals and Coatings divisions. The Catalysts division develops catalysts and adsorbents. It produces catalysts that transform pollutants in the exhaust flows of vehicles into harmless chemical and plastics. The Construction Chemicals division is engaged in development of concrete admixtures, such as concrete plasticizers, deferrers and curing agents. It also produces and markets construction systems. The Coatings division is a provider of coatings solutions for automotive and industrial applications. Its brands Glasurit and R-M are for the car refinish business.
Agricultural Solutions
The Agricultural Solutions segment consists of the Crop Protection division. The Company develops and produces active ingredients and formulations for the improvement of crop health and yields, and markets them worldwide. Its portfolio includes fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and seed treatments. Its product Headline contains the active ingredient F500, which is not only used for corn and soybean, but also for numerous other crops.
Oil & Gas
BASF�� oil and gas activities are bundled in the Wintershall Group. Wintershall and its subsidiaries operate in the business sectors exploration and production, and natural gas trading. In the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, the Company focuses on oil and gas regions in Europe, North Africa and South America, as well as Russia and the Caspian Sea region. The Mittelplate oil field in the North Sea tidal flats is the cornerstone of the Company�� oil production in Germany. Wintershall and RWE-D! EA each h! old a 50% interest in this field. During the year ended December 31, 2009, it acquired 25% interest in Cuxhaven concession. It operates 26 offshore platforms in Mittelplate region, of which 19 are actually controlled. In Libya, Wintershall operates eight onshore oil fields in the concessions 96 and 97 and exploits the associated gas released during crude oil production in a gas utilization plant for the local demand. In Mauritania, it operates two onshore exploration blocks. In 2008, Wintershall acquired stakes of 50% each in two exploration areas in the Canadon Asfalto Basin. It supplies Germany and several other European countries. The gas pipeline network operated by WINGAS TRANSPORT connects the markets in Western Europe with a natural gas infrastructure that runs through Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation all the way to the gas fields in Siberia. Other components portfolio include natural gas storage facility in Western Europe, in Rehdn, Germany, and the natural gas storage facility in Haidach, Austria.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Carroll]
Firms across Germany's DAX have caught on. BASF (NASDAQOTH: BASFY ) shares haven't had a great year so far, but the world's largest chemicals firm is looking around the world for growth. The company seeks to double its customer base in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020 in its chemicals and materials business, projecting sales in Asia to double from last year's 12.5 million euros to 25 million euros by that year. That kind of global growth will benefit investors, and the less BASF and other German stocks rely on Europe for sales, the better shareholders will do.
- [By Maxx Chatsko]
It was only a matter of time. Last month BASF (NASDAQOTH: BASFY ) , the world's largest chemical company, announced three separate developments that will thrust it from being a mediocre player in industrial enzymes to a dominant force. BASF acquired Henkel's detergent enzyme technology, licensed the C1 biotechnology platform from Dyadic, and befriended Direvo Industrial Biotechnology from Germany for a next-generation animal feed enzyme.
Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Own For 2014: Uralkaliy OAO (URALL.PK)
Uralkaliy OAO (Uralkali OJSC) is a Russia-based company, which is engaged in the chemical industry. The Company specializes in the production of potash fertilizers. Its product portfolio comprises pink muriate of potash (PMOP), white muriate of potash (WMOP) and granular (GMOP). The Company is active through representative offices, located in Moscow and Beijing, as well as numerous subsidiaries, located countrywide and in Panama, Belarus, Singapore, Brazil and others. Uralkaliy OAO operates on the potassium and magnesium deposits located in Berezniki, Perm and Saint Petersburg. Its production assets include seven plants and five mines. Uralkaliy OAO sells its products domestically, as well as abroad in over 40 countries, including the United States, China, Brazil, India and South-East Asia, among others. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chris Damas]
This morning Russian potash giant OJSC Uralkali (URALL.PK) presented first half 2013 financial and operating results and more importantly, much anticipated comments on the strategy of the company and the state of the international potash industry, the latter blind-sided by the leading potash company's split with marketing partner JSC Belaruskali of Belarus.
- [By Tim Gallagher]
The potash spat continues to get uglier, as Belarus investigators reportedly intend to seize property and assets of Russia's Uralkali (URALL.PK) following the collapse of the joint Russian-Belarussian potash venture.
Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Own For 2014: Bitcoin Collect Inc (BTCC)
Bitcoin Collect Inc, formerly SolPower, Corp., incorporated on July 22, 1996, offers software solutions for the healthcare industry addressing problems with the system involving billing, collections and the lack of adequate medical insurance. The company�� primary product is a software System called MedCare Collect. In July 2014, the Company acquired Good Vibrations Shoes.
Medcare Collect utilizes the technology in electronic banking and transaction submission allowing healthcare professionals to accept clients who may not have adequate health insurance with an almost negligible risk of the patient defaulting. MedCare Collect is revolutionizing medical billing by allowing doctors to take on patients they would otherwise have to turn away, while adding much needed revenue to their bottom line.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Iampat]
Square 1 Financial (SQBK) and Bitcoin (BTCC) have sort of touched on the accommodations of having a versatile wallet, and it's without a doubt a corner that I think is still in the early phases of its reception bend. Hence, when I discovered that Facebook was concentrating on it, I loved the thought.
Top 10 Chemical Stocks To Own For 2014: Givaudan SA (GIVN)
Givaudan SA is a Switzerland-based holding company engaged in the fragrance and flavor industry. The Company has two business divisions: Fragrances and Flavors. The Fragrances business segment comprises the manufacture and sale of fragrances into three global business units: Fine Fragrances, comprising signature fragrances and line extensions, Consumer Products, comprising fabric and personal care, hair and skin care, household and air care, as well as oral care, and Fragrance Ingredients. The Flavors business division comprises the manufacture and sale of flavors into four business units: Beverages, comprising flavors for soft drinks, fruit juices and instant beverages; Dairy, comprising ice cream, yoghurt, desserts and yellow fats; Savory, covering soups and sauces, among others; and Confectionery. The Company is also engaged in research and development activities, which comprises the development of a palette of perfumery raw materials, both synthetic and natural. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Given Imaging (Nasdaq: GIVN ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Inyoung Hwang]
Berkeley Group Holdings Plc (BKG) surged 8.3 percent after saying first-half profit rose 22 percent. London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE) climbed 2.4 percent after Bank of America Corp.�� Merrill Lynch unit recommended buying the stock. Givaudan SA (GIVN) lost 1.3 percent after Nestle SA said it will sell $1.27 billion of shares in the world�� largest flavorings maker.
- [By Celeste Perri]
Nestle SA (NESN) is selling Givaudan (GIVN) SA shares worth $1.27 billion at yesterday�� closing price to institutional investors, winding down its stake in the world�� largest flavorings maker.
Reuters 
Bill Pugliano/Getty ImagesGeneral Motors CEO Mary Barra shown speaking to employees before holding a press conference Thursday in Warren, Mich. WARREN, Mich. -- General Motors (GM) says a pattern of incompetence and neglect, not a larger conspiracy or cover-up, is to blame for a long-delayed recall of defective ignition switches. GM CEO Mary Barra, who released the results of an internal investigation into the company's missteps on Thursday, said 15 employees -- many of them senior legal and engineering executives -- have been forced out of the company for failing to disclose the defect, which the company links to 13 deaths and 54 crashes in which the air bags didn't deploy. Five other employees have been disciplined. GM also said it will establish a compensation program for families of victims and those who suffered serious injuries in accidents related to the switches. The program is expected to begin taking claims Aug. 1. Barra called the 315-page report by attorney Anton Valukas, whom GM hired in March to do the investigation, "brutally tough and deeply troubling." It lays bare a company that operated in silos, and employees who didn't take responsibility for problems or treat them with any urgency. Mistakes were made repeatedly as far back as 2002, when GM decided to use a switch that didn't meet its own specifications. "That was a decision made by an engineer that led to tragic consequences," Barra said. Since February, GM has recalled 2.6 million older model Chevrolet Cobalts, Saturn Ions and other small cars because their ignitions can slip out of the "run" position and shut down the engine. That disables the power-assisted steering and brakes and can cause drivers to lose control. It also disables the air bags. Trial lawyers suing the company put the death toll close to 60. Failure To Act Deep within the company, engineers and others believed the ignition switch problem was an inconvenience, a "customer satisfaction" issue rather than a safety problem. Engineers believed that cars could still be steered when the engines shut off, even though the loss of power steering could cause drivers to lose control. In 2005, the company failed to make a repair that would have cost an estimated 57 cents. A year later, engineer Ray DeGiorgio -- who was among the 15 workers fired -- approved a change in the switch design but didn't follow GM's policy to change the part number. That made the problem much more difficult to track for investigators later on. Barra didn't directly answer a question about whether she should have figured out that the switches were a deadly problem. Before becoming CEO, she was product development chief for three years, and safety reported to her through GM's chain of command. "I wish I had known, because the minute we knew we took action," she said. Barra has said she first learned about the issue in December, before she became CEO on Jan. 15. Barra, a 34-year veteran of the company, told 1,000 employees gathered at GM's suburban Detroit technical center that the report was "enormously painful." "I hate sharing this with you just as much as you hate hearing it," Barra said, in a speech that was also broadcast to the company's 212,000 employees worldwide. "But I want you to hear it. I want you to remember it. I want you to never forget it." 'Best Report Money Can Buy' But some were critical of the report and its conclusions, which spared Barra and other top executives. "It seems like the best report money can buy," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. "It absolves upper management, denies deliberate wrongdoing, and dismisses corporate culpability." Barra said Valukas interviewed 230 employees and reviewed 41 million documents to produce the report, which also makes recommendations to avoid future safety problems. The government released the report around noon Thursday. Barra said the report found that individuals who could have helped uncover the problem didn't speak up. 
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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) NBA Commissioner Adam Silver became the first major sports executive to come out in favor of legalized sports gambling Friday. 
Shutterstock A million dollars isn't what it used to be, but it's still a lot of money. It's enough to be a life-changing amount of cash, even if it winds up not being enough to completely fund your retirement on its own. On its own, using the 4 percent withdrawal rule as a guide, that cool million should provide you around $40,000 per year in inflation-adjusted income. Still, for typical American retirees, personal savings is just a start: Social Security adds supplemental income -- around $15,600 a year for a typical retiree. Medicare covers a substantial portion of health insurance costs for Americans age 65 or older. Typical retirees pay neither Social Security nor Medicare taxes on their non-wage incomes. If you've paid off your mortgage by the time you retire, your housing costs are a mere fraction of what they normally would be. If your kids are grown and independent, the costs of raising them can vanish. With that total picture in mind, even today, a $1 million nest egg still should provide a great foundation for a comfortable retirement in most of the country. There's More to Retirement Of course, you may want more out of your retirement than what that type of nest egg can provide you. Things like international travel, spoiling the grandkids and/or a summer home up north and a winter home in the Sun Belt can easily chew through the kind of income that size nest egg can provide. In addition, as you get deeper into retirement, you may start needing help managing your home and daily activities, which could add substantially to your costs.