Top 10 Safest Companies To Own For 2014

European stocks have done well in 2013. The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF and iShares Europe ETF may still be good bets.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Stocks are surging in the United States this year. Japan has done even better.

But if you're looking for the next big opportunity, Europe could very well be the best place to invest right now. The long recession in Europe may finally be over. And that could lead to stronger profits from European-based companies.

So what's the safest way to try and ride a European rebound?

Investing through a mutual fund: Many funds from big money managers have a fair amount of European exposure.

Take the widely held Fidelity Worldwide Fund (FWWFX), which has 30% of its assets invested in Europe. Holdings include Swiss bank UBS (UBS), German automaker Volkswagen (VLKAY) and French food and consumer products giant Danone (DANOY).

Hot Machinery Companies To Watch For 2015: SouFun Holdings Ltd (SFUN)

SouFun Holdings Limited (SouFun), incorporated on June 17, 2004, operates as a real estate Internet portal in China. The Company also operates home furnishing and improvement Websites. Through SouFun's Websites, it provides marketing, e-commerce, listing, and other value-added services for China's real estate and home-related sectors. SouFun's Internet portal focuses and supports SouFun's users in seeking information on the real estate and home-related sectors in China. SouFun maintains about 100 offices to focus on local market needs and its Website and database contains real estate related content covering more than 320 cities in China. Its www.soufun.com Website contains links to other specialized real estate and home furnishing and improvement Websites, including its www.jiatx.com Website, its e-commerce transaction and payment platform. The Company's service offerings include marketing services, E-commerce services, listing services and other value-added services.

Marketing Services

The Company offers marketing services on its Websites, mainly through advertisements, to real estate developers in the marketing phase of new property developments, as well as to real estate agencies and suppliers of home furnishing and improvement and other home-related products and services who wish to promote their products and services. Its marketing services are delivered through its Website www.soufun.com and include traditional Internet advertisements, such as banners, links, logos and floating signs, as well as featured promotions, such as Internet advertisements, combined with its other services.

E-commerce services

The Company offers e-commerce services, including SouFun membership services and online transaction platform services. It provides both free and paid SouFun membership services to registered members its SouFun cards. Its free services include primarily regular updates regarding local property developments, tours to visit property developments an! d other services relating to property purchases. The Company�� paid services primarily include offers to purchase properties with discounts from its partner developers and information and related services to facilitate property purchases. In addition, through its www.jiatx.com Website, it offers an online transaction platform and related e-commerce services to home furnishing and improvement vendors in China.

Listing services

The Company offers basic and special listing services. Its basic listing services are mainly offered to real estate agents, brokers, developers, property owners and managers and suppliers of home furnishing and improvement and other home-related products and services. Its basic listing services allow its customers to post information of their products and services on its Websites. The Company�� special listing services offer customized marketing programs involving both online listings and offline themed events.

Other value-added services

The Company offers subscription-based access to its information database and research reports and total Web solution services. The Company provides online content subscription services on either a flat-fee subscription basis for database access or a per-project basis for its research services. It charge subscription fees based on the number of databases that the subscriber would like to access.

The Company competes with E-House (China) Holdings, Sohu.com Inc.�� focus.cn, Anjuke.com, Tencent�� fangqq.com, Szhome.com and House365.com.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  SouFun Holdings Limited (SFUN) is a great example of a best in class Chinese stocks that I am excited about right now. The company operates a real estate internet portal that serves real estate developers in the marketing phase of new property developments, as well as to real estate agencies. They also allow companies that make housing related products like home furnishing and improvement products as well as companies selling consumer products like furniture and electronics.

• [By Jim Jubak]

  Among stocks that are available to US investors through a listing in New York, the list includes Ctrip.com International (CTRP), China's biggest online travel retailer; Qihoo 360 (QIHU), a leading mobile security company; 58.com (WUBA), the Craigslist-like operator of a classified site, and SouFun Holdings (SFUN), the owner of China's biggest real-estate site.

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  SouFun Holdings Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE: SFUN) is another noteworthy holding. The company controls an Internet portal focused on real estate and home improvement in China.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

   

   

  One under-$10 Internet information player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is SouFun (SFUN), which operates a real estate Internet portal as well as a home furnishing and an improvement Web site in the People's Republic of China. This stock has been hammered lower by the sellers so far in 2014, with shares down huge by 42%.

   

  If you take a glance at the chart for SouFun, you'll see that this stock has been downtrending badly for the last four months, with shares falling from its high of $19.94 to its recent low of $8.52 a share. During that downtrend, shares of SFUN have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of SFUN have started to reverse its downtrend and enter a new uptrend, with the stock moving higher from that $8.52 low to it recent high of $9.58 a share. Shares of SFUN are now spiking higher today right above some near-term support at $9 a share, and it's quickly moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

   

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SFUN if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $9.58 to $10 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 7.73 million shares. If that breakout kicks off soon, then SFUN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $11 to its 50-day moving average of $11.36 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give SFUN a chance to tag $12 to $13 a share.

   

  Traders can look to buy SFUN off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support levels at $9 to $8.82 a share, or even that recent low of $8.52 a share. One can also buy SFUN off strength once it starts

Top 10 Safest Companies To Own For 2014: Siemens AG (SI)

Siemens AG (Siemens), incorporated on August 28, 1996, is a globally operating technology company with core activities in the fields of energy, healthcare, industry and infrastructure. Siemens business activities focus on four sectors, Energy, Healthcare, Industry and Infrastructure & Cities. These sectors form four of Siemens reportable segments. In addition to the four sectors, Siemens has two additional reportable segments: Equity Investments and Siemens Financial Services (SFS). The Energy sector comprises four divisions: Power Generation, Wind Power, Power Transmission and Energy Service. The Healthcare Sector includes four divisions: Imaging & Therapy Systems, Clinical Products, Diagnostics and Customer Solutions; and one sector-led Business Unit, Audiology Solutions. The Industry sector consists of three divisions: Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services; and one sector-led Business Unit, Metals Technologies. The Infrastructure & Cities sector consists of five divisions: Rail Systems, Mobility and Logistics, Low and Medium Voltage, Smart Grid, and Building Technologies. In July 2013 Siemens sold its stake in the Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) joint venture to Nokia and OSRAM Licht AG was spun off from Siemens.

Industry

The Industry Sector offers a broad spectrum of products, solutions and services that help customers use resources and energy. The Sector�� integrated technologies and holistic solutions primarily address industrial customers, particularly those in the process and manufacturing industries. The portfolio spans industry automation, industrial software, drive products and services, system integration, and solutions for industrial plant businesses. The Industry Sector consists of three Divisions: Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services. The Sector also includes a sector-led Business Unit, Metals Technologies. In addition to its Sector-level financial results, Industry also breaks out financial results for the Indust! ry Automation Division and the Drive Technologies Division. The Industry Automation Division offers a range of standard products and system solutions for automation technologies used in the manufacturing and process industries. The Division�� offerings include automation systems and software, motor controls, machine-to- machine communication products, sensors, product and production lifecycle management products, and software for simulating and testing mechatronic systems. The Drive Technologies Division offers products and comprehensive systems across the entire drive train. These offerings are customized to the respective application and include numerical control systems, inverters, converters, motors (geared and gearless), drives and couplings. In addition, Drive Technologies supplies integrated automation systems for machine tools and production machines. The Division also offers integrated lifecycle solutions and services for industries such as shipbuilding, cement, mining, and pulp and paper. The Customer Services Division offers a comprehensive portfolio of services and supports industrial customers.

Energy

The Energy Sector offers a spectrum of products, solutions and services for generating and transmitting power, and for extracting, converting and transporting oil and gas. The Fossil Power Generation Division offers products and solutions for fossil-based power generation. The Division concentrates on products and solutions for gas and steam turbines, turbo generators, heat recovery steam generators including control systems, with an emphasis on combined-cycle power plants. It also develops solutions for instrumentation and control systems for all types of power plants and for use in power generation. The Wind Power Division manufactures wind turbines for onshore and offshore applications, including both geared turbines and direct drive machines. The product portfolio is based on four product platforms, two for each of the onshore and offshore applications. The Oil ! & Gas Div! ision has a comprehensive portfolio of rotating machinery (gas turbines, steam turbines, compressors with associated equipment) and electrical, instrumentation and telecommunication (EIT) solutions. The Power Transmission Division provides customers with turnkey power transmission solutions as well as discrete products, systems and related engineering and services. It covers high-voltage transmission solutions, power and distribution transformers, high-voltage switching and non-switching products and systems, and alternating and direct current transmission systems. The Energy Service Division offers comprehensive services for products, solutions and technologies, covering performance enhancements, maintenance services, customer trainings and consulting services for the Divisions Fossil Power Generation, Wind Power and Oil & Gas. The Wind Power Division is active in both the onshore and the offshore market segments globally. Power Transmission Division is expanding infrastructure in emerging countries, equipment replacement and modernization in mature economies, and integration of renewable energies.

Healthcare

The Healthcare Sector offers customers a comprehensive portfolio of medical solutions across the treatment chain-ranging from medical imaging to in-vitro diagnostics to interventional systems and clinical information technology systems-all from a single source. In addition, the Sector provides technical maintenance, professional and consulting services, and, together with Financial Services (SFS), financing to assist customers in purchasing the Sector�� products. The Healthcare Sector includes four Divisions: Imaging & Therapy Systems, Clinical Products, Diagnostics and Customer Solutions. The Sector also includes one sector-led Business Unit, Audiology Solutions. In addition to its Sector-level financial results, Healthcare also separately breaks out financial results for the Diagnostics Division.

The Imaging & Therapy Systems Division provides large-scale! medical ! devices for diagnostic imaging and for image-guided therapies. Imaging equipment includes computed tomographs, magnetic resonance imaging equipment, angiography systems for diagnostics, and positron emission tomography. The Clinical Products Division mainly comprises the business with ultrasound and X-ray equipment including mammography. The Diagnostics Division offers products and services in the area of in-vitro diagnostics. The Division�� product portfolio represents a comprehensive range of diagnostic testing systems and consumables, including offerings for clinical chemistry and immunodiagnostics, molecular diagnostics, hematology, hemostasis, microbiology, point-of-care testing and clinical laboratory automation solutions. The Customer Solutions Division provides healthcare information technology (HIT) systems. It is responsible for the Sector�� service business and customer relationship management on a global level.

Equity Investments

The Equity Investments comprises equity stakes held by Siemens that are accounted for by the equity method, at cost or as current available-for-sale financial assets and for strategic reasons are not allocated to a Sector, SFS, Centrally managed portfolio activities, Siemens Real Estate (SRE), Corporate items or Corporate Treasury. Its main investments within Equity Investments are its stake of 50% in BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgerate GmbH (BSH), its stake of 17% in OSRAM Licht AG (OSRAM) as well as its 49% stake in Enterprise Networks Holdings B.V. (EN).

Financial Services

Financial Services provides a variety of financial services and products to other Siemens units and their customers and to third parties. SFS has three strategic pillars: supporting Siemens units with finance solutions for their customers, managing financial risks of Siemens and offering third-party finance services and products. SFS��business can be divided into capital business and fee business. The Commercial Finance Business Unit offers! a compre! hensive range of solutions for equipment financing, leasing, rental and related financing for equipment supplied by Siemens or third-party providers. The Venture Capital Business Segment�� main task, together with Siemens��Sectors, is to identify and finance young companies worldwide. The Treasury Business Unit operates the global Corporate Treasury of the Siemens Group, with SFS employee�� thereby managing liquidity, cash and financial risks (interest, foreign exchange, commodities) on behalf of Corporate Treasury. The Financing & Investment Management Business Unit manages fee-based receivables and offers investment management services. The Insurance Business Unit acts primarily as an insurance broker for Siemens and external customers.

Infrastructure & Cities

The Infrastructure & Cities Sector offers a range of technologies for the sustainability of metropolitan centers and urban infrastructures worldwide, such as integrated mobility solutions, building and security systems, power distribution equipment, smart grid applications and low and medium-voltage products. The Sector consists of five Divisions: Rail Systems; Mobility and Logistics; Low and Medium Voltage; Smart Grid; and Building Technologies. The Rail Systems Division comprises Siemens��rail vehicle business, encompassing the entire spectrum of rolling stock-including high-speed trains, commuter trains, passenger coaches, metros, people movers, light rail vehicles, locomotives, bogies, traction systems and rail-related services. The Mobility and Logistics Division primarily provides products, solutions (including IT solutions) and services for rail transportation operating systems, such as central control systems, interlockings and automated controls. The Division also provides offerings for road traffic, including traffic detection, information and guidance systems.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Andrew Tonner]

  There's no doubt about it:�Nokia (NYSE: NOK  ) is back. Having weathered the tough times (layoffs, plant closures, and the like), the company says it's now headed toward greener pastures. And from all appearances, it is. The company has launched a highly visible line of new smartphones it envisions competing globally, and it's working furiously to right the ship at its communication equipment joint venture Nokia-Siemens� (NYSE: SI  ) . Will this turnaround be successful? In this video, Fool contributor Andrew Tonner gives his take on how long-term investors should approach Nokia today.

• [By Yasir Idrees]

  Coming towards NSN, this is another huge business for the company, which is likely to continue growing in the near future. This particular business has been a recent cash cow for Nokia and has helped the company reduce its losses resulting from other business divisions. Previously known as the Nokia Siemens Network, buying out Siemens' (SI) stake from the division makes this a more independent unit that Nokia could focus on.

• [By Louie Grint]

  A discouraging diagnosis
  Second, here's a well-known global leader in most of its key businesses: Siemens AG (NYSE: SI  ) .

  In this case, the company reported a lackluster fourth quarter, with a year-over-year decrease in both revenue and earnings. Revenue and orders dropped 1% to 21.2 billion euros and 21 billion euros, respectively.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Siemens (SI) has fallen 1.2% after it fired 15,000 workers in an attempt to catch General Electric (GE).

  Johnson Controls�(JCI) has dropped 3% to $41.26 after it was downgraded to Underweight from Overweight.

Top 10 Safest Companies To Own For 2014: Hillenbrand Inc(HI)

Hillenbrand, Inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells funeral service products to licensed funeral directors operating licensed funeral homes. The company?s products include burial caskets, cremation caskets, containers, vaults, urns, and selection room display fixturing for funeral homes, as well as other personalization and memorialization products and services, including Web-based applications, and the creation and hosting of Websites for licensed funeral homes. It markets its products under the Batesville and Options brand name through direct sales force in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The company also designs, produces, markets, sells, and services bulk solids material handling equipment and systems for various industrial markets, including plastics, food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation, coal mining, pulp and paper, frac sand, industrial minerals, agribusiness, recycling, wood and forest pr oducts, and biomass energy generation. It offers feeders and pneumatic conveying equipment under the K-Tron brand name; and size reduction equipment, such as hammer mills, double-roll crushers, wood and bark hogs, chip sizers, screening equipment, pneumatic and mechanical conveying systems, storage/reclamation systems, and specialty crushers and other equipment under the Pennsylvania Crusher, Gundlach, and Jeffrey Rader brand names. In addition, the company manufactures dry material separation machines that sort dry, granular products based on the particle?s size serving various industries, including frac sand, potash, urea, phosphates, chemical, agricultural, plastics, and food processing. The company sells its material handling equipment and systems worldwide through a combination of a direct sales force, and a network of independent sales representatives and distributors. Hillenbrand, Inc. was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Batesville, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Tuesday

  Earnings Expected: Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD), Hillenbrand Inc (NYSE: HI), Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) Economic Releases Expected: German retail sales, French consumer confidence, German unemployment rate, eurozone CPI, eurozone PPI, US trade balance, US redbook

  Wednesday

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Hillenbrand Inc. (HI), a diversified industrial company, makes and sells business-to-business products and services for various industries worldwide. Dec. 4, the company increased is quarterly dividend 1.3% to $0.1975 per share. the dividend is payable Dec. 31, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 17, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.

Top 10 Safest Companies To Own For 2014: Ferro Corporation (FOE)

Ferro Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty materials and chemicals in the United States and internationally. It operates in six segments: Performance Coatings, Electronic Materials, Color and Glass Performance Materials, Polymer Additives, Specialty Plastics, and Pharmaceuticals. The company provides electronic, color, and glass materials, including conductive metal powders, polishing materials, glazes, enamels, pigments, decoration colors, and other performance materials. It also offers polymer and ceramic engineered materials, such as polymer additives, engineered plastic compounds, pigment dispersions, glazes, frits, porcelain enamel, pigments, inks, and high-potency pharmaceutical active ingredients. The company provides its products for a range of applications in various markets, such as appliances, automobiles, building and renovation, electronics, household furnishings, industrial products, packaging, and pharmaceuticals. The com pany sells its products to manufacturers of ceramic tile, major appliances, construction materials, automobile parts, glass, bottles, vinyl flooring and wall coverings, and pharmaceuticals directly, as well as through agents and distributors. Ferro Corporation was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By alicet236]

  President and CEO of Ferro Corp (FOE) Peter T. Thomas bought 20,000 shares on Aug. 7, 2013 at an average price of $6.8. The total transaction amount was $136,000.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Ferro (NYSE: FOE  ) now has a new man in its CEO office. The company's board has installed Peter Thomas as its chief executive and president, effective immediately. Since last November, he had served in an interim capacity in both positions.

• [By Sally Jones]

  Up 385% over 12 months, Ferro Corp. (FOE) is an enameling company that provides manufacturers with specialty materials and chemicals to enhance product functionality, durability or beauty. The company reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013 with net sales at $408.1 million, almost flat with net sales of $408.9 million in the same quarter of 2012. Ferro Corp.�� gross profit was $84.2 million for the reporting quarter, up from $60.7 million in the same quarter one year ago. Ferro�� net income in the third quarter of 2013 was $12.7 million, bouncing from a net loss of ($316.1) million in the third quarter a year ago. Adjusted net income was $12.5 million, up from a net loss of ($1.9) in the third quarter of 2012. Adjusted earnings per diluted share were $0.14 for the reporting quarter, up from a net loss of ($0.02) per share in the same quarter of 2012. Ferro expects adjusted earnings for the fourth quarter of 2013 to be around $0.04 to $0.07 per diluted share, resulting in adjusted earnings of $0.42 to $0.45 per diluted share, for the full year.

Top 10 Safest Companies To Own For 2014: WPCS International Incorporated(WPCS)

WPCS International Incorporated provides design-build engineering services for communications infrastructure. The company operates in three segments: Electrical Power, Wireless Communication, and Specialty Construction. The Electrical Power segment provides electrical contracting services to help commercial and industrial facilities for upgrading power systems; and creates integrated building systems, including the installation of structured cabling systems and electrical networks, as well as supports the integration of telecommunications, fire protection, security, and HVAC. The Wireless Communication segment designs and deploys wireless network solutions comprising Wi-Fi networks, point-to-point systems, mesh networks, microwave systems, cellular networks, in-building systems, and two-way communication systems. The Specialty Construction segment offers specialty construction services for building design, such as the design and integration of mechanical, electrical, hydra ulic, and life safety systems. The company provides its services to public services, healthcare, energy, and corporate enterprise markets worldwide. WPCS International Incorporated was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Barbara Kollmeyer]

  Shares of WPCS International Inc. (WPCS) �were up 40% in thin premarket trading. The company said Thursday that one of its units released a software platform for bitcoin traders.

• [By Steven Russolillo]

  WPCS International(WPCS) surged 21% in the extended session late Thursday after the firm said its BTX Trader unit had launched a platform for bitcoin traders.

• [By Ben Eisen]

  WPCS (WPCS) launched a beta version of BTX Trader, which is set to be used to gather data and execute trades on five exchanges for bitcoin, a virtual currency that has been highly volatile in recent weeks. Shares in WPCS were up 54% premarket.

Top 10 Safest Companies To Own For 2014: ICSGlobal Ltd (ICS)

ICSGlobal Limited is an Australia-based company. The principal activities of the Company during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), were the operations of a holding company in Australia with a 100% owned subsidiary providing medical billing services in the United Kingdom. As of June 30, 2012, the Company owned Medical Billing and Collections (MBC) in the United Kingdom. The Company has owned a number of operating companies in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. As of June 30, 2012, the Company is focused on new business opportunities. As of June 30, 2012, the Company�� subsidiaries included Thelma Pty Ltd, EziBill Pty Ltd and Thelma-EU Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  This week a few companies answered the call and rewarded their shareholders with higher cash dividends:
  
  Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED) engages in regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $0.63 per share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 12, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.
  
  Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ), a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, develops, and manages real estate portfolio, as well as performs certain real estate-related services. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 66.7% to $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
  
  Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC) generates and distributes electric energy, as well as distributes natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Utility Energy and Non-Utility Energy. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.3900 per share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.
  
  BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14.9% to $1.93 per share. The dividend is payable March 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 7, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
  
  ONEOK Inc. (OKE) operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. January 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable February 18, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.
  
  Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (OHI) is a real es

• [By ovenerio]

  In this article, let's take a look at Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a $15.79 billion market cap company, which is a company that manufactures high-performance integrated circuits (ICs) used in analog and digital signal processing applications.

Top 10 Safest Companies To Own For 2014: Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (PETR3)

Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (Petrobras) is a Brazil-based integrated oil and gas company. The Company divides its activities into seven segments: Exploration and Production; Refining, Transportation and Marketing; Gas and Power; Biofuel; Distribution and International. Directly or through its subsidiaries, Petrobras is engaged in the research, extraction, refining, processing, trade and transport of oil from wells, shale and other rocks, its derivatives, natural gas and other liquid hydrocarbons, as well as in activities related to energy, development, production, transport, distribution and commercialization of energy. The Company's offering comprises road transportation products such as Automotive Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, Natural Vehicular Gas, Lubrax; agriculture and cattle raising products such as Sunflower Meal, among others; Industrial products such as Solvents and Paraffins, among others. The Company provides its services both for individual and business clients. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Julia Leite]

  Brazil�� Ibovespa rose 1.2 percent, reversing a decline of as much as 0.9 percent, as Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR3), Brazil�� state-run crude producer, surged. The real added 1.5 percent.

• [By Maria Levitov]

  Brazil�� Ibovespa advanced amid speculation that a three-session slump for Brazil�� benchmark equity index was excessive. Usiminas, as Usinas de Minas Gerais is known, rose 7.5 percent, while oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR3) contributed the most to the gauge�� advance.