Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014

Recent enforcement actions included charges brought by the SEC against two JPMorgan traders associated with the “London Whale” for lying about massive derivatives losses, and against a number of microcap companies, their CEOs and stock promoters in penny stock schemes. In addition, FINRA fined and censured VSR Financial and registered principal Donald Beary over sales of nonconventional investments.

SEC Charges Two in London Whale Case

Javier Martin-Artajo and Julien Grout, former traders at JPMorgan Chase & Co., were charged by the SEC with fraudulently overvaluing investments in order to hide massive losses in a portfolio they managed.

The pair worked in JPMorgan’s chief investment office (CIO), which created the portfolio known as the Synthetic Credit Portfolio (SCP) as a hedge against adverse credit events. The portfolio was primarily invested in credit derivative indices and tranches, and Martin-Artajo and Grout were required to mark the portfolio’s investments at fair value in accordance with U.S. GAAP and JPMorgan’s internal accounting policy.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group Inc.(RODM)

Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides investment banking services to public and private companies primarily in the United States and China. It offers corporate finance in a range of financing alternatives, including private placements, private investments in public equity, registered direct offerings, and public offerings. The company also offers strategic advisory services on various transactions comprising mergers, acquisitions, and asset sales; sales and trading services; and equity research services to institutional investors. In addition, it designs investment conferences that bring together companies, institutional investors, business development executives, and experts. Further, the company makes principal investments in early-stage biotechnology and life sciences companies. Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc. serves the life science/healthcare, energy, metals/mining, financial services, and cleantech sectors. The company was foun ded in 2002 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Capitaretail China Trust (AU8U.SI)

CapitaRetail China Trust operates as a real estate investment trust in Singapore. It invests in a portfolio of retail real estate properties located primarily in the People�s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The company�s portfolio include eight shopping malls located in Beijing; Shanghai; Zhengzhou, Henan Province; Huhhot, Inner Mongolia; and Wuhu, Anhui Province. CapitaRetail China Trust was formed on October 23, 2006 and is based in Singapore.

Top 10 Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Pirelli&c Real E(PCRE.MI)

Pirelli & C. Real Estate S.p.A. is a real estate arm of Pirelli & C. S.p.a. The firm engages in investment, development, and management of properties. It invests in the real estate markets of Italy, Germany, and Poland. The firm?s portfolio includes both commercial and residential properties. Pirelli & C. Real Estate S.p.A. is based in Milan, Italy. Prelios SpA (CM:PRS) operates independently of Pirelli & C. SpA as of October 21, 2010.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Home Properties Inc. (HME)

Home Properties, Inc. is an independent real estate investment trust. The firm invests in the real estate markets of the United States. It is engaged in the ownership, management, acquisition, rehabilitation and development of residential apartment communities. The firm also invests in townhomes and offices. Home Properties, Inc. was founded in November 1993 and is based in Rochester, New York.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Independent Bank Corporation(IBCP)

Independent Bank Corporation operates as a holding company for the Independent Bank that provides various retail and commercial banking services in Michigan. The company offers various deposit products, including non-interest bearing demand deposits, time deposits, checking and savings accounts, and NOW accounts. It also provides commercial lending, direct and indirect consumer financing, mortgage lending, and safe deposit box services. The company, through its other subsidiaries, offers payment plans used by consumers to purchase vehicle service contracts and title insurance services, as well as provides investment and insurance services. As of May 2, 2011, it operated approximately 100 offices across Michigan?s Lower Peninsula. The company was founded in 1864 and is based in Ionia, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Harding]

  Independent Bank is a commercial bank in Michigan. It provides checking and savings accounts, commercial lending, direct and indirect consumer financing and mortgage lending.

  Shares of the Michigan company climbed after Independent Bank said its net loss applicable to shareholders shrank to $4.9 million, or 65 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, compared to a year-earlier loss of $48.2 million, or $20.49 a share. On Feb. 16, Independent Bank announced its senior management succession plan, although shares pulled back shortly after when the company announced the unregistered sale of 253,000 shares of common stock to Dutchess Opportunity Fund II as part of an investment agreement established in July 2010.

  Current Share Price: $3.23 (March 29)

  First Quarter Total Return: 148%

  Analyst Ratings: Stifel Nicolaus is the only research firm currently following Independent Bank, recommending that investors hold on to shares.

  TheStreet Ratings has a "sell" rating on Independent Bank, noting that despite the recent stock rally, shares are down sharply in the past two years and underperform the S&P 500. "Investors have so far failed to pay much attention to the earnings improvements the company has managed to achieve over the last quarter," the March 20 research note reads.