Best Japanese Stocks To Own For 2014

A review of prior week market movers that should continue exerting influence this week

Here's a rundown of fundamental and technical forces that moved markets last week and which are likely to continue exerting influence this week.

FUNDAMENTALS

Here's a rundown o f the main fundamental market drivers from last week that should continue to exert influence into this week and beyond.

1. - 2. Central Banks

On Thursday the BoJ boosted markets and the ECB knocked them down. We expect to see the impact of these central bank moves continue to influence markets this week.

1. BOJ Feeds Short Yen, Long Japanese Stock Trade

Last week the BoJ met expectations for a bold new easing plan, about 75% the size of the Fed's, for an economy only about one-third the size of the US. Japanese and related Asian equity and other risk asset markets loved it because:

They anticipate a boost to risk asset prices similar to that seen in the US from the Fed's stimulus programs.The asset purchases at the heart of the new program are done with new printed money, and that should devalue the JPY. Unlike the US, Japan is an export-oriented economy, so there should be at least some short term jump in exports.Markets are simply ignoring the potentially huge long term risks Japan is taking. Everyone knows what they are, but for now investors are happy to take the short term trade and not worry about the future.

As we've noted repeatedly in past posts, Japan cannot remain solvent without continued low borrowing costs, yet the massive new easing threatens to send those costs to levels that could bankrupt Japan.

Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2015: Epazz Inc (EPAZ)

EPAZZ, Inc., incorporated on March 23, 2000, develops a Web portal infrastructure operating system product called BoxesOS v3.0. The Company offers seven primary product lines. The Epazz BoxesOS v3.0 product is offered through Epazz, Inc., the Desk/Flex Software product is offered through Desk Flex, Inc., the Agent Power product is offered through Professional Resource Management, Inc., the AutoHire software is offered through Epazz, Inc., IntelliSys offers the Integrated Plant Management Control (IPMC) software product, K9 Bytes offers a series of Point of Sale software products for pet care, boarding and retail pet stores. In July 2012, the Company acquired K9 Bytes Software. In August 2012, the Company acquired MS Health Software Corporation (MS Health), a cloud-based solution for behavioral healthcare, mental health and social services providers.

BoxesOS provides a Web portal infrastructure operating system designed to satisfaction of key stakeholders (students, faculty, alumni, employees, and clients). BoxesOS creates sources of revenue for Alumni Associations and Non-Profit organizations through utilizing a Web platform to conduct e-commerce and provides e-commerce tools for small businesses to easily create my accounts for their customers. BoxesOS can also link a college or university's resources with the business community by allowing businesses to better train their employees by utilizing courseware development from higher education institutions.

Epazz BoxesOS v3.0

Epazz BoxesOS v3.0 (Web Infrastructure Operating System) is the Company's flagship product. Epazz BoxesOS integrates with each organization's back-end systems and provides a customizable personal information system for each stakeholder. The Company's Services include Single sign-on, which provides a single-sign-on with security procedure to protect users' information and identity; Course Management System, which manages distance, traditional courses and Calendar; Enterprise Website Content Man! agement, which manages public sites with multi contributors; Integration Management Services, which integrated into Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Mainframes; E-mail Management, which is an e-mail server and Web client; Instant Messenger Services, which is an instant messaging and alerts; Customer Relationship Management, which includes prospective students and alumni; Calendar/Scheduler Management, which includes event directory, groupware, and personal calendar; Administrative Support Services, which is an online payment services, and Business Services, which includes facility Management and Online Bookstore.

AutoHire Software

The AutoHire system provides a tool to power career centers, post job ads to sites and job boards, and to collect resumes online. One features of the AutoHire system is the interactive question and online screening and ranking system. The interactive question system provides a means for the client to maintain their own library of questions and to attach selected questions to job opportunities posted. Responses obtained can be used to screen and rank candidates to permit hiring managers to focus their attention on only the most suitable candidates.

Desk Flex Software

DFI developed the Desk/Flex Software (Desk/Flex) to enhance the value of businesses' real estate investments and modernize their office space. Desk/Flex lets businesses make better use of office space restrictions by enabling employees to instantly access their workstation tools from multiple areas in and outside of the office. Desk/Flex lets employees reserve space in advance or claim space instantly. It adjusts the telephone switch (Private Branch Exchange (PBX)) so that calls ring at the desk du jour, or go directly to voice mail when a worker is not checked in. Key Features of Desk/Flex include Quick and Easy Check-In, Point-and-Click Floor Maps, PBX Interaction, Web Browser and Local Kiosk Access, Advance Reservations and Occupancy Reports. Desk/Flex i! s respons! ive to office size and needs, servicing small to large businesses. Desk/Flex can be configured to administer a single site or multiple sites locally or remotely. Desk/Flex has full integration capabilities with both Nortel and Avaya, which combined represent the majority of the telecommunications and inbound automatic call distributor (ACD) market.

Agent Power Software

Agent Power Software (Agent Power) is Professional Resource Management, Inc.�� (PRMI's) software line. Agent Power is a suite of six applications. The applications feature workforce management components, which include planning and scheduling; agent adherence; agent performance; automatic call distributor (ACD) group performance; real-time agent status, and info screen. All modules of Agent Power have full integration capabilities with Nortel, Avaya, and ROLM ACDs, and the Planning and Scheduling module works with any modern ACD system.

IntelliSys Software

IntelliSys developed the Integrated Plant Management Control (IPMC) Software, which is a software system design for water and wastewater facility management. IPMC is the technology-based strategy for optimizing operations by automatically collecting, managing, organizing and disseminating information for the operations, management, laboratory, maintenance, and engineering functions.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks IN Media Corp (OTCMKTS: IMDC), Epazz Inc (OTCMKTS: EPAZ) and Polaris International Holdings (OTCMKTS: PIHN) have been busy developing new devices/products or making acquisitions. Moreover, at least two of these small cap stocks have been the subject of paid promotions or investor relations types of activities. Keeping that in mind, will new devices/products or acquisitions help these small caps along with their investors or traders? Here is a closer look:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  It's probably a pretty safe bet that Epazz Inc. (OTCMKTS:EPAZ) isn't a familiar name to most long-term investors. For that matter, EPAZ isn't even a familiar name to short-term traders. Both groups may want to put the stock on their radar though (for different reasons), as the recent action evident on the chart suggests something is brewing here.

Best Japanese Stocks To Own For 2014: Citigroup Inc.(C)

Citigroup, Inc., a global financial services company, provides consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a range of financial products and services. The company operates through two segments, Citicorp and Citi Holdings. The Citicorp segment operates as a global bank for businesses and consumers with two primary businesses, Regional Consumer Banking and Institutional Clients Group. The Regional Consumer Banking business provides traditional banking services, including retail banking, and branded cards in North America, Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Institutional Clients Group business provides securities and banking services comprising investment banking and advisory services, lending, debt and equity sales and trading, institutional brokerage, foreign exchange, structured products, cash instruments and related derivatives, and private banking; and transaction services consisting of treasury and trade solutions, and securiti es and fund services. The Citi Holdings segment operates Brokerage and Asset Management, Local Consumer Lending, and Special Asset Pool businesses. The Brokerage and Asset Management Business, through its 49% stake in Morgan Stanley Smith Barney joint venture and Nikko Cordial Securities, offers retail brokerage and asset management services. The Local Consumer Lending business provides residential mortgage loans, retail partner card loans, personal loans, commercial real estate, and other consumer loans, as well as western European cards and retail banking services. The Special Asset Pool business is a portfolio of securities, loans, and other assets. Citigroup Inc. has approximately 200 million customer accounts and operates in approximately 160 countries. The company was founded in 1812 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer]

  Bank of America's (NYSE: BAC  ) stock doubled in value in 2012, and its rise turned many bears into bulls. On the other hand, over the past year, shares of Citigroup (NYSE: C  ) have had one of the quietest 84% rises you may ever see.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  The joint book-running managers of the offering are Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) unit Merrill Lynch, Citigroup (NYSE: C  ) , Barclays (NYSE: BCS  ) , Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS  ) , Leucadia's (NYSE: LUK  ) Jefferies, UBS, and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) division J.P. Morgan.

Best Japanese Stocks To Own For 2014: AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ACRX)

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of acute and breakthrough pain in the United States. The company develops ARX-01, a Sufentanil NanoTab PCA system, which completed Phase II clinical trial for acute post-operative pain. The Sufentanil NanoTab PCA system consists of sufentanil, a high therapeutic index opioid; NanoTabs, a non-invasive sublingual dosage form; and a handheld PCA device that enables simple patient-controlled delivery of NanoTabs in the hospital setting and eliminates the risk of programming errors. Its products also include ARX-02, a Sufentanil NanoTab BTP Management System that completed Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of cancer breakthrough pain; and ARX-03, a Sufentanil/Triazolam NanoTab, which completed Phase II clinical trial to provide mild sedation, anxiety reduction, and pain relief for patients undergoing painful procedures in a ph ysician?s office. The company was formerly known as SuRx, Inc. and changed its name to AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in August 2006. AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Redwood, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  AcelRx (NASDAQ: ACRX  ) is going to market for a fresh round of funding. The company announced it will float shares of its common stock in an underwritten public flotation. Additionally, the firm expects to grant the issue's underwriters a 30-day purchase option for up to an additional 15% of the total amount of the shares in the offering.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  AcelRx (NASDAQ: ACRX  ) has slapped a price tag on its recently announced common stock offering. The company's shares will be sold to the market in an underwritten public flotation at a cost of $11.65 apiece. The firm has also granted its underwriters a 30-day purchase option for up to an additional 570,000 shares.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is AcelRx Pharmaceuticals (ACRX), which is involved in the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of acute and breakthrough pain. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up big by 150%.

  If you take a look at the chart for AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending modestly for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $8.94 to its recent high of $11.52 a share. During that uptrend, shares of ACRX have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ACRX within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ACRX if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $11.36 to $11.52 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 635,439 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ACRX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $12.50 to its all-time high at $13.50 a share. Any high-volume move above $13.50 will then give ACRX a chance to tag $15 a share.

  Traders can look to buy ACRX off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $10.35 to $10 a share. One can also buy ACRX 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.

Best Japanese Stocks To Own For 2014: L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (LLL)

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, L-3 Communications Corporation, provides command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems; aircraft modernization and maintenance; and government services in the United States and internationally. Its C3ISR segment offers fleet management sustainment and support, such as procurement, systems integration, sensor development, modifications, and periodic depot maintenance for signals intelligence and communications intelligence systems; strategic and tactical signals intelligence systems; secure data links; secure terminal and communication network equipment and encryption management; and communication systems. The company?s Government Services segment provides communication software support, information technology services, and various engineering development services and integration support; engineering and information systems support services; teaching and training; h uman intelligence support services; command and control systems and software services; and technical and management services. Its Aircraft Modernization and Maintenance segment offers modernization and refurbishments, upgrades and sustainment, maintenance, and logistics support services, as well as turnkey aviation life cycle management services for military and various government and commercial customers. The company?s Electronic Systems segment provides components, products, subsystems, systems, and related services across various business areas, including power and control systems, electro-optic/infrared, microwave, simulation and training, precision engagement, warrior systems, security and detection, propulsion systems, avionics and displays, telemetry and advanced technology, undersea warfare, and marine services. L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  "Hey! Who's Flying This Thing?" you may ask. Well, assuming you're talking about unmanned aerial vehicles, chances are that at least initially, the answer to that question is going to be L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL  ) .

• [By Rich Smith]

  The Department of Defense announced $209.1 million worth of new contract awards Thursday. Notable winners that are also publicly traded companies include:

  Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT  ) Mission Systems and Training division won a $29.5 million contract to supply computer cabinets, consoles, cables, and switches that will be used in testing Japan's modernized Aegis antimissile defense systems.�Lockheed is expected to complete work on this contract by June 2014. United Technologies' (NYSE: UTX  ) Pratt and Whitney subsidiary won a $12.1 million contract� to supply vane assemblies by Feb. 28, 2014.� L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL  ) was awarded a $9.1 million contract to perform sustainment operations and management services required by the Peace Pioneer Core and Depot/System Integrated Laboratory Sustainment Program in South Korea through March 31, 2015.

  Additionally, an $18.2 million contract was awarded to privately held drone manufacturer General Atomics, which will do depot activation work for Air Force MQ-1 Predator drones and MQ--9 Reapers at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, Warner-Robins AFB in Georgia, and Tinker AFB in Oklahoma.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's tragic that it took a tragedy like last year's shooting at a Newton, Connecticut elementary school to get the ball rolling. Nevertheless, that ball is rolling now, and it's putting companies like L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LLL), View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM), and American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI) in the spotlight. How so? Because VSYM, ASEI, and LLL make the tools that are, unfortunately, going to be the only way to absolutely ensure this nation's public schools are secure, and defended from gunmen like Newton's Adam Lanza.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Technology sector was the top decliner in the market on Thursday. Top losers in the sector included QuickLogic (NASDAQ: QUIK), Glu Mobile (NASDAQ: GLUU), and L-3 Communications Holdings (NYSE: LLL).