Top 5 Japanese Companies To Invest In Right Now

Takeshi Fujimaki, a former adviser to billionaire George Soros and now a member of Japan's upper house of parliament, said a fiscal crisis in Asia's second- biggest economy is inevitable and neither a higher sales tax nor the 2020 Olympics will be able to stop it.

“I decided to become a politician because I think financial crisis will come sooner or later,” Fujimaki said in a Sept. 24 interview in Tokyo. “This total debt will continue to increase. I don't think Japan can survive until 2020.”

Yields on 10-year Japanese government bonds may jump to 70% based on what happened in Russia when it defaulted in 1998, Fujimaki said. The benchmark yield is now the lowest in the world at 0.68% and the cost to protect the sovereign debt from default is near a four-month low at 62 basis points.

Top 10 Valued Stocks To Watch Right Now: Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc (MACK)

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated in 1993, is a biopharmaceutical company discovering, developing and preparing to commercialize medicines paired with companion diagnostics for the treatment of serious diseases, with an initial focus on cancer. The Company�� product candidates include MM-398, MM-121, MM-111, MM-302 and MM-151. As of June 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 74% interest of Silver Creek.

The Company�� Network biology is an interdisciplinary approach to drug discovery and development that enables the Company to build functional and predictive computational models of biological systems based on quantitative, kinetic, multiplexed biological data. The Company provides its scientists with insights into how the complex molecular interactions that occur within cell signaling pathways, or networks, regulate cell decisions and how dysfunction within these networks leads to disease. The Company applies network biology throughout the research and development process, including for target identification, lead compound design and optimization, diagnostic discovery, in vitro and in vivo predictive development and the design of clinical trial protocols.

MM-398

MM-398 is a stable nanotherapeutic encapsulation, or enclosed sphere carrying an active drug, of the marketed chemotherapy drug irinotecan. MM-398 achieved its primary efficacy endpoints in Phase 2 clinical trials in pancreatic and gastric cancer. In an open label, single arm Phase 2 clinical trial of MM-398 as a monotherapy in 40 metastatic pancreatic cancer patients who had previously failed treatment with gemcitabine, patients treated with MM-398 achieved median overall survival of 22.4 weeks. Additionally, 20% of the patients in this Phase 2 trial survived for more than one year, and the Company observed a disease control rate, meaning patients exhibited stable disease or partial or complete response to treatment, of 47.5% at six weeks.

The Company focuses on initiati! ng a Phase 3 clinical trial of MM-398 for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have previously failed treatment with gemcitabine. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 250 patients and is designed to compare the efficacy of MM-398 as a monotherapy against the combination of the chemotherapy drugs fluorouracil, or 5-FU, and leucovorin. There are multiple ongoing Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of MM-398. In July 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted MM-398 orphan drug designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

MM-121

MM-121 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets ErbB3, a cell surface receptor, or protein attached to the cell membrane that mediates communication inside and outside the cell, that the Company�� network biology approach identified as a target in a range of cancers. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein normally produced by cells of the immune system that binds to just one epitope, or chemical structure, on a protein or other structure. MM-121 is designed to inhibit cancer growth directly, restore sensitivity to drugs to which a tumor has become resistant and delay the development of resistance of a tumor to other agents. In collaboration with Sanofi, the Company focuses on testing MM-121 in combination with both chemotherapies and other targeted agents across a range of spectrum of solid tumors, including lung, breast and ovarian cancers. The Company partnered MM-121 with Sanofi after it initiated Phase 1 clinical development of the product candidate.

MM-111

MM-111 is a bispecific antibody designed to target cancer cells that are characterized by overexpression of the ErbB2 cell surface receptor, also referred to as HER2. A bispecific antibody is a type of antibody that is able to bind simultaneously to two distinct proteins or epitopes. The Company�� network biology approach identified that ligand-induced signaling through the complex of ErbB2 ! (HER2) an! d ErbB3 is a promoter of tumor growth and survival than previously appreciated.

MM-302

MM-302 is a nanotherapeutic encapsulation of doxorubicin with attached antibodies that are designed to target MM-302 to cells that over express the ErbB2 (HER2) receptor. The Company is conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of MM-302 in patients with advanced ErbB2 (HER2) positive breast cancer.

MM-151

MM-151 is an oligoclonal therapeutic consisting of a mixture of three fully human monoclonal antibodies designed to bind to non-overlapping epitopes of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR is also known as ErbB1. An oligoclonal therapeutic is a mixture of two or more distinct monoclonal antibodies. The Company has designed MM-151 to block signal amplification that occurs within the ErbB cell signaling network. The Company has submitted an investigational new drug application (IND), to the FDA for MM-151 in July 2011.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MACK) dipped 15.38% to $2.86 after the company reported that Phase 2 study Of MM-121 missed primary endpoint.

  IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) shares fell 14.51% to $49.50 in the pre-market trading after the company reported downbeat Q3 revenue.

• [By Keith Speights]

  Not so merry
  Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MACK  ) shareholders have had reason to party since early May, with the stock surging more than 60%. The merriment came to a stop this week, though, as shares tanked by 27%.

Top 5 Japanese Companies To Invest In Right Now: Silver Standard Resources Inc(SSRI)

Silver Standard Resources Inc. engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral resource properties in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. The company primarily explores for silver, gold, tin, zinc, lead, and copper deposits. Its principal projects include Pirquitas project located in the Province of Jujuy, Argentina; San Luis project in central Peru; Pitarrilla and San Agustin projects in Durango State, Mexico; and Diablillos project in Salta Province, Argentina. The company was formerly known as Consolidated Silver Standard Mines Limited and changed its name to Silver Standard Resources Inc. on April 9, 1990. Silver Standard Resources Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By STANSBERRYRESEARCH]  Let me start today's essay with an admission...   I have no idea what the price of gold will be by the end of the year. Of course, neither does anyone else.   I've recommended owning gold and silver bullion for many years. My company began recommending it repeatedly in the early 2000s because we saw the government's efforts to weaken the dollar as a bullish sign for gold prices.   Then in 2006, I began to see that we were inevitably heading for a currency crisis. These weak-dollar policies had continued for far too long and were joined by huge increases to both public and private debts. That's when I began warning about the ultimate loss of our dollar's world reserve currency status, something I've called the "End of America."    So for nearly seven years, I've been telling people that, whether gold looked expensive or not, it was prudent... or even necessary... to own some as insurance. I still believe that's true. I personally own gold. I've never sold a single ounce.   I hold gold because I believe the entire global system of paper money and central banking is in the process of self-destructing. And I believe in a relatively short time – perhaps five or 10 years – the existing monetary system will collapse. During this period of turmoil, I expect gold and silver will maintain their purchasing power, while all forms of paper money will be rendered worthless.   I see gold as a form of savings... a universally recognized form of money that is no one else's liability. In that way, it is far superior to any other form of money currently available today.    At the same time... I am fully aware that as the public's awareness of the risks associated with our paper-money system grow, volatility in gold prices will spike. Worse, I knew that as the public began to invest in gold, the likelihood increased for a wicked
• [By Vladimir Zernov]

  If a miner has only one producing mine, this mine must deliver stable performance. This was the case for Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ: SSRI  ) , which had only one producing mine, Pirquitas in Argentina, in the first quarter. However, the company has completed its acquisition of Marigold mine from Goldcorp (NYSE: GG  ) and Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX  ) at the beginning of April, so it started the second quarter with two producing mines.

Top 5 Japanese Companies To Invest In Right Now: Wells Fargo & Company(WFC)

Wells Fargo & Company, through its subsidiaries, provides retail, commercial, and corporate banking services primarily in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Community Banking; Wholesale Banking; and Wealth, Brokerage, and Retirement. The Community Banking segment offers deposits, including checking, market rate, and individual retirement accounts; savings and time deposits; and debit cards. Its loan products comprise lines of credit, auto floor plans, equity lines and loans, equipment and transportation loans, education loans, residential mortgage loans, health savings accounts, and credit cards. This segment also provides equipment leases, real estate financing, small business administration financing, venture capital financing, cash management, payroll services, retirement plans, loans secured by autos, and merchant payment processing services; purchases sales finance contracts from retail merchants; and a family of funds, and investment managemen t services. The Wholesale Banking segment offers commercial and corporate banking products and services, including commercial loans and lines of credit, letters of credit, asset-based lending, equipment leasing, international trade facilities, trade financing, collection services, foreign exchange services, treasury and investment management, institutional fixed-income sales, commodity and equity risk management, insurance, corporate trust fiduciary and agency services, and investment banking services. This segment also provides banking products for commercial real estate market, and real estate and mortgage brokerage services. The Wealth, Brokerage, and Retirement segment offers financial advisory, brokerage, and institutional retirement and trust services. As of December 31, 2010, the company served its customers through approximately 9,000 banking stores in 39 States and the District of Columbia. Wells Fargo & Company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in San Franci sco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jessica Alling]

  Good news first
  In a move that will likely help the bank stay away from litigation, a group of state and federal officials have notified the New York Attorney General's office that no enforcement action will be taken against B of A or�Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC  ) for violations of last year's $25 billion mortgage settlement terms. The NYAG had notified the states and the settlement's overseer that it intended to file suit against the banks for the violations, but it had been temporarily stymied by the banks' request for time to cure the alleged missteps.

• [By Dan Strumpf var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(fu]

  Financial stocks may be outperforming the broader market this year, but that�� not good enough for Wells Fargo(WFC), which is downgrading its rating on the sector.

• [By Chris Hill]

  In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts explain why they're watching J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ: JBHT  ) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC  ) .

• [By Eric Volkman]

  The joint book-running managers of the issue are Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS  ) , Bank of America unit Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo's (NYSE: WFC  ) Securities arm. The offering is expected to close on July 24.

Top 5 Japanese Companies To Invest In Right Now: Hudson Pacific Properties Inc. (HPP)

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. operates as a vertically integrated real estate trust (REIT) in the United States. It engages in owning, operating, and acquiring office, and media and entertainment properties primarily in Northern and Southern California in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and the East Bay. As of March 31, 2011, it owned a portfolio of 15 office properties; and 2 media and entertainment properties in California comprising approximately 4.4 million square feet. The company has elected to be treated as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income tax, provided it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company is based in Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By alicet236]

  CEO of Hudson Pacific Properties Inc. (HPP) Victor J. Coleman bought 7,000 shares on August 15, 2013 at an average price of $20.27. The total transaction amount was $141,890.