Top 5 Promising Companies To Invest In Right Now

Less then three hours till the closing bell, and Citigroup (NYSE: C  ) is down 0.32% for the day but up 5.71% for the week. The story is similar for the rest of the Big Four banks and for the broader markets, as well. We seem to be at the start of yet another market correction. Let's hope it's a mild one.

Two weeks of tumult
A week and a half ago, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke announced that quantitative easing might start being tapered back later this year if U.S. economic data continued trending positively. Investors around the world ignored the "might" and the "if" in Bernanke's statement and instead assumed the worst, sending markets crashing last Thursday and Friday. But beginning Monday, U.S. markets came back strongly, until today.

To add gasoline to the global-markets fire, a crackdown on China's shadow-banking sector sparked fears of a credit crunch in China. A hawkish statement by the country's central bank didn't help matters, and the People's Bank of China quickly changed its tune, promising to backstop any Chinese bank experiencing a cash shortfall.

Top Japanese Companies To Buy For 2015: Valhi Inc.(VHI)

Valhi, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the chemicals, component products, and waste management businesses. Its Chemicals segment produces and markets titanium dioxide pigment, a white inorganic pigment used to impart whiteness, brightness, and opacity for applications, such as coatings, plastics and paper, inks, food, and cosmetics. It also mines ilmenite in Norway. The company?s Component Products segment manufactures mechanical and electrical cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms, including disc tumbler locks, pin tumbler locking mechanisms, and electronic locks for the postal, transportation, furniture, banking, vending, general cabinetry, and other industries. Its security products are used in various applications, including ignition systems, mailboxes, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, vending and gaming machines, high security medical cabinetry, electrical circuit panels, storage compartments, gas station security, bank bags, and p arking meters. It also provides furniture components comprising precision ball bearing slides and ergonomic computer support systems for use in applications, such as file cabinets, desk drawers, computer related equipment, home appliances, tool storage cabinets, imaging equipment, and automated teller machines. In addition, this segment manufactures and distributes stainless steel exhaust components, gauges, throttle controls, hardware, and accessories primarily for performance boats. Valhi?s Waste Management segment engages in processing, treating, storing, and disposing hazardous, toxic, and low-level radioactive wastes. This segment serves chemical, aerospace, and electronics businesses, as well as governmental agencies. Valhi also offers insurance brokerage and risk management services; holds marketable securities; provides utility services; and owns and develops properties. The company was founded in 1932 and is based in Dallas, Texas. Valhi, Inc. is a subsidiary of Co ntran Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons died over the weekend with investors sending shares of some of his publically traded companies like Valhi, Inc (NYSE: VHI), Kronos Worldwide, Inc (NYSE: KRO), NL Industries, Inc (NYSE: NL) and�CompX International Inc (NYSEMKT: CIX)to higher levels as they anticipate changes���such as asset sales or spin offs. Harold Simmons was the embodiment of the American dream because he was born during the depths of the Great Depression in Golden, Texas to schoolteacher parents and he spent�his early years living without indoor plumbing or electricity. However and by recognizing�underpriced assets and through the use of massive amounts of leverage (e.g. junk bonds),�he built an empire and�ranked #40 on the 2013 Forbes 400 with a fortune estimated to be worth some $10 billion.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Typically, when the chairman of a company dies, its shares drop. That hasn’t been the case for Valhi (VHI), Kronos Worldwide (KRO) and NL Industries (NL), which have all advanced today after Harold Simmons passed away.

Top 5 Promising Companies To Invest In Right Now: Opus International Consultants Ltd (OIC)

Opus International Consultants Limited is a supplier of multidisciplinary consultancy and project management services across a range of disciplines including, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, and planning, environmental, architectural and property management. The Company operates in four segments: New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Services supplied support asset development and asset management activities of the Company�� clients. Asset management services include property management and asset maintenance services predominantly using our engineering and environmental specialists. Asset development services include civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, planning, environmental and architectural work. Effective September 3, 2013, Opus International Consultants Ltda majority-owned unit of Opus Group Bhd acquired Stewart, Weir & Co Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John McCamant]

  Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) is expected to get FDA approval this year for its lead drug naloxegol, a once-a-day pill for opioid-induced constipation (OIC). The drug is licensed to AstraZeneca. NKTR will receive up to $245 million in milestone payments, plus royalties.

Top 5 Promising Companies To Invest In Right Now: Providence Resources Corp (PV)

Providence Resources Corp. (Providence) is a Canada-based exploration stage company engaged in the evaluation and exploration of its interests in the Iron Range property (the property) located in south-eastern British Columbia near the community of Creston. The Iron Range Project is located near Creston, in Southeastern British Columbia, and spans 56,200 hectares (560 square kilometers). The project is a Joint Venture between Providence Resources (60%) and Eagle Plains Resources Ltd (40%) and has no underlying royalties or encumbrances. The Iron Range property covers over 50 kilometers(km) strike length of the Iron Mountain Fault (IMF) complex which consists of a number of north-striking faults which occur across an east-west extent of about three kilometers and a strike extent of approximately 90 kilometers. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John McCamant]

  Of interest, INCY's guidance assumes no meaningful contribution from a Jakafi approval in polycythemia vera (PV), which could occur before yearend. PV is a type of blood cancer.

Top 5 Promising Companies To Invest In Right Now: Servotronics Inc.(SVT)

Servotronics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of technology and consumer products primarily in the United States. It operates in two segments, Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and Consumer Products Group (CPG). The ATG segment designs, manufactures, and markets various servo-control components that convert an electrical current into a mechanical force or movement, and other related products. Its servo-control components include torque motors, electromagnetic actuators, hydraulic valves, pneumatic valves, and similar devices that are principally sold to commercial aerospace, missile, aircraft, government related, medical, and industrial markets. This segment also produces metallic seals in various cross-sectional configurations that are used to fit between two metal surfaces to produce a secure and leak-proof joint. The ATG segment markets its products primarily through its professional staff to the United States Govern ment, government prime contractors, government subcontractors, commercial manufacturers, and end users. The CPG segment designs, manufactures, and sells various cutlery products, including steak, carving, bread, butcher, and paring knives for household use and for use in restaurants, institutions, and private industry; pocket and other types of knives for use in hunting, fishing, and camping; and machetes, bayonets, and other types of knives for military use. This segment also produces and markets other cutlery items, such as specialty tools, putty knives, linoleum sheet cutters, field knives, and other edged products. The CPG segment markets its products through sales personnel and independent manufacturers? representatives to hardware, supermarket, variety, department, discount, gift, and drug stores, as well as to various branches of the United States Government primarily under the ?Old Hickory? and ?Queen? brand names. Servotronics, Inc. was founded in 1959 and is based in Elma, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sarah Jones]

  Societe Generale SA, Barclays Plc and Deutsche Bank AG led a selloff in banks, with each falling more than 2 percent. Severn Trent Plc (SVT) sank the most since October 2006 after a consortium of investors dropped their bid for the water utility. Kabel Deutschland Holding AG jumped 8.2 percent after Vodafone Group Plc confirmed it approached the company about a takeover.

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Severn Trent Plc (SVT) advanced 2.5 percent to 2,070 pence, snapping four days of losses. Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc. and its partners boosted their offer to acquire the water utility to 5.3 billion pounds ($8.2 billion).