S&P 500 can't get over the 1850 speed bump

Call it a Wall Street "speed bump." Or a "late-day fade." Or an impenetrable "ceiling."

For the third straight day the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index suffered a late-day drop that dragged it down from record-setting territory, postponing a celebration of a new closing record.

Every day this week the stock gauge has topped its Jan. 15 record close of 1848.38 during the trading day, only to reverse course and fall shy of a new record.

On Wednesday, it rose as high as 1852.65, before closing up just 0.04 points to 1845.16.

"We expected the 1850 area to be a speed bump," says Todd Salamone, senior VP at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

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The 1850 level is acting like a ceiling. It's roughly where the S&P 500 finished 2013, and marks a "break-even point" and selling trigger for investors who got spooked by the recent 5.8% pullback.

Investors often sell when they get their money back after a losing skid. Similarly, investors who trade based on stock chart patterns are often hesitant to buy until they see the S&P 500 break out decisively into record territory.

The last-hour selling has become a trend in 2014. Data from Bespoke Investment Group show that 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. is the only hour of the day with an average loss (-0.06%) this year. But don't fret. Be patient, says Salamone.

"It's more of a sign of indecision and hesitancy and a speed bump and not a bearish omen," he says.

Go Figure: Budget comes to $3 million per word

WASHINGTON (AP) — Talk about words more costly than gold.

The giant federal budget bill that the House passed Wednesday, Senate passed late Thursday and President Obama signed Friday will cost taxpayers nearly $3 million per word, or if you want to really think big, almost $700 million per page.

The bill authorizes $1.1 trillion in spending. It is 1,582 pages long.

An Internet word counting program said it has 370,445 words, numbers and symbols. So simple math comes up with $2.9 million per word average and $695 million per page average, though different parts of the budget package spend more than others sections.

By comparison, there are only 4,543 words in the U.S. Constitution, before amendments, and 1,458 words in the Declaration of Independence.

Taxpayers for Common Sense, a Washington spending watchdog, figured that senators spent slightly more than 69 hours before passing the bill, giving them just under two minutes per page to read it.

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And this story is only 162 words. At $2.9 million per word that comes to $470 million. A bargain.

Follow Borenstein on Twitter at borenbears

Dollar up v.s. Aussie on China PMI, Eurozone eyed

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- The dollar jumped against the Australian dollar on Thursday, after the preliminary reading of China's manufacturing data from HSBC disappointed investors and sent most Asian equities into dive, while the euro advanced ahead of upcoming Eurozone flash PMI reports.

Earlier in the day, the HSBC/Markit "flash" version of its monthly China's Purchasing Mangers' Index (PMI) fell to the lowest level in seven months -- to 48.3 in February.

The results dragged most Asian stocks into the red, as Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI)   fell 1.2%, South Korea's KOSPI index (KR:SEU)   lost 0.6%, and China's Shanghai Composite (CN:SHCOMP)   dropped 0.2%.

The Australian dollar (AUDUSD)  took a big hit from the downbeat China data, falling to 89.64 U.S. cents from 90.04 U.S. cents late Wednesday. The currency is often sensitive to data from China, which is the biggest export market for Australia.

Reuters Enlarge Image A Chinese national flag flutters at a construction site for a new residence complex in Beijing.

Against the Japanese yen, the U.S. dollar (USDJPY) declined to ¥101.81 from ¥102.32 late Wednesday. Japan's trade deficit widened more than expected to ¥2.79 trillion ($27.2 billion) in January, compared to December's ¥1.30 trillion, data showed on Thursday. The Nikkei index (JP:NIK)   sank 2.2% to close at 14,449.18.

Meanwhile, the ICE dollar index (DXY)  , which tracks the U.S. unit against six other currencies, declined to 80.09 from 80.191 late Wednesday. The WSJ Dollar index (XX:BUXX)  , an alternate gauge of the greenback's strength against a broader basket of rival currencies, also dropped to 73.56 from 73.62.

Elsewhere, the euro (EURUSD)   strengthened versus the dollar, trading at $1.3743 from $1.3733 late Wednesday, as markets closely watch the euro-zone flash PMI data from Markit due later in the day. The index was forecast to rise to 54.2 in February, compared to 54.0 in January, according to a poll of economists by Fact Research.

"While the euro-zone economy has been recovering slowly, growth has been uneven," said Kathy Lien, Managing Director for New York-based BK Asset Management in a recent note, "if the Flash PMIs surprise to the downside, indicating a slowdown in euro-zone economic activity, we could easily see EUR/USD drop back below 1.37."

In other foreign exchange trading, the British pound (GBPUSD)  moved a little lower to $1.6675, compared to $1.6681 late Wednesday.

Editor's Note: You're invited to... Bitcoin: Boom and Bust

The rise of bitcoin has triggered a lively debate over the risks and rewards of virtual currencies. If you're interested in bitcoin, and will be in New York on Tuesday, March 4, you're invited to join us for an evening of cocktails and conversation on the topic. MarketWatch Senior Columnist Robert Powell will moderate a panel discussion with guests Todd Harrison, founder and CEO of Minyanville Media, and Mark T. Williams, a banking and risk management expert and a professor at the Boston University School of Management. This MarketWatch Investing Insights event is free, but space is limited. To attend, just RSVP to MarketWatchevent@wsj.com by Friday, Feb. 28.t

Janney Upgrades Abercrombie and Fitch Co. (ANF)

On Friday before the opening bell, analyst firm Janney Montgomery upgraded Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) to “Buy” from “Neutral”

The firm based the upgrade on Abercrombie’s recent cost cutting measures, and that Janney believes ANF will come in ahead of its low sales expectations that it has set for itself. Janney has a price target of $49 on ANF, suggesting a 47.5% upside to the stock’s current price of $33.21.

Abercrombie stock was up $4.84, or 14.57%, in pre-market trading. The company is nearly 40% off its 52-week high.

What's cool at CES 2014: Robots, headbands & bulbs

LAS VEGAS — We roamed the previews at CES 2014 Sunday night to get a glimpse at some cool new tech products.

Here are some of the new gizmos that got our interest:

— A robot vacuum cleaner is wonderful, but how about one that doubles as a wet and dry mop? We saw the folks at Moneual test it out. They drew on a table and spilled wine as well, and the unit picked both of them up. The Moneual Rydis H68-Pro device is priced at $499 and is expected to be in stores by June.

— Headphones that you wear as a headband. The "RunPhones" start at $39.99 with a wire, or sell for over $100 with a wireless version.

— The battery powered LED lightbulb. There are lots of new LED lightbulbs here at CES that run via apps, and that's cool. But how about a battery powered bulb that promises to still shine — for as long as 4 hours — in the event of a power outage?

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Now that's really cool.

The Smart Charge LED bulb, expected in stores this summer, will sell for $29.99 each. "You will never see a power outage," says Shailendra Suman, here at CES to promote his product.

Look for more What's Cool roundups from CES all this week from USA TODAY.

Follow Jefferson Graham on Twitter for the latest updates from CES 2014.

Ways to Save on Taxes All Year Round

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Getty Images If you managed to claim every possible tax break that you deserved when you filed your return last spring, pat yourself on the back. But don't stop there. Those tax-filing maneuvers were certainly valuable, but you may be able to rack up even bigger savings through thoughtful tax planning all year round. The following ideas could really pay off in the months and years ahead. Give yourself a raise. If you got a big tax refund this year, it meant that you're having too much tax taken out of your paycheck every payday. Filing a new W-4 form with your employer (talk to your payroll office) will insure that you get more of your money when you earn it. If you're just average, you deserve about $225 a month extra. Try our easy withholding calculator now to see if you deserve more allowances. Boost your retirement savings. One of the best ways to lower your tax bill is to reduce your taxable income. You can contribute to up to $17,500 to your 401(k) or similar retirement savings plan in 2010 ($22,000 if you are 50 or older by the end of the year). Money contributed to the plan is not included in your taxable income. Haven't started one yet? Read Why You Need a 401(k) Right Away. Switch to a Roth 401(k). But if you are concerned about skyrocketing taxes in the future, or if you just want to diversify your taxable income in retirement, considering shifting some or all of your retirement plan contributions to a Roth 401(k) if your employer offers one. Unlike the regular 401(k), you don't get a tax break when your money goes into a Roth. On the other hand, money coming out of a Roth 401(k) in retirement will be tax-free, while cash coming out of a regular 401(k) will be taxed in your top bracket. Just remember that you'll have to pay income taxes on the amount you convert. Advertisement Fund an IRA. If you don't have a retirement plan at work, or you want to augment your savings, you can stash money in an IRA. You can contribute up to $5,500 ($6,500 if you are 50 or older by the end of the year). Depending on your income and whether you participate in a retirement savings plan at work, you may be able to deduct some or all of your IRA contribution. Or, you can choose to forgo the upfront tax break and contribute to a Roth IRA that will allow you to take tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Go for a health tax break. Be aggressive if your employer offers a medical reimbursement account -- sometimes called a flex plan. These plans let you divert part of your salary to an account which you can then tap to pay medical bills. The advantage? You avoid both income and Social Security tax on the money, and that can save you 20 percent to 35 percent or more compared with spending after-tax money. The maximum you can contribute to a health care flex plan is $2,500. Pay child-care bills with pre-tax dollars. After taxes, it can easily take $7,500 or more of salary to pay $5,000 worth of child care expenses. But, if you use a child-care reimbursement account at work to pay those bills, you get to use pre-tax dollars. That can save you one-third or more of the cost, since you avoid both income and Social Security taxes. If your boss offers such a plan, take advantage of it. Ask your boss to pay for you to improve yourself. Companies can offer employees up to $5,250 of educational assistance tax-free each year. That means the boss pays the bills but the amount doesn't show up as part of your salary on your W-2. The courses don't even have to be job-related, and even graduate-level courses qualify. Be smart if you're a teacher or aide. Keep receipts for what you spend out of pocket for books, supplies and other classroom materials. You can deduct up to $250 of such out-of-pocket expenses ... even if you don't itemize. Pay back a 401(k) loan before leaving the job. Failing to do so means the loan amount will be considered a distribution that will be taxed in your top bracket and, if you're younger than 55 in the year you leave your job, hit with a 10 percent penalty, too. Tally job-hunting expenses. If you count yourself among the millions of Americans who are unemployed, make sure you keep track of your job-hunting costs. As long as you're looking for a new position in the same line of work (your first job doesn't qualify), you can deduct job-hunting costs including travel expenses such as the cost of food, lodging and transportation, if your search takes you away from home overnight. Such costs are miscellaneous expenses, deductible to the extent all such costs exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income. Keep track of the cost of moving to a new job. If the new job is at least 50 miles farther from your old home than your old job was, you can deduct the cost of the move ... even if you don't itemize expenses. If it's your first job, the mileage test is met if the new job is at least 50 miles away from your old home. You can deduct the cost of moving yourself and your belongings. If you drive your own car, you can deduct 24 cents a mile for a 2013 move, plus parking and tolls. If you move in 2014, the rate is 23.5 center a mile. Save energy, save taxes. Congress extended a $500 tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements, such as new windows, doors and skylights, through 2013. Be advised, though, that $500 is the lifetime maximum, so if you claimed $500 in energy-efficient credits before this year, you can't claim this credit. There are also restrictions on specific projects; for example, the maximum you can claim for new energy-efficient windows is $200. Think green. A separate tax credit is available for homeowners who install alternative energy equipment. It equals 30 percent of what a homeowner spends on qualifying property such as solar electric systems, solar hot water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, and wind turbines, including labor costs. There is no cap on this tax credit, which is available through 2016. Put away your checkbook. If you plan to make a significant gift to charity, consider giving appreciated stocks or mutual fund shares that you've owned for more than one year instead of cash. Doing so supercharges the saving power of your generosity. Your charitable contribution deduction is the fair market value of the securities on the date of the gift, not the amount you paid for the asset, and you never have to pay tax on the profit. However, don't donate stocks or fund shares that lost money. You'd be better off selling the asset, claiming the loss on your taxes, and donating cash to the charity. Tote up out-of-pocket costs of doing good. Keep track of what you spend while doing charitable work, from what you spend on stamps for a fundraiser, to the cost of ingredients for casseroles you make for the homeless, to the number of miles you drive your car for charity (at 14 cents a mile). Add such costs with your cash contributions when figuring your charitable contribution deduction. Time your wedding. If you're planning a wedding near year-end, put the romance aside for a moment to consider the tax consequences. The tax law still includes a "marriage penalty" that forces some pairs to pay more combined tax as a married couple than as singles. For others, tying the knot saves on taxes. Consider whether Uncle Sam would prefer a December or January ceremony. And, whether you have one job between you or two or more, revise withholding at work to reflect the tax bill you'll owe as a couple. Beware of Uncle Sam's interest in your divorce. Watch the tax basis -- that is, the value from which gains or losses will be determined when property is sold -- when working toward an equitable property settlement. One $100,000 asset might be worth a lot more -- or a lot less -- than another, after the IRS gets its share. Remember: Alimony is deductible by the payer and taxable income to the recipient; a property settlement is neither deductible nor taxable. The stork brings tax savings, too. A child born, or adopted, is a blessed event for your tax return. An added dependency exemption will knock $3,950 off your taxable income, and you'll probably qualify for the $1,000 child credit, too. You don't have to wait until you file your return to reap the benefit. Add at least one extra withholding allowance to the W-4 form filed with your employer to cut tax withholding from your paycheck. That will immediately increase your take-home pay.

An Enticing Discount on MLPs

Investors seeking exposure to master limited partnerships (MLPs) have many options. There are of course conventional energy MLPs, ranging from upstream (oil and gas producers) to midstream (logistics) and downstream (refiners). MLPs also offer niche opportunities in sectors as diverse as marine shipping and propane distribution. Further afield, the MLP structure is popular with private equity shops and also used to invest in forestry, amusement parks and fertilizer production.

There are MLPs that are structured as partnerships, but have chosen to be taxed as corporations. This class will be covered in an upcoming issue. The main advantage for investors is that this structure somewhat simplifies tax reporting, while offering the attractive yields of an MLP.

Mutual funds are another way to play the MLP space in a way that simplifies tax reporting. But because these mutual funds must pay corporate income tax on their earnings, most of the tax advantage of directly investing in MLPs is lost. Many of the funds use leverage to help overcome some of this disadvantage, but this can be a risky strategy and one that adds to costs.

Nevertheless, at times the MLP-focused mutual funds may be attractive. Consider a closed-end fund (CEF). These funds trade on an exchange just like a stock or MLP unit, which means that the underlying value of the securities held by the fund can become disconnected from the price of the fund share. Some days the market capitalization of the fund is valued at more than the underlying securities (i.e., it trades at a premium) and other times the fund is valued at less than the securities it holds (i.e., it trades at a discount).

A good source of information on MLP closed-end funds is MLPData.com. The following table shows the premium/discount for the MLP CEFs.


Closed-end MLP funds. Data Source: MLPData.com

As I write this, Tortoise Pipeline and Energy (NYSE: TTP) trades at a discount of 15.1 percent to its underlying assets, while at the other end of the spectrum Cushing MLP Total Return Fund (NYSE: SRV) trades at a 17.4 percent premium. The average MLP closed-end fund listed trades at a 4.9 percent discount, which is perhaps reasonable given the loss of certain tax advantages and the fact that management fees will eat into returns.

Of course most of us like the idea of buying things for less than their inherent value. This is why Black Friday is such a popular event every year. But closed-end funds sometimes trade at a premium or discount for a good reason.

Perhaps management doesn’t have a consistent track record. Or maybe market sentiment has turned against a particular group of MLPs (say, upstream ones) within a fund’s portfolio. In that case, though, investors exiting a fund could discount it excessively relative to its losses on unpopular holdings.

This volatility can create opportunities for patient investors. Over time, a well-managed closed-end fund with reasonable management fees shouldn’t sustain a large discount. So investors interested in this space should watch the premium/discount of CEFs. A fund may be of interest if its discount widens well beyond historical norms.

As for Tortoise Pipeline and Energy, it’s a two-year-old fund offered by a respected MLP asset manager, with the bulk of its portfolio in midstream energy infrastructure, mostly such corporate MLP sponsors as Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) and Williams (NYSE: WMB). Traditional MLPs make up the 25 percent maximum of the portfolio permitted by law, and oil and gas producing corporations account for another 15 percent.

Net asset value increased 33.3 percent last year, while the unit price rose just 23.7 percent, helping to boost the NAV discount to its current levels. The current yield is 5.8 percent, but another useful site for closed-end funds, Nuveen’s CEFConnect.com, puts the total annual expense ratio at a hefty 3.4 percent. (Tortoise’s own site lists the management fee at 0.95 percent, excluding other expenses.) And unlike much of the traditional MLP distribution, TTP’s quarterly payouts are mostly not tax deferred, unless held in a tax-deferred IRA account.    

(Follow Robert Rapier on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.)

Portfolio Update

Boardwalk Craters

This is, fortunately, an update not on a current portfolio holding but rather one on Boardwalk Pipeline Partners (NYSE: BWP), the MLP we recommended selling in November at near $28 and ahead of a continuing decline that cost investors another 13 percent as of Friday.

By last fall, it was already clear that the development of the Marcellus shale had undermined the long-term profitability of Boardwalk’s Texas-to-Northeast pipelines, and that the balance sheet was too stretched to absorb a protracted business downturn.

But no one could have anticipated today’s announcement that the distribution would be slashed by 80 percent in response to an anticipated 30 percent decline in distributable cash flow. Not only are expiring gas shipping contracts not getting renewed at anything like the former rates, but the narrowing of regional differentials on natural gas has undermined the fundamentals of Boardwalk’s gas storage business. On top of that, last year’s cash flow was boosted by gas sales that won’t repeat.

Boardwalk’s unit price plunged 46 percent in a single day on the news, all the way to $13.01. It’s only the latest reminder of the folly of comparing MLP distributions with bond yields, which cannot be unilaterally lowered by a board. MLPs are dynamic, often volatile businesses, and the cost of changing market conditions and excessive leverage can be drastic. There is no free lunch and no extra yield without extra risk. Our goal is to protect your portfolio from the next Boardwalk.

– Igor Greenwald

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How the Up-and-Coming Wealthy Choose Advisors

A new survey of individuals on the fast track to wealth has found that 74% of respondents chose a new wealth manager on the basis of the firm’s reputation for quality of products and services, and 64% looked to the costs associated with those products and services.

Advisors wanting to attract these affluent people as clients need to understand that their character and fees are critical factors in the minds of affluent people when evaluating potential relationships, SEI, Scorpio Partnership and NPG Wealth Management said Wednesday in a statement on the release of the latest study in their ongoing Futurewealth Project.

The study surveyed 3,025 respondents globally with an average $2.9 million in net worth.

The survey revealed that up-and-coming wealthy individuals sought introductions and investigated potential wealth managers in a variety of ways.

Twenty-two percent of respondents asked for advice from friends or family before making a selection, while 15% researched the advisor market on their own.

The results also pointed to changing circumstances as a significant driver for why the Futurewealthy looked for new wealth management relationships.

Thirty percent said they wanted to diversify assets, 21% were in the market for a home and 20% wanted a promotion or a change in career.

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The study found that the Futurewealthy typically work with three or four firms for advice regarding their personal investments. On average, 51% of respondents entrusted half of their investable wealth to a primary advisor.

At the same time, only 31% believed their primary wealth advisor had a solid understanding of their total financial picture.

“This study shows that the Futurewealthy are constantly searching for a more valued relationship and are open to the idea of switching primary advisors in order to attain it,” Kevin Crowe, head of solutions for SEI Advisor Network, said in the statement.

“That creates a strong opportunity for advisors to foster a personal connection with these wealthy individuals by getting to know them and their entire financial picture. Advisors who understand what it takes to capture the attention of the Futurewealthy are the ones who will successfully attract and engage long-lasting relationships.”

Although respondents reported that reputation and cost were the top factors in choosing a wealth manager, 17% said performance was the chief factor for deciding to stay with their primary wealth advisor.

Fifteen percent said they stayed because the advisor’s solutions and services met their needs, and 13% said they were happy with the advice provided.

Fed Tapers, ETFs On The Move (SPY, GLD, TLT, UUP)

The day has finally arrived, the Fed has begun its taper.

The Fed announced it will continue to make monthly asset purchases, but at a $75 billion per month pace versus the previous $85 billion per month. In the end, the $10 billion taper per month is a drop in the bucket and that is why the market is reacting as it is.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: SPY)

Immediately after the announcement the stock market rallied and SPY moved from a slight loss for the day to a gain of over 1 percent. The rally has the SPY at the best level in a week and is now sitting just 0.5 percent below an all-time high.

It is clear the market had already priced in the $10 billion taper and is happy the Fed is beginning to show a plan versus the uncertainty that has been looming over the asset purchase program.

PowerShares U.S. Dollar Index Bullish ETF (NYSE: UUP)

The tapering should be a bullish move for the greenback as other countries around the world continue to push stimulus and lower the value of their respective currencies. That was not the reaction in UUP after the Fed announced the taper; the ETF, which was quiet, the majority of the day began to fall after the news hit the wire.

See also: Which Companies Hoarded the Most Cash in 2013?

The reaction could be chalked up to similar action in SPY, the market sees the $10 billion taper and small potatoes and is not ready for the U.S. Dollar to begin a rally as of yet.

SPDR Gold ETF (NYSE: GLD)

The reaction from gold has been choppy as the metal originally rallied to the high of the day before drifting back near the break-even point within the hour.

A weak U.S. Dollar and a small taper should be bullish for the precious metal and GLD and this is why the original move was higher. However, the longer-term trend for gold is bearish and it appears the rally was merely a chance to sell the commodity.

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSE: TLT)

Another ETF that had an initial reaction that was positive, did not hold the gains and within 45 minutes the bond market began to fall again. A taper would likely lead to higher interest rates, which would lead to lower bond prices and lower prices for TLT. But due to the low amount for the taper it appears the market is torn as to which direction bonds go in the near term.

The Fed did make it clear that the Fed Funds rate would remain low for what appears to be the foreseeable future. It is also clear that interest rates will eventually increase as the Fed stops artificially keeping them down. TLT could be in for a wild ride over the next couple of weeks with the longer-term trend negative.

Posted-In: Ben Bernanke Federal Reserve taperBonds News Broad U.S. Equity ETFs Commodities Currency ETFs Events Econ #s Federal Reserve Markets ETFs Best of Benzinga

(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now

When most people think of electric vehicle stocks, they probably think of troubled Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) or one of the several Chinese stocks active in the space, but North America based large cap Magna International Inc (NYSE: MGA) and small caps Polypore International, Inc (NYSE: PPO), UQM Technologies Inc (NYSEMKT: UQM) and Green Automotive Company (OTCMKTS: GACR) are all players, one way or the other, in the electric vehicle space that most investors have probably overlooked or just aren�� aware of. Of course, we can argue�about whether or not purely electric vehicles or some sort of hybrid vehicles are the way of the future, but what cannot be argued about is the fact that the following electric vehicle stocks are at the forefront of EV or�hybrid technology and design:

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: KongZhong Corporation(KONG)

KongZhong Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides wireless interactive entertainment, media, and community services to mobile phone users in the People's Republic of China. It also involves in the development, distribution, and marketing of consumer wireless value-added services, including wireless application protocol, multimedia messaging services, short messaging services, interactive voice response services, and color ring back tones. In addition, it offers interactive entertainment services, such as mobile games, pictures, karaoke, electronic books, mobile phone personalization features, entertainment news, chat, and message boards; and through Kong.net offer news, community services, games, and other interactive media and entertainment services; and sells advertising space in the form of text-link, banner, and button advertisements. Further, the company develops and publishes mobile games, including downloadable mobile games and online mobile games cons isting of action, role-playing, and leisure games. As of December 31, 2009, it had a library of approximately 300 internally developed mobile games. Additionally, it develops online games; and provides consulting and technology services, as well as media and net book services. The company was formerly known as Communication Over The Air Inc. and changed its name to KongZhong Corporation in March 2004. KongZhong Corporation was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Kongzhong (Nasdaq: KONG  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One under-$10 wireless services player that looks poised for a big spike higher is KongZhong (KONG), which is a provider of WVAS and mobile games to mobile phone users and a wireless media company providing news, content, community and mobile advertising services through its wireless Internet sites in the PRC. This stock is off to a hot start in 2013, with shares up sharply by 53%.

  If you take a look at the chart for KongZhong, you'll notice that this stock has been downtrending badly for the last two months, with shares plunging lower from its high of $14.92 to its recent low of $7.78 a share. During that downtrend, shares of KONG have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of KONG into oversold territory, since its current relative strength index reading is 30.21. Shares of KONG are now starting to spike higher off its recent low of $7.78 a share and off its 200-day moving average of $7.95 a share. This spike could be signaling that the downside volatility for KONG is over in the short-term and the stock is ready to trend higher.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KONG if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $8.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 519,857 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then KONG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $10 to its 50-day moving average at $11.33 a share.

  Traders can look to buy KONG off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at $7.78 a share. One can also buy KONG off strength once it takes out $8.50 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Petroquest Energy Inc(PQ)

PetroQuest Energy, Inc. operates as an independent oil and gas company. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of oil and gas properties in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, as well as onshore and in the shallow waters offshore the Gulf Coast Basin. As of December 31, 2009, the company had estimated proved reserves of 1,931 thousand barrels of oil and 167,361 million cubic feet equivalent of natural gas. It owned working interests in 9 net producing oil wells and 277 net producing gas wells. PetroQuest Energy was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  PetroQuest Energy Inc. (NYSE: PQ) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at J.P. Morgan.

  Rubicon Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: RBCN) was downgraded to Underperform from Perform at Oppenheimer.

Top Bank Companies To Watch In Right Now: bebe stores inc.(BEBE)

bebe stores, inc. engages in the design, development, and production of women?s apparel and accessories. Its products include a range of separates, tops, dresses, active wear, and accessories in career, evening, casual, and active lifestyle categories. The company markets its products under the bebe, BEBE SPORT, bbsp, and 2b bebe brand names targeting 21 to 34-year-old woman. As of July 2, 2011, it operated 252 retail stores, and an online store at bebe.com in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Japan, and Canada, as well as 60 international licensee operated stores in south east Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, Mexico, and Turkey. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Brisbane, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  bebe stores, inc. (Nasdaq:BEBE) reported that its Board of Directors declared bebe�� quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share. The dividend is payable on December 4, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2012

• [By Eric Volkman]

  bebe stores (NASDAQ: BEBE  ) continues to outfit its shareholders in cash by maintaining its dividend policy. The company has declared a fresh quarterly distribution of $0.025 per share of its stock, payable on June 20 to shareholders of record as of June 6.��That amount matches the company's preceding disbursement, which was handed out in mid-March.

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ACHN)

Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of treatments for infectious diseases. The company focuses on the development of antivirals for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C; and the development of antibacterials for the treatment of resistant bacterial infections. Its drug candidates for the treatment of chronic HCV include ACH-1625, a protease inhibitor, which is in phase IIa clinical trial for the treatment of chronic HCV; ACH-2684, a pangenotypic protease inhibitor, which is in phase I clinical trial for the treatment of chronic HCV infection; and NS5A inhibitors for the treatment of chronic HCV infection, including ACH-2928, which is to enter a phase I clinical trial, as well as various additional NS5A inhibitors in preclinical development. Its pipeline of product candidates also includes ACH-702 and ACH-2881 for drug resistant bacterial infections; elvucitabine for HIV infection; and AC H-1095 for HCV infection. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in New Haven, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  Hold horrors
  Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ACHN  ) takes the worst spot this week. Shares plunged 62% on bad news from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Achillion Pharmaceuticals (ACHN) has plunged 51% to $3.53 after the FDA kept a hold on its hepatitis C drug in trials. The stock was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Merrill Lynch.

• [By Sean Williams]

  In terms of clinical updates, hepatitis-C-focused biotech Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ACHN  ) announced updated midstage results for its lead compound, ACH-3102, on Tuesday. In trials of genotype-1b treatment naive patients, ACH-3102 plus a ribavirin delivered a 75% success rate in end-of-treatment virologic response. The problem with these results is that not only is Achillion far behind its all-oral peers in terms of development, but its 75% success rate trailed that of Gilead Sciences' Sofosbuvir, which delivered 100% success rates in some of its late-stage trials featuring genotype-1 patients.

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Sify Technologies Limited(SIFY)

Sify Technologies Limited provides enterprise and consumer Internet services primarily in India. The company offers various corporate network/data services comprising e-commerce and network connectivity solutions, such as end-to-end services network, application, and security services; voice origination and termination services; co-location and managed hosting services; and system integration services for data centre build, hardware distribution, security solutions, and turnkey projects. It also provides application services, including SLEMS and Microsoft Exchange messaging platforms; I-test for online assessment and LiveWire, which enable management of training processes across the organization; document management system for the management of documents electronically; and Forum, a forward supply chain solution. In addition, the company operates e-Ports that offer browsing, chat, email, gaming, utility bill payment, travel ticketing, hotel booking, mobile recharge, Intern et telephony, and online share trading services; and portals, which provide news, views, reviews, interactions, and services in the areas of movies, sports, finance, food, videos, astrology, online games, shopping, and travel, as well as offers content offerings and broadband services. Further, it provides infrastructure management services, such as network management, datacenter and helpdesk outsourcing, desktop and storage outsourcing, IT security outsourcing, LAN and WAN outsourcing, database and telecom outsourcing, and application monitoring and management services to automotive, chemical, media, and financial enterprises; and virtualization design, integration, and deployment services for servers, storage, networks, and end user clients. Sify has approximately 1,278 e-Ports in 200 towns and cities; and serves 1,06,000 broadband subscribers through 1500 cable TV Operators. The company, formerly known as Sify Limited, was founded in 1995 and is based in Chennai, India.

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Sky-mobi Limited(MOBI)

Sky-mobi Limited engages in the operation of a mobile application store in the People?s Republic of China. It works with handset companies to pre-install its Maopao mobile application store on handsets and with content developers to provide users with applications and content titles. The users of its Maopao store could browse, download, and purchase a range of applications and content, such as single-player games, mobile music, and books. The company?s Maopao store enables mobile applications and content to be downloaded and run on various mobile handsets with hardware and operating system configurations. It also operates a mobile social network community, the Maopao Community, where it offers localized mobile social games, as well as applications and content with social network functions to its registered members. The company owns proprietary mobile application technology in the cloud computing, the MRP format, and SDK development environment. As of March 31, 2011, it had entered into cooperation agreements with approximately 523 handset companies to pre-install Maopao. The company was formerly known as Profit Star Limited and changed its name to Sky-Mobi Limited in October 2010. Sky-mobi Limited was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Hangzhou, China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Sky-mobi (MOBI), which, through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of a mobile application platform embedded on mobile phones to provide mobile application store and services in the People�s Republic of China. This stock has been red hot so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 88%.

  If you look at the chart for Sky-mobi, you'll notice that this stock recently formed a triple bottom chart pattern at $3.31, $3.28 and $3.40 a share. That bottoming pattern occurred over the last two months. Shares of MOBI have now started to uptrend and flirt with its 50-day moving average of $3.76 a share. That move is quickly pushing MOBI within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MOBI if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.71 to $3.83 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 145,934 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then MOBI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.96 a share. Any high-volume move above that level will then give MOBI a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $5.55 to $6.13 a share.

  Traders can look to buy MOBI off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $3.40 to $3.28 a share. One can also buy MOBI off strength once it takes out that breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: ATA Inc.(ATAI)

ATA Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides computer-based testing services in the People?s Republic of China. It offers services for the creation and delivery of computer-based tests utilizing its test delivery platform, proprietary testing technologies, and testing services; and provides logistical support services relating to test administration. The company?s computer-based testing services are used for professional licensure and certification tests in various industries, including information technology (IT) services, banking, securities, teaching, and insurance. Its e-testing platform integrates various aspects of the test delivery process for computer-based tests ranging from test form compilation to test scoring, and results analysis. ATA also provides career-oriented educational services, such as single course programs, degree major course programs, and pre-occupational training programs focusing on preparing students to pass IT and other vocational certification tests; test preparation and training programs and services to test candidates preparing to take professional certification tests in securities, futures, banking, insurance and teaching industries; online test preparation and training platform for the securities and banking industries; and test preparation software for the teaching industry. In addition, the company offers HR select employee assessment solution, an online system that utilizes its proprietary software and an inventory of test titles to help employers improve the efficiency and accuracy of their employee recruitment process. As of March 31, 2010, it had contractual relationships with 1,988 ATA authorized test centers. The company serves Chinese governmental agencies, professional associations, IT vendors, and Chinese educational institutions, as well as individual test preparation services. ATA Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Texas Instruments Incorporated(TXN)

Texas Instruments Incorporated engages in the design and sale of semiconductors to electronics designers and manufacturers worldwide. The company?s Analog segment offers high-performance analog products comprising standard analog semiconductors, such as amplifiers, data converters, and interface semiconductors; high-volume analog and logic products; and power management semiconductors and line-powered systems. Its Embedded Processing segment includes DSPs that perform mathematical computations to process and enhance digital data; and microcontrollers, which are designed to control a set of specific tasks for electronic equipment. The company?s Wireless segment designs, manufactures, and sells application processors and connectivity products. Its Other segment offers smaller semiconductor products, which include DLP products that are primarily used in projectors to create high-definition images; and application-specific integrated circuits. This segment also provides handhe ld graphing and scientific calculators, as well as licenses technologies to other electronic companies. The company serves the communications, computing, industrial, consumer electronics, automotive, and education sectors. Texas Instruments Incorporated sells its products through a direct sales force, distributors, and third-party sales representatives. It has collaboration agreements with PLX Technology Inc.; Neonode, Inc.; and Ubiquisys Ltd. The company was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN  ) will release its quarterly report next Monday, but shareholders already have seen the stock soar to levels it hasn't seen in years. The question for investors, though, is whether Texas Instruments earnings can finally start growing at a fast-enough pace to justify further share-price gains in the future.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.53 per share on revenue of $3.23 billion.

  W.R. Berkley (NYSE: WRB)is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $1.57 billion.

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: FuelCell Energy Inc.(FCEL)

FuelCell Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacturing, and sale of high temperature fuel cells for clean electric power generation primarily in South Korea, the United States, Germany, Canada, and Japan. The company offers proprietary carbonate Direct FuelCell Power Plants that electrochemically produce electricity from hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas and biogas. Its fuel cells operate on a range of hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas, renewable biogas, propane, methanol, coal gas, and coal mine methane. The company also develops carbonate fuel cells, planar solid oxide fuel cell technology, and other fuel cell technologies. It provides its products to universities; manufacturers; mission critical institutions, such as correction facilities and government installations; hotels; and natural gas letdown stations, as well as to customers who use renewable biogas for fuel, including municipal water treatment facilities, br eweries, and food processors. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Green Energy Addict]

  On June 3, 2013 I gave my 5 Bullish Signs ahead of the FuelCell Energy (FCEL) Q2 2013 earnings report. I cited the large backlog as one of the reasons for my bullish views. I gave as my reasoning the following:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Had shares of its peers and competitors performed as well, it may not even be worth bringing up. But, Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) shares have done significantly better than FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:FCEL) and Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:BLDP) since the end of March. And, PLUG has performed considerably better than FCEL and BLDP have since mid-August. This is more than "just a little volatility." This is a leader breaking away from the pack after a very long lull. Thing is, there's plenty more room for Plug Power to keep running.

• [By John Udovich]

  Despite horrendous losses for investors over the long term, small cap fuel cell stocks FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ: FCEL) and Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ: PLUG) have both made gains this year. However, which is the better small cap fuel cell stock for investors moving forward or should you just ignore both?

• [By John Udovich]

  Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) has a growing�battery fire mess on its hand but should investors in small cap fuel cell stock Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ: PLUG) be more worried than investors in fuel cell peers like FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ: FCEL) and Ballard Power Systems Inc (NASDAQ: BLDP)? After all, Tesla Motors Inc�� battery fire problems seem to result from drivers running over debris that damage�or pierce the undercarriage rather than with the batteries�themselves (as in Boeing�� case). Nevertheless, any news about batteries or fuel cells and the like catching on fire could spill over�and impact peers - unless there are other concerns for investors. ��

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: EZchip Semiconductor Limited(EZCH)

EZchip, a fabless semiconductor company, engages in the development and marketing of Ethernet network processors for networking equipment. Its products include network processor chips, evaluation boards and network-processor based systems, and development software toolkits. The company offers network processors for use in forming the silicon core of networking equipment, such as switches and routers; and for voice, video and data integration in various applications. Its network processors are single-chip solutions, which enable its customers to design multi-port line cards, such as processing and classification engines, traffic managers, media access controllers, as well as a range of specialized hardware blocks that accelerate various functions. The company offers Evaluation systems which enable customers to test NPU-based systems; and toolkits that assist customers in creating, verifying, and implementing solutions based on its network processors. It provides a library f eaturing data plane code for a range of applications, which include Metro Ethernet protocols, Multi-Protocol Label Switching, IPv4 and IPv6 routing, Access Control Lists, GPON/EPON OLT functionality, Network Address Translation, and Server Load Balancing. The company sells its products directly, and through contract manufacturers and distributors to network equipment vendors. It markets its products in Israel, China, Hong Kong, the Far East, Canada, the United States, and Europe. The company was formerly known as LanOptics Ltd. and changed its name to EZchip Semiconductor Ltd. in July 2008. EZchip Semiconductor Ltd. was founded in 1989 and is based in Yokneam, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  EZchip Semiconductor (NASDAQ: EZCH) shares climbed 5.80% to $23.53. The volume of EZchip Semiconductor shares traded was 635% higher than normal. EZchip Semiconductor's PEG ratio is 1.57.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  EZchip Semiconductor (NASDAQ: EZCH) was also up, gaining 7.16 percent to $24.11 after a Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) announced a new product that would not threaten the company as previously thought. Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Cypress Semiconductor (NASDAQ: CY) were down 16.05 percent to $9.91 after the company lowered its Q3 forecast.

• [By Paul McWilliams]

  Paul McWilliams: Oh, absolutely. Another company that most investors probably have never heard of is a tiny little Israeli semiconductor company named EZChip (EZCH).

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of EZchip (NASDAQ: EZCH  ) have jumped today by as much as 13% after the company reported first-quarter earnings.

  So what: Revenue in the first quarter totaled $15.3 million, topping the Street's forecast of $15.1 million. Non-GAAP net income per share came in at $0.23, which was right on target with expectations.

The Shipping News

Hot Insurance Companies To Invest In 2014

Now’s a good time for investors to look at the shipping industry, as the recent improvement in freight rates demonstrates the upside potential in dry bulk activity.

Moving past the last years’ abnormal fleet supply growth, positive demand fundamentals will be better reflected in freight rates and vessel values, supporting a market recovery to historical levels.

Investors should consider Star Bulk Carriers (NASDAQ: SBLK) as a direct play in the shipping industry. The stock has returned to profitability in 2013 and is projected to increase earnings by 85 percent in 2014. The stock is trading at reasonable valuations and has 35 percent upside potential.

Morgan Stanley is taking a bullish stance on the dry bulk shipping industry. Their analysts predict that rates for shippers will rally over the next two years, as demand for iron ore and grains overtake supply. Shipping companies will benefit from the rally.

Morgan Stanley’s report mentions low supply growth of ships in the industry, China’s strengthening economy, increased growth in import demand into China, no cuts in Chinese steel capacity until at least 2015, and high fuel prices all contributing to higher rates ahead.

Ship scrapping in the industry was historically high in 2011 and 2012 and remained elevated in 2013. At the same time, deliveries of new vessels are expected to be manageable into 2014 and 2015. The bulge in orders and delivers between 2010 and 2011 seems to be peaking. As a result, there are signs that the supply/demand balance in the market is turning more favorable for the operators.

The company just announced that it has entered into binding agreements to acquire two modern Post-Panamax bulk carriers, the M/V “GL Qushan” and the M/V “! GL Daishan,” from an unaffiliated third party for a total consideration of $60 million. Each of the vessels has a carrying capacity of approximately 98,000 deadweight tons and is expected to be capable of transiting the Panama Canal upon its scheduled expansion.

The company is continuing its expansion path with agreements to construct two Capesize dry bulk vessels (180,000 deadweight ton) for delivery in Q4 2015 and Q1 2016. It also has letters of intent for construction of two Ultramax drybulk vessels (60,000 deadweight ton) for delivery in 2015. The new vessels are expected to use eight times less fuel than conventional models at slow steaming and fuel savings could double at higher speeds.

Star Bulk announced an equity raise on Oct. 2 at a significant discount to market price. The share price closed at $10.22 the day before the announcement of a fixed equity raise of $8.80 per share. Star Bulk stated the money would be used to partially fund the acquisition of nine identified new building vessels, future vessel acquisitions and general corporate purposes, including working capital.

Adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2013 was $2.3 million compared to an adjusted net loss of $3.8 million during the same quarter in 2012. Adjusted net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $7.6 million compared to an adjusted net loss of $0.6 million during the same period of the previous year.

Year to date to January 2014, the S&P Marine Index, which consists of only three companies, was up 2.5 percent, versus the S&P 1500′s 0.5 percent drop. In the past 13 weeks, the group was up 10 percent, versus a 5.3 percent rise for the index.

Star Bulk is up 50 percent in the past three months and 75 percent in the past year. The company does not look overly expensive trading at 0.46 times price to tangible book value. There’s ample room for the valuation to expand. The price-to-sales ratio was 0.9 on a trailing basis.

The stock is gett! ing posit! ive earnings estimate revisions that suggest analysts are becoming more optimistic on Star Bulk’s earnings for the coming quarter and year. In fact, consensus estimates have moved sharply higher for both of these time frames over the past month, suggesting that Star Bulk Carriers could be a solid choice for investors.

Star Bulk Carriers is projected to grow earnings per share (EPS) from a loss of $2.14 in 2012 to a positive $0.27 in 2013. Star Bulk is projected to grow EPS to $0.50 in 2014, an increase of 85 percent. Thomson Reuters consensus has a buy rating on the stock.

Star Bulk Carriers has a 12-month price target of $16, for an increase of 35 percent.

What do you think of this article? Please post your feedback in the “Stock Talk” section below!

Greg Pugh, an income-investing expert, publishes a newsletter called Investing for Monthly Income.

Silver pricier than gold? Can be, on health site

As if shopping for health insurance on the federal health insurance exchange wasn't confusing enough. The bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels that plans are grouped into are often meaningless when it comes to price, a USA TODAY analysis shows.

These categories, designed to simplify insurance shopping, are supposed to represent the plans with the least to most expensive premiums and the smallest to highest percent of health care covered. But in almost two-thirds of 2,511 counties covered by the federal exchange, the highest monthly premium quoted for a bronze plan tops the lowest one for a silver plan. In a quarter of counties, that premium is more than 25% higher. The same is true for the priciest plans, those that are categorized as gold or platinum.

The federal site, HealthCare.gov, borrowed the idea for the metal levels from the Massachusetts health exchange. That state adopted the metal-related tiers of coverage after complaints that all of the plan choices were too confusing for people to navigate through.

Yet the price overlap between the metal levels creates the likelihood that shoppers who assume they can only afford a bronze plan are ruling out plans that may have both more affordable premiums and lower cost-sharing. Bronze plans cover just 60% of out of pocket costs, while silver plans cover 70%. Gold plans cover 80% and platinum plans, typically with the highest premiums, cover 90% of out of pocket costs.

"In the Marketplace, consumers can easily compare plans side by side and find the one that meets their needs," Department of Health and Human Service spokeswoman said in a statement. "We encourage consumers to look at all factors, including premiums, networks, deductibles and cost-sharing to choose the plan that is right for them."

Experts usually advise healthy consumers with lower incomes to choose bronze plans because they require the lowest upfront costs. The chance of higher out of pocket costs in the event of a health setback is a risk some think i! s worth taking — or necessary to take.

But if silver, gold and platinum plans can cost less in premiums than the tier beneath them and cover more out of pocket costs, they'd generally be better bets, depending on whether deductibles or co-pays are prohibitive — if multiple prescriptions are involved, for example.

For instance, in DeKalb County, Ga., the cheapest silver offering for a single adult age 27 is $188 a month; the most expensive bronze offering is $243. A similar gap appears in pricing for other typical customer profiles such as couples, families, an adult who is 50 or a single-parent family.

In York County, Pa., there's actually a gold plan that's cheaper than a bronze plan.

Across all U.S. counties, the gap between the highest-cost bronze and the lowest-cost silver is about $13 a month, or about $156 a year. But in some counties in Arizona, a Meritus Lifestyle Choice Bronze exceeds the lowest silver offerings by up to $200 a month.

For couples, 27- and 50-year-old individuals, almost half of the counties with at least one bronze plan had at least five bronze plans that cost more than the cheapest silver plans. More than 10% had 10 or more bronze plans that cost more than the cheapest silver plan.

More mixed-up metals:

• More than two-thirds (71%) of counties have a more expensive silver plan than the cheapest gold plan, and in more than a quarter of counties, that premium is more than 25% higher.

• About two-thirds of counties have a gold vs. platinum overlap. Nearly half have at least a 10% overlap and a quarter have an overlap of at least 25%.

"There's wide variation with premiums within the tier," says Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for the industry trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans. But he says the trade group doesn't have data on why insurers price the way they do.

The likeliest reason for the pricing discrepancies, however, is the number of doctors and hospitals participating in a plan — also known as t! he provid! er network. The broader the network, the higher the premiums, Zirkelbach says.

Insurance companies also have to make certain assumptions about what health care costs are going to be, based on who they anticipate is going to enroll. But insurance companies know little about the uninsured people who are going to sign up for insurance next year so, being conservative by nature, some set premiums as it they were preparing for the worst. In most states, insurers also didn't know what their competitors would be charging so wouldn't have known what the going price was for silver, say, in a certain state.

Many consumers will find they qualify for cost sharing subsidies that lower their out of pocket costs even more if they choose a silver plan, says HHS' Peters. Subsidies are calculated based on the percentage of income the second lowest cost silver plan would cost them. So while they may generally find bronze plans have lower premium, they will pay less with a silver plan that has more generous cost sharing, Peters says.

Things should improve, experts say.

"There will be less spread on prices because insurers will have experience (on the exchanges) and they will know what it costs to run these plans and what other people are charging," says Eric Johnson, a business professor at Columbia Business School.

Shopping for health insurance? Tell us your experience at healthinsurance@usatoday.com

8 Super Super Bowl Numbers

The Super Bowl has grown from a game that didn’t sell out in 1967 to an unofficial national holiday it has become today.

Along the way, players have broken records, beer has been spilled and, somehow, guacamole has become the dip of choice to the point that avocado shortages can cause panic among party planners.

Fans can recite the key stats by heart. The Steelers have the most rings, six, the Packers won the first two, and on and on.

But even for non-fans, those who tune in to only to critique the ads, there are numbers that pique the interest. The numbers can be big. Half a billion big. Or small. Very small. Like zero.

(Check out: 8 of the Worst Financial Meltdowns by Athletes)

But they all add up to the biggest sporting event of the year in the U.S.

Check out our 8 Super Super Bowl Numbers:

$500 million to $600 million

That’s the amount the NFL says the Super Bowl will generate in economic activity for New York City. What city wouldn’t want to put up with the headaches of planning for the big day? Well, some economists say the number is inflated, by as much as 10 times. One study showed that the average amount generated by the big game from the early 1970s to late 1990s was $32 million. We’ll punt on figuring out who’s right.

$266 million

That’s the total salary for the Seahawks and Broncos this year, with the Seattle players raking in just over half of that. Consider that the minimum salary for a veteran was just $10,000 per year in 1970.

$100 million

The amount bet on the game last year set a Super Bowl record last when it topped out at $99 million on Las Vegas sports books. The $100 million mark seems possible this year. A chart on Boydsbets.com breaking down the Vegas bets on the game since 1991 shows an astounding rise in the amount wagered. In that year, $40 million was bet on the Giants-Bills game. In case you’re wondering, the sports books made out OK, keeping $7.2 million of last year’s wagers.

$4 million

That’s the cost for 30 seconds of commercial time during the broadcast on Fox. Forbes notes that in 1967, that commercial time cost $279,000 when adjusted for inflation. With viewership more than double the 51 million of the first Super Bowl. That year, the number of viewers who saw a commercial per ad dollar spent was 183, last year the figure was down to 29. That person-per-ad price has plummeted because, even though the number of viewers has more than doubled from the 51 million of Super Bowl I, the cost of an ad has skyrocketed more 15 times.

$1.1 million

That’s the amount Indianapolis says it lost hosting the 2012 Super Bowl. Costs for insurance, turning a major street into a pedestrian mall and installing other attractions to visitors added up. Amazingly, the city had figured it would lose some money on the deal. Just not quite so much.

$2,200

Looking for a tailgate party before the big game? Well, your options are limited. To one. It’s run by the NFL and the price of admission is $2,200. Besides food and beverages, there’ll be live music and entertainment. For the record, ESPN hosts what many consider the top party of the weekend on Friday night. The cost for entry is $1,554. That’ll allow you to mingle with plenty of celebrities and listen in on music performances.

$1,300

New York might be a super expensive city, but tickets to the game can be had at relatively cheap prices. That’s if you consider well over a thousand dollars cheap. The price for seats on one secondary market plummeted as worries over cold, or even snowy, weather have been bandied about in the media. Even on the top site, Stub Hub, tickets were available for about $1,500, about a grand less than a week earlier. Those seats are all far from the action. To be closer to the field, you’ll have to part with about $2,500. The face value of seats ranges from $500 to $2,600. For the first Super Bowl in 1967, tickets went for $12. And the game wasn’t sold out.

0 and 7

That doesn’t sound like much, but if you bought a box in the office pool, those two numbers give you the best chance of winning at 13.16%, according to information on si.com that looked at every regular season and playoff game played since 2006. The combinations of zero and three and zero and zero follow. The worst pair is nine and nine at 0.13%. Not that there’s anything you can do to make sure get the best numbers.

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