Hot Financial Companies To Invest In 2014

All of the Big Four banks had a good week, but none quite as good as Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) . Nearing the end of the week's trading, the tally from Tuesday morning is a gain of 3.27% -- surprising considering the bad news investors received about a looming settlement with Bank of New York Mellon.

Countrywide: the gift that keeps on giving
B of A was supposed to get closure this week on an $8.5 billion settlement with BNY Mellon, an agreement reached in 2011 involving 530 mortgage trusts sold by Countrywide Financial, which B of A acquired in 2008. The bad news is, the hearing to settle the matter was postponed until June 3.�

The even worse news is, the $8.5 billion B of A had agreed to pay into said trusts could potentially morph into $60 billion if the settlement falls apart.�According to The Motley Fool's Amanda Alix: "This settlement is now in question, since some investors came up with evidence that the bank did them wrong by putting its own interests before theirs."

Hot Financial Companies To Invest In 2014: Gallant Venture Ltd. (5IG.SI)

Gallant Venture Ltd., an investment holding company, engages in the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of industrial properties in Batam Island and Bintan Island, Indonesia. It operates in four segments: Utilities, Industrial Parks, Resort Operations, and Property Development. The Utilities segment provides electricity and water supply, telecommunications services, and waste management and sewage treatment services to the industrial parks in Batam Island and Bintan Island, as well as resorts in Bintan Island. This segment also operates 29 generators and 3 water treatment plants, as well as 2 large reservoirs, which produce approximately 160MW of electrical power and 25,000 cubic meters of clean water per day for its customers. The Industrial parks segment engages in the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of industrial properties, as well as supports infrastructure activities. The Resort Operations segment offers services to resort oper ators in Bintan, including ferry services, ferry terminal operations, property rental, workers accommodation, fire fighting, security, vector monitoring, environment, and medical support services. This segment also conducts estate management and township maintenance services, such as road maintenance and drainage, as well as operates a 24-hour crisis center. The Property Development segment engages in developing industrial and resort properties. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Hot Financial Companies To Invest In 2014: LSL PROPERTY SERVICES PLC ORD GBP0.002 WHEN ISSUED(LSL.L)

LSL Property Services plc provides residential property services to private consumers and mortgage lenders in the United Kingdom. It offers estate agency and related services, including the sale and letting of housing; operation of a network of high street branches; provision of repossession asset management services; and sale of mortgages, and life assurance and critical illness policies to insurance companies, lenders, and financial intermediaries. The company also provides surveying services to lenders for residential mortgage purposes; and valuation services to private house purchasers. In addition, it offers panel management and property management services, as well as advice on mortgages and non-investment insurance products. The company operates surveying and valuation business under the e.surv Chartered Surveyors and Barnwoods brands; and estate agency, financial services, and asset management businesses under the Your Move, Reeds Rains, LSLi, Marsh & Parsons, Inte rcounty, Frosts, JNP, Goodfellows, and Davis Tate, as well as LSL Corporate Client Department, St Trinity Asset Management, Templeton LPA, First Complete, The Mortgage Alliance, Pink Home Loans, Linear Financial Services brands. It operates a network of 568 estate agency branches. LSL Property Services plc is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: China Housing & Land Development Inc.(CHLN)

China Housing & Land Development, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, development, management, and sale of commercial and residential real estate properties primarily in the People?s Republic of China. The company?s projects include multi-family residential, commercial, and hotel projects. It serves first time home buyers and first time up-graders. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Xian, the People?s Republic of China.

Hot Financial Companies To Invest In 2014: First Republic Bank (FRC)

First Republic Bank is a full-service bank and wealth management firm. First Republic Bank and its subsidiaries provide private banking, private business banking and private wealth management, including investment, trust and brokerage services. The Company specializes in delivering service through offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, San Diego, Portland, Boston, Greenwich and New York City. The Company's products and services include residential lending, commercial real estate lending, personal lending, private business banking, deposit services, trust services, brokerage services and investment management services. Investment advisory services are provided by First Republic Investment Management, Inc. Trust services are provided by First Republic Trust Company. Brokerage services are offered through First Republic Securities Company, LLC. In March 2012, the Company announced the opening of a new trust company.

The Company offers full-service banking on both coasts, including free online banking, free bill pay and free access to over 800, 000 automated teller machines (ATMs) worldwide. Its private business banking provides specialized services for accounting firms, architecture and design, art and antique dealers, business management firms, business partnership, entertainment/media, entrepreneurs, family offices, financial services, independent school, investment firms, law firms, medical firms, non-profit organizations, private equity funds, property management firms, real estate investors, venture capital funds, wineries, and yacht, golf, city and country clubs. The Company�� private wealth management offers customized investment management, trust, and brokerage services for individuals, trust endowments, and pension plans. Wealth management services include asset allocation, trust administration and custody, portfolio management, financial and estate planning, manager selection and comprehensive brokerage services.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Freed]

  Shares of First Republic currently trade at "a modest 4% premium to peers" and JPMorgan does expect the bank's stock to keep pace with a 2012 15% top line growth range.

  The report argues that FRC has a "strong a management team with a strong track record of creating shareholder value" and that its growth model is "highly differentiated" from other banks since a majority of growth comes from existing customers rather gathering new customers.