Top 5 Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now

Crunch! That's the sound of China's manufacturing sector as the slowdown intensifies in the world's second-largest economy. The country's once-powerhouse economic growth has slowed from a double-digit percentage rise just a few years ago to growth of less than 8% projected for this year, and manufacturing has fallen right alongside that number. HSBC's Flash Purchasing Managers Index for China, showing the health of the manufacturing industry nationwide, declined to 48.3 in June, dropping nearly a full point from May's reading and now solidly in contraction territory.

A massive credit crunch in the country is exacerbating manufacturing's problems, as lending dries up in China's financial sector and companies turn to Hong Kong for cash. In response, Hong Kong's interest rates have skyrocketed. Is China's amazing growth story finally on its last legs -- and more importantly, what does this worsening decline mean for the rest of the world as America tries to continue its nascent recovery and Europe looks to dig out of recession?

Top 5 Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: F.B.D.HLDGS ORD EUR0.60(FBH.L)

FBD Holdings plc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in general insurance underwriting business in Ireland and other countries in European Union. It offers various business insurance products, including shop insurance; pub insurance; office based professional insurance; manufacturers, distribution, and wholesale insurance; and restaurant, cafe, and takeaway insurance. The company also offers other business insurance products for property, business interruption, employer?s liability, public liability, products liability, money, and deterioration of food to small and medium enterprises; property insurance for commercial and private lets; medical surgery insurance; insurance for hotels, guest houses, and B&B?s; and self build insurance, as well as commercial vehicle insurance, motor fleet insurance, personal car insurance, farm insurance, and home insurance. In addition, it provides various personal finance solutions, including general insurance broking, life assur ance/pension products, broking/investment advice, installment finance, mortgage protection quotes, life and serious illness cover products, mortgage advices, and income protection solutions, as well as other financial solutions for businesses. Further, the company holds interests in various hotel and leisure properties comprising the La Cala and Sunset Beach Resorts in Spain, as well as in the FBD Hotels in Ireland. FBD Holdings plc was incorporated in 1988 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.

Top 5 Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB)

National Australia Bank Limited provides products, advice and services. In Australia, it operates through National Australia Bank, MLC and UBank. In the United Kingdom, it operates through Clydesdale Bank. In New Zealand, it operates through Bank of New Zealand. In the United States, it operates through Great Western Bank. Segments include Business Banking, Personal Banking, Wholesale Banking, UK Banking and NZ Banking, MLC and NAB and Great Western Ban. As of April 5, 2012, the Company and its associated entities ceased to be a substantial holder in BlueScope Steel Limited. On May 17, 2012, it ceased to be a substantial holder in Spark Infrastructure Group and Sandfire Resources NL. As of August 24, 2012, the Company and its associated entities ceased to be holder in Tabcorp Holdings Limited. In September 2012, the Company and its associated entities have ceased to be a substantial holder in Incitec Pivot Limited, as of August 30, 2012. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dale Gillham]

  NAB is still a long way from its all-time high of $44.84 from 2007, but has so far been able to hold above 50 per cent ($22.42) of its all-time high, which is a positive sign. Given that NAB has spent a lot of time in a zigzag formation above this level; you can see how strong this level has been for its shares. At present NAB is probably my least preferred bank stocks when weighing up the risks from a technical perspective, but while it stays above this 50 per cent level it has a greater probability of rising than falling.

  What is holding it back? You can see how a few months ago NAB attempted to break the $26.00 level overhead, which has proven to be an important threshold for those just not willing to pay more for NAB. If you are a bit of a contrarian and like to pick underdogs, you may decide to keep NAB on your watch list because very soon I am expecting it to show where it is headed. A move back below the 50 per cent level would not bode well for those holding NAB.

Top High Dividend Companies To Invest In Right Now: The Bancorp Inc.(TBBK)

The Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for The Bancorp Bank that provides various commercial and retail banking and related products and services to small and mid-size businesses and their principals. The company?s deposit products include checking accounts, savings accounts, health savings accounts, money market accounts, individual retirement accounts, certificates of deposit, and stored value and payroll cards, as well as commercial accounts, such as general commercial checking, small business checking, business savings, and business money market accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial term loans, commercial mortgage loans, commercial lines of credit, 1-4 family construction loans, direct lease financing, and commercial construction, acquisition, and development loans; and consumer loans comprising loans for consumers to finance personal residences, automobiles, home improvements, and for other purposes. The company also provides other banking serv ices, which include private label banking and merchant card processing services; and Internet banking services. It serves Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, and Lehigh counties in Pennsylvania; New Castle county in Delaware; and Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Ocean, and Cape May counties in New Jersey. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Wilmington, Delaware.

Top 5 Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: Risan Napoli(RN.MI)

Risanamento S.p.A. engages in the development and investment of real estate properties in Italy and internationally. Its property portfolio comprises approximately 2,500,000 square meters. The company is based in Milan, Italy.

Top 5 Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: PS Business Parks Inc.(PSB)

PS Business Parks, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, development, ownership, and operation of commercial properties primarily multi-tenant flex, office, and industrial space. As of December 31, 2007, the company owned and operated approximately 19.6 million rentable square feet of commercial space located in Arizona, California, Florida, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, as well as managed approximately 1.4 million rentable square feet. It also owned approximately 6.4 acres of land in Northern Virginia; 14.9 acres in Portland, Oregon; and 10.0 acres in Dallas, Texas for the development of commercial properties. PS Business Parks has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code and would not be subject to federal income tax to the extent it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1983. It was formerly known as P ublic Storage Properties XI, Inc. and changed its name to PS Business Parks, Inc. in 1998. The company is based in Glendale, California.