Top 5 Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014

Are stocks a safe investment over a six-month time period?

In this segment of The Motley Fool's financials-focused show, Where the Money Is, banking analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson dip into their mailbag to answer a listener's question about investing over a short time-frame. While Matt and David say the stock market isn't a good option if you'll need the money in the near future, they say stocks like U.S. Bancorp and Berkshire Hathaway are great companies to learn from for long-term investors.

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Top Telecom Companies To Own For 2015: Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI)

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is an Austria-based bank that focuses on corporate and retail banking sector. The Bank offers a range of products and consulting services, as well as market knowledge. The Bank�� products and solutions include financing, leasing, investing, hedging, trade & export finance, investment banking, cash management, payment services, custody & fund services, and cards, among others. RBI is organized into seven segments: the Central Europe segment encompassed the banking markets in the European Union countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region; the Southeastern Europe segment comprises Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia, among others; the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) other segment comprises Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine; the Group Corporates segment covers business with corporate customers of the Bank; the Group Markets segment covers capital market customers and business; Corporate Center, and Russia. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rebecca Bundhun]

  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently banned banks from issuing loans under the ��0:20 scheme�� which, through a three-way agreement between the lender, the developer, and the homebuyer, allowed the customer to pay 20% upfront, while the remainder of the loan would be issued to the developer, regardless of the stage of construction.

Top 5 Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: UniCredit SpA (UCG)

UniCredit SpA is an Italy-based holding company engaged in the financial sector. The Company�� division model is based on four pillars: Customer Centricity, A Multi-Local Approach, Global Product Lines, and Global Service Lines. The Customer Centricity area focuses on the Retail, Corporate & Investment Banking and Private Banking areas. The Centralized Multi-Local Approach takes responsibility for the distribution networks and customer relationships. The Global Products Lines are responsible for developing the products and services across all geographic areas. The Global Service Lines which supply the network coverage functions and product factories with specialized services, including Banking Back Office, Information and Communication Technology, Credit Collection, Procurement Services, Real Estate and Shared Service Centers. On October 28, 2013, the aggregate sale by UniCredit SpA of Fondiaria Sai SpA equal to 6.7% was complied. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  Norsk Hydro (NHY) ASA slumped the most in one year after Vale SA sold a stake in the aluminum maker. UniCredit SpA (UCG) and Infineon Technologies AG added at least 1 percent each after posting quarterly profit that beat projections. Henkel AG rose 2.1 percent as third-quarter profit beat analysts��estimates.

• [By Alexis Xydias]

  Banks led the rally over the past four months, with Paris-based Societe Generale SA (GLE) and UniCredit SpA (UCG), Italy�� biggest lender, surging more than 45 percent.

• [By Sarah Jones]

  Banco Popolare SC led Italian lenders higher as the country�� 10-year bond yields declined. Popolare rallied 7 percent to 1.05 euros in Milan. Banca Popolare di Milano Scrl increased 4.7 percent to 52.4 euro cents. And UniCredit SpA (UCG), Italy�� biggest bank, climbed 3.6 percent to 3.63 euros.

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  UniCredit (UCG), Italy�� largest bank, lost 1.3 percent to 4.71 euros. Intesa Sanpaolo, which appointed Carlo Messina as chief executive officer to replace Enrico Tommaso Cucchiani yesterday, fell 3.5 percent to 1.53 euros. Mediaset SpA, the broadcaster controlled by Berlusconi, dropped 4.5 percent to 3 euros, the lowest price since July 3.

Top 5 Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: Santander Mexico Financial Group SAB de CV (BSMX)

Santander Mexico Financial Group SAB de CV, formerly Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, is a Mexico-based financial institution. The Company is primarily engaged, through its subsidiaries, in the provision of multiple banking services, securities brokerage, financial advice services, as well as other related investment activities. The Company offers its services to both, individual and corporate clients. The Company owns such principal subsidiaries as Banco Santander (Mexico) SA, Casa de Bolsa Santander SA de CV and Zurich Santander Seguros Mexico S.A. In December, 2013, the Company concluded the sale of Gestion Santander SA de CV's shares, as a result of the agreement reached with its parent company, Banco Santander SA. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Burrows]

  The current economic and political environment makes it hard to see what possible catalyst could pull EBR stock out of negative territory any time soon. EBR’s payouts have been erratic, so the stock’s dividend yield is basically a roll of the dice. Worst of all, EBB still has no profits. For dividend stocks, that’s another dealbreaker.

  Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico (BSMX)

  Market Cap: $14.9 billion
  Dividend Yield: 11.4%
  YTD Price Performance: -20%

• [By Eric Volkman]

  ING's (NYSE: ING  ) Latin American operations will soon be one division lighter. The company announced it reached an agreement to sell its mortgage business in Mexico to�Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico (NYSE: BSMX  ) , the local presence of Spanish financial group Banco Santander (NYSE: SAN  ) . The price was 643 million pesos ($51 million), according to Mexico City newspaper La Cronica de Hoy.

Top 5 Bank Stocks To Watch For 2014: Barclays PLC (BARC)

Barclays PLC (Barclays) is a global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services. The Company�� operations include its overseas offices, subsidiaries and associates. The Company operates in eight segments: UK Retail and Business Banking (UK RBB), Europe Retail and Business Banking (Europe RBB), Africa Retail and Business Banking (Africa RBB), Barclaycard, Barclays Investment Bank, Barclays Corporate Banking, Wealth and Investment Management, and Head Office and Other Operations. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Experian (EXPN) lost 2.8 percent for the biggest decline on the FTSE 100 Index after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. recommended selling the credit-reference company�� shares. Speedy Hire Plc (SDY) tumbled the most since January 2009 after the construction-equipment leasing company reported accounting irregularities and its chief executive officer resigned. Barclays Plc (BARC) advanced 2.3 percent, pushing a gauge of banks higher.

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  A gauge of lenders climbed, with National Bank of Greece SA rallying 24 percent and Barclays Plc (BARC) advancing 6.9 percent. Man Group Plc, the world�� largest publicly traded hedge-fund manager, surged the most in four years as regulators cut the amount of capital it must hold. Volkswagen AG and Pirelli & C. SpA slid more than 4 percent as auto-industry shares declined.

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Barclays Plc (BARC) fell to a one-month low as Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. sold a stake in the lender. Fiat SpA lost 6.5 percent as Chrysler Group LLC went in for a vehicle recall. France Telecom SA (FTE) rose after its Orange Business Services unit won a five-year deal to deploy a private network for Heineken NV. Johnson Matthey Plc (JMAT) jumped to its highest price in at least 23 years after posting full-year profit that beat estimates.