Does history repeat? Many of us, no doubt, remember the crash of the doc.com bubble back in 2000, and at least one analyst sees that pattern repeating before our eyes. Will Meade, who built his reputation in stock analysis with Goldman Sachs, believes that the current rally is only temporary, and that the markets are likely to fall again in 2H20 – by as much as 40%.Meade points that, like in 2000, we have the risk and uncertainty of a Presidential election coming up, and then adds, “The NASDAQ in 2000 did a similar bear market bounce as stocks this year — dropped 40%, then bounced 42% off the bottom retracing 61.8% of its drop. It stalled then fell 43%, making a new low four months later.” If Meade is right, then the true market bottom is due to hit us in late July or early September.The analyst is not all doom and gloom, however. While he is predicting bad news and tough times for the stock markets, he also points out that investors can act now to buffer their personal positions. His advice: move to liquid assets and build a cash savings buffer.Shoring up the savings account is only part of a strong defensive strategy. Investors can also shift their portfolio toward dividend stocks, relying on the steady income from the dividend payments to compensate for lower share price appreciation.We’ve used TipRanks database to find three high-yielding stocks that offer reliable payments – and all three have gotten the thumbs up from Maxim analyst Michael Diana.Ellington Financial, Inc. (EFC)We’ll start in the financial sector, with a small-cap company in the mortgage finance niche. Ellington operates as an investor, putting money into consumer loans, equity investments, mortgage backed securities, and both residential and commercial mortgages. It’s a standard portfolio for a mortgage-focused real estate investment trust.As an REIT, Ellington naturally offers a high dividend. REITs are required to a return a high percentage of profits to investors, and dividends are a sure way to comply with that regulatory provision. In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, and consequent economic damage, Ellington had to reduce its monthly payment starting with the April 29 payout. However, the company is maintaining a 54% payout ratio – returning more than half of earnings to investors. The 8-cent per share payment annualized to 96 cents, and offers investors a yield of 10%.Right now, the Fed’s key interest rate is down to the 0 to 25 basis point range, and Treasury bonds are yielding less than 1%. Even among dividend stocks, the average yield is just 2%. So, EFC’s 10% dividend yield is a fantastic return. Looking ahead, the company is expected to show 40 cents per share in earnings for Q1, more than enough to maintain the new monthly dividend.Maxim’s Michael Diana has tagged EFC as a ‘top pick,’ particularly noting the company’s strong management team: "Managing an mREIT even in 'normal' times is a difficult task, as the manager must balance leverage, prepayment protection, interest income, hedging, and diversity of financing sources to position the investment portfolio to withstand unexpected shocks without giving up too much income. When an unexpected shock does occur, crisis management skills are required to dynamically hedge and reposition the portfolio. We have followed EFC longer than any other analyst and, in our view, EFC management possesses all of these skills."Diana puts an $18 price target on EFC shares, implying a whooping 82% upside potential that fully supports his Buy rating. (To watch Diana’s track record, click here)Wall Street agrees with Diana’s assessment here. The analyst consensus on this stock is a Strong Buy, and it is unanimous, based on 4 Buy reviews set in recent weeks. Shares are selling at a comfortable entry point, just $9.87, and the average price target of $14.38 suggests room for a robust 46% upside growth this year. (See Ellington stock analysis on TipRanks)AGNC Investment (AGNC)Based in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC, AGNC is another REIT. The company’s portfolio is centered on residential mortgage-backed securities, but with a twist. Most of AGNC’s portfolio investments are guaranteed by the US government. The company’s portfolio includes $70.7 billion in such agency-supported securities, out of a total value of $93 billion.AGNC reported fiscal Q1 earnings at the end of April, and beat the forecast on EPS. Per-share earnings came in at 57 cents, based on $65 million in net interest income. The income interest figure is down significantly from the previous quarter, reflecting the economic troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On a positive note, AGNC’s cash holdings increased 55% in the first quarter, reaching $1.29 billion by March 31.A solid cash position and safe guarantees on the portfolio make AGNC an attractive investment, and the reliable monthly dividend adds icing to that cake. Like EFC above, AGNC lowered its monthly payment in Q1. The new payment is 12 cents per share per month, which annualized to $1.44 and gives a strong yield of 11.5%. At 63.2%, the payout ratio shows that the dividend is easily sustainable at current income levels – and has room to raised back to previous rates when conditions warrant.Diana is bullish on this stock and upgrades his rating from Hold to Buy. The analyst noted, "While turmoil in the mortgage markets at the end of March resulted in losses and lower book values for all mREITs, AGNC was able to meet all of its margin calls and, importantly, take relatively fewer realized losses, and therefore retain more earnings power post-turmoil. This is why we believe the dividend, currently yielding 11.7% (vs. ~5% for peers) is safe."Along with the Buy rating, Diana gives AGNC a $15 price target, indicating a potential for 20% upside appreciation in the coming 12 months.The analysts are somewhat cautious on AGNC, a sentiment caught by the 8 to 3 split between Buy and Hold reviews. The consensus rating on the stock remains a Moderate Buy, while the $14.53 average price target implies a 14% upside potential. (See AGNC stock analysis on TipRanks)Manhattan Bridge Capital (LOAN)Last on our list is a NYC-based micro-cap lending company, Manhattan Bridge Capital. The company offers short-term financing and collateralized loans. Typical collateral includes real estate and tradeable stock, and the loans are usually used as first mortgages. LOAN originates, services, and manages its loan portfolio, and most of its customers are professional real estate investors and developers.The coronavirus epidemic has hurt real estate development and construction – exactly the type of projects that LOAN finances – in general, but that hit has been especially hard in New York City. At both the State and City levels, lockdown restrictions have been severe, and the mortgage loan environment is described by Diana as ‘challenging.’On a positive note, LOAN has covered its quarterly dividend payment, despite lower Q1 earnings. At 11 cents per share, the quarterly dividend annualized to 44 cents and offers investors a yield of 10.8%. Again, this compares favorably to most investment return yields out there.The high dividend yield alone makes this an attractive investment opportunity, but Diana also points out the stability of Manhattan Bridge’s portfolio, writing, “LOAN has never had to foreclose on a property and has never experienced a loan default.”With the stable portfolio in mind, Diana goes on to say, “We believe LOAN deserves to trade at a P/E premium to [peers] because of its: 1) lower leverage; 2) higher profitability; 3) better credit quality; 4) lower earnings volatility; and 5) dividend growth (which is possible in 2021, in our view, if the environment improves and stabilizes).”Diana’s $6 price target on the stock implies a healthy 46% one-year upside potential, and fully backs his Buy rating on the stock. Diana’s is the only recent Wall Street review of this stock – but should his thesis prove correct, expect LOAN to attract both stock analysts and investors in the near future. It offers a low cost of entry with a high potential return – an unbeatable combination. (See LOAN stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

4 Steps to ensure your AI/Machine Learning system survives COVID-19; State of the Machine Learning and AI Industry; A Key Missing Part of the Machine Learning Stack; 5 Papers on CNNs Every Data Scientist Should Read

Michael Schrage, research fellow at MIT Sloan School's Center for Digital Business and author of "Serious Play."

Danielle Brown, Intel Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, talks about the corporation’s $300 million initiative to increase diversity, the largest such investment yet by a technology company. The goal is to make Intel’s U.S. workforce mirror the talent available in the country by 2020. Brown breaks down what exactly Intel is doing, why the corporation is doing it, where it’s going well (recruiting), where it’s not going as well (retention), and what other companies can learn from Intel’s experience.

Dutch restaurant ETEN, which is part of Amsterdam's Mediamatic Arts Centre, is trialing an innovative approach to social-distancing dining. As reported by Reuters, a series of small greenhouses (max. capacity: 3) has been constructed along the waterfront outside of their restaurant.

Servers wear gloves and facemasks.

Food is served on long planks, so the servers can slide them onto the tables without entering the greenhouses.

Ditto for busing the dishes afterwards.

If I can point out one flaw, it's that the tables need those server-summoning buttons they have in Asia. In the photo below, you can clearly see the two dudes on the right are desperate for refills.

And while the solution is Dutch, the marketing contains a bit of French. "Organisers call the project 'Serres Séparées' (Separate Greenhouses)," Reuters reports, "because they say it sounds better in French."

The Missouri Department of Revenue has announced the 2019 individual income tax year changes, effective for the tax year beginning January 1, 2019, which will be reflected on 2019 Missouri individual income tax returns.
Income Tax Brackets
The income tax… Read More

The post Missouri Announces Individual Income Tax Changes for 2019 Tax Returns appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Professional gamblers and hobby gamblers are now on the same playing field in the eyes of the IRS. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), changes were made to how expenses and losses are deducted against gambling winnings. Previously… Read More

The post Tax Reform for Individuals: Changes in Deducting Gambling Losses appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Eidos Montreal's Mary DeMarle chats about art and business of writing Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, a game about conspiracy theories, terrorism, and fear released into a world awash in the same. ...

Fellow Traveler managing director Chris Wright breaks down the data behind LudoNarraCon 2020 on Steam. ...

As a source of information and guidance for businesses and individuals since 1965, Anders is here for you during this time of uncertainty. We’re researching and dissecting the latest legislation, local news and relevant updates around COVID-19 and sharing them… Read More

The post COVID-19 Resource Center Offers Insights and Guidance for Individuals and Businesses appeared first on Anders CPAs.

You’ve taken all the right steps to finalize your divorce, so now you can breathe a sigh of relief – right?  Not so fast.  There is still plenty of work to do.  Listed below are the “Top 10 Post-Divorce Actions”… Read More

The post Top 10 Post-Divorce Actions to Consider appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Fellow Traveler managing director Chris Wright breaks down the data behind LudoNarraCon 2020 on Steam. ...

Sharp differences have emerged within handset makers and retailers over the treatment of devices during the lockdown.

The Karnataka government is expecting to create multiple corridors with countries such as Portugal and Suriname whose top officials attended the event.

India is currently in a sweet spot, with its working-age population expected to grow by a third over the next three decades, at a time when China and Russia will see a fall of over 20% .

An individual looking to buy health insurance cover has to make two decisions. The first is whether the entire family needs insurance and the second is about the type of health policy to buy.

Virus could hit the way Indian revenue authorities tax their individual, foreign income.

RIL Q4 results: Profit dives 39% YoY to Rs 6,348 cr; announces India's biggest rights issue

Govt may eye Rs 1.5 lakh crore divestment in FY21: Sources

Though bleak, that number was smaller than analysts’ expectations of 22 million jobs lost.

The company's total income declined 17.90 per cent YoY to Rs 449.62 crore in the January-March quarter

USAO Northern District of California
Criminal Division
San Francisco, California

Assist Federal Prosecutors with prosecution and investigation of misdemeanors and felony offenses. Research and write legal briefs and memorandums of law.

Internship Location: San Francisco, CA or Oakland, CA

Minimum Weeks Required: The school year terms (Fall and Spring) require a commitment of 20-25 hours/week

Website: www.justice.gov/usao/can

USAO Northern District of California
Civil Division
San Francisco, California

USAO Northern District of California
Criminal Division
San Jose, California

Assist Federal Prosecutors with prosecution and investigation of misdemeanors and felony offenses. Research and write legal briefs and memorandums of law. 

Internship Location: San Jose, CA

Minimum Weeks Required: The school year terms require a commitment of 20-25 hours/week

Website: www.justice.gov/usao/can

USAO Northern District of California
Criminal Division
San Jose, California

Prosecute individual caseload of misdemeanor and felony offenses. Research and write legal briefs and memorandums of law.

Internship Location: San Jose, CA

Minimum Weeks Required: 10 weeks/ full-time (40 hrs. a week)

Website: www.justice.gov/usao/can

USAO Northern District of California
Civil Division
San Jose, California

Typically, each Law Clerk is responsible for at least one significant project (e.g., a motion for summary judgment in an employment discrimination case). 

The position is unpaid and parking expenses are not reimbursed. 

USAO Northern District of California
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California
San Francisco, California

Assist Federal Prosecutors with prosecution and investigation of misdemeanors and felony offenses. Research and write legal briefs and memorandums of law.

Internship Location: San Francisco, CA or Oakland, CA

Minimum Weeks Required: Summer Law Clerks must work full time for at least 8 weeks. 

Website: www.justice.gov/usao/can

Civil Division (CIV)

Washington, District of Columbia

Interns research, write, and develop draft motions, briefs, and discovery; attend depositions, moot court and oral arguments; perform legal research; and assist attorneys in all phases of trial preparation and at trial.

Internship Locations:  Washington, D.C., New York City, and San Francisco. The vast majority of internships are located in Washington, D.C.

Minimum Weeks Required:  6

The owner of a Detroit-area physical therapy clinic was sentenced to 11 years in prison today for his role in a drug diversion scheme.

USAO Southern District of California
Attorney positions available in the San Diego Office
San Diego, California
Announcement #: 20-SDCA-10808887-AUSA03
Application Deadline: May 25, 2020

The U.S. Attorney's Office is currently seeking experienced attorneys for one or more positions as an Assistant U.S. Attorney ("AUSA") in the Criminal Division.  Positions are available in the San Diego office. 

The Criminal Division is organized into seven sections, which consist of the Border Enforcement Section, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF Section), the Violent Crimes and Human Trafficking Section, the Major Frauds and Public Corruption Section, the National Security and Cybercrimes Section, the Asset Recovery Section, and the Appellate Section.  (See the San Diego U.S. Attorney’s website www.justice.gov/usao-sdca for a detailed description of each section.)   

Commensurate with experience and needs of the Office, AUSAs may be assigned to different sections in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  New hires are expected to start in the Border Enforcement Section.  The Border Enforcement Section is the largest section in the Criminal Division and accounts for approximately 95 percent of the cases prosecuted in the Southern District of California. 

The Border Enforcement Section handles a large volume of reactive cases that arise from policing the 141-mile long border between California and Mexico, six Ports of Entry, and the roughly 70 miles of coastline stretching from the U.S.-Mexico border to the northernmost tip of San Diego County. Cases commonly include illegal entry and reentry, drug importation and alien smuggling prosecutions.  This section consists of an Intake Team, Fast-Track Team, Immigration Team and four Trial Teams.  Border Enforcement Section attorneys try a large number of cases and often oversee the use of investigative tools like search and tracking warrants, undercover operations and confidential sources.

Enclosed is a link to the Southern District of California's web page for more information about the office.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/district/sdca

Benefits

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees.

USAO Middle District of North Carolina
United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of North Carolina
Greennsboro, North Carolina
Announcement #: 20-NCM-10808245-AUSA
Application Deadline: May 19, 2020

The Civil Division is seeking one experienced attorney to service as an Assistant United States Attorney. This AUSA will be responsible for defending and prosecuting a variety of federal civil cases, with particular emphasis on defensive actions, including but not limited to cases brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act, actions which allege employment discrimination or retaliation, and immigration matters. They will also be assigned appellate, research, and writing duties. Link to the office website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdnc

The Justice Department announced today that Juan Carlos Pagán Bonilla (Pagan), 21, and Sean Díaz de León (Diaz), 19, have been charged by a criminal complaint in federal district court with carjacking and with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in connection with the death of two transgender individuals. Pagan and Diaz are now in federal custody.

Thank you, Sean, for your kind introduction. And thank you to CSIS for partnering with us in this conference and for your leadership and innovative thinking on critical policy issues that affect us all. I would like to take a few moments now to reflect on how the National Security Division (NSD) came to be and how, in our first decade, we have strived to achieve our twin aims: protecting the United States against national security threats while safeguarding our core freedoms.

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the formation of an internal, cross-divisional COVID-19 Market Monitoring Group.  This temporary, senior-level group will assist the Commission and its various divisions and offices in (1)…

The Department of Justice has released the agenda and list of participants for its March 11, 2020, public workshop to solicit public dialogue on the proposed vertical merger guidelines. The workshop will be the first in a two-part series hosted together with the Federal Trade Commission. The two half-day workshops will allow for a dynamic discussion about the proposed guidelines to complement the written public comments about the proposed guidelines that were submitted to the agencies.

The Department of Justice announced today that it is requiring United Technologies Corporation (UTC) and Raytheon Company (Raytheon) to divest Raytheon’s military airborne radios business and UTC’s military global positioning systems (“GPS”) and large space-based optical systems businesses in order to proceed with their proposed merger.  Without these divestitures, the merger would eliminate competition between two of the primary suppliers of military airborne radios and military GPS systems to the Department of Defense (DoD), and enable the merged firm to lessen competition for multiple components used in reconnaissance satellites sold to DoD and the wider U.S. intelligence community.  

The Department of Justice announced today the conclusion of its investigation into proposed acquisitions by Dairy Farmers of America Inc. (DFA) and Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. (Prairie Farms) of fluid milk processing plants from Dean Foods Company (Dean) out of bankruptcy.  The department’s investigation was conducted against the backdrop of unprecedented challenges in the dairy industry, with the two largest fluid milk processors in the U.S., Dean and Borden Dairy Company, in bankruptcy, and Dean faced with imminent liquidation.

Listen to Scott Wykoff's WBAL NewsRadio 1090 interview with Mike Pons of Country Life Farm as Md's top new stallion settles into his stall at Md's oldest continuous operating Thoroughbred breeding farm & birthplace of Cigar.

The next target for Swiss Skydiver is firm, trainer Kenny McPeek said late Saturday afternoon, roughly 24 hours after her 2 ½-length victory over Venetian Harbor in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. McPeek said Swiss Skydiver is targeting the 1,000 Guineas (G1), a 1-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, June 6 in Newmarket, England. […]

The post ‘I Think She’ll Take To The Turf’: McPeek To Target 1,000 Guineas With Fantasy Winner Swiss Skydiver appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

By all accounts, the second division of Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., going as the 13th race on the 14-race closing-day program, is much deeper in quality than the first division, which is dominated by the Speightstown colt Charlatan, likely an odds-on favorite. Nadal, who like Charlatan is an […]

The post Triple Crown News Minute Presented By Kentucky Equine Research: Arkansas Derby’s Deeper Division appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

The National Park Service (NPS), with the assistance of the Department Public Safety, searched today for three individuals last seen earlier today in the Colorado River near Phantom Ranch. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-missing-4-30.htm

Grand Canyon National Park rangers searching for three individuals in the Colorado River https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/canyon-search.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/15jun10_news.htm

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Steve Martin recently welcomed two new division chiefs to the park’s management team. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/13jul10_news.htm

The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of a missing individual on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/missing-individual-august-4.htm

National Park Service employees continue to search for missing Glendale, AZ resident Marc Buckhout. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/search-continues-buckhout.htm

Justin Kremer of Tempe, AZ has been successfully located by search crews earlier this afternoon. Kremer was reported as missing on Friday, July 31st with a last known location of West Rim Drive. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/missing-individual-located-at-south-rim-of-grand-canyon-national-park.htm

Grand Canyon National Park is hosting free Native American heritage and diversity events in early November 2019, as well as offering fee-free entry in honor of Veterans Day on Monday, November 11, 2019. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/celebrate-native-american-heritage-month-diversity-and-honor-veterans-at-grand-canyon-20191029.htm

Fixing a problem when having vertical divide lines between horizontal link and using rollover images.