Here are some great options for 5% APY returns on FDIC-insured bank accounts:
HSBC Direct: 6% til April 30th, 5.05% thereafter.
Emigrant Direct: 5.05%
ING Direct: 4.5% with $25 sign-on bonus (so it comes out to about 5%. You need a referral…)
Amboy: 5.25%
Capital One: 5%
Remember, these are risk-free rates!
Here are a few companies with market caps under $1 billion with larger than 10% yields:
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund (TEI): current yield 11.1%
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund (the Fund) is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company. The Fund’s primary investment objective is high current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund invests at least 80% of its total net assets in income producing securities of sovereign or sovereign-related entities, and private sector companies in emerging market countries. (google)
Novastar Financial Inc. (NFI): current yield 29%
NovaStar Financial, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading lenders and investors in nonconforming residential mortgage loans. Founded in 1996, NovaStar efficiently brings together the capital markets and American families financing their homes.
We focus on single-family, nonconforming mortgage loans, involving borrowers whose loan size, credit details or other circumstances fall outside conventional agency mortgage loan guidelines. In a well-managed portfolio, these loans offer higher net interest margins than conventional agency loans.
Central Europe & Russia Fund Inc. (CEE) : current yield 10.8%
According to Merrill Lynch in Europe, the current world economic cycle suggests that one of the best asset classes to be invested in are dividend-paying stocks:
Money can still be made as the cycle turns, chiefly by rotating into short-term cash deposits and quality stocks with good dividend yields such as AstraZeneca, Barratt Developments, Sweden’s retailer H&M, or Spain’s Banco Popular Espanol - along with a few bars of gold bullion.
Stay tuned to this site for dividend stock choice to weather any upcoming economic storm.
Here are three more high-yield dividend stocks that focus on Asia.
Asia Pacific Fund (APB): current yield 13.3% (yearly)
The Asia Pacific Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “APB.” Its holdings consist of investments in equity securities of companies in the Asia Pacific region.
China Fund Inc (CHN): current yield 12% (yearly)
The China Fund, Inc. is a non-diversified, closed-ended management investment company launched in April 1992. Its objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation through investment in companies and other entities with significant assets, investments, production activities, trading or other business interests is China, or which derive a significant part of their revenue from China.
Japan Smaller Capitalization Fund Inc. (JOF) [Editor's Note: I own this]: current yield 12.1% (yearly)
Japan Smaller Capitalization Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation primarily through investments in smaller-capitalization Japanese equity securities traded on the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya Stock Exchanges, JASDAQ, Mothers, Hercules, Centrex and other indices or markets determined by Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. to be appropriate indices or markets for smaller-capitalization companies in Japan. (from Google)
Here is a short list of some shipping and transport companies with great yields:
Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (EGLE): Current yield 11.3% (quarterly)
Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. is the largest U.S. based owner of Handymax dry bulk vessels. Headquartered in New York City, we operate a modern fleet of vessels engaged primarily in the transportation of a broad range of major and minor bulk cargoes, including iron ore, coal, grain, cement and fertilizer, along worldwide shipping routes. Eagle Bulk’s fleet is comprised principally of Supramax class vessels, a larger and more efficient Handymax design that enjoys strong demand from customers around the world. (source)
Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. (GSTL): current yield 7.9% quarterly
Genco Shipping & Trading Limited is an international ship owning company. We transport iron ore, coal, grain, steel products and other drybulk cargoes along worldwide shipping routes. Our wholly owned modern fleet of dry cargo vessels consists of Panamax, Handymax and Handysize vessels that provide an essential link in international trade. Ours is a global industry and Genco Shipping & Trading Limited is very well placed to serve it professionally and competitively. (source)
K-SEA Transportation Partners LP (KSP) current yield 7.1% quarterly
We are the largest coastwise tank barge operator, measured by barrel-carrying capacity, in the United States. We provide refined petroleum products marine transportation, distribution and logistics services in the U.S. domestic marine transportation business. With a fleet of 60 tank barges, 2 tankers and 41 tugboats, we serve a wide range of customers including major oil companies, oil traders and refiners. (source)