Hudson's Bay Co. Reduces Debt - a good investment now?

On 18 November,the Hudson's Bay Company sold 533 million dollars of equity in its stake of HBS Global Properties Joint Venture (properties in the US and Germany) to three third party investors:real estate investment trusts Ivanhoe Cambridge (250 million) and Madison International Realty (150 million);plus a large US pension fund (133 million).Ivanhoe will have a seat on the Hudson's Bay board of directors.Proceeds of the sale will pay down Hudson's Bay's 1.085 billion dollar loan to 500 million.The company will retain a 63% stake in HBS Global Properties,which it said it may sell more of for further deleveraging or acquisitions.*
Hudson's Bay,of Toronto,Canada,began as a fur trader in 1670,and is the oldest North American company.It evolved into a department store titan with more than 460 stores and 65,000 employees worldwide.Its major banners include Hudson's Bay,Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue in North America;GALERIA Kaufhof in Germany;and Galeria INNO in Belgium.Hudson's Bay other retail holdings are FIND@Lord & Taylor,Home Outfitters and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH in North America;and SPORTARENA in Germany.*
In addition to retail,the midcap growth company has acquired a substantial real estate portfolio consisting of its remaining stake in the aforementioned HBS Global Properties Joint Venture and the RioCan - HBC Joint Venture (Canadian properties).*
Keeping pace with change in the industry,Hudson's Bay has increased its digital sales by a substantial 30% as it increasingly invests in online sales.It will also benefit from the synergies generated by its acquisition of Saks Fifth Avenue,which are expected to appear in this quarter.This synergy,coupled with the weakness of the Canadian dollar,should result in better returns through 2016.Hudson's Bay is looking to be a retail momentum story backed by large real estate holdings.*
Hudson's Bay Co (TSX:HBC),(PINX:HBAYF)

Market Outlook and Potential Winners and Losers

We've seen lots of strange moves in the market,said Savita Subramanian,Head of US Equities and Quantitative Strategy at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Global Research,and I think that quality,such as the S&P 500,is going to continue to be important.I actually think that rates are going to move a little higher.Utilities are probably one of the worst places to be with rising rats.Global growth could be a little bit better because of lower oil prices.I do think the trend of the market will be higher,with a target of 2200 on the S&P.
One thing I'm a little worried about is the REITs,because they're interest rate plays.I wouldn't buy oil there.Our team thinks it could go down to 30,but it's getting close to a bottom.*
GoPro scored a double beat in Q4,with earnings per share of 0.99 versus an estimate of 0.70,while revenue was at 634 million versus the 580 million estimate.The video camera company is taking its first steps into China,so has a lot of growth potential still ahead of it.*
United Technologies' Sikorsky subsidiary and Lockheed Martin have been awarded a 1.24 billion contract for the first 6 of 23 new Marine One helicopters,which are used to transport the President and other dignitaries.*
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF(IVV),GoPro Inc(GPRO),United Technologies(UTX),Lockheed Martin(LMT)

Where To Invest;Sochi Medal Count;Julia Mancuso

We'll end the year with high single digit gains,predicts Kevin Mahn,President and CIO at Hennion&Walsh Asset Management.I think there is upside,but I believe there's more pullback in the market because we haven't reached certainty about the debt ceiling and the market hasn't adjusted to new Fed Chairman Janet Yellen yet.*
I think this is the year for diversification again.People forgot about asset allocation last year,with the market up 30%.You have to be nimble.You have to be active,and you can't concentrate on just one asset class.You have to look at alternative assets like gold and REITs.I would say the housing recovery isn't over,with the REITs.We actually favour Europe over the US this year,even though we're bullish on the US,Mr.Mahn said on CNBC.*
Sochi Winter Olympics Total Medal Count as of Friday morning:
1.Canada 7
1.Netherlands 7
1.Norway 7
2.Russia 6
3.USA 5
4.Austria 3
4.Czech Republic 3
5.France 2
6.Germany 2
6.Sweden 2
Canada has the most gold medals(3).*
America's Julia Mancuso,29,won the bronze in the women's Super Combined alpine skiing event,which combines downhill with slalom.She now has won each Olympic medal in her career,including two bronze,making her the most decorated female alpine skier in US history.I can't even believe it,Mancuso said.It was such a tough slalom.*
The effervescent Mancuso attributes her Olympics success to having grown up in the Squaw Valley ski resort of Lake Tahoe,California,site of the 1960 Winter Olympics.Jamie Anderson,who won the first gold medal in the female slopestyle snowboard event the day before,also hails from the Lake Tahoe area.*
Canada's Charles Hamelin won his third gold medal in the 1500 meter speedskating event,tying the record for most gold medals won in a single event.Hamelin,29,is from Sainte-Julie,Quebec.

Meeting Your Goal:Real Estate Funds

Income investors are taking a look at real estate funds such as Invesco's.Half the fund is in equities,said Joe V. Rodriguez,Jr.,Head of Global Real Estate Securities and Portfolio Manager of Invesco Real Estate Fund.Our goal is to produce equity-like returns.It's been paying  a 4.5-5% dividend yield.
On the equity side,we really like Kilroy Realty Corp.It's on the West Coast office side.In fixed income,we like shorter duration higher quality bonds.We're also focused on things like commercial mortgage-backed securities,or CMBS.UK CMBS are yielding 2.5-4%.We're getting high yields.
In Japan,seismic-proof buildings with backup power are doing quite well.They're up over 20% in the past year.
In the US,we're gonna build a million units of single family this year.Both single family and apartments are doing well.We like Essex Property Trust,which is concentrated on the West Coast.It's well-positioned to grow rents.
Invesco Real Estate Fund(IARAX),Kilroy Realty Corp.(KRC),Essex Property Trust(ESS)