 Compound interest is the greatest wealth-building tool in any investor's toolbox. Time plus interest equals big money. The same super-simple calculation is also the key to successful dividend investing. Great dividend-paying stocks keep their payouts steady for decades at a time, tapping right into the magic of compound interest. But the best dividend stocks deliver a double dose of compound returns, because they don't just make rock-steady payments every year. They grow their payouts like a Swiss-made clockwork, so the effective interest rate keeps increasing as well. Compound returns on top of compound returns -- now that's a cash machine if I ever saw one! Let's take a look at three classic dividend growers: Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG ) , Altria Group (NYSE: MO ) , and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD ) . These classic cash machines have increased their payouts without fail for at least 37 consecutive years, creating heaps of investor wealth in the process. First, there's something to be said about a solid core business. All three of these companies have delivered exactly what consumers wanted, needed, or were addicted to for decades on end. So before even looking at the wealth-boosting effects of rising dividend payments, the stocks have absolutely crushed the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) market index in the long run: 
PG data by YCharts In an effort to compare similar fruits, this chart goes back to 1977 which is where McDonald's started its uninterrupted dividend-boosting run. Altria got started in 1970, while Procter & Gamble's perfect history of dividend increases stretches back to 1957. On a split-adjusted basis, fast-food veteran McDonald's paid out $0.002 per share in 1976. Today, the annualized dividend stands at $3.40 per share. In other words, McDonald's has multiplied its dividend payouts by 1,370 in 37 years. On average, that's an annual increase of 21.6%. Have these dividend payouts made a difference to McDonald's investors? You bet. Reinvesting dividends along the way would have increased your already fantastic return on an early McDonald's investment by another 60%: 
MCD data by YCharts The dividend difference grows even larger when we turn to all-around consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble. At the start of our McDonald's-matching chart, P&G's split-adjusted annual payout stood at $0.07 per share. Today, the payouts have multiplied to $2.58 per share, per year. And these rising payouts would have doubled your returns since 1977: 
PG data by YCharts But the real dividend king here is tobacco wrangler Altria. Across the 37-year span we're looking at today, Altria's annual dividends per share have grown from $0.02 to $2.08, with spectacular results for patient dividend investors: 
MO data by YCharts These three stocks offer respectable dividend yields on new investments, too. From P&G's 3.1% yield to Altria's 4.6%, these stocks will beat any savings account in terms of short-term returns on your invested dollar. But as the charts and figures above demonstrated, the real magic of dividend investing comes from letting the payouts ride over the long haul. Compound interest is a powerful thing, especially when you layer growth on top of more growth. Top dividend stocks for the next decade
The smartest investors know that dividend stocks simply crush their non-dividend paying counterparts over the long term. That's beyond dispute. They also know that a well-constructed dividend portfolio creates wealth steadily, while still allowing you to sleep like a baby. Knowing how valuable such a portfolio might be, our top analysts put together a report on a group of high-yielding stocks that should be in any income investor's portfolio. To see our free report on these stocks, just click here.
 Source: Time Warner. Cord-cutters rejoiced last week when HBO CEO Richard Plepler told analysts the premium-cable channel will launch an over-the-top streaming service in the U.S. next year. It was just last month when Time Warner (NYSE: TWX ) CEO Jeff Bewkes said taking HBO direct to consumers was more viable and more interesting than in the past. Plepler said there are 10 million to 15 million broadband-only households in the U.S. that currently have no way of accessing HBO legally. This has led to an increasing number of password sharers and a ridiculous amount of piracy. But will going over the top increase the number of broadband-only households, striking a deathblow for pay-TV operators like AT&T (NYSE: T ) and Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA ) ? HBO and cable are splitting up
In the past year, HBO has been experimenting with cable operators more and more. It launched a bundle with Comcast that gave subscribers broadband Internet and access to HBO through a very basic cable package. It cost just $40 to $50 per month. Not to be outdone, AT&T launched a new bundle last month that offered a similar deal and packaged a year of Amazon Prime for $40 per month. HBO seemingly had a different goal than AT&T and Comcast with these bundles. Those prices are introductory offers, and subscribers can expect their rates to increase after 12 months. But Comcast and AT&T are using the bundles to attract more subscribers to video packages, potentially up-selling them in the future, and at least keeping them as broadband customers. For HBO, those introductory prices offer excellent data as to how much people are willing to pay for a stand-alone HBO streaming service. Still, HBO must tread carefully into a stand-alone service, as the costs may be higher than they seem. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX ) has seen its costs for content delivery balloon as it gains subscribers and Internet service providers (the same as the pay-TV operators) charge the company for better access to their networks. HBO currently relies on pay-TV operators to do a lot of the legwork for it. They promote the network, handle billing, operate customer service, and deliver the content through their cable infrastructure. That all goes out the door if HBO undercuts the operators and they drop their overwhelming support of the network. 
Millions will soon have access to Emmy-winning shows True Detective (left) and Veep (right). Source: Time Warner.
Cable's not in trouble... yet
The fact that HBO -- and its parent company, Time Warner -- relies on cable operators so much means it's not going to do anything it thinks could harm that relationship. The growth of Netflix over the last few years is a strong indication that most cable subscribers view over-the-top services as a supplement to cable rather than a replacement. Plepler noted that there are about 10 million to 15 million broadband-only households in the U.S. Even if each of them had a Netflix subscription, that leaves 22 million to 27 million U.S. cable subscribers that also have a Netflix account. That's on par with HBO. The bigger impact could be on the number of "cord-nevers," people who never subscribed to cable in the first place. Those HBO-centric bundles don't look nearly as enticing if you can get Internet access from the best provider in your area and HBO directly from Time Warner. HBO will become part of a growing number of services offered on the a la carte menu that includes Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, and now HBO. The problem for pay-TV operators will be if HBO is successful going over the top, it may lead other networks to try their hand at it. Last month, CBS's Les Moonves noted Showtime may be interested in going over the top, and the company just started offering a live streaming service of its broadcast network. As the a la carte TV menu grows and the options get better, cutting the cord does start to look more attractive. The onus is on content companies, though, to make sure that doesn't happen -- especially those that make most of their money from cable operators, not their viewers. It's a huge undertaking to go a la carte, and most networks don't have the infrastructure, let alone the economic incentive, to make the jump. The cable bundle isn't going anywhere
Both cable companies and networks love the cable bundle. Consumers love to hate it. But a la carte HBO won't completely disrupt the cable bundle. If it did, AT&T and Comcast wouldn't offer their HBO plus Internet packages. After all, HBO is already an add-on service, and isn't included in most bundles. The upcoming HBO streaming service will make it harder for pay-TV operators to convert broadband-only households into video subscribers, though. And if it marks the beginning of more premium channels offering direct-to-consumer products, it could eventually spur a round of cord-cutting. For people who love basic cable channels -- like Time Warner's other networks -- and sports, the only way they're going to get that content, in the near future at least, is through the cable bundle. Your cable company is scared, but you can get rich
You know cable's going away. But do you know how to profit? There's $2.2 trillion out there to be had. Currently, cable grabs a big piece of it. That won't last. And when cable falters, three companies are poised to benefit. Click here for their names. Hint: They're not Netflix, Google, and Apple.
DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Energy has some energy in this shaky equity market.
>>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings
In contrast to all the recent problems with the technology and biotech stocks, there's one sector that's been doing relatively well during the overall market decline: the oil and gas complex. The United States Oil Fund ETF (USO) has risen by 11% over the last three months and is currently trading just a few points off its 52-week high of $39.54 a share.
The major driver for the oil sector at the present moment is the geopolitical tensions in the Ukraine, which show no signs of letting up. In fact, they look like they could turn much worse in the blink of an eye. The latest development out of the Ukraine is that pro-Russian militants are starting to take control of the eastern town of Slaviansk as Ukrainian military forces gather nearby. The fear among many is that a full-blown civil war breaks out in the Eastern part of the Ukraine, and that's a scenario that could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to make a push for more territory or all of Ukraine.
There's just no telling how aggressive Putin might get if pro-Russian separatists start to engage with the Ukrainian military in a live conflict. This could spiral out of control very quickly, and the impact on the energy market could be huge. Russia controls a vast amount of natural gas pipelines that run through the Ukraine and serve most of Europe. Any major disruptions in the natural gas flow to Europe would be a major blow for the economic viability of that region. The oil risk due to this potential conflict is big as well, because if things escalate, the U.S. will likely start slapping Russia with economic sanctions.
>>5 Energy Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying Make no mistake about it, Russia will not sit by and do nothing if the U.S. starts to implement sanctions. It will use the best weapon it has against the West -- and that's its oil exporting business. Russia will ramp up oil shipments to China and cut off Europe and the U.S., leaving them both far more dependent on high-priced oil from the Middle East. To put things into perspective on how big of a player Russia is in the energy market, consider the fact that Europe is estimated to get 40% of its natural gas from Russia and over 30% of its crude oil.
With all of this mind, I believe it's a great time start looking at small-cap oil and gas stocks, which could be the sweet spot as geopolitical tensions rise across the pond. These small-cap energy stocks could also be a great way to protect your portfolio against a market correction, since they could see enhanced interest as defensive plays. Fundamentally, they will make sense as well, since a heightened conflict in the Ukraine will continue to drive energy prices higher, which could flow to their bottom line.
>>5 Rocket Stocks for a Tumbling Market One unconventional oil and gas producer that could be an excellent long idea here is Triangle Petroleum (TPLM), which engages in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of unconventional shale oil and natural gas resources in the Bakken Shale and Three Forks formations in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. This energy player is off to a decent start in 2014, with shares up around 8%.
Triangle Petroleum recently announced that it expects to recognize a gain on its investment in Caliber Midstream Partners for fiscal year 2014, and that news has forced it to reschedule its earnings report and conference call for Thursday of this week before the market open.
If you take a glance at the chart for TPLM, you'll notice that this energy stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $7.63 to $7.75 a share. Following that bottom, shares of TPLM have started to uptrend and move back above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish technical price action. The recent strength in shares of TPLM is starting to push this stock within range of triggering a big breakout trade.
>>5 Stocks to Sell Before It's Too Late Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TPLM as long as its trending above its 50-day at $8.29 or above those double bottom support zones at $7.75 to $7.63 and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $9.29 to $9.40 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that registers near or above its three-month average action of 1.33 million shares. If that breakout materializes soon, then TPLM will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $10.50 to its 52-week high at $11.66 a share. Any high-volume move above $11.66 will give TPLM a chance to trend north of $12 a share.
One major reason, besides the Ukrainian conflict, that I am warming up to TPLM here is the large short interest in the name. The current short interest as a percentage of the float for TPLM is pretty high at 13.8%. That means that out of the 75.69 million shares in the tradable float, 10.35 million shares are sold short by the bears. The bears have also been increasing their bets from the last reporting period by 22.8%, or by around 1.92 million shares. The shorts might be pressing their bets at are horrible time, considering the strength in the energy markets. This could be setting up a big opportunity for a large short-squeeze for TPLM in the near future.
Traders or investors are probably best-served to wait until after TPLM reports its earnings on Thursday before jumping into the stock. Earnings are always a gamble and hard to predict, but I would suggest bulls on this stock be ready to jump in once the quarter is out of the way, as long as it's not a disaster. This breakout play for TPLM looks ready to trigger soon, so watch for strength after the earnings report is out of the way.
-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.
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>>5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts
>>4 Hot Stocks to Trade (or Not)
>>5 Big Trades to Survive a Roller Coaster Market
Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.
Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.
Before Friday’s opening bell, The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK   ) released its third quarter financial results, which came in higher from last year and beat analysts’ estimates. BK’s Earnings in Brief BK reported Q3 net income of $1.07 billion, or 93 cents per share, up from $962 million, or 82 cents per share a year ago. Excluding special items, earnings were $734 million, or 64 cents per share, from $713 million, or 61 cents per share in the year prior. Analysts expected to see adjusted EPS of 61 cents. Revenue rose to $4.611 billion, from $3.783 billion last year. Analysts expected the company to report revenue of $3.98 billion. CEO Commentary BK’s Chairman and CEO Gerald L. Hassell noted: “We grew Investment Management and Investment Services fees, controlled expenses and executed on our capital plan. During the quarter, we also repositioned the Markets Group, which will improve our operating margin and return on capital. We achieved this despite a challenging environment, demonstrating the resilience of our business model and the exceptional efforts of our employees.” BK’s Dividend The bank paid its last 17 cent dividend on August 8. We expect the company to declare its next dividend sometime in October. BK Dividend Snapshot As of market close on October 16, 2014
Click here to see the complete history of BK dividends. The Bank of New York Mellon shares were mostly flat during premarket trading Friday. The stock is up 3.49% YTD.
DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.
Must Read: Warren Buffett's Top 10 Dividend Stocks
Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.
Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside.
Must Read: 10 Stocks George Soros Is Buying Sizmek
Sizmek (SZMK) provides online advertising delivery and optimization services worldwide. This stock closed up 8.5% to $5.45 in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $5.00-$5.64
52-Week Range: $4.85-$13.25
Thursday's Volume: 427,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 158,498
From a technical perspective, SZMK ripped sharply higher here right above its new 52-week low of $4.85 with above-average volume. This stock has been under heavy selling pressure over the last two months, with shares falling sharply lower from its high of $9.93 to its new 52-week low of $4.85. That downside volatility has increased notably over the last few trading sessions, with the stock gapping down from over $7 to $5.30 with heavy downside volume. That said, shares of SZMK have now started to rebound higher off that $4.85 low with strong upside volume flows. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if SZMK manages to take out Thursday's intraday high of $5.64 with strong volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SZMK as long as it's trending above Thursday's intraday low of $5 or above its 52-week low of $4.85 and then once it sustains a move or close above $5.64 with volume that hits near or above 158,498 shares. If that move begins soon, then SZMK will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at its gap-down-day high of $6.20. Any high-volume move above $6.20 will then give SZMK a chance to re-fill some of that gap-down-day zone that started just above $7. Must Read: Hedge Funds Love These 5 Stocks -- but Should You? MagicJack VocalTec
MagicJack VocalTec (CALL), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cloud-based communications company that provides voice-over-Internet-protocol services in the U.S. This stock closed up 6.3% to $9.17 in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $8.52-$9.24
52-Week Range: $8.50-$25.37
Thursday's Volume: 448,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 505,289
From a technical perspective, CALL ripped sharply higher here right off its new 52-week low of $8.50 with decent upside volume flows. This stock has been decimated by the sellers over the last four months and change, with shares plunging lower from its high of $16.12 to its new 52-week low of $8.50. During that move, shares of CALL have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. Over just the last month and change, shares of CALL have been nothing but a downside volatility nightmare, since the stock has trended lower on a closing basis for the majority of those trading sessions. That said, shares now look ready for a temporarily relief rally, since the stock broke out on Thursday above some near-term overhead resistance at $9.15. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if CALL manages to take out Thursday's intraday high of $9.24 to some more key near-term overhead resistance at $10.01 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CALL as long as it's trending above its 52-week low of $8.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above $9.24 to $10.01 with volume that hits near or above 505,289 shares. If that move develops soon, then CALL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 50-day moving average of $11.07 to $12, or even $12.70 a share.
Must Read: 5 Breakout Trades That Are Beating the Market's Slump Molycorp
Molycorp (MCP) produces and sells rare earths and rare metal materials in the U.S. and internationally. This stock closed up 4.1% to $1.50 a share in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $1.41-$1.54
52-Week Range: $1.14-$6.45
Thursday's Volume: 2.88 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 5.07 million
From a technical perspective, MCP trended sharply higher here right above some near-term support at $1.30 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been uptrending a bit over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $1.14 to its recent high of $1.63. During that move, shares of MCP have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This spike to the upside on Thursday is now quickly pushing shares of MCP within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if MCP manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.63 to its 50-day moving average of $1.64 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MCP as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at $1.30 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 5.07 million shares. If that breakout develops soon, then MCP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $1.75 to $1.80, or even $1.90 to $2.
Must Read: 5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love Rubicon Project
Rubicon Project (RUBI) , a technology company, is engaged in automating the buying and selling of advertising. This stock closed up 3.6% to $9.98 a share in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $9.50-$10.18
52-Week Range: $8.76-$23.20
Thursday's Volume: 369,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 321,062
From a technical perspective, RUBI bounced higher here with above-average volume. This spike to the upside on Thursday is quickly pushing shares of RUBI within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if RUBI manages to take out Thursday's intraday high of $10.18 to its 50-day moving average of $10.64 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in RUBI as long as it's trending above Thursday's intraday low of $9.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 321,062 shares. If that breakout begins soon, then RUBI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $12 to $12.63, or even $13.09.
-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.
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Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.
Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.
As we had earlier discussed on several occasions, businesses across the globe are riding high on acquisitions, and reports are doing the rounds of yet another acquisition. A point to be noted is that of all the acquisitions, most are happening in the technology sector. These acquisition sprees are suggesting the start of another trend in quest of innovation. 
The traditional practice has been to search for new skills through recruitment of new talents and encouraging the R&D department. But the new trend is first find out what the market is looking for, and then acquire a start-up or a smaller company working on that topic and release their product with the big brand name. This is a relatively smart decision, as it saves time and money invested in talent hunts, and also does away the probability of wrong recruitments and failed experiments. Let us find out the new star in the acquisition arena. The Qualcomm Acquisition CSR (CSRE), which recently rejected a $2.5 billion takeover offer from Microchip Technology (MCHP), has just been bagged by Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) for $2.5 billion. 
CSR is a U.K.-based company engaged into designing chipsets and components used in mobile phones and satellite navigation systems. The company is also designing components for hands-free driving headsets and Bluetooth technology, which connects one device with another without any physical connection. The offer made by Qualcomm for CSR stands at 40% higher than its current trading prices before the news of the acquisition was declared. In a press release, Qualcomm acknowledged the acquisition of CSR's expertise in the Internet-of-Things and automobile infotainment. 
This acquisition will certainly add more depth and variety in Qualcomm's current offerings by adding products, channels, and customers in the important growth categories of Internet of Everything (IoE) and automotive infotainment. This move will bolster Qualcomm's desire to take leadership in this business domain and allow it a strong foothold in this niche sector. This opportunity is in line with Qualcomm's strategic priorities in these rapidly growing business areas. What's in and what's out in this acquisition Last week, Microchip had pressed the panic button setting of the alarm about an industry correction in semiconductors market. They had made a bid to acquire CSR last August, but CSR reportedly turned down their offer stating that their offer was too low to be considered; however, the reason for the rejection going by market speculation and street analysts seem to be different. The buzz is that Microchip was motivated to make CSR party to a tax inversion deal, allowing Microchip to house income in the U.K.'s lower tax jurisdiction. Now that Qualcomm has bagged CSR and the reports have been confirmed by Qualcomm officially the Microchip deal stands null and void. 
Qualcomm manufactures digital communications products based on CDMA, OFDMA and other technologies for use in voice and data communications, networking, application processing, multimedia and global positioning systems. The company earns revenue from the sale of integrated circuit products and licensing of its patents, software and other intellectual property. For the quarter ended June 29, 2014, Qualcomm reported revenue of $6.8 billion, up by 9% from the same period last year. Net income of $2.2 billion was up 42% year-over-year. 
The recent surge in demand for the latest range of smartphones has put Qualcomm into the leaders' throne in the sector; its chips can be found in Apple's (AAPL) iPhone 6, Samsung's (SSNLF) Galaxy Note 4 and BlackBerry (BBRY) Passport and a range of latest smartphones and tablets. With a market capitalization of $120 billion the company trades at 16 times forward earnings. CSR's expertise in designing and manufacturing chipsets and components customized for the Internet-of-Things would enhance the product spread of Qualcomm in the niche sector of Integrated Chipset designing and manufacturing. Thus placing Qualcomm in the fast lane among its peer group competitors. The Crux of this Acquisition Qualcomm's $2.5 billion acquisition of CSR has severed a massive blow on its arch rival Microchip; Microchip was also in the run to woo CSR but failed to make the relation work, and Qualcomm swept away the CSR deal. Both CSR and Qualcomm would benefit from the ongoing mammoth upswing in smartphone market demand and the corporate frenzy that is going around Internet-of-Things. 
Though Qualcomm stock prices at current levels might seem on the downside, this dip is not exclusive to the chipmaker, but a result of the ongoing market corrections which is bound to rebound ones the correction phase is over. Going by the fundamentals of the company's business line and the kind of product mix it has to offer which is in perfect harmony with the ongoing market fanfare of smartphones and mobile communication devices, the company is bound to see brighter days in the near future. I would strongly recommend a buy at the current oversold levels and hold till the market correction phase is over post which time would be rip to encash the positions taken now. About the author:reports.droyWe are a group of analysts exploring and analyzing different domains of business and writing reviews based on information available in public domain web portals. We do not hold a
We've all heard the frustrating statistics: Despite making tons of headway in education and the labor force, women make just 78 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Why this wage gap exists is hotly debated. But whatever the reason, the fact remains that many women, at one time or another, may find themselves making less than their male counterparts. Though the policies and culture that create income inequality aren't likely to change overnight, that doesn't mean you have to take your lighter paycheck with a curtsy and a smile. You can maximize your earning potential with these five tips. See Also: Jobs That Pay Women More Than Men 1) Build money-making skills. All too often we think of graduation as the end of tests, classroom time and structured learning. Some of us even celebrate by tweeting ecstatic proclamations like "last class EVER!" (Just me?) But in reality, women (and men) need to be vigilant when it comes to building (and sharpening) their skill sets. Whether you majored in a high-paying field, such as economics, or one that has fewer high-paying jobs, such as art history, adding applicable skills and certifications to your résumé will help fatten your paycheck. Skill-building is particularly important for women, who miss out on earnings in some of the highest-paying fields. According to PayScale.com, advanced computer skills, such as Ruby on Rails, Java and SAS, can help you boost earnings by more than 8% in fields related to data analysis or computer science. Other capabilities, such as data modeling or fluency in Spanish, can increase salaries by about 5% in social work and other fields in which the ability to communicate with a broad array of people is a boon. Don't worry: You don't need to pony up thousands of dollars for an advanced degree or even pay for courses in order to gain these lucrative skills. There are many online coding schools, such as Code Academy, where you can learn the basics for free. See how you can use free classes to boost your career. 2) Look for a job with built-in balance. Often, women bear the brunt of familial responsibility. That can include everything from caring for an elderly parent to being the person tasked with picking up a sick child in the middle of a school day. Unfortunately, time away from the office may hold you back at many workplaces. For example, if you need to take care of a sick relative and have to regularly duck out at 5 p.m. or take personal days, your absences may work against you when it comes to promotions or being awarded major projects. If you decide to have a baby, maternity leave will likely have an immediate, direct impact on your finances. Although the Family Medical Leave Act requires your employer to allow you up to 12 weeks of time off, it does not require your employer to pay you. Some companies may offer paid maternity leave anyway, but many employers give you short-term disability leave instead, which typically pays about two-thirds of your regular salary. Plus, if you want to be with your newborn full-time for more than the doctor-prescribed six to eight weeks of medical leave you're allowed, you'll have to either use vacation days or opt to take unpaid leave. "If everyone leaned out, we would have a better working environment," says Claudia Goldin, an economics professor at Harvard University who once taught famed Lean In author Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook. According to Goldin, if the majority of workers (both men and women) made a point of creating a more equal work-life balance, then those whose personal lives demand more time away from the office would be penalized less.  Until that happens, says Goldin, look for jobs that provide flexibility or built-in balance without limiting your growth opportunities. For instance, some physicians who work for a group practice can often share or hand off patients without fear of losing out on future opportunities. When researching a company, be sure to gather some intel on whether or not they have family-friendly policies. Publications such as Working Mother publish annual lists of the best companies for moms trying to balance career and family. Knowing that your time away from the office won't sideline your career can give you peace of mind and allow you to keep working, even through a hectic personal schedule. A job that allows you to work from home can also provide innate balance, allowing you to juggle both personal and professional tasks in the same space. 3) Negotiate from the start… Talking dollars and cents with a potential employer makes most people nervous. According to Salary.com, only about 41% of employees negotiate their salaries. When broken down by gender, those numbers skew even worse for women: About 46% of men say that they always negotiate, but only 30% of women say the same. About 39% of men think that negotiating is uncomfortable, but more than half of women cite hesitation about bargaining for salary. If you overcome that fear, you can pocket much more on your very first day—and set yourself up for even greater pay in the long run. So as soon as you start thinking about accepting an offer, be prepared to negotiate your salary. A little research via PayScale, Glassdoor or Monster can help you figure out the going rate for your position, and you should point to additional skills or specific experience that might increase your worth to the company. When I landed my first job, I didn't negotiate my salary; I just happily signed my contract. In my second job, simply bringing up the suggested salary started a conversation that led to a starting salary that was $5,000 higher than the one listed. Now that I'm older and (hopefully) wiser, I make a point of discussing my salary before agreeing to any new work prospect. 4) …and keep negotiating. Once you've started a new job (and successfully negotiated your starting salary), that doesn't mean that you can stop talking about compensation (though many of us do, especially women). Even if you receive a standard annual bump of 2% to 3% (good for you!), you should consider asking for more—if you feel you've earned it. To help make the case for a raise during an annual review, general negotiating advice applies for both genders, of course: Keep a running list of your accomplishments, especially anything that can be measured monetarily; stay aware of what nearby companies pay for your level of work; and time your request appropriately. If your job doesn't offer you an annual review, set aside some time with your managers to discuss your contributions and compensation. Women, though, have to approach the topic differently from men. While men may do well by being aggressive with their negotiations, many studies have shown that the same behavior is not beneficial for women. "Women have to worry much more than men about how they will be perceived when they ask for what they want," say Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, authors of Women Don't Ask, on their site of the same name. "For women who are pragmatists, asking for what they want in a more social, friendly way can be a very effective strategy for getting what they want—without turning people against them." 5) Know your options. It pays to shop around the job market. The amount of time married women stick with an employer has been steadily increasing, according to a recent study by the American Sociological Review, but job tenure for men and single women has been on the decline. That loyalty may hurt married women financially. On-the-job raises are often capped to low-single-digit percentages. Overall, Kiplinger expects wages to rise by 4% a year by 2017. But snagging a new position at a different company may allow for a much bigger jump in pay. Connecting with people in your field is one of the best ways to peruse your options. "Networking is really important. It helps you stay current and find out about good job opportunities," says Ariana Hegewisch, a study director at the Institute for Women's Policy Research. You can also learn important insider details, including other companies' compensation levels, how friendly they are to flexible scheduling, or how quickly workers can climb the corporate ladder. How do you network? Keep in touch with friends, mentors and colleagues, and be a valuable resource for them. Not only will your benevolence do them good, it will also encourage them to help you in return. Social media can be another great way to connect with colleagues in your field who you might not be able to meet in person. Even if you would ultimately prefer to stay at your current job, learning about outside positions will give you an idea of the types of roles, and salary, you might now be qualified for. Not selling yourself short is a key to earning more over the long term, says Hegewisch. "Apply to jobs even if you're not totally sure you're qualified. If they think you can't do it, they won't hire you, but don't limit yourself." If you do get an offer elsewhere, you might even use the opportunity to start a conversation about a raise or promotion at your current company. Just be prepared to walk if you use this tactic and your boss decides not to budge.
Though the concept of e-commerce or online shopping was an alien idea in India for a very long time until the IT and ITES sectors matured, the tech-savvy Indian consumers are turning towards online shopping in good numbers due to the spread of service by providers like Flipkart, Amazon (AMZN) and Snapdeal to name a few. 
Yet the facility is used by only 15% of the massive Indian population, which leaves a huge consumer band yet to be tapped. This potential has caught the attention not only of indigenous innovators and entrepreneurs but also the global big wigs like Amazon, Ebay (EBAY) and Alibaba (BABA). Let us take a closer look at the ongoing clash of the titans in this sector– the indigenous Flipkart against the global hero Amazon. 
Flipkart reckoner Flipkart is an Indian e-commerce giant started in 2007, by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal. It operates exclusively in India, where it is stationed in Bangalore, Karnataka. It is registered in Singapore, and owned by a Singapore-based holding company. According to Alexa Internet, Flipkart's website is one of the 10 most visited websites in India. Flipkart has launched its own product range under the name "DigiFlip," offering camera bags, pen-drives, headphones, computer accessories, etc. 
Flipkart founders were both alumni of the premier technical institute of India: the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. They had been working for Amazon.com prior to this business venture. The business was formally incorporated as a company in October 2008 as Flipkart Online Services Pvt. Ltd. During its initial years, Flipkart focused only on books, and soon as it expanded, it started offering products like electronic goods, air conditioners, air coolers, stationery supplies, lifestyle products and e-books. Today, it is the largest e-commerce company on the Indian soil, holding the largest portion of market share in the subcontinent. Amazon reckoner The world's largest e-commerce player needs no introduction as its name is significant in the concept of e-commerce. Amazon has ruled the roost in the e-commerce world across the globe, and now has pegged itself in the subcontinent to capitalize the huge potential of the country for e-commerce and take advantage of the population demography that is essentially moving into the tech savvy youth clan. It would not be wrong to say that Amazon's greatest competitor in India was birthed from Amazon's legacy, since the founders of Flipkart hail from the Amazon protégée. 
Jeff Bezos incorporated Amazon on July 5, 1994 and the site went online as Amazon.com in 1995. Amazon has separate retail websites for United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Brazil, Japan, China, India and Mexico, with sites for Sri Lanka and South East Asian countries coming soon. Amazon also offers international shipping to certain other countries for some of its products. Amazon locks horn with Flipkart With the holiday season knocking at the door, retailers worldwide and in India have stepped on the gas to attract as many consumers as possible. The online retailers have started their own marketing to lure consumers with wide range of products, heavy discounts, single day delivery promises, buy-one-get-one free and all such offers that can be thought of. However, not all what is promised is delivered in the way they seem to happen. 
Last Sunday, when Jeff Bezos was on his round in India to bolster the progress of Amazon India, he saw that Flipkart had put up huge billboards at the airport, highways and close to Amazon's Indian headquarters for its festive season sale campaign called 'Big Billion Day.' 
However on the big day, it turned out to be a big blunder. Flipkart's infrastructure crumpled on the Big Billion Day with products vanishing from the cart, rampant order cancellations and system failure leading to the reality falling short by several miles of what was claimed in the promotional ads. Finally, Flipkart's founders issued a public apology for their failure to meet the stated commitments. But during this Flipkart fiasco, Amazon stole the show as customers moved away from Flipkart and landed in the Amazon basket, and with the kind of dominance that Amazon holds in the ecommerce sector, it steered the Indian fanfare for online shopping from Flipkart to its own cart. The Flipkart shame game gave Amazon the required publicity without having to spend, since whenever Flipkart was featured for its failure in a media channel, Amazon was mentioned to be its closest competitor. 
To add to Flipkart's woes, conventional retailers and certain consumer durable manufacturers are contemplating legal options against the online retailer for selling products under cost price and for denting their market share, while others are threatening to alienate themselves from Flipkart. Judging on the marketing cost of the online retailers, Flipkart spent the most on the ad campaign for the festive season, but could not capitalize on the customer flow due to gross infrastructure failure. 
Now comes the other important part of business combat: the war of product range for its customers. Companies generally add to their product line by pairing up with related companies or acquiring companies providing diff
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Two food production companies recalled nearly 60,000 pounds of chicken products because of possible staph and Salmonella contamination, the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service said. A third company recalled 377 pounds of broccoli kale salad with chicken. Murray's Inc. of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on Sunday recalled 31,689 pounds of gluten free breaded chicken products that may be contaminated with Staphylococcal enterotoxin, the FSIS said. The products are dated Aug. 9 and were packed in 12-ounce and 10.5-ounce boxes under the Bell & Evans brand. The problem was discovered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture during a retail surveillance and sampling program. Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal illness. Aspen Foods Division of Koch Meats of Chicago on Saturday recalled 28,980 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, FSIS said. The chicken was sold under the Antioch Farms brand name in five-ounce packets with sell-by dates of Oct. 1 and Oct. 7. Salmonellosis produces diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within 72 hours of consumption. Taylor Farms of Swedesboro, New Jersey, on Saturday recalled 377 pounds of Signature Cafe Broccoli Kale Salad with chicken for misbranding that neglected to list walnuts among the ingredients. The salads were sold in 9.75-ounce plastic clam shell packages with use-by dates of Oct. 23, 25 and 27.
Kathy Willens/APTexas entrepreneur Sam Wyly at U.S. District Court in New York last May. | Being rich is getting expensive. Just ask Sam Wyly and Anne Dias Griffin. Court filings related to different cases involving Wyly and Griffin offer a rare look into the real spending habits of billionaire families. While all billionaires are different, with some living large and others more frugal, the filings show the so-called burn-rate, or monthly spending, for many of today's upper crust can dwarf most people's annual incomes. Take Wyly, a former billionaire who made his fortune from Michael's Stores (MIK) and Sterling Software. He declared bankruptcy this week in the wake of a potential nine-figure forfeiture order from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The judgment stems from a jury decision that found Wyly and his now-deceased brother, Charles, liable for violating securities law by using offshore trusts to hide stock trades. In court filings, Wyly filed his monthly expenses for the court's approval and the SEC is asking for an asset freeze. The SEC said Wyly has spent a total of $450 million over the past 10 years, "a burn-rate of approximately $3.75 million a month." Of course, much of that may have been lawyer fees to battle the SEC. But the SEC says his everyday expense include $2,200 a month for "pool, home maintenance and landscaping," $2,000 a month for groceries, and $32,000 a month for "two personal writing assistants" (he's written several books). The salaries for the writing assistants and his housekeeper total $523,345 a year. He pays $29,000 a month for the mortgage on his wife's bookstore, Explore Booksellers in Aspen, which is for sale. He also spends $7,000 a month "to support family and friends." Wyly also reports paying more than $100,000 a month to his family office, which runs his investments and his finances. The SEC said these expenses "would boggle the average homeowner" and are unjustifiable." Wyly's attorneys declined comment. In a similar vein, court filings from billionaire hedge funder Ken Griffin against his estranged wife Anne Dias Griffin seek to seek to paint a picture of a woman with a large personal budget. She's seeking to break their pre-nup and said Ken has cut off her credit cards and fired her staffers. She said he has an annual income of around $900 million a year. Ken Griffin said he's already given her $40 million and continues to pay all expenses for the children. In filings, Anne Dias Griffin said she and their children have come to "enjoy a lifestyle reserved only for the very wealthy," including houses in Chicago, Aspen, Hawaii, Miami Beach and New York. They also have "unrestricted access" to two private jets "to travel to the aforementioned homes" as well as other destinations. She said the family has a "large group of staff members assisting the family, including extensive household, security and family office employees," and their own company that employs staffers, called "Griffin Family Services." Ken Griffin said Anne "cannot support her claim that she has a clearly ascertainable right to have Ken fund the purchases of couture clothing, helicopter rides, private air travel and whatever lifestyle she chooses based on Ken's 'total financial resources.' " 
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) If you're planning on flying over the holidays, now's the time book your tickets. 