The outlook for many junior resource companies in 2013 is grim so investors should focus on those who own quality undeveloped gold and silver deposits in safe stable countries. Such companies offer exceptional value in that they provide the best exposure to a rising precious metals price environment - and the assets the world’s mining companies desperately need. [Let me explain.] Words: 1328; Charts: 15

Barron's have just come out with the forecasts of 10 top analysts and ALL their forecasts are positive. There is not a single forecaster who expects the S&P 500 to fall in 2013 and there is only one forecaster who expects the 10 year bond yield to fall from its current level of 1.7% and he only sees a 10 bps decline to 1.6%. [Look at the average forecasts for each item at the end of the post.]

Bond Guru and DoubleLine Capital Co-Founder Jeff Gundlach... predicts that there is a "financial catastrophe coming." Here is an overview of what Gundlach sees coming, and 3 steps investors can take to prepare for, and profit from his predictions. Words: 910

One couldn't imagine any better Christmas gift for hard assets and stocks than Ben Bernanke's surprise introduction of QE4 right on the heels of QE3. Call the duo QE7. "QE7" promises to expand the monetary base far faster than the markets had been discounting [which is great for gold] and also raises the floor under stocks. I suspect we'll close 2012 with a run at the highs, and possibly climb just short of 1,600 on the S&P 500 sometime in Q1. As for Treasury bonds, well, could this spell the end of the bond market? [Let's look at the ramifications of QE4 more closely.] Words: 516

With both the fiscal cliff and debt ceiling looming, US stocks beginning to trail stocks overseas and the much increased volatility of the US market compared to those outside the United States, it is getting difficult to argue that the United States is still the "safe port" in a storm. Given the changing dynamic, we continue to believe that this is a good time for investors to consider lowering their overweight position in US equities while raising the allocation to international stocks. [I explain my position more fully in this article.] Words: 711

The last couple of weeks have offered such amazing buying opportunities that I'm now "all in" and suggest you follow suit, immediately. In 2-6 months you can thank me and send me photos of the vacation you bought with the extra money. Words: 508

[The just announced] QE4 will see the Fed buying $85B per month in U.S. Tbonds and Fanny/Freddie bonds with newly printed dollars - essentially debasing the dollar by 1 $trillion per year. The cold reality, however, is that each time QE is launched we get less wealth-effect bang for the buck and more inflation and, IMO, by the time it's switched off in mid-2014, we will have a real-world inflation rate of 5%+. (Words: 863; Charts: 2)

Gold is sought after and saved when its price is rising in anticipation of rising inflation, or on concerns created by the collapse of currencies and in the final stage of long bull markets in any asset, prices often continue to rise further for no other reason than that they have been rising so dramatically for so long, making investors confident they can extend expectations for more gains in a straight line into the future, rather than thinking cycles. [That begs the question no gold bug wants to contemplate "Could gold's long bull run be over?" Let's try and answer that question.] Words: 814; Charts: 3

As Ayn Rand said “We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality” so, with apologies to Ayn Rand, let’s explore some examples of ignoring reality. (Words: 1132; Charts: 1)

I’m starting to believe that we’re heading down a path where precious metals are once again confiscated, outlawed, or at least severely restricted in many countries. [Here's how I think such might well unfold.] Words: 783