Investing

The "Pareto principle" – it's often referred to as the "80-20 rule" - states that 80% of the effects of something come from just 20% of the causes (that is that 80% of people control 20% of the wealth, that 80% of sales come from 20% of your customers, etc.) and a new report by Erste Group, the Austrian investment bank, says this principle can be applied to bull markets as well, including the current bull market in gold, and following this line of thinking, you get an $8,300 price target for gold by the spring of 2015. Words: 285

The whole world of fundamental and technical analysis seems to be in a state of chronic confusion - confounded by this seemingly trendless stock market....[Usually] the stock market possesses the ability to forecast coming events but the periodic spates of Fed stimulation have thrown some sand into the stock market's delicate machine....Thus, we see the stock market ‘up on Fed-created stilts’ and at the same time we see depressing economic news in the newspaper headlines. Meanwhile, Treasury yields are sitting on near-record lows. We're seeing a strange paradox here.

I have consistently told people for over a decade to put up to 50% of their money into physical gold stored outside of the banking system. I now believe investors should consider putting even more of their liquid assets into physical gold. In my view this is the best way to protect against the risks the financial system faces today, and the chaos that is still in front of us.

I have consistently told people for over a decade to put up to 50% of their money into physical gold stored outside of the banking system. I now believe investors should consider putting even more of their liquid assets into physical gold. In my view this is the best way to protect against the risks the financial system faces today, and the chaos that is still in front of us.

Manganese is the 4th most traded metal in the world, mainly because it is indispensable in the production in steel and other alloys. The fastest growing sector, however, is in the use of manganese oxides for use in batteries and particularly rechargeable lithium ion (lithiated manganese dioxide or LMD) batteries. LMD batteries are ideal for applications that require high levels of power all at once such as power tools and now electic and hybrid vehicles. Take a look at the infographic presented here to learn about the important role manganese will play in our future.

Manganese is the 4th most traded metal in the world, mainly because it is indispensable in the production in steel and other alloys. The fastest growing sector, however, is in the use of manganese oxides for use in batteries and particularly rechargeable lithium ion (lithiated manganese dioxide or LMD) batteries. LMD batteries are ideal for applications that require high levels of power all at once such as power tools and now electic and hybrid vehicles. Take a look at the infographic presented here to learn about the important role manganese will play in our future.

We will not be surprised if gold revisits the high of last year ($1,900) or pushes through to new all- time highs by year end....and gold stocks should respond very favorably to the perception of a directional change in bullion. We believe that the ten month decline in the gold price has been the major headwind for gold mining stocks....but if gold were to trade at $2000/oz. later this year, and should the ratio of gold mining shares (XAU basis) return to the mid -point of its range since the launch of GLD in 2004, or roughly 15% versus the current level roughly 10%, mining stocks could double on a 25% increase in the gold price.

We will not be surprised if gold revisits the high of last year ($1,900) or pushes through to new all- time highs by year end....and gold stocks should respond very favorably to the perception of a directional change in bullion. We believe that the ten month decline in the gold price has been the major headwind for gold mining stocks....but if gold were to trade at $2000/oz. later this year, and should the ratio of gold mining shares (XAU basis) return to the mid -point of its range since the launch of GLD in 2004, or roughly 15% versus the current level roughly 10%, mining stocks could double on a 25% increase in the gold price.

I don't think it's any stretch [of the imagination] to say that we are now facing a coordinated economic slowdown the likes of which we haven't seen since 2008 and, frankly, something has to give — and my belief is that it will be stock prices! Here's why. Words: 710

I don't think it's any stretch [of the imagination] to say that we are now facing a coordinated economic slowdown the likes of which we haven't seen since 2008 and, frankly, something has to give — and my belief is that it will be stock prices! Here's why. Words: 710