Stocks & ETFunds

While there are a number of funds and stocks that can be used to gain exposure to commodities, futures investing has long been the most popular and direct means of establishing a position. [Let's examine just what futures are, who should use futures and identify the various futures exchanges,] Words: 922

Commodity investing has been around for decades, but it was only recently that their popularity has spread to the general public. It is now generally recommended that investors set aside anywhere from 5% to 10% of their capital for a commodity allocation, as these hard assets generally offer uncorrelated returns essential to diversification. While many investors utilize stocks, ETFs, and futures to obtain their commodity exposure, options contracts can often be a better alternative to not only your commodity holdings, but for the remainder of your portfolio as well [Let me tell you more about options and also why they might/should have a place in your portfolio]. Words: 995

Over the past few years, policy leaders worldwide have grown accustomed to kicking the can down the road with each step in this ongoing financial crisis making incremental moves rather than cultivating viable long term solutions. More recent attempts seem to have evolved into simply just trying to kick the can out of the driveway. Now we fear there may not be enough firepower left to simply kick the can over. [Having done so, we are left between the proverbial rock and a hard place.] If lawmakers do nothing, by all accounts we are likely to see a recession. Should lawmakers extend the Bush-era tax cuts, you make no progress towards long term deficit reduction, potentially raising the risk and magnitude of a future financial crisis. [Let me discuss this predicament further and how best to invest in such precarious times.] Words: 1602

Back in May of 2012 Nouriel Roubini (aka Dr. Doom) predicted that slowing growth in the United States, growing debt troubles in Europe, a slowdown in China, and intensifying political gridlock with Iran would come together to create a “Perfect Storm” for the world economy. Below we outline three ETFs that could thrive as global economic growth expectations deteriorate, keeping in mind that virtually no asset class will be safe if the “Perfect Storm” actually strikes. Words: 606

The Swiss franc is pegged to the euro at 1.2 EUR/CHF (Chart 1) so if the euro keeps going lower and lower against other currencies, the Swiss franc will do the exact same thing. However, if Switzerland were to de-peg the Swiss franc from the euro, there would be a tremendous upside in the Swiss franc. [That being the case, how can one best profit from such an eventuality?] Words: 265

All you gold bugs out there (and budding gold bugs too!) should find this article of extreme interest. With gold about to make a major move upwards in price NOW is the time to position your gold-investment allocation to maximize your dollars deployed and returns generated. Those in the know will not be investing in physical or paper gold, or even the stocks of the miners, but in the long-term warrants of the very few mining companies that offer such an opportunity. This article provides a primer on the MAJOR advantage that long-term warrants have in a market upleg and identify the specific warrants that are available. Words: 1037

Out of the 7,500 separate mutual funds available, and with 22,000 shares classes to choose from, only 1 fund - just ONE fund - actually managed to achieve a greater percentage return than gold bullion since the alarm bells rang out at the turn of 2007! [That being said, are you still one of the 99% of investors who, for whatever reason (are you foolishly listening to the "advice" provided by your stock broker/securities salesman going under the guise of a financial "advisor"), is still without any physical gold or silver?] Words: 395

With a tsunami of interest in the future prospects of gold and silver mining companies (and their stock prices as a result) I have been asked to publish an updated version of my one-of-a-kind proprietary index of commodity-related companies with long-term warrants (CCWI) and its sub-category of just gold and silver companies with long-term warrants (GSWI). This article gives you some insights into the 'secret world' of warrants and slices and dices the make-up of both indices identifying the constituents of each for your edification. Words: 1184

Whilst it is true, more often than not, that mining stocks move in the same direction as gold [and historically outperform that of the physical metal based on their better beta statistics] there are periods where this relationship does not hold. That is one of the reasons we currently have no interest in trading or investing in mining stocks. Why form a bullish view on gold and buy mining stocks based on this view, only to see gold rise and mining stocks fall? [Instead,]... our preferred strategy to optimize and maximize potential profits... is using options that are directed based on the price of gold with no other factors influencing their performance. [Let us explain why.] Words: 1235

The average annual equity return for individual investors has been 60-65% less ( 6-7 percentage points less), over a twenty year period, than the performance of the indices that everyone assumes reflect investor returns! In spite of such a dramatic under-performance that fact is being ignored because it is not useful to academics or investment companies - but I would think it is of interest to YOU! Words: 729