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Fracking has had profound effects on the energy industry, so far mostly in the U.S., where it has created oil and gas booms in non-traditional places, moved the country closer to energy independence, and resulted in a huge reduction in the cost of energy, particularly natural gas. What is fracking? It's a technique used to extract oil and gas from previously inaccessible underground shale (rock) formations. Here are 5 more things about fracking.

The benefits of being able to detect a bubble, when you are in its midst, rather than after it bursts, is that you may be able to protect yourself from its consequences. [Below are possible] mechanisms to detect bubbles, how well they work and what to do when you think a particular asset is in one.

This is Part 4 of an excellent 5-part series of infographics (links to the previous 3 are provided below) on various aspects of gold.

While the majority is looking at the Megaphone Pattern correction since the 2000 high and is expecting the market to go back to the lower trend line of this pattern and to make new lows, I think that it will not happen. The opinion of the majority can be used as a contrarian indicator. I think that a healthy correction in this new Secular Bull Market could push the Dow Jones to 12500-13500 (end of 2015 – half 2016) followed by a second leg up of this new Secular Bull Market.

South America’s countries still rank quite high for investing, thanks to their smaller debt loads, emerging market fundamentals, and relatively high economic freedom and the lifestyle options on the continent are also very attractive. Let’s take a brief look at the situation in all but 4 of the countries there.

Industrial users get it. Investors in PGM ETFs get it. Shouldn't you go get it too? Palladium is an investment option with absolutely tremendous potential. Here's why.

Why do more and more countries want to repatriate their gold from foreign vaults? Because their governments no longer trust the global, fiat monetary system...[Neither] should you. Let me explain further.

We are of the opinion that the miners and explorers (and their indexes GDX and GDXJ} should be "swapped" for the precious metals - gold, silver, and their proxies (GLD and SLV). This way investors will maintain exposure to precious metals while reducing their exposure to the more volatile miners as some of the share dilution and recent investor exuberance play out - and at least hedge themselves if the price continues to rise.

Has U.S. currency as we know it today always been pretty much the same? The answer is no. If you love money as much as I do, you’ll love the infographic below and all the money facts it contains. Take a look. It's very interesting!

If the U.S. economy weakens in the second half as a result of higher energy prices, that could cause interest rates and the dollar to fall — fueling a rally in metals.