The past month has been marked with volatility and steep sell-off in stocks on a global scale. The unprecedented downgrade of US government debt from S&P, the high unemployment and the slowdown in the U.S. economy all caused investors to be bearish on equities. As stocks keep on falling however, companies keep on generating positive earnings surprises. Despite all the bearish news, I believe that now is the perfect time to start accumulating stocks, [particularly the following 5 "sleep-well-at-night" dividend growth stocks. Here's why.] Words: 1362

Question: What asset has appreciated more than any asset since the year 2000? Answer: Farmland - by 1,200%! [George Soros and Jim Rogers have recognized that fact and invested accordingly. Here is what you need to know to do likewise.] Words: 974

If the debt ceiling deal agreement is fully implemented [it is only going to exacerbate America's financial and economic woes and accelerate the demise of the U.S.] Dollar Standard which is inherently flawed and increasingly unstable. Its demise is imminent. The only question is will it be death by fire—hyperinflation—or death by ice—deflation? Fortunes will be made and lost depending on the answer to that question. [Let me explain how the collapse of the dollar could well unfold.] Words: 944

Over the past two months stock markets have crashed around the world and gold prices have soared as global investors decided that the U.S. has lost its race against time. A new recession is upon us before we even half-closed the output gap left open from the last recession. It means even larger deficits and an even weaker dollar. The price of gold and Treasury bonds is telling us that a full-blown international bond and currency crisis is approaching. There is no international policy mechanism available to stop the panic short of re-opening the gold window that the U.S. closed unilaterally and “temporarily” in 1971. [Let me explain.] Words: 3025

Gold's value should depend on the economic and political situation of the time. Right now there are fears of hyperinflation, collapse of the eurozone and even a collapse of the entire financial system. Gold should be worth more than its historical average, but how much more? Words: 3063

Housing makes up 42% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with the rest of it - food, energy, clothing, recreation, education, transportation, toys, cosmetics, etc. - making up the other 58%. [The current] softness of housing prices is artificially suppressing the growth of the CPI inflation rate [but with the coming increase in lumber costs that is about to change. Let me explain] Words: 772

Benjamin Graham, known as the father of value investment, is famous for his simple, yet powerful, valuation method as first explained in his 1973 book, Intelligent Investor, and later updated in his book entitled Renaissance of Value. His "Graham Number" approach has been adapted and applied to all 30 stocks listed on the Dow Jones Industrial Index to determine which of the stocks have above average safety factors - of which only 10 do. Below is an explaination of the approach, the formula and the results for all 30 stocks. Words: 1220

Gold is due for a correction. It would be a non-event to see a 10 percent drop in gold and this would actually be a healthy development for markets by shaking out the short-term speculators while the long-term story remains on solid ground. [Indeed, were] gold’s relative value to return to 1979-1980 peak levels of 7.6 times the S&P 500, gold would have to hit the $10,000 mark. [Let me explain further.] Words: 1316

While investors are piling into gold [a number of] independent international financial consultancies are suggesting that now is the time to be getting out of the gold market. [Here are their views.] Words: 897

Sooner or later I think everyone will have an epiphany about money that pushes them to buy gold - even if it’s at levels that would seem expensive today. When that time comes, we won’t be focused on the price of gold but on the absolute need to acquire a more lasting asset. If I’m right, the plus $1,700/ozt. price today is not too high a price to pay. [Let me explain further.] Words: 874