After having compounded at over 19% p.a. over 11 years, gold certainly should be allowed to just gain 7% in 2012 without some people calling an end to the bull market. Those who believe the bull market is over are mainly the investors who have missed gold going up almost 7 times in since 1999. Let me be very clear, the real move in gold hasn’t started yet, it is still to come. Here are my reasons why. Words: 1000

The United States is not going to become energy independent because of tight oil. Period. Reports to the contrary are an illusion of U.S. energy independence based on unrealistic assumptions and projections about the long-term potential of oil production from tight formations like the Bakken Shale in North Dakota and the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas. There are several compelling reasons for this [as outlined below]. Words: 575

Silver has had double digit gains in 7 of the last 10 years. In this infographic, we look at the investment properties of silver as well as its chief differences with gold. Highlights include a study on silver correlation, volatility, performance against the US Dollar and money supply, and portfolio diversification.

I believe that silver could go to $60 per troy ounce by the end of 2014....I also believe silver will be the best single investment of this decade. The following article is focused on why I think you should seriously consider having a significant percentage of your investment portfolio in silver. Words: 1600

The "Dogs of the Dow" is a simple and effective strategy that has outperformed the Dow over the last 50 years and generates almost 4% in yield. Here’s how it works. Words: 486

Risk is inevitably mispriced when unprecedented intervention suppresses risk [and, as such, the] policies that appear to have been successful for the past four years may continue to appear successful for a year or two longer but that very success comes at a steep, and as yet unpaid, price in suppressed systemic risk, cost, and consequence. [This article identifies 8] key dynamics that will continue to play out over the next two to three years [and an] understanding of the eventual consequence of such influential trends - that risk is inevitably mispriced when unprecedented intervention suppresses risk. Words: 1299

If Congress does not raise the debt ceiling, the result will be no different than the Jones family deciding that they have maxed out their credit cards and that, if they continue borrowing and spending over their means, there will be significant pain to the family at best and bankruptcy at worst. Any attempt to prove otherwise is futile because it's just not true! [To further make his point the author provides below 7 other examples of why the economics of government are no different than those of the typical American household.] Words: 585

VC Market Intelligence is a new monthly infographic from Visual Capitalist that summarizes changes in economic indicators, relevant news stories, commodity and financial trends, and provides technical analysis. The goal is to make this information intuitive and visual to the average commodity investor.

For the 28th year running I have given my views on a number of economic, financial market and political surprises for the coming year....defined as events which the average investor would only assign a 30% chance of taking place but which I believe are “probable”, having a better than 50% likelihood of happening. [Below is my list of 10 surprises for 2013, complete with my rationale for each.] Words: 1037

At the 13th hour, the House passed the compromise bill that appears to have helped the U.S. avoid imminent economic disaster - from their own inability to reach a compromise before the January 1st deadline. For now, the markets appear to be cheering the reduction of some uncertainty but it's not the all-inclusive deal that many had hoped for. Below are some of the apparent winners and losers included in the deal. Words: 765