Share Email Print

Issues

Filtered by year: 2010

Select year:

Global Rate Hiking Cycle Gathers Steam; What to Do …

by Mike Larson | Friday, December 31, 2010 at 7:30am

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse, here in the U.S. markets late last week. But on Christmas Day, China’s central bank shocked investors ... Specifically, the People’s Bank of China raised short-term ... …

Six ETFs to Consider Dumping Today

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 7:30am

Happy Holidays! Many people have the last day of the year off, but not stock and ETF traders. Since 2011 New Year’s Day falls on a Saturday, the NYSE and other exchanges are open for a full day. This is good ... …

Monetary Tightening Threatens China’s Economic Prospects

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 7:30am

China’s role on the global stage has grown tremendously during the past several years. And there are valid reasons to believe this trend will continue. But it will not go as smoothly as many pundits assume ... …

One reason to bet on U.S. stocks in 2011

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 7:30am

There are definitely plenty of reasons to be concerned about the U.S. economy — and the broad market — in the year ahead. There are definitely plenty of reasons to be concerned about the U.S. economy — ... …

CBS 60 Minutes: “Day of Reckoning Is at Hand!”

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, December 27, 2010 at 7:30am

At this very moment, cities and states all across this country are facing their day of reckoning, with far-reaching consequences for the economy, investors and every American citizen. This morning, I will ... …

Happy Holidays

by The Entire Money and Markets Team | Saturday, December 25, 2010 at 7:30am

Our Money and Markets team is off today, spending some quality time with family and friends. But we wanted to take a moment to wish you all the best during this holiday season. Your friendship and loyalty ... …

Lessons Learned by Looking Back at 2010

by Mike Larson | Friday, December 24, 2010 at 7:30am

The year is winding down, and boy has it been an exciting and volatile one. Bonds. Currencies. Financial stocks. Some of the gyrations we’ve witnessed in those instruments over the past 12 months were ... …

Dangers and Opportunities in Muni Bond ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 7:30am

Bonds of all kinds took a beating over the last few months — ever since Ben Bernanke began hinting he would launch another “quantitative easing” money-printing program. Ben was true to his word. And the ... …

European Sovereign Debt Crisis Set to Spread … Government Bonds at Risk!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 7:30am

According to its homepage, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an organization that fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks. The BIS fulfils ... …

Stocking Stuffers for Your Favorite Investor

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 7:30am

At my home, the tree is up. Our gingerbread house — a rather elaborate one, at that — has been assembled. And we’ve already been entertaining a number of guests over the last couple weeks ... …

New Riches in a New Miracle Economy

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, December 20, 2010 at 7:30am

Brazil’s economy is booming, and I can assure you, it’s not a bubble. I am also certain that the vast riches being made are not a flash in the pan. Let me tell you why I’m so confident. First, because my family and ... …

Insanity on the Potomac — Treasury investors recoiling in horror!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 7:30am

Given the insanity on the Potomac last week, I cannot imagine a time when a clear vision of the future would be more crucial. At 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, President Obama signed a new fiscal package, ... …

The U.S. is Muddling Along, Which Right Now … Doesn’t Look So Bad!

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 7:30am

For the better part of 2009 and for the second half of 2010, the world’s focus has been on how dreadful things look in the U.S. and how great the opportunities are said to be everywhere else. But despite all ... …

What to Do as the Fed Plays Ostrich

by Mike Larson | Friday, December 17, 2010 at 7:30am

The latest Federal Reserve meeting came and went this week. And I gotta tell you, the Fed should replace the eagle on its website with an ostrich! I say that because the post-meeting statement was a bunch ... …

Consumers on a Shopping Spree … Five ETFs to Help You Profit!

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 7:30am

If you’re like most Americans, you know December as the “Season of Shopping.” So today I’ll give you some ideas on how you can make money to replace what you’ll spend this month. Consumers lost some of ... …

THE GLOBAL DEBT TRAP How to Escape the Danger and Build a Fortune

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 7:30am

We have just released our new book, The Global Debt Trap: How to Escape the Danger and Build a Fortune, which we think is timed perfectly for the events now swirling around us. And as our way of thanking you ... …

A Social Security “Shot Across the Bow”

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 7:30am

For nearly two years, I’ve been telling current Social Security recipients to consider using a little-known provision to boost their payments substantially. And in recent months, I ratcheted up my warnings to ... …

Grand Compromise or Great Conspiracy?

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7:30am

When Americans went to the polls last month, many thought they were voting for a return of fiscal sanity in Washington. And with fiscal sanity, we'd have far better assurance of bond-market stability ... …

The End Game for the Euro

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 7:30am

The euro is doomed, and the consequences of its demise are far-reaching — both in terms of the dangers for anyone who is unprepared and the opportunities for those who are. This is so important I have ... …

Interest Rates Surge as Fed, Congress Crush Debtholders

by Mike Larson | Friday, December 10, 2010 at 7:30am

Washington, 0. The bond market, 1. That’s the score folks, in case you haven’t been keeping track. The Federal Reserve Chairman said his $600 billion “QE2” program would lower interest rates. Instead, rates ... …

Follow the Trend with Small-Cap Growth ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 7:30am

With exchange traded funds (ETFs), global stock markets can be sliced and diced in hundreds of different ways. You can invest by country, by geographic region, by industry sector, and by various combinations ... …

Ben Bernanke Ready to Print Still More!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 7:30am

Fed President Ben Bernanke earned his nickname “Helicopter Ben” as early as 2002 when as a Fed Governor he gave his famous speech Deflation: Making Sure It Doesn’t Happen Here. “Helicopter money” is a term he coined to describe ... …

Should U.S. investors fear a “Japan scenario?”

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 7:30am

With Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve now into their second round of quantitative easing, a lot of investors are becoming increasingly worried about the U.S. “becoming like Japan.” In short, they're ... …

Warning: Muni Bond Chaos Imminent

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, December 6, 2010 at 7:30am

Whenever folks from Washington or Wall Street try to persuade you that the Great Debt Crisis is now “over,” I suggest you shake their hands politely, usher them to the door, and tell them to never come back ... …

Why I’m giving away over $250,000 in prizes and memberships

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 7:30am

Hi, I’m having a great Sunday and I hope you are too! I’m happily giving away prizes and memberships valued at over $250,000 in the Weiss Forecast Challenge. Here’s how it works ... …

The Moment of Truth for Medicare

by Gavin Magor | Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 7:30am

Traditionally this is the season when we look forward to the giving and receiving of gifts. But maybe we’ll look at things differently this year ... because on Wednesday, according to The National Commission on ... …

Deficit Commission Fiddles While Rome (and Dublin … and Athens … Lisbon) Burns!

by Mike Larson | Friday, December 3, 2010 at 7:30am

The meltdown in Europe’s debt market just keeps getting worse. In the past several days ... Ireland was forced to follow Greece down Bailout Road. The country needed $113 billion in aid to fill a Grand Canyon ... …

Does Your ETF Own Derivatives?

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 7:30am

What’s in your exchange traded fund (ETF)? The obvious answer is “stocks” if it is a stock ETF, and “bonds” if it is a bond ETF. That’s not always the case, though ... …

The Solution to the Government Debt Problem Is Well Known

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 7:30am

Last Thursday in a government declaration, German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke about the debt problems in Ireland and other European countries. She said, “Europe needs a new culture of stability,” and added, “A better monitoring ... …

Not much time left for year-end moves!

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 7:30am

Lots of meals with friends and family. Hundreds of e-mails about shopping deals. And even a trip into the woods to saw down a nine-foot douglas fir for our living room. Yes, this past weekend clearly kicked off ... …

New phase of debt crisis! Striking NOW! Despite rescues!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, November 29, 2010 at 7:30am

A belated “Happy Thanksgiving!” — from our family to yours! Sadly, though, even while most Americans were enjoying the holiday or hitting the malls, much of Europe was sinking deeper into a new, more ... …

The Euro Zone’s Timeout Is Expiring!

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 7:30am

Last year’s Thanksgiving weekend was an unusually active holiday news cycle. Of course, it was when Tiger Woods had his bizarre car accident outside of his home. That saga would dominate the news for ... …

Why I’m THANKFUL for the Bond Market Sell Off

by Mike Larson | Friday, November 26, 2010 at 7:30am

I don’t know about you, but I’m still stuffed from yesterday! I ate enough turkey to feed a small army, and that’s not even counting all the trimmings. But frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanksgiving is ... …

A Day for Giving Thanks

by The Entire Money and Markets Team | Thursday, November 25, 2010 at 7:30am

Our team is at home today, celebrating with friends and family. But we wanted to let you know just how grateful we are for the trust you place in us each and every day ... …

FINAL 10 hours for $100 reward!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 2:00pm

My Three Urgent Questions video goes offline at 11:59 PM tonight, and when it does, your $xx reward for watching disappears as well! …

Warning: Stock Market Sentiment Is Way Too Bullish!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 7:30am

In forecasting stock market movements, I’ve developed a model consisting of many components and indicators. Here’s a brief overview of where four of my five basic categories stand now: ... …

Dividends? Thanks but no thanks, banks!

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 7:30am

Dividends have been all over the news lately, including a number of stories talking about the possibility that banks will begin paying out solid dividends again. Well, it might be a week for giving thanks, but I’m ... …

FDIC: 903 banks in trouble. What to do …

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, November 22, 2010 at 7:30am

Martin here with an urgent update on the next phase of the banking crisis. Just this past Friday, the government released new data showing that the FDIC's list of "problem banks" now includes 903 ... …

A World Awash in Government Intervention, Delays the Inevitable

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 7:30am

The past three years have been dominated by government intervention ... The U.S. propped up the banks with TARP money, and then gave banks ultra-easy money terms to recapitalize. And to unfreeze ... …

List of Fed’s enemies grows longer as bond market carnage spreads

by Mike Larson | Friday, November 19, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s always gratifying when the mainstream media picks up on a theme you’ve been banging away at for weeks. And boy is that happening now. Just get a load of the headlines we’ve seen in recent days ... …

Go for Profits with International ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 7:30am

Let me ask you a question. Suppose you have the ability to invest in any stock market in the world. One of the largest markets has lagged badly for many years now. And there are few reasons to think the ... …

Telling Trend Reversals: The Dollar and Bonds

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 7:30am

In last week’s Money and Markets column, I wrote about Bernanke’s quantitative easing policy. The goal of the policy is to create higher stock and housing prices by pushing the dollar and interest rates down. So, ... …

Time to Take Profits from Corporate Bonds?

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 7:30am

Back in May of 2009, I wrote an article here in Money and Markets called “Time to Start Nibbling on Corporate Bonds.” As the name implied, I argued that investors looking for opportunities in fixed-income ... …

Fed money printing getting even wilder!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, November 15, 2010 at 7:30am

I’ve seen a lot of crazy monetary shenanigans in my lifetime — in Brazil, Japan and elsewhere. But I’ve never seen anything quite like the explosion of out-and-out money printing we’re witnessing in ... …

Dazzling Bargains in Commodities

by Sean Brodrick | Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 7:30am

Is gold a bargain at $1,400 an ounce? Is crude oil a screaming deal at $85 a barrel? Absolutely! In fact, I think the prices of many commodities such as gold, crude oil, wheat, soybeans, copper and silver will ... …

Euro Back Under the Microscope

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 7:30am

Investors, politicians and the media have had tunnel vision for the better part of the past five months. And it’s been directed squarely on the United States. The world has been transfixed on the dollar. Experts ... …

Bernanke QE2 Program Backfiring! Global Money War Intensifying!

by Mike Larson | Friday, November 12, 2010 at 7:30am

The reviews are coming in fast and furious — and they’re downright terrible! I’m not talking about the latest romantic comedy or action movie. I’m talking about the reviews of the Federal Reserve’s ... …

Go for the Gold with Mining ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:30am

Do you like to dig? I have to admit, it’s not my favorite thing. But if I knew there was gold in the ground I might think differently. In fact, there is gold in the ground — and plenty of other valuable minerals, ... …

Fed money-printing scheme triggering bond price meltdown!

by Mike Larson | Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 1:30pm

Since talk of new money-printing first surfaced a few weeks ago, 30-year bond yields have jumped sharply higher — from 3.46% to 4.29%. That’s a 21% surge in borrowing costs! It’s the biggest interest ... …

Bernanke’s Monetary Policy Is Doomed!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week Ben Bernanke wrote an article for The Washington Post to justify the Fed’s decision of another round of quantitative easing. Here’s his core argument: “Easier financial conditions will promote economic ... …

Silver EXPLODES 5.8%! Gold surging! Global firestorm about Fed money printing

by Larry Edelson | Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 3:15pm

The precious metals markets are going wild even as I write these words. This is precisely what we recommended investing in with our online presentation that so many investors are rushing to view right ... …

Four Steps to Fine-Tune Your Portfolio

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 7:30am

In my last couple of columns, I told you about two different portfolios that I’ve been running, both of which contain dividend stocks and have been performing very strongly. That prompted some of you to write in ... …

4 ETFs Beating the Dow by a Mile

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, November 8, 2010 at 7:30am

Martin here with a quick update on four of our favorite exchange traded funds (ETFs). From the first trading day in May through this past Friday, November 5, the Dow is up 4 percent. That’s actually ... …

A Personal Story with Huge Profit Implications

by Larry Edelson | Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 7:30am

Larry here, with a personal story that may help you understand just how explosive the right investments can be in this new world of money printing gone wild. It’s why a lot of our readers are making so much ... …

Currencies: Seven Charts You Should See

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 7:30am

The currency market, as well as all markets, have been heavily focused on the U.S. and the Fed’s plans for more quantitative easing (QE). And that’s had a huge impact on the dollar and on dollar sentiment. The ... …

Winners and Sinners in the Global Money War

by Mike Larson | Friday, November 5, 2010 at 7:30am

There’s a Great Global Money War raging right now — and the U.S. is losing. That’s the inescapable conclusion I draw from the market action I see on my screens ... the headlines coming across the tape ... …

Gold up $41! Commodities, currencies exploding higher!

by Larry Edelson | Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 11:55am

Larry here with an urgent update on gold, silver, platinum, sugar, and almost every tangible asset under the sun. It’s been less than 24 hours since the Fed announced it’s cranking up the printing presses ... …

Sorting Out the Asia ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 7:30am

You shouldn’t be surprised if I tell you I like Asia. I talk about Asia frequently, both in my Money and Markets columns and in International ETF Trader. The reason is simple: Asia is where I see the best ... …

News flash: $600 billion Fed funny money! Big LIE!

by Larry Edelson | Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 3:45pm

This is it — the hot news that Wall Street was waiting for with bated breath. Fed Chief Bernanke’s going to buy another $600 billion in Treasury securities to pump liquidity into the economy ... …

Sentiment Indicators Signaling a Major Top

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 7:30am

The S&P 500 index is nearly back to its April high. In the bigger picture the market can be seen as tracing out a major topping formation lasting nearly one year. Valuations are historically high, and macroeconomic ... …

It’s a LANDSLIDE! What to do …

by Larry Edelson | Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at 3:00pm

It's all over but the shouting! According to last-minute polling, Republicans will gain up to 60 House seats, including a very vocal Tea Party caucus. Meanwhile, incumbents who have held the same seats for ... …

The Power of Carefully Chosen Dividend Stocks

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week, I talked a little bit about the recent performance of my dad’s income portfolio. In case you missed that column, the upshot was that every new recommendation I’ve made is up and beating the ... …

The most amazing week of our lifetime …

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, November 1, 2010 at 7:30am

If there ever was a single week promising to deliver the most amazing financial changes of our lifetime, this has got to be it — with TWO D-Days hitting in the next 48 hours. D-Day #1 comes tomorrow, with the ... …

Fed President: Bernanke Making "A PACT WITH THE DEVIL"

by Monty Agarwal | Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 7:30am

When Fed President Hoenig declared last week that Bernanke is making "a pact with the devil," he wasn't kidding. Nor was he talking about a little side deal that would someday be forgiven in money heaven ... …

Currency War: "The Worst of Wars"

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week, here in Money and Markets, I suggested that the recent G-20 finance minister meetings could have a meaningful influence on the next trend in global currencies and other key markets. Therefore, we ... …

QE2 Sends Interest Rates Up. Yes, Up!

by Mike Larson | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 7:30am

So if the latest reporting is to be believed, QE2 is a fait accompli. The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday said the Federal Reserve plans to purchase “a few hundred billion dollars” worth of Treasuries over a ... …

My Answers to Your Questions

by Monty Agarwal | Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 1:38pm

The upcoming midterm elections have now shifted more decisively toward Republicans, and polling analysts from both parties agree about that trend. Plus, the Fed has now virtually declared that it will ... …

Get Down Under With Australia ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 7:30am

See if you can guess the country ... Straddles two different oceans, Part of the British Commonwealth, Huge wilderness area, English-speaking, Democracy, Capitalist, Technologically and industrially ... …

Seeking Profit Potential When Stocks Sink AND Soar

by Mike Burnick | Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 11:00am

The outcome of next Tuesday’s election could easily set off a chain reaction of events in our economy … and perhaps worldwide. Will the U.S. economy be able to grow enough to avoid a double-dip recession ... …

Treasury Bond Bubble about to POP!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 7:30am

Financial history shows that interest rates — and hence bond prices — have risen and fallen in long-term trends spanning decades. The following chart shows the 10-year Treasury since 1953. As you can see, ... …

Five strategies I'm using to help dad beat the stock market

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 7:30am

You might remember that back in June my 63-year-old dad decided to let me begin managing his $100,000 retirement account at Vanguard. The goal was to help him get better returns than he was earning with ... …

Urgent Joint Release by Larry and Martin

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, October 25, 2010 at 7:30am

Tomorrow is your last day to see the extremely timely about the strategies and investments to be used in Martin's $1,000,000 portfolio, starting THIS week. The reason it's so timely? Because of FIVE powerful ... …

New buys this week! Your deadline: THIS TUESDAY!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 7:30am

If you haven’t seen our most recent online presentation, I think you’d better do so before this weekend is over. The reason for the urgency is quite straightforward: The presentation is about the strategy and ... …

G-20 Meetings Could Prove Very Important for Currencies

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 7:30am

While many investors have their eyes on the G-20 Summit in November, this weekend’s gathering of G-20 finance ministers could prove to be the more significant event for markets. If you take a look at recent ... …

Mortgage Mess Comes Back to Haunt Bankers … Again

by Mike Larson | Friday, October 22, 2010 at 7:30am

Halloween is right around the corner. So it’s only appropriate that — just like some bad horror movie character — the mortgage monster keeps coming back to haunt bankers. Indeed, major financial ... …

G-20 HEADS UP: Losing battle to stem CURRENCY WARS!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 2:00pm

I'm getting ready to put my $1,000,000 portfolio into a series of new investments, using an approach that could have generated a 2,478% total return in all types of market environments ... …

Profit from Rising Food Prices with ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 7:30am

Here’s a question for you ... and I’m pretty sure your answer is “Yes.” The question is: Do you eat? Food is a basic necessity of life. We all need to eat. Some of us eat more than others do, of course. Sadly, ... …

Flash update: Mortgage mayhem spreading!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 2:39pm

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) has just announced that new mortgage applications have slumped again despite some of the lowest interest rates in history — a drop in demand that bodes ill for the ... …

Banks and the Unfounded Hope of Easy Money

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 7:30am

The main driver of the stock market rally off the late-August low seems to be the Fed’s relatively clear announcement of quantitative easing number two. Market participants seem to think that another round ... …

Urgent Alert: China Raises Rates! What it means …

by Monty Agarwal | Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 12:00pm

Thank you, Beijing! By raising interest rates this morning for first time since 2007, China has triggered profit taking in everything from currencies to commodities! Great! That is now triggering precisely ... …

Further Limiting Your Risk with CDs (or Bonds)

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s now official: As I suggested last week, Social Security recipients are not getting any cost-of-living increase in 2011. This marks the second straight year of flat monthly checks. That fact, combined with ... …

Two Game-Changing Decisions

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, October 18, 2010 at 7:30am

If you think all the game-changing decisions to be made on November 2 will be by voters at the ballot boxes, think again! In his latest online presentation, Monty Agarwal reminds us that, on that very same ... …

Gutting the dollar is now official!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s official now. The Fed said it in their meeting notes. And Bernanke said it again on Friday: He’s going to run the money printing presses. It’s the same trick we’ve seen in countries like Brazil, Argentina and ... …

Reflation Trade Is Overdone

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 7:30am

In recent weeks, the dollar has been the centerpiece of speculation surrounding the outlook for global economies, rising protectionist threats and the resurgence of global asset prices. And it all derives from ... …

Tensions Rise as Global Policymakers Part Ways

by Mike Larson | Friday, October 15, 2010 at 7:30am

The tension out there is so thick you can cut it with a knife. I’m talking about the tension building between central bankers and policymakers in developed nations and their counterparts in so-called emerging ... …

Diversify Out Of U.S. Dollars With ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 7:30am

Do you pay attention to the currency markets? You’d better, if you want to survive and thrive in these crazy times. I have to tell you I am NOT a currency expert. For deeper analysis I refer you to my ... …

European Investors Haven't Been this Bullish in Nine Years!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 7:30am

Price-earnings ratios and dividend yields are showing that the stock market is expensive. And my big-picture economic indicators are signaling high recession risks. My liquidity indicators are confirming this ... …

Will 2011 be another stagnant year for Social Security checks?

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 7:30am

In just a few days, the Social Security Administration is going to let retirees know how much their checks will go up next year. Or, in this case, how their checks aren’t going to go up at all. If you were ... …

Election's impact on stocks, gold, oil, currencies and more!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, October 11, 2010 at 7:30am

If you think the winds of change in Washington — both on the political scene and at the Fed — can have a big impact on the financial markets, wait till you see what can happen in the coming political storm! For ... …

China's Currency War: Enemy #1 for Global Economy

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 7:30am

When Brazil’s finance minister said the world was in a currency war, it came as big news to many people — a surprising “new” economic threat. But there’s nothing new about a currency war. China has been ... …

Central Bankers' Global Race to the Bottom

by Mike Larson | Friday, October 8, 2010 at 7:30am

Well, that pretty much seals the deal. I’m talking about the latest, lousy batch of employment data. The ADP Employer Services report out Wednesday showed the economy shedding 39,000 jobs in September ... …

Seven New ETFs Cover New Ground

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 7:30am

The exchange traded fund menu is growing fast. So far this year more than 170 new ETFs and similar exchange-traded products have hit the market in the U.S. Quite a few of the new ETFs were just ... …

Don't Let September's Rally Trick You

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 7:30am

You’ve probably heard the optimistic hype surrounding September’s stock market performance. The S&P 500 gained an impressive 8.8 percent during a month that has a bad reputation among stock market investors ... …

Do even CDs trump long-term Treasuries right now?

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week I told you why many mutual fund investors could be setting themselves up for serious losses in Treasury bonds. Just to recap – the idea was that mutual funds often buy and sell before their bonds ... …

How to Time the Market’s Biggest Moves

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, October 4, 2010 at 7:30am

One of the great dilemmas of any investor is timing the market. I’m not talking about the very short-term ups and downs. Nor am I recommending the kind of quick in-and-out trading that merely racks up more ... …

QE2: This Time Is Different

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 7:30am

Since the Fed’s most recent meeting, everyone seems to have an opinion about another round of extraordinary monetary stimulus and the economic and market reactions such a move could leave in ... …

The Biggest Disconnect of All Time

by Mike Larson | Friday, October 1, 2010 at 7:30am

I’m seeing one of the biggest disconnects of all time — between the underlying U.S. economy and the performance of the stock market. Just consider what we’ve learned about the economic fundamentals in ... …

Five Tech ETFs to Look at Now

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 7:30am

You can always count on one thing in the technology sector: Change! The cutting-edge inventions that fascinated us so much back in the 1990s are de rigueur now. Where will we be in ten years? I can only ... …

If the Recession Has Ended, Why Is the Fed So Worried?

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 7:30am

The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is the official arbiter of U.S. economic history. It sets the officially accepted dates for the beginning and the end of U.S. recessions. And on September 20, its ... …

A Hazard of Buying Bond Funds Now

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 7:30am

A number of us here at Weiss have been warning you about the dangers of buying bonds in this ultra-low-interest-rate environment, especially longer-dated U.S. Treasuries. But as I recently told my ... …

3 Government Warnings of Financial Fiascos!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, September 27, 2010 at 7:30am

For my family, fiscal balance is not — and never was — a partisan issue. My father, for example, had little interest in politics but was passionate about savings, hard work and avoiding waste. When I was a ... …

How to Put a Stronger Yuan to Work for You

by Jeff Manera | Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 7:30am

China has perpetually managed its currency, the yuan, to be undervalued. Estimates range from 30 percent to 40 percent on the amount the currency would appreciate if it was allowed to freely float with ... …

Fed confirms: QE2 on tap … despite dismal failure of QE1! Have these guys gone nuts??

by Mike Larson | Friday, September 24, 2010 at 7:30am

This week, Federal Reserve officials did it. They jumped the shark. Crossed the Rubicon. Bought a ticket on the express train to financial Never Never Land. Whatever you want to call it. I say that because ... …

For Income and Diversification, Have You Considered International Bond ETFs?

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:30am

In these turbulent times, plenty of investors just want steady income. Others realize they need to look outside the U.S. as they ride out the storm. Yet in a world where some once-stable economies are ... …

Once Again, Gold Confirms Its Uptrend

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 7:30am

When the dot com bubble burst and stocks entered a secular bear market, gold did just the opposite and began a secular bull. As you can see on the chart below, this bull market is doing quite well. In fact, on ... …

Are state pension plan fixes breaking retirement promises?

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 7:30am

In early July, I told you how lawmakers have consistently overpromised and underdelivered when it comes to retirement plans for state and local government workers. And why, in doing so, they’ve only heaped ... …

Urgent Lessons from Japan

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, September 20, 2010 at 7:30am

Imagine a world where the economy never emerges from recession. Imagine a time and place in which economists talk first of a double-dip recession, then about a triple-dip recession ... and ultimately ... …

Biggest Ever Yen Intervention – and What It Means for You!

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week, I pointed to the challenges facing Switzerland and Japan’s currencies. As for the yen, I said that nothing short of actual intervention would relieve the pressure on its exporters. I also said that I ... …

Short-Term Rally; Long-Term Worry Still the Name of the Game

by Mike Larson | Friday, September 17, 2010 at 7:30am

I often get asked the question: “Why are you so gloomy?” Or “Why can’t you look at the BRIGHT side of things?” And you know what my answer is? In regular life, I am an optimist. Optimistic to a fault ... …

You’re the Winner in the ETF Price War

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 7:30am

A price war is breaking out in the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry. While it’s not good news for everyone — ETF sponsors, for instance — investors can now get more for their money than ever before! ... …

Global Liquidity Drying Up — Commodities, Stocks and Economies at Risk!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week I wrote about how mutual fund cash holdings had fallen to a 3.4 percent record low. That means mutual fund managers have never been more highly invested in the stock market than they are now! ... …

Your Five-Step Strategy for Market Uncertainty

by Sharon A. Daniels | Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 2:00pm

We have been warning you that the U.S. economy is still sinking fast despite massive government spending, lending and guarantees. In fact, there are a growing number of uncertainties facing our economy and ... …

Checking Out the Retailers

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:30am

While Americans haven’t completely abandoned their spendthrift ways, there’s no doubt that the typical shopper is thinking a lot more about their purchases ... and in general, our nation is revisiting the idea of ... …

Will You Win the Bull-Bear Tug-O’-War?

by Sharon A. Daniels | Monday, September 13, 2010 at 7:30am

Martin is in Japan this week, visiting his son Anthony and checking up on Asian markets firsthand. So he asked me to fill in for him today. I’m pleased to have this opportunity — especially at this time of the ... …

Can Switzerland and Japan Solve Their Currency Problem?

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 7:30am

Currencies play an important role in the economic health of a country — impacting the flow of trade and capital. For instance, a weak currency can be quite good for an economy in times of recession. It ... …

The Feeding Frenzy in Fixed Income

by Mike Larson | Friday, September 10, 2010 at 7:30am

More than a decade ago, investors speculated wildly in dot-com stocks. You don’t need me to remind you how that ended. Then a half-decade ago, investors went hog wild in real estate. That didn’t work out so ... …

Can Green Energy ETFs Put Green In Your Wallet?

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:30am

Remember a few years ago when “alternative energy” was all the rage? With crude oil trading at $150 and gasoline prices above $4 a gallon in many places, breaking free from our dependence on fossil fuels ... …

Mutual Fund Managers Got It Wrong … Again!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 7:30am

History shows that as a group mutual fund managers act like a typical crowd ... susceptible to herding and group thinking. They are most heavily invested near important market tops. And at market bottoms most ... …

Finding New Opportunities in Volatile Markets

by Mike Burnick | Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 2:00pm

Don't look now ... but the WORST month for stocks has just begun! Historically, the month of September is the absolute worst month of the year to be invested in the stock market! And there aren't many ... …

Four Ways to Make Your Money Work Harder

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 7:30am

After a great Labor Day weekend, a lot of Americans are now back at their desks, hard at work ... and I’m no exception. But while you might rather be back at the beach or the family barbecue, the good news ... …

Happy Labor Day

by The Entire Money and Markets Team | Monday, September 6, 2010 at 7:30am

This is the one time each year when our country steps back and recognizes the great achievements of American laborers. In celebration, our team is taking a much-needed break from the hard work of ... …

China Knows the Fate of the Euro

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 7:30am

This week, the U.S. Commerce Department gave China another pass on its currency manipulation, ruling against charges it was undercutting U.S. aluminum makers. This puts China’s currency back on the radar ... …

"Double-Dip" Deepens as Housing Collapses

by Mike Larson | Friday, September 3, 2010 at 7:30am

The Double-Dip recession I’ve been predicting for some time is deepening. And nowhere is the emergence of this powerful economic force more clear than in the housing market. All the fresh economic data confirms ... …

Think Small When Going International

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 7:30am

You won’t be surprised when I say the U.S. markets are lousy right now. Can you find niches that are performing well? Sure — I often highlight these for you when I see them. But most U.S. stocks and ... …

Government Defaults and Inflation Are the Norm, Not the Exception

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 7:30am

The past 15 years have certainly been exciting for investors. During the second half of the 1990s we experienced one of the largest stock market bubbles of all times ... and its bursting. Then, only a few ... …

A stock that shrugged off the last recession …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 7:30am

Back in the fall of 2008, investors were running from the stock market like crazy because recessionary conditions had clearly set in. And with “double-dip” headlines all over the place and the Dow back around ... …

Bernanke Hallucinating

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, August 30, 2010 at 7:30am

If Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke honestly believes what he said at Jackson Hole on Friday — that he can save the economy by printing more money and buying more bonds — he’s hallucinating. Through the first ... …

Two Ways to Prepare for “Tail-Events”

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 7:30am

With bond yields and stock markets in the world’s major developed economies petering away, more people are asking: Where can we find investment returns? Wall Street’s answer: Emerging markets. The ... …

Why M&A Activity Is Heating Up

by Jeff Manera | Friday, August 27, 2010 at 7:30am

The markets have been taking a beating over the past few weeks. Plunging existing home sales, disappointing jobless claims and weak manufacturing activity numbers are to blame. However, as you can ... …

Play the Yield Curve with New ETNs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 7:30am

Many individual investors spend their time thinking about stocks. Which stocks are going up? How high are they going? Should I buy now? These can be important questions, but stocks aren’t the only ... …

Why A Devaluation Wave Could Push Markets To March 2009 Lows

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 7:30am

As I said in last week’s column, liquidity indicators and leading economic indicators have deteriorated quickly since March. At the same time sentiment indicators reached levels usually seen at stock market ... …

The Perils of Tapping a 401(k)

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 7:30am

Fidelity just released a new report and it’s pretty depressing. The upshot? A record number of Americans are making hardship withdrawals from their 401(k) retirement plans. Worse yet, the number of U.S. ... …

Transcript: 8 Bold New Forecasts for 2010

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, August 23, 2010 at 7:30am

Exactly one year ago, in the first Weiss global forum, we forecast a massive shift in wealth from Western countries bogged down in debt and recession ... to Asia and emerging markets enjoying rapid growth ... …

Clear Signals That Market Risk Is Elevating

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s no secret the economic data in the U.S. and other major economies have rolled over. That’s why bond yields have taken another nose dive — hitting record lows in Germany and nearing record lows in the ... …

Broken Bank Stocks a Canary in the Market Coal Mine?

by Mike Larson | Friday, August 20, 2010 at 7:30am

If there’s one sector of the stock market that trades like death warmed over, it’s the financials. Bank stocks simply can’t get out of their way these days. Take the KBW Bank Index (BKX) of 24 leading U.S. ... …

Three Ways into South America with ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 7:30am

In last week’s column we looked at some ETFs focused on the booming countries of Southeast Asia. Today we’re turning our spyglass in a different direction. We’re looking at the southern portion of the western ... …

The Bond Market Is Signaling Trouble Ahead

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 7:30am

My outlook for the economy and the stock market has steadily and significantly deteriorated since March 2010. That’s when monetary indicators started to signal renewed emerging stress in the financial system, ... …

Answers to Three Important Dividend Questions

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 7:30am

I get asked a lot of great questions — both on my blog and through e-mails — and today I want to answer three very important ones that all relate to dividend investing. Let’s start with a major source of ... …

The Most Profitable Global ETFs

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, August 16, 2010 at 7:30am

If you’ve been missing some of Ron Rowland’s columns on exchange traded funds — ETFs — that we publish here each Thursday, then I think you may be making a serious tactical error. I say that for three reasons ... …

Fed's Wake-Up Call Gives the Euro a Dose of Reality

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 7:30am

The Fed surprised many people this week when it announced it would respond to the deteriorating economy with more efforts to stimulate. It was a splash of cold water on the face of the world, a wake-up call ... …

Fed Policymakers Screw It Up Again!

by Mike Larson | Friday, August 13, 2010 at 7:30am

Albert Einstein famously defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. But apparently the message hasn’t gotten through to the folks in the Eccles Building in ... …

Profit from Booming Southeast Asia with ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 7:30am

As you know, I’m a fan of emerging markets and a big proponent of exchange trades funds (ETFs). They fit together almost perfectly. Today I want to focus on one fast-growing region that is getting more and ... …

Major leading indicator in free fall!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 7:30am

In my July 14 Money and Markets column, I explained how the Economic Cycle Research Institute’s (ECRI) Weekly Leading Index confirmed my bearish forecast. Back then, the index's growth rate was minus ... …

Income Triple Plays

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 7:30am

Tomorrow is my dad’s 63rd birthday and his card is on its way. Of course, I already sent him a few presents more than a week ago — the first recommendations for his new income portfolio. And I’m happy ... …

Massive Wealth Shift in Full Swing

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, August 9, 2010 at 7:30am

Martin here with a quick update on foreign markets. One year ago, in our 2009 Global Forum, we forecast a massive shift of wealth — from the United States, bogged down with huge deficits and chronic, ... …

Yen on Intervention Watch

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 7:30am

As major global economies are beginning to feel the threat of another bout with recession, Japan is dealing with an extra challenge: An unwelcomed strong currency. Weak structural economic fundamentals ... …

The Dismal Jobs Picture – and the Fed's Misguided Medicine

by Mike Larson | Friday, August 6, 2010 at 7:30am

Can we just stop sugarcoating the issue? Dispense with the happy talk? Instead, let’s cut to the chase here: This job market sucks. Plain and simple. By this stage in a true economic recovery, the country ... …

Power-Up Growth and Income with Utilities ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 7:30am

Years ago, people would categorize themselves as either "growth" or "income" investors. The latter group typically consisted of people who were either retired or independently wealthy. Today the lines are a ... …

Martin Weiss Interviews Peter Schiff

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 11:30am

When asked about Obama's role in the economy, most Wall Street pundits are content to either cheer or jeer from the sidelines. They give you their opinion. They tell you what to buy or sell. And then ... …

GDP Report Adds to My Bearish Forecast

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 7:30am

The Commerce Department confirmed what I’ve been saying for weeks: The economy is in shambles, there is no growth momentum and the next bear market leg is about to strike! Last Friday the Commerce ... …

A new mortgage fee; Plus, five golden rules …

by Amber Dakar | Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 7:30am

If you’re in the market to buy a new home, be aware that the U.S. Treasury Department is considering a new mortgage fee to fund the backstops it gives for loans purchased through Fannie Mae and Freddie ... …

The Dangerous Game of Confidence

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, August 2, 2010 at 7:30am

We are near a major turn in markets and preparing landmark new recommendations this week. So I’m going to be very brief and get straight to the point: Wall Street brokers and pundits seem to think their ... …

How to Cut the Risk in Your Portfolio

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 7:30am

I normally talk only about currencies in my Money and Markets columns. But today I want to make an exception and address some commonly held misconceptions many investors have about their ... …

Solving the Mystery of the "Great Disconnect"

by Mike Larson | Friday, July 30, 2010 at 7:30am

We have a “Great Disconnect” on our hands. On Monday, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas released its latest manufacturing survey. This wasn’t old, stale data; the survey was conducted in mid-July ... …

The Number of ETFs Is Exploding

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 7:30am

As I watch the exchange-traded fund (ETF) universe grow, I keep having flashbacks to the huge increase in the number of mutual funds in the 1990s. Back then everyone wanted to own large cap growth funds ... …

European Banking Stress Test: Much Ado about Nothing

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 7:30am

On Friday the Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) revealed the results of its banking sector stress test. The objective of the test, in the CEBS's dry words, was to "provide policy ... …

The Best Sectors for Dividends Now …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week, I told you where my favorite places were to get solid income and protection from a possible double-dip recession. Today, I want to follow-up on that theme by telling you about some of ... …

Four Shocking Bombshells Bernanke Did NOT Tell Congress About Last Week

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, July 26, 2010 at 7:30am

In his testimony before Congress last week, Ben Bernanke lifted the Fed’s skirt and gave us a glimpse of the disasters now sweeping through the U.S. economy. But there are four bombshells he did NOT talk about ... …

Why Currencies Play an Important Role in Earnings

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s earnings season. And more and more companies are talking about currencies. The headlines read like this ... “Weak Euro a Drain on S&P 500 Revenues” “Currency Fluctuations Wipe $500 Million off IBM ... …

Where's the Credit?

by Mike Larson | Friday, July 23, 2010 at 7:30am

I used to love those Wendy’s commercials in the 1980s. You know, the ones that mocked the burger patties at competing restaurants with the catchphrase “Where’s the beef?” Today, I can’t help but ask a ... …

Make the Trend Your Friend with Bond ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 7:30am

Recent economic data is pointing toward a second wave of recession ... and maybe even outright deflation. One key consequence: Long-term interest rates are low and getting lower. Today I’m going to ... …

China Has a Painful Surprise for the Global Economy

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 7:30am

China implemented one of the world’s most aggressive economic stimulus programs to fight the recession of 2008. And the country went on something akin to a debt binge. Credit growth surged as much 50 percent ... …

Where to Find Recession-Proof Stocks

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 7:30am

Isn't it amazing how quickly the mainstream media talk has turned from green shoots and recoveries to double-dip recessions and a whole laundry list of new economic worries? The whimsical nature ... …

Transcript: Four Profit Bonanzas for Turbulent Times

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, July 19, 2010 at 7:30am

Rarely are the signs of an economic downturn as clear as they are today — collapsing consumer confidence, sinking retail sales, another round of housing market troubles, and much more. And even more rarely ... …

What the Big Mac Can Tell You about Currencies

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 7:30am

Currencies have experienced a massive wave of volatility in the past three years. Driving some of that volatility are the early stages of a sovereign debt and currency crisis. As I laid out in my June 26 ... …

Pushing on a String … Again?

by Mike Larson | Friday, July 16, 2010 at 7:30am

In the wake of the latest batch of “double-dip” chatter, the market’s attention is shifting back to the Federal Reserve. Investors are asking a simple question: “What, if anything, will the Fed do if the ... …

Capitalizing on the Rich

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 7:30am

Do you want to be rich — or are you already there? The answer, of course, depends on how you define “rich.” Today we’ll look at this surprisingly difficult question — and then consider a few exchange traded ... …

Latest ECRI Weekly Leading Indicator Confirms My Bearish Outlook!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 7:30am

In last week’s Money and Markets column, I recommended getting out of the stock market. This was based on my cyclical model having turned bearish. Plus there was a clear breakout of the S&P 500 and many ... …

Galveston vs. Social Security

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 7:30am

I have devoted a number of my recent columns to the problems with Social Security and many state pension plans. And in one particular article, I also told you how the Amish have used a little known ... …

Profiting From Economic Schizophrenia

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, July 12, 2010 at 7:30am

If last week’s massive price swings in the U.S. stock market proved anything, it’s that the world’s investors are massively confused. They have every right to be. After all, even the world’s most respected ... …

Your Chance to Profit as the Euro Rally Fizzles Out

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 7:30am

Over the past month, the talk from European officials about the sovereign debt crisis has gone relatively quiet. Meanwhile, the euro has bounced aggressively from 1.1877 to over 1.27 versus the dollar. It's ... …

More "Stress Test" Hokum, this Time in Europe

by Mike Larson | Friday, July 9, 2010 at 7:30am

Of all the questionable bailout and backstop programs the government rolled out in the wake of the credit crisis, the whole “stress test” episode for the banks stands out the most. The idea was that the Fed and ... …

What the Tour de France Can Teach You About Investing

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 7:30am

I love the Tour de France. That’s why about this time last year, I gave you Three Investing Lessons from that venerable athletic event. The comparison between bicycle racing and investment success seemed ... …

Five Signs Telling Me the Bear Market Is Back

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 7:30am

The stock market’s rise since the March 2009 lows was nothing more than a bear market rally. Yes, it was a huge rally, but not out of the realm of similar historical examples. Low trading volume, still high ... …

State Pension Woes Only Worsening …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 7:30am

I know some investors right now who are making major mistakes when it comes to retirement planning ... First, they have been consistently underestimating how much money they’ll need down the line. In ... …

The Morning After: An Extreme New World

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, July 5, 2010 at 7:30am

I trust you’ve had a great Independence Day! In four days, we will have published 1,776 editions of Money and Markets — one for every year between the birth of Christ and the birth of our nation. But, right now ... …

Three Key Markets Pointing to More Economic Pain Ahead

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 7:30am

In the past two weeks, we’ve seen China de-peg its currency from the dollar, the UK roll out historical fiscal austerity measures and Japan release details on a plan to tackle its massive debt load. The knee-jerk ... …

Double-Dip Recession Warning Signs Everywhere! Batten Down the Hatches!

by Mike Larson | Friday, July 2, 2010 at 7:30am

The bright red warning signs of a double-dip recession are flashing everywhere. And I do mean EVERYWHERE. In just the past few days, we learned that ... New home sales imploded 33 percent to ... …

Six Ways to Brazil

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:30am

Anyone familiar with international investing knows about Brazil. It’s hard to ignore the fifth largest country in the world by geography and population, the South American commodities powerhouse, and the largest ... …

Gold Mining Stocks on Verge of Breaking Out!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 7:30am

The long-term story for a gold and a gold mining stocks bull market is clear and easy to grasp: Dubious monetary policy and irresponsible fiscal policy with government debt rising all over the world are a ... …

Yet Another Bailout for Reckless Savers and Investors?

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7:30am

We all watched in horror as Washington bailed out failing financial institutions ... dishonest lenders ... and greedy borrowers and speculators with our tax dollars. And as responsible savers and investors, we ... …

Derivative Monster: Alive and Kicking Despite Reforms

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, June 28, 2010 at 7:30am

Anyone who thinks the new financial reform law will save us from the next debt disaster must be dreaming. Here are the facts ... Fact: The U.S. derivatives that helped cause the last debt crisis ... …

The Big Picture, Part II: Following the Worst Crisis Since the Great Depression

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week, I laid out some important historical context for establishing a solid perspective on the big picture — a broad view of where the global economy stands and what we should expect going forward ... …

Lousy Economy Pulling Rug Out From Under Housing

by Mike Larson | Friday, June 25, 2010 at 7:30am

Heads up, folks! It’s time for a very important housing market update from the front lines. More than a year ago in these cyberpages, I told you that housing was stabilizing. All my indicators pointed to an ... …

ETFs for the Gold Bull Market

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 7:30am

A little over a year ago I told you about Four Easy Ways to Trade Gold With ETFs. Since then, gold has shot up from below $1,000 to as high as $1,265.30 this past Monday. Is it going still higher? If so, you ... …

Two Leading Indicators Pointing to Another Recession

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 7:30am

There are two well-known and important leading economic indexes for the U.S. economy: The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI), and The Weekly U.S. Leading Economic Index published by the ... …

Transcript: Extreme Income Portfolio Makeover

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 7:30am

Washington has shown a complete disregard for our nation’s savers, especially those in — or near — retirement. Interest rates on traditional income investments are being kept artificially low ... …

4 Urgent Warnings From The Most Unlikely Source

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, June 21, 2010 at 7:30am

A former emperor with no clothes is finally telling the naked truth. His name: Alan Greenspan. His primary role in history: Chief architect of the boom-and-bust cycle that caused the fiscal madness he now ... …

The Big Picture, Part I: Following the Worst Crisis Since the Great Depression

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s easy to lose perspective on where the global economy stands ... to be confused by the daily deluge of information. So today, in the first of a two-part series, I want to give you some perspective on the big-picture and where we are today ... …

The "Snowball" Scenario Sinks Sovereigns

by Mike Larson | Friday, June 18, 2010 at 7:30am

A blockbuster draft report from the European Commission saw the light of day recently, thanks to some reporting from Bloomberg. It highlights an incredibly dangerous Catch-22 facing many sovereign nations ... …

Get Outside the Style Box with ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 7:30am

You’ve likely heard these investment buzzwords on TV or read them in the business section of your newspaper: Buy small-cap value! Look for opportunities in mid-cap growth! Go to large-caps for safety ... …

Two Consequences of the Stimulus Programs Washington Wants You to Ignore!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 7:30am

Over the past two years, we’ve seen the largest stimulus policies the world has ever produced. As a result, sovereign debt and central banks’ balance sheet holdings have gone through the roof! A glance at the ... …

Three Ways to Get Downside Protection with Dividend Stocks

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 7:30am

You have only today and tomorrow to register for the urgent phone call I’m holding with my dad this Thursday at noon. During that call, I’ll tell you and Dad how to revamp your income portfolio to get an ... …

Glimpses of the End Game

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, June 14, 2010 at 7:30am

Anyone not blinded by greed can plainly see the sick cycle we’re in: First, the government helps create a great asset bubble. Next, the government-created bubble bursts under a dark cloud of hardship for ... …

The Dollar’s Bull Market Is Just Getting Started!

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 7:30am

The dollar index has surged 20 percent since last November. And this week, it was sniffing around its 2009 high! That’s pretty impressive, especially given that the 2009 high was driven by an across the board ... …

Debt Facade Cracking in U.K. as Sovereign Contagion Spreads

by Mike Larson | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 7:30am

When Greece’s markets first started cracking wide open, a lot of claptrap spewed forth from Wall Street. The general consensus: The problems in Athens would stay bottled up in Athens. They would remain ... …

Six Beaten Down ETFs in the Southern Hemisphere

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 7:30am

For the past two weeks, I’ve talked about exchange traded fund (ETF) bottom-fishing. First we looked at nine domestic sector ETFs, then last week we reviewed six opportunities in Europe. The financial crisis is ... …

Another Warning Bell Rings for the Stock Market

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 7:30am

A short four weeks ago, the stock market impressed us with what was later dubbed a flash crash — a sudden 1,000 point plunge in the Dow Industrial Average, followed by an equally fast retracement of half ... …

The income investments Dad and I are going to talk about next week …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 7:30am

Next week, my Dad and I are going to have a heart-to-heart talk about an extreme makeover for his income portfolio. First on my list of income investments to propose to Dad are my favorite , crash-resistant, ... …

The Biggest Shock of All

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, June 7, 2010 at 7:30am

Why did the specter of collapse in far-away Hungary help sink the Dow by 323 points on Friday? And why did similar scenarios in Greece, Spain, and Portugal trigger the Dow’s 1,000-point Flash Crash one ... …

U.S. Stocks Offer Important Signals for Currency Investors

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 7:30am

Currencies represent the truest reflection of economic fundamentals and market sentiment. Therefore, they continue to be an important segment of the financial markets to watch. Since the “flash crash” in the ... …

Economy Stalling as Easy Money Effect Wears Off!

by Mike Larson | Friday, June 4, 2010 at 7:30am

The evidence is coming fast and furious — and it all points in the same direction! Washington’s “bought and paid for” economic recovery is stalling out as the easy money effect wears off. Just consider what ... …

Beaten-Down ETFs Part II: Europe

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week I told you to keep your eyes on nine sector ETFs that have been crushed in the recent market downturn. Today I’m going to continue the same discussion starting with beaten-down ETF #10. This ... …

The Euro Is Washed Up — But the Dollar Is No Better

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 7:30am

Greece has made it obvious: The euro is doomed. This fact had been obvious to all the euro critics from the very beginning. All the arguments against the possibility of a common currency for very disparate ... …

Your worst retirement nightmare …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 7:30am

Wow! My dad was here visiting over the holiday weekend, and in between a round of golf and some barbecuing, I showed him all the great comments flooding my blog. He was amazed and relieved to hear ... …

From Our Family to Yours

by The Entire Money and Markets Team | Monday, May 31, 2010 at 7:30am

Our Money and Markets family — including editors, contributors, spouses, and children — are growing; and we hope yours is too. We all join hands ¬¬to remember our loved ones who have fallen and to wish you a peaceful Memorial Day! …

China's Currency Manipulation: About to Cause a Global Explosion?

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 7:30am

Tim Geithner, Hillary Clinton and 200 other American bigwigs visited China this week. First on the agenda: China’s position on the rising tensions between North and South Korea. With the rest of the ... …

Credit Crisis Indicators Going Bonkers Again! Batten Down the Hatches!

by Mike Larson | Friday, May 28, 2010 at 7:30am

Heads up people. Something very big is happening in the global credit markets — something you darn well better pay attention to. The very same “Credit Crisis” indicators that were flashing red before the ... …

Nine Beaten-Down ETF Bargains

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 7:30am

In case you haven’t noticed, most of the world’s stock markets took a hard fall the last few weeks. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) got walloped, too. Is the selling over? Perhaps. But even if we ... …

Beware of Any Short-Term Rallies!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 7:30am

Things have changed rather quickly for the stock market. Up until two weeks ago it was very difficult for a technical analyst to make a bearish argument. All over the world the big indexes were trending ... …

Here's how to get our list of weakest and strongest banks …

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 5:11pm

Yesterday, I promised to give you free access to Weiss Ratings’ list of weakest and strongest banks. With 73 bank failures so far this year, double last year’s pace, this information is especially important ... …

What Is My Dad Doing for His Retirement?

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 7:30am

I’m getting so many reader questions about my parents’ Social Security and retirement, I could write a book about them. You want to know: What are my parents planning for their retirement? What ... …

Weiss Ratings: 20 Giant Banks Still Vulnerable

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, May 24, 2010 at 7:30am

Later this morning, Weiss Ratings is issuing a landmark press release, warning that 20 giant U.S. banks are still vulnerable to serious financial difficulties — and even failure. (I’ll name them in a moment.) ... …

Massive Currency and Debt Devaluations Lie Ahead

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 7:30am

The run-up in the stock market from March 2009 until last month was sharp and rewarding ... for some. But there was one problem, it came with disproportional risk. You see, the stock market rose to an extent ... …

Missed the MoneyShow? Then Don’t Miss Out on This!

by Mike Larson | Friday, May 21, 2010 at 7:30am

I was in Las Vegas last week for the MoneyShow — and let me tell you, it was a blast! I enjoy meeting subscribers face to face, and I really appreciate the tough, probing questions that were asked of me ... …

Our SIXTH Warning: Dow in Danger!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 4:07pm

By my count, this is at least our SIXTH clear, unambiguous warning of danger in the Dow — sent to you in just the last 60 days! On March 27, Mike Burnick warned you — right here in Money and Markets ... …

All Crude Oil Is Similar, But Crude Oil ETFs Are Not

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:30am

You may have noticed that crude oil prices plunged over the last few weeks. On May 3, the June crude oil futures peaked at more than $87. Then on Monday, May 17 the same contract slipped below $70 ... …

Five Tips for Trading ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 7:30am

Every week I tell you about exchange traded funds (ETFs) that you can use for various investment purposes. You could be wondering, though, what’s the best way to buy them. So in today’s column I’ll ... …

Wow! Thanks for Sharing Your Thoughts on Social Security …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week’s column on the Amish opting out of Social Security generated a tremendous response. Within a few hours of publication, I had hundreds of comments on my blog. I want you to know that I appreciated ... …

Sovereign Debt Crisis: Emergency Strategy Update

by Larry Edelson | Monday, May 17, 2010 at 7:30am

Just days ago, the cradle of Western democracy — Greece — was in flames! Rioters attacked banks, businesses and government buildings. The entire country plunged into chaos. Spain, Portugal ... …

Gold Forecasts and Golden Profits

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 7:30am

Larry Edelson's gold forecasts have been so accurate — and his recommendations so profitable — we are doing everything humanly possible to help make sure you don't miss them. We held a major ... …

Japan: The Sleeping Sovereign Debt Giant

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 7:30am

Over the course of this year in my Money and Markets columns I've presented some compelling reasons why the euro zone and the euro were in for a life threatening crisis. And despite the general consensus ... …

Budget-Busting Bailouts in Europe to Drive Global Debt Burden Higher!

by Mike Larson | Friday, May 14, 2010 at 7:30am

I’ve been out in Las Vegas this week for the MoneyShow. So naturally, I have gaming on the brain. My conclusion after reading the latest news out of Europe? The European Central Bank (ECB) and ... …

What ETF Investors Can Learn from the May 6 Flash Crash

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 7:30am

If you had any doubt that today’s markets aren’t what they used to be, it should be gone after last Thursday. U.S. stocks were already having a bad day thanks to riots in Greece, elections in ... …

A Topping Formation Is Taking Shape

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 7:30am

The economy and the stock market usually don’t turn on a dime. Their behavior is more like an oil tanker, needing time and space to change direction. In the stock market this shift is called a topping ... …

Just Saying No to Social Security …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 7:30am

Lancaster — known throughout the U.S. as Pennsylvania Dutch Country — is about 40 minutes away from my house. And whenever I pass through the area, I'm reminded of what it means to be ... …

Weiss Ratings' challenge to S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch: Downgrade the Long-Term Debt of the United States Before It’s Too Late

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, May 10, 2010 at 7:30am

Dear S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch, You are the world’s three dominant rating agencies, largely controlling the ratings of bonds and debts issued by thousands of corporations, municipalities, and sovereign governments. …

Europe WANTS a Lower Euro

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 7:30am

The euro is in devaluation mode ... in a sharp 17 percent decline against the dollar over the past five months. And I’ve written extensively on why, and why it still has further to go. Now I believe a covert ... …

Greek Crisis Turns Deadly Serious; Will the World’s Governments Learn from It?

by Mike Larson | Friday, May 7, 2010 at 7:30am

This week, the financial crisis in Greece turned deadly serious. No longer are investors just losing boatloads of money. People are starting to lose their lives! The latest bout of chaos struck on Wednesday during ... …

Great news: Weiss Ratings is back!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 9:00am

Jupiter, Florida, May 6, 2010 — Weiss Group, LLC, a leading provider of independent research and ratings since 1971, has announced today that it has bought back the bank and insurance company ratings ... …

Add Energy Income with an MLP ETN

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 7:30am

You’re probably having a tough time these days if you live off the interest from your investment portfolio. For example, according to Bankrate.com, money market accounts are now yielding a paltry 0.76 percent ... …

How to Protect Your Wealth from the Greek Calamity

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 7:30am

The Greek government is bankrupt. Simply put: It has systematically spent much more than it could afford. Now the inevitable day of reckoning has arrived. A 110-billion euro bailout package by other European governments and the IMF has been announced. But can this political rescue solve Greece’s ... …

Is it too late to buy stocks?

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 7:30am

I love fielding intelligent questions on the markets and other financial topics, and lately you’ve been sending me plenty of them. For example, a Dividend Superstars subscriber named Sharlene recently ... …

The Great Interest-Rate Explosion of 2010-2011 How to Protect Your Wealth and Profit

by Mike Larson | Monday, May 3, 2010 at 7:30am

The dot-com bubble of the late 1990s. The housing bubble of the mid-2000s. They both wreaked massive havoc on investor portfolios. Trillions were lost ... both here and abroad. At Weiss Research, we take ... …

The Dominos Are Lining Up for a Sovereign Debt Crisis!

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 7:30am

Boy, what a week! I’ve been warning about a troubled euro and a building sovereign debt crisis for some time. And the bond and currency market activities this past week are a clear example that the ... …

Financial Ebola Sweeps Through Global Bond Markets

by Mike Larson | Friday, April 30, 2010 at 7:30am

The cost of borrowing for the Greek government shot up almost NINE-FOLD in the span of six months. That is bond market Armageddon. And it’s playing right on the trading screen of every investor around ... …

Greece, Europe and ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 7:30am

When Americans hear about Greece, the first thought that comes to mind is usually “ancient history.” Now Greece is all over the headlines for its financial woes. But if truth be told ... …

A Clear Warning Sign: Global Liquidity Is Drying Up!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 7:30am

In last week’s Money and Markets column I told you the majority of my indicators are signaling that the stock market has probably entered the last phase of its medium-term uptrend, which began in ... …

Early earnings season indicators looking good …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 7:30am

Yet another earnings season is upon us, and so far things are looking good. For example, through the middle of last week about 85 stocks in the S&P 500 (worth 26 percent of the index’s total value) ... …

Rising Taxes, Shrinking Social Security: Help Secure Your Retirement Now

by Sharon A. Daniels | Monday, April 26, 2010 at 3:00pm

If you’re retired, or soon will be, then you are probably concerned about making your wealth last through the golden years. Of course, you want to be prepared financially so you won’t have to make any ... …

Rising Rates Right Around the Corner! Protect Yourself NOW!

by Mike Larson | Monday, April 26, 2010 at 7:30am

Benjamin Franklin once called death and taxes the only certainties in this world. These days, I’d add rising interest rates! I believe they’re coming ... that the Federal Reserve is powerless to stop the inevitable ... …

Greek domino topples; Rest of the "PIIGS" next!

by Mike Larson | Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s Sunday morning and I’m enjoying some quality time with my two girls. Yesterday it was a local baseball game; today they’re all excited about seeing the new “Oceans” movie. I guess you could say it’s ... …

Watch the Euro for Important Clues on Global Markets

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 7:30am

If you’re looking for clues on where stocks, commodities and global economies are headed, you might be better served keeping a close eye on the euro, rather than on the incoming stream of corporate ... …

Housing Market Changes Open Surprising Pockets of Investment Value

by Mike Larson | Friday, April 23, 2010 at 7:30am

Boy did last week’s column prompt a lot of comments. And frankly I’m not surprised. Many people thought I was nuts when I called the housing market top in 2005. They simply didn’t believe my prediction that ... …

Goldman Sachs and ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission filed a civil lawsuit against Goldman Sachs (GS) alleging fraud. And the news hit Wall Street like a volcano! Of course the SEC sues companies ... …

The Stock Market Is Starting to Look Toppy

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 7:30am

From a big-picture perspective, the stock market’s advance off the March 2009 low is nothing more than a huge, bear market rally. To understand how I come to that conclusion, just look at two classical ... …

Teaching Your 401(k) to Roll Over and Other Tricks

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week’s column talked about some of the “everyman” tax shelters available these days — including 401(k) plans and IRAs. Today I want to talk about how those two different accounts relate to each ... …

14 Risks with Supposedly "Safest" Securities

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, April 19, 2010 at 7:30am

When AT&T, California, New York City or virtually any other borrower wants your money and offers its bonds for sale, it’s required to give you a prospectus that properly discloses all the relevant risks. It has a legal ... …

How Greece Can Impact YOU!

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 7:30am

The economic problems in Greece have made front page news for the better part of the past three months. And I’ve written several columns here in Money and Markets on the ongoing drama and its influence ... …

Helpful Selling Lessons for Today's Housing Market

by Mike Larson | Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7:30am

By now you should know I believe the biggest story for the capital markets is no longer housing. It’s interest rates. But that doesn’t mean I’m ignoring the housing market. Far from it. Heck, you could say ... …

Zero in on Small Cap Sectors with New ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7:30am

The exchange traded fund (ETF) menu is getting bigger all the time. Many of the new ETFs you hear about are just “me-too” clones of existing funds. But every once in a while something truly innovative comes ... …

Have We Entered A Bond Bear Market?

by Sharon A. Daniels | Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 7:30am

Bond investors were poised to hit the panic button last week ... nervously watching as yields on 10-Year U.S. Treasury bonds briefly pierced the 4 percent level for the first time in well over a year. Their ... …

Three Cheers for Tax Shelters!

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 7:30am

Okay, before you get the wrong idea ... today’s article is not going to talk about hiding money in foreign countries or any other strategy that is either suspicious or outright illegal. Cheating on your taxes is ... …

Surging Interest Rates Ahead, Part I

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, April 12, 2010 at 7:30am

Brace yourself for one of the greatest interest-rate surges in decades — beginning first in the long-term Treasury markets … later spreading to shorter term Treasuries … and ultimately enveloping nearly every ... …

Global Markets Giving Three More Warning Signals for the Euro

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s been two weeks since the bailout speculation surrounding the Achilles’ heel of the euro zone, Greece, has had some closure. European officials kept the balls in the air as long as they could in an attempt ... …

Why I Worry So Much about Bonds

by Mike Larson | Friday, April 9, 2010 at 7:30am

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before ... First, the Federal Reserve slashes interest rates and floods the economy with cheap, easy money. Second, some asset class starts to benefit from the influx of ... …

Get Aboard the Trend in Consumer Spending with Sector ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 7:30am

I’m a consumer. You’re a consumer. In fact, just about everyone you know is a consumer. But in these tough economic times, we often have to prioritize. On the other hand, not everyone is closely ... …

5 Unconventional Ways to Save

by Amber Dakar | Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 7:30am

Federal income tax returns are due in eight days. And as you’re scrambling to get yours finished, how you’ve spent your money in 2009 should be fresh on your mind. That’s why this is a great time to start ... …

Your Choices for Keep-Safe Cash

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 7:30am

Every time Easter approaches, I find myself thinking of baskets, eggs and all the other words we investors typically associate with portfolios and diversification. So I was certainly ready with plenty of ... …

Foreign markets surge again! Where. Why. What to do.

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, April 5, 2010 at 7:30am

Martin here with a quick follow-up to last Monday's "The Great Dichotomy! Again!" While U.S. markets have gained a bit more in the last few days, the key foreign markets I told you about have literally ... …

Europe: Out of Time-Outs

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 7:30am

In sports, if the opposition is on a roll and the momentum is squarely against you ... you need a “time-out.” This interruption in action can break the rhythm of the opposing team and give your team a moment ... …

Obama’s Bank Tax Plan — the Real Economic Consequences

by Monty Agarwal | Friday, April 2, 2010 at 4:00pm

President Obama plans to introduce a fee on the largest banks in the country — those with assets greater than $50 billion — in an effort to get back “every single dime” for the taxpayers. This levy will start June ... …

Feds Scrutinizing Derivatives in ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week I told you about political risk in exchange traded funds (ETFs). Almost as if on cue, later that very day, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) announced it is conducting a “review” of ... …

Quiz: How Financially Savvy Are You?

by Amber Dakar | Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 7:30am

Since April is just one day away I thought I’d give you more information about what makes this month so special. April is known for several monthly observances and celebrations. Did you know April ... …

Why I Just Recommended Two Industrials

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 7:30am

If you read this column with any frequency, you know that I have continued to argue that the best values in U.S. stocks remain in defensive areas like consumer staples and utilities. So why, then, did I just ... …

The Great Dichotomy! Again!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, March 29, 2010 at 7:30am

While the U.S. economy is still bogged down by massive federal deficits and a new wave of home foreclosures, key foreign economies are already leaping ahead without those heavy burdens. Just look ... …

Three Defensive Plays for the Next Market Sell-off

by Mike Burnick | Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 7:30am

Since Bryan is on vacation this week, Martin asked me to pinch-hit as a guest editor today. And it couldn’t come at a better time, because at present, the Weiss Capital Management† investment team is is on ... …

Bond Market Verdict: Treasuries Riskier Than Toilet Paper!

by Mike Larson | Friday, March 26, 2010 at 7:30am

I have a lot of respect for Warren Buffett. As Nilus has noted before, he’s one of the world’s best long-term investors. He has a knack for buying low and selling high. And his Berkshire Hathaway holding company ... …

Controlling Political Risk with ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 7:30am

Even if you aren’t very interested in politics, you have to admit that political factors can have a huge impact on your investments. These days government policy affects everything — for better or worse ... …

How Perceptions Have Changed

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 7:30am

Not long ago the euro was rising, and everybody seemed to hate the U.S dollar. During that market phase I constantly asked a rhetorical question: Why do you think the euro is any better than the dollar? Now ... …

Three Things Your Investments Must Do

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:30am

Yet another Federal Reserve meeting is now behind us, and I’m wondering why I even bother to read the releases anymore. After all, Bernanke & Co. pretty much say the same thing month in and month out ... …

Bernanke Running Amuck

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, March 22, 2010 at 7:30am

Fed Chairman Bernanke is running amuck, and for the first time since the birth of the U.S. dollar, our government is egregiously abusing ... …

Next Leg for the Euro: Down

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 7:30am

There are two major issues facing global currencies in the months ahead. And both have escalated in the past week. Issue #1: The Greek Drama. Act I: Sovereign debt fears. In the first act of the euro-zone ... …

Another Challenge for Bonds?

by Mike Larson | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 7:30am

It should be pretty clear that I’m bearish on the bond market. The massive budget deficits and debts we’re racking up should hammer Treasury prices. So should the steadily growing concern about the credit ... …

How to Trade the BRICs with ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7:30am

You’ve heard of the BRIC countries, right? Brazil, Russia, India and China are the four top emerging markets. For various reasons, all have much better long-term prospects than most of the so-called "developed" ... …

The Economy Is Not Always the Stock Market Driver

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 7:30am

In the long run, economic development and — especially — corporate earnings are the main drivers of stock market performance. But this relationship is very loose. It becomes tight only if your time horizon is ... …

More Retirement Disasters

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 7:30am

I can’t believe the number of frightening retirement stories I’ve seen in just the last week. They suggest that the vast majority of our country’s citizens are completely unprepared for life after work. They point ... …

The Great Credit Squeeze

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, March 15, 2010 at 7:30am

If you think that the sovereign debt crisis is mostly behind us ... that America’s federal deficit is turning into a non-issue ... or that we can just go back to business as usual ... you’d better consider the ... …

The Four Stages of the Prospective Dollar Bull Market

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 7:30am

Since last November, the dollar has climbed steadily against a basket of currencies — most notably against the euro. And based on my analysis, I think it’s just the early stages of this trend. In fact, for many ... …

How to Survive The Three Most Imminent Disasters of 2010-2012

by Sean Brodrick | Friday, March 12, 2010 at 1:54pm

Needless to say, I’m delighted to see my book surge to #2! But what pleases me even more is the fact that more investors are finally learning how to take urgently-needed steps to prepare for THREE major ... …

Politicians: “Don't Like the Message? Shoot the Messenger!”

by Mike Larson | Friday, March 12, 2010 at 7:30am

Okay, stop me if you’ve heard this one ... You have an entity that took on too much debt. It cooked its books. It failed to get its fiscal house in order. Its “executives” repeatedly refused to take the ... …

Five Reasons I’m Skeptical About Target-Date ETFs

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:30am

Are you planning to retire someday? Unless you are already retired the answer is almost certainly “Yes.” It’s the American Dream! Of course, there’s nothing magical about age 65. Some people end their ... …

Market Breadth Medium-Term Bullish

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7:30am

There is a lot more to the stock market than just the popular averages everybody is talking about. You see, when the averages move you can’t tell how many stocks participated, so you don’t know how broad that ... …

The 3 most IMMINENT disasters. How to survive …

by Sean Brodrick | Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:52pm

Of all the major disasters and threats to your security ahead — and all the major profit opportunities — three stand out as the most imminent of all: Disaster #1: America’s Empire of Debt. If you think ... …

The Dividends Are Flowing Again …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 7:30am

Last year’s dividend numbers were the worst in more than half a century, as corporations large and small struggled with a lack of financing, weak economic conditions, and poor earnings. But now, things are ... …

Gravest Dangers and Greatest Profits

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7:30am

We now face the gravest financial dangers — and the greatest profit opportunities — in two generations. But before I tell you about what the future could bring, let me tell you how my family and I have ... …

The $21 Billion Hot Potato

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 7:30am

With global investors attacking any sovereign government that's running massive deficits or stuck with a pile of bad debts ... And with Uncle Sam obviously the world's greatest debtor, beggar and ... …

British Pound in for a Sharp Fall?

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 7:30am

In my December 26 Money and Markets column I focused on the outlook for 2010, and the looming threats to global risk appetite. I warned that sovereign debt problems posed a major threat to global ... …

Brits Pounded As Debts, Deficits Hit Home. Next Up: Us!

by Mike Larson | Friday, March 5, 2010 at 7:30am

Boy are things getting ugly in the U.K. The British currency, the pound, is getting crushed. The price of long-term British debt securities, called gilts, is heading down. And the cost of default insurance on the ... …

Three ETFs for Rising Interest Rates

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 7:30am

Wall Street is obsessed with interest rates. Many consumers are, too, especially anyone who wants to buy a home or car. There’s a good reason for this: Debt — or you might call it “leverage” — is the ... …

IMF Doubles Inflation Target!

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 7:30am

I grew up in Germany, a country that went through hyperinflation twice during the 20th Century. Maybe that’s the reason I learned inflation is bad and inflationary policies are diabolic. Inflationary periods are ... …

New Wisdom from Berkshire Hathaway

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 7:30am

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Warren Buffett (and his business partner Charlie Munger, too). That’s why I eagerly await the release of Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder reports. The latest ... …

Transcript: Nine Shocking New Predictions for 2010-2012

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, March 1, 2010 at 7:30am

We have just ended an online video conference to brief investors on major events that could forever change your future. We made nine new predictions to pinpoint, as accurately as possible, how and ... …

Why You Should Be Worried About China

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 7:30am

Toward the end of last year, many market followers were speculating on a Fed hike as early as the first half of 2010. Global stock markets had experienced explosive bounces, commodity prices had surged from the ... …

Another Report from the Housing Market's Front Lines

by Mike Larson | Friday, February 26, 2010 at 7:30am

I’ve been talking about interest rates an awful lot lately ... and for good reason. The next BIG story in the bond market is clearly the sovereign debt crisis. But I don’t want to ignore the housing market ... …

ETFs Beat HOLDRS Hands Down!

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 7:30am

If you’ve been reading my Money and Markets columns for any length of time, you know I’m a big proponent of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). And I think they’re one of the most exciting investment innovations ... …

Leading Economic Indicators Keep Rising, but …

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 7:30am

Last Thursday the Conference Board published its Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. In January this historically-reliable indicator increased 0.3 percent after shooting up 1.2 percent in December ... …

Soaring College Costs: Adding Insult to Injury

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 7:30am

Last Thursday I got a call from a friendly guy who said he was a senior at my college alma mater. Sensing where the conversation was about to go, I simply said “Just so you know, I’m not going to donate ... …

Armageddon

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, February 22, 2010 at 7:30am

If you thought Wall Street’s debt crisis was traumatic, wait till you the see the consequences of Washington’s debt crisis! Never before in history has a world power like the U.S. been so utterly buried in debt! And never before has that debt been financed ... …

The Future of the Euro in Question

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 7:30am

At the beginning of this year, I wrote a Money and Markets column entitled “Will the Euro Become the Most Hated Currency for 2010?” At that time, the euro/dollar exchange rate was about 5 percent off of its ... …

Debt Auctions Bombing … China Heading for the Hills … Higher Rates Dead Ahead!

by Mike Larson | Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:30am

You can’t count on Washington to proactively warn you about major economic and market problems ... Politicians and Fed policymakers failed to warn investors away from tech stocks during the Nasdaq ... …

Five ETF Targets to Consider Selling Now

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:30am

In my Money and Markets columns I usually tell you about opportunities I see in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and how you can grab them. Today I want to do something a little different: List some ETFs ... …

Three Walls of Worry Explain the Stock Market Corrections

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 7:30am

Stock markets around the world are down about 10 percent since their January highs. Complacency, which was so high only weeks ago, has quickly vanished ... …

The most popular questions from Orlando …

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 7:30am

In last week’s column, I promised to talk more about some of the questions I was asked at the Orlando MoneyShow — both during my live presentation as well as in private conversations during the event ... …

RED ALERT: Next debt crisis near!

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, February 15, 2010 at 7:30am

One year and five months ago — armed with a 92-page white paper and 59,000 petitions — we warned Congress about the grave danger of government bailouts. To download the white paper, “Dangerous ... …

Risk Aversion: The Final Wave

by Bryan Rich | Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 7:30am

Over the past months I’ve written extensively in my Money and Markets columns about the bubbling over of the risk trade. I also warned about the rising threats that would likely make a sustainable recovery ... …

In Case You Didn’t Make It to the MoneyShow …

by Mike Larson | Friday, February 12, 2010 at 7:30am

Last week’s World MoneyShow in Orlando was a huge success! I had the pleasure of meeting several of you at the Gaylord Palms Hotel, and I couldn’t have been happier with the constructive feedback you shared ... …

Alternative ETFs Offer More Ways to Profit

by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 7:30am

Whether you’re investing in stock exchange traded funds (ETFs), bond ETFs, commodity ETFs, currency ETFs, international ETFs, or even inverse ETFs, you’re stuck with one big problem: Any way you look ... …

Is the End of this Correction Near?

by Claus Vogt | Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 7:30am

In last week’s Money and Markets column, I told you about some stock market indicators to watch. Since then, the market has fallen even further. So today I want to update you on what’s happening ... …

The Undeniable Power of Steady Dividends

by Nilus Mattive | Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 7:30am

I was both amazed and encouraged by the great turnout I received for my workshop at last week’s MoneyShow. And if you were among the nearly 400 attendees who came to see me speak, I’d like to ... …

The Greatest Money War of All Time

by Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. | Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:30am

We are caught in the grips of a great war! It is not a traditional land or sea war with tanks and battleships. Nor is it an anti-terrorist, guerilla war for hearts and minds. Rather, it is war of a third kind — pitting government bureaucrats against millions of investors ... …

Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. - The Biggest Threat to Investor Wealth! EVER!

U.S. Tue 6/18/13, 4:34pm
Index	Last	Change
Dow Jones	15,318	+0.9

NASDAQ	3,482	+0.9

S&P 500	1,652	+12.8


Europe Wed 6/19/13, 8:30am
Index	Last	Change
FTSE 100	6,347	-27.6

CAC 40	3,849	-11.3

DAX	8,227	-2.1


Asia Wed 6/19/13, 2:28am
Index	Last	Change
HANG SENG	20,987	-239.0

NIKKEI 225	13,245	+237.9

CSI 300 Index	2,401	-18.0