Many crisis investors believe the ultimate portfolio protection is the physical ownership of gold bullion or gold coins. This type of wealth accumulation can weather nearly any economic storm. Not to mention, every society on Earth sees owning actual gold as valuable. Even in the case of a complete economic… Read More

How would you like to be paid to own gold? Of course, you would. This idea seems particularly attractive in light of the market‘s recent selling pressure. And I am not talking about any complex option strategies… Read More

Investors looking for clues about the future of the biofuel industry in the United States need to take a look at Brazil. That’s because according to many analysts, the leading emerging market in South America is considered to have the world’s first sustainable biofuels economy.  There are a few very good reasons for this.We’ve assembled 5 biofuel stocks; buy these to keep the industry in your portfolio. #-ad_banner-# The first is age. Brazil’s ethanol fuel… Read More

Investors looking for clues about the future of the biofuel industry in the United States need to take a look at Brazil. That’s because according to many analysts, the leading emerging market in South America is considered to have the world’s first sustainable biofuels economy.  There are a few very good reasons for this.We’ve assembled 5 biofuel stocks; buy these to keep the industry in your portfolio. #-ad_banner-# The first is age. Brazil’s ethanol fuel program is 37 years old, giving the local industry, economy and infrastructure time to adapt to this new source of energy. The second is government fuel standards, which include a federal mandate that domestic gasoline contains an 18% mix of anhydrous ethanol. And finally, probably the most important element in the success of Brazil’s biofuel industry is its prodigious agriculture industry, enabling it to source biomaterials to convert into ethanol. The success of the country’s biofuel industry is a mirror image of what is currently happening in the United States. Much like Brazil, the United States biofuel… Read More

Although gold prices have taken a big hit of late and may be at the onset of a major pullback, there’s one metal that’s only recently started to rebound and is taking some stocks with it — aluminum. Since August of… Read More

I just wrote a check this morning for my monthly power bill, made payable to American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) in the amount of $260.02.  I’m not alone. AEP serves five million residential and business customers in 11 states.  #-ad_banner-#Rain or shine, that’s five million checks that pour in each… Read More

During the course of 2012, investing in agricultural stocks proved to be tricky. One of the nation’s worst droughts on record up-ended the business model of so many companies as crops wilted and cattle were brought to premature slaughter.#-ad_banner-# Yet there were a few beneficiaries of the drought. Back in July, I suggested that Bunge (NYSE: BG) and Ingredion (Nasdaq: INGR) would prosper, and in that time, they’ve scored gains of 22% and 42% respectively. Back… Read More

During the course of 2012, investing in agricultural stocks proved to be tricky. One of the nation’s worst droughts on record up-ended the business model of so many companies as crops wilted and cattle were brought to premature slaughter.#-ad_banner-# Yet there were a few beneficiaries of the drought. Back in July, I suggested that Bunge (NYSE: BG) and Ingredion (Nasdaq: INGR) would prosper, and in that time, they’ve scored gains of 22% and 42% respectively. Back then, I looked at another major agricultural play, but sensed that it was too soon — perhaps the back half of 2013 and into 2014 was the time to really focus on this company, I thought. Find out why Warren Buffett buys agricultural stock, and how it’s the next big thing. He’s already loading up on shares of Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM), acquiring 6 million shares in the fourth quarter of 2012 at an average price of $27. Shares have risen a bit further since, and show signs of… Read More

The Federal Reserve Bank has been pulling out all the stops to help the U.S. economy gain strength, but many fear the Bank’s aggressive moves eventually could lead to a serious backlash. We spelled out those concerns… Read More

I’ll never forget my first meeting with uber-investor and hedge fund manager, Jim Rogers. He was my market hero of sorts, having founded the Quantum Fund with George Soros. He has explored… Read More

Despite the long odds against them, many people are drawn to the oil and gas industry. Like gold miners in the gold rush days, they know that one big discovery could lead to wealth for successful drillers. Others see the promise of the industry but prefer to take on less… Read More

Despite the long odds against them, many people are drawn to the oil and gas industry. Like gold miners in the gold rush days, they know that one big discovery could lead to wealth for successful drillers. Others see the promise of the industry but prefer to take on less risk. This led to the business model of selling picks and shovels to miners. In the modern world, an updated version of that business plan is to provide data for the drillers showing them where oil is most likely to be found.#-ad_banner-# This data… Read More

Despite the long odds against them, many people are drawn to the oil and gas industry. Like gold miners in the gold rush days, they know that one big discovery could lead to wealth for successful drillers. Others see the promise of the industry but prefer to take on less risk. This led to the business model of selling picks and shovels to miners. In the modern world, an updated version of that business plan is to provide data for the drillers showing them where oil is most likely to be found.#-ad_banner-# This data is often difficult to obtain and requires specialized expertise to analyze. TGC Industries (Nasdaq: TGE) says they are “a leading provider of seismic data acquisition services with operations throughout the continental United States and Canada. The company has branch offices in Houston, Midland, Oklahoma City and Calgary.” This gives the company broad exposure to the oilfields that have traditionally dominated the industry. Expansion into the shale oil fields in North Dakota and other states not usually thought of as part of as oil patches is possible and could boost the company’s fortunes. Seismic… Read More