One of the best and most profitable times to buy stocks is when bad news is at its apex and everyone is preaching doom and gloom. This is the one proven stock market pattern that constantly repeats itself. In fact, it… Read More

Emerging-market and small-cap stocks are known for their awesome growth potential and high volatility. So when you put the two together, you have a formula for a super-charged investment with unparalleled growth potential. Combining emerging-market and small-cap stocks offers investors a unique opportunity to invest in early-stage companies in growing… Read More

The markets are red hot this year, fueled by promising headlines about euro-zone stability and Federal Reserve interventions like Quantative Easing 3 (QE3). But is it a false sense of security? Are markets unknowingly about to be crushed by economic realities that are simply hiding in the closet?  While a… Read More

It seems like every investor has one of those decisions he or she truly regrets — whether it was selling gold at $800 an ounce, bypassing Google’s (Nasdaq: GOOG) IPO or liquidating their investment in Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) at $200, $300 or even… Read More

Economists at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are paid to worry. They have to soberly assess the various currents and cross-currents buffeting the global economy, making their best guess about what lies ahead for the… Read More

While no developed nation came out of the Great Recession unscathed, some did emerge in a far better position than other major developed countries. One of those is our neighbor to the north… Canada. In fact, I think Canada is one of the single… Read More

In recent years, many Asian economies have been booming while European and North American ones struggle. But the tables may soon turn, according to data from the Asian Development Bank.  In its July 2012 Asian Development Outlook Supplement, the financial and policy institution forecasts 6.6% GDP growth in the region, down from 7.2% in 2011. The forecast also represents a downward revision from the ADB’s initial 2012 GDP growth estimates of 6.9% in July for the 44 Asian countries that belong to the bank. #-ad_banner-#The translation is that things seem to be… Read More

In recent years, many Asian economies have been booming while European and North American ones struggle. But the tables may soon turn, according to data from the Asian Development Bank.  In its July 2012 Asian Development Outlook Supplement, the financial and policy institution forecasts 6.6% GDP growth in the region, down from 7.2% in 2011. The forecast also represents a downward revision from the ADB’s initial 2012 GDP growth estimates of 6.9% in July for the 44 Asian countries that belong to the bank. #-ad_banner-#The translation is that things seem to be slowing down in Asia. But why? The answer is lower demand for Asia’s exports and unwinding policy stimulus programs in the region. In short, consumers have less money to spend in Asia. Many investors might take this as a cue to move toward stocks that rely on U.S. consumers for growth, but be careful: many All-American stocks actually rely on revenue from Asian consumers, though you wouldn’t really know it. Here are a few: 1. J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) This classic American food brand is more than just jelly on your toast; Smucker also owns many food brands… Read More

There has scarcely been a more important time for investors to hunt for high yields than right now.  The key reason? Safety. But it doesn’t have to stop there. I’m about to show you how you can lock in safe, double-digit yields, during times of economic uncertainty. All it takes is a couple of simple screening tools, the brains to understand that cyclical swings are an opportunity — not a reason for panic, and the guts to follow through with conviction.#-ad_banner-# As I’ll explain in a moment, readers of my High-Yield International advisory were able to do this very thing… Read More

There has scarcely been a more important time for investors to hunt for high yields than right now.  The key reason? Safety. But it doesn’t have to stop there. I’m about to show you how you can lock in safe, double-digit yields, during times of economic uncertainty. All it takes is a couple of simple screening tools, the brains to understand that cyclical swings are an opportunity — not a reason for panic, and the guts to follow through with conviction.#-ad_banner-# As I’ll explain in a moment, readers of my High-Yield International advisory were able to do this very thing in 2009. And if they could do it back then — during one of the most uncertain economic times in the past century — then it can easily be done again. First, let’s take a look at where we stand… Investors face myriad macroeconomic concerns in 2012. Since the beginning of the year, U.S. economic data have weakened markedly — job creation has been uninspiring at best, and consumers have been hesitant to spend. Meanwhile, many economists are worried about the so-called 2013 “fiscal cliff,” a host of tax hikes and government-spending reductions due to go into effect on Jan. Read More

Income-producing securities have a certain appeal you just don’t get from stocks that don’t provide any sort of scheduled payout. With dividend-paying stocks, you know you’re going to get a regular return on investment even if the economy is bad or… Read More

There has been a break in the news cycle as Europe has been quiet for a few weeks, but that is about to change. The next summit of European leaders is scheduled for mid-October, but politicians are already posturing so there could be market-moving news before then.#-ad_banner-#… Read More