While Treasuries are said to have no default risk as the Federal Reserve can always print money to pay off the debt, hidden risks might be lurking. As oxymoronic as it may sound, the biggest risk to the economy and the U.S. dollar might be, well, economic growth! Let us explain. Words: 2065; Charts: 1

The U.S. Dollar Index took a breather on Thursday on its apparent way down and through its support line of 79.00 closing the day at 79.26 vs. 79.27 on Wednesday well below its 50 day moving average of 80.16.

The GDX has declined 17% during the past 3 months (3.5% in the past month) and has continued to decline over the past week. It has smashed through the 50-day moving average and the 200-day moving average. Nevertheless, given all the enthusiasm for the future price of gold (and silver) might this well be the time to hold one's nose and buy in before it makes its expected move that would turn the present stench into that of perfume?

According to David Morgan 2013 will be a bullish year in which a new leg up will start with gold going up 10% to 20% and silver a good 30%. That leg up is starting right now, although we probably will not see a substantial acceleration in the leg up like we saw in the first part of 2011 but, obviously, as soon as $50 is crossed an acceleration can be expected. [Morgan explains his position in article excerpts below.] Words: 912

The price per metric tonne of antimony has gone up 700% in the last decade and is expected to rise 5% annually to $20,000/tonne by 2020 at which time global reserves should run out. There is only one antimony mine in production in North America and the company is listed on the TSX.V

$5,000 to $10,000 may not go far in buying the top companies on the NYSE or the Toronto Stock Exchange, but in the junior mining sector, you will be amazed what you can accomplish. You can actually buy thousands and thousands of shares. Yes, these are ‘penny stocks’ but the challenge is to uncover those companies which have the potential to perform well in the coming months. The risk is incredibly high but so is the potential reward. [Let me explain.] Words: 538

The outlook for many junior resource companies in 2013 is grim so investors should focus on those who own quality undeveloped gold and silver deposits in safe stable countries. Such companies offer exceptional value in that they provide the best exposure to a rising precious metals price environment - and the assets the world’s mining companies desperately need. [Let me explain.] Words: 1328; Charts: 15

Barron's have just come out with the forecasts of 10 top analysts and ALL their forecasts are positive. There is not a single forecaster who expects the S&P 500 to fall in 2013 and there is only one forecaster who expects the 10 year bond yield to fall from its current level of 1.7% and he only sees a 10 bps decline to 1.6%. [Look at the average forecasts for each item at the end of the post.]

Bond Guru and DoubleLine Capital Co-Founder Jeff Gundlach... predicts that there is a "financial catastrophe coming." Here is an overview of what Gundlach sees coming, and 3 steps investors can take to prepare for, and profit from his predictions. Words: 910

One couldn't imagine any better Christmas gift for hard assets and stocks than Ben Bernanke's surprise introduction of QE4 right on the heels of QE3. Call the duo QE7. "QE7" promises to expand the monetary base far faster than the markets had been discounting [which is great for gold] and also raises the floor under stocks. I suspect we'll close 2012 with a run at the highs, and possibly climb just short of 1,600 on the S&P 500 sometime in Q1. As for Treasury bonds, well, could this spell the end of the bond market? [Let's look at the ramifications of QE4 more closely.] Words: 516