Investing

Crude oil, natural gas, gasoline — our civilization can't live without them. So it's no surprise that energy exchange traded funds (ETFs) are also big business. Today I'm going to give you a brief overview of the ETFs in this sector. As you'll see, energy is a surprisingly diverse industry. Words: 870

The great dollar devaluation disaster has begun and will continue — with minor short-term pauses and corrections in the decline — for at least the next two to three years and at the very least, the dollar will sink so low and inflation will soar so high that you will eventually need at least TWICE the income you have now just to survive. A lifestyle that costs you $100,000 per year today will be $200,000 or more. Words: 2313

You've probably heard about hedge funds, those super-secretive private pools where millionaires stash their money. Yes, sometimes they blow up. But many hedge funds have a long history of good returns in all market conditions. They do this by combining sophisticated trading techniques with long and short positions in various markets. The problem is that the best hedge funds aren't available to everyday investors in small amounts. Words: 1078

Many ETFs now present unique approaches to stock and bond investing by tweaking popular and widely-followed benchmarks. The very first ETF, the S&P 500 SPDR (SPY), remains by far the largest U.S.-listed ETF, reflecting investor familiarity with the underlying benchmark, but there are now approximately 30 other issuers now competing for a slice of this still-growing pie. Words: 789

Since the economic recovery began, many investors have looked to Asia to drive growth and stimulate global demand. China has grabbed most of the headlines, as tremendous growth in the world’s most populous nation has essentially pulled this emerging market into a tie with Japan as the world’s second-largest economy. While China’s growth has been impressive, however, recent data releases have shown that Asia isn’t a one-trick pony. Words: 781

We've been enjoying historically low interest rates for the last decade ... even more so in the last two years and we know the party is going to end at some point. Well, I'm beginning to suspect the end will come sooner rather than later but you don't have to just sit still and accept it. There are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that, if used properly, can protect your principal and enable you to profit from rising rates. Words: 871

The market is currently slightly over-valued now which is reasonable since stocks offer a much more attractive return than bonds due to low interest rates. Eventually, however, interest rates will get to levels of at least 4% (which is the minimum normal rate on interest rates) and that would justify a P/E closer to 15. I am no prophet but if I had to guess, I would think future returns will be somewhere between Bogle's and Shiller’s estimates, i.e. between 8% and 10%.

No one ever likes to lose money and one of the best ways to do so is to set, in advance, at what point you are going to sell your security. You can either do it by simply setting a $ price point or a % decline point at which to sell. Such an approach is fraught with emotion and procrastination. There is a more objective way to accomplish the same objective. Words: 636

Robert Precther recently published a list of market myths for his subscribers which I'm sure he won't mind if I review the lessons he voices in his article with you, borrowing from his excellent research to help make the arguments. Recognizing these market myths are critical to your success as an investor. Words: 1266

I like to hold stocks with different yield/dividend growth characteristics where yields are somewhere between 3% and 5% and dividend growth is in the upper single digits or in the double digits. Words: 671