Finding a decent income stream in early 2010 was a difficult task for investors. After all, global stocks were still reeling from the aftershocks of what was arguably the worst global economic downturn and credit crisis since the 1930s. To fight the crisis, global central banks slashed… Read More

While investors have begun to prep for a rebound in the U.S. housing market — the PHLX Housing Sector Index has risen 50% in the past six months — they may be early to the party. Read More

When nobody expects much from a company, it’s usually pretty easy to please the audience. And there aren’t many sectors that have such low expectations as commercial airlines. In this bleak industry, it’s often a struggle just to avoid bankruptcy — let alone generate any real profits… Read More

“Risk-on” and risk-off” are remarkably straightforward notions. When investors are bullish, they increasingly migrate into ever-riskier stocks, either ones that sport higher valuations, or ones that are small but potentially quite promising. Yet after a six-month stock market… Read More

I’ve told you before about the opportunities in international companies… Dozens of countries are growing their economies at faster rates than the United States. The CIA World Factbook ranks the United States near the bottom in world gross domestic product growth — number 172 of 214 countries/territories. Read More

Just a few years ago, alternative energy sources were all the rage. A booming economy and record-high oil prices meant that the market had the capital and motivation to look into wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels —… Read More

When it comes to money management styles, there is no consensus. Some investment pros look for stocks showing “relative strength,” meaning they’ve been trading very well in recent sessions. Yet some money managers shun that approach, preferring out-of-favor stocks. These pros often turn to… Read More

I must confess to being very envious of a retired couple I know, because they’re long-term investors in one of the best stocks of the past half century. Shares of this company are up a whopping 13,000% since… Read More

It’s been a tough week for stocks as investors adjust to the reality that the Federal Reserve won’t be providing any more liquidity to the U.S. economy. Get ready for more tough weeks ahead, too — earnings season… Read More