Election years always bring out predictions about which stocks will do best under the next administration. These predictions are usually little more than informed guesses since no one really knows what policies will be implemented until after a president takes office and begins… Read More

The wholesale price of coffee is down 40% on the year from $2.50 to $1.50 per pound after recent peaks above $3 in 2011. The commodity price discount increases profit margins on the expensive… Read More

The disappointing earnings from Yum Brands (NYSE: YUM), operator of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, has been attributed to the slowdown in China. The sharp pullback that began at the end of November has found support at the… Read More

Few companies can claim they actually contributed to changing the world. But less than 30 years ago, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) did change the world as they defined the standards for personal computers (PCs). With Intel providing the hardware standards and Microsoft defining software, those two companies… Read More

There seems to be widespread agreement that tax rates affect stock prices. Unfortunately, for traders looking for an edge in the stock market, there is no evidence showing what that effect is. There have been… Read More

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ (Nasdaq: GMCR) shares have dropped from atmospheric heights over $100 in 2011 to finally stabilize at the $20 level, which the stock has not seen since 2009.    As of this writing, Green Mountain is trading around… Read More

At one point in its history, this stock was synonymous with success in the cellphone market. But not any longer. During the past year, it has reported billions in operating losses, closed several of its worldwide manufacturing sites, cut tens of thousands… Read More

With a strong macro equity uptrend under way and a very low-volatility environment, this is the perfect time to make long option purchases. One stock that is setting up an attractive call option play that… Read More

The power of options is evident in a stock substitution trade in Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS). The stock is up about $2.25 since my recommendation on Aug. 29, an impressive 15% gain in just over a week’s time. The payoff on the deep… Read More

As you can see below, the CurrencyShares Euro Trust (NYSE: FXE) fell from $134 in March to $120 in August. A recovery to the halfway point of that decline at $127 would likely send desperate short sellers running for cover. A larger objective targets a move above $130. Read More