When it comes to investing in emerging markets, Brazil is often mentioned as one of the most appealing countries. This is for good reason — its population of more than 200 million represents one of the world’s largest markets. Better yet, years of economic… Read More

Here’s a fairly simple investment premise: if the stock market rises +10% or 15% in the next six months, one sector will rise +30% or even +50%. That’s because a rising stock market tends to bring out increased interest from individual investors. And they bring lots more business to online… Read More

It could be just the thing to put an end to the economic malaise. If enacted, shareholders of dozens — even hundreds — of companies would have to be ready for a tidal wave of stock buybacks and dividend hikes. And the overall… Read More

As GM (NYSE: GM) celebrates an impressive re-entry into the public markets, investors are chewing over a clear theme. Both GM and Ford (NYSE: F) are far healthier companies, with much leaner cost structures and the ability to generate sharply improved profit margins as industry volumes rebound. In their shadow, key auto parts suppliers are also now in fighting shape after being bruised and battered in the economic freefall of 2008. The new adage for the industry: “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” How bad did it get for… Read More

As GM (NYSE: GM) celebrates an impressive re-entry into the public markets, investors are chewing over a clear theme. Both GM and Ford (NYSE: F) are far healthier companies, with much leaner cost structures and the ability to generate sharply improved profit margins as industry volumes rebound. In their shadow, key auto parts suppliers are also now in fighting shape after being bruised and battered in the economic freefall of 2008. The new adage for the industry: “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” How bad did it get for these auto parts suppliers? Domestic auto makers produced 15-16 million cars and trucks every year from 2001 to 2007. That figure fell to 12.5 million in 2008 and just 8.5 million in 2009. Years of steady profits were offset by massive losses in 2008 and 2009, and a number of these firms flirted with bankruptcy. For a short while, many of their stocks traded below $1. In a testament to just how much they have changed, all of the key players are likely to be nicely profitable again this year, even though the industry will produce just 11.5 million units. Read More

Everything is pointing toward higher energy prices in the next several years. First, there’s supply and demand. Worldwide demand for energy is increasing. In fact, the Outlook for Energy estimates that global demand for energy will soar +35% from 2005 to 2030. The increase… Read More

The ranks of “super-investors” are few, highlighted by the likes of Warren Buffett, George Soros and Carl Icahn. Investors like to track their every move. Smart investors should also watch the moves of David Einhorn, who runs Greenlight Capital. He started with just $1 million in 1996,… Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article about India’s vast potential for both economic development and profit for investors. [“Read why I think India’s a better long-term investment than China”] In that article, I mentioned a few of the standard, well-known Indian… Read More

Imagine hearing this from your financial advisor: “I’ve got a great stock for you. It’s down -20%, the company lost $7 billion this year, and its reputation stinks.” You’d probably get up and walk out the door, right? But what if, just before you… Read More

When money managers buy bonds offered by state and local governments, they gladly accept the tax-free interest payments that come with them. But they’re no fools. They know they can lose their investment if a state or local government goes into default. [See: “12 States in Financial Distress”] So these… Read More

Since the financial crisis in 2008, corporate executives have taken a cautious approach to making big decisions. This has been especially the case with mergers & acquisitions (M&A). But according to a recent survey from Thomson Reuters and Freeman (a consulting firm), it looks like 2011 is… Read More