So much for economists’ predictions that unemployment would be 180,000 in March. Instead, the Labor Department’s report showed a gain of only 98,000 jobs for the month. Part of the reason for the less-than-cheery Labor Department news was the 30,000 jobs lost in the retail sector. We’re still seeing contraction here with major chains closing…
DetailsMark Twain was a brilliant author. We all remember Huckleberry Finn, The Innocents Abroad, Roughing It, The Prince and the Pauper, and Pudd’nhead Wilson. But as brilliant and creative he was as an author, he was a terrible investor – one of the worst. In fact, by the time he was 59 in 1895, he…
Details“War, huh, yeah… What is it good for… Absolutely nothing War, huh, yeah… What is it good for… Absolutely nothing…” That’s what Edwin Starr sang in 1970, protesting the Vietnam War. But whether you agree with war or not, there are benefits, especially to smart traders. War, as it turns out, isn’t as bad for…
DetailsWhen most investors see a stock plunge, their first instinct is to stay away. But doing so may be costing you thousands of dollars because there can be opportunity in chaos. As we’ve learned from many successful, well-known investors, when fundamentally sound stocks plunge, that’s the time to buy. For example, in the 1800s, Baron…
DetailsWe all know the names Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch, and Benjamin Graham. But what is it they all have in common? Besides the fact they all became quite wealthy, not one of them ever used technical analysis to guide their investing decisions. In fact, Buffett once noted, “I realized technical analysis didn’t work when I…
DetailsLeading up to the Fed’s recent hike in interest rates, the price of gold pulled back from a high of $1,264.90 to $1,200.00 on fears the yellow metal would quickly fall out of favor. But smart investors held on and watched gold rebound to $1,251.90. Now, more folks are piling back into the safe haven…
DetailsIt was touted as nothing short of a disaster. All hopes for a revamped healthcare bill were crushed after House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the American Health Care Act (AHCA) off the floor moments before a vote. Apparently, several Republican moderates and conservative lawmakers left the Administration short of votes, ensuring that Trump’s first legislative…
DetailsSometimes, boring is better. Tell me something – would you rather invest in a company that’s soaring on the latest, hottest trend. Or, would you buy a stock with good fundamentals that’s so boring you’ve never heard of it? Like most folks, you’d probably choose the first one. Unfortunately, many of us are too quick…
DetailsIt happens every day. Someone gets a hot tip, and all of a sudden, everyone is rushing into the same stock. It’s called momentum trading; and unless you’ve done your homework, you could lose big. Look at hedge funds. In April 2015, a number of hedge funds began crowding into oil, as prices began to…
DetailsWell, the latest Fed rate hike was an easy call. With labor markets tightening, and inflation inching closer to the Federal Reserve’s “healthy” target of 2%, the central bank raised rates another quarter point to a new range of 0.75% to 1.0%. And they seem intent on raising rates another two times over the course…
DetailsWe’re living in a period of extraordinary changes. High-speed communication has spread across the globe like wildfire, altering the way we collect our information, work and even play. Many folks believe rising temperatures are threatening our way of life, inspiring investors to “think green.” Donald Trump’s trillion-dollar infrastructure plans will bring billions of dollars into…
DetailsIt’s tough to argue against explosive growth. Look at online dating for example. No longer is dating online considered the last ditch effort for frustrated, introverted singles. Now, millions of people are using such services to find their matches. In fact, right now, there are 40 million Americans using online dating site and apps. More…
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