Some analysts and commentators are warning that this year (2012) could match or surpass the dire conditions experienced in 2008 with the promise of more turbulence from the Eurozone, further political wrangles over dealing with the U.S. budget deficit and a potential host of problems in emerging market countries such as a possible Chinese banking and real estate crash. [While you] should fear plummeting stock markets...there are actually some interesting ways to play the downside or hedge your portfolio. [Let me explain.] Words: 990

The amount of evidence stacking up that...mutual funds...do not provide value for their investors is just staggering...While there are certainly signs that the public's tolerance of excessive fees and executive pay is falling, the likelihood of significant structural change in the finance industry is still remote. Given such a backdrop the probability remains that investors in funds will, on average, continue to underperform their benchmarks. So what is an investor to do? [Read on!] Words: 830

Whilst we as staunch Austrians would prefer less liquidity provision and more allowance for markets to naturally self-correct and deleverage... we suspect that as markets try to self-correct, the authorities generally will be forced to print more and more [as] it is the easiest course for them to take and the typically all too human option...As such we look once more at how inflationary and deflationary outcomes might affect precious metal investors. Words: 1323

Warren Buffett is a smart guy and has ascended to near immortal [status] amongst the investment community due to his superior stock picking skills and boundless wealth. [That being said,] listening to his views on portfolio management and diversification could cripple your financial health and may make him one of the most dangerous men in finance. [Let me explain.] Words: 720

The Web is crawling with technical analysis (TA)...[and,] given its popularity, [begs the questions as to whether or not there] really is something to it. [Based on our research,] the short answer is no, not really, at least not in developed markets like the US or the UK... Furthermore, most of the popular TA indicators that are bandied around are nonsense jargon and should be ignored as useless noise. [Let us explain our position.] Words: 2143

What hope can there be for motivated stock pickers - no matter how much they sweat and toil - to outperform the low-cost index funds that simply mechanically track the market? Well - in spite of the absurd rise of the Nobel-acclaimed, and highly promoted, Efficient Market Hypothesis that claims that individual investors can't beat the market - it turns out there is plenty! Just ask Warren Buffett, for one. [Let me explain.] Words: 1574

[Although] investing in natural gas is an incredibly popular and active sector of the commodity world given its robust growth predictions,...it tends to exhibit violent daily swings with high and liquid volumes. While this can lead to significant losses, for those who play their cards right, trading natural gas can make for a nice short term reward. [That being said,] for the more traditional “buy and hold” investor there are still a number of options that, [while they] may not directly invest in the commodity, offer significant exposure under a safer structure. [In this article I have identified 25 ways to invest in natural gas to help investors pick the correct security for their portfolio]. Words: 1800