bull market and bear market, 2011-12-30

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New Year’s Prediction #1: Corporate America Borrows Smart My first prediction for 2012 is that the trend of companies issuing debt to implement corporate stock buybacks will continue and push stocks like Altria higher...... Year-End Zigzag Reflects Confused Sentiment Down 140 points Wednesday, up 136 Thursday. Even in the last days of 2011, the market doesn't know what to make of the good news/bad news coming every day...... ETFs: Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em? An explosion in exchange-traded funds' popularity in 2011 sent out plenty of shrapnel. Here's how to navigate the growing minefield...... Gold Records 11th Consecutive Annual Gain, Ends 2011 Up 11% Gold's rise this year was in stark contrast to losses in silver, base metals and the world's stock markets...... 2012′s 5 Biggest Non-Apple Tech Releases While every eye is on the next iSomething launch, these companies are hoping their new products will take the spotlight off Apple...... 6 Bank and Mortgage Finance Stocks to Foreclose Mortgage finance companies and thrifts, which specialize in mortgages and savings, have been on the losing end of the stock market in 2011...... A Bearish Play on the Volatility ETF to Start the New Year Market conditions should continue to put downward pressure on VXX, making bearish plays all the more appealing...... 2011′s Stock Gainers and Groaners from InvestorPlace’s Will Ashworth Green Mountain proved him out, while Rackspace proved him wrong -- but perhaps Will Ashworth's most interesting call was on a stock that's no longer with us...... Time to Explore Discover Financial Services The credit card company still doesn't get the respect that its more popular, well-known rivals do -- but it should...... InfoSpace — Yes, That InfoSpace — Is Alive and Well The former dot-com darling and early pioneer in Internet search has survived and is catching fire once again. Momentum traders, take note...... 8 Materials Stocks to Shuck Off Basic materials, precious metals, forestry, container and packaging producers have been on the decline as of late. ..... The Best and Worst Dow Jones CEOs of 2011 Companies don't always live and die by their CEOs, but they sure make a difference. These winning and losing stocks are good reflections of who was behind the wheel in 2011...... 3 Vanguard Funds to Buy for 2012 As we sail into the new year, it's time to shed a couple of losers and invest in these three Vanguard funds instead...... What the Market Faces as it Heads Into the New Year Despite a higher close yesterday, there is no change to the technical position of the key indices. In order to move forward, here is what must happen...... Google Ready to Go to $700 Google has finally broken from a dramatic "W" formation. See the trade for GOOG...... Homes Are Where the Gains Are — Thursday’s IP Market Recap Better-than-expected housing reports push the S&P back into the black...... Gold Has Further to Fall — Before It Can Rally Gold was expected to finally stop its bleeding at at $1,548 per ounce, but a more severe drop is likely still to come. And as crazy as it sounds, that may be a good thing...... 10 Financial Stocks to Get Rid of Now There's nothing pretty about the state of the financial sector. If you haven't dumped these 10 big-name stocks, you should do so now. ..... 7 Safe Overseas Dividend Plays Here's how to safely get some international diversification and dividend yield...... The High-Probability Outlook for 2012 After 12 troublesome months, the major U.S. indices seem primed to end 2011 on a high note. Is this another mini-bull, or will 2012 be met with harsh reality?..... 6 Hot Semiconductor Stocks Semiconductors have become essential to the gadgets, smartphones and other technologies we use on a daily basis. Stocks including INTC have benefited immensely...... Google+: Gunning for Facebook Facebook isn't the only hyper-ambitious network out there -- Google+ has stepped up its game of late and is getting aggressive about building its social brand...... Charles Sizemore’s Best, Worst Trades of 2011 Sin stocks were the story of success for Charles Sizemore in 2011, but not all of his picks were such winners. His worst pick was ........ 4 Hot Option Trades to Kick Off 2012 Keep your resolution for a prosperous new year with these four option trades in AT&T, AOL, CNOOC Ltd. and Western Digital...... Gold Hits 6-Month Low, Breaches Lehman 2008 Support Level The euro zone debt crisis keeps downward pressure on gold. In London trading, the price fell below the trendline off the October 2008 low......

Falling Bargains at Low-End Retailers It's true that discounters still have a lot going for them, but investors need to be extremely mindful of one thing before they buy......     Energy-Drink Maker Hansen Natural Ready to Pop The Monster Energy drink maker looks ready to pop; capture the upside with covered calls...... InvestorPlace Experts’ Big Winners of 2011 and Top Trades for 2012 When the "smart money" is on, it's on. Here's a look at some of our experts' best calls of 2011 -- and the stocks they think will boom in 2012...... Hold Off on New Positions Until the New Year With most charts at the apex of ascending triangles, the market should reveal its next move soon...... VZ Sell Signal Is Your Chance to Buy A correction is likely in the communications sector. Buy Verizon Communications on a pullback under $38...... Vanguard: An Energy Stock Leading the Way Vanguard Natural Resource's oil and gas reserves and output are leaping, it has sharp management -- and it yields over 8%...... 7 Most Dramatic Market Charts of 2011 Sometimes, a simple chart is a more effective storyteller than scores of artfully written articles. Here are seven compelling market charts that describe 2011...... Strength in Wireless and Bundling Boosts Verizon Verizon's ability to counter the consumer trend of choosing wireless over wireline by bundling makes for a strong, cash-generating dividend stock...... Light Up With Reynolds American’s High Dividend The tobacco company's current yield is 5.4%, with its quarterly dividend going from 19.4 cents to 70 cents in the past 10 years...... S&P Sinks Into the Red — Wednesday’s IP Market Recap Techs, financials and casinos led Wednesday's equity markets lower...... 3 Sectors Aided by Holiday Cheer The holidays typically bring excitement to the stock market. The retail, shipping, and lodging sectors are among the most affected by Santa...... Philip Morris’ Dividends Are Addicting Philip Morris International can give you the benefit of high income levels in addition to dividend growth rates over time...... Hard-to-Find Bargain Stock Buys The stock market's brisk fourth-quarter rally (which has since begun to stall) has made bargains more difficult to find, but here's a few...... 9 Software Stocks to Buy Despite Nasdaq's overall decline year-to-date, some tech stocks providing in-demand products are making a successful push into 2012...... 3 Shorts Set to Crash Harder Than Sears Aggressive investors with a pessimistic streak could profit big by shorting these three losing stocks...... How Private Equity Could Save Sears Getting value from distressed assets is something good private equity firms can do, and Sears has plenty of undervalued assets...... 2011′s Best and Worst Picks From InvestorPlace’s Barry Cohen Barry Cohen discusses some of his picks from 2011 -- and how that will affect his take on companies moving forward...... Where Will You Put Your Money in 2012? Two areas of the market are slated to do well in the upcoming months and year, but be wary of this one sector...... 5 Stocks You Want to Dump in 2012 These big names were badly damaged in 2011 and unfortunately for shareholders, they won't be getting back on their feet anytime soon...... 7 Biotech and Health Care Stocks to Buy Biotechnology and health care companies are growing at an alarming rate. Do not miss the boat on some of fastest-growing companies among them...... Is Sears the Next Berkshire Hathaway? Don't laugh. Eddie Lampert's strategy at Sears Holdings could be regarded as being very similar to Warren Buffett's makeover of Berkshire Hathaway in the sixties...... The January Effect: Fact or Fiction? Before you decide to play the momentum wave known as the "January Effect," you should look at whether the theory holds water...... 3 Things Helping to Revive Investor Sentiment A combination of a hint of lower interest rates in the U.S. along with boosted euro zone confidence has lifted the stock market back to positive territory...... Why Stock Buybacks Are So Popular Now Companies have eschewed spending on new hires, R&D, even dividends, and instead are buying back stock at a rapid clip. Here's why...... Cloud Computing Edge Can Lead VMware Sky-High After the recent Oracle earnings debacle, VMW is gaining back most of its losses......

bear market bull, 2011-12-29

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Sustainability: Changes We Can Make for the Earth that are Pretty Easy The topic of sustainability has been bantered around in the last few years, but very few people actually know what it means. Most understand that it is something that is good for the earth and our env.....

The excuses used for disbelief in global warming Scientists around the globe pretty much rally to the call that yes Virginia, global warming is indeed a reality. Those of us on the side of ecology for the last thirty years have been saying a simple .....

shorting stocks, 2011-12-28

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Stock Option Traders Betting on Apple Rally Apple's options got off to an early start yesterday and stayed busy until the close. ..... Stick with Domestic Consumer Staples in 2012: Analyst In 2012, the weakened European economy will likely hurt multinationals more than domestic U.S. companies in the consumer staples sector, John Faucher, JP Morgan senior analyst, told CNBC Tuesday...... Netflix's Biggest (and Most Costly) Bet of 2012 Netflix has a lot to prove in 2012, specifically how successful it can be in the U.K. and Ireland. The company, whose stock lost 70 percent of its value just in the past three months, is so confident ..... Sears' Suppliers Ready to Pull Back in 2012 Vendors who loan to retail suppliers of Sears are already starting to pull back and could distance themselves further from the company if things don't change soon. ..... Don't Know How Struggling Sears Can Turn It Around: Analyst Sears' decision to close up to 120 Kmart stores shows a retailer struggling to draw shoppers at a time of increasing competition, Credit Suisse retail analyst Gary Balter told CNBC...... Traders Go Bottom Fishing in Manulife Manulife Financial is not a name seen often, but it lit up OptionMonster's screening systems on Friday...... Warren Buffett: The Year in Review This year was a busy one for billionaire investor Warren Buffett...... Goodbye 'January Effect' and Other Superstitions The so-called ""January effect"" hasn't actually had much of an effect in recent years. The name is now a misnomer, as the trend actually begins much earlier, reports TheStreet.com...... Kraft Fairly Valued; Will Shoppers Stay Loyal?: Analyst Investors think Kraft is a very tasty stock. Whether consumers continue to buy the packaged-food company's goods once price hikes go through are another matter, Morningstar analyst Erin Nash told CNBC..... Option Bulls Look for NXP Semi to Bounce NXP Semiconductor has been in a world of hurt, but now the bulls are coming back. ..... Best ISAs http://www.savings.co.uk/guides/isas/.....

Factoring Company http://www.factorfunding.com/.....

bearish stocks, 2011-12-27

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Nu Skin Enterprises (NUS) Hello Friends! Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my blog, Stock Picks Bob's Advice ! As always, please remember that I am an amateur investor, so please remember to consult with your pr.....

bear market bull, 2011-12-26

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Mining Stocks; YALE (TSX-V: YLL) Summarizes Difficult 2011 and Looks Forward to 2012 VANCOUVER, British Columbia - December 23, 2011 (Investorideas.com Mining stocks Newswire) - Yale Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: YLL and Frankfurt: YAB) (Pink Sheets: YRLLF.pk) is pleased to provide a summary..... China Stock Alert: China Direct Industries (NASDAQ: CDII) Reports Financial Results for 2011 Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2011 DEERFIELD BEACH, FL - December 23, 2011 (InvestorIdeas.com Newswire) - China Direct Industries, Inc. (the ""Company"") ( NASDAQ:CDII), a U.S. based company that sources, produces and distributes indus..... ENDANGERED ELEMENTS: TUNGSTEN AMONG CHINA'S POTENTIAL EMBARGO LIST December 22, 2011 (Investorideas.com Mining stocks newswire) It didn't take long for the panic to set in, last year, when the Chinese government flexed its muscle by threatening the world's Rare Earth..... BRAZIL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS TO 5.2 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER 2011 Brasilia - December 22, 2011 (InvestorIdeas.com Newswire) - The Brazilian federal government has announced that the country's November 2011 unemployment rate is estimated at 5.2 percent..... ENDANGERED ELEMENTS: TUNGSTEN AMONG CHINA'S POTENTIAL EMBARGO LIST December 21, 2011 (Investorideas.com Mining stocks newswire) It didn't take long for the panic to set in, last year, when the Chinese government flexed its muscle by threatening the world's Rare Earth..... Mining Stocks; YALE (TSX-V: YLL) TERMINATES AGREEMENT FOR CAROL PROPERTY VANCOUVER - December 21, 2011 (Investorideas.com Mining stocks Newswire) - Yale Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: YLL and Frankfurt: YAB) (Pink Sheets: YRLLF.pk) has terminated the option agreement for the Carol..... Tuesday's NASDAQ Winners: CSIQ, PGNX, DBLE, GTXI POINT ROBERTS, December 21, 2011 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a global investor research portal for independent investors, reports on top percentage gainers on the NASDAQ for Tuesday December 20th...... Tuesday's TSX Trading Leaders: TSX:LSG, TSX:SMF, TSX:BBD.B, TSX:TLM December 21, 2011 - Investorideas.com Newswire-Investorideas.com, a leader in sector research for independent investors issues a trading alert for TSX trading leaders for December 20, 2011...... Nanoceramic coating of Nanostart-holding ItN Nanovation AG passes field trials at the world's largest aluminium smelter RUSAL Frankfurt / Saarbrucken - December 21, 2011 (Investorideas.com Newswire) - Nanostart (OTCQX: NASRY)-holding ItN Nanovation AG, (ISIN DE000A0JL461) announces that RUSAL's IRKAZ, an aluminium smelter ba..... One Billion Holiday Wishes Washington, D.C. - December 21, 2011 (Investorideas.com Newswire) - The holidays are a time for putting others before ourselves. And with the recent news that the world's population has surpassed 7 bi..... Gilat Satellite (Nasdaq: GILT) Awarded Internet Broadband Connectivity Contract in Colombia for Schools Orlando, FL - December 20, 2011 (Investorideas.com Newswire) - The Street Beat commentary - Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:GILT), a worldwide leader in satellite networking technology, solution..... Eco Building Products (OTCBB: ECOB) Commences Shipment of Multi-story Hotel Project Orlando, FL - December 20, 2011 (Investorideas.com Newswire) - The Street Beat commentary - Eco Building Products, Inc., (OTCBB: ECOB) announced today the company has commenced shipment of Eco Red Shi.....

Monday's TSX Trading Leaders: (TSX: ELD), (TSX: EGU), (TSX: ATP), (TSX: MFC) December 20, 2011 - Investorideas.com, a leader in sector research for independent investors issues a trading alert for TSX trading leaders for December 19, 2011......     Car Charging Group (OTCBB: CCGI) Partners With Federal Realty Investment Trust to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Retail Sites Nationwide MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - December 20, 2011 (Investorideas.com Newswire) - Car Charging Group, Inc. (OTCBB:CCGI.OB), a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, and Federal Realty Investment Trus..... 7 Top Penny Stocks in Review for December 20 Shares of Peoples Bancorporation Inc. (OTC: PBCE) surged over 149% today after the company announced a definitive deal to merge with SCBT Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: SCBT). PBCE set a new 52-week high of..... FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. (FPMI) Raises a Collective Total of $7M in 2011 FluoroPharma Medical Inc. (OTCBB: FPMI), a company specializing in the development of breakthrough diagnostic imaging products that utilize positron emission tomography (PET) technology to detect and ..... BIO-key International, Inc. (BKYI) Granted U.S. Patent for Algorithmic Technique that Analyzes Characteristics of Fingerprints BIO-key International Inc. (OTCBB: BKYI), a global leader in fingerprint biometric identification solutions and advanced mobile identification technology, announced that the U.S. Patent office has gra..... Biostar Pharmaceuticals (BSPM) Signs 1-Year Distribution Agreement in China Biostar Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: BSPM), through its wholly-owned subsidiary in China, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical and health supplement products for a variety of diseases af..... US Energy Affiliates to Finance Blue Earth (BBLU) Projects Blue Earth Inc.(OTCBB: BBLU), a company focused on the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors, today announced it has signed a finance agreement with US Energy Affiliates Inc. (USEA) in which ..... Gerald Celente Forecast 2012, FEMA Prepares for Dollar Collapse Winding down one year ushers in forecasts for the coming year.  And the man many want to hear from most is none other than Trends Research Institute Founder Gerald Celente, whose predictions for 2012..... 7 Top Penny Stocks in Review for December 19 Mass Hysteria Entertainment Co. Inc. (OTC: MHYS) shares traded up 235.71% to close at $0.0047, on high volume of 12.84 million shares. Mass Hysteria Entertainment is a multi-media entertainment compan..... Rainbow BioSciences (RBCC) Reaches New Heights with n3D Nanoparticle Technology Rainbow BioSciences (OTCBB: RBCC) is a company on the rise. Located in Nokomis, Florida, Rainbow BioSciences has quickly made a name for themselves on Wall Street. A division of Rainbow Coral Corp., ..... Gunpowder Gold Corp. (GUNP) Provides Updated Results for One of Their Claim Blocks On Friday, Gunpowder Gold Corp. (OTCBB: GUNP) provided updated results for one of their claim blocks in their Dome Rock gold project in La Paz County, Arizona. Work included sediment and outcrop chip..... Beacon Enterprise Solutions Group Inc. (BEAC) Video Chart for Monday, December 19, 2011 Beacon Enterprise Solutions Group Inc. (OTCBB: BEAC) has made a great climb recently, but more importantly appears to be making an overall shift from bearish to bullish. A cup and handle pattern is f.....

bull market bear market, 2011-12-23

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Stock prices are drifting upwards and volatility is declining as the holidays near. So, here's a year-end reminder -- and a bold hope for 2012...... ConocoPhillips Wins Dividend Battle Vs. Chevron, Exxon Restructuring, including spinning off refining operations and selling Lukoil has allowed ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) to increase profitability...... Protect Your Portfolio From Wall Street Tricks Here are several common ways investors can be hoodwinked -- and how you can prevent that from happening. ..... Dominion Is a Great Investment for Conservative Investors Regulated utilities companies like Dominion (NYSE:D) usually offer more security for dividend investors. They have never cut their dividend...... Find Big Option Premiums in This Top Emerging Market Economic growth in 2012 will be minimal in the United States, non-existent in Europe and slowing in China, from the looks of current data. However, one place we see a big potential for growth is Brazi..... 10 Worst Countries for Tax Evasion The U.S. tops the list -- but it's more complicated than that. It's more a function of how big America's economy is. Still, the problem is huge...... How to Profit From Oil’s Likely Rise in 2012 Forecasting oil prices is a crapshoot, but one company -- Brazil's Petrobras -- could do well no matter happens in Europe and the global economy. ..... Intel Chipped By Shrinking Demand Thai flooding this summer certainly made a dent in Intel's business this year, but there have been several indications that PC sales were slowing before that...... Readers’ Choice: Top Market Stories of 2011 The votes are in. Here's how InvestorPlace.com readers ranked the year's biggest market-moving news headlines of 2011...... What We Can Realistically Expect From the Market’s Latest Buy Signal Resistance lines are seldom broken on low-volume, pre-holiday sessions. Here's when they'll most likely break...... Regional Banks Coming Back to Life The SPDR KBW Regional Banking ETF broke its long-term downtrend yesterday. ..... How Does Sony’s ‘Super Phone’ Stack Up? Sony's newest entry to the Xperia line of smartphones will include a powerful camera and be built for 4G use. Here's how it compares to the competition...... Thursday Apple Rumors: German Judge Has Had It With Apple German judge snaps after Apple's latest injunction against Samsung. Also, a leaked memo says Gannett is stockpiling iPhones, iPads for its employees...... BT Group Proves Its Worth to American Dividend Investors With a 5.6% average dividend yield over the past five years, BT has proven it can reward income investors. But those payments will come a little erratically. ..... Congress Ends 2011 Mired in Gridlock But there's hope -- slim as it is -- that 2012 can bring results, if the hyper-conservative GOP House members realize what Americans really want...... Yahoo’s Parts Are Worth More Than Its Sum As the company mulls the sale of its Asian assets, its core operations are likely undervalued...... Precious Metals, Miners Lower as Jobless Claims Hit 44-Month Low Gold and silver were off just less than 1% in Thursday morning trading, and mining shares were broadly lower as well...... 6 Retailers on the Ups Picking retail stocks during a recession is a difficult prospect. Here's six retailers from all walks of business that have performed well and could go further...... Toyota in the Comeback Driver’s Seat for 2012 Toyota is projected to drop from No. 1 to No. 3 in global sales this year, but ambitious plans could propel TM back to the top spot...... 4 Trucking Stocks That Will Keep Rolling Next year won't be perfect, but two trends -- a pickup in manufacturing and lean inventories at retailers -- offer promise for the right stocks...... The Case Against Arthur Sulzberger at The New York Times His record as chairman since 1997 has been terrible for shareholders. NYT needs new blood as a leader , someone like Ford's Alan Mulally...... Valero Fuels up for an Early 2012 Run Expect VLO to move back toward the 200-day moving average of $24.50 by June expiration. Get the trade...... Dividend Stock AmBev Is Mightier Than the King of Beers With AmBev, you're investing in the higher-growth subsidiary of the largest brewing company in the world...... Walgreen Not Sweating Loss of Express Scripts Customers to CVS — Should It Be? CVS says it could gobble up to 23M prescriptions that Walgreens has sold through Express Scripts if a deal isn't announced. So far, WAG is sticking to its guns...... Fade the Gold Pop With GLD Options The rally in GLD may continue for a few more days before a new wave of selling takes hold. .....

Why Dividend Darlings Will Burn You in 2012 Two sectors sucked in conservative investors in 2011, but dividend chasers should beware these groups next year......     Make Money Practically Every Time You Take Out the Trash In today’s uncertain market, there is one certainty – Americans will generate lots of garbage in 2012. ..... Rogue Traders: Not as Rare as You Think It's only when their "unauthorized" bets go bad that they make news. Otherwise, what the so-called rogues do is business as usual...... Find Gold in Dividend-Linked Miners If you believe in gold's ability to recover, miners that link their dividends to the yellow metal's price represent an enticing long-term opportunity...... 5 Aerospace and Defense Stocks to Buy Even as the troops have officially left Iraq, companies like Boeing and Lockheed are still receiving contracts and adding muscle...... 6 Clothing and Accessories Stocks to Buy The retail sector moves at the slightest hint of market volatility. However, 2011 has been forgiving for clothing and accessory stocks like Coach...... Blame Bargains for Best Buy’s Demise Best Buy's problem isn't unique among retailers -- businesses need sales to bring in price-conscious consumers, but their revenues are getting killed...... 5 Stocks Doomed to Disappear in 2012 These toxic companies bombed in 2011, and they're likely to be bought out -- or fall off the face of the earth entirely -- in the next 365 days. Watch these five vanish...... When You Should Decide to Turn Bullish Stocks will more than likely continue to trade sideways until the big money enters the market. Here's when you can expect the momentum indicator to turn positive...... IBM No Longer Overpriced – Buy Now IBM has corrected to our buy point. See our trading target for the stock...... Oracle Decks Techs — Wednesday’s IP Market Recap The software giant's first earnings miss in a decade didn't go over well...... 10 Best Last-Minute Deals for Christmas 2011 From a Victoria's Secret sweater dress to a Nikon camera bundle, here are 10 great last-minute deals for the hurried and harried shopper. ..... 5 Cruise and Car Stocks to Sell Cruises and new cars are becoming too luxurious for the recession-weary investor not lucky enough to win a showcase showdown on the Price Is Right...... 5 Energy Equipment Stocks to Sell The energy sector is predicted to rapidly grow in 2012, which cannot come any sooner for depleted energy equipment stocks such as Transocean (NYSE:RIG)...... ECB’s Loans Will Do Little to Fix Europe Itself Banks might have gained liquidity, but is it prudent for them to turn around and buy indebted countries' shaky government bonds?..... Wednesday Apple Rumors: Tapping China The company is seeing surging growth in app store revenue from the world's most populous country...... 7 Specialty Retail Stocks to Sell The recent holiday cheer on Wall Street and record-setting holiday shopping hasn't stopped some specialty retail stores from singing the Christmas blues...... Ariad Pharmaceuticals Still Might Have Upside Ariad Pharmaceuticals is up 120% in the past 12 months, mostly fueled on optimism over its trial leukemia treatment. But some analysts think the ceiling is higher...... A Lesson About Greed From MF Global MF Global is a shining example of how investors -- even sophisticated folks -- can be suckered into some very bad investments by the promise of outsized riches. Here's why the firm's collapse matters ..... Gold, Silver Lower as Banks Flock to Borrow ECB Money Eldorado Gold, Pan American Silver were among a few gainers going against the grain of downward-moving metal prices, miners Wednesday morning...... Beware of the Falling VIX in December December's VIX performance is notoriously unreliable and prone to reversal. It may actually be a contrary indicator for the broader market...... Oracle Sounds Another Warning Bell for Tech Sector The stock took a big hit after missing earnings estimates, causing investors to grow more wary of the tech sector...... Emerging-Market Opportunists: Tell the BRICs to Hit the Bricks The world's top investors are finding opportunities in emerging markets other than the BRICs. Mark Mobius and others are investing millions in MINTs and VISTA...... Pair of Asset Managers Poised for a Rebound Asset managers' stocks have been whittled away this past year, but Invesco and Ameriprise are setting themselves up to reverse the trend...... Amgen CEO Resigns, Stock Perks Up The CEO may be leaving in May, but the returns are starting right now in AMGN options.....

bull market bear market, 2011-12-22

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Bottled Water: We are drinking our way to pollution Our Western culture seems to be enamored with bottled water. Whether fresh from the spring or just out of the tap, it seems to be an easy method in our quasi race to be healthy. You have probably seen.....

Is the water you are drinking filled with drugs? I first became aware of the topic of drugs in the water system about six years ago. One of the local students had submitted a school science project for the science fair which examined the amount of e.....

shorting stock, 2011-12-21

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Bank of America Hit Hardest by Fee Crackdown Bank of America has been the hardest hit of the large U.S. banks by new rules aimed at reducing fees banks charge consumers, according to research published Monday by Credit Suisse analyst Moshe Orenb..... Dow Stocks Worth Owning in 2012 Even though some Dow Jones Industrial Average component companies have issued earnings warnings, many are still worth owning in 2012, according to TheStreet.com...... There Are No Winners in Apple's Patent War: Analyst Apple won a patent lawsuit against Taiwan's HTC Corp. over smartphone technology. The case is seen to set the stage for future patent wars, which ultimately no one will win, says Daniel Ernst, princip..... I Want to See Jefferies' Balance Sheet: Sean Egan Sean Egan, president of ratings agency Egan-Jones Rating Co., and Jefferies Group's chief critic, said he wants to look at the fine print of the firm's full financial results before deciding if MF Glo..... Option Bulls Go Shopping at Kohl's The bulls are shopping at Kohl's this holiday season. ..... Taxes Will Drive Rebound in Second Half 2012: CEO Consensus among investors says that European gridlock caused a flat performance in U.S. stocks this year. Late next year, however, things will turn around with or without a clear sign of economic uptu..... 13 Tech Stocks to Buy and 6 to Avoid in 2012 Salesforce.com and Qualcomm are the technology stocks to buy for 2012, Canaccord Genuity analysts say, while Netflix and Research In Motion are to be avoided. ..... Buy the Dip in Cloud Computing Stocks: Analysts With Europe on a fiscal austerity program, virtualization companies have come under pressure. This might be a good buying opportunity, several analysts say, according to TheStreet.com. ..... Naughty & Nice Retail Stock Picks With just six days left before Christmas, the holiday shopping season isn’t over yet, says Thomas Filandro of Susquehanna Financial Group. “I think the opportunity exists for a big surge in busine..... Own Stocks With High Cash Flow: BlackRock's Doll In this current ""muddle-through world,"" the best stocks to own are those that have the free cash flow to increase their dividends, BlackRock's Bob Doll told CNBC Monday. ..... Best ISAs http://www.savings.co.uk/guides/isas/..... If you are looking for the best deals for tradesman insurance BJP can help. Click to find out how our expert team can find you a great deal...... Accident Injury Claims http://www.accidentsdirect.com/personal-injury.aspx.....

Factoring Company http://www.factorfunding.com/.....     Hellmeyer Video Interview – Europe Inflation Gold Here's an interesting view on Europe and America from a European's perspective. James Turk interviews Volker Hellmeyer who addresses quite a few issues Americans simply do not focus upon. So for tho.....

bull market and bear market, 2011-12-20

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Nu Skin Enterprises (NUS) Hello Friends! Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my blog, Stock Picks Bob's Advice ! As always, please remember that I am an amateur investor, so please remember to consult with your pr.....

bear market bull market, 2011-12-16

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9 Brightly Shining Utility Stocks The basic need for power, water and gas has lifted these stocks through 2011 and should propel them through 2012, too...... Bearish on Bonds Reaching New Highs? With the sell-off in stocks this week, money shifted into the bond market. But will this trend last?..... The Sun Also Rises for Solar Stocks The latest plunge looks grim for solar stocks, but a few bits of info lost between the headlines could point to better times ahead -- making now the time to buy...... 5 Best and Worst S&P 500 Stocks of 2011 In what was an extremely volatile year for the market, it might come as no surprise that the S&P 500 saw some really big winners — and some even bigger losers. Here are 2011's best and worst pe..... The Danger of Investing in Retail Stocks When it comes to investing in retail, slow and steady wins the race. Avoid companies like these crash-and-burn victims...... Get a Longer-Term Lift out of Lockheed Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is a global security company engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems and products. It also prov..... Natural Gas Stocks: An Upside-Heavy Sector for 2012 Natural gas is set up to eventually overtake coal as the world's No. 2 used fuel. Long-term investors could look smart browsing through this sector's stocks...... The Only Way You Should be Buying Stocks Right Now Accumulate liquid assets to take advantage of irrational declines and buy stocks and commodities only on deep sell-offs...... Put a Little Silver in Your Stocking Speculators may want to take a partial position in the iShares Silver Trust before the holidays. See the trade...... FedEx Flies, Discover Dives — Thursday’s IP Market Recap Both beat earnings estimates, but then went separate ways...... Covidien Follows Abbott With a Pharma Spin-Off Could Sanofi, Novartis or GlaxoSmithKline be next to separate pharmaceutical development into a stand-alone company?..... A Double Whammy for Homebuilders A downgrade of TOL and LEN, then a downbeat announcement from the National Association of Realtors raise big questions...... 5 Big Apple Releases to Expect in 2012 Apple mostly doled out product updates in 2011 -- but in 2012, you can expect a lot more new-item fireworks and some bigger changes to its legacy gadgets...... Thursday Apple Rumors: Apple Lawsuits Helping Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Samsung Australia VP says lawsuit war with Apple has had an unintended, positive side effect -- more people have heard about the Galaxy Tab...... Gold, Silver Continue Their Slump Positive economic data can't get precious metals rallying, as European concerns continue their grip on risk assets...... 7 Feel-Good Pharma Stocks to Buy Medicine is something few people can afford to go without during times of recession, making these pharma companies good sources of stability...... The ‘Other Berkshire’ Worth a Closer Look Its operation can be difficult to grasp, but if you know what to look for, you'll get a better understanding for this smartly run company...... 8 Food and Grocery Stocks to Serve Companies who provide necessities often have stocks that perform well, even during a recession. Food and grocery stocks like Kraft and Costco are must-buys...... Turn On This Young, Growing Energy Stock This company hasn't yet hit its fifth birthday, but a focused business strategy has produced an attractive growth ramp that investors can bank on for the future...... Amazon Investors Should Wait Out the Storm While the Kindle Fire is cramping Amazon's profit margins, eventual tablet success could further improve its standing as the premier online retailer...... Take a Gamble That P&G Will Tumble A conservative target is at a support level just below $63...... Navistar Call Options Trucking Higher It is time to begin thinking like a contrarian and get positioned to profit from a market recovery...... 3 Top Stocks to Stuff Your Stocking Look alive, contrarians! Holiday cheer might come in the form of a Santa Claus rally if the euro zone can keep it together. Buy these stocks to capitalize...... 10 Telecom Stocks Getting Poor Reception Even amid such a burgeoning digital landscape, the telecom industry has its losers, including household names such as Sprint (S)...... Gold Is Sick, but Hardly Dead Gold prices could fall a lot more and still be in a broad uptrend. And when the gold dust settles, the stage will be set for a renewed rally......

Green Mountain Looks Like a Fading Fad Green Mountain is off more than 20% this week, and stiff competition makes it look unlikely that GMCR stock will ever reach its $100-plus zenith again......     Asset Managers: A Potential Contrarian Opportunity in 2012 Solid balance sheets, great profit margins, crummy valuations and even high dividends -- all these attractive traits belong to one beaten-up sector...... How Low Will This Market Go? The answer may surprise you: Not very far, at least initially...... FedEx Could Deliver Big Short-Side Profits Sell FedEx short on rallies or a penetration of the November low. Get the downside target...... Dreary Day for Gold, Oil — Wednesday’s IP Market Recap Gold breaks through its key $1,600 per ounce level..... Groupon’s Analysts Not Too Thrilled Excited traders pushed Groupon stock up 9% Tuesday, but its quiet period ended Wednesday with an unexpectedly dull roar from analysts...... Avon Surges on CEO Change — But AVP Stock Still Shaky AVP stock might look good after a leadership change and with a 5% dividend, but Andrea Jung's replacement will be fighting SEC investigations, other issues...... 9 Mining Stocks to Keep Buried Investors have a right to be afraid of deflation and European debt. At the very least, it means a decline for companies that deal with basic materials...... Gold Breaks 200-Day MA, Silver Plummeting Gold fell below the $1,600 mark Wednesday morning and silver also was hammered on euro zone and U.S. monetary policy worries...... Wednesday Apple Rumors: More Users Connecting With Apple TV Apple TV is expected to account for 32% of the modest connected TV market by the end of 2011. Also, Apple's founding contract sells for $1.6M at auction...... Sun Might Be Setting on Solar Stocks U.S. solar giant First Solar cut its fiscal year forecast for a third time in 2011 -- a huge weight on FSLR shares and a bad omen for the sector...... Why Diamond Foods’ Stock Has Gone Nuts Diamond Foods' has become a trader magnet after word of a massive deal -- and then an audit investigation -- turned DMND stock on its head. Is this nut worth cracking?..... 9 Insurance Stocks to Sell Now We buy insurance to protect ourselves from uncertainty. But what happens when the insurance company is in trouble? Sell...... 7 Covered Call Trades on Today’s Hottest Names Our experts have pooled their favorite covered call trades to ensure you have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year...... Pfizer Delivers Early Holiday Gifts to Shareholders The company brings holiday cheer with its new stock repurchase program and dividend boost...... 5 Winners in 2011 That Could Repeat in ’12 These S&P 500 standouts are poised for sequels in the coming year. All have a target price at least 11% higher than recent trading. ..... Make Money in Timeshares — By Investing No get-rich-quick schemes with this timeshare buy -- just a solidly managed company at the right price...... The Big Cloud on Airlines’ 2012 Horizon: Europe As if the euro zone mess weren't enough, throw in high fuel prices, and airlines face yet another tough year...... Is This a Bear Trap or a Wounded Bull? Traders should hesitate before taking any strong bearish positions. Here's why...... Chemical Company May be Headed for a Meltdown Sasol Ltd. is approaching a huge zone of potential overhead. Get the trade for SSL...... Retail Stocks Follow Best Buy’s Lead — Tuesday’s IP Market Recap BBY's squeezed margins, lackluster retail sales growth weigh on stocks overall ..... Tuesday Apple Rumors: Apple Gunning for Anobit Acquisition Apple reportedly discussing a $400M-to-$500M deal for the Israeli company that produces chips boosting flash drive performance...... Spotify Turns Up Pressure On Pandora’s Prospects In the apparent two-horse race, Spotify is turning up the pressure on Pandora. ..... Taiwan: Almost Ready for Prime Time! Taiwan is a growing force in electronics and tech, as well as a foreign-business friendly country. These two ETFs can help aggressive investors take the reins...... Verizon Buying Netflix Wouldn’t Be So Crazy A Netflix deal might not add much to Verizon's bottom line anytime soon, but it could help the telecom become a leader in the TV market of tomorrow......

stock shorting, 2011-12-15

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Analyst’s Eye Maxim’s (MXIM) Apple Contract Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (MXIM, Free Analysis), a developer of integrated circuits used in a wide array of industries, is a likely winner of the power management slot in Apple’s (AAPL, Free An..... Genta (GNTA): Past Results Suggest Tread Carefully Genta Inc. (GNTA, Free Analysis), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for cancer and related diseases, surged more than 150% on Thursday after announcing positive results from..... Opko Health (OPK) CEO Purchase Signals a Turnaround Opko Health Inc. (OPK, Free Analysis), a pharmaceutical and diagnostics company focused on molecular diagnostics tests, pharmaceutical and vaccines, has seen a lot of insider buying by its Chairman an.....

Why Are Fossil Fuels Bad for the Environment? The primary source of energy in the United States is currently fossil fuels. These include oil, coal, and natural gas, and they account for 85 percent of the total energy sources used in the country. .....

bull bear market, 2011-12-14

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Bulls Target AthenaHealth Before Confab The bulls are targeting AthenaHealth before its big investor day Thursday. ..... Hottest Retail Stocks For Your Wish List: Analyst Don't be fooled by Black Friday. There are hot, and not-so hot stocks to watch in retail, says Stacey Widlitz, president of S.W. Retail Advisors...... McDonald’s — Why One Analyst Is Lovin' It Although McDonald’s recent rally in the stock market has pushed its shares to trade at all-time highs, one analyst still maintains a ""buy"" rating on the fast-food giant as investors flee to safety..... 5 Most Shorted Big Bank Stocks Want to know which banks investors are currently betting against? Take a look at the short interest ratio, which divides average trading volumes by outstanding short interest. ..... Nothing to 'Verizon Buying Netflix' Rumor: Analyst ""We get rumors Netflix is going to be acquired every month. It’s either Amazon or Microsoft or Verizon or somebody else,"" said Piper Jaffray analyst Michael Olson...... Best Buy Margins Hammered by Heavy Discounting: Analysts Best Buy's efforts to boost sales — particularly on Black Friday — by deep discounting took a heavy toll on gross profit margins, resulting in the retailer missing quarterly earnings estimates, Br..... Goldman Sachs' Consumer Stock Best Buys for 2012 Goldman Sachs' latest ""Conviction List"" for the Americas, a roster of ""buy""-rated U.S. stocks, highlights 11 consumer companies. TheStreet.com details the profiles, market cap, potential upside an..... Bulls Seek Major Rebound From Targacept Targacept has been exiled to the woodshed, but yesterday the buyers came back in force. ..... For Financials, Europe Is an Opportunity—Not a Threat: Analyst Most financial-services companies see the European sovereign debt crisis as an opportunity instead of as a threat to get new assets, portfolios and clients, one Goldman Sachs analyst said...... 5 Worst Stocks of the Year—Which Are 'Buys' for 2012? You can usually find attractive stocks in the laggards of a given year. That's not the case in 2011......

Private Detective http://www.theprivatedetective.com/.....     Kyle Bass Video Interview Japan Gold And MF Global Actually I thought about going for 'Stay defensive' as an alternative headline choice. The stuff I read and watch makes me want to use that famous Shakespeare quote that 'something is rotten in the St..... CBST Cubist Pharmaceuticals – Biotech Stocks Potential New Leaders Current market action still doesn't make me want to put on big positions or trade aggressively. That's why I am spending a lot of time doing research, watching market related videos and why I do lots .....

bull & bear market, 2011-12-13

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Nu Skin Enterprises (NUS) Hello Friends! Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my blog, Stock Picks Bob's Advice ! As always, please remember that I am an amateur investor, so please remember to consult with your pr.....

bear market bull market, 2011-12-09

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Invest in the Biggest Trend in Health Care Now "Hospitalists" are one of the biggest growing trends in health care. At the forefront is IPC The Hospitalist Company (IPCM). Here's why you should buy in...... HPQ: A Breakout in the Making The European Summit slated for Friday seems to be hovering over the market like a wet blanket.  Given the uncertainty surrounding the meeting, intraday movements have been quite erratic and downright..... Brick-and-Mortar Retailers Should Read the Writing on the Wall New data suggests e-tailers are digging even further into traditional retailers' holiday sales, and brick-and-mortars could be in for a rough December...... Let This Low-Volatility Market Position You for a Big Payday We like to use put/call ratios as a contrarian indicator, and the extreme lows imply a short-term floor...... Why Eli Lilly Could Be a Lottery Stock Pick If Eli Lilly is successful in delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s disease with its experimental drug, it could make Lipitor look like a mid-sized product. The odds?..... Sick of GE? Try These Stocks Instead General Electric does just about everything and has a solid stock -- but you might have overlooked these similar strong buys...... The Hottest Sector for 2012: Energy These 10 energy stocks are poised to show great growth in 2012, thanks to a robust outlook for sector...... The Only Way This Market Can Be Saved Only an immediate upside reversal that takes out the highs of the Dow double-tops can reverse this pattern...... Chemed Corp. Issues New Sell Signal Chemed Corp. has been unable to break from a long-term bear market. Get the downside target for CHE...... 5 Small-Cap Buys With Large Potential Small cap stocks can be very risky, but very rewarding. These 5 do everything from mining to groceries -- and they can deliver big profits...... Ford Looks Like a Buy After Reinstating Dividend Ford's renewed 5-cent dividend payout adds to the attractiveness of its stock, especially for long-term investors who are interested in tax-efficient gains...... Banks Burned by Europe — Thursday’s IP Market Recap As hopes for an EU solution fizzled, U.S. markets floundered/..... Amazon Children’s Book Deal a Low-Cost Route to Growth Amazon will milk yet another untapped resource as it enters the children's book market. And it won't need to break the bank to do so...... 2 ETFs for ‘Risk-On’ Trade in a Volatile Market The year has been filled with wild market swings. Taking a "risk on" trading approach will quench the thirst of traders looking to cash in on the latest surge...... Surprising Places for 2012 Investing: Paraguay Paraguay is among the world's fastest growers and offers a long-term play for adventurous investors. Here are two good ways to start...... Thursday Apple Rumors: Apple Is Getting Macs in Motion A newly public patent application by Apple describes motion-control technology for Mac laptop and desktop computers...... Jamie Dimon’s Biggest Bet: On Europe The JPMorgan Chase CEO is making some bold contrarian moves in Europe. Risky for sure, but he's tough to bet against. See what he's up to...... Maverick Judge Jed Rakoff Stares Down Citigroup, Wall Street Hopefully, Judge Jed Rakoff's rejection of a $285 million settlement between the SEC and Citigroup will encourage others in power to show some backbone...... Gold, Silver Tanking Amid Positive U.S. Jobs Report, Euro Zone Measures NovaGold Resources, Barrick Gold among miners following Thursday morning's descent of gold and silver prices...... JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon Thinks Fat-Cat CEOs Need a Tax Break JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon may have pleased his bigwig friends, but his gloss-over statement about fat cats' tax burden is a gross misrepresentation of the truth...... Value Investors Should Feel Like a ‘Kid in a Candy Store’ A glut of top-rate companies are available for a song right now. Here's what value investors should be grinning about...... 5 Ways to Invest in Europe as the Debt Dust Cloud Settles From pink sheets to leveraged ETFs -- and some safer means in between -- there are numerous opportunities for investors to play Europe...... These Buffett Winners May Not Score for You Buying like Warren isn't always so simple. He owns Costco and P&G and both are solid. But now's not the time to get in...... Soaring College Expenses and Often-Paltry Wages Don’t Add Up As expenses spiral higher and figuring how to pay for tuition is harder than ever, starting salaries for some majors aren't much above the poverty line...... BMY Sports Healthy Dividend, Growth Potential Bristol-Myers Squibb is a fundamentally and technically sound health care pick. Get BMY's target......

‘Robin Hood Tax’ Would Steal from Global Investors Just Like YOU Europeans' proposed "Robin Hood tax" wouldn't just steal from the rich -- it would take from everyday investors, like you......     Sectors to Avoid in 2012: Tobacco Tobacco stocks were among the most impressive of 2011, but don't expect them to be a sure thing in 2012...... 10 Game-Changing Health Care Stocks to Buy These 10 diverse stocks are likely to improve their earnings and stock prices in 2012. Take a look...... Only Safe Way to Play the Rest of the Week Low volume, high volatility and conflicting technical indicators make this headline-driven market even more treacherous...... Top 5 Emerging Growth Stocks for December Louis Navellier's top five emerging growth stocks for December include standouts such as Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Hansen Natural Corp...... How to Prepare for Market-Moving News From Europe Keep a close eye on the European Central Bank. Its moves could signal whether a "Euro QE" is a hand...... Don’t Crash Your Portfolio with AMR AMR Corp. got a huge jolt Wednesday -- but investors should think twice before playing this dangerous game of bankruptcy hot potato...... Martha Stewart Makes Waves — Wednesday’s IP Market Recap Martha Stewart Living Omnivision shares soar Wednesday on news that J.C. Penney plans to buy a 16.6% bid in the company and offer its products in JCP stores...... Strong Holiday Sales Point Toward Possible eBay Renaissance Changes in eBay's business model appear to be paying off in the form of strong November and Cyber Monday sales, and most recently, an analyst upgrade...... Wednesday Apple Rumors: A Smarter Siri on the Way? A recent job posting points toward Apple's work on an even smarter Siri. Plus: Analyst puts $500-plus price target on AAPL...... 5 Big Oil Stocks to Buy The world's addiction to crude isn't about to go away anytime soon, so an investment in big oil is the way to go...... Gold Higher; Silver Lower as Word From Europe Tempers Optimism iShares Silver Trust, gold and silver miners also headed down during Wednesday morning trading...... 6 Beverage Stocks to Drink Up Be it a frosty brew from (NYSE:BUD) or (NYSE:KO), the Atlanta-based staple of American globalism, in tough economic times, investors keep their pallets wet...... Can Chevron Avoid the Tiger Woods Curse? Beware: Most companies that have cut ties to Tiger haven't done well since. Just ask PG, or GM, or PEP. ..... 9 Media Stocks Transmitting Positive Returns During these rough economic times, media companies are struggling to capture a sizable audience. But recently, the market surge has been kind to media stocks...... 4 Naughty & Nice Holiday Options Trades Forget presents. If you want Santa to bring you a sack of profits, make some trades that come in the right size and style for any account...... Dump Comcast! This Cable Company is Providing Better Portfolio Service Despite a lucrative wireless spectrum deal with Verizon, Comcast still doesn't have as much upside as this other cable stock...... TJX Offers Fashionable Holiday Options Returns This is a great level to own the shares and sell calls against them for instant income...... Affymax Shares Hang on an FDA Decision Affymax's stock price is swinging wildly as investors await a ruling on the company's promising kidney disease drug...... Find High Dividend Yields in Unusual Places These dividend stocks are a little off the beaten path, but you should find it's pretty easy to love their high yields...... General Motors Gunning for Higher Prices in 2012 GM has been under siege lately, with the share price nearly being cut in half this year...... Forge a Profit With AK Steel The charts suggest this stock is poised for a breakout as global demand should continue to drive profits...... 3 Health Care Stocks in Tip-Top Shape, Poised for Growth Baby boomers are retiring. This, coupled with the beginning of cold and flu season, makes now the perfect time to start thinking about health care stocks...... Silver Likely Trading Sideways into Year-End Within the commodity space, oil appears to be the current stomping ground of the bulls.  The last two months have seen buyers flock to the energy space, leaving gold and silver to languish in the lan..... Tax Tips for Year-End Savings Take charge and make the right moves to prepare your finances for the year ahead......