I have a little quiz for you. I’ll describe a few features of one of the most intriguing places in the world to invest, and you tell me which nation I’m talking about. Ready? This country produces more copper than any other nation in the world. It… Read More

The United States and China have been locked in a dysfunctional relationship for far too long. We here in the states have been consuming Chinese imports at an ever-rising rate. And China has helped fuel our addiction by keeping its goods very cheap. It’s managed this by pouring much of… Read More

Get ready for the China collapse. Virtually every major media outlet has weighed in with dire reports that the Chinese economic miracle is about to come to an abrupt end. These Chicken Littles note that any strong asset class that looks like a bubble must come crashing down. In the… Read More

Sometimes, investors just need an excuse to sell. If they feel like worrying, there are always an ample amount of things to worry about. A few months ago, Greece was the concern du jour. Even though it’s a tiny economy, and has almost… Read More

Here’s a weight-loss product that helps slim bulging waistlines but can fatten your trading portfolio. Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) is a leading weight management company that sells diet shakes, snacks and nutritional supplements. Nearly two-thirds of Americans currently battle obesity, and the demand for weight-loss… Read More

It just might be one of the biggest, far-reaching pacts of the decade — and I’m betting you’ve never heard of it. It will govern business in more than a dozen countries, influence the shopping patterns of 1.9 billion consumers and facilitate trade in a region whose annual… Read More

During the past few months, experts have been slowly ratcheting down their global economic growth forecasts. A robust first half rebound is likely to be followed by a second half slowdown. Where the global economy heads from there is a crucial question for… Read More

In the late 1960’s, the central bank of Mexico was looking for ways to bring more American tourists — and their U.S. dollars — into the country. Acapulco, on the Pacific side of the country, had already become a tourist mecca… Read More

BP’s (NYSE: BP) web site is filled with a wide range of Gulf-spill related updates. The energy giant is overwhelming visitors with frequent updates in a bid to show that it is taking matters quite seriously. Lost in all those updates, investors may have missed a fairly… Read More

By the end of Monday’s trading, investors began to question whether China will really follow through with plans to boost its currency. Earlier in the day, we opined that change is coming, albeit more slowly than many would like. Even after the dust settled and many China-related stocks gave back their gains, shares of metals makers – especially aluminum producers – held onto sharp advances. Both Alcoa (NYSE: AA) and Century Aluminum (Nasdaq: CENX) rose more than +10% on intra-day basis on Monday,… Read More

By the end of Monday’s trading, investors began to question whether China will really follow through with plans to boost its currency. Earlier in the day, we opined that change is coming, albeit more slowly than many would like. Even after the dust settled and many China-related stocks gave back their gains, shares of metals makers – especially aluminum producers – held onto sharp advances. Both Alcoa (NYSE: AA) and Century Aluminum (Nasdaq: CENX) rose more than +10% on intra-day basis on Monday, and were holding most of those gains in Tuesday trading. For both of these firms, investors need to brace for some short-term pain but real long-term gains. A Tough Start to Earnings Season Alcoa, which always kicks off earnings season, will likely set a somber tone. Analysts have been lowering their second-quarter profit forecast from $0.28 to $0.16 during the past few weeks, and that still looks too high. Spot pricing for aluminum has been… Read More