US Economy & Stock Market Analysis with Stock Picks & Free Investing Tips

Municipal bonds safe bets?

Jason — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:37:31 +0000

You might be able to make good money from municipal bonds — if you can stomach the risks. Let’s start with greed and move on to fear. You don’t normally associate greed with a municipal bond, which is a long-term IOU issued by states and other local government entities. Munis pay regular interest and return [...]

Devon Energy is Ripe

ryan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:28:58 +0000

Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) is refocusing itself. Non-core holdings are being shed, and the proceeds are being used to accelerate growth of the company’s premier North American assets. Devon grew up as a company in the natural gas shale plays of the Midwest. Through superior technology, a focus on cost discipline, and a consistent track record, [...]

Defense is best offense

dyang — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:17:11 +0000

Many Main Street investors have yet to regain their stomach for the risky, uncertain and highly volatile world of stocks. Many buy-and-hold investors have unwittingly switched to a “buy-and-fold” strategy. Individual investors who once embraced risk-taking have adopted a more defensive investing posture, preferring capital preservation over appreciation. Many are trimming the percentage of stocks they [...]

Rattled Investors

ryan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:04:54 +0000

The US unemployment rate dropped sharply last month, but employers continued cutting jobs in January as businesses remained insecure about the economic outlook. The jobless rate fell to 9.7% from 10% in December, the Labor Department said Friday, because its survey of households found more people landed jobs than entered or returned to the labor market. But [...]

Ring of Fire

ryan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:58:09 +0000

U.S. stock investors don’t know where to take cover with the constant market swings. Reeling from four straight weekly losses, are entering the coming week’s market torn between confidence in the global economic recovery and fear that foreign governments’ actions will bring the rebound to a sudden halt. Investors have looked at the two sides and [...]

January Effect in 2010 Stock Market

Jason — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:50:18 +0000

So what is all of this talk of the January Effect? My wikipedia’s definiation it is “a calendar-related anomaly in the financial market where financial security prices increase in the month of January. This creates an opportunity for investors to buy stock for lower prices before January and sell them after their value increases.” Therefore, the [...]

Hot Stocks: Signature Exploration (SXLP.OB)

ryan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:43:03 +0000

We hit an absolute homerun on Brigham Exploration (BEXP) in 2009 (bought at $2.15, current $14.00) and we are looking to better that performance with one of my #1 oil and gas pick for 2010. Signature Exploration (SXLP.OB) is getting my full attention for very good reasons. I caught the attention of the Stocknod community with [...]

Stocks ZigZag to Start New Year

dyang — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:33:30 +0000

Stocks zigzagged early Monday as investors awaited an earnings from Alcoa Inc. for more signs that the global economy is healing. Alcoa’s report will give investors one of the first looks at how companies fared in the final quarter of 2009. Investors also looked to a report that Chinese exports jumped by nearly 18 percent in December. [...]

2010 Stock Market Analysis

ryan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:09:26 +0000

As we speed through the last few trading days of 2009, it’s time for all of us to turn our attention to what is sure to be an interesting and eventful 2010. So, let’s take a look at what investors should be keeping in mind – and on their radars – as we enter a bright [...]

Gold riskier than you think?

Jason — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:40:51 +0000

A speculative economy and cloudy outlook in the financial markets has sent investors flocking to gold in 2009. Before you take the plunge with what’s left of your savings and investments, take a closer look at what’s making this metal shine. Recent email inquiry from a Stocknod member “With the recent upheaval in the economy and [...]