The Five Criteria for Every Investment

A recent reader question is from Alex L, who is a member of my Super Sports Roadster club, a “collaborator-friend,” and big help in getting the Miller’s Money Forever project started:

“Dennis, you started actively managing your portfolio when your CDs got called in and you were sitting on cash. What do you suggest for people who already have a portfolio but might want to rearrange it a bit?”

It’s a good question, and one that I’ve been asked frequently. Let me reinforce one critical point. Do not do what I did and start reading newsletters and buying into investments because they sound like winners. There is a good chance you’ll just compound any problems in your portfolio. (I have an article from my Miller’s Money Weekly service titled “Getting the Most from Your Investment Newsletters” that explains how to use investment research from investment newsletters and make sure it fits into your strategy.)

A major component of my business career was consulting for small businesses. This was usually a three-step endeavor. First, the client recognized they had a problem and usually had a pretty good idea of what they needed to do to solve it. Second, they asked for help because they didn’t know how to implement their solution. And that’s where I stepped in: putting the solution into action. Continue reading "The Five Criteria for Every Investment"

Weekly Futures Recap with Mike Seery

We’ve asked Michael Seery of SEERYFUTURES.COM to give our INO readers a weekly recap of the Futures market. He has been Senior Analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.

Michael frequently appears on multiple business networks including Bloomberg news, Fox Business, CNBC Worldwide, CNN Business, and Bloomberg TV. He is also a guest on First Business, which is a national and internationally syndicated business show.

Precious Metal Futures--- The precious metal futures this Friday afternoon were down sharply across the board due to the fact of the Fed minutes coming out yesterday stating that a possible end of the QE’s by the end of 2013 which sent the precious metals sharply lower with gold plummeting $24 today to trade right around $1,651 an ounce and at one point was down over $45 before profit taking set in continuing its bearish momentum hitting a fresh 4 month low trading far below its 20 and 100 day moving averages. Silver futures for the week are down around $.70 hitting a fresh 4 month low currently at 29.95 in the March contract also trading below its 20 and 100 day moving average with major support right around $28 an ounce and in my opinion I think the tide has turned in the precious metals in the short term and I see further weakness in the coming weeks. The one bright spot in the precious metals this week was copper in the March contract finishing higher by about 300 points for the shortened week trading above its 20 and 100 day moving average and on Wednesday the 1st day of 2013 hit a two-month high on the fact that the housing market is coming back strong along with economies around the world. Continue reading "Weekly Futures Recap with Mike Seery"

Chart to Watch - JVA

We've asked our friend Jim Robinson of profittrading.com to provide his expert analysis of charts to our readers. Each week he'll be be analyzing a different chart using the Trade Triangles and his experience.

Today he is going to take a look at the technical picture of Coffee Holding Co. Inc. (JVA).

I hope you are having a Happy New Year !

This week let's take a look at the JVA stock chart.

JVA is currently on a daily, weekly and monthly green MarketClub Trade Triangle and when all time frames are pointing in the same direction that is important information to have. Continue reading "Chart to Watch - JVA"

Forex Trading: Why You Need to Look Past Fiscal Cliffs

The "fiscal cliff" agreement did not set the course for EUR/USD -- here is why.

By Elliott Wave International

First, a word on how we all are conditioned to think that, "momentum will remain constant unless acted on by an outside force." Read this excerpt from Robert Prechter's May 2004 Elliott Wave Theorist:

"...'Momentum will remain constant unless acted on by an outside force.' This mode of thought is deeply embedded in our minds because it has tremendous evolutionary advantages. When Og threw a rock at Ugg back in the cave days, Ugg ducked. He ducked not necessarily because his mind had inherited and/or learned the consequences of the Law of Conservation of Momentum.

"The rock would not veer off course because there was nothing between the two men to act upon it, and rocks do not have minds of their own.

"Earlier animals that incorporated responses to the laws of physics lived; those that didn't died, and their genes were weeded out of the gene pool. The Law of Conservation of Momentum makes possible our modern technological world. People rely on it every day.

"Despite its use in so many areas, however, it is inapplicable to predicting [the financial markets]..." Continue reading "Forex Trading: Why You Need to Look Past Fiscal Cliffs"

Could Chevron Jumpstart the North American Natural Gas Sector?

Could Chevron Jumpstart the North American Natural Gas Sector?

The natural gas sector ended the year on a high note following the announcement that one of the world’s leading energy firms has agreed to operate — and buy a partial stake in — a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project on Canada’s British Columbia coast.

Kitimat LNG’s project moved a step closer to reality last week when Chevron (NYSE:CVX) announced that it will buy out the minority positions that Encana (TSX:ECA,NYSE:ECA) and EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG) hold in the endeavor. In doing so, Chevron has established itself as a 50-percent owner in a project that is ready for construction, but has fallen victim to a number of delays amid uncertainty surrounding sales contracts.

Chevron also confirmed that it will take a 50-percent interest in approximately 644,000 acres of petroleum and natural gas rights in the Horn River and Liard Basins in British Columbia. Chevron and Apache (NYSE:APA) will now share ownership of the project, with Chevron operating the plant and related Pacific Trail Pipeline, which is set to transport oil from Northeastern BC. Continue reading "Could Chevron Jumpstart the North American Natural Gas Sector?"