It appears as if we have discovered a “socioeconomic oxymoron.” Before the whistle welcomed Brazil and Croatia to the opening match of the FIFA 2014 World Cup, not only were the Croatians critical of their opponent, but so was much of...

Warning: Beware of DOG (and DIG) Over the past 10 years, utilization of exchange traded funds has grown to the point that most investors have at least one ETF as part of their portfolio. While this is a step in the right direction for the inv...

You can’t help but be bullish on stocks now. I mean, really. That’s the simple message being told by the ETF market. Well, two ETFs to be sure. Take a look at the price spread between the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the iShares S&P 100 ETF (OEF...

While recent inflation numbers have sparked debate about U.S. central bank policy, it’s important to put these numbers in perspective. We think it’s reasonable to ask: Are the recent upticks signs of sustained inflation to come? Are traditional d...

Depending on what metric you use to assess the stock market, equities could be cheap, expensive, or anywhere in between. Try not to be swayed by simplistic arguments based on selective analysis of historical valuations, patterns or averages...

The Fed’s not taking the punch bowl from the party, but investors should be wary of the hangover.

After last year's robust stock market performance, returns this year seem a bit meager by comparison. This is especially true of the kind of big, blue chip companies that make up the DJIA, which is up only 1.51% for the first half of the year. Th...

A recent surge in domestic production of oil and natural gas has put the United States on a path toward energy independence, and potentially to become a net exporter of energy...