"Unlike gold mining companies, of which there are dozens, there are only five major publicly-traded silver producers. The limited number of investment options concentrates Wall Street's interest when silver is hot, and can send prices sharply up.
"Silver Standard controls the world's largest published in-ground silver resources of any publicly-traded silver company. The company has properties in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Canada, the U.S. and Australia. All properties have either been purchased (a rarity in the mining industry) or optioned at a fraction of the current silver price.
"In an industry where most silver is found as a by-product from mining other metals, it is also significant that the company's output is approximately 72% silver. The remaining metals produced are gold, tin, zinc, copper and lead - none of which is more than 8% of the total output.
"Silver Standard's status as a pure-play further concentrates interest in the company when silver is in the spotlight. Silver Standard is also leveraged by the high cost of extracting the metal.
"Once silver prices cross the breakeven point, nearly every dollar goes to profits. Silver Standard must be considered speculative. But if you are willing to accept the risk, and a probable roller coaster ride, the stock could be very rewarding."
Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.
"When building a portfolio of junior mining stocks, stick with the best -- not just the cheapest," says money manager and advisor Adrian Day in his industry-leading The Global Analyst.
Although he is cautious on gold prices for the near term, Adrian Day suggests, "Gold is still only part way through its current bull move, one that likely still has years to run." Here, he looks at five favorite top-quality junior miners.
"Gold has had an extraordinary run, based partly on the decline in the dollar, which appears overdone in the short term. The fundamentals for a weaker dollar and for a stronger gold price remain intact, but I would be cautious about chasing markets now, especially the seniors.
"But it would be a mistake to sell too much, particularly in an attempt to trade the market and buy back precisely the same stocks at lower prices. Such attempts often end badly, as one fails to buy back favorite companies after selling at perhaps intermediate tops.
He explains, "Gold has closed at his highest level in three decades. The precious metals market senses inflation is higher and economic growth slower than the official government numbers.
"With the price of oil at a record high and food inflation in a double digit zooming up, government statisticians will have us believe third quarter inflation was only 0.8%, the lowest level in 40 years.
"The gold market is not buying the government numbers. Regardless of what Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke says about containing inflationary pressures or what Treasury Secretary Paulson says about supporting a strong dollar policy, the U.S. dollar is being sacrificed to save the banking industry and prevent an economic slowdown and/or housing market collapse or even a recession.
"Gold's recent move to a new highs clearly reinforces that the metal's six year bull market is alive and well," say leading resources experts Mary Anne and Pamela Aden.
In The Aden Forecast, the sisters -- who have accurately forecast the bull market since its start in 2001 -- explain why they believe this upmove is part of a mega-trend that will last for many years to come.
"As the dollar falls further, gold will continue to head higher. And the unprecedented trade deficit nearly guarantees that the dollar will continue to slide. Lower U.S. interest rates reinforce this as well, and again that'll be good for gold.
"Meanwhile, U.S. dependence on foreign oil and the record high oil price means the trade deficit is going to stay huge. It'll also contribute to inflation by keeping upward pressure on consumer prices.
"So in a way, it's a vicious circle that goes something like this: high oil = large trade deficits = a weak dollar and high inflation. Spending and money creation = inflation, which all = higher gold.
The markets saw an overall mildly bullish session today. The NYSE had volume of 2.3 billion shares with 2,056 shares advancing while 1,221 declined for a gain of 54.38 points to close at 9,637.55. On the NASDAQ, 1.8 billion shares traded, 1,682 advanced and 1,305 declined for a gain of 8.37 to 2,614.32.
In options there were 3.8 million puts and 4.7 million calls traded for a put/call open interest ratio of 0.82. Level 3 Comm. Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) saw heavy volume on the January 7.50 calls (QHNAU) with over 33,900 options trading. Apple Computer Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) had volume on a number of different strikes including the September 150 calls (APVIJ) with over 33,800 calls trading; the September 140 calls (APVIH) with over 41,700 options trading; and the September 145 calls (APVII) with over 33,000 options trading. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) tallied volume on the October 20 calls (MOTJD) with over 30,100 options trading. General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) saw heavy volume on the December 40 calls (GELH) with over 26,000 options trading. SLM Holding (NYSE: SLM) moved volume on the October 50 calls (SLMJJ) with over 24,700 options trading and moved volume on the October 50 puts (SLMVJ) with over 20,100 options trading. AK Steel Holding (NYSE: AKS) traded volume on the October 30 puts (AKSVF) with over 55,800 options trading.
Kevin Kersten is an Options Analyst with InvestorsObserver.com. Disclosure note: Mr. Kersten owns and or controls a diversified portfolio of long and short positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about.
"This is a great time to be buying in the gold and silver area," says resources expert Adrian Day. In his Global Analyst newsletter, the money manager and advisor explains, "We are focusing on quality companies in the junior resource sector, following what is traditionally the weak summer period for gold prices."
One favorite of the advisor is Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI), which he notes has a strong balance sheet and long-term reserves. He points out that the stock has been held down as would-be acquirer Harmony sells shares.
In addition, he states, "Goldcorp (NYSE: GG) is one of the strong balance sheets, highest growth outlook, more favorable country risk profiles among the senior miners."
Among silver companies, he says, "Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ: SSRI) has a strong balance sheet (even allowing for a problem in some commercial paper it holds) of C$242 million, including bullion.
Markets made solid gains today moving well in the green. There are a couple of factors that helped lift the market. It is a natural bounce back from the correction; risk of the sub-prime market is coming off the table with the government's attention and intervention, and the summer is ending and we are headed into the fall a time the market typically does better in.
The NYSE had volume of 2.1 billion shares with 2,321 shares advancing while 995 declined for a gain of 101.66 points to close at 9,698.64. On the NASDAQ, 1.6 billion shares traded, 1,969 advanced and 1,065 declined for a gain of 33.88 to 2,630.24.
In options there were 3.5 million puts and 4.5 million calls traded for a put/call ratio of 0.78. There were a couple of options that had heavy volume that cought our attention. BankAmerica Corp. (NYSE: BAC) saw heavy volume on the September 47.50 calls (BACIW) with over 103,000 options trading and the September 45 calls (BACII) moved 90,000 options. BAC pays a dividend, so this may be dividend arbitrage. Apple Computer (NASDAQ: AAPL) saw heavy volume on the September 145 calls (APVII) with over 35,000 options trading. Yahoo! Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) rose $1.24 (5%) to $23.97. Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) saw heavy volume on the January 30 calls (YHQAF) with over 24,000 options trading and the September 25 calls (YHQIE) moved over 23,000 options trading. Bear Stearns reiterated Yahoo at outperform and tech was strong in general today.
Kevin Kersten is an Options Analyst with InvestorsObserver.com. Disclosure note: Mr. Kersten owns and or controls a diversified portfolio of long and short positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about.
Gold is up, silver is up, titanium is up, uranium is way up. What is up with Silver Standard Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: SSRI) that its 2Q 2007 earnings were not earnings at all, but in fact a $5 million (Canadian) loss? 2006 was not an especially good year for Silver Standard, yet in 2Q 2006 the company managed to show a $16.5 million (Canadian) profit. Losses for the first half of 2007 total $6.5 million (Canadian), with the bulk of that loss coming in the second quarter. In the first half of 2006, the company posted earnings of $15.4 million (Canadian). The company is currently digging itself into a deep hole.
Sometimes a company reveals move by what it does not say in a press release. That is the case with the 2Q 2007 earnings press release, which does not include a Management Discussion and Analysis section. The press release mistakenly refers to Financial Highlights for the quarter, of which there were none. Yet the company's balance sheet is still strong. Silver Standard has $230 million (Canadian) in working assets, plus inventory of silver bullion worth $10 million (Canadian) at current market values. The company carries NO long term debt, so it is not time for investors to run for the exits. Patient investors may yet be rewarded. Silver Standard is ramping up operations on a number of fronts in Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Canada and Nevada. All these early stage projects require huge outlays of capital before they produce significant returns on investment. If by mid-2008, Silver Standard cannot produce some better news for investors, then it might be time to measure the opportunity cost of continuing to hold on to this investment.
The stock closed at $34.50 (U.S.) today, down $1.50.
With gold turning down from its recent highs, some have questioned whether the 6-year bull market in metals may be ending. According to Mary Anne and Pamela Aden, the evidence points to the opposite conclusion. Indeed, they note, "Gold and silver have everything going for them and their rises have a lot further to go."
Here, the resource experts and co-editors of The Aden Forecast explain the six key factors they see that are pointing to higher metals prices.
The first two reasons are spending and money. They explain, "The world is swimming in money and that's the fuel that's been driving money assets and commodity prices up. But the magnitude of what's currently happening has never been seen before in world history."
The Adens points out that the U.S. is the world's largest debtor nation and "the government keeps spending money it doesn't have."
Since the government doesn't want to cut spending or raise taxes to reduce its debt, they note, "It simply produces money to cover its expenses, which is what governments throughout history have always done, and this amount is also huge."
In fact, in just over the past year, they observe, the amount of paper dollars that've been created is equal to half the value of all the gold that's ever been produced worldwide over the past 2,000 years, which is about $2 trillion. And it's not just the U.S. "Other countries are pumping out money like mad too. In Europe, for instance, money has been growing at the fastest rate in 17 years."
Three of the leading advisory services that focus on the natural resource sector have reaffirmed their bullish posture on silver and issued buy recommendations on their favorite silver stocks.
Mary Anne and Pamela Aden, editors of The Aden Forecast, outline their expected path for the metals: "Technically, silver looks good. It's next resistance is at $14.06 basis March. If it rises and stays above that level, silver could then quickly move up to $14.88, its May high."
They note that silver will remain very strong within its longer term uptrend as long as it remains above the $12.75 level. Meanwhile, they offer a pair of favorite silver stocks - Silver Standard Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: SSRI) and Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ: PAAS).
Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.
Resources expert Mary Anne Aden, turns to silver for both her favorites for 2007 -- selecting the exchange-traded fund iShares Silver Trust (ASE: SLV) as her conservative investment and Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ: SSRI) as her top speculation.
In The Aden Forecast she explains, "In recent years, commodities have been rising strongly and this boom is expected to continue in the years ahead. Why? China and other emerging nations have been buying on a grand scale, and it's not only commodities.
"As these countries build and grow, demand has increased sharply for oil, other raw materials, and metals. The strongest commodity has been silver. It's consistently outperformed nearly every other investment, and with reason. More silver is being used than is being produced and it's headed for a world shortage.
"That makes silver a top pick for 2007, and an easy way to profit is to buy the silver ETF, iShares Silver Trust. The best silver share is Silver Standard Resources. Although higher risk than an ETF, this stock is a good way to benefit from silver's potential, and is my top speculative pick for the coming year."
"This is a great time to be buying in the gold and silver area," says resources expert Adrian Day. In his 
Markets made solid gains today moving well in the green. There are a couple of factors that helped lift the market. It is a natural bounce back from the correction; risk of the sub-prime market is coming off the table with the government's attention and intervention, and the summer is ending and we are headed into the fall a time the market typically does better in.
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