"We are seeing history in the making. And what's happening in the Middle East is coinciding with some of the mega trends underlying our investment position," note long-standing resource experts Mary Anne and Pamela Aden.

The editors of The Aden Forecast explain, "Here, we review five trends -- related to inflation, interest rates, the U.S. dollar, bonds, and metals -- that should last for many years.

Continue reading Five Mega Trends for the Next Five Years

Five Mega Trends for the Next Five Years originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Philip Morris (PM) to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• Peet's Coffee (PEET) to neutral from sell at Janney Capital.
• Cephalon (CEPH) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• StoneMor Partners (STON) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Tibco (TIBX) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Apollo Group (APOL) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: APOL, CEPH, DELL, GCI, GOLD, KSS, LEN, PEET, PM ...

Analyst Calls: APOL, CEPH, DELL, GCI, GOLD, KSS, LEN, PEET, PM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Financial Times has seen a U.S. diplomatic cable from WikiLeaks that states that Iran has bought significant amounts of gold. The word is that Tehran holds 300 tons of gold, up from 169 tons in 1996.

Gold, oil and the U.S. dollar: The oil-rich Middle East sells oil throughout the world. Oil is priced in dollars. The U.S. dollar is the reserve currency for oil. That means that Mideast countries are loaded with U.S. dollars.

Continue reading WikiLeaks Cable Cites Iran's Gold Buying

WikiLeaks Cable Cites Iran's Gold Buying originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• WTI crude was up $3.67 per barrel to $101.67. Brent crude rose $2.10 per barrel to $110.62.
• In the grain market, June wheat futures rose 48-2 cents per bushel to $7.10 per bushel.
• Corn futures were up the 30 cent limit to $6.46 per bushel.

Continue reading Crisis in Japan Creates More Demand for Commodities

Crisis in Japan Creates More Demand for Commodities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Except for the safe haven of U.S. treasuries and the U.S. dollar, most other commodities are getting slaughtered in the wake of the Japanese crisis.

Here are some prices of nearby contracts compared to five days ago:

• WTI crude is trading at $97.68 per barrel, down from $105.
• Wheat is at $6.89 per bushel, down for $7.89.

Continue reading Commodities Have Been Clobbered over the Past Week

Commodities Have Been Clobbered over the Past Week originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Freeport McMoran Copper (FCX) is a miner of copper, gold and molybdenum. It has operations in North and South America, Indonesia and Africa, and competes with other miners such as the Southern Copper (SCCO), Codelco and Newmont Mining (NEM).

Continue reading Should Freeport Pursue Lundin Mining?

Should Freeport Pursue Lundin Mining? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. Stock Futures Up Slightly After Yesterday's Rally

U.S. Stock Futures Up Slightly After Yesterday's Rally originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. Stock Futures Up as Investors Await Manufacturing, Construction Data

U.S. Stock Futures Up as Investors Await Manufacturing, Construction Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Bubbles Always Burst

Comfort Zone Investing: Bubbles Always Burst originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While gold may be in a new bull move, the shares of Newmont Mining (NEM) have been slipping lately. In Thursday morning trading, the stock price was off 2.24% even though the company posted a solid earnings report.

Profits came to $812 million, or $1.61 per share, up from $558 million, or $1.13 per share in the same period a year ago. During this period, revenues increased slightly from $2.52 billion to $2.55 billion.

Continue reading Newmont Falls Despite Earnings Beat

Newmont Falls Despite Earnings Beat originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oil is the life blood of the world economy. The turmoil in Libya and throughout the Middle East is threatening the stability of the entire world. "Oil prices were in the danger zone and could rise further, if turmoil continued in the Middle East," Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency said, according to Reuters. "Oil prices are a serious risk for the global economic recovery."

As of 8:30 EDT, Brent crude is trading at $106.66 per barrel, up 92 cents. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped $6.29 per barrel to $96.00. Keep in mind that while U.S. markets were closed Monday, oil traded higher across other world markets.

Continue reading Brent, U.S. Crude at 2.5-Year Highs on Mideast Turmoil

Brent, U.S. Crude at 2.5-Year Highs on Mideast Turmoil originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) closed at $135.41. Middle East violence has resulted in gold rising above $1,407 an ounce. GLD overall option implied volatility of 17 is below its 26-week average of 20, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Financial Select Sector (XLF) overall volatility at 22; 26-week average is 24.

ISE Sentiment Index-ISEE closed at 114; 10-day moving average is 132.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Gold Rises as Middle East Violence Spreads originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Libyan unrest has triggered a surge in oil prices. Unlike Egypt, Libya exports 1.1 million barrels of oil per day. The turmoil drove Brent crude prices to a multiyear high of of $105.per barrel.

European equities fell 1% and gold powered above $1,400 per ounce. For weeks the Egyptian unrest did not affect the markets. In fact U.S. equities rallied to new two-year highs. Now, however, the situation is different. Libya has taken a hard line against protesters, throwing the country into a deep crisis.

Continue reading Libyan Unrest Triggers Oil Price Surge

Libyan Unrest Triggers Oil Price Surge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Gold rises with inflation and in times of crisis, like we have today; and, as a result, many countries are buying gold," says Mary Anne and Pamela Aden.

The long-standing resource sector expert and co-editors of The Aden Forecast explain, "They know it's the ultimate currency and gold is again taking its place in the global monetary system, as it has for thousands of years.

"The actions of the world's central banks tell the story. At the very least, this is going to keep upward pressure on gold in the years ahead.

Continue reading The Aden Sisters on Gold: 'Stay with the Mega-Trend'

The Aden Sisters on Gold: 'Stay with the Mega-Trend' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX), which is the world's largest gold producer, continues to pump out strong profits. According to the latest quarterly report, net income came to 90 cents a share, up from 21 cents in the same period a year ago. Revenues were up 25% to $2.95 billion.

On an adjusted basis -- such as by excluding one-time items -- earnings were 95 cents. The Street consensus was for 87 cents.

Continue reading Barrick Continues to Mine Its Own Business

Barrick Continues to Mine Its Own Business originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

China is allowing its citizens to buy physical gold bars. This new program is unleashing an unbridled demand for the metal. The program works this way: The Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China's largest, sells the bars to customers at real-time prices. Persons who own the bars can resell them to the bank.

To give you an insight into the magnitude of these sales, here are a few statistics. The ICBC sold 7 tons of bullion in January alone. In all of 2010, sales were only 15 tons.

Continue reading Chinese Citizens Are Hungry for More Gold

Chinese Citizens Are Hungry for More Gold originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When it comes to the biggest threat to world economies, oil scarcity is second only to nuclear war. What started in Tunisia, then spread to Egypt has now spreading to Bahrain and Iran, where protesters are clashing with police. In Iran, lawmakers are threatening death to protesters.

The fear of chaos spreading across the Middle East has sent the oil market into overdrive. Brent crude traded at $104 per barrel Tuesday.

Continue reading Brent Crude at $104 per Barrel on Spreading Mideast Unrest

Brent Crude at $104 per Barrel on Spreading Mideast Unrest originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last month was certainly tough for gold. In fact, it was the worst January in about 20 years.

But as usual, there were many investors who thought that this was the end of the bull run. Hasn't gold risen for ten straight years? Isn't it time for a bear market?

Well, the fact is that corrections are normal, even for gold. And there is no reason to believe that the recent fall-off is yet another example.

Continue reading Investors Make a $102 Billion Bet on Gold

Investors Make a $102 Billion Bet on Gold originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As investors, we are always looking for guidance. For those of you invested in gold, this survey bears reading. Reuters polled 65 analysts to find out what their crystal balls are saying about the price of gold in 2011 and 2012.

For this year, they are looking for a median price of $1,450 per ounce, 18% higher than 2010's median price of $1,225.60 per ounce. The forecast is just above the record of $1,430.95 set in 2010. A breakdown by quarters is as follows:

Continue reading Reuters Poll: Gold Prices to Plateau in 2011

Reuters Poll: Gold Prices to Plateau in 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Valero Energy (VLO) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Changyou.com (CYOU) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Albermarle (ALB) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• ICU Medical (ICUI) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Check Point (CHKP) to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• FMC Corporation (FMC) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Rangold Resources (GOLD) to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Global Cash Access (GCA) to buy from hold at Duncan-Williams.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CHK, CHKP, DISCA, FMC, GOLD, OC, PCL, RRC, SNI, VLO ...

Analyst Calls: CHK, CHKP, DISCA, FMC, GOLD, OC, PCL, RRC, SNI, VLO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.