Throughout the past few years, I’ve been focusing on the remarkable turnaround at Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F). Management’s rejuvenation efforts will be talked about in business schools for decades to come. Yet, as shares marched from below $2 in early 2009… Read More

The last time this happened in this sector was 14 years ago, in 1997. Back then, Warren Buffett had investments in this sector during the phenomenon (and made millions from it). Meanwhile, investors watched the prevailing prices in the sector soar from $4.25 an ounce to above… Read More

Almost everyone knows Harvard University is one of the premier names in the world of college academia. What most of the world may not realize, however, is that the geniuses managing its $27.6 billion endowment have become the envy of other Wall Street… Read More

It’s been one of the most overlooked aspects of earnings season… I’m not talking about the market’s strong gains or the recent robust employment growth. I’m talking about stock buyback announcements. I’ve counted more than 30 companies that have announced plans to buy back at least $1 billion… Read More

For better or for worse, many successful investments revolve around products or services that aren’t necessarily good for consumers. The best examples include products that aren’t very healthy: cigarettes, soda and junk food come to mind, as do gambling, pawn shops and credit cards. For individuals who… Read More

Friday’s impressive jobs report, which showed an economy creating 192,000 new jobs in February, was even more impressive than you might think. The sheer quantity of jobs created — nearly 200,000 — was the best monthly figure in several years, but it’s the types of jobs created that really matter. The factory sector and the construction sector created 33,000 jobs apiece, aiding a six-figure jump in service-sector employment. The factory sector had been shrinking for nearly two decades, while and the construction sector has been on the ropes since 2007. That now looks set to… Read More

Friday’s impressive jobs report, which showed an economy creating 192,000 new jobs in February, was even more impressive than you might think. The sheer quantity of jobs created — nearly 200,000 — was the best monthly figure in several years, but it’s the types of jobs created that really matter. The factory sector and the construction sector created 33,000 jobs apiece, aiding a six-figure jump in service-sector employment. The factory sector had been shrinking for nearly two decades, while and the construction sector has been on the ropes since 2007. That now looks set to change and I’ve found just the way to profit. The virtuous cycle Service-sector jobs are important, but the factory and construction sectors really hold the key to a sustained upturn. That’s because they both form the backbone of capital spending, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that cash-rich companies are finally opening the spigot, laying the groundwork for the coming years. Once the process starts, it builds a head of steam as companies all along the economic food chain work to build inventories, upgrade equipment, and modernize or expand facilities. In the… Read More

In the recent economic crisis, global investors fled to the safety and solidity of the U.S. dollar, pushing it up in value after a steady downward trend. As the global economy begins to strengthen, the dollar is once again losing altitude. And all signs point to yet further weakness, perhaps by a significant amount. And that’s why you need to be prepared… A perfect storm The dollar is being buffeted by a range of factors, led by expectations that European interest rates are bound to start rising before the U.S. Read More

In the recent economic crisis, global investors fled to the safety and solidity of the U.S. dollar, pushing it up in value after a steady downward trend. As the global economy begins to strengthen, the dollar is once again losing altitude. And all signs point to yet further weakness, perhaps by a significant amount. And that’s why you need to be prepared… A perfect storm The dollar is being buffeted by a range of factors, led by expectations that European interest rates are bound to start rising before the U.S. Federal Reserve hikes rates. European Central Bank head, Jean-Claude Trichet, said on March 3 that interest rates may increase in April for the first time in 23 months. The euro now stands at $1.40 to the dollar, up from $1.30 in early January. The Japanese yen, Australian dollar and Swiss franc are also rising in value against the dollar.   In times of crisis, such as is occurring in the Middle East and North Africa, the dollar has tended to strengthen as investors take a “… Read More

Warren Buffett, the famed value investor with an estimated net worth of $47 billion, on Feb. 26, released his annual letter to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B), Buffett’s holding company and primary investment vehicle. The letter provided readers with the most up-to-date details of Berkshire’s common stock investment portfolio,… Read More