What’s going to happen in the Middle East? This is a question on many people’s minds. Over the weekend, U.S. forces killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani at the Baghdad airport. Soleimani was the leader of Iran’s Quds force, which is responsible for many of Iran’s extraterritorial military and clandestine operations. This was a military action made for television. It was a high-tech attack using a drone to fire the shots. It involved Iran, a potential nuclear power that has been a source of unrest since 1979. The attack occurred in Iraq, where the U.S. presence is controversial among Iraqis and… Read More

What’s going to happen in the Middle East? This is a question on many people’s minds. Over the weekend, U.S. forces killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani at the Baghdad airport. Soleimani was the leader of Iran’s Quds force, which is responsible for many of Iran’s extraterritorial military and clandestine operations. This was a military action made for television. It was a high-tech attack using a drone to fire the shots. It involved Iran, a potential nuclear power that has been a source of unrest since 1979. The attack occurred in Iraq, where the U.S. presence is controversial among Iraqis and many Americans. Then, last night news broke that Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two military bases with U.S. assets in Iraq. Reports of damage and casualties were conflicting overnight, but according to the Pentagon, it appears there were no U.S. casualties. All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow… Read More

It's true that this week's big news is the situation in Iran, and you're likely familiar with that news by now. Frankly, there's not much that I can add to that story at this point in time. It could affect the stock market — and I'll be watching for that. But I'm also watching a story many investors missed. The story I'm watching comes out of Africa, and it reminds me of the Asian contagion market crash — the late-90s financial crisis that started in Thailand. —Recommended Link— "Pfizer Of Pot" Could Put Your Retirement On… Read More

It's true that this week's big news is the situation in Iran, and you're likely familiar with that news by now. Frankly, there's not much that I can add to that story at this point in time. It could affect the stock market — and I'll be watching for that. But I'm also watching a story many investors missed. The story I'm watching comes out of Africa, and it reminds me of the Asian contagion market crash — the late-90s financial crisis that started in Thailand. —Recommended Link— "Pfizer Of Pot" Could Put Your Retirement On Easy Street With 56 approved U.S. patents, one overlooked biotech has quietly cornered the medical marijuana market. Investors who take action before the company's name is plastered over the evening news could turn a $5,000 stake into $154,435. But you'll need to move quickly… Wall Street vultures are circling. Click here for details. Currency Crisis — Then And Now Like other Asian countries, Thailand had enjoyed rapid growth and low inflation over the previous 10 years. One reason for this was the stability of the country's currency, which was pegged to the U.S. dollar. In… Read More

Any business can crank out hefty profits when conditions are favorable. The true test is how well it performs when the operating climate cools. As a group, energy stocks underperformed during the bull market. That’s no secret, given the persistent weakness in oil prices. The price of benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTIC) crude was once above $100 per barrel in 2014. After falling to the low $30s by 2016, prices have since only recovered to the mid-$60s. You can see how this affected stocks in the sector, as represented by the SPDR Energy Select Sector ETF (NYSE: XLE),… Read More

Any business can crank out hefty profits when conditions are favorable. The true test is how well it performs when the operating climate cools. As a group, energy stocks underperformed during the bull market. That’s no secret, given the persistent weakness in oil prices. The price of benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTIC) crude was once above $100 per barrel in 2014. After falling to the low $30s by 2016, prices have since only recovered to the mid-$60s. You can see how this affected stocks in the sector, as represented by the SPDR Energy Select Sector ETF (NYSE: XLE), on the chart below. This is exactly what makes a company like Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) so special. We’re up more than 54% (with dividends reinvested) on the holding over at The Daily Paycheck. That not only blows the sector out of the water, but also the entire market. ​ We just got a glimpse of the kind of operating expertise necessary to pull that kind of performance off – and why I think it’s still a “buy” today.   Inside The Numbers The company's core refining margins slipped to $11.18 per barrel… Read More