The vast majority of investors regret not having bought Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) or Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) 20 years ago, long before they became the behemoths they are today. Consider this, though: Many investors in 20 years from now will probably look back at the opportunities available in today’s market with… Read More

The roller coaster-like moves in the energy sector appear to be ending. Energy prices are no longer too low to spur the development of oil and gas fields. And they’re not so high that they will choke off demand for the world’s largest energy consumers. With an outlook for more… Read More

It’s no secret that emerging economies like China and Brazil have grown at a solid clip during the past year while most of the rest of the world has been mired in recession. But did you know that one member of the developed world also bucked the… Read More

Just when it seemed the auto industry was beginning to rebound, Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) has gone into reverse. Toyota — the world’s number one selling auto manufacturer — recently recalled 2.3 million cars in the United States, due to faulty floor mats which trap accelerator… Read More

Certain companies are always worth owning. Happily, short-term market anomalies can transform such companies from a good buy into a screaming buy. Now may be such a screaming-buy time for a certain company in the energy industry. The demand for crude oil fell in… Read More

When procrastinating husbands open their wallets to pay for decadent Valentine’s Day chocolate, they’re likely to wind up paying a little more than usual this year. They can thank the growing worldwide sugar shortage for that. Read More

Many investors focus on short-term trends, buying or selling stocks in anticipation of how the current quarter will play out. This myopic approach can keep them from finding great long-term investments. Touch-screen maker Synaptics (Nasdaq: SYNA) is a prime example. The company recently reported a tepid fiscal… Read More

Cigarette makers must be worried. A tiny U.S. company has a drug that could all but destroy nicotine addiction in America and beyond, and its shares give investors a chance to profit from this potentially world-changing… Read More

President Obama has given his speech, the Republicans have had their say and the punditry has opined and moved on. Investors should now consider what effect the State of the Union address and the president’s 2010 agenda might have on their portfolios. The speech’s… Read More

Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) released a new tablet computer, a 10-inch touchscreen device called the iPad that can deliver video, music and other online content. The arrival of the tablet has been, as is Apple’s wont, shrouded in secrecy. All that remains secret is whether the iPad will… Read More