The three major US stock indexes closed with gains. Read More

Economists are famous for digging up obscure indicators to back up almost any view on the economy and markets. But such analysis offers investors little clarity as to how, when and where to invest. I prefer to follow a relatively small number of indicators that have proven their worth over many decades. The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) is one such indicator; I follow LEI closely as an indicator of recessions and recoveries. Read More

Carbon-free nuclear power is gaining fans in unlikely places, and the PF portfolios are positioned to profit. Read More

Asia’s long-term investing story is all about domestic consumption. Position your portfolio now. Read More

President Obama’s health care plan spooked the market. Although the sector is pricing in a worst-case scenario, the most radical elements aren’t likely to survive. Here’s how to profit. Read More

The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index surged 1.2 percent in May after a 1.1 percent jump in April, the first back-to-back monthly gains for the index of more than 1 percent since the 1960s. The US economy will emerge from recession late in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter of this year. Although a broad market correction of 5 to 10 percent is possible in the near term, this pullback should largely be viewed as a buying opportunity. Read More

Although India has never exhibited the same growth characteristics as the rest of Asia and can't match China's reported growth rates, it has largely avoided the boom-and-bust cycles that afflict the region's developing economies. And despite all the negative economic news this year, in the first quarter Indian real GDP increased 5.8 percent from a year ago, an impressive result that suggests the economy remains on sound footing. Read More

For years, the dividends paid by companies such as General Electric (NYSE: GE), Citigroup (NYSE: C) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) were viewed as sacrosanct. But all three have reduced payouts amid the rash of cuts we’ve seen over past several months. Dividend-paying companies in Asia haven’t fallen into such a trend, however; payout cuts in this region have been the exception rather than the rule. Read More

The Income Portfolio strategy is to own a wide variety of yield-generating investments. Some will take hits from time to time, but we’ll continue to hold as long as the underlying operation remains solid. Read More

Now that the Federal Reserve and Treasury Dept’s efforts to stabilize the financial system and economy have banished fears of an imminent collapse, the Obama administration is shifting its focus to regulatory reform. Read More