The US winter heating season is off to a strong start in key cities across the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Read More

Sector consolidation remains one of the big investment themes in the vital resource industry. The potential acquisition of Rio Tinto by BHP Billiton is just the latest, greatest example of an important trend that holds great profit-making potential. Read More

Vital resource stocks are by nature volatile. The important thing is we’re still very much in a long-term bull market. And when the market mood does shift, today’s pain will convert very quickly to massive gain. Read More

The Vice Fund (VICEX; 40.6 percent return) celebrated its five-year anniversary in September by being ranked in the top 1 percent of Lipper’s multi-cap core category. Read More

The world simply can't function without sea-borne commodity trade. Every day the US imports 13.5 million barrels of crude oil, roughly two thirds of total consumption. Read More

Our favorites have nothing to do with the mortgage markets. Yet, despite solid businesses and secure dividends, many companies have stocks that make them look like losers. Read More

US stocks pared losses intraday during post-holiday trading on mixed holiday retail sales and disconcerting housing data, which turned investors’ mood negative. But a late-day rally just before the closing bell pushed stocks back into positive territory. Read More

With stock markets in a tizzy, bonds are booming. The trouble is getting them through the door of our own portfolios. We find the fit that pays. Read More

One of our Growth Portfolio Cash Cows has been in the news of late. Its shares have been sold off and hit a long-term low in Thursday’s trading. Read More

Bolstered by solid earnings results from Research in Motion and Merrill Lynch, US stocks traded higher and closed up for the week. Read More