The World of Commodities: The Future Of The Gold, Silver, Corn & Sugar Markets

by Lee Lowell, Advisory Panelist

When you have a mix of bullish fundamental factors backed up by the usual bout of speculation, you’ve got a juicy recipe for higher prices.

The world of commodities is a prime example of this. And nowhere is this trend more evident at the moment than in the sugar market.

Sugar prices are currently hitting highs not seen since early 1981, driven largely by a projected fall in crop levels in the world’s two biggest sugar-producing nations – Brazil and India.

While this fundamental data is critical, it’s nothing without also looking at the chart, which tends to factor in all the price drivers. As you can see, the current state of the sugar market reflected in the October futures contract. Check out that

Why the Web Should be Free

by Alexander Wissel, Editor in Chief, Investment U

In the past couple of weeks, as the recession has cut into traditional news and media outlets, many publishers and content generators are asking the question “Should the web be free?”

To which we reply, absolutely.

Investment U has provided its readers with fresh, new, free content for over a decade. We give actionable investment advice, education and investing ideas every day.

And we don’t plan on changing that.

Many readers ask us, “Why do we receive so many advertisements?” The quick answer is that’s how we stay open. We fund ourselves through our affiliate’s premium services that we advertise. Think of it like free radio.

The major difference is that we’re presenting investing ideas and opportunities in our advertisements – and not the services of a local plumber or smoke

Sin Stocks: 2 Profitable Vice Investments Soaring Despite the Recession

by David Fessler, Advisory Panelist, Investment U

Most of us aren’t compulsive gamblers, heavy drinkers, or chain smokers. Three habits that over time, are bad for your wallet and - more importantly - your health.

But from an investment standpoint, the so-called “sin stocks” - companies that make alcohol, firearms, cigarettes and those that operate gambling casinos - are doing quite well.

How well?

The International Securities Exchange SINdex (SIN), an index that solely tracks “sin” stocks, is up more than 30% since January…

This compares to the S&P Retail Index’s gain of just 15%. Against the broader S&P 500 Index, it’s done even better: up nearly 40% in just the past two months. And it’s up nearly 88% since its March low.

Perhaps your personal philosophy isn’t inclined toward vice or sin stocks. And that’s fine - there are plenty of

Building Wealth: Five Steps Towards Becoming a Millionaire

by Alexander Wissel, Editor in Chief, Investment U

Just over six years ago, we wrote to our subscribers about the smartest path to $1 million. With the rollout of the new Investment U course, “Building a Million-Dollar Portfolio From Scratch,” it seemed like a perfect time to revisit the five easy steps that we can all take to reach - and exceed - that seven-figure milestone…

“What’s the best stock that I should put my money in - How do I become a millionaire?”

We get this question, or something like it, almost every day from Investment U subscribers, family members and close friends alike. And while I respect the simplicity of the question, the answers of how to begin building wealth are a little harder to vocalize.

For instance, when I was in insurance, I took calls everyday from folks who

Will Frugality Remain?

Alexander Wissel, Editor in Chief, Investment U

We’ve heard how over the past few months Americans have closed their wallets and started saving more. The national savings rate has climbed for the first time in decades.

This newfound zeal for saving money has been a boon for many companies that help consumers save or cut back. Companies like Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX), Rewards Network (Nasdaq: DINE) and Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) have thrived on cost conscious consumers.

The question is how long can this last?

The latest reports from Gallup have noted a trend for consumers spending less. But are the cost cutbacks voluntary or forced. Consumers cutting back to be frugal is quite different from bargain shopping because you have to.

Time will tell if this

Investment U’s Outlook: Bull or Bear?

Alexander Wissel, Editor in Chief, Investment U

We keep hearing over and over again that we’re vacillating on our market position and that we’ve taken bullish and bearish stances over the past few weeks. Specifically, readers have cited Alex Green’s article for its bearishness and Mark Skousen’s article for his bullishness.

If Alex Green’s article title suggested bearishness, then I’ll admit fault and suggest that the addition of “Red” might incorrectly indicate that he is bearish when he is not – Alex remains cautious, but bullish.

Let me set the record straight if there has been any confusion concerning our outlook…

In the long-term we are, have been and will continue to be, bullish on the future. In the short-term, we see a number of challenges

GM’s Union Snowflakes

Alexander Wissel, Editor in Chief, Investment U

Listening to the reports that keep coming out of “talks” with General Motors ownership groups: bondholders, government officials, and just about everyone else it seems. We are struck by the notion that somehow the UAW thinks that this wasn’t their fault.

With the dysfunction between management and workers at GM and Chrysler, no one saw the slippage – no one noticed the problems. No one took ownership of them.

No snowflake ever thinks it caused the avalanche…

With unions bloating the budgets, overtaxing the finances and putting out sub-par products, innovation at American automakers fell by the wayside while thousands of union snowflakes sat by and watched it happen.

Let’s face it; the unions have been parasites to our automotive industry. They have slowly bled these once

The Gone Fishin’ Portfolio: Your Retirement’s Financial “Declaration of Independence”

by David Fessler, Advisory Panelist

One of the first things you’re taught as a kid is that the best things in life are free. That money can’t buy happiness. That it can’t buy genuine love or friendship. These things are true, of course. But they aren’t the whole story.

Money determines your neighborhood and the house your kids grow up in. It determines whether they go to college and where. If you’re sick, it can mean the difference between a good doctor and an amazing doctor. If you need a lawyer, it’s the difference between an ambulance chaser and the best defense attorney money can buy.

Money provides freedom, security and peace of mind.

That’s why managing your investment portfolio intelligently is so essential. Getting it right is the difference between a retirement spent in luxury and one spent counting

Insider Buying: The Best Buy Signal You Can Get

by Alexander Wissel, Editor in Chief, Investment U

Did you miss the perfect insider buying opportunity? You might have.

Over the past two months stocks have climbed almost 40%. After hitting historical lows - and being completely oversold - the markets have been clawing their way back up, week by week.

And even with the ugliness caused by the release of the banking stress tests last week, it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing values plunge. There’s simply too much money sitting on the sidelines, and it’s slowly creeping back in.

Since 1987 the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) has conducted a monthly survey on how we allocate our money between stocks, bonds and cash. And per the most recent survey, the percent of direct investments in individual stocks is at an all-time low of 17%, nearly half the

Buying Real Estate: This Century’s Greatest Investment

by Dr. Mark Skousen, Advisory Panelist

Buying real estate? Are you nuts?

Investment U Chairman Alex Green thinks so, what with foreclosures skyrocketing and prices in some places falling more than half from their peak. He says the market is “dead” for now.

But dead doesn’t mean unprofitable.

And as Baron Rothschild often said, “Buy when blood is running in the streets.”

Despite all the bad news making the front pages, real estate-related stocks and funds have been making a comeback; some are up more than 25%, suggesting light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

Equity Residential Properties, one of my favorite REITs, is up 20%. Toll Brothers - builder of high-end homes - has been volatile, but appears to be bottoming.

My basic argument for a turnaround is that the federal government has essentially put a floor under the current real estate market,